My New Life As Suzune Horikita (COMPLETED)

Chapter 55: Valentine's Day Surprises

The morning sunlight filtered through the classroom windows as I walked in, greeted by the usual scene, though today, it was infused with a slight air of disappointment because it was Valentines day and most of the boys of my class were sulking, their expressions almost tragic as they discussed that they didn't get any chocolates today. I couldn't help but smirk at their disappointment-it was almost comical seeing so many of them downtrodden over something as trivial as chocolates.

Across the room, I spotted Hirata, surrounded by several girls offering him neatly wrapped chocolates. His cheerful smile and polite demeanor made him the perfect recipient, and I could sense the jealousy radiating from the other boys. They exchanged envious glances, clearly feeling that he'd stolen all the attention. But I couldn't help being impressed by Hirata's charm and likability. It was no surprise he'd captured the hearts of so many.

In another corner of the room, I noticed Onodera shyly approaching Sudo with a small box of chocolates in hand. Her face was slightly flushed as she extended the gift, and Sudo accepted it with a grin, ruffling his hair in embarrassment as he thanked her. Right next to them, Shinohara handed a box of chocolates to Ike, who seemed stunned but elated. He turned to Sudo, and they both exchanged a look of gratitude, as if they couldn't believe their luck and both thanked their girls. I watched these moments with a quiet smile, finding it strangely satisfying to witness these tiny sparks of connection.

Just then, Ayanokoji walked up to me, his usual calm expression in place. "Horikita," he said, a slight smirk playing on his lips, "are you planning to give any chocolates to someone special?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not really." I suppose because I still have a boy's mentality, despite my appearance. The idea of handing out chocolates felt oddly embarrassing, even though my classmates didn't seem to think twice about it.

Moments later, Kushida approached us, her trademark smile as radiant as ever. "Happy Valentine's Day, you two!" she said warmly, holding out a small box to each of us. I accepted mine with a nod, returning her smile. Ayanokoji quietly thanked her, and she went on her way, stopping to chat with other classmates and spread cheer throughout the room.

Sakura, who had been lingering near the doorway, shyly stepped forward next. She handed each of us a chocolate with a soft smile, her cheeks faintly pink as she greeted us. I thanked her, feeling a little more appreciated on this Valentine's Day than I had expected.

As I observed my classmates exchanging chocolates, I noticed Haruka lingering by her desk, holding a small box of chocolates that she tried to hide within her bag. I grinned to myself, deciding it was time for a bit of harmless fun. I leaned in close and whispered, "Haruka, is that for Akito, by any chance?"

Her face flushed a bright red as she looked away, stammering. "W-what are you talking about, Horikita? I... it's nothing like that!"

But her blushing face gave her away completely. With a small smile, I patted her shoulder and said, "You should go for it. He might be waiting for something like this."

She hesitated, but eventually nodded, gathering her courage. Later, when we were in the hallway and most people had left for class, I watched from a distance as she approached Akito, offering him the chocolate. Akito's face lit up with a genuine smile as he accepted it, and the two of them shared a quiet moment, smiling shyly at each other. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride watching them.

But then, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Ayanokoji standing behind me. He raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Horikita?"

I stammered, feeling slightly caught off guard. "N-nothing! Just... observing."

Before he could respond, Ichika and Nanase arrived, each carrying a box of chocolates. They handed them to us with smiles, and Ichika, ever the tease, glanced at me with a smirk. "Did you give any chocolates to Ayanokoji?" she asked mischievously.

I quickly denied it, hoping to avoid her teasing gaze and they both left from there. Ayanokoji looked at me curiously, and I quickly changed the subject.

A few moments later, Ichinose appeared, holding two small boxes. She walked over to us with a cheerful smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, Horikita-san, Ayanokoji-kun!" She handed each of us a box, her gaze lingering on Ayanokoji just a moment longer.

"Thank you, Ichinose," I said, glancing between her and Ayanokoji. I could see her cheeks turn a faint shade of pink, and I immediately sensed something special in the way she handed her gift to him. "You know," I teased, my tone light, "It seems like your relationship with Ayanokoji is progressing nicely. Who knows, maybe he'll start returning those feelings one day?"

Ichinose blushed deeper, her gaze darting down to her feet as she mumbled, "W-well... I'm just doing my best."

I chuckled, giving her a small nod of encouragement. "Keep at it. You never know what might happen."

Ichinose gave a grateful smile before heading off to her own class. I turned to Ayanokoji, whose expression was one of utter confusion. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, nothing important," I said, giving him a slight smirk as I began walking toward the student council office. "Come on, we have work to do."

As we made our way down the hall, I couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. Valentine's Day had brought a flurry of emotions, blushes, and silent confessions. It was amusing, in a way, to see everyone wrapped up in their own little dramas. For me, this year's Valentine's Day had been an unexpected window into the hearts of those around me-a day filled with surprises and maybe, just maybe, a touch of romance.

--Chapter 55 ends--