Accompany Is a Sincere Confession

9.Wishes

"Stupid Kimura..." Nishikata groaned to himself.

They were teaching knitting in house economic class, and the expected goal was of course, a scarf.

"If I hadn't get called off by the teacher, I would've beat him to the classroom and get the blue one instead..." 

He glanced at the bright pink scarf resting on his bed. It was already finished and graded. His past years of making little gadgets to go against Takagi had made his hand artful to DIYs like this. As a result, his scarf was not only the high graded amount the boys, but also the most comfy.

"There is no way I'm wearing this!" Nishikata sighed. "Maybe I can give it away... But Mom just bought a new one, so she won't be needing it. Maybe I can give it to Takagi-san? I remember she mentioning that she's giving hers to her mom... And it's getting cold..." He shook his head and blushed. "No, that's something couples do! But... she did said she really doesn't like cold..."

"I don't need it anyway..." He made up his mind.

Of course, that was just an excuse to make him less embarrassed. It was to cover the truth that Nishikata just hate to see the girl he spends most of his time with in even a slightly fragile state.

Ever since the summer festival, Nishikata had grown more and more protective of Takagi. Walking on the outside of the road, gapping her from the moving vehicles; telling her to sleep earlier when it's late at night; his heart beating harder when she ran to fast on a rocky path... These little gestures were noticed by everyone, everyone but Nishikata himself.

Ding~ A message popped up on his phone screen.

Takagi:<Want to go for a walk?>

Nishikata:<Sure>

Takagi:<Great! I'll meet you at the crossroad>

Nishikata:<Wear more OK? It's getting cold outside>

Takagi:<...>

"I wonder if she saw it..." Nishikata murmured. He glanced at the scarf. "Just in case she didn't..." He put on his jacket, took the scarf with him, and left the house.

It was 4 p.m. and the sun was setting. Chilling breezing blew on the trees surrounding the street, as some dead leaves were stripped off. No more singing from cicadas, nor dazzling flower. Only russet and orange red, as if burning down the nature of its colors, to the soon to be gray and white winter.

That was autumn.

"Nishikata~" From a far, Nishikata could see Takagi waving at him. She was wearing a pair of blue jean, a white t-shirt with light thin coat.

'She didn't see it...' Nishikata sighed to himself.

He ran over to meet with her and awkwardly handed her the delicate pink scarf. He could feel his face getting hotter as he turned his head away.

"Here, this is for you..." He paused for a second, as if remembering something. "I don't need it anyway..."

Somewhere out of Nishikata's sight, Takagi's cheeks flashed through a blush.

"Thank you, Nishikata!" She took the scarf and wrapped it around her neck. "How do I look?"

Nishikata turned around. Takagi's face dazzled with a sweet smile, accompanied by a slight shade of pink on her cheeks.

Nishikata's face went bright red.

She always manage to do that. But recently, the bar of it has been dropping. Nishikata found himself blushing even from her gaze.