7 - Freshman Year, Winter 2

It’s February now and Valentine’s Day as well. Even in this fantasy world, it exists as a day for girls to give chocolates to boys they like. This strange has custom has continued for 500 years in this world, as it had been in Japan in my previous life.

I feel the weight of history.

Speaking of my previous life, there was never anyone I wanted to give chocolates to then, so I forgot about Valentine’s Day. However, it seems that it’s a big deal at this school, especially with all the attractive students.

“This is for you, Eli,” Serena says as she gives me heart-shaped chocolate in a heart-shaped box, my new favorite.

“Thank you,” I said before I took a bite. “It’s delicious.”

“Is it?” Serena asked before she giggled and said, “that makes me glad.”

She was so sweet and adorable.

After school, I went looking for Serena and found a massive line. I headed up to the front to investigate and found her sitting at a table. “If you have chocolate only, put it in this box,” Serena said, “anything else, put it in this box. Bare chocolates are not allowed.”

“What are you doing, Serena?” I asked.

The line erupted into noise.

“It’s really her.”

“She’s so divine.”

“We ought to start worshiping her.”

How many people are here? I turned to Serena and asked, “What is this line and who are these people?”

“Umm…” Serena went.

In a nutshell, these people were members of my fan club and the line was so they could give chocolates and other gifts to Serena. “But why you, specifically?” I asked.

“I can explain!” said a girl on the side. “Serena is the president of the fan club. As part of her duties, she collects chocolate and gifts.”

“Serena, why haven’t I heard about this before?” I asked Serena.

“Because, I thought you’d be repulsed by it,” Serena explained sheepishly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not repulsed,” I said.

“You’re not?” Serena asked, nervously tilting her head again.

She’s so cute. I want to hug her right now. “I’m not,” I said before I did just that.

Ultimately I decided to let Serena keep collecting the chocolate and gifts, mostly because there were so many of them . As my appearance caused quite the fuss, we also ended up holding a meet-and-greet event next to it; Noblesse Oblige, I suppose. 1

Just as the line ended and we were trying to take it all home, Arthur appeared. Wonderful. “Eliza, don’t you have chocolate for me?” he asked. “I will gladly accept it alongside your kicks.”

“Eli won’t give anything to a perverted prince like you,” Serena said. “Have some self-awareness.”

I wondered if it was a good idea to let speak for me like this, as Lancelot was already pulling up by my side.

“By the way, Arthur, how many chocolates did you get?” I ask.

“45, as I’m sure you’re surprised to hear,” he said. “You may kick me now.”

“I’m not going to kick you, and I’m afraid I have 100,” I reply.

“Wha–?!” goes Arthur and several others hiding in the shadows. So shocked was he that he went home without another word.

It’s March now and once again, White Day has been around for 500 years. 2 White Day is a Japanese holiday on March 14, a month after Valentine’s Day. As shown here, it’s when the males give return gifts to the females who gave them chocolate last month. It was originally started by a company selling marshmallows, hence the name.[/efnnote] It’s so strange that these customs last so long in a world like this.

It was hard to give back to all the people who’d sent me Valentine’s Day chocolates. It’s in return for my fans, so because I’m their “perfect lady”, I felt I had to put some effort into it. I ended up making chocolates for 100 recipients, each with an individualized message card.

The fans who got it ended up getting dog-piled by five others at the least. My popularity may have kickstarted a religious cult.

“I’ve come to receive my chocolate,” Mordred says as he appears from out of nowhere.

“I can’t give you anything if I didn’t get anything from you last month,” I told him.

Mordred looks troubled and leaves. He returns three minutes later and hands me chocolate. “Here.”

“Well, those are the terms,” I said as I gave him one back, “you fulfilled your end, I’ll fulfill my end.”

“Hmm, hmm, thank you,” Mordred hummed before he left once again.

“Hrmm, you were really sweet with Mordred right now, huh, Eli?” Serena grumbled, her cheeks puffed up. She’s so cute.

“Here, Serena,” I say as I give her her present.

“This is…?”

“A thank you gift,” I said. For everything,” I added before I turned away in embarrassment.

“Eli!” Serena cries as she hugs me as usual. “I love you so, so much!”

Footnotes

Noblesse Oblige is a concept where the aristocracy must serve the lower classes.