#it never ends..

Ichiro . . . isn’t too good with valentine’s, each and every year

sure, he’s gotten plenty of obligatory chocolates before from his friends at school (and perhaps a few confessions here and there), but valentine’s was nothing more than another day to him. another day of dirty work and scraping by for his bros

but this year — ah, this year, Ichi feels a bit awkward, as his chest tightens up and heart skips a small beat, even when he's all by himself. this year, valentine’s means a little something more

he sorta wants to swallow his nerves and finally confess to you

he hasn't talked to you much, necessarily. I mean, he barely even shows up to school as it stands; but, you're pretty good at school, pretty too. and, man, your laugh is.. probably one of the best things he's heard

and, he just doesn't know! Ichiro just likes you (ah shit, he sighs. that's.. too embarrassing, even to admit to himself)

he ends up thinking about you on his breaks from work, when he's hanging out with kuko in some alleyway and drinking soda. always

you're just.. really cute — Ichiro thinks, a bit blushy as he drinks his soda. but it's much too bubbly today, much too thick down his throat. he can almost choke from the bubbles, from how overwhelmed his heart is, when he remembers that laugh of yours again out of the blue

And.. ichi doesn’t exactly know how to go about this. he’s never liked anyone before, much less even had the time to. Of course, he knew about valentine's day, but he doesn't know what to do

sure, he’s seen the shoujos and all the romance tropes, but that’s pretty much the sole extent of his knowledge. and it's not like he can exactly ask his teammates. They're very.. non-romantic, in the nicest way; they wouldn't know

flowers or chocolates? maybe a candid confession on the school’s rooftop? mm, he didn’t know..

but, giving the one you like chocolates — that’s what all the animes and ads say. so he supposes that’d be the best way

then maybe he'd ask you out on a date? that's how it works, right? ichiro scratches his head, a bit perplexed, as he perhaps thinks too much of it in the store aisles

it’s just.. his heart contorts, the more he pictures you in his head, the more his heart skips beats; ichiro doesn’t know.. could he even confess to you?

he barely even shows up to school as is — would you even recognize him, the messy haired delinquent in your class? no uniform, piercings too, always breaking the school rules, barely passing his classes

and, his hands aren’t the perfect boyfriend type. they’re neither soft nor warm ; they’re big and callused, full of scratches and bruises from all the dirty work he does and fights he gets into

would he be the right boyfriend for you? surely you've heard of all his deliquent ways; perhaps you don't deserve a deliquent hothead such as him to be your boyfriend. not someone who gets into fights with his hypnosis mic, not someone about to flunk out of school

and.. he always has to work for his brothers — would he have the time to love you? surely you deserve better

and it’s so unlike him to dwell this much and rack his head over which chocolates to buy; but well, it’s you, and it’s his first time ever liking someone. He just wants to make sure he’s doing it right

damn, ichi sighs, heavy. his heart is in flutters, his chest tight, and his fingers shake a little as he grips the small box of chocolates to pay for. valentine’s is sort of a pain

I mean, shit. it was never this hard when he had to confront a rival gang, and his chest never hurt this much from any fights he's been in or punches he’s endured; this must’ve been the worst ache he’s ever felt, and he hasn’t even confessed yet!

he hopes you don’t see him as just a delinquent. he’s so much more, y’know..

his chocolates be cheap and store bought — not made with love, not the perfect shoujo confession. but they’re still just as sweet. perhaps the sweetest valentine’s chocolate there is on the market, with all of ichi’s feelings inside for you, as they coat your entire mouth so decadent

when he hands them to you, he hopes he isn’t just some type of loser who can’t look you in the eye. he hopes he doesn’t choke on the butterflies or make himself look like a complete and utter fool, as he stutters his way through asking you out

and maybe it’s not the shoujo romance way he’s read in all his mangas. not the picturesque confession he would’ve liked if he was just a better student of sorts or a better guy, just had a better life.

but even still, surely Ichiro is much too cute — the delinquent everyone knows, all red and awkward as he chokes on his words right in front of you. That glare could probably scare anyone away, but it’s strangely cute and gentle with you

and his marred hands full of bruises and scars — they’re so tender, you muse, when his fingers brush over yours quick. gentle and kind, unlike what they show

and the convenience store chocolate he gives, that’s sweet and smooth; when it melts on your tongue, then you’ll know the full extent of ichi’s feelings for you

he hopes you feel the exact same way too..

(maybe then, he’d make a little more effort into showing up to school)