Trouble with love

Part 3 False start

The school-day had continued much the same as it usually does, and it was finally time for the students to head home. "So, are you ready?" Takagi-san asked as she turned to Nishikata, who was still putting his things into his bag.

"Ready for what?" He asked.

"You promised to hang out with me today, don't tell me you forgot."

"Uh, no, I didn't forget, I just ... didn't understand what you were saying."

"Well, then, shall we?"

"Y-yeah."

They began walking out of the classroom and down the hall. 'Relax Nishikata, you're just hanging out, it's not a date or anything ... is it?' They continued walking, stopping to change their shoes before making their way out of the school where Takagi-san retrieved her bike. "So, do you have any requests?"

"None really." Nishikata replied. "I'm fine with wherever you want to go."

"Okay then, let's go to the park."

Nishikata followed Takagi-san as she began making her way down the road, to the park, feeling a little confused. "Say, why do you want to go to the park anyway?"

"Well to be honest, I was hoping that we could do some tandem riding."

"HUH?!" Nishikata exclaimed with a blush. "But ... we said we'd only do that at the abandoned lot."

"It's not like it's more dangerous to do it at the park."

"But ... won't there be people there? We'll get in trouble."

"I've seen other couples ride together there all of the time."

Nishikata began to blush. "Couples?"

"But, if you'd rather go to the abandoned lot, then we can change our direction."

"Wha- I mean ... the park is ... fine ... but why tandem riding?"

"Because it's been a while since we've rode together."

"Yeah, I guess it has." He replied before staring at the sky. "It has been a long time."

They continued until they reached the park, where it appeared as if only a few other people were sitting there, none of which seemed interested in the two of them. "So, are you ready?" Takagi-san asked.

"I ... yeah." Nishikata took the handlebar of Takagi-san's bike and sat in the main seat as Takagi-san got on the back seat. "Okay, so ... are you ready?"

"All set." Takagi-san replied as she wrapped her arms around Nishikata's stomach.

"Okay then." Nishikata stared down at the bike and began to feel a little nervous. 'It's no big deal, we did this loads of times in the past ... it's literally riding a bike.' He placed his feet on the pedals and began peddling. It all came back to him rather easily, and they began moving without much difficulty.

They began moving through the park, keeping to the sides and out of the way of the few other people who were there. "Ah, that breeze feels nice." Takagi-san said as she closed her eyes.

"Yeah, it is kinda nice." Nishikata added.

"And you've gotten a lot better at keeping balanced."

"Have I?"

"Yeah, have you been practicing?"

"I ... no, I haven't even ridden a bike in a long time."

"Well, you haven't lost your touch."