Meanwhile, Takagi and Nishikata were competing to see who could ski the fastest. Also as usual, Nishikata lost after getting distracted by how Takagi looked.
Takagi: "Looks like you pay for my lunch, Nishikata!"
Nishikata: "Yeah yeah. I'll get you back one day, Takagi!"
Takagi smiled at his determined expression before reaching out and grabbing his hand.
Takagi: "Why don't we go on another run? Just for fun. No competition involved."
Nishikata was blushing slightly at Takagi suddenly grabbing his hand, but nodded.
Nishikata: "S-sure, Takagi."
The 2 of them went up the ski lift to find Mina and Kimura about to head down.
Takagi: "Hey guys!"
The 2 of them greeted them back.
Kimura: "Hey, while we're here, why don't we all head down together?"
Mina: "Yeah, it'll be fun!"
Nishikata: "I'm down for that."
Takagi: "Let's do it then."
The 4 of them started skiing down the hill, picking up speed quickly. Suddenly, Kimura shouted out.
Kimura: "Turn right, Mina!"
Mina immediately swerved towards the right, narrowly avoiding a strangely familiar boy.
Nishikata: "Hey! Watch where you're going!"
When they got to the bottom, Takagi spoke up.
Takagi: "Isn't that the guy from 2-A?"
Kimura: "Ugh, I hate that guy. He tried to challenge me to a fight and chickened out when he found out that I take boxing lessons."
Nishikata: "That sounds like him…"
Mina: "I think he's hit on every girl in our year by now."
Takagi: "And he's still going. Either those guys are massive players or they're really, really bad at getting girls to like them."
Mina: "I wouldn't be surprised if the second one's the case. Even Yukari doesn't care about them."
Nishikata: "Why don't we go on another run?"
Everyone exchanged a nod and headed towards the ski lift.
###
Sakura: "Are you sure this is your first time?"
Takagawa: "I swear it is! I didn't… I didn't expect to be this good."
Sakura: "Looks like you'll be able to keep up with me at the school trip after all~"
Takagawa: "Yeah!"
While they were heading back up the ski lift, Sakura put her head onto Takagawa's shoulder and grabbed her hand, causing her to blush. Eventually, they reached the top and skied down at breakneck speeds.
Takagawa: "Uh, Sakura!"
Sakura: "Yeah?"
Takagawa: "How do I slow down?!"
Sakura stared at her for a second before refocusing on skiing."
Sakura: "Just point your skis inwards! Make a pizza slice shape!"
Takagawa did as she was told and began to slow down. Before long, they'd reached the bottom.
Takagawa: "Guess I still have a bit to learn, huh."
Sakura: "Yep! You did well, though!"
Sakura gave her a quick hug, making her blush.
Takagawa: "W-we should probably head back for lunch."
Sakura: "Yep."
The 2 of them started walking back to the lodge. When they arrived, the others except Senpai and Nagatoro were already there.
Nishikata: "What kind of ski resort has noodles?"
Kimura: "Hey, beats me, but I'm not complaining."
Mina: "Yeah, me neither!"
Kimura and Mina had already begun digging into their orders of ramen. This gave Takagawa an idea.
Takagawa: "Hey Sakura? I'll treat you to some ramen."
Sakura: "Aw, thanks Sumire-chan!"
Takagawa went and ordered a large bowl of a specific flavour of ramen. When Sakura heard the flavour, she blushed.
Sakura: "H-how'd you know my favourite flavour of ramen?"
Takagawa: "You didn't remember? You mentioned it in passing while we were walking home."
Sakura was shocked for a moment before throwing her arms around Takagawa, both of them equally red.
Sakura: "Thank you Sumire-chan~"
Takagawa: "N-no problem, Saachi."
Takagi: "Hey Nishikata."
Nishikata: "Yeah?"
Takagi: "Would you like us to be like that?"
Nishikata: *turning red* "W-what?"
Takagi: "Ahahah! Your reactions are so funny!"
Nishikata didn't seem to hear Takagi as he was still deep in thought. Takagi seemed to notice this and put up her arms with a smile. Nishikata noticed this time and carefully put his arms around her. At this moment, Nagatoro and Senpai walked in. Senpai was slumped over, completely tired out and Nagatoro was practically skipping, as energetic as ever.
Nagatoro: "Ah, there they are, Senpai!"
Nagatoro pointed at a girl who looked a bit like Takagi. Upon closer inspection, however, she realized it was…
Nagatoro: "Are you Yukari?"
Yukari: "Wha- You must be Nagatoro! It's good to see you!"
Nagatoro: "Why are you here?"
Yukari: "W-well…"
Yukari wore a guilty expression.
Yukari: "I… uh… heard that there was a quadruple date happening here today."
Nagatoro and Senpai both turned immensely red before Nagatoro vehemently denied it.
Nagatoro: "Does it seem like me and Senpai are dating? That's so, so gross!"
Yukari: "Really? You 2 seem so close-"
Nagatoro: "I just think he's fun to be around…"
Nagatoro was completely blushing and hiding her face in her coat which both Yukari and Senpai took note of.
Senpai: "Why don't we find the others? You may as well join us, Yukari."
Yukari: "Of course!"
The 3 of them quickly located the others. Upon spotting Yukari, Nishikata and Takagi immediately separated.
Yukari: "Hi guys! How are you all doing?"
Mina: "Today's been a lot of fun! Kimura and I skied together for a bit and we met up with Takagi and Nishikata."
Yukari: "Interesting. How are you and Kimura doing?"
Mina shot her a confused look while Kimura was quick to deflect.
Kimura: "Yeah. I've been having a great time with Mina. It makes sense, seeing as we're pretty good friends."
Mina gave Yukari a look that said "Isn't that obvious?", causing Yukari to sigh.
Yukari: "I guess the 2 of you are a lost cause… Still! What about the rest of you?"
Nagatoro: "We~ll, Senpai's been improving. Although, he couldn't keep his eyes off me while he was skiing!"
Senpai: "Hey, you told me to look at you!"
Nagatoro: *faking embarrassment* "Uwah! pervert-Senpai ogled me!"
Nagatoro began chanting "gross" as she circled around Senpai, noodling him. After a few moments, their order of pizza arrived and she stopped.
Takagi: "I mean, I won a competition with Nishikata so he bought me this ramen. After that, we met up with Kimura and Mina and ran into those guys from 2-A."
Yukari: "Oh, those guys? Are you all ok?"
Kimura: "Yeah, barely. Those idiots almost ran over Mina."
Mina nodded and went back to her ramen.
Nishikata: "I kinda get annoyed whenever those guys are trying to pester some girl who frankly doesn't care. Just the other day, they were going at Mano right in front of Nakai!"
Takagi: "He didn't just sit by and do nothing, right?"
Nishikata: "Don't tell any teachers this, but I heard that the real reason that those 2 losers got suspended was because they were recovering from an injury."
Kimura: "Yeesh."
Yukari: "Well, what about you 2?"
Takagawa: "I mean, what do you expect- Oh right. I haven't told you. Sakura and I are officially dating."
Nishikata, Senpai, and Nagatoro looked at her in shock. They'd gotten official after just a few days? Damn.
Yukari: "Well congratulations! Who should I tell first?"
Sakura: "Uh, actually, I'd rather not come out to the whole school."
Takagawa: "Yeah. I wouldn't want to force my girlfriend into an uncomfortable situation."
Sakura shot her a quick blush and sweet look before returning to their shared bowl of ramen.
After a bit, they finished their food and skied for the rest of the day. As it began getting dark, they split off. Senpai, however, spent the rest of the day building confidence to ask Nagatoro to head to his house. At the end of the day, Senpai finally did it.
Senpai: "Uh, Nagatoro? After we head home, do you want to come over?"
Nagatoro got a glimmer in her eye for a moment and began blushing while thinking of the possibilities before shaking herself out of her trance.
Nagatoro: "Sure, Senpai!"
Senpai: Huh, I thought she would toy with me for a bit before accepting. Hey, I'm not complaining.
Senpai: "I was planning on making a modded block craft server for us to play on."
Nagatoro: "Of course loner-Senpai's trying to rope me into his otaku habits! Sure, I'll play along with you today, seeing as you're skiing for me~"
Senpai: "H-hey! I'm just trying to improve so I won't make a fool of myself on the school trip!"
Nagatoro: "You didn't seem to care about that last year, did you, beansprout Senpai~"
Senpai: "Hey, how'd you know- F-fine, whatever. Well anyways, let's get back to skiing."
