GenderSwitchs Vol. 5 (English)

Chapter 6: Plans for chocolate day

February. That month of the year where the cold envelops the atmosphere due to the winter season, and the purest and most impure romance stories emerge. That time of the year where everyone prepares and looks forward to receive something from the person they are interested in, or also, from someone close to them that makes them feel loved.

Yes, I'm talking about that time of the year. Valentine's Day.

It had been almost two months since the year started. A few days after that, we went back to school without much trouble, and the days continued to pass as they did all the time.

However, now that Valentine's Day was approaching, not only I, Asahina Mayomi, self-proclaimed number one Valentine's Day fan, but many more people were preparing to celebrate that day, where they would give chocolates to the people they love. I, being no exception, started planning how to prepare some for Hotarou, the person I'm interested, and with whom I am madly in love. But at the same time, in the middle of the planning process, some doubts arose.

Will I really be able to prepare homemade chocolates for him? Moreover, he would even accept them to begin with?

I thought as I finished combing my hair, so I could head to school.

Leaving my room, somewhat in a hurry because I wanted to leave my house quickly, I heard a shout coming from the other side of the house; it was from my younger stepbrother:

"Sis, are you leaving already?"

"Yeah, what do you want now?" I replied somewhat grumpily, 'cause he interrupted my thoughts.

"While you're at it, why don't you go buy me something to drink? The store is just around the corner." He said to me in a somewhat nonchalant tone, as the latter was finishing dressing to go to his school.

"Ah? Go and buy it yourself!"

"Don't be so selfish with your brother, Mayo!" Shouted my stepmother, who was walking by as she was carrying the clothes out.

"Oh right, then do I have to go and buy this brat his drink?" I replied annoyed by the situation.

"Your brother isn't a brat, Mayo. You should stop being so spoiled, at least for once."

I can't believe she seriously just said that... Again.

I thought as I sighed from anger, and I agreed.

"Uhg, fine, I'll go. Let's see, what do you want?"

"Chocolate."

"Ah?"

"I mean the drink. Liquid chocolate, get it?" Said my stepbrother, who was waving his hands at me, almost as if he was mocking me.

"... Okay." I said, and left the house as fast as I could.

You may be wondering, what just happened? Well, this is a normal day in my life now.

A couple of years ago, about 6 years maybe, my mother passed away from an illness she had been suffering from in secret, and which she hadn't told anyone about until the day she died.

My father, who until then had been the one who was bringing money to the house, was devastated by her passing, as was I, who was very saddened and confused by her loss. However, until about four years ago, after he tried to get over his sorrows and my mother's death, he fell in love with someone else, and married her not so long after that. She was a woman with black hair, rather pale skin, and eyes as dark as darkness itself, but in which the lights shone all around her.