Nishikata paced back and forth in his room, fighting the urge to check his phone every ten seconds. It was too early in the morning to leave yet, but this was his first time purposefully meeting up with Takagi since the kite-flying day. Normally, he'd be scheming up new tactics to defeat his rival, new challenges that gave him an edge, but those thoughts hadn't even crossed his mind once yet.
After running into each other at the grocery store, Takagi had texted him about the cooking date that Houjou was planning. Well, she surprisingly hadn't joked about it being a date, but Nishikata already knew what it was from Hamaguchi. He was confused at first since Nakai and Mano were supposed to go in his place, but Mano had gotten a fever so they couldn't go after all.
Nishikata hadn't been too sure how to respond. Takagi had teased him a bit at the grocery store, but she was far from her usual talkative self. It wasn't like her to just leave like that when they were together, so he had feared she really was mad until he got her invite. Nishikata had been too nervous when Nakai asked earlier, but after repeating to himself that dating was no longer uncool and how he could challenge Takagi to some sort of cooking contest, along with not wanting to make Takagi more upset, he accepted.
Discussing the details had led to other text conversations, and the next few days they were back to texting as usual. They helped each other finish their summer projects, Takagi had sent him a picture of some new flip-flops she got, and of course the endless teasing resumed. Nishikata couldn't actually hear her laughing, but the timing and tone of her text responses made it very obvious when she was poking fun at him.
What Nishikata didn't understand, however, was how Takagi had somehow forgotten about holding his hand after they flew kites? Nishikata was determined to know what it meant, if it was more than just teasing, but she hadn't even alluded to it once which made it even more embarrassing. Though he was purposefully waiting until they could talk in person, so perhaps she was doing the same.
Nishikata had barely finished breakfast but couldn't stand still, unsure of how to casually bring up the topic even after days of deliberation. It was painstakingly difficult, even in his own head, to focus solely on the hand holding, the relationship, and not immediately jump away to another topic or label it a 'contest'. For one, he would have to ask while they were alone, but Nishikata wasn't even sure how that would be possible in Houjou's house.
Suddenly it came to him. Houjou and Hamaguchi lived on the other side of the city so they had a long walk home afterward. Maybe they could talk about it then.
Nishikata scratched his head, then silently gasped. In his focus to talk with Takagi, he hadn't even thought about getting there. She lived nearby, so wouldn't it be weird if they didn't walk there together as well?
Nishikata's phone was already out from his nervous tic of checking it, so he quickly sent her a message asking when she wanted to leave.
There was no way he could bring up his question on the way, but he still preferred to walk there together rather than alone. The house was a bit far away, and Nishikata realized that they could do some tandem riding to cut down the time, but that was still way too embarrassing in public and would make it hard to talk.
The phone let out a chime, making him jump. Nishikata's hands shook as he raised the phone and tapped on the notification. Why was he so tense? His eyes widened as he read Takagi's response. Houjou's mother had gotten sick the day before so they were all cooking at Takagi's house instead.
I've never been in her house! he thought frantically. Yet strangely, the thought also excited him. Probably because that way, he could discover more of her weaknesses to beat her, right?
Not much later, Nishikata found himself standing by the gates to Takagi's green-roofed house, a cool autumn breeze blowing around him and the sun just starting to shine through some clouds. He was a bit early. He'd dropped her off here several times before but had never actually gone inside. Glancing up at the windows on the second floor, Nishikata wondered which ones were for Takagi's room. Would they go in there? He'd never seen a girl's room before.
Suddenly, knocking on the door felt daunting. Nishikata looked around, wondering if anyone might see him going into a girl's house. There was nobody there yet and it was time to start—had Houjou and Hamaguchi arrived early and were already inside? What would they do if he and Takagi were just alone?
Nishikata shook his head. Why was he getting so worked up? They were alone together all the time! And girls hadn't been weird to his friends in ages, apparently not even dating was weird anymore. So why did he always have to-
A set of footsteps echoed from the left and Nishikata flipped around, expecting to see the other couple arriving. Instead, a slightly taller lady had come around the corner, holding some paper bags. Nishikata let out a breath and stepped off the sidewalk into the road to give the lady some space to pass. Perhaps he had just come early and needed to wait a bit.
Nishikata blinked. Something seemed familiar about this lady, even though he had never met her. She had long brown hair and large eyes, but so did lots of other adults. What made her different?
The woman stopped at the sidewalk by Nishikata, giving him a warm smile. He couldn't help but blush, averting his gaze to the ground. What does she want with me?
"You must be Nishikata-kun," the woman said in a soft, pleasant tone, still smiling towards him. She set down one of the bags and began searching for something in the pocket of her jeans. "I'm Takagi's mother, it's so nice to meet you. Care to come inside?"
Ah, Nishikata thought weakly, mentally face-palming. So that's why she looked familiar, it's so obvious. How stupid can I get?! He grimaced, then noticed the lady's smile growing further. He grunted a hello back and forced a smile instead, wavering there.
Crap! Why did he feel nervous around a friendly mom of all people? It was just Takagi's mom and she seemed nice enough, what was weird about that?
Mrs. Takagi pulled out a keyring from her pocket, using it to unlock the gate. Nishikata hadn't even tried to open it yet. It looked like she was trying to keep the keys out to unlock the front door of the house next, but that was harder with the bags.
"Can I carry those in?" he offered, stepping back onto the sidewalk and holding out his hands. That would buy him a few more seconds to think up some sort of conversation with this new adult.
Mrs. Takagi turned back and smiled further, handing him the other bag. "I had a feeling you'd offer," she said, "Takagi always tells me when you carry things home for her. Thanks."
Nishikata ducked his face to hide his red face, stooping to pick up the other bag before following her inside. He hadn't expected Takagi's mom to know a thing about him, yet she acted like she already knew a lot. So Takagi talked about him with her family? Why would she do that?
"I'm home!" Mrs. Takagi called out as she stepped inside, Nishikata slipping off his shoes just behind her. A muffled response came from somewhere upstairs. "You can follow me to the kitchen for those bags," she said more quietly to Nishikata, turning into a hallway on the left. He followed apprehensively, taking in the new surroundings around him.
Takagi's house wasn't all that different from his own, with similar brown hardwood floors, nearby stairs going up and some drawers and plants in the entryway. The walls seemed a bit whiter, however, despite their front door not having the same translucent slots allowing light in like his, and they didn't have a spot for umbrellas like he did. The hallway had a painting or two on the walls, and the kitchen was notably larger than Nishikata's own, with more counter space and even a small convection oven built in underneath the counter. None of his friends had one of those.
"So mo-ooom, I can't quite remember what you were telling me earlier," Takagi's voice echoed from down the hallway. A second later, Takagi herself popped into the kitchen, staring down at a clipboard and pencil. "Was it baking powder or baking soda that you have to avoid when…"
Takagi trailed off as she locked eyes with Nishikata, and he caught a glimpse of surprise on her face. She turned back to her mother, who was taking one of the bags from Nishikata, glanced down at the other bag, around the kitchen, and then back at him. She opened her mouth, but no words came out yet.
"Your good friend Nishikata-kun was waiting out front and helped me carry these in," Mrs. Takagi cooed, looking back at her confused daughter. "How sweet of him, huh? You kept going on and on about how he helped you last week too, right? And the week before? And I think you even told me how much you loved when he–"
"M-Moommm!" Takagi stammered, an extremely rare blush suddenly covering her cheeks. This was definitely a first for Nishikata; he hadn't been sure if she was even capable of becoming flustered up until now.
Mrs. Takagi chuckled, pulling out milk to put in the fridge. Takagi shook her head for a moment before turning back to Nishikata and giving him a smile. She opened her mouth again to say hello and-
"What the problem, honey? I mean, you're always telling me about your day, what you do with your friends, the boys you like to hang out with…" Mrs. Takagi paused, and turned back to her daughter again with a sly look. "Waiiiit… Was it boys with an s, or just a single boy you like..."
Takagi's eyes widened.
"... ...hanging out with?"
Takagi pursed her lips before hiding her face as her mother laughed, not deigning a response to that.
"Well I was going to introduce you to Nishikata, but I guess that isn't necessary anymore." Takagi said, now sounding a little amused herself.
Suddenly, it dawned on Nishikata what was happening. Takagi was being teased?! How was that possible? And her mother did it with such ease, too! He looked back at her mother who was just finishing putting away the groceries. Could it be, the master of all teasing masters?
What is her secret?
"Oh mom, I think I just heard one of your stock alerts going off upstairs!" Takagi called, finally coming over to the counter by Nishikata and putting her clipboard down. "You should really go check on it!"
"You can't fool me, honey, I know you just want some alone time," Mrs. Nishikata joked, making Nishikata blush along with Takagi this time. Wait, why was he blushing, he wasn't even the one being teased for once! She smiled again at Nishikata before heading back towards the hallway. "I'm sorry, I just rarely get to tease you anymore with how smart you've gotten. I'll get out of your hair; let me know if you kids have any questions."
Nishikata muttered another thank you for being allowed inside as Takagi's mother walked out, leaving the pair to themselves. That diminishing blush on Takagi's cheeks was so foreign to him, but it gave him a sense of excitement, making him begin to grin widely. He had only ever imagined her embarrassed faces, but he now had proof that Takagi could be teased back!
Now was his chance to tease her in the same exact way. He was sure to get a rise out of her. Nishikata grinned wider and opened his mouth to speak and-
"It's not gonna work for you, you know," Takagi said curtly, smiling confidently back at him. All hues of red were now gone from her face; she suddenly looked like her usual impenetrable self. Nishikata's face contorted in confusion.
"How do you think I got so good at teasing you and always winning? I have my mom to thank for that."
How does she already know what I was thinking?! No, she's just bluffing, and I'm calling it. Nishikata's eyes narrowed.
"I dunno, Takagi-san, she made your face pretty red just now."
"Yeah, just like yours, since we're all alone in my house now," she shot back deviously, making the heat reignite in his cheeks.
"Well, uhmm—that doesn't matter! Now I know that you're not invincible, and I'll figure out how to tease you just as easily!"
'Not invincible'? Nishikata thought in air quotes. That sounded a bit more self-demeaning out loud than in his head.
Takagi pulled out a stool from under the counter by them, turned it, and sat down, placing her elbows on the counter and looking over at him slyly. She was rather close, making him stiffen.
"Okay then, so try teasing me just like my mom did. It's your win if you can make me blush like she did."
A challenge?! Nishikata stepped back into a defensive stance. This Takagi was up to something!
Tease you just like your mom did… What had she said again?
Nope, he definitely couldn't joke about being alone, even if her mom was upstairs. Before that, Mrs. Takagi had said something about Takagi liking to hang out with a boy, but that was way too embarrassing too! And the first thing was something about… Takagi talking about him to her family?
Nishikata gritted his teeth, looking back up at Takagi's smug expression as she cradled her face in her hands, leaning forward towards him.
Apparently talking about him to others was embarrassing to her. But could he do it? How could he joke about something that was just as embarrassing to him?
"You're running out of tiiii-iiime," Takagi called, her eyes flashing mischievously as she grinned.
Nishikata gulped, trying to come up with something snarky. He opened his mouth to retort, but nothing was coming out.
She giggled deviously. No! This time, I win!
He forced a smirk on his face, then tried again. "Takagi-san, I didn't know that you t-talked about me so much at home, heh. Seems pretty suspicious, yeah?"
She cocked her head at him, expression unchanged. He faltered.
This was starting to feel weird.
"Ehhm… You must talk about me so much since your mom knew me b-by name; c-could it be that you just really like me?"
She said nothing back, just holding the same smile and gaze towards him.
Whaa-? Nothing?! Nishikata's eye twitched; he was losing control. What else can I say?!
"I've told you before, I'm always thinking about you."
"Nyaaaaa!" Nishikata shrieked, jumping back and bumping into the fridge. Takagi's smile began to wobble, then she craned her head back and burst out laughing.
Darn you, Takagi-saaan! He thought as he whirled around to check the fridge. He had actually pulled it off, but what happened to that amazing reaction her mom had gotten out of her? And then she had just turned it around like that! How did she do that?!
"Good try, Nishikata," Takagi giggled, wiping away a tear. "And I'm impressed that you finally noticed me blushing before, too. But it's not going to work because it's you." She poked his chest for emphasis.
Nishikata grumbled, looking away, and took the stool next to her. Why did he even try?
"You already know my weakness, Nishikata," she continued, now mostly recovered. "My armpits are ticklish, but you still haven't tested that out. An easy win for you." She pointed for effect.
Nishikata looked at her finger pointing at her shirt and couldn't help but blush. Takagi giggled again, then stretched her arms out wide, yawning. Her arms were totally exposed!
Nishikata lifted a trembling finger, still looking at her arm and shoulder. He couldn't move it any closer.
She paused mid-yawn, opening an eye to peek at him.
She's just too cute… There's no way I can touch her, that'd be weird... Nishikata frowned and turned away again.
"Aw, I gave you such a great opportunity!" Takagi pouted.
Nishikata didn't respond, still looking away; it had hardly been ten minutes and he was already getting tired of the constant teasing. He had been far too preoccupied with other things to mentally prepare for it. Normally he had at least a few comebacks ready, how he had forgotten?
But as Nishikata focused in on the new room, on the unfamiliar paintings adorning the walls, he quickly recalled why he had been distracted.
He was in Takagi's house for the first time. A girl's house. And that wasn't even the scariest part—as frightfully embarrassing as it was, Nishikata still needed to ask her about the other day.
He felt a shiver go down his spine; just thinking about asking made him sweat. How had he ever been hopeful that he could build up the courage to ask something so nervewracking?
Nishikata felt a warm pressure on his shoulder and spun around to see Takagi touching him, her mischievous smile gone. She had begun saying his name but stopped at his reaction, pulling away.
He waited, expecting her additional remark, but it didn't come immediately. Takagi stared at him opaquely, making him fidget in his seat. She looked normal, apart from the slightest furrowing of her brow. Nishikata braced himself for the next wave of teases.
"Sorry," Takagi finally mumbled, turning away.
Huh? he thought, Sorry for what? Sorry for teasing me? How could she ever be sorry for that?!
But as Nishikata opened his mouth to retort, the doorbell rang, making both of them jump.
Takagi glanced back at him for a moment, saying nothing. Then she quietly excused herself to answer the door.
The mood suddenly felt different. Had Takagi's countenance changed slightly? Had Nishikata accidentally done something weird after all?
He didn't get a chance to think further, as just then Takagi reappeared in the kitchen, followed by two statues—no wait, those were actually just an incredibly stiff Hamaguchi and Houjou.
Nishikata waved hello, beginning to chortle under his breath as he watched the pair awkwardly shuffle into the kitchen and look around, each repeatedly trying to determine the appropriate standing distance from the other. Hamaguchi had said they had known each other since they were little, but apparently, calling their hanging out a 'date' was still enough to unhinge them.
"Thanks again for letting us use your kitchen," Houjou said, glancing at Takagi. "And I swear I'm not sick, I watched my hands and showered twice and made sure to clean very-" she cut herself off midword and Nishikata grinned at the blush creeping up her and Hamaguchi's cheeks. What amateurs!
Houjou continued saying something, but Nishikata faltered in his thoughts. Who was he to call them amateurs? Sure, nowadays he was pretty comfortable around Takagi, teasing aside, but they weren't trying to date; this was just a friendly thing they were doing to support the real couple…
..Right? He couldn't remember Takagi ever calling this a date. And he didn't really have any experience with dating. But had she called it that? Nishikata searched his memory; she must have made fun of him about this being a date, right?
"Nishikata!". Nishikata jumped, focusing back to see the other three teenagers staring back at him.
"You must be really excited about the cookies if you started daydreaming about them," Takagi joked, making the others laugh. Her eyes were sparkling at him; she looked happy again.
"We're making rice bento boxes for lunch and baking two types of cookies for dessert," she continued, pacing over to her clipboard and pointing at a list of ingredients on it with a pen. "Do snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies sound good to everyone? Unless…"
Takagi turned to look at Houjou. "I forgot to ask you if you wanted to make another recipe, Houjou-chan. Did you have something else in mind?"
Houjou looked amused for a split second, but then pursed her lips and flicked her hair to the side. "Well, seeing as we're at your house, Takagi-chan, we don't need to use my recipe. Your cookies are probably good enough."
Nishikata grimaced slightly and noticed Hamaguchi doing the same. "Okay then," Takagi continued with a smile, "Once the food is ready, Houjou-chan suggested that we eat it at this little nearby park. Sound good?"
This actually sounded like a lot of fun. Nisihkata nodded eagerly along with the others, and the four of them set to work. The boys started with the chocolate chip cookies on the counter and the girls began with the snickerdoodles at the kitchen table.
"It says we need 5 grams of salt," Nishikata said to Hamaguchi as he inspected Takagi's clipboard of instructions. Hamaguchi nodded weakly next to him and began looking for the right measuring spoon as Nishikata whisked together the other dry ingredients. While he had little baking experience, Takagi checked on them periodically which made him feel more confident.
"So how are the soccer leagues doing this late in the season?" Nishikata asked, knowing how much his friend liked the sport. "Were you rooting for the Gamba Osaka team, or was it anoth–"
"Oh yeah, Fierce Soccer, that game's GRREAT!" Hamaguchi exclaimed, a crazy gleam in his eyes.
Nishikata groaned. "Not the video game," he shot back, "I'm talking about-"
"You gotta help me, dude!," Hamaguchi interrupted in a whisper, "When I see Houjou during a date I just freeze up! What should I say?!"
"How should I know?" Nishikata muttered back angrily, whisking the ingredients together more fiercely. "I don't know how dates work either, I'm no expert!"
"You're on one right now! And you took Takagi-san to the festival too, just admit that you know how!"
Nishikata whisked a little too hard, sending a puff of flour into the air and making them sneeze. "But this isn't a d– and the festival, that doesn't count with– uuggh!"
"Oh yeah, that lightning powerup combo you can do to score a double goal, it's WICKED COOL!" Hamaguchi yelled again, turning his mouth back to face the girls.
Nishikata rolled his eyes; he was really overdoing it. "You're being weird," he whispered to his friend. "What were you doing while you walked with her here?"
"We didn't walk together… I was nervous so we just barely met up at the front door," Hamaguchi said with a facepalm. Nishikata winced.
"...Well, even so, you actually did ask out Houjou-chan to the summer festival for a date unlike me; you'd know how to act better than me."
"Yeah, it was fun after I got over my nerves!" Hamaguchi retorted, "But it's the beginning that messes me up, it's like a wall I have to keep climbing over." He sighed, beginning to measure out the liquid ingredients.
"Look, you didn't take Takagi-san on a date. Whatever. How do you just always talk with her, walk home together all the time? Don't you sit next to her at school or something too?"
When Hamaguchi admitted that Nishikata didn't go on dates with Takagi, he felt an expected relief wash over him. But this time, there was a bit of a pang to it as well. He frowned into the bowl, puzzled.
Hamaguchi was partially right—Nishikata had asked out Takagi just like how he had asked out Houjou. Now that Nishikata was trying to accept the possibility of dating, like his friends, why did he still always instinctively jump to denying it? Why was it such a bad thing?
Hamaguchi opened his mouth to yell out another obnoxious piece of 'cool guy conversation', but Nishikata elbowed him in the gut first, cutting him off.
"I don't know, we just talk about what we're doing in the day," Nishikata said, moving out of the way to let his friend pour in the wet ingredients over the dry ones. "I ask her what she ate for breakfast, sometimes we explore or tell jokes, and we also make up games and play them." He left out the part about him always losing them and getting teased.
"You mean you don't need to act cool for her to like- er, hang out with you?" Hamaguchi asked, peering over at him with a look of interest.
"I mean, of course I try to be cool, but Takagi-san seems to like hanging out even when I'm embarrassed," Nishikata grunted, looking down. "And I get embarrassed a lot …so I guess that's nice."
"What are you two muttering about?" came a familiar, high-pitched voice from behind them. Nishikata spun around to see Takagi smiling at him inquisitively.
"N-nothing!" both boys shrieked simultaneously, somehow even managing to synchronize the cracks in their voices. Takagi tittered softly, stepping forward to inspect the cookie dough.
"Yours is a lot closer than ours," she said warmly, "You guys are fast workers. Don't forget the chocolate chips!"
The boys continued in silence for another minute or two, letting Nishikata think. In some ways, he felt like the opposite of Hamaguchi—he didn't find it hard to talk to girls anymore, but Hamaguchi wasn't afraid of his feelings.
Also, Hamaguchi was now dropping honorifics when referring to Houjou. Had he always done that?
Hamaguchi set his fist on the counter with a loud thump. "I need to stop being a wimp and figure this out. I'll try what you were saying. But can you help me get next to Houjou?" He looked back longingly towards the girls who were still working on the snickerdoodles.
Nishikata nodded but felt his heart speed up a notch—he still needed to figure out something too. How to confront Takagi about the kite-flying day. But he didn't have to do that right away.
Their chocolate chip cookie dough was basically done; it just needed to be shaped into individual cookies and baked. Nishikata paced over to Houjou and Takagi to see their dough coming along as well, but it still needed more mixing and rolling each cookie in cinnamon sugar would take a while.
Nishikata tapped Takagi's shoulder and she turned to glance at him. "Maybe we should start making lunch too," he said, pointing over his shoulder to the other ingredients. She nodded, excusing herself and following him over.
"I'll help Houjou finish these cookies up," Hamaguchi called back, giving Nishikata a weak smile and thumbs up. Nishikata grinned back, only to pause as he noticed Takagi also smiling towards him.
"Helping a friend out, huh?" she jested, "I didn't know you were such a match-maker!".
Nishikata growled, looking at the directions again for the rice and steamed vegetables. "He's just nervous, that's all. What did you talk about with Houjou-chan?"
"Hmmm… I guess you could say the same thing," she replied back playfully.
"Then you're one to talk!"
Takagi laughed a bit, then began giving Nishikata instructions about which vegetables to grab from the fridge and how to cut them. He already knew she was a good cook from their occasional cooking classes at school, and it was fun to be working alongside her.
For once, Nishikata didn't feel ashamed talking about love, probably since it wasn't about himself. He and Takagi compared versions of advice they gave to the other couple in low tones, all while sneaking occasional glances at them to see how the cookie making was going. It was rather fun, though what Takagi had told Houjou made a lot more sense than his trivial suggestions to Hamaguchi.
As time went by, the other couple appeared to be growing more and more comfortable in each other's company.
"That's nice," Takagi said thoughtfully, looking back as Hamaguchi nearly dropped the cookie sheet while putting it in the oven, making Houjou laugh. "It kind of reminds me of you and me."
"Bu-But we're not on a date." As soon as Nishikata said it, he regretted it. Why set himself up for being teased, especially when he was trying to get comfortable with the idea of dating? And why wasn't it a date?
Takagi took a second to respond, still looking at them.
"Yeah, I know. But it's still nice to see them having fun and getting along."
Nishikata balked incredulously at Takagi. She just flat-out agreed to this not being a date? After all the challenges they had come up with at the summer festival? Takagi's lips twitched upwards as she saw his over-the-top expression, but she made no attempt to tease him.
She grew a bit quieter after that as they finished preparing the bento boxes. A quarter of an hour later, each teenager had a small, brown paper bag holding their steaming bento boxes and freshly baked cookies.
The group had left the kitchen and were putting on their shoes at the front door when Takagi's mom appeared again, saying hello to the entire group this time.
"Ah, going somewhere to eat your lunches?" she asked, observing the four paper bags and a picnic blanket in Takagi's arms. "I hope your date is going well. When do you think you'll be back, honey?"
"I'll be back in an hour or two, mom, but it isn't a date," Takagi replied.
"Oh?"
Takagi nodded her head again, then turned to open the door and walked out. Hamaguchi and Houjou had each risen an eyebrow, and Nishikata nearly did as well. He would have blurted out the exact same thing, but he hadn't expected Takagi to vouch for this not being a date. Wasn't that just squandering perfect teasing material?
On their way to the park, it seemed that the couples' roles had reversed. Hamaguchi and Houjou had taken the lead and were conversing lively about all sorts of things, while Takagi and Nishikata trailed behind. Nishikata, growing increasingly worried about how he could ask her about her hand-holding in time, found it difficult to talk, and Takagi had been saying less and less as well.
Even more than that though, something was gnawing at Nishikata. He felt like a hypocrite for even thinking it, but why wasn't Takagi calling this a date? Why had she denied it? Why did it bother him?
"Oh shoot," Hamaguchi said, making him glance up, "This park's closed from that windstorm". A big tree had fallen over and had taken out a set of swing sets right in the middle of the log with it, and yellow tape had been put up blocking it off, barring the usual entrance.
"Not a problem," Houjou replied with a smirk. Or actually, maybe that was just her way of smiling? "I passed this way bigger park on the way here that we can eat at instead, it's pretty close to here."
Nishikata reeled back slightly. Was Houjou talking about… the same park where he had ditched Takagi? …He hadn't gotten to talk with her yet, was that okay?
He shook his head. No, she had been acting fine texting him the past week; it seemed she hadn't minded and it was only he who cared to figure it out. Besides, he had run away once before after getting too embarrassed by her teasing remarks, and she had never cared about that either. Yeah, it didn't matter; maybe he could even use the park as a way to lead into his question for her.
Nishikata glanced at Takagi for validation anyway.
Her shocked expression bore into his eyes. For a split second they made intense eye contact, then immediately broke apart and each turned away.
She knows!
What little conversation they had going before was now completely dead, with Nishikata and Takagi following the other pair wordlessly, now maintaining their own awkward social distancing. He didn't dare look at her again.
Did that look mean she is mad? he thought, sweating from more than just the heat of midday. Now, more than ever, he had to ask her. Though, if Nishikata had known they were eating at the big park originally, he might have suggested something else. At this point, they didn't really have a choice.
Ahead, Hamaguchi paused the story he was telling and offered to hold Houjou's lunch bag. Nishikata observed her give him a close-eyed smile and hand it over. That looks pretty datelike, he thought subconsciously. As it turned out, Hamaguchi was really knocking it out of the park today. He really had mustered up his courage after their talk.
Something churned deep inside of Nishikata, something that overcame even his trepidation about the kite-flying day. The sensation was no stranger to him; he had felt the same sickly, mild sensations in his abdomen on a few occasions, usually around Takagi. Though this time, it felt a tiny bit different.
"Here," Nishikata said stiffly, holding out his hand to Takagi. She turned to him shyly and focused on his hand, not yet replying.
"I can hold those," he continued.
Takagi glanced at Houjou and then back at him as he walked. "You don't have to do that," she replied quietly.
That feeling churned within him a bit more, making him frown slightly. "But I want to," he said, his voice sounding a little rough. Takagi hesitated, then held out the blanket for him to take. He surprised her by taking her lunch too, holding it and his own in one hand and the blanket in the other. Takagi didn't thank him, but watched him as they walked.
"There it is!" Houjou exclaimed, pointing up ahead to the beginning of a large expanse of grass and further off trees. Sure enough, it was the same park. Nishikata gulped as they drew closer. Now, more than ever, he needed to confront Takagi about that day and resolve things, if there was a problem that he hadn't picked up on. And even if there wasn't, he had this burning desire to understand.
Nishikata wasn't sure if he wanted that handholding to be teasing. Not anymore, not after thinking and talking with his friends. He knew couples did it, just because. Why? He didn't exactly know.
Still, could Takagi have held his hand… "just because"?
The mood was totally off now and Nishikata didn't know why, making the scary task that much more difficult - but like Hamaguchi, he just had to muster up the courage to ask.
—
A/N: Since we don't know their first names and this is written in English, Takagi's mother calls her Takagi. This isn't realistic for Japan, but seems like the best option aside from coming up with ways to avoid her mother saying Takagi's name, so I went with that.