Gamo: "So Paisen, how's Hayacchi doing?"
Yoshi: "Tired!"
Senpai: "Well, I got her home safely…"
Gamo gave him a soft smile.
Gamo: "That's good."
Yukari: "Wait, you know Hayacchi?"
Senpai: "Wha- I guess you could say that…"
Yukari: "I heard from Rabi-chan that you 2 are really close! Hayacchi seemed to be denying all of it, but I know someone else who's like that…"
Yukari shot Nishikata a quick glance without even trying to disguise it, making him blush.
Nishikata: "Hey, Takagi and I aren't together!"
Gamo: "Maybe, but Paisen and Hayacchi are definitely really close"
Gamo put her arm around Senpai, giving him a smirk as she said this.
Yoshi: "Dating!"
Senpai: "What? We aren't dating. I… I don't think I'm really interested in that… committed… boy-girl kinda stuff."
Senpai braced himself for more teasing at the hands of the Toro-gang but they said nothing. Everyone turned to look at Kimura as he let out a particularly loud sound while gulping down a brownie.
Kimura: "What? I was hungry!"
Sakura immediately saw an opportunity.
Sakura: "Well, that looks like a good brownie! What's your name?"
Kimura leaned back a bit but kept his composure.
Kimura: "I'm Kimura."
Sakura: "Well, Kimura-kun, did you make that brownie all by yourself?"
Sakura leaned in so that she was mere inches away from Kimura. Kimura didn't back up, but simply sat in place.
Kimura: "Actually, I did, but most of the credit should go to Mina over here."
Mina shot up for a high five with Kimura.
Mina: "Yep, that's right! Everything Kimura knows about baking was taught by yours truly!"
Mina wore a smug expression while saying this, while Kimura merely grinned.
Takagi: "You know, the 2 of you seem pretty close."
Mina's smile disappeared for a moment when Takagi said this, but Kimura continued smiling.
Kimura: "Yep! We signed up for the same baking class and she's way better than me at it."
Kimura rubbed the back of his neck with his hand as he said this.
Kimura: "We've spent a bit of time together, and I'd say we're pretty good friends."
A relieved expression went over Mina's face as she shot Kimura a thumbs up which he returned.
Takao: "You know, why aren't Nakai or Hamaguchi here?"
Nishikata: "Oh, Nakai said that they're on a double date."
Takao went slightly pink as he pushed his glasses further up his nose.
Takao: "I-I see."
Senpai: "So uh… How have you guys been?"
Yukari: "Well, I may as well ask you that question! How's everything between you and Hayacchi?"
Senpai: "She's just a…"
Senpai stopped for a moment. Were they friends? Sure, Nagatoro belittled him all the time, but that was only because they both knew what would and wouldn't really hurt Senpai, at least after those first few days. Senpai shuddered at the memory of their first meeting.
Then again, Nagatoro had helped him a lot, both with his art and with his confidence. Former Senpai never would've been talking to a girl like this without Nagatoro.
Senpai: "She's just a friend."
Yukari: "Sure…"
Takagawa: "Alright then. How about you, Yukari?"
Everyone turned to Yukari as she went a light shade of pink.
Yukari: "I don't really like anyone at the moment."
Takagawa: *smile* "Oh then!"
Nishikata and the Toro-gang shot Takagawa a strange look as she let Yukari off the hook.
Gamo: Did… Did she just… Believe that?
Yukari: "How about you, Sumire?"
Takagawa: "Oh, same with you. I haven't found anyone I'd consider who hasn't been taken, no offense, Kimura, Takao."
Kimura shot her a thumbs up.
Kimura: "None taken."
Sakura, however, stared at Takagawa, blushing before shaking her head and recomposing her face. Gamo and Yoshi noticed, but said nothing.
Gamo: I'm gonna have a little chat with Sakura later…
Takagawa: "Not that I have anything against relationships, just I feel like a lot of the boys in our school are kinda…"
Sanae: "Creepy?"
Senpai could've sworn that he saw Sanae glance at Takao before turning his ears back towards the conversation.
Takagawa: "Yeah! Like these 2 guys from class 2-A came up to me once and tried to ask me out! Like, I hadn't even met them before and they were asking me about my cup size…"
Takagawa started looking at the floor at her last words.
Takagi put an arm around her.
Takagi: "Look, we've talked about this before, Sumire-chan. Those 2 are assholes who only care about what they think that we should look like."
Takagawa: "Yeah. You're right."
Gamo: "Hey Paisen! Remember that time you completely flexed on those guys?"
Senpai smiled as he remembered the time he'd built up enough courage to get the Nagatoro family to ditch those 2 in favour of spending time with him.
Yoshi: "Chick magnet!"
Senpai: "I… Yeah, I remember."
Gamo: "So you see, we were getting harassed by those 2 losers and Paisen over here came up and gave us a window of opportunity to get outta there. Of course, Hayacchi was ecstatic to see "her Senpai" anywhere, but damn did he look like a chad! He just came up and picked up 4 chicks from those 2 losers."
Takao: "Wow, that sounds cool."
Senpai: "H-hey! It's not like I was trying to steal them or anything… I just wanted to say hi and they just… up and left them."
Sakura: "Senpai-kun, remember what we talked about after we joined you?"
Senpai began to blush as he remembered the Toro-gang's chants of "Ero-manga Senpai" echoing around him.
Senpai: "Y-yeah. How could I ever forget…"
Gamo: "Yeah, we'll never let you forget about it, Ero-manga Senpai!"
Yoshi: "Ero-Manga Senpai!"
Takagawa: "I mean… wait, what are your names?"
Senpai: "Oh right, you weren't there. I'm Naoto Hachioji."
Everyone introduced each other once more.
Takagawa: "As I was saying, Hachioji-san doesn't seem to be the pervy type."
Takagi whispered something into Takagawa's ear, making her jolt into the air as a look of realization washed over her face.
Takagawa: "I see… Nevermind, Hachioji-Senpai."
Senpai: "Also, none of you need to add any honourifics to my name."
Yukari: "Alright, Hachioji."
Takagawa: "So anyways, I was thinking, it's getting colder so does anyone want to do some skiing this Sunday? I wanted to try to learn in advance so I wouldn't be completely hopeless for the skiing trip later."
Takagawa stared at her feet and went slightly pink as she said this.
Takagi: "I could join you! This could be a fun experience."
Nishikata: "I'd be down."
Eventually, Takagawa, Takagi, Nishikata, Mina and Sakura had agreed to go.
Mina: "You sure you don't want to go, Kimura?"
Kimura: "Eh, why not. My parents have been getting on my case about losing weight anyways."
Kimura popped a baby carrot into his mouth.
Kimura: "In any case, I could get used to this."
Mina pumped her hand in the air.
Mina: "Alright!"
Gamo: "What about you, Paisen? I'd bet you're dying to go with a certain someone."
Senpai: "I-I'll invite Nagatoro once she's up tomorrow."
Gamo was surprised by Senpai's directness, but pleased.
Gamo: "Nice! Although I'm going to be so mad if you get cold feet!"
Yoshi: "Cold feet!"
Senpai: "D-don't worry about it."
Yukari: "You and Hayacchi are so cute together!"
Senpai: *blushing* "H-how'd you know?! You haven't even seen us together!"
Yukari went red as she realized she'd been busted.
Yukari: "I-I'm just inferring-"
Sanae: "She's followed you a few times."
Senpai: "What?!"
Sanae: "She enjoys following Takagi-chan and Nishikata-kun the most, but she'll follow just about any boy and girl hanging out."
Yukari: "Sanae!"
Yukari was now completely red. And let out a nervous squeak when Senpai gave her a deadpan, neutral look.
Sakura: "Well see you on Sunday, Takagawa-chan!"
Takagawa went slightly pink at her words.
Takagawa: "What? Uh, yeah."
Takagi shot Takagawa a confused look which morphed into a sly smile. Sakura and Takagawa had been stealing glances at each other every so often during the conversation, and no one but Gamo and Takagi noticed.
Gamo: "We should probably all head home. It's getting dark."
With that, everyone dispersed. However, Gamo had some unfinished business to attend to. Once they reached Yoshi's house, Gamo turned to Sakura.
Sakura: "Uh, Gamo-chan?"
Gamo: "Sakura, can we have a chat? Just the 2 of us."
Sakura: "Ok…"
Yoshi eyed them curiously, but went inside nonetheless.
Gamo: "Let's head to my place first."
Sakura cautiously followed her as she was led into a medium-sized house next to Yoshi's house.
