Puzzle box

Part 18 Opening

Takagi and her friends stared at the open box in disbelief. "And now it's done." Takagi said as she let out a sigh of relief.

"So what's in it?" Mina asked.

"Oh right, I almost forgot." She opened the lid more and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "It's ... a note?" She unfolded it and began reading it to herself.

Takagi

If you're reading this, then it means you've managed to open the puzzle box. Honestly, I'm not surprised, you've always been extremely intelligent, and you've always been able to know exactly what I was thinking, or how I would react, and you always knew just the right way to get under my skin. You drive me insane and honestly, that's one of the reasons I like you. You're also kind, and supportive, even if it is hard for me to tell when you're being nice and when you're trying to tease me. Thing is, you've become such an important part of my life that it's become difficult for me to see a future without you in it. I could go on, but I'm just going to cut to the chase.

Takagi, I love you and you mean a lot to me, will you be my girlfriend?

Signed Nishikata

Takagi stared at the note as her face turned a slight shade of red.

"Well, don't keep us in the dark." Mina began. "Tell us what it says!"

Takagi quickly folded up the letter and put it back in the box, closing the lid on top of it. "I ... he ... explains a lot actually."

There was a snapping sound, and she looked up to see Sumire holding up her phone. "I'm never going to get another chance to see you flustered, might as well savor the moment."

"I'm going to get back at you if you keep that."

"I'll take the chance." She said as she put her phone away. "So it looks like I was right, you really aren't ready for him to confess."

"I'm totally ready, I just ... didn't expect him to be so honest."

"Well you're going to have to give him an answer, right?" Sanae asked.

Takagi blushed again as she stared at the box in her hands. "I ... I ... well, I know what I want to tell him."

"You have no idea, do you?"

Takagi sighed and shook her head.

"I thought so."

Takagi dropped her head for a moment before taking a deep breath and regaining her composure. "Okay, can we please not talk about this anymore? I have a lot I need to think about."

"Just crawl on top of him and make-out with him."

"SANAE!"

At that moment, Yukari walked through the gate and began making her way towards the others. "Hi guys, what'd I miss?"

"Takagi got a love letter from Nishikata." Mina said, prompting Sanae to grab her cheek.

"Takagi told us not to talk about it anymore."

"What happened!?" Yukari exclaimed. "Tell me, I need to know!"

"We're not talking about it." Sumire replied. "But I did get a picture of her after she read it."

"SUMIRE!"

Elsewhere, Nishikata was making his way down the street, trying to ease the sting in his chest. "Takagi, how long are you planning on waiting on opening that box?" He sighed and shook his head. "Maybe this was a bad idea, now I just want to tell you myself ... no, I can't do that, all she has to do is open it, then I'll be hers." He blushed and quickly shook his head. "I mean ... she'll be mine! I mean, we'll be each other's, but ..."