Puzzle box

Part 2 Going forward

Takagi stood there, staring at him in shock as Nishikata began worrying. 'Was I too up front? Maybe I shouldn't have shouted ... damn, what now?'

Just then, Takagi burst into laughter, with her hands wrapped around her stomach as she struggled to regain her composure. "N-N-Nishikata!" She stammered.

"It's not that funny." He said as he looked away. "I just need help, everyone needs it from time to time."

"That's not what I'm laughing at." She said as she began to calm down. "It's ... your face is so red."

"Well, I'm embarrassed!"

"And it's not just that, you said, you would do anything I want?"

He nodded. "Yes, anything." He began to blush more. "As long as I get into a good high school."

"Okay ... but I never actually expected you to ask me of all people. Aren't you worried that people will get the wrong idea if we hang out more?"

"Well ... I'm desperate ... I need to get my grades up, so I can apply to a good high school, and subsequently get into one."

"Yeah, but I can get you to do anything by beating you in a game."

"I don't mean like buying you a juice, or going to the mall with you, I'm literally willing to do anything so long as it doesn't interfere with actually getting into a good high school."

"Hmm." She placed a finger on her chin as she looked to the side. "Anything ..." She smiled as she turned back to him. "Okay, I'll hold you to that."

Nishikata's face lit up. "Wait, really?"

"Of course, and just for the record, I would have still helped you if you had simply asked."

Nishikata's mouth hung open as he felt like he had just been played. "You ..."

"But, you've already made the offer." She leaned closer to him. "But I'm also looking forward to spending more time with you."

Nishikata blushed for a moment before looking away. "So you can tease me?"

"There's that." She walked around him, so she was looking him in the eye again. "But ... it'll be nice to finally be able to spend more time together ... just the two of us."

Nishikata's heart jumped as he stared at her before some force compelled him forward, causing him to wrap his arms around Takagi in a hug, catching her off guard. "Thank you ... you have no idea how much this means to me."

"Um ... don't worry about it." She said as she slowly wrapped her arms around him as well.

Nishikata soon separated as he realized that Takagi was shaking slightly. "I'M SORRY!" He said as he threw his hands up. "That was ... probably uncomfortable for you."

"What? No, I ... was just caught off guard is all." She stood there for a moment and watched as Nishikata put his arms down in embarrassment. "Anyway, I have something I need to take care of at home so ... tomorrow's the weekend, right?"

"Yeah."

"So let's meet up at the library around noon, sound good?"

"Okay, sounds good."

"We'll start working out a schedule, but be sure to bring your school notes and textbooks, okay?"

"I'll remember."

"Good."

They continued on their way until they separated, and continued on their way home. 'Man, I can't believe I actually managed to convince Takagi to study with me ... it's almost like I got a date with her.' He blushed and shook his head. 'No, no, it's not a date, she's just helping me with my studying, nothing more.' He continued on his way inside.

"I'm home." Nishikata called out as he took his shoes off.

"Welcome back." Nishikata's mom greeted from the kitchen. "So how is everything going with school?"

"It's going okay, nothing has changed yet." He said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Is that so?" His mom asked as she turned to him. "Then why do you sound so happy?"

"I ... managed to find a tutor."

"A tutor?" She asked. "And you're happy about that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked as he tried to force a smile. "I mean ... it means my grades will go up, right?"

She looked at him suspiciously before she cracked a smile. "So you finally managed to get a date with Takagi?"

"It's not a date!" Nishikata exclaimed. "And ... I don't like her that way."

"Who do you think you're trying to fool exactly?" His mom asked. "The only thing I don't know is if you've liked her since you met her."

Nishikata blushed and ran towards the stairs. "I HAVE HOMEWORK TO DO!" He rushed into his room and slammed the door behind him. "Damn, I need to brush up on my work."

He walked over to his desk and took out some worksheets for an upcoming test he had. "I should probably brush up on what I already know, so we don't waste time on it tomorrow."

He began working, trying to do practice problems, yet all the while he couldn't help but think about her. 'I'm going to be separated from her after this year if I can't get together with her.' He kept thinking as he tried to work. 'But how can I do that if she doesn't like me back?' He began frantically messing with his hair in frustration. 'DAMN IT! Why did it take me two years to realize how I felt about her?'

He eventually put his paperwork down and opened his desk, looking for something. "I know it's in here somewhere." He said as he moved things around. Eventually, he found what he was looking for, an old puzzle box that he got from his grandmother about a month ago. "I need to distract myself." He began meddling with it, trying to find a solution as his mind continued to go back to Takagi.