7 Years
(Chiba x Hayami)

Disclaimer: I don't, and never will I, own Ansatsu Kyoushitsu/Assassination Classroom.

"I really respect you, let's continue to get along from here on out."

On their first year of senior high school, Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday. It was the first one without Korosensei and it was almost a year since they became somewhat retired assassins. It was no wonder they were feeling more nostalgic than romantic on the day.

Both not fond of crowded places, Chiba and Hayami decided it was the perfect day to visit the old hill. They visited every room in the small building with a few "do you remember when"'s. It was when they checked the storage room that they found the paint ball equipment. With a single glance at each other, they each took a color.

Numerous paint splats later, they were both sprawled out in the middle of the shooting range panting.

"Your aim is as accurate as ever," Hayami remarked as she inspected the paint hits on her clothes, just one more than the ones on Chiba's. They dragged themselves back to the benches where they left their stuff. "As agreed, these are yours."

Chiba caught the pack of chocolate bars squarely.

"I'm glad we're still getting along well to this day," they once more shared a meaningful glance, a grateful smile that conveyed everything else left unspoken.

"You two are as unromantic as ever," they both turned to see Isogai, Kataoka, Okano, and Maehara approaching them.

"I'm pretty sure Valentine's dates aren't supposed to be in old assassination forests like this," Maehara joked as he tapped Chiba in greeting.

"Says the one who's got a lot of dates yet still went here on such a day," Okano said as she tossed a gun to the Casanova.

It seems everyone was feeling similarly on the day for the others soon arrived too as the paint ball game turned bigger and bigger.

On their second year of high school, Valentine's Day fell on Hayami's shift in her part time job at a café. She didn't really need the extra income but she took it as per Korosensei's suggestion. She started last summer in a pension in Karuizawa. When school came back she then worked at a convenience store until mid-December after which she took the job in this café.

She could see why Korosensei had suggested she work at these kinds of environment. By working at jobs that required her to deal with various persons, she was able to improve her people skills.

But still, she wasn't too fond of working on Valentine's Day. There were just too many people. It meant the café closed later too. Her face calm on the outside, she made sure Chiba understood the extent of her woes through her rant text messages.

She was surprised and at the same time not surprised when her emotionless best friend showed up just as her shift ended.

"Literally long day at work, huh," he greeted with a small smirk.

It was all she needed to start ranting again as they started walking home. Unlike with her messages, Hayami's actual ranting was calm. She just related all her woes in that stoic tone of hers that if you didn't know her as well as Chiba does, you wouldn't be able to tell the exasperation underlying it. She wasn't spitfire-talking too, just telling an event in a sentence or so, pausing, and then speaking again as if she just remembered another thing.

During all of these Chiba just silently listened, absorbing everything she was saying, maybe just a bit wondering just how bad it could have been if she was as bothered as she was with Okajima's all too vocal perverted talks.

She was already calm enough by the time they reached her apartment complex. "Ah, you should have these," she dug around her bag then produced a bar of Toblerone. "Thanks for walking me home. See you."

He lifted the hand that caught the chocolate in salute as he turned to go.

On their third year of high school, Valentine's Day became some kind of excuse for 3rd years to take a breather from preparing for entrance exams. The mood was infinitely lighter than it was yesterday at areas of 3rd years in all schools.

There are people who go to shrines or temples when things like entrance exams are coming up. And then there are people, or maybe just Chiba and Hayami, who go to shooting ranges, needing to let off steam than to pray.

"Feels weird at career consultations, don't you think?" Hayami said as they took a break from the relentless shooting. She could still remember the one with Korosensei 3 years ago in which she kept shooting at the yellow octopus as they discussed her future plans.

"Hn," Chiba grunted in response. He could still remember Korosensei trying to discreetly coax him into showing his eyes (he failed at both trying to be discreet and at actually showing Chiba's eyes) during the discussion.

They were arranging their belongings getting ready to go when a small colorfully-wrapped package tumbled out of Chiba's bag. By the pouch-like wrap, Hayami instantly knew it was Valentine's chocolate, most likely handmade.

With a slight furrowing of eyebrows, she picked it up and gave it back to Chiba. "Handmade chocolates."

Chiba rarely received obligation chocolates from his female classmates in his high school, Hayami knew. He wasn't that close to them so to this day, only the girls from Class E were the females he could truly call friends.

"Ah, Kiyomi made them," Chiba's bubbly youngest sister. She was in first year middle school, at the age where events like Valentine's start to be an exciting thing. From what Chiba knew, she didn't like any boy but was excited at making the chocolates. Chiba sighed as he remembered the mess she made in the kitchen which he had to clean up.

"Oh," was the only word that came out of Hayami's lips. She straightened her eyebrows as she shrugged and finished packing her things.

"Good luck on the exams," Chiba said when they got to the street where they had to separate.

Hayami took out a box of Ganbacky (Pocky, 'good luck' version, has a heart at the back where a message can be written) and handed it to him. "I'll see you after the exams."

They parted ways as coolly as ever.

On their first year of college, Valentine's Day became Singles Awareness Day. College clearly impressed on them how pathetic their love lives were and so Yada came up with the idea of a Singles Day party for them.

Okano's efforts were still in vain. Kataoka has men and women asking her out left and right yet the one man she liked wouldn't. Nakamura hasn't met a guy who wasn't boring. Her pursuers could barely keep their eyes away from Yada's chest. Kurahashi was single and there simply for fun. Hara was single too but she was with them primarily to rein them in. Hayami didn't really care about her status but once she said that she had no plans on the 14th, Yada immediately insisted she should be there with them.

All in all the day was fun-filled. It wasn't often they met up like this that just lounging around exchanging stories and woes over food was fun and relaxing for Hayami.

"So, what are you giving Chiba-kun this year?" Yada had asked her. Everyone knew Hayami gave only Chiba chocolate every Valentine's Day but was dubious at the intention. They still couldn't decide which was obligatory for Hayami, giving Chiba chocolate or the chocolate (giri) itself.

Hayami opened her bag to show Yada the boxed chocolate truffles she had bought.

Yada's face scrunched up at it. "Ugh, it's an improvement from the generic ones you gave him before but this is why you're still single like the rest of us."

Hayami gave the box a thoughtful look. The only reason she had bought it when she saw it was because she was reminded of the handmade giri choco Chiba's sister gave him. She felt weird that the chocolate coming from his sister seemed more thoughtful than the convenience store chocolates she gave him. Are sisters even supposed to give chocolate to their brothers on Valentine's?

She met up with Chiba after the get together at the train station.

"Sorry did you wait long?" he asked as soon as they met.

She shook her head. "The last to go was Kataoka, she'd just left. Did you get dismissed late?"

"No, just got held back a bit," he motioned for them to go and they entered the train in silence.

It was February 14 and the rush hour wasn't quite over yet. They didn't speak until after they got off.

They were barely out of the station when Chiba felt his phone vibrate in his bag. He paused to get it. Hayami froze when he took out a carefully wrapped gift first and then fished out his phone.

"Hiyori? Yeah, I just arrived. Dumplings, got it," as he talked on the phone, Hayami's mind almost went haywire.

That gift was no doubt chocolate. That was most definitely handmade. The thought that it must be from his sister again crossed her mind but was immediately dismissed. That box contained handmade chocolate that was definitely honmei, not giri choco. And if that was honmei choco, then someone else gave it to him, possibly with a confession.

"Can we drop by the dumpling store first? My sister's asking for some," he asked after the phone call.

"Ah, sure," Hayami regained her composure. She regarded the gift which he had forgotten to put back inside his bag during the phone call. "Someone gave them to you."

Chiba finally realized what he had just made her aware of. He hastily put away the gift. "Yeah, an architecture major too. Approached me after my last class," he trailed off. He probably shouldn't have said the reason he got held up. "It felt rude not to take them. Oh, we're here."

Hayami almost rolled her eyes at the save the dumpling store provided Chiba with. So he accepted the chocolates but not the feelings, that much was clear. Hayami felt a bit unsettled at giving him hers. Her store-bought box paled in comparison once more.

Still, she gave him the box with nary an emotion on her face. "We're fighting separate battles now, let's continue to support each other."

They had already turned to each of their paths when she remembered something. "Ah. The others said 'hi'."

On their second year of college, Valentine's Day fell on a Friday. Which meant Singles Day fell on TGIF. Yada decided to take it up a notch and suggested they go clubbing.

Kanzaki was with them this time as it turned out the boy she was going out with last year, and all other guys who approached her after, was horrible, while Hara couldn't join them this year.

Hayami still did not like crowded places but she danced with them and enjoyed the company nonetheless.

"Did you meet up with Chiba-kun already?" Yada asked when they were back at their booth taking a break from dancing.

"No, his class ends late. And he's got a group project meeting right now. He'll go here after that."

"You mean he's picking you up," Yada's ears immediately perked up. "What are you giving him this year?"

Hayami felt a blush creep up her face. She hesitantly opened her bag and felt for the box inside.

Last week's grocery shopping took a long time because she kept picking up and putting back chocolate at the shelves. She was already out of the store when she found a decent excuse not to push through with her plan: she still had homework to do tonight. Too bad she already bought the ingredients. Plus it wasn't really a decent excuse. She was a former high-caliber student assassin, after all.

Hayami was a decent cook and she was a fast learner too. She knew there was nothing she should be nervous about as she pulled out the box that contained her first ever handmade chocolates.

The box was nothing fancy nor fussy. It was a craft box tied with a craft string but it made Yada's eyes go wide as saucers.

"Oh my god!" her loud reaction was enough to catch the others' attention and in seconds all of them were looking at Hayami and the box in her hands like gaping fish.

"Handmade," Kanzaki blurted out.

"Honmei," Kataoka added.

"You," Yada pointed at Hayami. "are giving handmade chocolate to Chiba who is picking you up."

Collective gasps filled the table. And then her phone lit up with a message. Chiba was already here.

"I, uh, have to go?" it wasn't often Hayami's cool tone was not used but she really had no clue what to say to them.

"You're not invited to next year's Singles Day," Nakamura deadpanned.

Chiba was just as surprised when she gave him the obviously handmade chocolate, though less visibly so.

"Thank you," was all she said before she turned to enter her apartment complex. For the two of them, it was more than enough.

On their third year of college, Valentine's Day was not spent as Singles Awareness Day. True to their words, she was not invited to Singles Day.

Chiba had found it amusing yet did not comment even though there was no need to spell it out that their friends deemed them official. Instead he took a break from working on his plates and drafts to keep Hayami company for most of the day.

The fact that they both hated crowded places crossed out eating out or going to the mall or even strolling in the park. They ended up having a movie marathon in Hayami's house which was empty as both busy parents had work despite the weekend. She cooked dinner for him as thanks for keeping her company.

"How was it?" she asked. It was the first time someone else had eaten her food.

"It was really good," Chiba praised genuinely.

"Ah, wait a second," she got up to get the box of chocolates she had prepared last night. "This is for you."

She was back on her seat across him at the table, passing the box of chocolates, handmade again, over to him.

It was when he reached out to take it that they both paused in realization. It was February 14, they spent the day watching movies, and she was giving him handmade chocolates over dinner. Basically a Valentine's dinner date.

A brush of his fingers across hers as he took the box from her solidified the fact that their relationship really had shifted.

This time, Hayami didn't say anything as she gave him the chocolates.

On their fourth year of college, Valentine's Day fell on the season where thesis and other final requirements poured over graduating college students.

But that wasn't the reason Hayami still wasn't invited to Singles Day, something she didn't question anymore. For this time she really did have plans.

She ran a hand through her now long hair and then smoothed the dress she had especially picked that morning before marching on. There by the gates of her university stood a tall man whose dark hair covered half his face. A small smile graced his face in greeting as she approached him.

"Hey," she greeted when she stepped in front of him.

He took out the hand she didn't realize he kept behind him and held out a single long-stemmed red rose. He did not say anything as she gently took it, surprise etched only in her eyes.

They exchanged a few stories about their day and the general happenings in a graduating student's life as they went to the station and rode the train back to their town. Once there they headed for the shooting range. It was once again the season to blow off steam.

Setting the rose atop her bag carefully, Hayami turned to face Chiba dangling a container of Choco Bit with an outstretched hand. "Let's bet, higher score gets the prize."

Chiba eyed the smug smirk on her face dubiously but accepted the challenge with a grunt. They went to their stations and started.

By the end of their hour, Chiba won 3 rounds to 2. "How are you still not rusty even though you're busier than me?" Hayami chided without mirth, tossing the Choco Bit at him a little too high.

"Architecture, we have to be accurate with each line," he responded as he caught it right on top of his head.

Their next destination was a burger joint. They ordered food for takeout then continued on their real destination: the old hill.

The trek up the hill was spent in comfortable silence, both of them taking in the still-too-familiar surroundings. They reached the top where the classroom was situated and took to climb the rooftop to eat there, watching and reminiscing.

7 years ago they were here, worrying about entrance exams to their high school of choice, an unkillable yellow octopus preparing them for not only that but also the entrance exams to their college of choice and their future paths.

"Hard to believe we're finally here at what Korosensei had always been preparing us for," Hayami said, breaking the silence. In a month, they will truly be facing the adult world, supposedly chasing after their dreams.

7 years ago they were here, betting on shooting accuracy over chocolate bits on a Valentine's Day promising a strengthening friendship.

Hayami took out the box of handmade chocolates, this time a card attached to it bearing a single name: Chiba. She held it out to him with both hands, looking at his eyes directly. "Thank you, for everything. Let's continue to be together."

7 years later they were here, promising to be with each other wherever the future leads.

Chiba reached out with both hands, stilling them on either side of the box, their fingertips brushing. For just one second, their locked gazes conveyed everything else the words meant. He took the box, ran the edge of a pinky over the card bearing his name, then placed it inside his bag.

"Korosensei, we'll go now. Keep watching us," Chiba said when they were back down at the start of the path to go down the hill, looking back one last time at their old classroom.

As if in response, a soft breeze blew past them.

"Let's go." (Happy Valentine's Day)

7 years later they were here, holding hands for the first time ever on a Valentine's Day.

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Okay, so I'm a pretty forgetful person and I wasn't that much aware that Valentine's was just around the corner until my mom reminded me of it asking me where I will be on the day. I've completely forgotten about making a Valentine special too, but this came to me and here we are. Please do forgive if I made many mistakes here since I published this unedited as I wanted to be able to within the day. I hope you like my Valentine gift to you all. Now back to writing that other ChibaHaya story I was working on, hopefully I get to release it within the month.

P.S. I was listening to 7 Years by Lukas Graham, hence the title.

P.P.S. I may or may not write a White Day counterpart.