THE DAY THINGS CHANGED
Based on the Manga "Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro" By Nanashi/774 and the illustration "Senpai Stopped Working . exe" by Reddit Artist Own_Reply_9089
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Another day, another inspiration from the incredible reddit artists that are part of the r/nagatoro community on Reddit. Recently, the above mentioned illustration made the rounds of the thread and inspiration hit me as it spoke to my creative side about something that many fans of the show constantly bring up, Nagatoro's early treatment of Senpai, i.e., their first encounter in the library where she made him cry. It has been a source of controversy since the manga began, prompting an unfair disdain for the series due to many peoples' preconceived notions, especially those who were familiar with the infamous webcomic.
A number of discussions have spawned out of those early chapters and first episode of the anime, and many people have weighed in with thoughts on whether or not Nagatoro should apologize to Senpai for how she treated him. I'm not going to get into the back and forth of the discussions, except to say that forgiveness comes from being able to face your previous actions and be willing to say, "I was wrong to do that."
Before we begin this story, I did want to take a moment and acknowledge our friends over in the Kaguya-Sama FanFic community, who are honoring the conclusion of their fine Manga series after 281 chapters and three incredible anime seasons. I understand that there are possibly two more anime seasons forthcoming and a concluding movie that will bring the franchise to a close. While the Story of Senpai and Nagatoro is starting to reach its biggest stretch of story arcs, we would be remiss if we didn't tip our cap to the standard bearer of the RomCom Manga/anime universe for the last couple of years.
Kaguya and Miyuki's story made it possible for Senpai and Nagatori, Tadano and Komi, Marin and Gojo, Jirou and Akari, Uzaki and Sakurai, Nishikata and Takagi, Ayumu and Urushi, and even Shikimori and Izumi, to tell their own stories. For that, we are grateful and wish the characters love and luck as their stories move on without our being witness.
Chapter 1: A Lot on My Mind
"Hey, Hayacchi, are you all right?"
Maki Gamo was turned sideways in her chair to face her friend, Hayase Nagatoro. Normally, the dark-haired girl with the swimsuit tan was talkative and engaged in their class activities, but today, the teen was strangely silent and distracted all morning. "Seriously, you've been like Piasen when he spaces out, are you feeling okay?" Gamo looked worried. She'd known Hayase long enough that she could tell when her friend was in a funk.
"I'm all right, Gamo, I just have something on my mind," Nagatoro answered, barely looking up from her textbook.
Gamo looked worried, "Are you and Paisen having another fight over Bunny President wanting him to learn to draw nudes?"
She glared at her at the mention of the former President of the Art Club, Sana Sunomiya. Even though that particular issue had been settled already, the mention of her still rankled her. "Don't worry, Maki-Chan, I'm fine, just something I am pondering on what to write down for the school survey for my future plans." Nagatoro's hair hung down, covering her face from Gamo's view, preventing her best friend from seeing her blushing like she does whenever Senpai is on her mind.
Nagatoro's future plan survey had been a nagging issue for her since the beginning of the school year. Now in her second year in high school, a lot of the focus was on what plans she had for after high school. The survey itself sat on her desk in her bedroom back home, her name was pre-printed on the page, but nothing else had been added. But that wasn't what was really troubling her. What troubled her most was sitting in one of the third-year classrooms a floor above, and that He wouldn't be up there for much longer.
Gamo patted her on the shoulder, "Well, you could always mention becoming Paisen's wife, or compete for a spot in the next Olympics with Orihara.'' The mention of that name made Hayase cringe. Mariko Orihara was Nagatoro's proverbial white whale. When they were younger. Orihara kept improving her skills until she beat Nagatoro in a tournament. The loss shocked her so much, she walked away from Judo until the end of her first year, when the school Judo Tournament, and Senpai's encouragement, revived her love for the sport.
"Very Funny, come on, Sensei Yoshizaki is starting History now," Nagatoro said as she looked up to see the History teacher start writing the lesson plan on the board. Gamo turned back, to watch the info being written on the board, opening her textbook to the page written on the board. The topic was the start of the Tokugawa Shogunate, something Yoshi knew thanks to her grandfather's scholarly work on the subject over the last 30 years. Professor Yoshizaki was not prepared for the kind of information she filled in on her subsequent report.
On the floor above, Naoto Hachiouji was listening to the English teacher as she went through the recitation of the English phrase, "I understand your concerns, let me see what I can do." The class repeated the phrase back to the teacher, along with the other phrases she taught during the period, as the time for class change occurred, Naoto's seat mate, Shuu Nishimaki looked over, "Hey Nao-kun, are you working on anything up in the Art Club today? I was thinking we could go try that new Zombie shooter game at the arcade."
Naoto smiled, "Thanks, but I need to get some detailed work done on one of my submissions for my art school entrance exam, maybe next week?" Shuu nodded, "Yeah, Okay, besides next week the hype will have died down and the game will be more accessible, right?" Shuu and Naoto had been friends since Middle School and knew that getting into an Art College and becoming an artist was his goal ever since he met the former President of the Art Club, Sana Sunomiya, back then.
The chimes ending the period and signaling the start of the lunch break sounded, and the throngs of kids got up and headed to the cafeteria to eat or out on the school grounds to enjoy the mid-day sun. Naoto headed up to the Art Club room, anticipating it to be filled with Nagatoro and her friends, Gamo, Sakura and Yoshi. When he got there, though, he found the room strangely silent, and empty. "Okay, this is oddly strange," he thought to himself. He put down his book bag and grabbed an easel and palette to do some oil painting, opening the window to allow for the fumes of the paints to properly ventilate.
He had gotten used to the sounds of the girls chatting away while he sketched or painted something, half the time Nagatoro in some slice of life pose on the old green couch she brought from another club room. Lately he had been thinking more and more of her, since that fateful trip to Kyoto and the incident at the Jishu Shrine. He dug out a picture from that day, a selfie she took of them before they went to the Love Fortune Rocks.
He smiled at the picture of himself and Nagatoro, dressed in a pair of traditional kimonos, looking like a young couple in love together. His heart was beating faster than usual as he recalled that panicked moment after Shiki's friends smacked him with a pair of wooden swords and made him lose his way to the rock at the opposite end. For a moment, he panicked and pictured a future without her in his life. It made him realize that she had become someone he truly wanted to be with for the rest of his life, and for the first time admitted to himself that he was in love with Hayase Nagatoro.
"Hachiouji Senpai?"
The voice of his Young Kouhai, Hana Sunomiya, the former President's cousin and Naoto's fellow Art Club member, suddenly appeared behind him, causing him to almost fall off the stool he was sitting on as he sketched a larger version of the picture.
"AAAHHH! Hana! You Scared Me!" He said as he tried to catch his breath. "My apologies Hachiouji-Senpai, I did not realize how deeply focused you were on your sketching," she said as she bowed during her apology. "Is that from the trip to Kyoto, Senpai? I didn't know that you and the Demoness had taken the time to dress for the occasion," she remarked.
Naoto blushed slightly, "Yes, it was her idea, but I did enjoy it," he said, a bit sheepishly. Since becoming a part of the Art Club, Hana had slowly worked her way into the group's inner circle, especially after she and her cousin mistook Gamo and Yoshi's concern for Naoto and Nagatoro's first date at the Aquarium in Enoshima as interference, and chased the two throughout the afternoon before realizing their mistake. Ironically, the four ended up interrupting the end of the date while the two were about to hug each other. Since that fateful day, Gamo and Yoshi had come to see her as an ally in getting the two together.
"So. Hachiouji-Senpai, what were you going to do, recreate the picture with paints? That's an ambitious move on your part, and as Sana Nee-chan would say, 'a bold step in improving your talent,' I commend you, Senpai," Although her face hardly moved, Naoto had been around the Sunomiyas long enough to know when they were happy. "Are you going to finish your still life today, Hana?" he asked as he continued to sketch Nagatoro's smile on the canvas. "Indeed, I want to put the finishing touches before I preserve my work. I hope that you can offer some assistance in what I may still need to add to make it whole, Hachiouji-Senpai." Naoto nodded, "Of course, Hana, do you have your free period today?"
Hana nodded, "Yes, indeed, if it is alright with you, I would like to spend it here, working on my piece." Naoto nodded, "Of course, you're welcome to stay here until the Club period begins, I will offer my insights then," as he spoke, the door to the Club Room opened and Gamo and Yoshi walked in. "Oh Hello, Gamo, Yoshi…" Naoto said but his voice trailed off when he noticed the strange look on Gamo's face. "Is everything all right, Gamo?"
"Umm, Paisen, can we speak for a moment, in private?" Yoshi hadn't left the doorway, "Hana, Drinks on Me?" she said to the young first-year. Hana looked at Gamo and Naoto, and hopped off her stool, "I will take up Yoshi-Senpai's generous offer of a refreshment, may I bring you something as well, Hachiouji-Senpai, Gamo-Senpai?"
Gamo smiled, "Thanks, Hana, but I'm all right, Paisen?"
Naoto fished out a couple of 100-yen coins from his pocket, "An orange soda, please, Hana?" She took the coins and nodded, "After you, Yoshi-Senpai." and followed her out of the room, sliding the door shut behind her.
"Okay, Gamo, what's wrong, did something happen to Nagatoro?" The concern for Nagatoro was evident in his voice. Gamo looked down and scratched the back of her head. "Honestly, Paisen, I'm not sure what's wrong with Hayacchi. She's been moping around all morning, like something's gnawing at her inside, did you two have a fight or something?"
He looked at her shocked, "N-No, we were fine the other day, I know she said she wasn't going to be around for a couple of days because of that judo match against that girls' academy in Yokohama, but since then, she's been her usual self." Naoto was getting concerned about Hayase now. It wasn't like her to be depressed about anything. Even when he learned about her history with Orihara, she laughed it off. "Is there something going on at Home, maybe? Like her sister or brother bugging her?"
Gamo shook her head, "No, usually she'll rant and rave about Her sister teasing her about you, which is so funny by the way, she gets more flustered than you do when she goes at you," Gamo was smiling at the memory of her last problem with her sister Misaki, just after their trip to Kyoto, when she found the pictures of them at the Jishu Shrine rocks. "No, it's not that, I'm sure of it, Paisen. Look if she says anything to you, let me know okay?" He nodded as Hana and Yoshi returned, "We okay?" Yoshi asked. "Yeah Yoshi, it's fine, Paisen doesn't know anything either." Yoshi breathed a sigh of relief.
Hana looked back at Gamo as she handed Naoto the orange soda, "Gamo-Senpai, I assume that Ngatoro-Senpai is not injured from her recent Judo match?" she asked as she sat back down. Gamo scratched her head again, "I was watching her after my match that day, she barely broke a sweat and she was as bubbly as normal on the ride back, so something else must have happened."
Hana nodded and thought for a moment, "Perhaps her trouble stems from her feelings towards Hachiouji-Senpai, perhaps she is contemplating confessing that she loves him." Hana's words hung in the air like the Sword of Damocles. It was the one area that Gamo hadn't thought to ask about. "Why would she suddenly be worried about Paisen and her when…" her voice trailed off as a memory surfaced in her brain, "Ooohhh, could it be that?" she pondered out loud as she turned towards the door.
"Gamo? Gamo? What did you remember?" Naoto asked.
Gamo was still lost in thought, "I'll tell you later, Paisen, I need to get to class," she said as she and Yoshi walked out of the room. The school bell chimed, announcing the end of lunch and the start of afternoon classes. Naoto picked up his things and headed out, "See you in a little while Hana," he said as he exited the club room.
As soon as the afternoon classes were finished, Naoto rushed back to the Art Cub room to find Hana and Sakura talking together while Hana was sketching her. He looked again and realized that Hana was sketching Sakura's hands, something he'd been unable to get correctly. With her free hand, Sakura waved, "Hello Senpai-kun," she said as Hana scrutinized the older girl's hand.
"Sakura-Senpai, I do love the way your nail beds are shaped," she said, Naoto shaking his head slightly because he knew those words, but had never heard them used in that fashion. Naoto stood back for a moment and let his Kouhai continue to work on sketching her hand.
"You're doing good, Hana, I'm impressed," he said. Hana did not turn around and continued to focus on Sakura's hand, "Thank you Hachiouji-Senpai, your praise means a lot to Me." He took a seat on the couch, and continued to watch the scene. "Sakura, can I ask you something?" She turned her head and smiled, "Of course, Senpai-kun, what's on your mind?" He paused a moment to gather his thoughts, "Gamo came to see me during lunch, and mentioned that Nagatoro was acting strange, like she was preoccupied with something. Did you notice anything?"
She looked at Hana, "Can I take a break for a moment, Hana-chan?" Han nodded, "Of course, I need something to drink, excuse me a moment," she said as she walked out, not bothering to ask Naoto if he wanted anything. The girl was clever and maddingly conciliatory towards her Senpais. Sakura came over and sat on the other side of the couch, flexing her fingers to get the blood flowing again.
"She's been wrestling with something for a couple of days, I can tell you this much," Sakura closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath. "Senpai-kun, I think that Hayacchi is starting to realize that she's running out of time to be with you. It's now what, September? She has about six months to spend as much time with you before you graduate."
Naoto blushed as the reality of the girl's words hit him like a cricket bat. If he was going to tell her how he feels, he only had a limited amount of time to do it. Sakura could see the concern wash over his face, "Senpai-kun, you're feeling the same way aren't you?" His face flushed, redder than ever before. "How can you tell?" he asked her.
She smiled, "I am good at watching people, and ever since Kyoto, you two have really gotten a lot closer, so, Senpai-kun, what do you want to do?" Hana returned to the Art Club room and closed the door. "Hachiouji-Senpai, can I offer some advice?" Hana was the one who had advised him to take the initiative and not wait for things to be right. Because of her advice, He and Nagatoro were closer than ever and were now able to hold hands when they walked home together. "Go on, Hana." He said.
"Let her talk, Senpai, let her tell you how she feels, and accept those feelings. This is her opportunity to tell you the truth. If she is who you wish to be with, then let her say what's in her heart, and Don't let go." Sakura nodded in agreement, "Well said, Hana-chan." Hana nodded in triumph, feeling her task completed.
Senpai looked at his watch, Gamo texted him earlier to let him know that the Judo club was having a team dinner tonight so Nagatoro would not be at the dojo waiting for him. "Well, it's getting late, let's call it a day and see what happens tomorrow. Thanks for the advice, you two."
The three students walked out of the school and headed home, with Hana and Skura leaving Naoto at the park to head in the same direction home. Later that night, Gamo and Sakura had a conversation on LINE.
"Gamo-Chan, how did the team dinner go?"
"It went well, but Hayacchi was still acting distracted. What happened with Paisen, did he say anything?"
"Hana-chan told him that whatever is bothering her, she's going to want to talk to him, and he needs to let her talk."
"We really need to bring Hana into our group, she's a lot smarter than we've given her credit for."
"Yes, she is, and she likes us too."
"See you tomorrow, Sakura."
"You too, Gamo-Chan."