"Hikaru's Valentine" BONUS CHAPTER: The Go Valentine

By Dark Cyradis

* * * As a little thank you for all the kind feedback on this story, I thought I'd throw in a little bonus section at the end... Enjoy! ^^ * * *

"What do you mean you sold it?"

Sendou rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, boss, I didn't know it was a special-ordered item."

His manager huffed in exasperation. "I put it in the shop window especially so that you wouldn't sell it to anyone! I know I've told you a million times that those window displays are vital to attracting customers and are not, under any circumstances, to be wrecked!"

"Yes, sir," Sendou said, trying not to grin at the memory of his anal- retentive boss's painfully exact measurement of the placement of every, single item in the window—from boxes of chocolate, down to the pink flower petals and papier mache hearts placed around for decoration. He'd thought it was a bit exaggerated, but the boss was boss, after all.

"I'm sorry," Sendou said sincerely. "It's just, the kid who bought it liked it so much. He was a Go pro or something and he got all sparkly-eyed when he saw it. I didn't wanna not sell it to him after he'd gotten all attached to it."

"Well as humanitarian as that is, Sendou, it doesn't change the fact that you broke store policy and because of it, a valued customer who special ordered this valentine MONTHS in advance will not get his purchase!"

Sendou raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "His?"

"Err, well, not that details about our customers or their reasons for ordering our goods should be any of our concern, but he's a Go pro, too."

"Really." Sendou rubbed his chin thoughtfully, wondering if there was any connection between the customer and the boy who had bought the valentine. "Well, not that it's any of my business."

"Except that you're going to explain to him why he won't get his purchase!" the manger insisted.

Sendou nodded. "I will, I promise."

"Hoooo, you bet you are, Sendou! And after that, we'll discuss—"

But luckily, before the manager could get himself worked up any further, a little jingle of bells at the front of the store announced the arrival of the long-awaited customer.

"And that's how it is, sir," Sendou finished, adding with a humble bow, "I really am sorry."

"So you see," the manger put in abruptly, "it really was just this part- time kid's fault." He rubbed his hands in a half-nervous, half-ingratiating manner and wheedled on. "I hope you won't consider this a reflection of our store's policy. We hold you in the highest regard and we are willing to give you a full refund and a discount on your next—"

"Sendou-kun, wasn't it?" the customer said suddenly.

"Uh, yes, sir," Sendou said quickly. He normally kept his cool fairly well, whatever the situation he was in. But there was just something about this customer...

"Can you describe the boy who bought the valentine? You said he was a Go pro, yes?"

"Yeah, definitely," Sendou said. "He was a little on the short side, blonde bangs—I think his name was—"

"Shindou."

Sendou cut off in surprise. I guess blonde bangs aren't too common amongst Go pros, he thought in amusement. Not exactly surprising. "That it was, sir."

"How interesting..."

The customer was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Finally, taking notice of the manger's eager face and clasped hands, he sent a deigning nod in his direction to show he had accepted the apologies. As the manager babbled happily and led the customer to the cash register with obvious relief, Sendou hung back and wondered about the professional Go world. It probably wasn't a big place, considering how quickly Shindou had been identified, but it certainly had some interesting characters in it. Or maybe it was just that Shindou stood out. Sendou smiled, recalling the boisterous 16-year-old and how different he looked from what he vaguely would have guessed a professional Go player would look like. Not that he nor most people he knew would think much about the Go world at all, actually.

Still, looking at the tall man who wanted to buy Valentine's chocolate, coolly regarding the babbling manager, he thought there was probably a whole dynamic story to be heard about them as well. Certainly quite different from his action-packed life of competition and drama on the basketball court, but probably just as full. He smiled, thinking that he'd like to see Shindou again someday and talk to him.

"Thank you so much, sir," the manager was saying as the customer pocketed his wallet. "And I apologize again for all this."

As the customer made his way out the door that was being held open for him, the manager turned and made silent gestures to Sendou.

"Oh, right." Sendou hurried toward the front of the store and called cheerily, "Thank you again, Mr., err—"

"Sensei! Call him 'sensei,' fool!" the manager hissed to him. "Ogata- sensei."

"Thank you, Ogata-sensei!" Sendou called. "Hope you still have a good Valentine's Day!"

Ogata Seiji glanced over his shoulder, cigarette already clenched between his teeth, gave a slight shrug and said, "Maybe next year." Then he got into his sporty, red Mazda and drove away.

***Random Oikake Tagline: But, who was Ogata-sensei going to give the valentine to?***

The world may never know...

= Owari = ^^

Thanks to each and every one of you who reviewed this story! Be sure to check out the sequel to this story, "My First White Day!" :)