Chapter 1

It's this time of year again.

When I walked by Squad 10's barracks earlier, I saw the tower of chocolates Rangiku's been passing out to everyone.

Captain Hitsugaya didn't look too happy, though. I guess the sweet smell is getting to his room.

I wonder why people in the world of the living decided to start celebrating Valentine's Day.

That goes for White Day too.

It's not fun getting chocolates knowing that it's because they want something back in return.

What are you talking about?! You get chocolates from Rangiku!

Valentine's is a day about giving chocolates to a loved one, right?

Which means that this is proof of Rangiku's love!

But it's totally obvious that she's giving them out because she wants something back on White Day.

And if you give her something cheap, she'll complain about it.

Ooh, this year's chocolates are wrapped in a brown-tone color scheme. That's fancy.

I'm so excited to see what kind of chocolates are inside!

He's not even listening.

To each his own, I suppose.

If he's happy, we'll let him be.

Yeah.

The real issue now is to worry about what to get her next month.

You said that Rangiku still had a tower of chocolates in front of the barracks, right?

Yeah. There were so many.

I wonder how many she was planning to give out.

Probably to almost everyone in a Seat position.

............

Lieutenant Iba! Hello! How did the new recruits do on their mission?

Oh, you don't look too happy. Did something happen?

Ahh. It's pretty tough watching over the new guys, isn't it?

I hear it's good to eat sweets when you're tired. You should eat some of Rangiku's Valentine's chocolates.

Valentine's, you say?

Who do you think we are?! Why should men like us be excited over a sickly sweet event like Valentine's?!

Why not?

It's disappointing to see you all getting carried away by some stupid event.

I'll need to straighten that attitude of yours and teach you all a lesson!

What happened, Lieutenant Iba?

You were having so much fun on Valentine's last year.

Even though they were all friendship chocolates from Rangiku and the others.

I haven't *mumble* *mumble* yet.

I'm sorry. I couldn't hear.

I haven't gotten any yet!

What?

W-Well, that's...

Oh! Maybe it's because you were out until just now. That's probably why you haven't received them yet.

Y-Yeah, that's it! You should go to your barracks and see. We'll come with you.

Huh? No one's at the Squad 7 barracks.

That's unusual. There's not a single person here. Could everyone be out?

Ahhhhh!

There's a chocolate! On my desk!

Oh, nice! See, doesn't that make everything better?

Who is it from?

It's from...hmm. It doesn't say.

Oh, that's weird. Actually, that's kind of scary.

What are you saying? I'm sure they just forgot to write their name on it before they gave it to me.

You might be thinking about this too positively.

But I won't be able to give anything back in return without knowing who the sender is.

Alright, I've decided. I'm going to find out who gave this to me!

You guys are coming too!

What? Whyyyyy?