Nishikata slowly opened his eyes, he stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, he wondered where he was, then all the memories floated back to him, " Thats right.. Takagi-san's house..." he turned his head to see takagi blissfully asleep having wrapped her blanket around her like a warm cocoon...
Nishikata then glanced at the clock 4:30 am... " I guess it's because of the part time job... habit of waking up early... I know I won't be able to go back to sleep... And today is Friday no less..."
Nishikata got out of his futon and Stretched his body, it was a cold morning, the light blocked my the curtains, the room was dark, he swift pulled the curtains apart and looked outside, it was a bit before dawn he looked outside, there was a small swing in the balcony...
" I might as well..." he stepped outside as the cold air clashed against his body making him shiver a little, he sat down on the swing... and closed his eyes again, the air was cold, and sunshine was just starting to peak through the horizon..
Nishikata felt oddly at peace, as if for that one moment... He Was pulled away from the storm that was swallowing up his life... " I wonder I'll ever be able to get off these..." he said as he remembered the discretely hidden bottle of pills in his bag, the pills were a lifesaver, they would help him calm down and let him think, he knew he was getting addicted to them but he just couldn't help it..." I guess I'll get to it when I get to it..." he reached into his bag and swallowed a pill...
His eyes closed, he wasn't sleepy or tired but a little relaxation hasn't ever hurt anyone...
" you're up rather early" a girly voice said
" It's become a habit.." he said eyes still closed
" looks like the snow is melting"
" but not enough for us to go to school, I guess no school today"
" a three day weekend... Sounds nice..."
" hmm..." he drifted off back into his head, the pill effect was still strong, as he felt relaxed again...
Takagi walked to where she was beside the swing, " Can I?"
" sure" he said while loosely moving his body and scooting over
She was taken aback a bit by his lack of reaction, but in a few seconds she was seated beside him...
Nishikata lightly moved the swing back and forth, the sunlight began to slowly warm up, birds could be heard chirping, it was as if the city was slowly waking up...
Takagi looked at the boy beside her, " something is off about him... He Seems a bit... Too calm...
Nishikata pulled his arm up so that it wasn't squished between and put his arm behind Takagi careful not to touch her...
Takagi scooted closer, the swing was not exactly big enough for both of them and they could use any space they got... His arm was on the chair behind her head and could tell that his hands were relaxing and sliding down, she felt goosebumps as she felt his arm down to her waist
Nishikata still hadn't touched her, rather it seemed that despite his best efforts he was getting sleepy...
Takagi had gotten out of bed because of ruckus Nishikata cause while opening the balcony and seeing him finally succumbing to sleep, made her yawn too, this movement was enough to push Nishikata, his hand was not now firmly on her waist
" well this definitely wasn't a plan... Nishikata if only you'd notice these small wins" Her face was red and hot, her head slowly tilted as she felt sleepy too and landed on his shoulder...
Even though Nishikata was asleep, he still moved the swing back and forth...
then after the sunlight was intense enough to wake him up he opened his eyes. Even though the pill's effect was much reduced he was calm... Until he looked beside him " oh my god, why the hell he she here? why is her head on my shoulder and my hand..." he moved a bit and realised where his hand was " well... I'm gonna get teased no matter what I do for the rest of my life now ..."
Nishikata looked away into the city thinking of his next move," need to breathe, she is too damn close... I know just slowly and quietly get away!!" he turned and began to slow get away but his glance landed on her face
Nishikata froze, her face was completely still and peaceful, he didn't know what kind of dream she was having, but she looked happy her head tilted to the side while a her lips curved a little with a subtle smile, but then was something he had never expected to see on her face, a blush
" I wonder what she's dreaming about... her face looks so beautiful... not just cute.. But beautiful..." he kept staring at her face, a small mosquito buzzed around and landed on her face...
Nishikata impulsively pulled his arm over and brushed the pest off her face, while doing so he also brushed a few strands of hair,
Takagi opened her eyes," is there something on my face?" it took a her a second to fully wake up, she could now see, nishikata was half mindedly staring at her face, and his hand was on her cheek
Nishikata was focused so much on her, that he didn't notice her eyes were open at first, it was only when her cheeks became red again that he noticed she was awake, " AHHH!!" he jumped back, " I SWEAR I WASN'T TRYING TO DO ANYTHING!!!!" " God damn it that makes me sound more suspicious"
She looked away, " what... Was..." she placed her hand over the cheek, " one hand on the waist other on face, almost a romantic embrace"
Nishikata began to panic as the girl was still silent, " there was a mosquito and I was trying to brush it off, thats it!!!" " the last thing I want is for her to get a wrong idea, that will ruin my chances..."
Takagi thought more " I know he wouldn't have any ulterior motive I think he's telling the truth..."
" Wait.. Ruin my chances?... I had decided I never had a chance to begin with... I wasn't gonna confess... that's... No I need to kill my feelings or I'll end up..."
" I believe you.. "
" or I'll end up confessing... " " huh? "
" you wouldn't do anything to me nishikata"
" Yeah I don't have the guts to even try it..." " I just know I'm gonna be rejected... Then why did I suddenly start thinking I had a chance again..."
" No. It's more like even if you did have the guts, you still wouldn't do it, that's just the kind of person you are... " " my heart... It's still throbbing... We were so close... "
" is that supposed to be a compliment? "
" yes it is... By the way, the way we were sitting together was kinda romantic wasn't it? "
" I don't know what you're talking about " " the memory is a bit rusty... "
" well it was romantic enough to make me blush for once "
" that's a first... " he walked back inside the room, " she was probably just blushing because of her dream and it took her a bit to calm down... I Wonder what she was dreaming about... "
" not really, well I just know I had the best dream "
" what dream? "
" I went on a date with my crush"
" oh? Where did you two go?"
" We ate at a restaurant then we went to the mall together and remember going to the kiss tree at the end talking of all the memories of the tree we made at the tree… And then was a kiss…"
" oh..." " so thats why she was blushing... She kissed her crush in her dream..."
" you seem disappointed" " I gave you such a massive hint"
" Do I really though" " wait... The kiss tree... That's our secret place... Well saying like that makes us look like a couple... But if she went there for reminiscing memories... then the one she went there with... Was me?" the boy froze at the realisation
Takagi could see the gears moving in his head," Nishikata? "
" Yeah? " " it's too big of a stretch to assume her crush is me... "
" you just froze up for a second there "
" I was just spacing out "
" day dreaming? "
" something like that... so who is your crush anyway"
" I'll tell if you tell me yours"
" No thanks then"
" you think I can't keep a secret?"
" It's more of it hasn't been that long since I realised so I'm not even comfortable thinking about her without blushing like a tomato" he looked at her with his cheeks flushed with red " kinda like this..."
" I see..." she had seen him blush before, a lot... But something was different about this blush mostly it was out of embarrassment, but this blush showed affection...
At that moment Nishikata spaced out again in his thoughts, " maybe I should consider confessing, what's the worst that could happen... "
As nishikata kept staring on she couldn't help but start to get red
Suddenly the door opened and her brother stumbled inside, " Rie, mom is calling you", he stared at the scene before him
" crap I didn't lock the door" she turned to face her brother
Yosuke had a devilish grin, " oh, so that's what it is..." , this grin told her that he was upto gonna do something, as if a destructive idea just appeared in his head.. " Mom is calling you two down for breakfast"
Takagi sighed as he left " he is the last person who needed to know"
Nishikata finally snapped out of his daze and after catching a breath went downstairs
After 20 minutes Takagi grinned at the boy, " I win"
Nishikata sighed " you know Takagi-san if you were born a couple of centuries ago, you would have been burned alive"
Yosuke who had been observing their game while eating breakfast chimed in, " oh I'd like to see that"
Takagi had bit off an angry expression, " you wanted to see your sister being burned alive?!"
Yosuke, " ay, someone needs to pour gasoline over the fire, but wait you wouldnt have gasoline, whatever I would add fuel to the fire"
Nishikata had a bit of mortified face, " you would had fuel?" " Takagi-san doesn't even look fazed by this, is this how he acts all the time?"
Takagi scoffed, " what would you tell mom after my death?"
Yosuke said with a bright smile, " hey mom, I have good news we have space for that new jacuzzi you wanted!! "
" wow.. Just wow, do I have no idea what siblings are like or does he really hate Takagi-san?" Nishikata thought to himself
After making fun of takagi for a few more minutes, he started to play drums on Takagi's head using pencils, takagi eventually shouted at him "ARGH!!! STOP IT THAT'S ANNOYING!!!! "
" shut up I don't like my drums to move and talk"
" MOM! TELL HIM TO STOP"
A shouted resonated from the kitchen, " YOSUKE!!!"
" I'm just having a bit of fun with her mom" he argued back
" But it's annoying!!" Takagi tried to push him
" why do you think I'm doing it?" after dodging her for a few minutes he laughed and left her head, " okay okay I'll stop"
Nishikata had just finished his breakfast and although he was a bit horrified at her brother at first, now that he had seen how he just messed with takagi, nishikata thought it was hilarious " ok I was wrong, it's more of just that he wants to mess with her" " I will take shower first okay? " he said that and disappeared into the bathroom
Takagi's mother came and scolded her elder brother who seemed like he couldn't care less
" so let me get this straight" he said while pointing towards the bathroom, " that's him?"
Takagi didn't reply back which was enough confirmation for him, he made a very dissappointed and dissatisfied expression which caused their mother to start laughing, " Do you not approve as her brother or something Yosuke?" she said in a comical voice
" I don't have any reason to disapprove, I mean he's got Dad's, I just feels so bad for him..."
Takagi got perplexed, " you feel bad for him?"
" I mean if he's gonna get suck with you, he's gonna need at the prayers he can get", hearing this her mom started laughing again
" I hate you" Takagi-san pouted and glared at her mom, " why don't you ever scold him or something?! It's unfair"
Yosuke hit her head lightly, " both of them literally pamper you as if you're an innocent little princess, so don't you dare say it's unfair" " she has gotten away with so much shit that I could never do... the perks of being the younger sibling, but If she gets the pros, I will show her the cons"
" you're the one who gets in trouble all the time!!!"
" Rie, once you tied me to a pole with a bicycle lock and threw the key in the ocean, you were never punished for that"
" T-that was a long time ago"
" that was just 8 months ago Rie, I hope Nishikata is a masochist because he's gonna go through a lot if he stays with you"
" YOSUKE!!!!"
Few more minutes later Nishikata came back to observe what the shouting was about , and the situation dissolved into something else entirely
" there is this 5 dollar bill under this glass of water, if you can pull out without moving or touching the glass you win" Takagi challenged him
Yosuke just grinned in response, Nishikata asked their mom who looked like she was just enjoying the show, " excuse me but how did her brother messing with her turn Into a game challenge involving a 5 dollar bet?"
" don't ask me, these two are always like this"
"oh?" " this is a new side of her, I guess her competitive nature is shared with her brother, I wonder if he wins sometimes I could get some advice from him maybe"
Yosuke grinned, " that's impossible, you have glued the glass to the five dollar bill"
"No I haven't" she picked up the glass to show him and it that one second he snatched the bill, "... Wait... that's not how you're... No..."
" I keep the money now" he said almost rubbing it in her face, after a bit more shenanigans the three of them were outside
Yosuke grumbled, " you'd think two kids your age wouldn't need a baby sitter"
" Mom just sent you out since you just play games all day, especially after what you did a few days ago" Takagi argued back
" what did he do?" nishikata asked a bit curious
" he was apparently playing a car game where would could customise your car, he made his car to look like a penis and made moaning sounds when he crashed into a car from behind, he managed to anger 30 players in just 20 minutes of playing, but they forgave him in just like a few minutes but mom got angry on him "
Yosuke rather than being embarrassed looked proud, and nishikata looked in awe," are you kidding me? That's awesome!! "
" Oh God please Nishikata don't support him.. "
Yosuke grinned," you understand me yuki.. I've also done a lot of other things... Maybe I'll teach you how to outsmart Rie"
" Please take me under your wing" nishikata said jokingly, while Takagi looked like she wanted to hit her brother at 6 times ,actually 7 ,maybe even 8,...
Yosuke made a snow ball " you two always challenge each other right?"
" Yeah we do, Takagi-san wins mostly though"
" slow mind eh shrimp?"
" again, why am I a shrimp?"
Takagi chimed in " I'm worried that you don't even bat an eye when he insults you"
" well for example, everyone has insulting nicknames in my Friend group, like kimura is just called bulldog"
" what's your nickname then?"
" it's not something you need to know" " they used to call me chicken since I never realised my feelings and couldnt even talk to you at first"
Yosuke interrupted them, "you two always work against each other huh? Why don't you team up against me?"
Takagi eyed him suspiciously, " he has never done anything without a reason, the heck is he planning"
" you mean two versus one" nishikata enquired
" accepted" " I'm never throwing away a chance to hit him with a snow ball or anything else for that matter"
" but isn't it unfair-'" he was cut off by the girl staring at him
" accepted. right. Nishikata?" her voice was in a different tone than normal
"okay okay" " she can be a bit scary sometimes..."
Yosuke didn't even bat an eye, " if you both can land a single ball on me, you win, but if I land 12 on each of you then I win"
" that's ridiculously one sided" he was about to speak up when he saw Takagi staring at him, " we accept" he said while she nodded in approval " mental note : never try to get between sibling fights"
" final rule, snowballs on the legs and face don't count"
The fight was also a landslide but not in the way he had expected, he almost immediately landed a few hits on both of them, he didn't expect Takagi to struggle this much, on more than one occasion he caught a snowball and threw it back at them, he also kicked some snowballs to take advantage of the legs and face rule, after a few minutes of Intense game, nishikata was out with 12 hits while Takagi was on 10
Now that takagi was alone he decided to have some fun, he throw ball straight at her and when she dodged her saw that he had in fact thrown 2 balls and she got hit again " eleven" Yosuke said
" holy hell he is so good... I Guess she regularly playing with someone like him made her so unbeatable" nishikata admired him
From there on out Yosuke didn't even make his own snowballs, he just caught and /or kicked her snowballs back at her, but he made sure to only aim for her face, in all he was taunting her
Nishikata didn't know what to think but seeing someone wipe the floor with takagi was almost refreshing to his mind
Finally after taunting her more he had pity on her and finished the game, " Rie did you have fun?" he said jokingly
" I'm pretty sure I creeped Nishikata out and also utterly lost the match, I wonder if he's laughing" she and Yosuke always won and lost an equal amount of games but this was a match she wanted to win, she just sat exhausted at the floor
" you ok Takagi-san?" nishikata asked worried about her, he offered her his hand to help her up even though he was blushing and looking away,
Her mouth curved into a small smile, "I'm fine Nishikata ", she held onto his hand and he pulled her up, she looked over at Yosuke who just grinned back " he didn't plan this did he?"
" Now did I plan this I wonder" Yosuke thought to himself, " I think you mom and dad would be getting worried by now, you should head back home Nishikata"
" Yeah" he avoided Takagi to hide his blush and slowly walked away before greeting their parents again and leaving for his house
Takagi stared at her brother, " I really can't tell what's on your mind"
" what a coincidence, even I dont know that"
" did you plan that?"
" I don't know what you're talking about"
" I wasn't expecting him to help us ... He Isn't that big of a failure as a human being and brother"
"Also..." he pulled at her collar and slipped some snow down her dress
" ARGH YOSUKE!!!!" " nevermind he's a failure as a human being"
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