Chapter 8: Oh, you're on!

Nishikata: "So Hachioji-san? What's your secret at being so good at drawing?"

Senpai: "I-" I mean, he's already applied it… I know! "It's always remembering to like what you draw."

Nagatoro gave Senpai a dumbfounded expression.

Nagatoro: I didn't expect such a straightforward answer like that. "Senpai? Are you too much of a virgin to say the word love? You're so gross, Senpai!" *noodle slap*

Nishikata went completely red when Nagatoro mentioned the word "love" but said nothing. Takagi noticed and giggled to herself but quickly reeled herself in.

Senpai: *slapping Nagatoro on the shoulder* "S-shut up. Besides, I think you and Takagi both did really well today. There was much more detail and passion in your work."

Nishikata: "T-thank you, Hachioji-san"

Takagi: "Thank you, Hachioji-san!"

Nagatoro was about to glare at Takagi but seeing as she knew about Takagi's feelings for Nishikata, she let it slide. Suddenly, Nishikata got an idea.

Nishikata: "Hey, what if we did something like an arm wrestling tournament?"

Senpai: "Wha- how come?"

Nishikata: "I just thought it would be a fun friendly competition."

Nagatoro: "I'm down but don't expect to win!"

Nishikata: "What are you trying to say?"

Nagatoro: "I'm going to win this if it happens so it'll be kinda pointless."

Nishikata: "Oh, you're on!"

The 2 of them ran over to a nearby park table and got ready to arm wrestle.

Nishikata: I won't get flustered this time! All those push-ups weren't for nothing. You're going down, Nagatoro-san!

Takagi: "Come on, Nishikata! You can do it!"

Senpai: "Y-you can do it, Nagatoro!"

Both of the arm wrestlers blushed as they got encouragement from their crushes. As they were arm wrestling, Senpai and Takagi cheered them on as the match went back and forth. Nishikata had the upper hand in the beginning but Nagatoro made a big comeback. The match lasted so long that it actually started to rain but it ended with Nishikata finally overpowering Nagatoro in 1 final bout of strength.

Nishikata: "Yes! I beat you, Nagatoro-san!"

Nagatoro: *smirking* "Don't get too comfortable, Nishikata-kun. I'll get you next time!"

Nishikata: "Well, that was fun but it's raining now."

It indeed was. All 4 of them took shelter under a gazebo as the rain began to pick up.

Nishikata: "Ugh, the one day I forget my umbrella!"

Takagi: "I don't think it would be much help. Look at how windy it is!"

Nagatoro and Senpai weren't paying much attention as the memories came flooding back. IT was this very structure where Senpai had accidentally seen through Nagatoro's shirt and they were both flush with the memory of that encounter.

Nagatoro: "You know, I just remembered something that happened to me and Senpai here."

Senpai: S-she isn't going to bring that up again, is she?

Nagatoro: "I was getting harassed by 2 boys from class 2-A a while back but Senpai came and gave me an opportunity to leave them behind. You just had to have me all to yourself, creepy Senpai!"

Senpai: "S-shut up! It's not like that! They were just being…"

Takagi: "Oh yeah, I remember them. They gave me a hard time a while back too but I got them to back off."

Nishikata: "Yeah, those guys are the worst. I heard that they got suspended for drinking or something."

Nagatoro blushed and scratched her cheek at the memory of getting drunk off of whiskey chocolates in front of her Senpai. She and Senpai gave each other a nod as if to say "We are never speaking of this again".

Takagi: "The rain doesn't seem to be letting up. Who lives the closest to here? We might be able to hide out there until the rain lets up."

No one spoke for a few seconds as Nagatoro was reluctant to let any boy other than Senpai into her house. Then again, Nishikata didn't seem like the type of person to make the situation harder than it had to be.

Nagatoro: "I live just past that convenience store over there."

Senpai: "I live pretty far away comparatively and Nishikata lives next door to me."

Nishikata: "Yeah. I'm ok with visiting Nagatoro-san if she is."

Nishikata: Why aren't I nervous about going into a girl's house? I mean, whenever I think of visiting Takagi, I'm still nervous about it but I'm not with this girl I just met a few days ago?

Nagatoro: "Well, no helping it then. I'll race you guys!"

The 4 of them took off towards Nagatoro's house, Senpai shouting at them to follow him as Nagatoro went way ahead of them all.

Nagatoro: "Hurry in! Quickly!"

The 3 of them rushed in as they'd gotten completely soaked.

Takagi: "Thanks for letting us stay, Nagatoro-chan."

Nagatoro: "N-no problem. I'll get some clothes and towels for you guys. Senpai, come with me."

Senpai: "Wha- ok."

The 2 of them headed up the stairs as Nagatoro handed Senpai 2 sets of clothes.

Nagatoro: "Give one of these to Nishikata-kun. Oh yeah, Have some towels as well. I'll get clothes for Takagi-chan."

She threw him 2 towels and slammed the door in his face. Senpai went back down and handed Nishikata a change of clothes and a towel.

Senpai: "Here you go, Nishikata. Nagatoro will be down shortly with your clothes and a towel, Takagi."

Both Nishikata and Senpai went into different rooms to change and dry off while Takagi sat and waited for Nagatoro to arrive. It didn't take long for her to arrive with new clothes both on her body and in her hand.

Nagatoro: *Tossing clothes and towel* "Hey, Takagi-chan"

Takagi: *Catching clothes and towel* "Hey, Nagatoro-chan. Are you ok? You seem a little subdued."

Nagatoro: "I just feel kinda weird having a boy that I know that I don't hate and who isn't Senpai. On top of that, that boy is in my house. I feel like I'm a bit limited in options since I don't really feel comfortable having him in my room."

Takagi: "I guess that's fair."

Nagatoro went to toss her old clothes into the dryer just as Senpai finished changing.

Senpai: Well that was a close one. "Uh, Nagatoro? Could you knock next time?"

Nagatoro: "Uh- yeah. I'll keep that in mind. What's wrong, Senpai? Getting embarrassed about being seen by a girl? Don't want me to see your flimsy beansprout arms, virgin Senpai?"

Senpai: "Shut up. Anyways, you should come in. Nishikata's behind you."

Nagatoro and Nishikata both entered the room and put their wet uniforms into the dryer. Shortly after, Takagi followed suit.

Takagi: "I guess me and Nagatoro-chan are going to study right now. Right?"

Nagatoro: *flashing Senpai a look* "Y-yeah. I guess."

Nishikata: "And me and Hachioji-san are going to do some muscle training!"

Senpai let out a groan at these words and begrudgingly led Nishikata to the basement. Once they were out of earshot, Takagi and Nagatoro began to study.

Nagatoro: "You know, this probably won't take that long for me since I pretty much always do this.

Takagi: "Wouldn't it be better to just finish all the work early on?"

Nagatoro: "I guess, but I just can't really bring myself to put in the effort to do it until the deadline is just around the corner. I always find myself occupied with swim club or hanging out with my friends or… toying with Senpai."

Takagi gave her a knowing look and a smirk.

Nagatoro: *blushing* "Fine. Spending time with Senpai."

Takagi: "We may as well concentrate on our work."

Meanwhile, Nishikata was cheering on Senpai as he did a high plank.

Senpai: "You know, I think I can do this f-for a while. I remember a time when I was doing muscle training with N-nagatoro and she s-sat on m-me while p-planking"

Nishikata: "That sounds like something she would do. In any case, just concentrate on planking. You're already a minute in so keep it up! I'm going to be doing my 269 push ups right here."

Nishikata began to breeze through his push ups while Senpai kept on struggling to stay in plank position.

Takagi: "Sup, guys?"

Nishikata stopped doing his push ups for a moment before responding with a quick "Sup." and continuing. Senpai, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice Takagi as he was so focused on not collapsing.

Nagatoro: "Su~p, Senpai!"

Senpai collapsed after having his concentration broken by Nagatoro.

Senpai: "S-sup, N-naga… toro…"

Nagatoro: "Yeesh, you're already tired after a little bit of exercise? Do you need some encouragement from me, beansprout Senpai?"

Senpai: "I-it's b-been… 4… Minutes…"

Nagatoro recoiled, quite surprised that Senpai lasted that long.

Nagatoro: "Wow, Senpai! You really trained that hard just to impress me? You're so gross, Sen-pa-i!"

Nagatoro began noodling Senpai as he shielded himself from her as Nishikata finished his push ups.

Takagi: "You know, Nishikata, you must be getting pretty strong with all those push ups you're doing."

Nishikata: *slightly blushing* "Y-yeah. I guess I am."

Takagi: *smirking* "You're blushing, Nishikata."

Nishikata: *blushing harder* "W-well, I did just do 269 push ups…"

Takagi gave Nishikata a surprised expression at Nishikata before Nagatoro broke the silence.

Nagatoro: "You know, Senpai, we should stretch together so that you don't become super stiff like those sculptures in the art club room!"

Senpai: "A-alright then."

Takagi and Nishikata watched intrigued at the stretches that Nagatoro was doing with Senpai. Nagatoro would've normally been self-conscious about being physical with Senpai in front of others but Takagi and Nishikata seemed to give off an aura of trustworthiness and she knew that neither of them would utter a word to anyone outside the house.

Takagi: "Hey Nishikata, why don't we stretch together too?"

Nishikata: "Wha- um… ok."

Nishikata blushed as Takagi locked hands with him in a side stretch.

Nishikata: Damn… Her hand feels so soft… and smooth… This actually feels kinda nice although I'm pretty sure this isn't how you do a side stretch.

Nishikata's blush subsided slightly.

Takagi: "You enjoying this, Nishikata?"

Nishikata: "Wha- No! I mean- I'm enjoying it but not like that!"

Nishikata's blush was back and brighter than ever

Takagi: *giggling* "And what do you mean by like that?"

Nishikata: "Nothing."

After stretching, the rain had subsided quite a bit so Takagi spoke up.

Takagi: "It was nice of you to have us over, Nagatoro-chan but I think the rest of us will be going now. This was fun, though. We could do this more often!"

Nagatoro: "Thanks, Takagi-chan. I wasn't sure how this would go at first, but this was fun! Hope to see you around!"

With that, Nishikata and Takagi left. Senpai, however, was too busy staring and smiling at Nagatoro to notice.

Senpai: Wow. I don't think I can remember a time when Nagatoro was nice to someone without any teasing involved. That was just… Pure, genuine care.

Nagatoro: "Senpa~i, were you staring at me?"

Senpai: "Wha- no! Of course not!"

Nagatoro: *In a sarcastic tone* "Uwah! Senpai ogled me again! You were totally ogling me, creepy Senpai!"

Senpai: Gotta change the topic… "Well I'll be leaving now but that was fun! I'm looking forward to next time."

Nagatoro: "Gross Senpai wants to come inside my house again? I bet you want to end up in my room doing those things with me!"

Senpai: "No! Of course not! I just think it was fun with the four of us hanging out."

Nagatoro: "What do you have against playing games?"

Senpai: She got me again! Dammit! "See you tomorrow, Nagatoro."

Nagatoro: "See you tomorrow, Gross Senpai 3"