This fanfic describes the daily lives of Sakura and Syaoran. I haven’t decided how many chapters this fic will consist of.
This chapter describes the scene of Valentine’s Day in Japanese style. Valentine’s Day in Japan is girls’ day to give chocolates to boys they like. The meaning of giving gift stands not only on romantic reason but also social stuff. Those gift chocolates are classified for respective purposes into honmei choco and giri choco. Plus, tomo choco is mentioned in this fic. Which are explained like this:
Honmei Choco The chocolate to give to the boyfiend, or someone of the romantic interest. Japanese girls give honmei choco to sign their romantic feelings toward the boy who receives it. Most girls made their honmei choco on their own to express their originality.
Giri Choco Just a token chocolate to keep the social smoothness. Japanese girls give giri chocos to their father, friends, and others who are nice to them in daily lives. Unlike honmei choco, those chocolates tend to be reasonable ones bought at grocery stores.
Tomo Choco The chocolate to exchange between close friends. Lately, Japanese girls exchange chocolates to express their friendship. Unlike the other types, tomo choco can also be sent to girls, not only to boys. Depending on the tightness of the friendship, the gift chocolates could be expensive or handmade like honmei chocos.
Composed by Keisei Limited Express for Sakura
Translated by Yuki Neco
The alarm cloock went off at 6:30, in Syaoran’s apartment.
“It’s morning, already...” An early bird though he is, it’s hard to get up in the morning after the night he came back from Hong Kong. As a matter of fact, Syaoran had taken a flight from Narita to Hong Kong early in the morning of Friday for the new year of the lunar calendar, stayed at his home Frieday and Saturday nights, and had came back by the last flight. He had opened the door back to his own place at Tomoeda at 1:00 a.m., and soon he fell into asleep, but it seemed he couldn’t recover from the three days trip.
“Oh, yeah, I gotta go to school... Let’s get up,” he thought, and turned off the alarm clock. He took a glance at the digital clock which read MON 02/14/2005. Syaoran, who was half recovered, got exhausted with another fatigue. “Oh, Gosh, today is the day...”
Syaoran had been annoyed by this day. He entered Seijou High School with Sakura, but more than 30 % of the freshmen were from Tomoeda Junior High, so he had many old friends in shool. That implied that there were many who knew that Syaoran and Sakura were going out on a date. Besides, both of them were very popular. So it was the anual event in school that girls crowded around Syaoran to hand him chocolates, and that boys wandered about Sakura to look for a chance to get chocolate from her. Some girls succeeded their atemps, while no boys ever succeeded.
“Master Syaoran, you might as well need a big bag today,” said Wei.
“Uh, sure, thanks,” Syaoran agreed.
He grabbed a big bag in which to pack the chocolates he gets. Last year, he didn’t have a bag, so he had to go back by taxi that Wei called him, He was really embarrassed to get in the taxi with more than an armfull of chocolates.
On finishing his breakfast, he left for school with his usual school bag and the bigger one which bound to be a chocolate container.
“Hoeeee! I’m gonna be late!”
This girl screamed as usual. As she woke up a minute ago, she didn’t remember that it was Valentine’s Day, when Kerberus, the sweet lover who had been waiting for the day, asked Sakura, “Hey, Sakura, you don’t forget what kind of special day today is?”
“Hoe? What is it?” she blinked her eyes.
He collapsed in repsonse, “You totally forgot! You’re supposed to give me something brown and sweet that I love so much.”
“Oh, right! I left the cholocate in the fridge!” she screamed.
Sakura didn’t answered Kero. She changed her clothes and went downstairs. Fujitaka was preparing lunch boxes for his children in the kitchen.
“Good morning, Dad.”
“Good morning, Sakura.”
By the way, her brother Touya worked for a shop in Haneda Airport, and he lived on his own. But as a matter of fact, his anxiety about his little sister just made him live in a nearby bachelor apartment. Now, it was Sakura and her father Fujitaka (and Kero) that lived in the house together.
“Uh, Dad, I hope you like it,” Sakura gave him a chocolate.
“Thank you, Sakura,” Fujitaka smiled, “You gave it your best to make this.” The chocolate was star shaped. She made sure she has all the chocolates to give someone, and then left home. There was a poor guy forgotten by her was seeing her off from the window upstairs.
“There’s no hope. She totally forgot about me...”
Time of getting in, students crowded in the entrance of the school building of Seijou High School. However, the atmosphere among the students were kind of distant. Syaoran came in the crowd. And soon, his classmates, Kouichi Hara and Yuuki Yamamoto came, too.
“Hey, Syaoran, what’s that big bag for?” grinned Yuuki.
Syaoran replied unpleasantly, “You’ll see in a minute.” As soon as he opened his shoe cupboard, a mountain of chocolates which was literally packed inside avalanched out of the cupboard.
“That explains it,” sighed Kouichi.
“I envy you. I wish I were you,” groaned Yuuki.
“Nop, I’d rather be sorry for him,” Kouichi sighed again. Koichi who somehow understood his problem, and Yuuki who felt kind of jealous of him helped Syaoran pick up the chocolates scattered around them, before going to their classroom. Syaoran’s class was the division 2, and Sakura’s was the 5. Just as he predicted, five chocolates were in his desk drawer. Before the class began, he already got more than 10 chocolates. Nevertheless, it was slower than he was in junior high, when he got more than 20.
On the other hand, several boys were waiting in the hall in front of Sakura’s classroom. When Sakura walked to the classroom, one of the boys talked to her, “Hey, Sakura, are you going to give me a chocolate? Just a giri choco is OK.”
“Sorry, I have no giri chocos,” she said and escaped into the classroom. Chiharu and Kamio came up to Sakura.
“Good morning, Sakura. Today will be good...” Chiharu sympathized, “I can’t believe what those boys have in their mind!”
“Search me...” Sakura sweatdroped.
“I somehow know how they feel...” Kamio mumbled.
“I can’t belive those flirts,” Chiharu pouted, “They know she’s going out with Syaoran, though. Too nasty. Takashi is more of a gentleman in contrast.”
Hearing like Syaoran is her date, Sakura blushed in response, when she thought, “I wonder when I should give it to him...”
Even during a short break, Syaoran was called by some girls and received chocolates. Now at the break just before the fourth period, he broke his record at his junior high school days. Sakura, too, was asked by some boys for chocolate, but she didn’t stay there or talk. It was hard for her to get closer to her classroom or Syaoran’s.
Yuuki, Kouichi, Kamio, and Syaoran were having their lunch on the rooftop.
“It’s not a good idea to eat chocolate after lunch,” grumbled Kouchi.
“Two sweet!” Kamio winced.
“But why the heck have we gotta consume the chocolate brought to Syaoran?” Yuuki complained.
“How can I eat all these by myself? I really need your help,” Syaoran said in a complaining tone.
“He’s right. Come on, Yuuki, we gotta help Seijou High’s Mr. Cool Guy out,” said Kouichi.
“That’s what you said,”Yuuki replied, “I’d really rather like to get a chocolate from Sakura than ones from unknown senders. Uh, just a giri choco will be good, not to mention.”
The other three guys turned silent not to find a good response.
Sakura was eating her lunch on a lawn just by the playground, with Chiharu Miki Ihara, and Sayuri Yoshida from the Division 5, and Rika, Megumi Kawamura, and Yukie Takahashi from the Division 7, because of their club activity for the afternoon. All of them are in the cheerleading squad.
“Hey, you guys gave chocolate to someone?” Sayuri began cheerfully.
“I gave him yesterday,” Chiharu replied first, “Takashi lives in Chiha prefecture.”
“I haven’t,” Yukie said, “I plan to give it to the captain of the soccer club. How ’bout you, Mie?”
“All of my gift chocolate just went to you guys, that’s all. I don’t need to giving one to boys...” Miki said, “How about you, Meg?”
“I’ll hand my boyfriend my chocolate when I get back home. He lives in the neiborhood,” Megumi answared, “Uh, Sakura? You gave it to Syaoran like other years, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I’ve got one with me, but I think I should make an appointment after school to give it to him,” Sakura bashfully said, “because there’s such a fuss around him.”
“You’re smart,” Rika replied, “And be careful. Boys are pestering you for chocolates, right?”
“Yeah, boys are persistent,” Sayuri agreed. “Anyway, did you give one to your husband?”
“Yep,” Rika said in blush.
“Wow, great. You’re a madly loving newlywed!” “I hear you two leave home together hand in hand.” “He must be pround that he’s got this young lovely wife.” Kaori, Miki, and Yukie said in chorus.
“By the way, Yuri? Did you give one to someone?” asked Chiharu.
“Yeah, I did. On the way here,” Sayuri replied.
“Oh, can I ask who?” Rika widened her eyes.
“Ummm... Sorry, Sakura. It was Syaoran.” Sayuri said shutting her eyes.
The girls were astounded by her confess, until Sakura smiled, “Never mind, Yuri. He got so many chocolates every year.”
“Ah, right,” Kaori uttered at the moment, “I hear they organized Syaoran’s Groupie.”
“Hoeee... I didn’t know it...” Sakura sweatdropped.
The homeroom class was over, and the class was dismissed. That day, there’s no practice because the coach was out for the teachers’ training. Having aparted her friends, she headed for the bus stop in front of her school. She had an appointment meeting Tomoyo at the station. It was only the day both of them were free from their club activities when the two could get together, because Tomoyo goes to a prestige school in the same town.
Sakura waiting for a bus saw someone familiar, so she called aloud, “Syaoran!”
“Hey, Sakura, how come you are waiting for a bus? I thought you’ve got a bike,” Syaoran said.
“I came on foot today,” Sakura shook her head, “Cause I have an plan to meet Tomoyo at the station. Are you coming, too? She’ll be happy.”
“In that case... I haven’t seen her lately,” he said looking side by side carefully, before adding “Besides, I just want some other place to be.”
“Hoe, what do you mean?”
At this time, a bus bound for Tomoeda Gakuen North Entrance came up, so they jumped onto it. He answered when he got seated, “There’ll be trouble if I keep receiving another ones. I share them with Kamio and the others, but I’ve still got traumatizing amount.”
Sakura laughed nervously, “I’m quite sorry for you, Syaoran. But the girls who gave them should be happy if you receive.”
“I have a limited capacity,” he complained, “I’ve got more than 10 left to go.”
The two arrived at the station in ten minutes. They walked to the appointment place, there was Tomoyo waiting already.
“Hey, Sakura. And Syaoran, too” smiled Tomoyo.
“Yeah, he was busy getting a lot of chocolate given by girls today,” Sakura said.
“Look at all the stuff in this bag,” Syaoran opened his bag to show inside.
“You got tons!” Tomoyo exclaimed.
The three teenagers walked into a coffee shop to have a talk.
“Look, Sakura. This is for you,” Tomoyo handed Sakura a wrapped box.
“Thank you, Tomoyo! I have something for you, too.”
The two girls exchanged their chocolate like every year. In these years, tomo chocos, which means giving to or exchanging with close friends, have been getting the rage rather than conventional giri chocos.
“And, did you guys exchange chocolates today?” Tomoyo asked.
“Uhn... We haven’t...” Sakura replied.
“Uh, Sakura. Drop by my apartment later. I left it at home, so I’ll give it to you when we got home.” Syaoran said.
“OK!” Sakura cheerfully replied.
Tomoyo noticed that the atmosphere in the coffee shop had been turning warmer and milder, when she shouted inside her mind, “These two soften the mood around them even without realizing it. This is the perfect healing power!” Not to mention, Tomoyo is the one who got healed more than anyone else.
About an hour later, the two teenagers were in Syaoran’s apartment. When they got back, Wei happened to go out for shopping. In fact, that was his favor for Sakura and Syaoran to have their time without being distracted by anyone.
“I am really thankful to Wei’s graciousness,” Sakura said.
“That’s OK. I’ll just make some tea, so just relax.”
“Oh, I’ll help you,” Sakura stood on her feet. The two made some tea and took some cake out on the table, until they got seated.
“OK, this is for you, Syaoran,” Sakura took a chocolate out of her bag. There was a big haert-shaped one, and a small star-shaped one.
“What’s the star thing for?” Syaoran blinked his eyes.
“It’s for Wei. I’ve known him for a long time, but I never given him one, because I thought he doesn’t like sweets. But I decide to give him one this year,” Sakura answered.
“Thank you. He’ll be happy with this,” Syaoran smiled, “And this is for you, Sakura.”
Sakura received the box Syaoran gave to her and found that inside was the tea of the same brand that they were having.
“I gave you chocolate every year, so I thought I should give you something different, and Fuetieh, my big sister recommended it.” Syaoran explained.
“That’s right. You were back in Hong Kong in last Christmas holidays. Thank you! I hope I love this one!” Sakura exclaimed.
Half an hour later, Syaoran walked Sakura to the entrance of his apartment building to see her off. He saw a familiar four-by-four. From inside the car, a voice came out for Sakura, “I knew it. You were with that brat, kaijuu.”
“Touya!” Sakura shouted in surprise, “What are you doing here?”
“I know exactly where you are, especially on your birthday and this day of year,” her brother brusquely said, “Let’s go home. Yuki’s getting tired of waiting.”
“No kidding? Yukito’s in my house?”
“Yep.”
“All right. Hold on a minute,” Sakura said when she ran up to him. “Hey, Syaoran.”
“What is it?” Before he finished his words, he felt something warm touch on the left cheek, and hearing “See you tomorrow,” spoken by Sakura next moment. She hopped into Touya’s car. When the car was gone, he just knew, “Her face was red... What? That could have been... That something touched my cheek was... was... her lips?!”
He stood slient with his face as red as a beet, and a few minutes later Wei getting back with grocery bag saw him and got puzzled, as he still stading in the same state with the red face.
Sakura ate dinner, handed chocolates to Yukito and Touya, and took a bath before getting into bed.
“Sakura, where could my chocolate be?” Kero asked sadly.
“Oops, sorry. I left it in the fridge. But it’s late and I’ll go get it for you tomorrow,” Sakura replied when getting under the bedding.
“That’s impossible...” groaned Kero. He was totally forgotten whole the day.
On the other hand, the forgetter Sakura recalled what she’d done to Syaoran at the moment she left his apartment. “What made me do that to him...”
The girl and the boy had at least one thing in common; she turned as red as a beet.
To be continued...
My fic Departure hasn’t finished, and this one is just a coffee break. This fic will be continued, but I think I should finish Departure first.
But... you might think I have made up many original characters?
Some of them were in Departure as well, but there are even
some more original characters, aren’t there. The last part of this
fic was kind of a sweet romance. It the sweetest thing I can write.