"Get moving you two!" Shiratori shouted at the pair.
"Hai sir!" Takagi squeaked. He and Sato began to jog off down the hill, but Shiratori called back to Sato.
"Sato! I need you to motivate Yumi and the others. Run down and go with them." He growled. Sato nodded and sent another sad smile to Takagi. Takagi felt his heart skip a beat.
"We can talk later!" Sato called as she dashed down the hill.
"Ok!" Takagi looked down the other side of the hill and scowled. It would take forever to climb all the hills on these trails. "Stupid hills," He started down the hill when suddenly something caught his foot.
Thud!! SCRRRRRRRR!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Takagi fell face first and slid down the hill. The gravel and stones bit into his skin and he cried out in pain. Takagi reached out blindly, hoping to catch something that would stop him from sliding down the hill. He felt a hard tug that stopped his sliding. His pack had snagged on a tree root. He grabbed the root and hauled himself to his feet. Shiratori looked down at him from the top of the hill. Takagi sighed. Shiratori had his foot out. What a surprise! That jerk! To think I felt bad for him! Takagi dragged himself to his feet and grabbed the pack (Which was still snagged on a tree root) and trooped down to the bottom of the hill to grab the other pack. He felt a bead of blood drip down his cheek and tasted the metallic taste on his lips. He slumped to the ground and tried to get his mind back in order. Shiratori walked right past him- then stopped.
"Here," He snarled as he tossed Takagi a bandage.
"D-domo, uh sir," Takagi stuttered. So Shiratori trips him then gives him a bandage? What the hell?! Shiratori was already gone. From the top of the next hill, he sneered down at Takagi.
"Move it! Get that bandage on and get up here!" Shiratori called. Takagi hastily wrapped up the cuts he had just gotten and stumbled to his feet. Woah! Bad idea to stand up too fast, Takagi felt the world sway beneath his feet. He steadied himself still feeling dizzy from his trip down the hill. He sighed. Takagi began to jog up yet another hill when suddenly the whole gang was with him.
"How many of these freaking hills are there!"
"Four thousand!"
"This sucks!"
"Aw shut it. I hate this to."
"Hey Wataru, geez you look like shit." Junsaku said.
"Gee thanks Junsaku,"
"No prob."
"So what happened? Your face is all cut…" Sato asked. Her eyes were wide with concern.
"S-Shiratori tripped me and I fell down the hill." Takagi laughed nervously. "It's no big deal."
"No big deal huh?" Sato reached over and stroked his cheek gently- causing Takagi to blush insanely scarlet- and held out her hand to show. It had blood drops on it. "Don't lie. Does it hurt?"
"A-a bit Miwa… But I'll live." He mumbled. She could not help it, really, she could not. Sato pulled him close and kissed a cut on his forehead.
"Try to take care of yourself around Shiratori. He wants you dead." She said softly. Noboru elbowed the others who rushed ahead to give the couple space. Takagi looked at Sato. His heart was racing and his breath was coming in short gasps.
"I only worry for your happiness. I don't want you to marry him."
"It's sad really… I only wish things were easier… But you're always getting hurt and it's my fault… I want you… But everyone I love dies… It's just I think I love you…"
Takagi leaned in and kissed her. They stayed locked together tasting each other's lips. She wound her arms around him toying with his hair as she kissed him. Takagi more or less stayed still, he was terrified of screwing up the kiss. Oh, he kissed her back, but more tentatively, but somehow with more passion. He wanted her- really, really bad- but he respected her and didn't want to violate her trust in him. When they broke apart he smiled at her.
"You talk too much" He sighed blissfully. From the top of the hill Yumi stood and clapped.
"You go Takagi!" She cheered.