White Day [ Ecchan ]

Hayashi Echizen walked away from her seat. Why? Ayano didn’t care, but as she peered out from the manga she had pretended to be reading to look busy, she saw an opportunity. Because Ecchan left her bag behind, that meant she’d be back. Ayano clapped her book together and reached into her own bag. A faint sweet, fruity, creamy scent tickled her nose as she pulled out the heart shaped box. Written onto it was simply: “To Ecchan from your secret admirer.”

For a split second, Ayano was seized with doubt as her thoughts raced in her mind. Why even do this anonymously? It wasn’t for Ecchan, surely. Would somebody who seemed as refined as Ecchan really care? All it was was some home made white chocolate with dried strawberries sprinkled in. She’d eat it, or throw it away and forget about it, not knowing Ayano even existed. Or was Ayano just trying to admit to herself she liked the blonde beauty? Was this even the right day? Ayano certainly wasn’t a boy and she didn’t get anything from Echizen back on Valentine’s day. But White Day was when girls got chocolates, right? And what if she was caught? What if Ecchan came back early or some other student snitched on her?

“Quiet, you.” Ayano muttered to herself as she stuffed the gift box back into her bag before standing up. The girl meandered about before stopping right next to Ecchan’s seat on pure accident, of course. In one hand, Ayano blindly fiddled around with her phone to keep looking nonchalant. Meanwhile, her other hand quickly opened up Ecchan’s bag and slipped the box of chocolates inside of it. The candy weighed virtually nothing, but Ayano suddenly felt lighter as she made a slight grin. With Operation Mondo Gay surely successful, Ayano took her first few steps away from from Ecchan’s table.

林 越前
Echizen had never been fond of white day. She'd been far too reclusive previously to really have any form of reason to celebrate a holiday that, to her, seemed couched more as a responsibility than anything else. Or maybe it hadn't been. Ecchan huffed and pulled herself away from her seat, walking down the hall during her lunch towards the vending machine. Truthfully, Ecchan hated this holiday because she had only ever received obligation chocolates. She could only blame herself for this, as her past reclusive behavior had practically rendered her invisible. The thud of a cold coffee can shunted her from her thoughts. A quick glance into the glass on the vending machine revealed the same stoic expression she always held. She sighed a bit and brought the coffee back with her. A moment later, and she slid back into her seat, setting the coffee on her desk and gathering her sketchbook. She reached down to change it out with the notebook for her next class (a little extra review never hurt) and brushed her finger against something foreign. Puzzled, she carefully lifted the bag onto her desk and removed the small box. It was plain, but the note attached to the top of the box couldn't have been clearer. These were certainly not obligation chocolates, and if it had been from a friend, it wouldn't have been delivered in secret. She stared at the card a while, blushing silently until a softly muttered expletive escaped her lips. She furrowed her brow, looking closer at the note. It was typed, which clearly meant the person who had given them wanted to remain anonymous. Echizen could respect that, but the mystery still frustrated her. She set the card down gingerly, opening the box slowly. The chocolates were immaculate, dotted occasionally with strawberries that almost frustratingly bordered on patterned. Her blush deepened further when the realization they had been made in hearts sunk in. She closed the box a bit and tried to let her embarrassment simmer down. Instead, all she could think about was her desire to at least know who gave her the chocolates so she could, at the very least, thank them for the gesture. She quickly opened the box again and retrieved one, popping it into her mouth. Either the chocolates were very expensive, or her secret admirer was a culinary arts student. She ate another one and slid the box back into her bag, opening her coffee and pouring over the card again for the faintest clue.
421 WORDS Plotting NOTES AND TAGS Ayano Mizui

credit to alisha of adoxography.

水井 彩乃
Ayano was already out of sight by the time Ecchan had come back. Perfect. And not only on that, but it didn’t take her long to notice the box. And it looked like Ecchan even ate of some of it. However, the delinquent stared off longingly and sighed, dejected. She’d let out her infatuation into the void, but she wasn’t satisfied. What was she even doing? Just leering at the back of some girl’s head? She couldn’t even tell if Ecchan enjoyed the treats at all. The whole reason she’d even bothered with these chocolates in the was because she couldn’t gather the nerve in the first place to really approach Ecchan. So of course, as some pigeon-hearted half measure, it hadn’t really been worth the trouble at all. The chair was pushed back, and Ayano stood up swinging her bag over her back. Once again she made her way back to her crush’s spot. But this this time, she walked with a swagger. She approached her classmate from behind and patted her shoulder, but immediately pivoted to sit next to Echizen. What the delinquent decided to say was entirely a formality, as she simply  helped herself to the seat regardless, “Hey, Ecchan! You mind if I sit here?” “So, those were chocolates, right?” Ayano inquired as she in leaned in, rested her elbow on the table and stroked her chin. “And it’s the 14th too, so does that mean somebody likes you back? Do you have a sweetheart? Awww! I’m proud of you, not wasting any time at all in your first year!” Ayano was bright and bubbly as she played dumb. The indecision wasn't going to loosen it's grip so easily. For now, simply starting up a conversation with this girl was enough.
260 WORDS Thread NOTES AND TAGS Ayano Mizui

credit to alisha of adoxography.

林 越前
Echizen is too absorbed in the card to even notice Ayano until her third question in. The mild blush returns to her face, but she stares at the card, still absorbed in her endeavor to find some semblance of a hint. "I'm... Not sure?" She pauses, setting the card down. "It's anonymous, and I certainly don't remember giving anything on valentine's day." She sighs openly, musing, "This might be something I can't figure out. I'd at least like to thank whoever sent these for the kind gesture, but how do I return something that's an advance if I don't even know who sent it?" She rests her elbow on the table, propping her chin in her hand as her fingers rap against her notebook. Her lips purse as she loses herself to thought briefly. Her curiosity wasn't the true factor that agitated her. She very much wanted to return the favor, as gifts that were not reciprocated in some capacity didn't sit well with her. She mutters something unintelligible before suddenly asking Ayano a question. "Do you think this is a prank, Ayano-san?" She turns her eyes to the girl. "I don't really know anyone in the area beyond their names. Besides, I'm technically a first year here. Who even knows me?" she asks, putting a slight emphasis on 'me'. It's clear that she's more confused than anything. "The chocolates are good though, so maybe it's something real after all? Might be someone in culinary."
245 WORDS Thread NOTES AND TAGS Ayano Mizui

credit to alisha of adoxography.

水井 彩乃
The two girls honestly hadn’t gotten to know each other much at all yet, they were simply acquaintances. Ayano was reminded of this as she looked at Echizen. The underclassman she’d seen before was very dignified, very focused and no nonsense. But Ayano made this same girl blush over a note, and seemed completely flustered. Despite her crush, Ayano was a stranger who’d never seen Echizen like this. Despite a culinary student walking her through all the baking, small sense of pride welled inside of Ayano that this was her doing. However, as Echizen began to worry, Ayano’s arm drifted back down to the table and she let out a loft, wistfull sigh. “Oh, Ecchan, don’t you think you’re overthinking, thing?” Ayano questioned with a tilt of her head. “That’s way too much effort for a prank on somebody you don’t know! There’s nothing worry about. Look, you’re a good looking girl, so one of the students probably just thinks you’re cute… and is being a coward about it. “ The warm, gentle reassurance rolled into a tinge of contempt for the secret admirer. “Maybe she’ll come forward later, maybe she won’t.” She remarked with a shrug. “I can ask if anybody saw anything if you’re really that curious, but not much else to do about it other than enjoy the sweets. There were had no plans of coming forward, but the least the delinquent could do was try to put Ecchan’s mind at ease over this.
247 WORDS Thread NOTES AND TAGS Echizen Hayashi

credit to alisha of adoxography.