The 5 of them met up with the members of Nishikata's cabin during breakfast at one of the largest tables.
Takagi: "Sup guys! Sup, Nishikata~"
Takao: *shaking Nishikata back and forth* "Why'd she single you out? Huh?"
Nishikata: "Shut… up… dizzy…"
Gamo: "Hey Paisen! Did you know that Hayacchi-"
Nagatoro: *covering Gamo's mouth* "Sup, Senpai. You heard nothing."
Senpai: "...Gotcha."
Takao: "You too?! What's with you guys?"
Houjou: "Hey, Hamaguchi. I was talking to Mano, and would you like to ski with Mano, Nakai, and I?"
Hamaguchi: "H-huh? Yeah, sure. I'll head over now."
Takao turned pale and fainted.
Kimura: "Takao! Hey Mina, help me out here!"
The 2 of them carried Takao away, leaving Nagatoro, Senpai, Nishikata, and Takagi together.
Nagatoro: "Well, Senpai, are you ready for our training today?"
Senpai: "Yeah… I am."
Takagi: "By the way, did you guys check the school bulletin? They said that they wanted some people to play a song to start and end the dance. Something about showing school spirit."
Nishikata: "Huh? I guess I'm ok with it, although I'm no good at singing. I can play the guitar and piano."
Nagatoro: "I can sing and play guitar too."
Takagi: "Really? Same with me. I'm not bad at singing or guitar."
Nagatoro: "What about you, Senpai? Are you just gonna watch us from your loner-hole on the other side of the gym?"
Senpai: "Actually…"
Nagatoro: "What is it, what is it? Come on, Senpai, spill! Tell me!"
Senpai: "W-well, I play the drums a bit…"
Nishikata/Nagatoro: "Wait, what?!"
Nagatoro: *clears throat* "W-well then, why don't you play drums then?"
Senpai: "Well I'm not that good-"
Nagatoro: "The second we get home, I am dragging you over to my house and demanding that you can use my brother's old drum set."
Senpai: "D-do I have to?"
Nagatoro, who had momentarily paused in her noodling resumed it once more.
Nagatoro: "Come on! You wouldn't want to ruin my chances of playing in front of the school!"
Senpai: "Fine! I'll do it… Now then, can we go skiing now?"
Nagatoro: "Oh, is Senpai eager to go skating now?"
Senpai: "I-I just want to get better, that's all."
The 2 pairs of them headed to different ski lifts.
Takagi: "Well, I'll just be heading off with Nishy-kun now. See you guys later!"
Nishikata: "Huh?!"
Senpai / Nagatoro: "See ya!"
Nishikata: "What was that about?"
Takagi: "Oh, I thought that since I confessed to you, I would start calling you by a nickname. Say, why don't you do the same for me?"
Nishikata: "What?! Are you serious?"
Takagi: "Yeah, a nickname! I'm sure you can think of one."
Nishikata: "I… uh… I'll think about it, Rie."
Takagi's mouth hung agape for a moment and her face turned red before she composed herself and merely stared at the withdrawing ground underneath her. Fortunately for her dignity, Nishikata was too busy looking away to notice.
Takagi: "What's this? You've moved onto my first name?"
Nishikata immediately blushed and started waving his hands around in denial.
Nishikata: "T-that was a mistake! I'm so sorry-"
Takagi: "Don't be. I confessed to you, so it's only natural."
…
Nishikata: "Ok then… Rie."
Takagi simply smiled before looking away and trying to suppress her blush. Meanwhile, a very different scenario was playing out with Nagatoro and Senpai.
Nagatoro: "Creepy Senpai's calling me by my first name? That's so gross! Gross, gross, gross…"
Senpai: "H-hey! I can stop if you don't want me to!"
Nagatoro's face twisted into one of conflict while she tried to think of a way to tell Senpai that she wanted him to use her first name without telling him that she wanted him to use her first name.
Nagatoro: "I don't know, Senpai. Calling me by my last name has been getting kinda creepy. Maybe you should call me by my first name."
Senpai: "S-so you're ok with it?"
Nagatoro: "That's so gross of you to say, Senpai~"
Senpai: "H-how about I call you Hayacchi? That's what your friends call you, right?"
Nagatoro wore a deeply annoyed expression before turning deadpan.
Nagatoro: "Nah. Senpai, don't you think we have a different kind of relationship than that?"
Senpai: "Eh?!"
Nagatoro: "What were you thinking, Senpai? You're so gross 3"
Senpai: "I-I'll just call you Hayase, then."
Both of their faces had turned completely red. Nagatoro managed to compose herself and barely prevented herself from bursting out in a dance.
Nagatoro: "You're so creepy, Senpai!"
Senpai: "Oh, shut up."
After some close races between Takagi and Nishikata as well as some wipeouts committed by Senpai, it was already time to leave.
Nagatoro: "Not so bad, beansprout Senpai! You only wiped out 3 times today! At this rate, you'll be a skiing master in no time!"
Senpai: "Oh give me a break…"
Nagatoro: "No can do! As your cute athletic kohai, it's my responsibility to make sure that you're improving at a good rate."
Nagatoro: "See you later, noodle-Senpai!"
Senpai: "Well, I'll see you later. Hayase."
Senpai left in a hurry before Nagatoro could see his red face. Unbeknownst to him, Nagatoro was exactly the same colour as him. With nothing better to do, everyone headed back to their buses.
Takagi: "So Nishikata? How'd you like the trip?"
Nishikata: "It was… something."
Takagi: *pretending to be dejected* "Awww, does that mean that you didn't enjoy it?"
Nishikata: "Not at all! I really did-"
Takagi: "So you enjoyed it that much, huh?"
Nishikata: "It's not like that either-"
Takagi: "So you didn't-"
Nishikata: "Come on, Takagi. I r-really enjoyed it. Are you happy now?"
Takagi: "Yep! I love you, Nishikata!"
Nishikata turned completely red and faced the window while Takagi nuzzled into his shoulder.
Gamo: "What's the matter, Hayacchi? Feeling jealous of Takagi? Wish that Paisen were here"
Nagatoro: "Shut up."
Takao: "Looks like someone's having fu- urk!"
Kimura: "Cut it out, Takao! I'm sorry, he got really worked up after Sanae wiped the floor with him in a skiing match. After that, She and Mina left, so I've been helping him recover
Yukari: "It seems like the valentine's day dance has really caused interest in love to spike!"
Nagatoro was sitting with Yukari on the way back with Gamo and Yoshi taking up the seat next to them. Diagonally in front of Nagatoro was Takagi and Nishikata. In front of those two were Kimura and Takao.
Yoshi: "Love!"
Gamo: "Eh, I never really found love that appealing. There were way too many idiots coming up to our little group after school for me to be invested in any of it."
Yukari: "Maybe for you, but look at them!"
Yukari pointed around to the seat directly in front of her, gesturing at a Sakura and Takagawa who had fallen asleep on each other.
Yukari: "They're so cute!"
Gamo: "I guess. Still, I'm happy as long as I've got Yoshi, Hayacchi, and Paisen! What's the matter, Hayacchi? Can't handle me calling Paisen a friend?"
Nagatoro: "Would you learn how to close your mouth?"
Gamo: "Ouch. Looks like Hayacchi's gotten a little green-eyed."
Nagatoro didn't say another word for the entire trip.
Gamo: "Still, I would've thought that Nishikata would be more shy in public. I guess Takagi won today."
Yukari: "Plus, Kimura spent all of the trip with Mina! I wonder what happened between them~"
Gamo: "Heh. Last I heard, Kimura was babysitting Takao after he got a little heartbroken-"
Kimura: "You do realize that I can hear you, right?"
Gamo: "Yeah yeah. How do you think I heard?"
Kimura: "I guess you've got me there. Hey, while we're here, why don't we set up a time to hang out as a year? I'll try to invite as many people as possible."
Yukari: "Wait, really? But where would we-"
Yukari immediately leaned out into the lane to glare at Sanae who was sitting 2 seats in front of her.
Sanae: "Don't even think about it. Puppy dog eyes won't work on me, Yukari."
Yukari: "Come on! It'll be fun!"
Sanae: "The last time I invited Takao to my house, he got really awkward."
Yukari: "Wait, what?!"
Sanae: "We were working on a project together. The whole time, he kept glancing at the stairs. He barely did anything at all."
Yukari: "I'll… I won't complain if you guys copy my homework for the rest of the month!"
Sanae: "Make it the rest of the year, and you've got a deal."
Yukari: "Please?"
Sanae let out a defeated sigh.
Sanae: "Fine. You guys can go wild."
Gamo: "What's so special about her house anyways? Shouldn't you be more strict as class rep? Not that I'm complaining."
Yukari: "Well… I'll send everyone the address. You'll see then."
Takao: "Wait, there's going to be a party at Sanae's house?"
There was a loud crack as Kimura moved a dazed Takao back into his seat.
