Golden Sunset

The sound of shoes tapping along the sidewalk filled the silent street. Nishikata was deep in thought, eyes blankly fixed on the watch he had gotten for his birthday and determined to get a win over the girl walking slightly ahead of him. A simple, singular, one victory. Was that too much to ask for? He scowled at Takagi as they strolled along, her hair swaying slightly with every step she took, assisted by the light breeze.

She looked back over her shoulder, eyes fixing him in their grasp. "Say, Nishikata."

He rolled his eyes. Here comes more. "Yes, Takagi-san?"

"Why don't we take another route back to our houses?"

Nishikata thought through this request furiously, trying to find where her concealed trap was. As he came to the conclusion that he couldn't find out what it was, he internally sighed. Preparing to get teased, the boy opened his mouth. "Sure, why not? We're going to be late getting home though." He would learn soon enough. Also, I'll get more chances to triumph over Takagi-san. He smiled at that thought, oblivious to the girl that was wearing a puzzled expression as she glanced at him.

They turned a corner, Takagi leading the way into a different road. The sun glowed a warm orange, dying the pair's fronts golden as they walked towards the approaching sunset. The girl sighed in contentment. "Aren't sunsets amazing? They're proof that even endings can be beautiful."

Nishikata nodded mindlessly, still too absorbed in brainstorming to pay attention. "Uh huh." I know I have better upper body strength than her, but how do I use that to my advantage?

Takagi slowed down to walk beside him. She raised a brow. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Mhm, yeah." Maybe if I use a pull up bar...no. I already lost the one where we flipped over the bar. How was I supposed to know she had shorts on underneath?

Both brows were raised now. "Want to walk to the park with me?" It has to be something about arm strength though! I know I can beat her!

"Of course." Realization dawned on him a split second later. "I mean-what?"

She smiled sweetly. "Too late!"

Tsk. "Fine." Mentally slapping himself for slipping up so easily like that, they adjusted their path to go to the park. "I need the exercise anyways. And didn't you say you like walking?"

She gave him a radiant smile as they kept walking. "You remembered."

Nishikata felt some heat creeping up his neck, and he raised a hand to scratch the back of his head. "Uh...yeah. Just barely." When Takagi-san is smiling like that...she's...she's actually cu-cu-

"We're here!" The park, with its various yellowing trees and paths snaking their ways across the green grass spotted with fallen leaves, spread out in front of them. A few children were darting across the expanse, dodging tree trunks and hopping over rocks as they chased each other around. Their parents sat to the side, chatting to one another and one eye following their children. Takagi took in the scene and turned to Nishikata, who was still staring at her, dumbfounded. She smirked. "Are you red because of the sunset," she stepped closer. "Or...because you're blushing?" Her eyes twinkled.

He jerked. "Th-the sunset, obviously! Why would I be blushing?" He averted his eyes, in case she could read his mind through them. Knowing Takagi-san...I wouldn't put it past her. His eyes caught on a particularly wide tree as he looked over her shoulder. Nishikata felt like a lightbulb had appeared over his head and suddenly turned on. He looked back to Takagi, smirking. With this, I'll beat you for sure! Oh, he could already hear the trumpets sounding in his head.

"How about we have a competition, Takagi-san?"

She frowned. "But you've lost every single one of them for this entire year. Are you sure?"

He mentally crowed in victory. That's right! Feel my victorious aura and cower in fear! "Not this one! You'll lose, and I'll finally be able to turn the tables!"

Takagi gave him a dubious look. "Okay. I'll even let you make up the rules this time."

Nishikata's eyes blazed with awakened motivation. He boldly strode over to the tree without a look back and laid his hand upon the trunk. Ah, tree. I should thank you for letting me have this win! He peered above him. Finding a particularly eye-catching branch, he pointed at it. "Whoever gets to that branch up there," he gestured at the branch, "wins! Loser has to do whatever the winner wants them to do!" Hehehe Takagi-san! This is my righteous retaliation!

Takagi looked up, trying to locate the branch he was talking about. "The really big branch, right?"

Nishikata nodded, hands on his hips. "Yes."

Her gaze switched between the branch and the boy in front of her. "It looks pretty high up."

Nishikata scoffed. "What, you scared of heights?"

She shrugged. "Prepare to do my bidding, Nishikata." Oh, just you wait, Takagi-san! I'll be able to pull myself up much faster than you!

They laid their messenger bags at the base of the trunk and backed a few paces away. Nishikata glanced to his right. Takagi was standing there, watching him calmly. A seed of doubt almost planted itself in his head. No time to doubt myself, I have to believe!

"Ready?" He asked. At her nod, he began counting down with his fingers. "Three...two...one!"

Nishikata sprinted and pushed off the trunk, catching a branch in his grasp as he flew up. He pulled himself up and stood on it. He looked down as he began reaching up again. Takagi was slowly getting up, seemingly worried about letting her skirt ride up too far. Nishikata smirked, going up another branch. It's in the bag.

The branch that was their goal was but an arm's reach away. Nishikata looked down to check that Takagi was still below him and hadn't fallen off. Annoyed and frustrated he may be at her teasing, but he held no ill will towards her. Huh? She's not below me! Panic shot through him, numbing his fingers and chilling his spine. What if she had fallen off? Had he gone too far with this challenge? A finger poked itself into his ribs.

"HAHAHAHA," Nishikata began laughing as his most ticklish spot was assaulted. "St-st-stop-p!"

Surprisingly, the offending finger relented. Nishikata was astonished when he was greeted with the beaming visage of Takagi. "Takagi-san! When did you get up so fast?" Not good! I'm so close to the end!

Takagi leaned closer, as if she had a secret to tell. "Well, you might have stronger arms, but you don't ride a bike regularly," she whispered. Shoot! She had stronger legs than him. How could he had forgotten that?

"Nishikata, do you know what they sing about two people in a tree together, alone?" She looked at him innocently.

He knew, of course. Knew that this was the end of his lead over her. That she would insert a question like that was just how Takagi was. She would let him get in the lead, but then give him a shock that would delay him just enough so she could win. Would this time be any different?

No. It wouldn't be. So as he struggled through his blush, jerky limbs, and addled mind, Takagi was gone with a swish of her skirt.

Damn!

She was peering down at him as he found his balance again with an amused expression. Resigned to his defeat, he climbed up the rest of the way slowly. He settled in on the broad branch next to her as she moved to the side to give him space, victorious aura slipping off, replaced with the sting of failure.

"You have really good upper body strength, Nishikata."

The boy sighed, kicking his feet against the bark, watching as it chipped away under the punishment. "Fat lot of help it did me here. What do you want me to do?" He saw her frown out of the corner of his eye.

"You don't need to do anything-but!"

"But what?" He turned his head to look at her quizzically.

"Sunsets are proof that even endings are beautiful." She tilted her head, giving him a warm smile. "Look!" She pointed with her finger through a gap in the foliage.

Nishikata's eyes followed, and his breath caught. It truly is. The sun was gleaming with a reddish-orange light now, highlighted like a crown jewel against the streaks of purple and blues and yellows spilling across the sky. Clouds appeared to frame it as if they were afraid to diminish the warmth it seemed to beam down to the two observers sitting in the tree.

"You're...right." Nishikata leaned his head against the trunk, eyes still fixed on the sight before him. He turned his head to look at his companion again, and saw another sun, right next to him, except this one was highlighted against a sky of yellow and orange leaves instead. Caramel brown hair, slightly tousled from their climb was glowing, creating a fiery halo around her head. She seemed to give off light as she smiled at him, eyes turning into twin suns of deep gold.

"Told you."

They sat on their perch in silence, admiring the sunset, before Takagi shattered it with a few quiet words. "You know, this makes me really happy."

The boy flinched. What? The sunset or me?

As if she had read his mind, she spoke again. "The sunset, of course." She smirked at him.

"Uh-Yeah! The sunset."

"Aww, don't look so disappointed, Nishikata!"

"I'm not disappointed! You're seeing things!"

Giggling and huffing hung in the air. "What time is it, Nishikata?"

"Around six-thirty."

"We're going to be late!"

A faint smile tugged on his lips.

"Told you."

A/N: Did I go too out of character? I had other ideas but then I read the manga and turns out- two of them were already in there so imagine my disappointment when I found out. Review plz. *Was originally chapter two*