Gate Guardian - Song of the Frozen Soul

PHASE 35 - VALENTINE'S DAY IS THE NEW SUICIDE DAY

PHASE 35 - VALENTINE’S DAY IS THE NEW SUICIDE DAY

And so, the day Rikkun hated most has arrived.

“Valentine’s Day… And it’s also a school day. I should have stayed in my room… if it wasn’t for the quizzes in our three subjects.” Rikkun wearingly had this exhausted face even though it’s still morning. Classes haven’t started yet, and we’re still on the way to school.

“W-Why is it that you hate Valentines so much?” I tilted my head.

“Didn’t you know that suicide rates are highest when Valentine's Day!?” Rikkun raised his voice. “You haven’t visited Wikipedia at all, do you?”

“T-That’s horrible!” I covered my mouth with my soft hands. “Valentine's Day is supposed to be filled with warm hugs, kisses, chocolates, flowers, and love! Not suicide!”

“Actually, Valentine’s is filled with rejected confessions…”

Just as I wanted to ask something more, we have arrived at the school gate. Past that gate is the ten-storey General Studies Building of Dradecim National High. But for some reason, the building looks weird. It has this long white banner that has a big logo of a red heart in it.

So our high school is celebrating some kind of event during Valentine’s! I’m so excited!

Actually, I’m planning to give a special chocolate to Rikkun after the classes. I spent the past two days perfecting my original recipe, and I hope he’ll like it!

“MISTER ALARIC EISENHOWER!!!”

Suddenly, there is this loud megaphone sound coming from the rooftop of the said General Studies building. It was our classmate, Giana! And it seems that she’s about to jump!

“MISTER ALARIC EISENHOWER, YOU HEAR ME!!!?

“I can’t.” Rikkun immediately covered both of his ears.

“Hey, you should hear her first!” I cried as I slapped his ear-defenses away, but Rikkun kept on returning his palms to his earlobes! Geez!

“MISTER ALARIC EISENHOWER, YOU’RE THE MAN OF MY DREAMS! PLEASE ACCEPT MY CONFESSION LETTER AND CHOCOLATES!!! OR ELSE… I WILL JUMP FROM THIS BUILDING!!!”

Everybody was silent. All the bystander students failed to utter any word.

Rikkun sighed as if he finally give up.

“...Fine then… Do a backflip.” He said with a smile.

I think Rikkun has contributed a lot from those Valentine’s Day suicide rates.

I’ll get you guys back later. I still have to punch someone’s nose.

<>

We’re already in the classroom, and luckily for the whole class, our first period is vacant. Mrs. Fontaine should’ve been busy in her own romantic day.

Beside me is Rikkun, who is tiredly leaning his chin on his hands. He has this label on this desk that reads “I DON’T ACCEPT CHOCOLATES, I’M DIABETIC.” Yes, all caps. There have been girls who are persistent to give him those Valentine’s boxes, but he has been silently ignoring them. But sometimes, he would annoyingly shout “Can’t you friggin read this label?” to the poor girls.

Rikkun’s personality is a problem, but there’s a bigger one that poses a threat to me. Is it real that Rikkun is diabetic? Then I won’t be able to give him my chocolate! This is bad! This is bad!