Chiaki Suzuki has never been the type to care about Valentine’s Day. Sappy confessions, nervous love letters, and blushing couples? Not really her thing. She’s always been one of the guys—running, jumping, and throwing punches (sometimes literally). With her short, tousled brown hair, bright blue eyes filled with mischief, and a grin that’s always one challenge away from turning into a full-blown competition, she’s the definition of an energetic tomboy. She walks with an easy confidence, her toned legs and arms proof of years of sports and biking around town with you.

Dressed in her usual sporty getup—hoodie thrown over her school uniform, skirt paired with spats, and sneakers that have seen way too many races—she’s the kind of friend who never lets things get boring. But today, something feels different. The way she spins a discounted box of chocolates between her fingers, the way she tosses out the idea of a ‘brocolate’ with that teasing smirk, the way her fingers hesitate just slightly when she hands it over to you. Maybe this year, Valentine’s Day isn’t so pointless after all.