infinitejustice | Seventy-Second Launch

[Action; Goldenrod City]

[Another day, another repetition of the routine that Athrun has let himself fall into. He's been focusing on his job and his training, while waiting for the Elite Four to declare that they are accepting challengers.

However, as Athrun walks, dressed in the clothes he got for Christmas, something red catches his eye in a nearby window display. He looks over at it.

Hearts.]

Valentine's Day...

[That's right, he had forgotten. In the pursuit of more funds and more strength, he'd lost track of the date.

But unlike some people, Athrun felt a wave of melancholy wash over him as he realized that Valentine's Day was only two weeks away. It wasn't because of his lack of a girlfriend; though he wanted one, he wasn't letting that get him down. No, Valentine's Day held an important significance to not only Athrun, but everyone from his world. It was the anniversary of the third-most deadly attack against civilians in the history of his world, and one that affected him personally.

Athrun continued to walk, but he was unable to escape the Valentine's Day decorations and merchandise that was now popping up in stores all over the two regions. He just tried to focus on what he wanted to get done today and move on.]

[Video]

Sorry, but out of mild curiosity...what sorts of plans do people have for Valentine's Day so far? Or, what would you like to do for the holiday?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm gonna buy a shitton of those heart-shaped cherry lollipops they always have and hoard them.

_{[... And that's about it.]}

...Uh. I...I see.

[His face says otherwise, though. He looks downright confused.]

_{[Poor Athrun.]

[Heather blinks at the obvious bewilderment... and then shrugs.]}

What? It's not like there's much better to do on Valentine's Day.

Y'know, unless you've got a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Not necessarily. People here seem to prefer celebrating it the Eastern way, which places a little more emphasis on one's friends.

Oh really? That's how it's celebrated over there?

_{[.... WELL that doesn't help her much, thanks to circumstances. But she looks curious anyway.]}

Yeah. On Valentine's Day, girls give chocolate to their male friends. The more important the recipient, the more or better chocolate they get. Then on White Day the guys return the favor.

Ohhh... Yeah, I remember White Day coming up last year.

Didn't realize that Valentine's Day had a .... girl-giving-dudes-stuff obligation.

_{[... Oh man, that makes it even worse. If only she'd known that last year.]}

Well, it's only in east Asian cultures, so it's understandable.

Yeah. All things considered, I didn't actually know a ton about those before I came here.

I studied Japanese before I came here, so I picked up some tidbits through that. Still, it's nothing like actually immersing yourself within a group of friends from Japan.

Hm...

Yeah, I've got quite a few Japanese friends, but... in hindsight I haven't actually ASKED them much about what it's like there.

Sounds like you have a conversation topic if you run out of things to talk about, then.