As they were sketching, an idea formed in Takagi's mind to bring Nagatoro and Senpai closer.
Takagi: "Hey Hachioji-san, How do you get a proper outline for that red panda? It's not standing still so I'm finding it a little difficult."
Senpai: "Well, we're just sketching so you don't need to be that accurate. Here, let me show you."
Senpai began slowly drawing an outline on Takagi's sketchbook while Nishikata and Takagi watched intently.
Senpai: "Just draw the general outline and add in small details while you observe it."
Nagatoro shot Takagi a death glare and got ready to tease Senpai.
Nagatoro: "Wow, Senpai! You just can't refuse a cute girl if she asks you for something, creepy Senpai!"
Both Nishikata and Senpai blushed at her words and Nagatoro was about to continue until she spotted Senpai's drawing of the Red panda.
Nagatoro: Oh god. It feels like it's… alive! It's almost as if it's breathing and staring right at me…
Nagatoro: "Woah! It's Koujirou-kun!"
Senpai: "Y-yeah. Just draw something like this for now."
Nagatoro got a smile on her face. This was her chance! She just had to take it…
Nagatoro: "Take my hand, Senpai."
Nagatoro panicked for a second seeing the flustered look on Senpai's face.
Nagatoro: Oh god, did I go too far again?! Calm down, calm down. You can do this.
Nagatoro: "You promised to give me a hand and teach me everything, right?"
Senpai: *blushing* "I didn't mean it like that!"
Nagatoro: "What's that? Were you lying? You lying liar-"
Nagatoro had begun pushing her wrist into Senpai's cheek.
Senpai: "I wasn't-"
Nagatoro: "Well, taking a girl's hand might be absolutely impossible for a virgin roach like you."
Senpai: "I-I totally can!"
Nagatoro: *stretching out her hand* "Then please, take my hand, Se~n~pa~i!"
Senpai took a deep breath and adjusted his glasses.
Senpai: It's just her hand and I'm just doing it to help her sketch. Remember what Takagi said.
Senpai reached out and grabbed Nagatoro's upper hand, beginning to sketch.
Senpai: "J-just g-go like this a-and o-outline the general shape."
Nagatoro: "You're that nervous at just taking my hand? You're such a virgin, Senpai!"
Senpai: *doing the hand gesture* "Putting that aside, just add in the detail while you observe the model."
Nagatoro: "Senpai, your grip seems way weaker than before!"
Senpai: "I-I'm using another person's hand to draw…"
Nagatoro: "Sure, gross Senpai!"
Senpai: "A-anyways, the outline's done so you should be able to draw the rest of it yourself."
Nagatoro: "Thank you Senpai!"
Nagatoro threw her hands around Senpai, wrapping him in a tight embrace, immediately causing him to blush. They rotated 180 degrees, causing Senpai to lock eyes with Nishikata and Takagi who both cautiously gave him a thumbs up. Senpai calmed down and returned the hug, causing Nagatoro to stiffen slightly but relax after a moment. They stayed like that before becoming aware of the people around them and breaking apart. They were both blushing as if they'd fused with tomatoes but they were also smiling madly nonetheless.
Senpai pulled Nagatoro in for a second hug which surprised her for a moment. Nagatoro quickly composed herself and returned the hug. They broke apart much quicker this time, still blushing, and still smiling. Takagi flashed Nagatoro a quick smile and thumbs up which she reacted to by blushing, smiling, and looking away.
Nagatoro: "W-well Senpai, you just had to pull me in for a second hug, now didn't you? You're such a pervert, Senpai!"
Ironically, nothing but pure adoration was oozing from Nagatoro's words. Her usual teasing tone was replaced by a much sweeter voice when she spoke.
Senpai: I just acted on the spur of the moment… Those hugs felt nice but I… don't really feel like I earned them. If Nagatoro hugs me, I won't refuse her but I don't think I want to initiate any more of that…
Takagii: "Why don't we go sketch some more animals?"
And so the 4 of them went around drawing various animals such as gorillas, pelicans and parrots. Before long, Takagi spotted Nagatoro with a slightly annoyed expression on her face.
Takagi: "Hey, why don't you 2 go eat at that cafe over there?"
Senpai, Nishikata, and Nagatoro all looked in the direction she was pointing at. After a few moments, Nishikata spoke up.
Nishikata: "Why'd you say you 2 if there's 3 of us?"
Takagi: "Because I know that you hate black coffee, Nishikata! And that place specializes in it."
Nishikata: "O-oh. T-thanks but-"
Nishikata spotted the death glare Nagatoro was giving him and quickly got the message.
Nishikata: "That sounds like a great idea. Takagi-san and I will go over to that tea shop over there."
Takagi: "See you later Hachioji-san, Nagatoro-chan!"
Senpai/Nagatoro: "See ya."
As they entered the tea shop, Nishikata went to ask Takagi something.
Nishikata: "Did you do that just to give them some alone time?"
Takagi: "Well partly. There's 2 other reasons. 1 is that Nagatoro mentioned to me that she likes a specific brand of canned coffee which that store sells and the other one…"
They both sat in silence for a few moments.
Nishikata: "The other one?"
Takagi: "You'll have to figure that out for yourself. In fact, if you can guess by the end of the day, you win."
Nishikata: "Hmmm… Do they have food that Hachioji-san likes?"
Takagi: "No…"
Nishikata: "Do you like this tea shop?"
Takagi: "Not wrong, but not what I was looking for. You know, you have plenty of time today to think about it."
Nishikata: "I guess so…"
Just then, the door to the tea shop opened as Nakai and Mano stepped in.
Nakai: "Oh, hey guys!"
Nishikata: "Hi Nakai! Hi Mano!"
Mano: "Sup."
Nakai: "Are you on a date?"
Nishikata immediately turned red.
Nishikata: "No, it's not like that! We're just helping out Hachioji-san and Nagatoro-san get closer and sketching. That's all."
Nakai and Mano shot him a disbelieving look as Takagi spoke up.
Takagi: "Well since you're here, would you 2 like to join us?"
Mano immediately got a frightened expression on her face.
Nakai: "Sorry, but that's a no-can-do. I'm on a date with Mano."
Mano instantly looked relieved as Takagi smiled to herself.
Takagi: "Alright. See you at school tomorrow!"
As they walked away, Nishikata became curious.
Nishikata: "You know, Takagi-san, Nakai might not have refused. What would you have done then?"
Takagi: "Nah, he wouldn't have. Mano told me about a talk that they had about Nakai making more time for her. If he didn't refuse, I honestly would've been pretty mad but I probably would've just made up an excuse to seperate."
Nishikata: "I-I see."
The 2 of them sat in awkward silence sipping their tea and ordering food to go with it. Meanwhile, in the coffee shop across the street…
Senpai: "Don't you DARE insult other people's hard work!"
Senpai was furious. Insulting his art was fine, he was used to being belittled for his interests, being pushed down for being the artsy nerdy kid with no friends, but insulting Nagatoro's art? Didn't they know how hard she worked, how much she improved in a single day?
Douche: "Wha-what did you just say?"
Douche's GF: "I didn't hear that! Can you say that again?"
Senpai: "I said, Don't. Insult. Other. People's. Hard. Work."
Senpai was now giving them a death glare. A week ago, he would've backed down, but the combination of Takagi, Nishikata and mostly Nagatoro's efforts to increase his confidence had paid off.
Senpai: "Do you have any idea how much she's improved to draw that? This is her FIRST DAY of drawing outside of school and you have the audacity to insult her work? Nagatoro has been working her butt off to get to this point and I'm not going to have you 2 complaining about it."
Senpai considered insulting them, but decided against it. He wasn't that confident yet. However, it seemed to do the job, the 2 douchebags walked out to annoy someone else. It was that moment that Nagatoro decided to walk in.
Nagatoro: "Su~p, Senpai!"
