laserhawk | ( inbox )

Glad to see my assets are appreciated.

All right. Bring them over whenever you want.

[ He doesn't have to wait too long, as Haru has already prepared most of the chocolates she's planning to give out for Valentine's.

She waves to Dolph when she approaches, as usual needing to crane her neck to better look him in the eye the closer she gets. ]

I'm glad to see you. It's been a while. Is it busy at the club?

A little. Definitely better now the lights are back on.

[ most of his own technical troubles have also died down, thankfully. which is good considering it stressed everyone around him. nothing says a good time like dying.

and that also meant he didn't get out much. ]

What about you? Everything okay?

The cafe is functional again, which I'm relieved about.

[ There's only so much one can do in the dark. Power is necessary to keep the cafe running, so it was closed until recently. ]

I spent a lot of time on Eren's farm, though we did venture into the castle. We didn't learn anything, unfortunately.

[ dolph gives her a curious look. the mention of eren's farm was somewhat surprising to him. ]

You did, huh?

Well, it's fine. It's hard to gain much from the castle anyway.

I was hoping to learn more about this reality, but perhaps the castle isn't the best place.

[ There will be other opportunities, she hopes.

Little does she know what's on the horizon. ]

Did you explore as well?

[ dolph slowly shakes his head, hesitating. ]

No. The blackout affected my systems, so I couldn't move.

Even your...

[ Before she can even finish her sentence, she realizes how it completely makes sense any electronic was affected. Her eyes glean over Dolph's cybernetics, laced with concern. ]

Are you alright now? If I had known, I would have stopped by to help if you needed it.

You wouldn't have been able to do anything.

[ it's not meant to be cruel, it's just facts. and dolph hated the idea of lying there, making people sad with his failing body. ]

It's fine now. Everything is stable.

[ Her hand presses against her chest, fingers lightly gripping at her purple coat. ]

I'm glad you're fine now.

[ She can't imagine her body shutting down in that way, against her will. It's frightening to even contend with the idea.

She lifts the container with chocolates inside and puts on a smile. ]

And thank you again for helping. I'm a bit nervous about giving chocolate this year, to be honest...

Is this your first time?

[ surely she's done this before? but then again. everyone's a little . . . odd around akira. ]

[ It's not her first, no, but for the specific kind of sentiment going behind the chocolate for Akira?

Her cheeks burn a bit.

Then there's still Minato and Kazuya, leaving a mess of confusing emotions that won't settle in her chest. ]

I've given Valentine's chocolates before, but usually obligation chocolate, as we call it. I'm not sure what Valentine's is like in your world, but where I'm from, the girls give chocolate in February and then the boys reciprocate in March on White Day.

[ in his world? dolph frowns for a moment. ]

It's just a commercial thing. I do something with the people I love here but that's about it.

Sounds like it's the same though.

Do you have something special planned for it with your husband?

[ There's a faint, girlish sigh from her; as nervous as she is, she loves Valentine's. ]

... with Eren, too?

[ he smiles faintly. ]

Yeah. I try to make sure I have time with all of them.

[ . . . he's going to be busy this month. ]

If you're going to give them chocolate, I don't mind helping.

[ Whenever they finally get inside and have a seat somewhere, Haru will lay out the container in front of Dolph, with multiple chocolates in front, some decorated and some more plain looking. ]

In Japan, we have a few types of chocolate we give. There's giri chocolate, which is the obligation chocolate you give to friends and coworkers. Then there's honmei, which is a special one you give to the person you like most.

I don't know anything about chocolate, so I'll probably have to come up with something else.

[ he'll pluck one of them, ready to try one. ]

Is the chocolate made in a different way?

[ Haru shakes her head, watching for his reaction to the one he's picked: a truffle with buttercream filling. ]

Not different, it just has different sentiments behind it. Actually, this is the one I want to give to Akira-kun.

[ How good it tastes is important to her, as she wants to present the perfect set of chocolate for him on that day. ]

[ dolph hums. ]

You think he'll pick up on it?

[ She stares down at the chocolates she's made, a bit wistful. ]

I don't know.

[ he sort of expected that, but it makes him sigh anyway. he'll never understand this tangled skein of feelings people have for akira. for dolph, the experience had been markedly different. no less important, just . . . different. ]

I hope you know what you're doing.

I would rather share those feelings.

[ Then keep denying them.

Maybe this time she'll gain more clarity. ]

Besides, I have other chocolates to give this time! I never thought I'd be giving so many boys chocolates...

[ She gestures to one that looks more like plain milk chocolate. ]

[ dolph smiles faintly. ]

Sounds like you're branching out. I remember a time when you used to worry about stuff like that.

[ Haru fiddles quietly in her spot, unable to fight back the blood creeping into her cheeks. ]

Ah, well...!

[ Three very different boys and three very different chocolates. ]

I should give one boy chocolate as a thank you. At the Christmas party, those drinks had us— [ Well, Dolph probably doesn't want to know. ] And then with the other boy...

[ There's no point in trying to deny it with Dolph. He sees through her.

... and it feels refreshing to be able to say it aloud. ]

... he's wonderful, too. Seeing him smile would be nice.

[ yes, spare him the hetero details. still he's glad. she's moving forward. that's how it should be. living your life as freely as you can.

at the very least, dolph too, managed it in the end. he may not have found his fabled beach or the future he desired, but he made something of his own. ]

I'm sure this will coax one out of him.

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