Tanaka-kun is Always Listless

Morning!

How were the nail clippers?

About that... It was kinda...

Morning, Ohta.

Yo, morning, Tanaka.

It's cold again today...

When it's this cold, it makes me want to live at school.

Wouldn't that make most lazy people think, "I don't want to leave home"?

You're oddly conscientious.

I feel like I should at least attend school every day.

Even if my sleepiness wins out and I fall asleep partway,

I can claim that I went to the effort of coming.

Thanks.

Sure... Anyway, I'm proud of you for coming.

To Tanaka-kun

Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless

Episode 7

Tanaka-kun's Valentine

To Tanaka-kun

Are you giving him chocolate today?

Of course! I made it myself.

My heart is pounding already!

Why do you have despair all over your face?

Tanaka, that box... Judging by today's date,

I'm pretty sure it's Valentine's Day chocolate.

I know...

I don't want to get chocolate on Valentine's Day.

And if I do, I don't want something with a strong presence like this,

but an obligatory one.

Must you distance yourself so much from it?

Why is that? Because you don't like chocolate?

No, I don't blame the chocolate itself.

It's just that I'm not confident I can give a sincere response

if the giver has feelings for me.

It's stressful.

In fact, I was voted the boy most likely

to not give anything back on White Day

in my middle school yearbook.

I see...

Certified by a class of around thirty, huh?

All the more reason you should redeem yourself here.

Heck, I'm jealous you got a real Valentine's Day chocolate.

Judging by the box, it's obviously going to taste good.

I guess...

There's one for you, too, Ohta.

What?!

To Ohta-kun

Post-It

Chocolate Bar

I think we'd both be happier if we traded.

No, we shouldn't. The difference in the amount of love is too great.

It's obviously obligatory chocolate, but it's better than getting none...

Empty?! Empty?!

Why...

Why... isn't there anything in my desk?

None... None! Chocolate?

I'll accept it gratefully.

Anyway, who gave you this?

Now that you mention it, there's no name...

Considering this person sneaked it into your bag

while you were away from your seat this morning,

it's probably someone from this class.

True...

Oh, there's some sort of message on it.

I'm watching you all the time.

And then I put a spell on the chocolate.

How romantic!

Right?

She must be really shy to not want me to see her handwriting.

I guess so...

I'm sorry, but this is starting to look more like a crime.

I was so nervous!

You gave it to him. I'm impressed! So...

There are different types of girls,

so it's rude to be suspicious based on that message alone.

Come to think of it, there's no doubt that card was handmade.

I need to make sure Tanaka gives something in return.

A new chocolatier shop opened by the station recently,

so we should look there...

Honestly, I don't want his response or anything in return.

I'm too scared...

What?!

It's supposed to be three times the value of the Valentine's gift! Take it, take it!

Really? I'd love to get some stylish sweets, then.

But I'm kinda put off by boys who know about popular candy stores.

I know!

This is hard...

The chocolate completely separated, so I panicked.

My heart was racing!

Hey, Tanaka! This morning...

Was it you?

Huh?

Are you the culprit?

Of what?!

Tanaka and Katou, what are you two doing?

I-I don't know! Tanaka is saying stuff that doesn't make sense!

You're not the culprit?

Sorry. Tanaka is in a complicated situation at the moment...

Man...

I just wanted to brag about my sign, Sagittarius,

being ranked the luckiest on today's horoscope.

Jeez...

Katou, aren't you a Capricorn and not a Sagittarius?

Tanaka, I've been thinking...

Do you think it could be

Miyano who gave you that chocolate?

It's Valentine's!

If so, the difference in quality between yours and mine makes sense.

Now that you mention it...

The message makes sense too, since she's watching me all the time.

I see.

I never saw her as a person of the opposite sex,

but if it's from Miyano-san, I guess it's all right...

Bang!

She's more like a "living bullet" to me,

but I guess she has a sweet side, too.

I guess so.

It seems the path to becoming a mature woman is still steep for you, Miyano.

I totally forgot to get chocolates for Master and Ohta-kun!

Seriously? As much as you idolize them?

I was only thinking about you, Ecchan...

They are boys, so they might've expected

obligatory chocolate, at the least.

We were 100% wrong...

Yeah.

It's like, I don't really see them as people of the opposite sex.

It's more like they exist on the same plane as God or Buddha!

Even if it was from her, it would be more like an offering...

Yeah.

What if... this was a prank?

Maybe this person is laughing somewhere, watching us make fools of ourselves.

I shouldn't accept this.

W-Wait! Don't be hasty, Tanaka!

Right, the inside! You should taste it first!

She chose this chocolate to be eaten by the one she loves.

I bet you'll feel her love once you try it.

Oh, in case you don't feel it,

I'll help you, so don't worry.

I'll describe her feelings faithfully on her behalf...

Yeah.

If he wants some, he should just say so...

How is it?

It's delicious.

They do seem filled with love.

Really? That's good...

So you don't think about getting a girlfriend or anything like that?

Well, of course, the inappropriate curiosity all boys have is present in me,

but not enough so that it's worth the effort to act upon it.

In other words, I'm interested in the erotic,

but the process to get there is too much work.

There was no need to put it "in other words."

Also, I meant it as a more innocent question.

It'd be rude to get closer to a girl just to satisfy that inappropriate curiosity.

I believe, when I meet a girl who makes me want to put in the effort,

then I can truly fall in love.

I see.

Why... Of all things, this is...

What's wrong, Ohta?

It's dark chocolate.

The kind...

that isn't sweet...

Have some of mine.

D-Delicious! I can feel my wounded heart slowly healing!

I'm glad.

Hey, now that I look at them... Aren't these homemade?

What, really?

If so, she's really good at making sweets.

But this sensation... I have a feeling I've tasted this before...

So is it store-bought, after all?

But it doesn't match anything in my brain's sweets database.

I've got it, Tanaka!

It's Macaron-san!

Macaron!

Who? That sounds like some goddess from Greek mythology.

A relative of Apollo's?

S-Sorry. I meant Shiraishi.

Only Shiraishi can make something this high-quality.

She's in our class and she's shy, despite her looks,

so she must've sneaked it into your bag.

Shiraishi-san...

I see. Shiraishi-san, huh?

Now that I know who gave it to me, I'm starting to feel appreciative.

Good for you, Tanaka.

You should set a reminder for March 14th so you won't forget.

Today is Valentine's?!

Shiraishi, don't tell me you forgot!

I was a loner for so long, this holiday meant nothing to me...

Huh?

I mean, my mind was preoccupied with studying for tests...

Seriously, who was it?!

The boys must be disappointed.

I bet they wanted obligatory chocolate, at least.

But you have someone to give a true Valentine to, right?

That's right! You said you fell in love with someone.

No, we're not like that yet...

I see... But if you need someone to talk to, I'll be here.

We're rooting for you!

Thanks...