Chapter 20: These are so good, Senpai!

Nishikata: "So the 4 of you were tasked by a wealthy hill dwarf to travel to Biboar in order to help with his mining company."

Nishikata described the scene with an amount of detail that he only put into his art and plans to get back at Takagi, with the other 3 listening intently. Suddenly, 4 goblins jumped out, attacking them. With the help of a hammer swing, a flurry of fists, and a bolt of fire, the 3 of them managed to kill 3 of the goblins and subdue the last one.

Nekotoro: "Spit it out! What were you doing attacking us?"

Nishikata: "Roll initiative."

Nagatoro: "15! That's good, right?"

Nishikata: "Cool."

The goblin began giving them details about what they were doing. He listed off the location of a hideout some ways down a path, but couldn't give anymore details. By the time they'd finished that roleplay encounter, it was getting dark.

Takagi: "You know, we should probably wrap this up, seeing as it's getting late."

Nishikata: "Yeah. I guess. My parents are out on a business trip, though… I can cook decently."

Senpai: "A-actually, I have a decent recipe for chicken…"

Takagi: "And I make pretty good rice! Say, how about me and Naoto whip something up in the kitchen while you 2 stay here? I've also got a little something in my backpack that we can split."

Nagatoro and Nishikata both gave Takagi and Senpai a nod and the 2 of them headed into the kitchen.

Nagatoro: "That was fun, wasn't it?"

Nishikata: "I suppose it was. You're really good at role-playing, by the way. You were honestly scaring me with your interrogation…"

Nagatoro: "Hah! Well, I guess I can be a little scary at times…"

Nishikata: "About that, I thought you would've been really against Naoto and Takagi-san cooking together. Just back at our lunch meeting, Takagi-san touched Naoto lightly and you gave her a death glare."

Nagatoro: *blushing* "W-well, I guess I trust that she won't do anything with him, seeing as she's interested in someone else."

Nagatoro smirked at her last words while Nishikata went flush. However, Nagatoro didn't really get any joy out of seeing Nishikata blush and Nishikata responded quite confidently.

Nishikata: "Yeah. I can't really see her trying to make a move on Naoto. As for Naoto trying to get with her…"

Nagatoro was shocked for a moment, then stared at Nishikata with those familiar hollow black eyes. Nishikata was simply staring at the table, sadly, not noticing Nagatoro.

Nishikata: "Well, Takagi-san always treats him nicely and he never tries to bite back…"

Nagatoro: "Virgin Senpai trying to get with a girl all on his own? No way!"

Nishikata: "Heh. Fair enough. Plus, he knows."

Nishikata didn't know how much of a sensitive spot that was for Nagatoro. Sure, Takagi had helped her through some of her jealousy and she knew that Takagi liked Nishikata but…

Nagatoro: I'm just so worried that one day… My lying'll finally catch up to me. That Senpai'll have moved on or just not want to be teased anymore. Still, I've got to come clean with Takagi about our first meeting. Maybe that'll help her judgement on our situation. Come to think of it, I haven't asked Nishikata for help. Then again, he seems to be working through some stuff himself and it's not like he has a mind reader to help him out…

Nagatoro: "Is there anything you'd like to talk about, Nishikata?

Nishikata: "What? No."

Nagatoro: Guess he doesn't want to talk to me about that. Not that I knew what to say at all…

Nagatoro: "You know, we're a lot like each other."

Nishikata: "Yeah. Takagi-san told me about a week ago. Something about us both being competitive and trying to tease and stuff like that. I kinda see it. You're a little bit more… er… touchy with him than I am with Takagi but… I see it."

Nagatoro: "Huh. Yeah."

At that moment, Takagi and Senpai came back, 4 bowls of fried rice in tow.

Takagi: "We finished making everything, now we wait for the chicken to cook. For now, dig in!"

As the 3 of them dug into the rice, Nagatoro and Senpai looked at Takagi, then at each other in amazement.

Nagatoro: "This is really good, Rie-chan!"

Senpai: "Y-yeah. The flavours mix together really well! You're great at this, Takagi!"

Nagatoro shot Takagi a look of jealousy before kicking herself for thinking that.

Takagi: "Thanks guys! What about you, Nishikata? How do you like it?"

Nishikata looked up and promptly started to cough.

Takagi: *panicking* "N-Nishikata! Are you ok?"

Nishikata raised a thumbs up while coughing and Takagi breathed a sigh of relief.

Takagi: "S-sorry for that, Nishikata…"

At that moment, Nishikata stopped choking.

Nishikata: "I-it's fine, really. You didn't mean to do that. Besides, I think Hayase and Naoto said it best. It's amazing, just like last night."

Takagi beamed at Nishikata before going back to eating. Partway through, Nagatoro broke the silence.

Nagatoro: "You know, I never thought you could put this much flavour into rice. Looks like you proved me wrong, Rie-chan!"

Takagi: "Hah! I try."

Senpai: "Hey, I think the chicken's done. I'll be right back."

Senpai dashed into the kitchen, emerging shortly after with a steaming plate of chunks of breaded chicken, dotted with herbs and seasoning.

Nishikata: "Woah… I didn't even know we had all that."

Senpai: "Well? Uh… e-enjoy!"

Nagatoro instantly grabbed a quarter of the chunks on the plate, having tried Senpai's cooking before, and began stabbing them with her fork and gobbling them up.

Nagatoro: "Mmm! These are so good, Senpai!"

Senpai: *blushing* "U-uh, t-thanks, Nagatoro/ That means a lot."

Nagatoro blushed slightly before giving Senpai a "bleh" and a smile, which he returned with a smile.

Takagi: "She's right, Naoto. This is really good!"

Nishikata said nothing, but shot Senpai a thumbs up with his mouth full of chicken. Nagatoro also shot Takagi a glance but said nothing.

Senpai: "Thanks guys."

The 4 of them finished off their food and Takagi had an idea.

Takagi: "Guys, want to play truth or truth?"

Everyone else in the room went red and looked at Takagi. Then, Nagatoro and Senpai looked at each other.

Nagatoro: "How about we play tomorrow? I've gotta think of some good questions for my pervy Senpai!"

Nishikata: "Y-yeah. Tomorrow is good."

Takagi: "Alright. I should spend some time with Sumire, anyways. I haven't spent much time with her in the past week… How's… while we're drawing?"

Everyone nodded back at her.

Takagi: "Sweet!"

Nagatoro: "I've got some homework to do so I'll head home."

Senpai: "Actually, so do I."

Takagi: "Nice. Can you stay for a bit? Hayase-chan and I need to have a chat."

The 2 of them walked down into Nishikata's basement after getting Nishikata's permission.

Nagatoro: "So what's that about?"

Takagi: "Why don't you ask Naoto to study with you? You missed out on it a few days ago, so, why not now?"

Nagatoro: "W-what?! I can't just ask him!"

Takagi: "And why's that?"

Nagatoro: "W-well… I…"

Takagi sat and stared at her for a few moments before Nagatoro turned completely red.

Nagatoro: "I-I'd want him to ask me. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself by getting rejected…"

Takagi: "You know that he probably won't ask you, right? He probably hasn't even considered it. Just be upfront."

Nagatoro: "W-well, maybe I could hint-"

Takagi: "Stop. Unless you can pretty much read his mind, you probably won't be able to. Just do it, if he refuses, he brushes it off and your houses are really close to mine anyways, meaning you don't have much time."

Nagatoro: *completely red* "F-fine."

The 2 of them walked up, hearing Nishikata and Senpai discussing S&S mechanics and builds they used. Nagatoro's blush subsided a bit but immediately came back full force when Senpai turned to look at her.

Senpai: "Uh, s-sup, Nagatoro."

Senpai shot her a puzzled look as he went slightly red as well.

Nagatoro: "So, Senpai, I can't have you being all alone tonight. Who knows what pervy Senpai's gonna do all alone after a night of imagining me in a catsuit? We can't have that. So, how about we study with each other? You can come over to my place since I'm sure you'd love another chance to get into my room!"

Senpai's face went red at her last words as Nagatoro somehow turned even more red.

Nagatoro: "For video games, of course. What were you thinking, pervert-Senpai?"

Maybe Senpai didn't notice with Nagatoro running around and noodling him but Nishikata and Takagi definitely did. While Nagatoro was putting on a forced smirk, she was sweating profusely and her face was completely red.

Senpai: "I-I… Sure, I guess."

Nagatoro: "What's wrong, Senpai? It's just homework!"

Senpai: "T-true. Sure, let's go. My mom's on a business trip so maybe it's for the best…"

The 2 of them exited the room, leaving Takagi and Nishikata alone.

Takagi: "Well, I should probably leave right now since it's getting late. See you tomorrow, Nishikata!"

Nishikata: "See you later, Takagi."

As Takagi turned and went out the door, Nishikata wondered to himself.

Nishikata: Did she just get Hayase to do that? What am I saying, of course she did! Come to think of it, I probably should've done something to help, considering Hayase brought up homework that one time… Still, maybe it's for the best that I didn't. I probably wouldn't convince her to ask him.

With that, Nishikata got started on his own homework.