💌 Ship: Xiao x F!Reader
💌 Summary: Your thrown away box of chocolate ended up in Xiao’s hands, and so did your heart.
💌 Word count: 923
💌 Requested byTakiyuki
This is a story for 2024 Valentine's Day Character x Reader series, which includes:
Lazily, the afternoon sun fell on the vacant classrooms. On the rooftop, where there was a small garden that had been neglected for a long time, you sat on a shabby wooden bench all by yourself. Tears spilled over the neatly wrapped gift box in your hands.
Then, you grabbed it and hurled it forcefully into the grass in front.
"Ouch!"
You were startled by the scream that came from the bushes. You got up right away and moved in its direction. As it happened, there was an additional lawn beyond the shrubs that led to the final section of the terrace that you had never been to.
There was another person there. A male student.
He picked up the box and rubbed his head, messing up his dark green hair a bit. He looked about for a bit, confused, and then he saw you.
“Is this yours?” He asked while holding out the box to you.
Embarrassed, you just wanted to deny it and run away. But maybe he already knew the answer right from your silence. He "hmm" loudly, then looked at the gift box in his hand.
“Almond chocolate?…”
“S-Sorry…” You mumbled. “Give it back to me…”
He sat motionless and gazed up at you, his face looking tired. Your flaming eyes were visible to him. You, on the other hand, were rather terrified of his icy coldness. You retreated a step.
After a moment of considering, somehow he leisurely unwrapped the gift in front of you. To your extreme surprise, he just said:
“If no one takes it, I will. You were going to throw it at me anyway.”
“Eh…” Before you could react, you saw him pick up a round chocolate from the box and put it in his mouth.
You just stood there bewilderedly watching him eat another one. The wind dried your tears. You were so confused. The chocolate box was obviously meant for the person you'd been crushing on for a long time, and it was brutally turned down. You wanted to throw it away out of sight, but now a strange guy came out of nowhere and sat down to enjoy it.
But you did not stop him either. There was something odd emanating from him that no one ventured near to disturb. In the blink of an eye, he devoured the chocolate box and held the empty box out to you. “There. I ate it. Don't cry anymore."
You now realised why he was acting that way. You lowered your head, preparing to cry once more.
“I told you not to cry. Your crying is so loud it bothers me."
You covered your face with both hands, revealing only your grinning mouth. You replied in a trembling voice:
“Yes… Got it… Thank you…”
Thank you for receiving my chocolate.
From that day on, you started paying attention to the friend on the rooftop. He was a student in the next class to yours; his name was Xiao. He was cold, quiet, and liked to hide in that garden nook during breaks or after school. Although he appeared unapproachable, he was actually a warm person. By receiving your chocolate on Valentine's Day, it was his way to make you feel less sad after being rejected.
And it worked better than expected. Not only did you quickly get over that hopeless love affair, but you also managed to become friends with Xiao.
You often met him on the rooftop, still in the same place. You chatted about all kinds of things about studying, friends, hot dramas that you heard of at school... Xiao did not seem to care much, yet instead of chasing you away, he laid on the grass, listening while half sleeping. It was nice to have such a quiet friend to keep you company, because somehow, you felt like a burden had been lifted, and all your secrets would be safe with him.
In a blink, a year had gone by. This year's Valentine's Day, you also brought another box of chocolates to the rooftop.
“Who rejected you this time?” Xiao took the gift box from your hand. He was sitting cross-legged on the grass. You walked over and sat down next to him.
"No one." You answered. All the phrases you had prepared ahead of time vanished as the anxiety in your heart increased.
"So, to whom is this intended?"
“Well…”
Xiao paused midway through the gift box's unwrapping. He was waiting for an explanation as he gazed at you.
“This… isn't for anyone else... but you...”
Your expression flushed. You gave Xiao a covert glance. His already expressionless face transitioned from shock to embarrassment. His face was parted with a pink line that reached his ears.
“For me?…”
“Yeah…”
Your two hands were firmly clenched together. You murmured: "For you... Because you have always been by my side since this day last year..."
Xiao looked at the box of chocolates in his palm, confused, then looked back at you.
"So this is just a token of appreciation?"
“Not really.” You gave a brief explanation. “Actually… I wanted to give you chocolate… Because… because…”
Xiao fixed his gaze on yours. "Because?"
"Because I wish to spend this year's Valentine's Day with you... And many more Valentines to come…”
It was a little awkward, but you eventually expressed your emotions to Xiao. He was taken aback. But a smile flashed across his face. He took up the chocolate box and gave it a little shake.
"Alright then. It’s a deal.”
-The end-
