#(For White Day Sonia got melon pan)

[more-than-a-princess]

Continued from here for @electricea!

Hopefully, Sonia thought, that would take some of the pressure off: if he could enjoy each date for what it was, and not expect an immediate relationship right after, surely that would make them more enjoyable. But the expectations of various Japanese holidays: Christmas Eve, Valentine's Day, and now White Day, rather ignored that way of thinking. You were confessed to or confessed and coupled up, or you weren't.

Hopefully, this White Day would incur no such expectations: just two friends enjoying each other's company, no matter how much the thought tugged at her heart. Tearing off a piece of the melon pan and savoring the subtle sweetness of the sugared crust top on her tongue seemed to be a good enough distraction for that, though Sonia's face lit up at the mention of Ryuji's favorite vending machine. "A ramen vending machine?" She repeated, both excited and puzzled by the prospect. "But how would such a thing work, Ryuji-san? I suppose if it is instant, then only water must be added. But imagine if a machine was able to dispense the likes of the sliced pork, and chopped onions, and mushrooms, and the hard-boiled egg? It would be quite revolutionary for vending machines. Still, I should like to see your favorite machines! Will you take me to them? I do have some coins we can use to purchase snacks or prizes."

She wasn't the biggest fan of snacking: the practice was dissuaded in the Royal Family. Meals were to be taken at mealtimes and mealtimes only, but with a close friend who managed a convenience store, it was difficult to resist. This, in turn, made it much less like work for him and more enjoyable for them both. Besides: they had the day to spend, though it was curious to her that out of all the Valentine's Day chocolate he must have received, he chose to spend White Day in her company. Perhaps the other gift-givers had presented less than satisfactory chocolate?

Something she chose not to mull over as they began to walk, the melon pan slowly being devoured as they received several dirty looks their way. Eating and walking wasn't exactly culturally acceptable, even more so that it was White Day. Much of the glares were in Ryuji's direction: couldn't that man reciprocate his Valentine's chocolates with even a café visit, much less a planned outing?

Sonia smiled at him. Hopefully he wouldn't notice, or be too preoccupied with their conversation to care. "Well, there were not much in the way of formal classes. That was very unique to Hope's Peak Academy," She explained. It was important, to Sonia at least, that he understood just how rare it was that her class became as close as they were. "Each class had a homeroom period, but much of our study was done individually. Some of us had tutors or coaches, but for many it was a self-study course, assessed by demonstration examinations only and if we were to fail them, we would have not been able to advance with our classmates. But our teacher truly believed in the importance of spending time together as a unified class: that was the exception, not the norm. Thus, she suggested my best friend be named class representative and she helped organize events that would bring us and all of our various skills together. Class parties, sports days, cultural days, days to view cherry blossoms and other important holidays."

"I believe my high school experience would have been quite lonely otherwise, though as I have come to understand it is a rather atypical education. But all of us were admitted to the school to cultivate a specific talent, and outside of our class that was often all we were known for. Unsurprisingly, I was known as the 'Ultimate Princess,' though I mostly wished to be known as 'Sonia.' I imagine your time in high school was far more fun!"