Hoshina Soshiro (believe in me)
I wrote this thinking of that tik tok sound (where have you been all my life) (◍•ᴗ•◍)
Author's note : Scenes marked between ~∆~ are set in the past
February 14th , Valentine's day , huh ? "Love." what a strange thing to have a day for its own to cherish . Hoshina looked at the calendar on the shelf, February 13th' . So it's tomorrow , a small smile formed on his face and before he realized he was looking at the nicely wrapped box next to the calendar , memories taking over him ....
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~∆~ He was a newbie back then , he passed the exam smoothly , and was already drawing attention due to his "uncommon skills" . Same silly questions , same silly comments , same pity looks . He's fighting with blades , not toothbrushes !
Some weeks have passed and due to the exams being held at the beginning of the year , it was February . After a long training session, he was ready to collapse on his bed the moment he gets in—but ... what's this small box by the door ? ~∆~
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He stood up and headed to the shelf , stared at the box for a while before opening it carefully , glancing at the chocolate bags kept neatly in there and holding out the letter .
Hoshina never looked forward for tomorrow , not in his work field , but February hasn't been the same since that day , and...well... he can't help but look forward to it .
He should be receiving another chocolate this year . And don't get him wrong , It's not about the chocolate , it never was . He could always buy himself one and it would still taste the same . It was simply the meaning , the reassurance that ...whoever she is....she's still alive .
He snapped out of his thoughts as the door knocked , putting the box back before calling out "come in". Work mode on again, he still had a long day .
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~∆~ Hoshina was lying on his bed staring into the box , why was that next to his door ? Whoever left it must be one of the division's members , but that didn't make it any clearer . It didn't even have a name on it, except his. So he carefully Opens the box , revealing a bag of chocolate and a letter ?...oh... today was that day .He didn't even notice .
I saw you for the first time in the exam , and I'd like to tell you how amazing you were with your swords back then , so skilful , calm and unique .
I instantly thought what would it be like to fight next to you one day , I thought I'd be able to do that the moment I pass the exam , but the difference between our strength made me realize how stupid I was to think that .
Yet I'm sure you never once gave up before ,at least I like to believe that ,so I'll do the same .I'll work harder , and once I'm strong enough to fight with you ,I guess I'll have enough courage to tell you what you mean to me now .
Until then ,work hard and stay safe " ~∆~
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The solider told Hoshina that there'll be a new round of joint training between divisions ,and the Third was expected to participate ,before leaving his office with a bow
As usual ,Hoshina was assigned to oversee part of the drills .Nothing surprising there .Another busy day ahead.
He leaned back in his chair for a moment ,eyes drifting to the calendar on the shelf .February 13th .Perfect timing, really .He let out a sigh.
If she decided to send something this year, it’d probably arrive while he was gone.
Two days away — not a long time, but long enough to miss it.
But what could he do ? Nothing , so he wore his jacket and headed to the Meeting point with his division
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~∆~ the first time he reread it , he felt stupid , what was he doing !? Yet after a few times , he started to get curious about her ...if she's from this division -which is just logical- then finding her won't be that hard , but-...if she wanted to be known she would've wrote her name , wouldn't she ?
She was clear , So he respected that , for now , he can just keep rereading her letter ... Feeling for the first time what it was like to be looked up to ...to be believed in .
He stared at the chocolate for a moment before opening it carefully and tossing a piece into his mouth "coconut , huh ?"
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It was evening when the third division reached its destination and got ready , everyone started glancing at the training schedule to see where and with whom they would be training. The joint training was between three divisions: the Third (Hoshina’s), the Fourth, and the Fifth. So why was the Vice Captain of the Second Division included?
" Oh , she ? She actually volunteered to join , said something about not wasting improvement chances and some other work stuff , she is new in the position but she's such a workaholic , if you want my opinion "
A fellow soldier said as Hoshina asked , then left to his training spot leaving Hoshina with an amused expression , remembering his first days as a vice captain
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~∆~ Hoshina was moving his things from the dorm to his new office — Vice Captain now, with his own desk, his own space, and... his own endless paperwork .
But then he saw the letter on the shelf next to his bed ...he should probably leave it there , it wouldn't be appropriate to have such a thing in his office , not professional at all .
Yet , by the time he was done moving his things , he was already placing the box next to the calendar on the shelf , YUP ! Very professional , vice captain . Very professional ~∆~
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The meeting point for the joint session was unusually quiet for once -thanks to Narumi not being here probably-
<<Who said that ?(・∀・)>>
Hoshina arrived early, as usual, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed.
He wasn’t particularly interested in the day ahead. Joint trainings were always the same: polite introductions and too much formality .
He was half-listening as the officers started to gather.
Names, ranks, divisions — nothing new.
Then someone stopped a few steps away from him.
“Good morning , vice captain Hoshina”
She was standing there, neat uniform, calm face, nothing striking. Her tone was quiet, respectful, just enough to be heard over the murmurs around them.
“Morning,” he replied, offering a brief nod before looking towards the field again.
She didn’t try to continue the conversation, and that suited him perfectly, he wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
A few seconds passed in silence before she adjusted her gloves and looked toward the field again...
Average, he thought to himself . Plain voice, plain stance. So this is the new vice captain of the second division , she did look like a workaholic , a really COMPOSED one, doesn’t look like much of a risk-taker yet she probably is...
" We should probably go in now , vice captain Hoshina "
He nodded before following her to the field , if he missed receiving the chocolate for this training, then it should at least be worth it
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~∆~ The first Valentine’s Day after the letter came quietly, like any other workday.
He didn’t even notice the date at first —until a knock on his door cought his attention
“Delivery for Vice Captain Hoshina.” He blinked, frowning slightly. “...For me?”
The soldier nodded, handing him a small, carefully wrapped box before leaving.
No sender’s name. Just clean handwriting on the tag — his own title, neat and proper.
For a moment, he just stared at it. He wasn’t expecting anything. Not today. Not ever, really.
He opened the box with a hint of hesitation — and there it was.....Chocolate. Simple, neatly packed, just like before.
No letter this time. No words, no explanation. But he didn’t need one.
The wrapping, the way the ribbon was tied , the handwriting — it was unmistakable. It was her.
He leaned back in his chair, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
So she was still out there somewhere.
Not in his division anymore, clearly — the postmark confirmed that much. Transferred, most likely. But definitely still working hard
He closed the box gently and set it on the corner of his desk, tossing a piece of the chocolate into his mouth
hazelnut this time ...his favorite , definitely his favorite~∆~
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It was late when he finally got back to the temporary quarters, all he wanted was a few hours of sleep before tomorrow. So that's what he did.
He hadn’t settled in comfortably, though, and the unfamiliar bed kept him tossing and turning far later than he intended.
Morning came, and the air was cold when he opened the door, half-asleep, ready to head out but then-... he froze.
A small box sat neatly on the floor, right in front of the door — wrapped in soft paper, tied with a thin ribbon.
He crouched down slowly, fingers brushing against the familiar wrapping. It couldn’t be.
He turned the box in his hands — the same neat fold at the edge, the same way the ribbon crossed in the middle. His title in the same neat handwriting. His chest tightened.
No postmark. No courier slip. Someone had placed it there personally.
A quiet breath left him — something between a laugh and disbelief.
He wasn’t expecting it this year, not while he was away, not here. And yet… here it was.
He straightened, holding the box lightly as if afraid it might vanish if he gripped too hard.
The faintest smile ghosted across his lips.
“So you’re here” he murmured to no one in particular.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him as he leaned his back against it , A soft smile pulled at his lips — the kind that came once a year, and only for her.
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~∆~The office was still, the only sound coming from the faint scratch of his pen against paper.
Another report. Another late night.
Hoshina’s shoulders ached from sitting too long, and the words on the page had started to blur together.
He leaned back, exhaling softly, eyes unfocused on the ceiling.
For some reason — habit more than anything — his eyes drifted to the small box on the shelf. The one with the letter he had read so many times before , reaching for it almost automatically
The letter was worn at the edges now, but the words remained the same — simple, steady, encouraging.
He read it slowly, letting the calm in the lines settle over him, a quiet reminder that even on the worst days, he wasn’t entirely alone
He leaned back, letting the chair rock gently. “ Well, if she believes I can survive this mountain of nonsense, I guess I can too” he muttered under his breath, half-laughing at his own joke.
“Alright, then” he whispered, leaning forward to rest his head on his arms.
The ache in his shoulders eased slightly.
For the first time in hours, the office didn’t feel so heavy.
And as sleep claimed him at his desk, the smile lingered — tired, faint, but genuine, relaxing a little bit more as he held into the letter ~∆~
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Hoshina spent the rest of the day in a good mood — definitely better than yesterday.
The training went smoothly, and the chocolate — milk chocolate this time — tasted magical. He was simply happy.
Even though he would’ve preferred to finally know who she was, he didn’t really mind waiting a little longer. Still, he had a feeling he’d meet her soon — vice-captain senses never fail.
It was already nighttime when Hoshina was getting ready to head back to his room. The grounds were quiet, his steps echoing faintly — until he heard another pair of footsteps approaching.
“Do you have a minute, Vice Captain Hoshina?”
The polite question made him turn around to see the Second Division’s vice captain.
“Today’s the last day of the joint training. I was hoping to have a spar with you before heading back to my division — if you don’t mind, of course.”
He blinked once… twice, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “You sure you want your last day to end with bruises?”
She smiled politely. “If I do, I’ll make sure they’re worth it.”
The training grounds were almost empty by then; most soldiers had already gone to their quarters to rest before returning to their divisions in the morning. The air was cool, the lights casting long shadows across the field.
Their spar was brief — clean, efficient, and silent, save for the muted sounds of movement against the ground. No unnecessary words. No theatrics. Just precision.
When it ended, Hoshina lowered his weapon first, straightening with a quiet laugh.
“I’d say that was a lot more even than I expected.”
“Thank you, Vice Captain” she said, catching her breath but still composed. “I just wanted to see how big the gap really was.”
He smirked lightly. “Guess it’s not that big after all.”
“You think so?” her tone was lower now, almost softer — and he couldn’t help but be amused.
“Yeah, I think so” he said simply, like he was confused she even needed to ask. She was definitely behaving less composed than usual.
He started walking away, waving a hand lazily. “Rest well for now — tomorrow’s gonna be a long da—”
“V–Vice Captain Hoshina!”
That definitely wasn’t expected. She didn’t seem like the type to ever show anything more than a stoic face.
He turned slightly, curious now. She stood a few steps away, her posture still straight but her fingers fidgeting lightly with her gloves — just enough to betray the calm front she was trying to keep.
“Do you think I’m strong enough to fight next to you now, Vice Captain Hoshina?”
His throat went dry, mind blank, but his body moved before his mind could catch up.
A quiet step forward, another — and suddenly, he was pulling her towards him.
It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t careful; it was instinct. A pull that felt almost desperate . And By the time he realized what he’d done, she was already in his arms, her forehead against his shoulder, her breath caught somewhere between surprise and disbelief.
For a few seconds more, neither of them moved. Then — slowly, carefully — he loosened his hold. The space between them returned, cool air brushing against where warmth had just been.
For the first time, he really looked at her.
So this was her — the girl behind the letter, the chocolates, the years of quiet waiting.
He searched her face like he was expecting to find something different, special, something that would explain everything he was feeling right now.
Same calm expression. Same gentle eyes. Nothing striking. Nothing dramatic. Still Plain. Still Ordinary.
Just like the first time he saw her.
And somehow… that made him almost laugh ...“It figures” he said simply, a chuckle under his breath. “Something that changed my whole damn February every year — and you look exactly like someone I’d walk past without noticing.”
“Pardon me?” she asked, her tone carrying a slight, almost awkward politeness, and it made him laugh harder
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, dear” he said, voice lighter now. “That’s what makes it even better. Knowing I wouldn’t have known you any other way… it has to be like this.”
She nodded slowly -clearly not convinced- and he just smiled wider
“so…Back then” he said softly, “you wrote that once you were strong enough to fight next to me, you’d have the courage to tell me what I mean to you.”
A pause. His thumb brushed gently along her sleeve, almost absentmindedly.
“I think I’m ready to hear that now.”
She blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in her calm expression — then a small smile curved her lips.
“I actually wrote a very long letter for that” she admitted quietly.
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, amused. “And where’s my copy?”
“well…you’ll have to wait for next Valentine’s Day to get it.”
"Next Valentine’s, huh? Guess I’ll have something to look forward to again.”
"“Look forward—?” she started, a hint of surprise in her voice — but the rest of the words never came out.
His hand moved before she could blink, fingers catching her sleeve as he pulled her into him again— firm, sudden, but not rough. Her breath caught, her next word dying against his chest. Yet he could feel her laughing against him, he smiled warmly before pulling her a little closer.
....She's finally here....
~∆~ The office was unusually quiet that afternoon — paperwork stacked high, a half-empty mug of coffee, and Hoshina halfway through a rare break.
He leaned back in his chair, a piece of chocolate between his fingers, the one she sent that year. Caramel chocolate, smooth and sweet, melting slowly on his tongue.
He wasn’t thinking about reports or drills for once.
He was thinking about her.
What would she be like if they met?
Would she be loud and bold — the type to walk right up to him? Or quiet, careful, the kind of person who hesitates at every word?
“Maybe I should tease her about that letter when we meet. ‘So, you believe in me, huh?’”
He said it in a mock-dramatic tone, and the sound of his own voice made him grin wider.
He leaned back fully, resting the chocolate box on his chest, eyes half-closing.
“Whoever you are” he murmured lazily, “don’t make me wait too long, alright?”
