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I didn’t want to overstay my welcome in Kotori’s class, so we decided to leave, but why is Kotori looking at me with sadness? I’m really sorry, but there are other people I still need to deliver to.

“Well then, allow me to excuse myself.”
“Come visit again any time!”

It’s fine. Even without me coming again, Kotori will just come on her own. Besides, this class’ constant warm gaze on their mascot is a bit uncomfortable. It feels like they see me as either a pet owner or a caretaker.

“Now, with that out of the way, time for the next one.”
“Who’s next?”
“I’ll feel bad excluding him, so I’ll have to give one to Nagatsuki too.”
“Ah, true, I don’t remember him helping Kotone out at all.”

I think I’m actually the one who’s done the helping in his case. Still, it wouldn’t look good if I gave chocolate to every enrolled twelve family members except for Nagatsuki. And our relationship has changed for the better, too.

“And so, here you go.”
“I have no idea what’s going on, but thanks.”

It’s not like either of us would get the wrong idea, so it’s nothing special. If I had to comment on something, the students in his class are looking at us with a surprised expression. I guess the people in the academy didn’t think that my relationship with Nagatsuki had improved.

“Please don’t misunderstand. This is merely an obligatory friendship chocolate cookie.”
“Stop acting strangely. You’ll be the one in bigger trouble if people misunderstand this, you know?”
“If I’m falling, then it’s necessary to have someone along.”
“Don’t drag me into it.”

I haven’t told any lies. There’s nothing we can do in regards to how the surrounding people interpret our exchange. But even if rumors about us spread, the people who have seen me giving away chocolates will easily overturn it.

“The truth is, I felt like it would leave a bad impression if I gave chocolates to every other twelve family members except for you.”
“Meaning you intend to give one to my little brother too?”
“That’s the plan. Is there any issue with that?”
“No, not at all. I just hope that my little brother isn’t up to something.”

Unlike him, the younger Nagatsuki seems to be mischievous. My rogues den trained intuition senses a dangerous scent from him. Still, he probably isn’t thinking of hitching me and Nagatsuki together. And Rin will likely step in before that happens.

“Not to be rude, but despite being brothers, you two seem to be quite dissimilar personality-wise.”
“In my younger brother’s case, he likes acting behind the scenes, you see. He’d rather not be on the forefront.”
“I see. So he likes helping out his older brother, then.”

That’s how it is when you take it positively. However, if you flip it around, he must be busy fixing his brother’s slip-ups. Probably not as much as with the Shimotsuki’s. In their case, Rin’s ability to cover for Aya is so strong that it can’t be mimicked by others. Maybe with the younger brother, he handles problems before they even get noticed.

“No need to think about sending a return gift. I did this unprompted, after all.”
“As a man, there are certain things that need to be done, you know?”

How dutiful of you. Since he’s set on it, there’s no reason for me to refuse.

“How do I say this? It seems like the relationship you two have is the one that underwent the most change out of all.”
“I am aware that I caused trouble, so I tried to keep my distance as much as possible.”
“Oi, you say that but you’re the one who dragged me into that mess to begin with.”
“I genuinely didn’t expect you to earnestly come along, you know?”

I honestly expected him to turn me down. While I did conspire with Hadzuki that time, he’s pretty eccentric to agree despite that invitation. I didn’t even hold myself back from calling him a meat shield.

“In my case, my impression of Kisaragi changed after I saw how you socialized with the other members of the twelve families. Toying around with them, being toyed by them; you were just too different from last year.”
“For me, I still see you as a stubborn hardhead even now. You should loosen up more, like you did during the after-party.”
“I was just stressed out at that time.”

He might say that, but Nagatsuki that time really bared his true self. After all, that after-party was a place where they can ignore their status as members of the twelve families and have fun like normal kids. It did result in the mass production of future cringeworthy photos, though.

“If another one happens, would you join again?”
“Keeping a loss just doesn’t sit right with me. I’ll definitely win next time!”
“I’ll consider that a yes. If another one happens, that is.”

Though I’m pretty sure there’ll be another one, to be honest. I can’t imagine that Hadzuki and Aya, the two who had the most fun out of it, would let it only be a one time thing. It’ll greatly depend on their schedules, but another after-party is going to be held. By the way, Nagatsuki has the lowest win percentage.

“You two were like cats and dogs before; who could have expected you two to even play games in private now. You do know that other students can hear you, right? ”
“It isn’t information that would be problematic if overheard, you see. It could be an issue if we were alone by ourselves, but it’s already known that mother members of the twelve families were present.”
“To begin with, if they know my relationship with Kisaragi, having suspicions is more unusual.”
“These days, it’s pretty common for those that clash to actually be in a relationship, after all.”

Kaori is talking casually with Nagatsuki, huh? I think it might be because she saw Aya’s true nature; that made her stop caring. It must have destroyed her preconceptions about the twelve families. Which is normal; she thought I was just unusual, but now she’s realized the others are like me.

“Well then, I have to excuse myself now. I still have other people to give chocolates too, after all.”
“Let me show my appreciation. Thank you.”

Ever since becoming Kotone, I never could have imagined Nagatsuki thanking me. It’s hard to believe that our relationship managed to become positive with how it started off. With this, even if Kotone is no longer me, things should be alright. He might even be a last bastion for me.

“The distribution to our year-mates ended without a hitch. The underclassmen shouldn’t cause you any problems either, but…”
“I feel like the upperclassmen after class are going to stir up some trouble.”

I’m not even confessing, so why do I have to be here building up the courage to give them Valentine’s day cookies? I can already imagine Hadzuki teasing me about this. But I seriously can’t imagine how it’ll go with Aya.

“Now then, it’s time for me to give my appreciation to the class that deserves it the most.”
“I’m going to my class now. Go thank people properly, okay?”
“Naturally.”

That’s exactly why I made this many chocolates. While things were pretty awkward at first, in spite of it all, my classmates accepted me. I really can’t thank them enough. I was fully prepared to walk on eggshells and needles, so I really appreciate them.

“Happy Valentines!”
“Kotone. Aren’t you mixing it up with Christmas?”
“Then consider me a belated Santa.”

I energetically entered the classroom, and Harumi immediately retorted. Handing everyone chocolates one by one might result in me forgetting the people I’ve already given to, so I placed it on their desks. Everyone seems to have realized what it was from my words upon entry, as I got words of thanks from the girls… and cheers and yells—and even wailing from one idiot—from the guys.

“Aren’t you pretty earnest~ Thank you, Kotone~”
“It’s my thanks for all your help. I’m really grateful for your acceptance of me despite how I was.”
“It’s mostly because of your efforts, if you ask me. Being unaffected in spite of the harassment you received, I find that amazing. And you interacted with me normally too.”

If I had acted like the second Kotone with Miyako, I knew that it would leave me isolated. I just focused on being normal. I wonder when her impression of me changed.

“I was just doing my best to adapt to the situation.”
“Is it just me, or haven’t you been doing as you please since from the get go?”
“I agree with Harumi. Kotone; you haven’t changed at all.”

Despite how I seem, I believe that I’ve experienced a lot of change as a girl, you know? Still, I guess the way I act hasn’t changed one bit. It’s not like I stick my neck into trouble because I like it. I know why it happens. Damn you, Hadzuki. Making me dance on the palm of your hand.

“It’s impressive how he’s able to bring out people’s personalities.”

Again, the twelve families’ specs are abnormal. In comparison, I still have a long way to go. I’m getting a bit scared of what will happen after the assimilation, but I’ll make sure Kotone doesn’t notice.