My Son's Happy Valentine's Day

Ding-dong
It was 6:30 PM.
The doorbell rang.

"Oh, um, sorry to bother you while you're busy. It's H."

On the monitor, I could see cute H-chan with her hair pulled back, likely just back from ballet class.
Could this be, could it really be...thatthing!?

H-chan is my son's childhood friend.
Since they were four, they have been exchanging gifts every year for Valentine's Day, White Day, and each other's birthdays.

She is my son's number one candidate for a future wife.

"Oh! It's H-chan! [Son's Name], H-chan is here!!"

I, the mother, was giddy.

"…It might be Valentine's!!"

My son's face broke into a grin.
He had been drawing on his iPad, but he immediately stopped and hurried to the entrance.

"Oh, I'm, I'm, I'm barefoot. What should I do?"
"Just put on some sandals while you're barefoot!"
"These? Are these sandals okay?"
"Yeah. Those ones."
"Oh, these were [Younger Brother's Name]'s. Where are mine? Where are mine? Oh, here they are!"

My son checked his hair in the entrance mirror.
I prepared my smartphone to record a video.
We were a parent and child in a state of excessive panic.

Click

"[Son's Name]. Happy Valentine's Day! Here you go."
"…Thanks."

His voice was so quiet.

"There is white chocolate hidden under the chocolate!"

My son was silent.
But a grin was overflowing from his face as he looked down.

"Thanks for coming over even though you're just back from ballet, H-chan! I'll definitely come see your ballet recital!"
"Oh! Thank you so much! Even though you're busy!"

H-chan's response was just wonderful.

As for my son, he was standing next to me and H-chan—while I was all excited—staring at the chocolate he received, grinning and acting all shy.

This vibe hasn't changed since he was four.

We're both eight now. Second graders in elementary school.
Since my son doesn't go to school, he hardly ever sees H-chan.
I thought maybe H-chan might have a crush on some other boy by now, and that there wouldn't be any Valentine's Day for them anymore.

That's why I was so happy.
Maybe even happier than my son was.

I was happy to be able to watch these two cute kids from a front-row seat.
I was happy that H-chan went out of her way to come and deliver chocolate, even though he doesn't go to school and they don't see each other.

I'm so happy.

I'm happy about that feeling of being connected at heart.

They're getting to that age, so this might really, truly be the last year that we parents can watch their interactions from right by their side.
I'm so lucky to have been able to watch these two cute kids from so close up.

H-chan, thank you for making my son smile.

My son was so shy he didn't say a single word.
But apparently, after H-chan got home, she said, 'I can tell! That shyness of his must mean he's happy!'
H-chan, you understand him...
Mom is moved.

My son was also grinning while in the bath, saying, 'What should I make for her in return?'

H-chan's name and my son's name share the same kanji character, and both names have the same meaning.

I want you both to have a relationship where you shine light on each other.
I want you to stay close friends forever.
Even if the environments you live in are different, and the paths you take are different,

I want you two to be the kind of people who are connected at heart.

And, I really do think.

Someday, would you be willing to become my son's bride?

※※Postscript