It’s been some time since we entere

It’s been some time since we entered the month of February.
The winter chill was still as harsh as ever and every time the arid north wind blew by, the glass windows of the classroom would rattle.
By the time short homeroom for the rest of the day had ended, the temperatures plunged even further. My seat, close to the hallway, unfortunately didn’t receive much heating and small breezes would slip in through the unnoticeable gaps of the doors. When they brushed against the nape of my neck, I shuddered.
However, I looked over at the windows and the sun was still elevated high in the sky. The length of the afternoon had progressively gotten longer
According to the calendar, the vernal equinox was coming up soon. But every year around this time when it’s this cold, you ended up thinking, “How could you even call this spring, is ‘Spring Has Come’1 playing in your head all the time or something?”
But there’s also the saying: “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”2
It was after school and the atmosphere of the class was showing steady signs of the upcoming spring.
A little less than a month to go and that would mark the awakening of insects3 on the calendar.
Thanks to the effective heating in the classroom, my classmates had suddenly become animated just like how insects, frogs, and snakes would wake from their hibernation slightly earlier than expected by the calendar.
The window side of the classroom looked especially warm due to the heating being right below the window frames. A single group occupying that area was incredibly lively in spirit. Today like every other, I could hear their loud, conspicuous voices.
“Man, I could go for something sweet any time today,” Tobe said, flapping the ends of his hair. Oooka and Yamato hit their knees as though they knew what Tobe was talking about and pointed at him.
“You got that right.”
“Totally.”
Then, the three exchanged gazes.
“You know what I mean……? Better chocolate than never, yeah?” Tobe said, being pointlessly dramatic. The three of them made triumphant looks and shot glances over at the girls… Mmm, I thought we were nearing spring, but it still feels like we’re in the middle of winter!
But Miura’s reaction was far more callous and cold compared to their trite act.
“…Ha?”
After a small click of her tongue, she gave the idiot trio an apathetic look that shut them up. Yuigahama and Ebina-san made a stiff smile.
“Oh yeah, it’s about that time of the year, huh…?” Hayama said, taking the middle ground between the two groups. Oooka and Yamato nodded their heads.
“You’ve got it good Hayato-kun, but we’re pretty screwed.”
“True.”
Oooka stated solemnly while Yamato nodded in assertion. His words certainly did make it sound like it was a serious problem. Still, this opportunistic virgin’s jealousy is so garbage that it’s kind of wonderful… I thought. Then, Tobe made a giddy smirk while patting Hayama’s shoulder.
“Nah, Hayato-kun usually doesn’t accept anything.”
“Are you kidding!? What a waste!”
Oooka shouted causing Hayama to make a strained laugh. I see, he likely chose that route so he could avoid unnecessary trouble.
However, for girls that were in love with him, they might not be so eager to accept that. The head of that pack, Miura, was listening in on their conversation in silence while facing away from them with a disinterested expression.
Watching her, Yuigahama went “ah” and spoke.
“But hey, it’s kinda scary getting things from people you don’t know.” Yuigahama nodded her head to show she could sympathize with him.
Following her, Ebina-san struck out her hand with a serious look and stopped the conversation. “Wait. If he won’t accept anything, that means… he’ll take them instead. So the one getting taken would be Hikitani-kun?”
The moment she finished, Miura flicked her head. What the hell is she saying with that serious look of hers…? Miura took out a pocket tissue and pressed it on Ebina-san.
“Ebina, your nose is bleeding.”
“Oh, thanks, thanks.”
Ebina-san held back her suspicious laughter as she blew her nose and Miura showed a soft smile. Being immediately next to the heating as well as various other factors, all the individuals gathered over there looked rather warm.
No, they weren’t the only ones. The entire classroom was enveloped by the same warmth. The giddy mood wasn’t limited only to the idiot trio of Tobe and the other two, but other groups spread out in the classroom.
Officially, Valentine’s Day was coming very soon.
In other words, it’s the day you received chocolate from your mom and little sister.
Valentine’s Day was a day full of blessed love, but that understanding wasn’t without problems. Considering how the event came to be, it’s actually a day when blood was shed. Originally started from a saint, it’s also the day a struggle occurred between gangs. Besides, someone from Chiba wouldn’t even think twice about chocolate because they’d think about Bobby4 instead.
But it didn’t matter what the opinions of someone like me had, it’s impossible t