Nishikata sported a deep frown as he stood by the getabako. It wasn't Takagi's usual teasing that got him feeling this way. His mind, body, and soul were used to that by now. It wasn't about White Day either. That was a day filled with something other than teasing for once.
He slumped his shoulders and forced out a contemplative grunt. Switching his uwagutsu off for his outdoor shoes, his eyes caught a glance of a figure with ruffled dark brown hair. As he stood up and turned his head, he looked on. The figure disappeared into the thickening fog.
His fears blared inside him. Ugh what's Hamaguchi doing?! Houjou-san's driven him crazy! Even after what happened today, he still wants to go out in weather like this?! Has he learned nothing at all?
Nishikata's heart grew tight. He brought his right hand back to himself, clenching it against his chest. He shook his head to try shooing his fears away. Even so, his heart thumped on without pause. Along with it came a regretful sigh passing from his lips. I just wish there was something I could do.
He narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. Perhaps he could corral his thoughts into a handful of key moments. He placed himself at the start of White Day. Let's see, A gentle, yet fragile calm descended upon him. On the day he reminded me to confess to Takagi-san, his eyes were really baggy. Poor guy looked really tired.
A glint of realization fell upon him. The moment Hamaguchi stomped away after he asked about Houjou dawned on him, "You keep Houjou out of this!" Hamaguchi's voice echoed as his shoes thumped the wooden floors.
Then, another ding of comprehension formed. Wait, he was supposed to confess to Houjou-san yesterday. The ding tingled down his spine. Did she turn him down?! Still at the getabako, Nishikata raised his eyebrows in disbelief. But he knew his answer would have explained a lot.
But before he could venture further, he felt a gentle tap on his left shoulder. He shrieked with his mouth wide open. A familiar, girlish giggle amplified itself above the boisterous crowds.
"Hey Nishikata, no need to be startled; it's just me!" greeted Takagi. Her giggles turned into a light-hearted laugh.
"Takagi-san! Why do you always have to creep up on me like that? Wouldn't just a simple hello be enough?" he retorted with a scrunched face and narrowed eyes.
Takagi replied with another laugh, "But you're so cute when you get flustered! Plus, I like surprising you like this."
He gritted his teeth. Ugh, even after White Day she's the same as always. He grunted and placed his right hand on the getabako.
"Ah, Nishikata. You said you wanted me to play your puzzle game today, right?" Her question caught him off-guard. He jerked his hand away from the getabako and shook his head. His puzzle game, Nishikata Quest, was supposed to startle her. And yet, she turned the tables on him once again. "I think it's going to rain some more later today, so maybe it would be best to do something else in the meantime," she continued with a smile. It was moments like these that made him wonder whether she had a supernatural ability to read his mind.
But still, Takagi had a point. He noticed it as he looked out the window during the afternoon classes. The rains stopped for the afternoon. Yet now, the dark clouds billowed again. In fact, he explicitly remembered the clouds accumulating even faster than they did in math class. It wasn't something he wanted to admit, though. Having her laugh at him for letting the x's and y's on the chalkboard fly by was the last thing he wanted.
He shook his head, moving aside the pictures of strange letters engraved in his head. He couldn't keep Takagi waiting though. "Oh yeah, it does look like it will rain again soon. I guess we should go straight home-"
"Actually, I don't think we have to head home right away," she interrupted. "Why don't we head to the shrine where we usually hang out?" she suggested, pointing her finger towards the exit.
Nishikata let out a confused grunt. With a deeper glance, he took a moment to notice her cheerful yet pensive demeanor. Huh, she seems pretty eager to head to the shrine, even with the clouds. It's probably going to rain again soon too. Why is she so keen on going there again? He studied Takagi's expression for clues on her reasoning. Nevertheless, Takagi's behaviour remained shrouded in mystery.
At the very least, he had to raise some objection. "Wait, Takagi-san. It's going to rain soon. Can we really get to the shrine without getting wet?" he asked, pointing to the thundering clouds outside.
"Oh, didn't you notice, Nishikata? I came to school on my bike! We can go tandem-riding to the shrine," without a moment to waste, she rushed towards the main exit beyond the getabako. Her giggles echoed through his ears.
"Tandem-riding? Wait, you want me to take us to the shrine on your bike?!" he exclaimed. He reeled at the proposition, his objections growing into impassioned protestations, "No way! Even after all the practice we did last summer, I don't think I can make it there in time, especially with the weather!" His furious hand waves epitomized his raucous grievances.
"Oh Nishikata, I think you underestimate yourself," she winked, grabbing her green rain hat from her school bag. He reached out towards her with an outstretched hand, but her figure disappeared into the fog as she walked with her bike outside the school.
Nishikata held his grip on his umbrella. Losing it under a stormy sky was the last thing he wanted. Still, the winds battering his face didn't make his task any easier. Shielding his face with his left hand, he kept his eyes peeled for Takagi. He looked amongst the crowds of students in the fog, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Just then, he remembered Takagi's declaration, "Oh wait, she must be at the bike shed!" He snapped his fingers. Steadying his umbrella at the handle, he made his way to the shed on foot.
Arriving at the shed, Nishikata took a moment to observe his surroundings. The bike shed looked like a revamped shipping container. It sported a wooden sliding door leading into an area filled with bikes. Sliding the door open, he found Takagi inspecting her bike and wearing her green hat.
"Oh, there you are, Nishikata. I thought I lost you," she grinned, cocking her head to the right.
Nishikata scratched his head, his pupils diverting from her dark brown eyes. "So, what's the plan for our bike ride then?" he asked with a bashful chuckle. He kept the door open for her as she rolled her bike outside the shed.
She locked her eyes on him and smiled, "I thought we would renew an old contest we did a year ago, but with a little twist." Her pointed finger caused him to lean back with his hands up. "Let's see if you can ride me to the shrine before it starts pouring," she declared.
Nishikata let out a loud gasp, looking down at her aquamarine bike. Wait, she's making this a challenge?! He turned his head towards the sky and looked around with apprehension. The nature of the challenge set in. He returned his gaze towards her and shouted back, "Get to the shrine before it starts raining!? But it's a fifteen-minute ride!" He protested with exaggerated hand gestures.
Takagi let out a hearty laugh, covering her mouth with her left hand. Nishikata felt a tingle on his chest when she tapped him with her right hand. "Well, you've already gained more muscle since last time!" she complimented with a wink, causing him to blush. "A year makes more of a difference than you think, you know?"
As she continued to prod his chest with her finger, a deep, strawberry red hue blossomed on his cheeks. "Ah, come on, Takagi-san! Do you really think so?!" he stammered as he lifted his school bag into her bicycle basket.
"Well, I would hope so; I don't want to get soaked from the rain," Takagi giggled. Her playful grin caused him to let out a light growl. "Besides, why are you protesting so much? I thought you loved showing off for me," she closed her eyes and chuckled, covering her mouth with her right hand.
"Darn you Takagi-san!" Nishikata cursed aloud. He took his first push of the bicycle pedal and started biking off towards the shrine.
Nishikata pedalled down by the main street towards the beach at an average pace. He became wary of the clouds that formed dark streaky shadows in the sky. He looked up at the sky, away from the road to view the weather better.
In that instant, he rode the bike into a pothole. The bike shook and the pair jumped in their seats. While Nishikata gained control of the pedals just in time, his ears caught the sound of Takagi yelping from behind. Then, almost instantaneously, he felt Takagi's arms stretch outward and cling to his torso.
Her sudden squeeze caused a tingling sensation to creep up his back. The tingle made him hop an inch from his seat. Trying to compose himself, he checked his bicycle's mirrors. Takagi was smiling as usual, but her arms stayed wrapped around his stomach.
Nishikata shook his head. There was no time to reflect on her behaviour. He narrowed his eyes and returned his attention to the road ahead. He pushed his legs harder on the pedal, rushing them forward. With his increasing pace came a tighter clench on his stomach and back. Another rush of tingles zipped upward on his back. The things sparked his thoughts into another gear. What are you doing to me, Takagi-san?!
After biking for ten minutes, a single raindrop plinked upon Nishikata's hair. His heart thumped as he looked up ahead. He looked onward with dread seeing a traffic stop emitting a red light. Finally, I can take a breather. He panted to catch his breath. But a raindrop already fell! It's going to start raining any moment! He grunted as his mind jutted out an urgent thought.
Nishikata looked ahead towards the horizon where the street led. Another series of pants passed from his lips. In an attempt to keep his composure, he began dotting the handful of side roads he still had to traverse. Even after his meticulous planning, the traffic light still showed red. He grimaced. Each second that passed increased the risk of being struck by the rain.
Amid his impatient wait, Takagi's voice perked to his right. Her voice flowed into his ears with the steady winds sailing by. "You're already tired Nishikata? I thought you would be closer by now."
Nishikata growled in response, but he couldn't linger in her teasing. It was easier said than done, however. His sides continued to tingle with her hands clasping on his stomach like a cushion.
But now, he felt another sensation. This time, it was on his shoulders. Turning his gaze to his side mirrors, he gasped aloud upon seeing her head rest on his shoulders. Her eyes were also closed once again, as if she were napping on him. The combined tingles caused him to jolt upwards from his seat.
"Agh! Takagi-san what are you doing?!" Nishikata hollered as the traffic lights turned green. "If you keep hugging me, we won't get there on time!" With the lights now green, he pushed onward, the wind currents drowning out his exclamations.
"It's been two years, but I think your love of potato curry has made you a tiny bit slower!" Takagi laughed in reply. Another jolt zipped through his stomach, driven by her hands that pressed them.
"Oh, just you wait, Takagi-san! The shrine will be up ahead before you even know it!" He turned his head towards her. He growled, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. The real race had begun.
He narrowed his eyes and grinned while biting his lip. All right, now it's time to pedal at the speed of sound! Just you watch, Takagi-san, you may have thought I was tired but that was just a ruse! I saved up my energy for the busy intersections up ahead!" He chuckled to himself. He used all the strength he could muster from his lower body to propel them forward. He tore down the road by the beach, picking up clouds of sand along the way.
Ah yes,Takagi-san I've got the momentum now! Just you wait, once we're at the shrine you'll regret putting me up to this challenge! He chuckled to himself. His thoughts wandered off, daydreaming about Takagi's homage to his biking prowess.
But just as his mind was about to picture her praising him, a shrill scream instantly pierced his thoughts. "Nishikata look out!"
His eyes snapped back up to the road in front of him. His eyes popped wide and his mouth dropped open. Out of instinct, he stomped his feet on the ground with a screech and clenched his teeth. His face contorted tightly and his body lurched backwards as much as possible with Takagi on his back. The tread of his outdoor shoes skidded along the cement roadway as the bike came to a halt.
As he regained his normal breathing rate he looked around. Up ahead on the road were a series of flashing yellow lights. Lines of cars surrounded them from bumper to bumper. There was no way out.
"Ah, Takagi-san we've hit traffic!" Nishikata groaned while holding his head. "We're barely three minutes away from the shrine! I can see it up ahead!" Nishikata pointed with his index finger at the outcropping of trees and rocks to the right. He could see the distant shrine shrouded in a thin layer of fog behind the groomed foliage. He let out a frustrated moan, scrubbing his hand over his face. Let's hope I make it there in time.
But Takagi made an O shape with her mouth and pointed at the sky. More rain droplets dripped onto their faces. Nishikata looked back, arching his brow to see her face splattering with water. The realization dawned on him.
Uh oh.
It was too late. The rain morphed into a rainstorm, drenching the pair. The crescendo of clattering rain pounding the metallic roofs, signs, and vehicles drowned out his subdued realization of defeat. He looked back at Takagi to see water dripping rapidly through the ends of her hair and down onto her uniform.
"Looks like you lost Nishikata. But I guess it couldn't be helped," Takagi shrugged.
Nishikata felt a cold sensation coursing through his body, her legs shaking off the rain droplets gathering on her skin. He jolted in reply, "Augh, Takagi-san!"
A moment later, the cars cleared up. Nishikata nodded, seeing that he now had space to push forward. With the rain bearing down on the pair and the bike, he turned right and then left toward the shrine. Even if he lost, he pedaled as hard as he could to get out of the rain as soon as he could.
In a handful of minutes, he made out the shrine's outline at the top of the hill. Still, her rain-drenched arms continued to wrap snug around his torso. Her hold caused his eyes to narrow. His grip on the bike strengthened, enabling him to carry on to the shrine. He dashed through the torrents of rain pouring down, crossing into the shrine courtyard ahead. Let's hope we're well enough for school tomorrow, he pondered.
We finally made it. Nishikata raced up the steps to the shrine. His jaw quaked and his bones shivered. The cold sensation continued to flow through his skin. He looked back to see Takagi following a few steps behind him. Her legs were also shaking with each step. Looks like Takagi-san's shivering too, he thought to himself.
The afternoon rain poured down from the skies to the shrine below. On the right and left side of the path stood two pillars splattered with rain. Both pillars had kanji inscriptions that welcomed the pair to the shrine. In front of the shrine's entrance was a stone staircase with two steps leading up to a wooden platform. The platform and entrance to the shrine remained dry thanks to the grey pediment above.
It was on that platform where the two of them stood amid the pitter-patter of the torrential rains. Well, I'm alone with Takagi-san again. She hasn't been teasing me as much about the ride as much as I thought, so that's nice. He thought as he released a sigh of relief. Plus, I have to admit, when she held onto my stomach, it felt kinda nice for a while. His cheeks betrayed a light blush as he chuckled to himself. Her darned smile was also really cute, he let out a sheepish chuckle as he took his head on the platform.
But still, if we both get sick from this, I'll never hear the end of this from her! His concerns for Takagi-san were tinged with fear. He placed his hands into his school bag and retrieved a white towel. He took it and brushed it against his head and palms, drying them both.
He then turned his head towards Takagi, expecting another tease. But all he saw was her hunching down to ring the water out of her hair with her towel. The sounds of water splattering the wooden platform reverberated his ears along with the pattering rains.
Seeing her preoccupied, a gentler thought formed in his mind. Maybe I could pass the time by taking a nap. He took a seat on the aged, wooden platform below the pediment. He relaxed his shoulders and closed his eyes, letting his mind drift to greener pastures. The soft beats of the rain moved him further along.
But with the downpour came the brisk woosh of another thought. I just hope Hamaguchi didn't get caught out in the rain again. The thought grew louder, overpowering the sounds of the pouring rain. As the thought passed over his mind, he jolted his head up and opened his eyes wide. He shook his head, but the thought continued to hover over him. In defeat, he bent his legs, letting them hang off of the platform. He planted his elbows on his legs and rested his head on his hands. He sighed out, letting his chest rise and fall. The distant whooshes and sighs of cars whisking through the rain seemed to mimic his heavy exhales.
"Hey, Nishikata, is something the matter?" Takagi asked, waving her hand at his face. The sudden breeze caused him to gasp. He put his arms out straight and shuffled away from her while sitting, almost falling off of the shrine platform.
"Huh? Oh no, nothing's the matter! I'm fine, Takagi-san!" he protested in reply. He stretched his arms towards her and waved his hands about.
Takagi turned away and continued to massage the damp towel through the roots of her hair. The rain outside the shrine continued to fill in the silence between them both. She turned away and continued to massage the damp towel through the roots of her hair.
The rain outside the shrine continued to fill in the silence between them both. Nishikata scooted back under the safety of the pediment from the pouring rains. Her lack of response caused him to wince his eyes and to give off a confused chuckle. Well, I bet she's thinking of ways to tease me about my sudden reaction. Surely, she's planning something! He groaned and slumped his chin down on his legs. Out of his periphery he could make out Takagi facing him, but he could not make out her expression.
He craned his neck around to face Takagi and found her standing close to him. However, she sported a concerned look, her eyes and her eyebrows pinched together. "Nishikata, I think we need to talk about something," Takagi stated with bluntness. Her posture appeared straight as an arrow and she lowered her chin to meet his gaze.
Oh no, oh no! Nishikata's heart raced through the roof as if it was about to launch into the sky above. I may not understand girls very well, but when a girl says that, it means sudden death! He shook his head and gritted his teeth. He pushed himself away from Takagi with his legs, sliding across the wooden platform with his bottom.
After shuffling a few feet away from Takagi, he found his legs frozen in place. His mind grew void of coherent thoughts and strained with all of his might to come up with any reason for her change in demeanour. Did I not greet her in the usual way? Did I ignore her today at school?! What is it, Takagi-san?!
Nishikata popped his eyes open, his heart beating faster and faster as Takagi stood up. With each step she took towards him, his mind jittered about, searching for an answer. He rubbed his scalp, trying to soothe his racing mind. Her glazed eyes caused his breathing to accelerate and his shoulders to shield his face.
But then, another thought dawned him like a single lightning strike. Wait, she's upset about White Day. His pupils constricted as he emerged from his shoulders and met her gaze. He knitted his eyebrows together, released his shoulders from his face, and fidgeted with his hands.
"Wait, Takagi-san, if it's about White Day, I'm sorry, okay? I know you didn't like that I gave you ruined chocolates on White Day! I'll make it up to you! I can go and buy some more right now!" He pleaded with a kneel. His apologies grew louder with each sentence. All he wanted was for Takagi to not get angry with him for his failure.
But instead of receiving a lecture or a tirade, he let out a confused gasp as Takagi took her seat beside him. He formed a duck shape with his lips and turned his eyes towards her face with raised eyebrows. Her hand patted the wooden platform, as if she were motioning him to come closer. He responded in kind and shifted himself to her side.
"Nishikata, it's nothing to do with White Day. Don't you remember? I was already grateful that you returned your feelings to me," Takagi gave off a warm smile.
But before he could say anymore, Takagi continued, her lips turning upwards. "I actually wanted us to talk about Hamaguchi."
Nishikata noticed her trying to stifle a giggle with her hands, but he heard them loud and clear. He shook his head and raised his eyebrows as high as he could. "Wait what? You mean you knew already?!" Nishikata shouted aloud, flailing his arms in the air.
Takagi laughed enthusiastically. She wiped a small tear from her eye and cleared her throat.
"Of course, I did! You had a late slip from taking Hamaguchi-kun to the nurse," Takagi pointed her finger at Nishikata. "Plus, I figured something happened because Houjou-san gasped when you mentioned him when you arrived late for class." After making her case, she posed a question to her shocked friend. "But Nishikata, why didn't you tell me this beforehand?" she asked, cocking her head to the right.
Nishikata remained seated, unsure of how to approach the conversation. He avoided her gaze and tapped his fingers on the shrine platform. The question made his stomach churn and his head twirl. How can I tell her about something so embarrassing? I don't want her to think I'm more of a sap than I already am! I don't want her to ask me about Hamguchi's dare! I don't want her to tease me about White Day even more!
Takagi's gaze softened as she clasped her hands in her lap. "I wanted you to tell me what really happened because I care about you."
The furin wind chimes hanging from the pediment resounded like a four-part choir. Their mesmerizing music sang aloud as they were pushed together by the windy weather. Their call rang in Nishikata's ears, beckoning him to act.
Is it really possible for me to say what's on my mind without being judged? Nishikata massaged his temple and slowly turned his head upwards to face Takagi. I've always felt judged for the things I've done in life and I don't want it to happen again.
"But why? Why is this such a big deal in the first place?" Nishikata groaned in reply. He kicked the mud with his feet. Ugh I hate being confronted like this. I've never had a conversation like this with anyone before. He narrowed his eyes, expecting a lecture.
"Nishikata, I don't want you to keep secrets from me!" Takagi spoke firmly, lurching her neck forward. Her voice caused him to freeze in place and his mouth to hang open. His body tensed up as he moved his shoulders away.
Takagi moved her head back and straightened her posture. She took a deep breath and relaxed her body. "What you say matters to me, Nishikata. I want you to explain more about yourself to me."
Nishikata straightened his posture "Is this because I didn't tell you I was arriving late today?" He asked, his question laced with confusion. Why does this matter to her so much? He did his best to avoid her gaze, shifting towards the large puddle in the walkway.
"No, it's because I learned that communication and trust is important for our friendship," She explained as she used her fingers to count the two on her hand. "Do you remember the time I didn't talk much to you during Valentine's Day?" she bent her head low and asked with a deep sigh.
"It was because you were feeling weird about the three girls coming up to me, right?" Nishikata replied, cocking his head to the right.
"The truth is: I felt jealous. I couldn't bear watching all of those girls give their chocolates to you. I guess I let my feelings get the better of me before I calmed down."
Nishikata blinked, shaking his head back and forth as if he was trying to clear rain water from his ears. Takagi was always one to keep her emotions concealed, her sins untold. For her to be even more open about that wintry day sent a jolt of shock down his spine. "You were jealous?! I had no idea!" he stammered as he massaged his blushing cheek.
"Yeah, that's why I apologized," Takagi spoke up. "Communication is very important to prevent misunderstandings from happening between each other."
"Oh, okay, that makes sense," he nodded with a blank stare. Even now he was trying to put all of the pieces together. "But, what about my apology and my words are so important to you? They're just words after all," he stated, arching his eyebrow and shrugging his shoulders.
"Your words are very important to me because they come straight from your heart," Takagi poked Nishikata's chest. "And your mind," she followed by poking his forehead. "So if you have something to say, please don't hold back how you feel," he felt a sense of urgency in her voice as she spoke. She bent lower as her hair waved in the wind.
The sounds of Takagi's soothing voice waved the chest pains away like the spring sun evaporating the frigid snows of winter. His cheeks developed a pink tinge like fresh rose buds blooming under the warm sun. "Takagi-san…" he stuttered. Her calm, caring demeanor penetrated his heart.
"This is why I ask you so many questions from day to day. I want to know you fully, Nishikata."
The furins chimed once more with the winds picking up. Nishikata turned his head to the furin, gasping at the songs the bells were singing. After the lone gust of wind, the air grew into a gentle calm. The rains softened before coming to a complete halt. The sun's rays shone through the sky, peaking through the clouds in a single stream of light.
He turned his head back towards Takagi. "Thank you, Takagi-san," he muttered. He shuffled his feet and legs about, but also felt a gentle peace descend upon his heart. It was a peace greater than any he had felt in his entire life. "Takagi-san, I hope you don't think less of me," he sighed and drummed his fingers on the platform.
"No, Nishikata. I don't think any less of you," Takagi explained, leaning closer to him. "I just want you to tell me more about what you were worried about," Takagi's question rang in his ears. He noticed the glint in her eyes. As much as he enjoyed the moment of calm, he couldn't escape the topic any further.
Nishikata was finally able to be free in his ability to speak out. He could say whatever he wanted to Takagi without feeling judged. "Hamaguchi really isn't doing well. I'm not sure exactly what happened between him and Houjou-san but he seems so hurt by her lately."
Takagi nodded her head, relaxing her body as she stayed silent. "You said you had to take him to the nurse's office?"
"Yeah, he fainted during the morning and I had to call a nurse and get help," Nishikata rubbed the back of his head and winced as he spoke.
"Wow, that's even worse than I thought." Takagi gasped aloud, putting her hand over her mouth.
"He doesn't want to talk about Houjou-san at all and gets defensive around her too," Nishikata explained as he recalled Hamaguchi snapping back at him during lunch break. His eyes glanced downward. "This is my own opinion, but I wonder if something happened during White Day that caused all of this," he continued, expelling a sigh. "I just wish there was something we could do for him," he moped, looking up at Takagi who nodded and placed her hand on her chin.
"But why do you think this is about White Day?" Takagi asked. Her contemplative posture as she sat on the platform caused him to really think over what to say next. After all, this was a topic the two of them had never discussed before.
"Well, yesterday Hamaguchi told me that he would confess to Houjou-san after school was over," he revealed, fidgeting with his hands as he talked.
"Ah, I see, so what do you think happened then?" Takagi queried with open, expressive eyes.
Nishikata pondered the sudden question and snapped his fingers after a few seconds. "Maybe he confessed to her but she turned him down. That might explain his mood earlier today."
Takagi leaned in closer with a small frown plastered on her face. "Nishikata, if she was the one who turned him down then why would she also be so upset? Also, if she turned him down, then why did she react the way she did in class when you mentioned Hamaguchi in the nurse's office?"
Nishikata's eyes widened, letting out a small gasp. Weaving through the complexities of his friend's situation, he let out a resigned shrug. "Well, I guess I'm not great with figuring out this romance stuff with girls. Maybe you should be the one to talk to Houjou-san," he said as he rubbed his forehand with his hand.
"Honestly I really don't know Houjou-san well so I can't help her as much as I would like to," Takagi replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, this situation is pretty difficult to unpack already. Maybe we should just try to help them together," he proposed, brushing his fingertips with each other.
"Good idea!" she smiled, her cheeks brimming from side to side. "You, a love connoisseur and a life saver in one day? I knew you had it in you all along," she teased as she cocked her head to the right.
"Darn you, Takagi-san!" Nishikata gasped, nearly stumbling on his own two feet.
Takagi let out another giggle, "But I also like it when you're serious about this."
Nishikata locked his eyes on hers. His heart skipped a beat as she stood up on the platform and moved closer to him. The wooden planks creaked underneath from her outdoor shoes with her steps. He felt a pleasant warmth enveloping his skin as she faced him in the glow of the sunset sky.
"Thanks for your help, Takagi-san. I needed that; you know?" Nishikata felt his chest rise and expand, allowing him to dispel the negativity that swirled over him.
"I'm glad I could help," she whispered back.
The sun's lowering rays enveloped the two of them in an ethereal orange glow. The puddles of stagnant water on the ground reflected back up towards Takagi's face. Nishikata stared into Takagi-san's glistening eyes. The ripples of the water below shone in her eyes like sparkling fragments of the sun.
Nishikata swallowed a hard lump in his throat as he became entranced by her gaze. Why does she look so pretty right now?
Nishikata smiled and sighed, capturing the clean petrichor in his nostrils and living within the movement. It was getting darker and the two of them had to bike back through the streets. Nonetheless, he knew that as long as he was with Takagi, it would be a worthwhile trip. Now, I wish this conversation would last just a bit longer.
Their stance in the shrine eclipsed the setting sun as if the setting sun's rays aligned to match their joint figures.
The abrupt buzz from each of their cellphones awoke them from their trance with a jolt. They parted their hand-hold and checked their phones.
"Ah, Takagi-san, I got a text from Nakai," he noted, pointing his index finger at his phone screen.
"Mine is from Mano," Takagi replied, standing up and tapping on her phone.
"It looks like Mano and Nakai are inviting us to lunch this weekend. They also want to talk about Hamaguchi and Houjou-san." Nishikata said as he squinted at his phone screen, analyzing the message's context. Nishikata eyed Takagi's smirking features and narrowed one of his eyebrows, "What are you looking at me like that for?"
"Ah, Nishikata, isn't it obvious?" she chuckled. "We're going on a double date," she grinned, revealing her blushing cheeks.
Nishikata sputtered as he coughed on his own saliva, studying her smirk to take in the brevity of the situation. "A DATE?!"