Valentine’s Pop-Up Venue

1

Akuta

Hey, hey, HEY! Step right up, folks, and have yourselves a gander.

You won’t find deals like these anywhere else, so pick ‘em up while you still can!

We have some deliiiiciously kyute, shuuuuper duper sweet, animal-shaped chwocolates!

Customer A

Ooh, they’re shaped like little animals? That’s so cute!

Customer B

Excuse me, can I get one of these Sleepy Fawn chocolates?

Akuta

One Mr. Fawn, comin’ right up!

Customer C

I’ll take a Wiggly-Jiggly White Bunny chocolate gift wrapped, please!

Akuta

Yessir! Certified 100% wrapped with love!

Conflicted Customer

Grrmmm… I don’t know… What should I get?

Akuta

Got your pick yet, esteemed customer?

Conflicted Customer

Grrnnmm… Could I ask you to recommend something with a good cacao polyphenol content?

Akuta

Huh? Caca…po?? A Kakapo??

Conflicted Customer

Oh, but chocolate with high cacao and polyphenol content is still high in lipids and caffeine, so even if the catechins and procyanidins have antioxidant properties, everything needs to have just the right balance so it doesn’t affect my daughter’s health…

Akuta

Errrrrm… Uhhhhhhhh. So, wait, your daughter is sick ‘cause a kakapo’s chin got in her eye…?

Tao

How about this one? This is our Assorted Sleepy Forest Animal set. We just released it this year.

Conflicted Customer

Grm?

Tao

This set has both dark chocolate high in cacao content and regular milk chocolate, so it’ll give you a nice, balanced experience.

Conflicted Customer

Grmm! I’ll take it!

Akuta & Tao

Thanks for shopping with us, we hope to see you again!

Akuta

Phew-wee. That was an insanely close call.

Sorry, Tao-san, and thanks for covering for me!

Tao

Don’t sweat it. That kinda stuff puts a lot of pressure on you.

Akuta

Nah, but you seriously have max hospitality. Like, the way you handled that was super slick, but you really swooshed in like a hero back there!

Tao

Oh, come on. I think it’s pretty awesome how you’re always helping every customer with a big smile on your face too.

Like, there was that one customer who was kinda iffy on buying something, but your cheerfulness convinced them to open up and buy lots of stuff. You’re great at getting close to peoples’ hearts.

Akuta

…!

Tao-san, are you saying what I think you’re saying? Y’mean I totally have that MC hero potential in me, so one of these days I’m gonna catch up and surpass you?!

Tao

Alright, don’t get ahead of yourself now.

Akuta

Heheh, sorries!

…And just like that, the two of us ended up working part time for a Valentine’s pop-up store.

As for how exactly we got here…

Flashback Start
HAMA House - Living Room

*click*

2

Akuta

This channel’s airing a Valentine’s special…

*click, click, click*

Akuta

This one too. And this one. And that one, EVERY SINGLE CHANNEL…! Ahhhhh, all the chocolates look insanely good!!

Jeez Louise, it’s almost like a sign that I’ll be getting too many chocolates this year…! Our resident cavity reserve troops are about to start wildin’!!

But the honorable Isotake Akuta would never turn down a chocolate. Instead, he welcomes all chocolates, no matter the amount, with open arms…

Wait, can you ship stuff from school…? I might have to carry it all back myself, so maybe I should start training my shoulders⁠—

Yukikaze

<⁠Fly to even greater heights…⁠>

Akuta

Wha⁠— HUH!? Is that Yukikaze-san?!

Yukikaze

<⁠Melt even deeper into sweet bliss.⁠>

Akuta

*whistle* Damn, he even gets commercials like these? Now THAT’S a celeb!

Yukikaze

<⁠Express your own feelings in your own way.⁠>

Akuta

In my own way…?

(Ah, it’s coming. I can feel it. It’s here.)

(The spark, a flash of inspiration is descending upon me…)

(EUREKA!!!)

…!! AWWWW YEAAAAAAAH!!

He’s right… I can’t just keep gatekeeping all that chocolate to myself, I’ve gotta stop being so small-minded…!

Say good-bye to a passive Valentine’s!!

It’s time for me to go on the offensive and ATTACK!!! That’s what Boss Bro Yukikaze was hinting at all along!

Liguang

Isotake, it’s late, so keep it down. Don’t disturb our neighbors.

Akuta

Liguang-san! What impeccable timing of yours to return right at this moment!

Liguang

Huh?

3

Akuta

Please gimme some work!! I’m a super duper tough guy, bet!! Plus, I’m an early riser too!!

Liguang

H-Hey, don’t jump at me. You’re too cl⁠—

Akuta

I-I don’t mind if it’s dangerous!! I’ll get on a fishing boat, heck, a spaceship even, ANYTHING GOES, PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!!

Liguang

Get off of me already, brat!

Akuta

No can do, Liguang-san! Please, work with me here! I just want money! I need me some cold hard cash, FAST!!!

Liguang

What…? Money?