Blossoms of the Dark

CXIX Selene: Safety

Today is the eleventh of January.

Todoroki-kun's birthday.

I've prepared a birthday gift for him.

Actually, many gifts.

The first are a ribbon-tied small rectangular box, a pink carnation, and a handmade birthday card. When he enters the classroom, I intentionally do not raise my eyes from my book to look at him directly. Instead, I watch him from my periphery. He takes a long yawn but pauses midway when he notices his desk. Curious, he opens the card. In it, I've wished him for the happiest of birthdays and written a time and address. Then he twirls the carnation in his hands. I wish my vision was good enough to tell whether he was grinning. Finally, he unravels the ribbon and opens the box.

"Thank you, Hanada-chan," he says. Now I do look at him fully. He is smiling - no beaming like the moon's rays - and holding the sandalwood fountain pen. "I love the presents. You put plenty of thought into this. A personally designed card, a January birth flower ... but what's the reasoning behind the pen?"

"You once mentioned that you enjoyed drawing. I was not sure if I should have bought you a set of quality colored pencils or lead pencils of various thicknesses. Then I thought that you would appreciate something more sentimental." I fumble for something in my purse for a moment. "Here," I raise a twin fountain pen. "I've had these two pens for many years. The person from whom I brought it from told me that I should keep one pen for myself and give the other to someone would treasure its twin ..." I feel a little embarrassed now, so I change the subject. "I've heard that fountain pens are excellent for sketching. I used mine to write that card, so you could have a sample. Do you like it?"

"I love it. The pen and the emotion." He sniffs it. "It has the same fragrance as your perfume. I'll cherish it."

What I have to say next is much more difficult for me, but I swallow and summon false courage. "There's a fourth gift. I've mentioned it in the card. Would you be all right with coming?" Against my will, the question comes out barely louder than a whisper.

"What?" he asks, confused.

"The card," I repeat. "Can you ... Would you ... D-did you look at the back of the card?" I stammer. He didn't. I feel my cheeks burn a fiery red. I'm so humiliated right now. "Th-th-there's more on the b-back of the-the card," I mumble behind my hands covering my cheeks. If I weren't keeping this lie of having an elemental quirk, I would have teleported myself out of the solar system.

"Oh, yeah. There's a time and address. What for?" The genius responsible for my predicament finally notices.

"I-it's for tonight. The-the last birthday present. C-c-could you p-please come?"

"It's in the direction of your home, so yeah. Sure, I'll come," he says, utterly unaware of my position. What's appalling is that when he does, his grin turns mischievous. "Hanada-chan, I didn't take you as the type of girl to invite a boy to a clandestine meeting in the dead of night. Were you always this ... improper?"

Ten bleeding hells and all their lords! Suddenly, my haughtiness rises to overcome my shame. "Why, did you think you're the only one who could invite me somewhere secluded at an ungodly hour? Just as you did not bring me to the sunrise spot for something indecent, I am not asking you to come so late at night at this destination for something improper. It's simply a gift for your birthday, and the only time I could give it to you was then. That's all there is to it."

"Okay, okay." he gasps between his chuckling. "Sorry for taking that in a completely different direction. I'll be there."

I make a sound of approval and resolutely focus on my book.