In a corner of the Sinfonia Royal Capital, within the kitchen of a residence adjacent to her clinic, the homeowner, Fia, stood with a look of pure exasperation.
"Is something wrong, Fia? You look a bit pale..."
"No, isn't it weird? This is my house, right? Why are you standing there in an apron, cooking as if you live here?"
"Actually, this isn't an apron. It's a kappogi."
"I see... wait, that’s not the issue here!"
Noin, dressed in her traditional Japanese apron, was busy preparing for Valentine's Day. Fia, who had somehow been coerced into lending out her kitchen, let out a weary sigh.
"...You should have just made those at home."
"I... I was too embarrassed..."
Noin lived with a massive extended family at Kuromueina's estate. Apparently, the idea of making Valentine's sweets in front of everyone was mortifying for her, which was why she had sought refuge in Fia's kitchen.
Fia had reconciled with Kuromueina, but she still practiced medicine in the Kingdom of Sinfonia and lived on her own. For her close friend Noin, it was the perfect environment—and Fia, knowing this, didn't have the heart to complain too much.
"...So, what are you making, Hikari? It’s not chocolate, is it?"
"Oh? No. I don't really understand Western confectionery like chocolate... so I'm making ohagi."
"Ohagi? Is that like those manju buns?"
"No, they're quite different."
Noin had a deep love for Japanese sweets, but her knowledge of Western desserts was limited at best. Lacking the confidence to make something delicious in an unfamiliar style, she had decided to stick with what she knew: ohagi.
Fia, on the other hand, knew almost nothing about Japanese sweets besides what Noin had mentioned, so she watched the process with genuine curiosity. After observing for a bit, Fia gathered her own ingredients and began to work.
"...And what about you, Fia? What are you making?"
"Hmm? Herb cookies."
"Not chocolate?"
"Well, you know... Miyama-kun is bound to get tons of chocolate. He’s so kind that he'll probably try to eat every single one, so I figured I’d make something low-sugar and easy on the stomach."
Fia moved with practiced efficiency—though she did nearly drop a bowl once or twice with her trademark clumsiness—as she prepared her gift for Kaito.
Noin watched her work, noting how Fia meticulously finished each cookie. She offered a gentle smile. "...You really think about Kaito-san a lot, don't you?"
"Well, of course I do. He’s the person I love. Why wouldn't I think about what’s best for him?"
"Y-you... you say things like 'love' so casually..."
"Hmm? Did I say something weird?"
Noin blushed as Fia spoke of her affection for Kaito as if it were common knowledge. Fia simply tilted her head, looking puzzled by her friend's reaction.
"I-I mean... aren't you embarrassed to be so open about it?"
"Why? I like Miyama-kun. I love him. I don't think there's anything shameful about those feelings."
"Well, maybe not, but..."
"Honestly, Hikari, you’re just too shy. If you keep this up, I’m going to end up stealing him all for myself."
"What? No! You can't!"
"Hehehe."
"Ah... no, wait..."
Noin bit her lip, her face turning bright red as she realized she’d fallen right into Fia’s teasing. She hung her head in shame.
Fia watched her fondly as she slid the tray of cookies into the oven.
"Expressions of love are different for everyone. For me, I love Miyama-kun and I want to tell him that as much as I can. I don't feel any shame in saying it out loud."
"I see... You really are amazing, Fia."
"You think so? I think I’m just simple-minded."
"Yes, you probably are."
"Hey, you're supposed to disagree with me! Anyway, you should just stick to your own style, Hikari. Tell him how you feel in a way that feels right for you."
They expressed their love differently—one with bold proclamations and the other with quiet, bashful devotion—but their feelings for Kaito were identical. Because they shared that bond, they could sit here together and talk about the man they both loved.
"You're right... in my own way. I'll remember that."
"Good, good."
"You know, Fia, you seem a bit cooler than usual today."
"R-really? You're making me blush... Well, while we wait for the cookies to bake, let’s have some tea—Oof!?"
Embarrassed by the compliment, Fia scratched her cheek and turned to put the kettle on. Naturally, she managed to catch her foot on the table leg and went crashing to the floor.
"Ow... that hurt..."
"And there it is. Your clumsiness is as reliable as ever."
"Ugh, it’s not like I’m doing this on purpose..."
"Well, I suppose that’s also part of being 'Fia'!"
"I don't know if I like being defined by my accidents... It feels a bit mean."
"Just make sure you don't drop the cookies on Kaito-san, okay?"
"I’ll be fine! I’ll just... use magic to make them float. That way, even if I fall, they won’t hit the ground."
"The fact that you’re planning around the assumption that you'll fall means you’re already a hopeless case."
Seeing Fia nursing her sore face with teary eyes, Noin couldn't help but let out a wry, affectionate laugh.
"Hikari, you’re definitely making fun of me."
"I’m not. I’m just relieved to see you’re still the same scatterbrain I know."
"Oh, is that how it is? Fine! If you're going to be like that, I have a secret weapon!"
"A secret weapon?"
"I’ll give Miyama-kun this... the letter Hikari wrote and then scrapped!"
"What!? Why do you have that? That’s an invasion of privacy!"
"It’s in my possession because a certain someone used my house as a romance consultation center and then went home without cleaning up her mess!"
"Urgh... on that particular point... I am deeply sorry..."
Fia’s counterattack hit home, and Noin looked away, unable to argue.
It was the kind of banter only possible between best friends. Even if their ways of showing affection were night and day, they were surprisingly similar at their core. They spent the rest of the day in high spirits, bickering and laughing as they prepared their gifts for the same person.
Fia-sensei’s expression of affection: Straightforward.