Huh? What’s up, Muneuji?
The student council received word just now that there were transfer students entering the school today.
…15 students, to be exact. I believe Mr. Karigane should have contacted you about it.
W-WHAAAAAAT!?!?
The goal of Plan Give ‘n’ Get is to give the entire student body chocolates, so I was rather concerned…
Yeah. We managed to hand out 10,000 chocolates, since everyone helped out.
At this rate, we won’t be able to roll credits if we don’t get that 100% completion.
Well said. However, do we have the means to cover those 15 students?
If it’s just 15 people, I can probably sneak out to the convenience store during lunch break and buy some Tiril chocolate…
……
What seems to be the problem?
…I only have…
…46 yen left in my wallet.
I see… You are someone that I can trust, so I would not mind lending you some spare change, if you wish.
……
Nah…
It’s fine. Thanks.
But…
I’ve still got a card up my sleeve.
……
Nothing says climbing the stairs to ADULTHOOD like a bougie box of chocolates!
Akuta-kun… You’re such a nice boy.
Guess I should’ve known things were going a bit too smoothly for me today…
God’s given me the perfect opportunity to fire Chekhov’s gun.1
*paper tearing*
Do be my guest, Principal Naoe.
<To our esteemed transfer students, we wish you a most splendid youth at our glorious Hama Asunaro High School—
HAPPY VALENTIIIIIINE’S!
!
<You are…>
The one and only Love Guru!
Welcome to our very own Asu High! And for a limited-time only, instead of the usual moving-in soba, I’ll be handing out some chocolates to commemorate your transfers!
Alright, form a line, single file please.
Isotake-kun, could those golden egg-shaped chocolates possibly be…?
Well y’know, just to say HAMA NICE Valentine!
…Ah, I see.
Ohh, thanks…? This seems pretty fancy though. You sure it’s alright?
Oh, this is awesome. I thought I wouldn’t get to give any chocolate to my friends this year.
I have no idea who you are, but thanks.
…Heheheh.
Well then, peeps, best of luck to your youthful days!
Yay, the surprise was a huuuuuge success!!
I knew I should’ve given them the chocolates! They all looked super happy!
……
(Yeah, this was for the best.)
Welcome back, Akuta.
…’m back…
You seem down. Are you hungry?
……
Oh, that thing you’re holding… It’s the Golden Goose Egg chocolate box, right?
Yeah…
The wrapping paper is torn to pieces… Don’t tell me, did a crow attack you?
Or is someone at school giving you trouble…?
Nope. I was just trying to get all the hidden achievements…
…?
Right, there were 15 transfer students…
And that box has 16 chocolates in it. I don’t know if we had just the right amount or if we were just short…
I thought about using my last 46 yen to buy a small purple kale, like, I thought I should at least make it look pretty since it’s only a single piece of chocolate.
But since Teach’s an adult, I thought maybe he’d understand even if I gave him cheap candy…
…Akuta.
Hm?
The price doesn’t matter. Chief would be more than happy with anything as long as you put your true feelings into it.
Put my true feelings into it…
Yes, whether it’s a single piece of chocolate or some purple kale.
Yep. Even if it’s not chocolate, I’m sure he’d—
Even if it’s not chocolate…?
(Ahh… it’s coming. The spark, it’s here!!)
Ah… AHHHHH…!
WE STILL HAVE THE CREDIT COOKIES LEFT TO GO!!!
I’m…back…
……
Isotake…
(He’s glued to the screen and seems really focused… Is he working on a movie?)
……
(! It’s footage of the chief smiling…)
…!!
(He’s clipping them at a tremendous speed…!)
Footnotes
-
A narrative principle where an element introduced into a story first seems unimportant, but will later take on great significance. ↩
-
The original Japanese says ハボタン三郎 (hadatan saburou) with hadatan being a type of kale/cabbage and saburou meaning “third son”, which is a reference to how kale and cabbage are related. The third child also symbolizes good luck in Japanese culture, so the reference here is that Akuta wanted to present
Kaede with a lucky item. ↩