On edge

Part 13

Nishikata sat on his bed, still thinking about the dream. "Man ... that ... that wasn't creepy of me, right?" He began to scratch the back of his head. "I mean ... dreaming about being married to the person I like ... that's normal ... right?" He continued contemplating it until an unsettling thought returned to him. "Ack! I still need to make this right!" He scrambled for his phone which he found had fallen off in his sleep, and quickly dialed Takagi. "Please don't be mad, please don't be mad!"

After a few more rings, there was a click, and Takagi's voice came from the other line. "Hello?" She asked, sounding a little tired.

"Hey, Takagi ... I ..." He began to feel a little nervous. 'I should have thought this through more.' "I ... well ..."

"Nishikata?" She asked, still sounding tired. "Do you know what time it is?"

"What time?" He was a little confused at first until he glanced out the window and noticed it was still dark outside. "Oh ..." 'How long was I asleep for?' "I ... sorry, I kinda fell asleep as soon as I got home and ... didn't realize the time when I woke up."

He heard her laugh from the other end and was now a little more embarrassed. "It's five in the morning."

"Oh ... I'm ... I'm sorry about that, I could just call back later and-"

"No need, you already woke me up, so what did you want to talk about?"

"I ... thanks ... Are you free tomorrow? I mean ... I guess ... today?"

"I ... yeah, I'm free."

"Well ... are you still interested in hanging out?" There was a long pause and Nishikata began to fear that she had hung up. "Takagi?"

"Oh, yeah, I'd love to but ... why the change of heart?"

"Because I ... I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize for what?"

"The way I've been acting over the past week has been ... so many things ... I just ..." He felt his heart race as his fingers began to shake. "I'd do anything to make it up to you."

"Anything?" She asked, sounding a little mischievous.

"Y-yeah ... I really messed up and-"

"Stop." She interrupted. "I'd prefer if this was in person if it's all the same to you."

"Y-yeah, that's fine."

"Good," Takagi said, causing Nishikata to feel a sense of relief come over him. "So how about tomorrow ... or today I guess, at noon."

"Noon's good."

"Great, and don't forget, I want to try out what you do for fun, so be ready."

"I ... I will."

"Okay, I'll see you later today then."

"Okay, see you later today." And with that, she hung up, leaving Nishikata feeling like he had just gone skydiving. "I just ... got a date." He gave a nervous smile as his hands began shaking again. "I ... I should probably take shower."

Elsewhere, Takai was lying in her bed, staring at her phone. "He ... he's ..." She took a deep breath and put her phone back on the charger. "He sounded so defeated ... I can't push this or he might close himself off again."

She closed her eyes and tried to fall back asleep. "But ... I'm just so relieved ... I'm not so sure I'll be able to sleep at all."