It was the thirteenth day of the Month of Wood. With Valentine’s Day arriving tomorrow, many women were busy today preparing chocolates.
In one particular kitchen, three women were diligently focused on their own confectionery creations.
"Ngh... Mmph..."
"As I thought, you’re just too rough, Eta. Trying to give Master a heap of scrap like that is... unacceptable. Redo it."
"Grrr... Theta, you brat. Just because you have a little knack for cooking, you’re getting awfully cocky..."
"You’re wrong. It’s not just 'a little.' I am overwhelmingly better at cooking than you are. That is a pure, unadulterated fact."
"G-Gununu..."
Eta’s forehead pulsed with an angry vein at Theta’s provocative words, but since she was currently the student, she could only grimace without finding a retort.
Theta, on the other hand, seemed to be relishing this rare opportunity where Eta couldn't talk back; a mean-spirited smirk played across her lips.
"Honestly, struggling like this at the very last minute is your first mistake. You should have been practicing much earlier. You have absolutely no sense of planning."
"Guh... Damn it... I have no excuse. I’m sorry, but... show me how to do it one more time."
"...Teacher."
"...What?"
"There is a proper way to address someone when you're asking them to teach you. You should say, 'Please teach me, Teacher,' shouldn't you?"
"Wh—This girl... She’s really taking to this like a fish to water..."
Eta glared at the grinning Theta through gritted teeth. However, the reality was that without Theta’s guidance, she couldn't make edible chocolate on her own. This was a gift for her master, Kaito. Naturally, she wanted it to be as delicious as possible.
"...P-Please... T-Teacher..."
"Very well."
"Damn it... Just you remember this..."
"Did you say something?"
"N-No, nothing at all!"
Watching Eta speak with such visible resentment, Theta nodded with satisfaction and resumed the cooking process.
Eta did her best to swallow her pride and endure the humiliation for the sake of her feelings for Kaito, but she was already at her limit. It was never going to last long. After being corrected with a venomous tone for the umpteenth time, the dam finally broke.
"That’s it! I’ve had enough! You’re getting way too arrogant just because I’m playing nice... Step outside, Theta!"
"Fine by me."
The argument escalated instantly. The two reached for their spear and shield—but they had forgotten something crucial. There were three people working in this kitchen.
"I’ll fix that mouth of yours so you can’t talk bac—Hieee?!"
"Gyah?!"
"Enough, you absolute idiots!"
""A-Attendant Captain Anima...""
Anima’s fists hammered into the crowns of Eta’s and Theta’s heads with blurring speed, her voice erupting in a roar that made the air tremble. Overwhelmed by that sheer pressure, the two immediately dropped to their knees, clutching their smarting heads.
"You are supposed to be making a gift for Master, yet you lack the basic awareness required of his attendants!"
"Y-Yes! We are terribly sorry!"
"W-We apologize!"
"Good grief... Eta, you know Theta’s sharp tongue better than anyone. Stop rising to the bait every single time! And Theta, stop provoking her while you give instructions. If you’re going to teach, do it properly!"
"U-Understood."
Anima finished scolding the pair, gave them their next set of tasks, and then returned to her own station.
Watching her back, Eta and Theta stole a glance at each other. They looked away for a moment, then looked back again.
"...Eta. I'm sorry."
"No, I was the one who lost my temper. Please, continue the lesson."
"Yeah. Leave it to me."
Eta and Theta were as quick to reconcile as they were to fight. Observing them smile at each other as they resumed their work, Anima let out a soft, gentle breath and smiled.
"Come to think of it, are you also good at cooking, Attendant Captain Anima?"
"No, if anything, I'm rather poor at it."
"Really? But your movements are so... efficient."
"Well, I received instruction from Sieg-dono. I made sure to prepare myself thoroughly."
Anima had been taking cooking lessons from her close friend Sieglinde for several months specifically for Valentine’s Day. Her greatest strength was her stubborn persistence; by practicing a skill she was bad at with single-minded devotion, she had reached a high level of proficiency—at least when it came to making chocolate.
Suddenly remembering something, Anima turned toward Eta and gave a small, knowing grin.
"Though, in that regard... Theta’s point about you waiting until the last minute does have some merit."
"Ugh... I have no defense."
"Fufufu. Theta, if it looks like your own chocolate-making is being delayed because of this, just say the word. I’ll take over the instruction for you."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"Eta, you actually have a decent feel for it. Just try to be a bit more careful and deliberate with each step."
"Understood!"
It had been several years since she became Kaito’s attendant. Anima had fully applied her industrious nature and had grown into a reliable leader of the household. She was now someone Kaito counted on, a fact she took pride in from the bottom of her heart.
This was exactly why, even now that she was officially married to Kaito, she insisted on calling him "Master" and continuing her service as his attendant.
Of course, if one looked at the massive heart-shaped chocolate she was currently crafting, it was easy to see that the emotions in Anima’s heart far exceeded the boundaries of master and servant—a fact she was well aware of herself.
"Still... it’s only because Master is the kind of person who smiles and tells me how happy he is that I don't have to hide these overwhelming feelings."
"...Eh? Attendant Captain Anima? Did you say something?"
"No... We have our regular duties to attend to as well, so let’s finish this up quickly."
""Yes!""
The words she had accidentally murmured fortunately didn't seem to have reached the sisters' ears. Anima resumed her cooking, her cheeks flushed a light pink.
Just outside the kitchen door, Kaito had been about to enter to grab a drink. Having overheard the exchange, he scratched his cheek in embarrassment and quietly turned to walk away.
Though he likely didn't realize it himself, a happy, tender smile was etched across his face.