Chapter 18: Thank you, Nishikata.

Nishikata paused once again when he entered the room. He was staring all around at the walls, once again captivated by the artwork.

Takagi: "Well, Nishikata, I didn't know you were that interested in my room!"

Nishikata: "I-I really like your artwork, T-Takagi-san."

Takagi: *smiling* "Well, what are you waiting for! First one to fail a push up loses!"

Nishikata and Takagi dropped to the floor and began to alternate push ups. After about 23 push ups, Takagi began to struggle.

Takagi: "Y-you're really good at this, Nishikata."

Nishikata: Is… is she just trying to get me to lower my guard so that she can win? Or is she… giving me a genuine compliment? Hmm…

At that moment, while he was distracted, Nishikata accidentally put his hand up to his chin, causing him to fall.

Nishikata: "Dang it! Did you do that on purpose, Takagi-san? Anyways, you win."

For a moment, Takagi wore a shocked expression that turned into a sad expression which turned into a forced smile.

Takagi: "Damn. I guess I beat you at your own game. Next, let's do sit ups!"

Nishikata noticed Takagi's quick flash through emotions and looked at her with a concerned expression before getting into sit up position. Takagi then got into position right next to him on the floor.

Nishikata: "Alright. First one to fail loses."

This time, it didn't take long for Takagi to drop onto the floor.

Takagi: "Dang. I guess those push ups really wore me out. Onto the tiebreaker: squats!"

Each of them in turn started alternating squats, but Nishikata quickly started to struggle and shortly collapsed.

Takagi: "I guess your upper body strength really doesn't help with squats, huh Nishikata!"

Nishikata: *panting* "Y-yeah…"

Takagi: "Anyways, It's about time for dinner so I'll start cooking."

Nishikata: "Uh about that. Takagi-san, could I use some of the stuff in the kitchen to make us something for after dinner?"

Takagi: *taken aback* "Uh… Yeah, sure. Just don't use too much stuff!"

Nishikata: "O-of course not!"

The 2 of them headed down into the kitchen. Takagi was working magic with her ingredients, putting together egg-fried rice with yu choy. Before long, Takagi had finished.

Nishikata, on the other hand, was mixing together everything he needed to make a cookie recipe he'd made himself. It wasn't anything too special, but Nishikata had learned it all the way back in his early childhood. Ever since his first cookie recipe, he'd been baking banana bread, plain old bread, brownies, and of course, even more different cookies. Soon, the smell of baking cookies filled the air of the Takagi household, something that Takagi noticed.

Takagi: I- this smell… It reminds me of something. It smells strangely nostalgic.

Takagi gave Nishikata a sweet smile. There it was again, his almost trademark determination that he put into their competitions. It was almost like nothing else existed in the world, just him, the dough, and the oven.

Takagi: "We should get started on the rice."

Nishikata spun around, awakened from his state of being.

Nishikata: "Uh… Yeah. We should."

As they both began eating, Takagi was eating normally, but as soon as Nishikata took the first bite, he couldn't stop himself.

Nishikata: "This… This is amazing, Takagi! I've never had anything like this, it's unreal! Where'd you learn how to cook?!"

Takagi couldn't suppress it this time. She'd been fighting the urge to blush ever since Nishikata had complimented her room but now? After Nishikata even used her name without the honourific? She turned completely red.

Takagi: "Uh… Uh… I-I'm s-self taught."

After seeing Takagi completely red and smiling like a dork, he began to blush as well.

Nishikata: "Uh- Sorry Takagi-san! I- uh…"

Takagi: "No, Nishikata, it's fine. Thank you. Also, as always, you're welcome to use my name without the honourific, Nishikata-kun!"

Nishikata: "A-alright. T-Takagi."

Both of them started eating once again. This time, Nishikata quickly devoured his way through the rice, finishing in 5 minutes flat.

Takagi: *giggling* "You really loved that rice, huh?"

Nishikata: "Yeah. It was great. I've still got a little room, though."

Nishikata pointed at the oven and Takagi smiled.

Takagi: "You know, Nishikata… This really feels like a date."

Nishikata: "I-"

Nishikata quickly looked around through the window, only to remember that there was no way in hell that anyone would hear them in the dark snowstorm that was happening outside.

Nishikata: "I suppose it does."

Takagi once again wore a shocked, flustered expression before regaining her composure.

Takagi: He… Admitted to it? I guess… we did make progress after all.

Nishikata: "Oh! The cookies are done!"

Nishikata: "Here. Take one."

Takagi reached out onto the plate of cookies that Nishikata had laid in the middle of them, grabbing one and taking a bite out of it. The outer texture of the cookie was crispy and rough, but as she chewed down, Takagi tasted the chewy, gooey interior of the cookie. Almost immediately, tears began welling in Takagi's eyes. Nishikata immediately felt intensely hurt.

Nishikata: "A-are they that awful Takagi-san?"

Takagi: "N-no… It's just… My grandpa used to make cookies and… these are just like what he used to make."

Nishikata then noticed the smile Takagi wore underneath her tears. Nishikata then got an idea.

Nishikata: "Uh… Takagi? D-do you want a hug?"

Takagi wore a shocked expression for a second, then began to smile again and nod her head slightly. Nishikata slowly moved in and tentatively wrapped his arms around Takagi.

Nishikata: "You're grandpa must've been a great man."

Takagi began crying even harder and Nishikata was about to panic, but then he heard her begin to laugh.

Takagi: "It's… It's actually kinda funny. His friends always made fun of him for not being a man. Still, he showed them who the real man is when he baked cookies for all his friends! He… He only used this cookie for us, though. For his family. No one else had quite the knack for baking that he had. Grandma was always better at steaks and veggies, anyways. They balanced each other out perfectly."

Takagi continued, her crying subsiding.

Takagi: "They would joke around with each other so much. There was almost never a moment where one of them wasn't laughing their head off when they were around each other! Grandpa started to forget things when he got older but he never forgot us. Or his special recipe. He never could tell it to any of us, though. I… Thank you, Nishikata."

Nishikata had long since been crying and smiling. He'd learned so much about Takagi today and the 2 of them seemed closer than ever.

Takagi: "They died in each other's arms around the time I met you. That's actually how I lost my handkerchief that first day."

Nishikata was shocked. So that's why. He wondered what would've happened if Takagi had never dropped her handkerchief but quickly put that out of his mind.

Nishikata: "Well… Glad I could help. You can have the rest of the cookies, I can always make more."

Takagi: "T-thank you, Nishikata."

The 2 of them stayed in each other's arms for a little longer before Nishikata pulled away, sprinting off to his backpack and returning with his S&S player's handbook.

Nishikata: "You interested?"

Takagi: "Of course."

There was no stopping him now. Nishikata was off, listing off the different races such as elusive elves or down-to-earth dwarves. Or the classes like thieves, sword-wielding fighters and reality-warping mages. Then, he began getting into character backstories and fleshing out a character's personality.

Nishikata: "You always want some kind of flaw that a character has that can be built upon during the campaign."

Takagi giggled to herself at his words. In a sense, that was what she'd been doing to Nishikata. Helping him recognize his flaws when it came to the 2 of them and helping him improve himself. Nishikata then went into equipment before getting overexcited and going in-depth about individual magic items. Before long, it was time to sleep.

Nishikata: "Hmm… It doesn't seem like I can get home in this weather…"

Takagi: "My parents are probably fine with you staying over as long as your parents are."

Nishikata: "I'll ask."

He texted his mom and before long, he received a response.

Nishikata: "She says it's fine if I have to stay."

Takagi: "Alright. I'll get a blanket down here. You can head up to my room."

Nishikata: "Wha- wouldn't I be the one sleeping on the couch?!"

Takagi: "Of course not! You're the guest and I've obviously got to show you some hospitality, especially after those cookies."

Nishikata: "No way. I'm the one sleeping on the couch. I'm not going to get you to give up your bed for me."

This gave Takagi an idea.

Takagi: "Hmm… I guess we have to share my bed then."

Nishikata: "WHAT?!"

Takagi: "I mean, neither of us are budging so…"

Takagi was immensely nervous. She'd gotten herself into this situation without really thinking and now didn't know if she wanted to double down or back out.

Nishikata: "I- Let's do rock paper scissors! Winner decides who goes on the couch!"

Nishikata was now bright red.

Takagi: "Sure."

They both threw paper.

Nishikata: "Uh… what does that mean?"

Takagi: "It means we sleep together."

Nishikata turned bright red again, but begrudgingly dragged himself up to Takagi's room.

Takagi: "Can you turn around? I'm going to change."

Nishikata: "What?!"

Takagi: *smirking* "You could head out and close the door behind you if you're feeling tempted, Nishikata."

Nishikata: "N-no! There's no need for that!"

Takagi: "Are you trying to peep on me? You're such a perv!"

Nishikata: "You're sounding an awful lot like Hayase right now…"

Nishikata turned around and began to strip off his upper layer of clothing to reveal a second, thinner layer underneath. Soon enough, Takagi was done.

Takagi: "All right, you can look now, Ni-shi-ka-ta."

Nishikata was almost too frightened to turn around, but did so anyway. Takagi was dressed in a white night gown that seemed a little big for her.

Takagi: "It belonged to my grandma before."

Nishikata: "I-I see."

Takagi: "Well, why don't we get under the covers? It's starting to get kinda cold."

With that, they both got under the covers of Takagi's bed. Nishikata, who'd already resigned himself to his fate, was about to fall asleep when he heard Takagi's voice.

Takagi: *shivering* "N-Nishik-kata? I-I think the h-heating turned off a-and I'm really c-cold. Could I…"

Takagi's voice trailed off, but Nishikata got the message.

Nishikata: "D-do what you need to, Takagi."

Takagi was extremely thankful that Nishikata wasn't looking at her and that it was too dark for him to see her blush anyways. With that, Takagi pulled Nishikata into a tight hug, making him turn red as well.

Takagi: "T-thank you again, Nishikata."

Slowly but surely, Takagi's shivering stopped and the 2 of them drifted off to sleep.