Chapter 513: Valentine's Day Arc—Conclusion

Chapter 513: Valentine's Day Arc—Conclusion

"First step, chop the chocolate into pieces to melt it..." Tsukuyo, wearing an apron and a headband, stood before the kitchen stove, mumbling to herself while consulting a book titled "Essential Valentine's Day Guide for Girls—Chocolate Edition."

Various ingredients, such as blocks of dark chocolate, milk, sugar, eggs, and cream, were arrayed on the cutting board in front of her.

The stove was on, with a small iron pot filled with boiling water; nearby lay molds, a strainer, and a whisk, among other tools.

"Tsukki, need any help?"

Hinowa opened the kitchen door, slowly wheeling in her electric wheelchair.

"What? No, no need!" Tsukuyo quickly turned around, hiding the book behind her, and hastily explained, "I was just a bit hungry and thought I'd cook some ramen! It's not about making Valentine's chocolates or anything!"

"Is that so... If that's the case, it seems you don't need any help then." Hinowa smiled and began to turn her wheelchair to leave but paused at the door as if remembering something. She turned back with a smile to offer a last piece of advice.

"By the way, that book that looks like a ramen tutorial behind you seems to have caught fire from the stove. I think it might be a good idea to put it out quickly."

Hinowa controlled her wheelchair to leave the kitchen, gently closing the door behind her.

Left alone in the kitchen, Tsukuyo looked at the book in her hands, which was now burned down to a corner. She opened the tap and put the burning book under the running water without a second thought.

The book's fire was extinguished, but the soaked remains were now a pulpy mess.

Looking at the remnants of the book, now unreadable, Tsukuyo silently threw it into the trash can and cleared her throat, trying to reassure herself:

"Cough, cough, it's okay! It doesn't matter at all! All the ingredients are ready! It's straightforward! The chocolate is pre-made; you just need to figure out how to mix these ingredients!"

With that, Tsukuyo's sleeve flashed a hint of steel, and a kunai appeared in her right hand.

"First step... chop!"

After a flurry of activity, the kunai cut the chocolate into tiny pieces along with the cutting board.

"Next, melt!" Saying this, Tsukuyo threw the chocolate and the bits of the cutting board into the boiling pot.

"Then, mix!"

Tsukuyo dumped almost everything on the stove into the boiling pot, including the seasonings and ingredients.

Wiping sweat from her brow, Tsukuyo looked at what was essentially a hotpot before her and smiled easily. "It's surprisingly simple, much like making a hotpot."

"Now, the next step is to shape it."

Tsukuyo bent down to look for the molds she had prepared earlier, only to realize she had tossed them into the pot earlier.

"Well, this just makes it even more convenient."

Muttering to herself, Tsukuyo turned off the stove, used a towel to handle the hot pot, and placed it in the freezer.

After packaging it, Tsukuyo remembered the most crucial question.

Who... should she give it to?

...

Later, kneeling at the dinner table just like during breakfast, Tsukuyo hesitated before Hinowa softly said, "Tsukki, there are only four hours left until midnight. If there's something you must do today, go ahead."

"The patrol is all set!" Tsukuyo quickly replied.

"No, I'm not talking about that. But... never mind..." Hinowa turned to her son, "Seita, please push me out."

"Okay..."

...

At eleven o'clock at night, having finally decided, Tsukuyo stood at Kawaki's door, hesitating for half an hour before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

"Oh, Tsukki, what is it?" Kawaki, still suffering from too much chocolate, lay weakly on the table.

"Ah, it's nothing," Tsukuyo replied lightly.

"If it's nothing, let me rest a bit. My stomach hurts from all that chocolate... it's so painful..." Kawaki sighed.

"Oh... yes..." After responding twice, Tsukuyo turned and walked towards the door, regretting inwardly: Why did I just leave like that? What was I here for?

"Wait..."

"What... what is it?" Tsukuyo turned back, trying to maintain a composed face.

"Bring it here." Kawaki extended his hand casually.

"What?"

"The chocolate."

"Huh? Why should I give you chocolate!" Tsukuyo exclaimed.

"You didn't prepare any?" Kawaki was surprised, "I thought I'd get some as a thanks. Don't they always call me the savior of Yoshiwara? Well, never mind. No chocolate, then. Goodnight."

Just as Kawaki finished speaking, a heart-shaped chocolate landed on his table.

Kawaki stared at the chocolate next to him in surprise, then looked up towards the door to say something but found the door closed and Tsukuyo seemingly gone.

"Valentine's Day this year..." Kawaki unwrapped the chocolate, glanced at the clock on the wall about to strike midnight, and took a big bite, "...has perfectly ended. But then again, this chocolate... tastes awful..."

Outside, Tsukuyo leaned against the wall, listening to the sounds of Kawaki chewing the chocolate inside, and gently curled her lips upwards.