The rest of the day was fairly uneventful and before anyone knew it, it was the end of the day. Senpai had already set up 3 canvases and a set of fruits for himself to sketch.
Takagi/Nishikata: "Sup, Hachioji-san!"
Senpai: "S-sup."
Takagi: "So what are we doing today?"
Senpai: "Well, I set up this fruit basket for us to paint but you can look around to set something up or try something else."
Takagi: "Hmmmm. Hey Nishikata. Remember this morning?"
Nishikata: Oh no… "Y-yeah."
Takagi: "As your punishment, let's draw each other! Hachioji-san can judge who's drawing is better and the loser does whatever the winner wants!"
Nishikata: Oh, this isn't too bad. I'm also pretty comfortable with drawing Takagi, as long as she isn't wearing her swimsuit… "Sure. You won't win this time, Takagi-san!"
Takagi shot Nishikata as they angled their sketches so that they could see each other and draw normally. After a moment of preparation, they began.
Senpai: I wonder how this'll turn out. They both seem really focused on this.
Indeed that aura of concentration that always emanated from Senpai whenever he was drawing was coming from both Takagi and Nishikata while they were drawing each other. Senpai, however, couldn't seem to focus on his still life.
Senpai: I can't seem to focus on my drawing… I guess I'm just distracting myself.
A/N: The following excerpt is straight from the Nagatoro manga albeit edited slightly.
Suddenly, the door to the art room slammed open as the president of the art club walked in.
Senpai: "P-president! It's good to see you!"
President: *Looking at Senpai's still life* "As expected, you're unenthusiastic."
Senpai: "I-I'm sorry…"
President: "I'm not mad. A big event like the culture festival just ended and you've got some new members to take care of so you must be slightly burnt out."
Senpai: "Oh, w-well the new members are actually taking great care of themselves but, y-yes, I'd say I am slightly burnt out.
President: "How about a change of pace? You can have these."
The president handed Senpai 4 zoo tickets, confusing Senpai.
Senpai: "A zoo ticket?"
President: "So you can sketch while taking in the great outdoors."
Senpai: "Oh… That might be nice…"
President: "I do the same when I get exhausted from drawing for the examination… Freeing myself within nature… And refreshing my body and soul."
President: *chuckling to herself* "Nature truly is great."
Senpai: I feel like I shouldn't pry any further "T-thank you. I'll try going there."
Senpai then realized that there were 4 tickets.
Senpai: "There's… 4?"
President: "Try taking the rest of the art club with you."
Senpai: "But… there's only 3 members in the art club…"
President: "Try inviting the Cat Girl with you."
Senpai: "Eh?!"
President: "If an outsider like her is going to keep barging into the art club, I'll have her draw something."
As the president was finishing her statement, Nagatoro was skipping by the art club room having finished her swim club duties.
Nagatoro: "Gross, gross, gross! Gross, gross, gross!"
President: "Do you understand? Take the cat girl with you… And make sure to sketch!"
Senpai: "Yes, ma'am."
A/N: Sketching in japanese is "shasei" which can mean sketching or ejaculating.
Nagatoro's jaw dropped right open and her cheeks went flush as she heard the president's words. Takagi and Nishikata didn't seem to notice anything going on around them as they were so focused on each other.
After getting over her shock, Nagatoro peaked in through the window of the art room and she noticed the tickets in Senpai's hand.
Nagatoro: He… has 4 tickets? Yes! This is the perfect opportunity to have fun on a double date with him, Takagi-chan and Nishikata-kun! Plus, this could help Takagi-chan and Nishikata-kun get closer together.
Nagatoro burst through the door of the art club room with her trademark "Sup, Senpai!"
Senpai: "S-sup."
Nagatoro went to sit down on the couch, flipping through a book which she didn't realize was upside down. Senpai looked back at Nagatoro who pretended not to notice him. Senpai noticed the distinct lack of teasing that Nagatoro was doing but he too missed the fact that her book was upside down.
Senpai: Going to the zoo with Nagatoro would be nice… Even if Takagi and Nishikata are there. But me inviting Nagatoro? No way!
To the dismay of Nagatoro, Senpai began furiously shaking his head
Senpai: Ok, think. Think back to a time when Nagatoro hinted towards you that she would want to come with me?
Senpai's mind traveled back to the summer festival that year.
Nagatoro: "If there's a place… You want to go with someone… You could have just, invited them yourself, you know…?"
Senpai got a determined look on his red face.
Senpai: "Nagatoro…"
Nagatoro looked up at Senpai, giving him her full and undivided attention.
Senpai: "Do you like… animals?"
Nagatoro: *Overjoyed and smiling* "YEP! LOVE 'EM!"
Senpai: So she likes animals then… "r-right."
Nagatoro: *noodle slapping Senpai* "What is it? What? What? Why?"
Senpai: *doing the "putting it aside" hand motion* "P-putting animals… aside."
Nagatoro: *copying the motion* "Putting it aside…"
Senpai: "Do you… draw?"
Nagatoro: "Well, I don't-"
Senpai: "I-I see."
Nagatoro: "Ah! But! I chose art in class!"
Senpai: "Hmmm. I'll teach you so… Will you come to sketch with the art club… At the zoo?"
Senpai once again began shaking his head furiously.
Senpai: Ahhh! "I'll teach you"?! What was I thinking?! That was way too arrogant-
Nagatoro: "Ah- but honestly, I'm not the greatest artist so you'll have to teach me, Senpai."
Senpai: "…there's a plan to… Go to the zoo l-later and…"
Senpai took a deep breath and pushed his glasses to the top of his nose.
Senpai: We're just going to sketch. Everyone in the art club will be going to sketch. It won't be awkward. I can do this.
Nagatoro: "You're taking your sweet time."
After seeing Senpai slump slightly at her words, Nagatoro quickly backstepped.
Nagatoro: "Ah- sorry! Please continue!"
Senpai: "The president gave us 4 tickets to go to the zoo so if you're free next Sunday…"
Senpai took one more breath and looked straight at Nagatoro.
Senpai: "Want to go with us?"
Nagatoro smiled like she'd never smiled before. This wasn't an evil smirk, this was the smile of a 5 year old who just got told their birthday was coming early.
Nagatoro: *noodle slapping Senpai* "You're inviting me to go on a double date with you, Senpai? You're so gross-"
Senpai: *shielding himself* "I-if you don't want to, that's fine!"
Nagatoro: "Sure! I'll just need to borrow Takagi-chan for a quick sec."
Senpai: "Okay."
Senpai: I did it! I actually did it! Way to go, Naoto! Wait… What did she say about a double date?
Nagatoro: "Oi! Takagi-chan! Can you come to the prep room for a moment?"
Takagi: "Oh, sure. Me and Nishikata just finished our portraits."
It was pretty clear to both Senpai and Nagatoro that both Takagi and Nishikata were too focused on their sketches to notice Senpai's proposal.
Nagatoro and Takagi went into the prep room next door, shutting the door behind them.
Senpai: "You guys are finished?"
Nishikata: "Yep."
Senpai looked over both drawings and was immediately taken aback.
Senpai: How did they improve so much in one night?! There's so much more detail, everything just has so much… Love. I guess that's what Nagatoro was talking about.
Art had made Senpai realize what nothing else could. Senpai knew that there was something going on between Nishikata and Takagi before but couldn't quite put his finger on it. Now he knew.
Senpai: "S-so Nishikata."
Nishikata: "Yes, Hachioji-san?"
Senpai: "D-do you want to go on a double date with me, Nagatoro and Takagi?"
Nishikata went completely red at Senpai's words.
Nishikata: "Wha- Me and Takagi aren't dating!"
Senpai: So he's one of those, huh… Can't say I'm surprised. Still, I kinda want to give them this opportunity too.
Senpai: "A-alright then. We could just all go together to the zoo to sketch. It would be kinda like a field trip!"
Nishikata: "Oh, ok. Just remember it's not a date for me and Takagi-san."
Senpai: It's totally a date for them. "Y-yeah, of course"
Meanwhile, Nagatoro and Takagi were having a conversation next door.
Nagatoro: "So how's that? Senpai just invited all of us to go on a double date! You down?"
Takagi stood there in stunned silence for a moment as her cheeks turned slightly red
Takagi: "Oh, I'd love to go! Congratulations on your date, by the way."
Nagatoro: *Slightly blushing* "Wha- No! I just- Oh yeah. I guess that is good for me. I just keep forgetting that you already know so…"
Takagi: *Chuckling to herself* "Yep."
Nagatoro: "But what do you mean congratulations to me? What about you?"
Takagi: "Oh, I don't think that Nishikata's going to consider this a date. He's just going to take it as an opportunity to get you and Hachioji-san closer. I really like that about him, that he tries to be helpful to his friends even if he's as dense as a rock with me."
Nagatoro: "So it's settled then!"
Takagi and Nagatoro walked out of the prep room back into the main art club room.
Senpai: "So it's settled? We're meeting up at the zoo on Sunday?"
Nagatoro/Nishikata/Takagi: "Yep"
Senpai: "Alright, how does 11:30 sound for you guys?"
As everyone gave a nod of affirmation, Senpai smiled to himself.
Senpai: "Then it's settled. See you guys then."
"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS STILL REMAINING IN THE SCHOOL: PLEASE LEAVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!"
Takagi: "Perfect timing! Let's walk home, everyone."
Nishikata: "Wait! Who wins?"
Senpai: "I'll decide tomorrow. For now, let's head out. You don't want to cross Yamaguchi sensei."
And so, they put away the canvases and began to walk home.
