Teasing is a Game

Chapter 25 (Phone Call)

A Saturday came, Nishikata had planned to laze around and binge watch the Unrequited Love 100% episodes he had missed due to school.

In the middle of watching, he happened to glance towards the calendar and noticed a certain day marked.

"Hmm? What's that?" He squinted his eyes onto the calendar.

"A festival?" He said.

"W-Wait, the festival is today?!" He exclaimed in surprise.

"W-Why do I feel like something is going to happen today..?" He asked himself.

"W-Well, I'm not going so I-I guess I'll keep on watching..." He said.

Just as he said those words, his phone rang. He picked it up, scoffing and was shocked.

"T-Takagi-san?! W-Why is she calling me..? D-Don't tell me..." He said glancing over the calendar.

He answered the call "H-Hello? T-Takagi-san..?"

He waited for a reply back but she didn't respond.

"T-Takagi-san..? A-Are you there..?" He spoke.

"I love you" she replied in a playful tone.

"W-What?! T-Takagi-san?! M-Me?!" He thought as he was taken aback by those words. He blushed and was sweating due to nervousness.

"Arf! Arf!" He heard from the phone.

"T-Takagi-san..? D-Do you have a dog?" He asked, still blushing.

"Oh Nishikata! Sorry, Chiki was playing with me I didn't notice you answering" She replied.

"O-Oh, so that's why..." He sighed in relief.

"What's wrong? Maybe.. hmm.. did you hear what I said?" She asked in a mischevous tone.

"N-No.. I-I didn't hear anything.." He responded stuttering.

"Hmm, I wonder.. I'll stop teasing you if you tell me the truth" She replied.

Suddenly grinning, he replied "Oh really! Well uhh.." His words lost confidence.

"Mind telling me what those words were?" Takagi responded playfully.

"I-It was uhh, I-I"

"I, what?" She responded giggling.

"L-Lo-Love.."

"I love what?" She said.

"Y-Yo-You.." He said blushing and flustered.

"I love you too Nishikata" She replied in a happy, earnest tone.

"W-What?! I-It actually was to me?! T-Those words?!" He thought and again, blushing and flustered.

A pause went between the two when finally, Takagi responded.

"Hahaha!" She laughed jokingly.

"You must be as red as a tomato right now hahaha!" She continuously laughed.

"T-Takagi-san! I-I thought you said you wouldn't tease me anymore!" He exclaimed stuttering.

"But there's nothing I love more than teasing you!" She responded.

"S-So you didn't really mean it..? T-Those words..?" Nishikata asked curiously.

"Oh? Hmm? I wonder.." She answered playfully.

"T-There.. t-teasing me again.." He said.

"What if I did?" She replied.

"H-Huh?! M-More importantly.. w-why did you call..?" He asked rushingly.

"Today is the festival right? Let's go!" She invited him.

"I-I knew you would ask.." Nishikata replied.

"Oh? You knew? Hmm.. so Nishikata does think about me after all" She giggled.

"N-No.. I was.."

"You don't? Really? I wonder hmm..." She asked mischevously.

"B-But it's too embarrassing.. going together with your friends.." He said frowning.

"Friends? No, we're going. Just the two of us" She answered.

"J-Just the two o-of us..?"

"Just the two of us"

"W-Well okay.. wh-where should we meet..?" He asked.

"At the entrance at 7" She said.

"O-Okay... see you there..." He replied.

They both hanged up.

"Well, I did mean it Nishikata. I love you" She whispered to herself.

They both prepared for the festival and were anxious but excited to meet each other.