I Win...

A tall young teen breathed in and shook out his nerves. Today was the last day of his junior year in secondary school. Smirking to himself, he ran a hand through his messy black hair. Today will be the day I win, Takagi-san...

"Nishikata?" The boy turned his head and widened his eyes in surprise before looking away with a red, hot face. Takagi gave a small giggle and sighed. 

"Oh my, Nishikata... you even knew I would meet you up after school. We've been doing it since we were in junior high."

"I...I was just... startled."

Takagi creased her eyebrow. Nishikata was acting quite strange. He avoided her eyes, and spoke in quick sentences. He had been doing such for a few weeks now. It hurt a little, if she was honest. She didn't like how he would look at her or talk to her.

"Oh. Um... should we get going?" She asked and Nishikata nodded as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, with one hand clutching his backpack, then began walking. Takagi bit her lip.

This hurts... why?

The two made their way down the sidewalk by the fence of the high school, with Nishikata walking by the road. Still, the young brown haired girl felt a pit to her stomach. It didn't feel right. The atmosphere was awkward, even though they had been friends for more than five years.

Friends, huh?

As they made a turn, Nishikata glanced to Takagi's side. Her face showed the slightest bit of joy, but she held in her excitement which faded away when he stared at her with no reaction, then looked away.

But to himself, Nishikata was consulting his choices. He wondered if he should speak now. He avoided Takagi for a few weeks, trying to understand what he was feeling, what he was about to say. As he looked up, he smiled as he noticed the small park where he and Takagi went ages ago to play in the faucet pool.

Taking in one last breath, the black haired teen finally decided it was time to challenge his rival. Shifting his backpack into his right hand, he tapped Takagi's shoulders.

"Takagi-san?"

The girl's eyes went alert, and she nodded slowly. "Yeah?"

A familiar smirk crawled up his face, and let out a small sigh that was filled with humor. Takagi felt her heart brighten a little. We're going to play a game.

"Lets go to the park, and sit on the bench."

Takagi spoke as the two walked into the quaint little park. No one was around, and it was silent as the two sat down. Suddenly, her heart began beating fast. Back in junior high, she was very daring, but as she went into high school, simple tricks to hold Nishikata's hand or to hug him became too much. It made her emotions go too wild to the point she couldn't control them.

She didn't want him to know her secret. The secret she had kept since the first day she met the blushing, stuttering when too close boy.

So they played different games. Games that didn't have contact. Games that were safe, and wouldn't make her heart go too crazy, or her head to fog up.

"What's the game, Nishikata?"

The boy sat down at the seat, and was surprised. "How did you know?"

"I just do."

"I know. I know you do. And you're right, it is a game."

Nishikatas hands suddenly felt clammy. He wiped them down, and when Takagi sat down, he moved a little closer. Its now or never.