Chapter 73: I Gave Chocolate

**I Gave Chocolate** is the seventy-third Chapter of *Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu*.

## Summary

Still riding on his bike, Ichikawa reminisces with Yamada about the last time they rode double, saying they rode past a police station and how much it made him panic. She claims she didn't even notice, and he continues, saying that he was going to ask her to get off, but her comment about him being afraid of change really bothered him. She asks if she really said something like that, and he says that she was right, but that she's the type that enjoys change, so she wouldn't understand. She says he may be right as she leans in closer to him, but that she may understand it right now, because she's happy in the moment, but then declares that it isn't enough. She says that she is hungry and they stop at a convenience store.

Inside, they look at a Valentine's display, and they get embarrassed as he comments on how expensive everything is. She ends up with a chocolate bun, and he asks about all the chocolate she was given by the first year girls earlier in the day. She claims to have unlimited room for chocolate, and he looks over the bag in her hands calling out the contents, causing her to pull it away, but he claims he isn't after any. She then asks him what kind of chocolate says "romantic," to him. He says that's a tough question, thinking that if you don't just say it outright there's always the possibility it can be misunderstood, like with Adachi. She sulks for a second time that day, with him and Moe giving the same basic advice. In response, she pushes the remainder of her chocolate bun in his face, leaving a stain on his cheek. He thanks her for the food, and she reaches over to wipe his face with her finger, leaving a heart shape, before running off with a goodbye. He considers what his heart was hoping for, and rushes back inside the convenience store.

Outside, Yamada contemplates while she holds a cupcake with half the kanji for "Love" emblazoned on it in the negative space around the powdered sugar. Ichikawa suddenly runs into her as he pedals, stopping, relieved that she was waiting. They both reach into their bags, but he fires first, offering a "Melty Kiss" fruity strawberry chocolate to her. She looks confused, as the date is wrong for him to be giving her a gift, but he reminds her that in the classroom she said that, for today, she would be a boy. She takes the gift, and he furiously pedals away, leaving her delicately holding the box up to her face.

As Ichikawa continues rapidly pedaling down the street, he feels a sense of elation, affirming that he's done the right thing, and that he knows Yamada. When he gets home that night, however, he rolls around in his bed in the fetal position, covering his face in shame, saying his actions were definitely gross, and questioning the brand of chocolate he bought her, wondering what a "melty kiss" even is. His phone goes off, and he timidly raises it, afraid of what he might see, but gets a message from Yamada that she is outside. He suddenly gets up and heads out, seeing her at the gate.

## Trivia

The cover page depicts Yamada leaving to go to Ichikawa's house with her parents looking quizzically at her. She is holding Wantarou and is likely using the excuse that she is giving him a walk as a reason to go out.