My first story for this lovely anime, woohoo! Oh well, you may know the reason why I'm here to write this right? Enjoy reading! ^^

The Charity Race

Nishikata was warming up on the starting line. The Annual Race for cats and dogs in town was about to start and he wanted to enjoy every moments of it.

"Heheh, I've been praticing for this race," Nishikata smirked and thought. "Three in one: the race for charity, the fact that me being the most impressive racer and… 100% UNREQUITED LOVE – the reward for the aforementioned title."

He looked around as if he was the only one to care for the winning title, "Look all around! There are adults and gramps who just come here for fun.

If fate isn't a cruel joke, maybe I can-"

"Nishikata!" Takagi called him. Her voice is sweet and she always brings out the optimistic attitude.

"Gaaah!" Nishikata startled. "Takagi-san is here too?!"

"Mhm. Isn't this race exciting?" Takagi exclaimed.

"Yeah, I guess…" the innocent boy started to have thoughts fighting in his mind. "I can't believe Takagi-san is here too. Wouldn't this be a little embarassing?

Besides, if she found out that I was here for the latest issue then I'm doomed for!"

"You're blushing now," Takagi leaned her head closer to his. "Maybe you feel embarassing when I'm joining."

"No way!" Nishikata yelled. "The weather is so hot, that's all."

"Hm?" the girl glared at him endearingly. Without waiting for his reply, she pointed out. "Isn't it weird, Nishikata?"

"Heh? What's… weird?" his eyes were directed to the sky.

"The charity race attracts a lot of adults around here. And we're the only kids in this race," she said.

"Yeah?... I don't see it as a problem," Nishikata muttered.

"What if… they saw us as a couple?" Takagi questioned.

"… SHE'S RIGHT!" his mind yelled. "I just want to have this race alone. Damn you, Takagi-san!"

"READY!" a man announced.

"Nishikata, if you can touch my body when racing, you win," she made a bet.

"SET!"

"That's Takagi-san alright. She made that bet again! I won't lose this time!"

"GO!"

All the runners had already been moving. With a charity race, it's totally fine to make slow progress in the whole race.

But with Nishikata, he had to chase after Takagi in order to win his bet.

"Come on, come on. I started to run faster but how can't I see Takagi-san?"

He looked around for a few seconds when he saw the very figure in front of him. "There she is!

Now, Takagi-san. Prepare for the secret tactic I had also secretly been practicing for this race.

Run slowly, silently. Poke her in her weaknesses – her armpits…

WAIT! How can I do that… when people are running around me?"

"Nishikata, you've caught up!" Takagi said.

"Yeah… obviously…" Nishikata chuckled.

"I'm opened but you don't use the chance. How clumsy!" the girl laughed.

"Damn you, Takagi-san! If only there were two of us around here…

Wait, two of us?! I have a brilliant plan…" the boy smirked again. "It can take me the prize to do this, but it's worth it to win over Takagi-san!"

"Wait! Takagi-san!" Nishikata breathed heavily. "Can we… slow down.. for a little? I'm… a bit tired."

"Eh?!" Takagi smiled. "Alright. It's a charity race, after all."

"She baited! By running lastly, I am free to touch her body to win this without everyone looking."

The boy kept doing his act. Though to be fair, he did feel a bit tired after a long run. He thought he could use this as a good rest.

"Here, have this," Takagi handed to him a bottle of water.

"Um… thank you," Nishikata accepted her kindness. "Where did you get this, by the way?"

"It's my bottle. You can have it if you want," she said while kindly looking at him slurping her bottle.

"Well, she shares it, so I guess it's not a problem. I'm about to win the bet anyway!" he thought after finishing the bottle. "Sorry, I have finished it."

"That's alright," the girl grinned. "I enjoy that in…di…rect…kiss."

Nishikta startled and suddenly spat out a large amount of water, "How? I forgot!"

Takagi laughed endlessly with her stomach hurting while Nishikata was clenching his fists. "DAMN YOU, TAKAGI-SAN!"

"I didn't warn you about that, did I?" she said while still laughing.

"You should say that sooner!" Nishikata yelled.

"Anyway, there's no people left. We should be going," Takagi directed.

"You're right…" he replied before realizing something. "NOOO! So she knew my plan all along! I… fail…"

"I'm running ahead. You can never touch me," she ran ahead quickly.

"Wait! I'm not done with you yet, Takagi-san!"

She kept running ahead and laughing and didn't notice that she was about to make contact to the bridge hinge. Before Takagi realized that she was about to fall down the river, it was too late for her to react.

Fortunately, Nishikata grabbed both of her hands and pulled her back. Takagi just stood there and paid attention to his effort.

"Hold on… Takagi-san…" he exclaimed. With another pull, he accidently pulled Takagi for a hug before he fell on the ground and she landed on top of him with her hands and feet holding her above.

"Ta-takagi-san?" he stammered. "Do you hurt anywhere?"

"We're happy to announce that Mama Rie has won the latest issue of 100% Unrequited Love…"

Far away from the award show after the race, Nishikata and Takagi were treating each other.

"Are you sure you don't want to bandage your neck," she put a bandage on the back of his neck. "It's comfortable, don't worry."

"But your palms, aren't they still bleeding badly?" Nishikata asked.

"Not too worry," Takagi smiled. "It will be fine in two to three days."

"You're the one to talk," the boy groaned. "I didn't win the issue and the bet after all. How pathetic… If it wasn't for Takagi's clumsiness."

"Nishikata," she still looked him with a smile, but rather a regretful one, "That was dangerous, wasn't it. Sorry if I was such a burden back there. You could win that latest issue if I didn't mischieve."

"Nah… it's fine," he chuckled. "Don't worry too much about it. Aaaand I'm busted."

Nishikata continued, "Besides… I can't stand it when you get hurted."

"Huh?" Takagi's cheeks blushed a little bit. They're adorably pink already so her blush wouldn't make that much change. She looked at him as if… she was hit by another critical hit.

Nishikata knew that wasn't a good sign, "Wait! That's not a sign of a loving couple or something! It wasn't fun if you were hospitalized, really!"

Putting away the damage, she teased him back, "Surely…?"

"SURELY! You're my closest friend after all!" he stated it unwillingly.

"You're blushing! I doubt about it…" the girl grinned and laughed.

"IT'S A HOT DAY! Well uh… gottagobye!" Nishikata greeted her.

"Bye, Nishikata," Takagi was left alone.

And again, she received a critical hit by Nishikata. Many times she teases him, but for a few times Takagi receives a bold move from the one she likes.

"Well, he finally wins…" she whispered before biking back home. Her palms were hurt still but those weren't a problem.

Meanwhile, Nishikata was walking back home and staring at his hands.

"I touched her hands… Did that count as a win?!" he shook his hands. "No, no way. That didn't count. I just saved her again…

…She's going to tease me if I admit it…"