Chapter 17

Synopsis
It's Valentine's Day, and students all over the school are eager to exchange chocolates despite Inomata's constant reminders that it's against the rules. Meanwhile, Yagi Tomoya of the advanced class is more eager in getting to know the children of the babysitter's club, to the chagrin of his friend and classmate Nezu Chuukichi.

Long Summary
Usaida looks at the calendar and realizes that it is Valentine's Day. He asks the children to come over and holds out his hands. Kotaro misinterprets this gesture and puts his own hand on Usaida's. Usaida asks if their mothers or Ryuuichi has given them anything to give him. Takuma gives him a used tissue, but Usaida says that he expects chocolates.

In the classrooms, students talk about how bringing chocolates to school on Valentine's Day is banned. Usokawa laments over his lack of chocolates because of the ban. He asks Ryuu if he has received any chocolates, particularly from Ushimaru. Ryuu responds that he has not received any, which secretly makes Ushimaru feel relieved. He looks over to Hayato, thinking he would get a lot of chocolates. A girl offers Hayato chocolate, but he briskly rejects the offer, feeling that he does not like them nor need them. The girl runs away in dismay while Usokawa calls him out for blatantly rejecting chocolates. The other girls discuss boys in other classes, Yagi and Nezu in particular. In the advanced classes, girls hover around Yagi and Nezu with chocolates, annoying Inomata, who calls them all out for breaking the rules. Yagi approaches Inomata, inquiring about the babysitting club. Inomata, flustered, bursts from her seat and leaves the room, saying that she does not know anything about that club. The home economics club members ask Inomata if she would like to make chocolates with them. Inomata replies that she does not like to defy school rules. Inomata thinks to herself about her personality and her wish to not upset the children. Tears well up in her eyes and she dashes up the stairs.

Yagi appears at the daycare room and Ryuu is eager to accept a new member. He quickly introduces each child, Usaida, and Hayato. In response to a compliment from Ryuu, he quickly compliments each child in the daycare center and gets on their good sides rather quickly. In the library, Inomata is studying and hears the conversation of two other students. She hears that Yagi stares at kids with a strange and scary expression, which causes her to immediately suspect Yagi. Yagi is about to pinch Kotaro's cheeks as Inomata bursts into the room. She sees blood drip on the floor, but it turns out that the blood is from a nosebleed. Nezu comes into the room and tells Yagi to leave. Ryuu becomes suspicious and the situation becomes rather awkward. Nezu pushes Yagi out of the room and informs Inomata that the home economics club will be baking a normal cake rather than Valentine's Day chocolates and would like her to join them. The children immediately start to jump up and down in anticipation of chocolate cake, but Inomata glares at them, saying that chocolates are banned at this school. The children start to cry, but Inomata blushes and explains that if they can wait until the next day, she will bring them delicious chocolate cake.

Inomata, Ryuu, and Kotaro walk home, and Ryuu apologizes for keeping her back. He tells her to wait for him as he and Kotaro enter a store. When they return, Kotaro presents a small box to Inomata. Ryuu reveals that he is giving her chocolates since they are now off-campus, saying he really likes the caring side of her. Inomata blushes, and Ushimaru, who has been watching the two, becomes worried and suspects that the two have a rather intimate relationship.

At the Morinomiya estate, Saikawa presents a large tray of homemade chocolates. The chairwoman scolds him for going overboard, and Ryuu thanks him for the chocolates. Kotaro and Ryuu happily feed each other chocolates.

The next day, Usaida ponders the relationship of presumably Ryuu and Inomata and says that Ryuu's Valentine's Day was full of love, with Kotaro being in the main spotlight. He also calls Ryuu an aloof idiot. As Inomata and the home economics club make the cake, Inomata, flushed, tells herself that she is not making the cake for the kids.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Midori Sawatari
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Usokawa
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Ushimaru Yuki
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Inomata Maria
 * Yagi Tomoya
 * Nezu Chuukichi
 * Saikawa Keigo (briefly)
 * Morinomiya Youko