The following day had come, and Nishikata was in a furious march to get to the school. 'Damn you two. Takao, Hamaguchi, which of you two started this rumor? I'm going to make you regret it!' He continued his march, slowing down a little when he remembered that he was still walking to school alone. 'And it's because of you that Takagi isn't talking to me, damn, what I wouldn't give to hear her tease me just once.'

He stopped as he managed to process the words that went through his head. 'Wait, why would I-' He placed his hands on his head and began to panic. 'What is wrong with me?!'

After a short panic, he regained his composure and started walking again. 'Why do I feel so conflicted? It's Takagi, I want to get back at her, not be teased by her for the rest of my life. I mean, sure, I ... like her, but not like that ... right?'

He pushed aside his emotions and continued his walk alone. "I need to deal with the two traitors first, then I'll handle my mixed feelings."

Meanwhile, at school, Takagi had already arrived and was leaning against a wall in the hall with her head down. "So what do I do?"

"Hey." A boy said as he walked up to her. "So ... um ... are you-"

"If you're about to confess something to me, I suggest you reconsider." She said without even looking up at him.

"Uh ... I ... Look, I know that it isn't easy finding out that Nishikata-"

"Even if the rumor was true, you think someone like me would consider a rebound?" She looked up at the boy and gave him an annoyed look. "If that's the case, you don't know me at all, and that means I'm not interested."

"Who said-"

"Am I wrong?"

The boy was quiet for a moment before turning to the side. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

"Mean? Mean is being harassed by guys who think they have a chance, just because of some fake rumor that they could easily find the illegitimacy of, time and time again." She looked away and closed her eyes. "You could have, at the very least, waited a few days."

"Uh ... yeah." He took a step back. "I'm ... sorry."

Takagi sighed and turned to face the boy. "I'll give you this, you're a lot nicer than some of the others who've approached me today ... sorry for coming off a little hard."

"It's fine." He began backing away again. "I'll see you around."

And with that, he left, leaving Takagi alone with her thoughts once more. "Good, now where was I?"

"Takagi!" She heard Takagawa call.

Takagi looked up to see her friend walking over to her with a smile on her face. "Having a rough morning?"

"You don't know the half of it." She replied as she looked up. "There have been no less than five boys who have tried to ask me out, none of which I know."

"Well the rumor will go away when things between you and Nishikata go back to normal."

"Yeah but," Her smile weakened as she looked down. "Will they?"

"Huh?"

"Will things really go back to normal?"

"You saw the text, he said he wants to make up with you and that you mean a lot to him."

"Yeah ... but he's ... never actually thought that way about me before."

"Well, that means there's progress."

Takagi smiled and shook her head. "Except for when we practiced tandem riding, every time we've met outside of school was by complete chance, or him trying to get back at me. I mean ... except for the summer festival. With the way he said how much I mean to him, I don't think that will be the case for much longer."

"But you want that, right?"

Takagi remained silent.

"I mean you even asked him for ... wait ... are you ... nervous?"

Takagi looked away as her face reddened a bit.

"Oh my, you are totally nervous! Man, you know what Nishikata would do if he found out about this?"

"He'd know I have a weakness to a big change in our relationship? Which is why he's not going to find out about it." She sighed. "And ... I'm ... extremely nervous. I'm going to have to try harder to tease him."

"That's something I can't help you with."

"Yeah, I have to take care of it myself." She turned her head to look up. "You remember what you said a few days ago? About if I was worried that I'm teasing him too much?"

"Yeah."

"Sometimes I am worried about that; like, maybe I might accidentally push things too far because I can't help it. Then he may actually hate me."

"I really don't see that happening."

"I do. Like how I taught him things that weren't on a test that was coming up, he seemed furious with me. I'm just glad that didn't stick." She stood there for a moment before turning to Tkagawa. "Speaking of being angry, any idea what's happening between Nishikata and his friends?"

"I wish I did, it would have saved me a big headache."

Back with Nishikata, he had just entered the school and was looking for the two people he used to call his friends, Takao, and Hamaguchi. "Damn them. When I find out whichever one of them did this, I'm going to make them sorry."

He continued roaming the halls, but didn't find any trace of either of them. After some time though, he did run into the boy who he first heard the rumor from. "HEY!" He said as he approached him.

"Huh?" The boy said as he turned to see Nishikata making a death strut in his direction. "Hey." He said as he backed up.

"I've got questions for you." Nishikata began. "For starters, where did you hear that rumor from?"

"What rumor?" He asked.

"The one from yesterday, where did it start?"

"I told you yesterday, here and there, from a few people, I don't know where it started."

"Fine then, where's Takao and Hamaguchi!"

"Why would you want them?"

"TELL ME!"

"Easy man." Cozzy said as he backed up. "I haven't seen them yet."

Nishikata sighed and began walking away. "If you do see them, tell them I'm looking for them, and I have a score to settle."

Nishikata continued walking down the halls, but after noticing the time, he realized that he needed to get to class. "I have first period with both of them, right? Maybe if I'm quick, I can get to them before the teacher comes in." He smashed his fist into his hand. "And then I'll make them pay!"

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Hamaguchi was sitting nervously in his seat with his leg bumping up and down. 'Man, where is that teacher?' He thought to himself. 'He's going to think I'm the one responsible for that rumor Takao started and-' His thought process was interrupted by a hand being placed on his shoulder which caused him to jump.

"Easy." Came a voice that wasn't Nishikata's. "I just want to talk."

Hamaguchi turned around to see Takagi standing behind him looking concerned. "Oh, just talk?"

"Yeah, are all boys this jumpy?"

"No, I'm just ... worried."

"About what?"

"Nishikata probably thinks I started a ... very bad rumor about him, and is probably looking to kill me right now."

"You mean the one about him hating me?"

"It's not true!" He exclaimed.

Takagi's expression went from concerned to accusatory. "I know."

"Oh, you do?" He turned back around. "That's good to know."

"Now how about answering my question?" She asked as she walked around. "What is going on with Nishikata? He's been acting weird, ever since Monday."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Hamaguchi said as he looked away.

"Oh, is that so?" She walked around again until she was able to see his face. "You know, Nishikata currently isn't going anywhere near me, so as long as I'm standing near you, you're safe from him."

"Huh?"

Takagi pointed towards the door and soon enough, Nishikata came through looking around like he was ready to kill someone. It only took him a second to locate Hamaguchi, but just like Takagi said, he just moved to his seat, keeping an eye on him as if ready to kill him.

"So, you want to tell me what happened?"

"I ... I can't."

Takagi's eyes narrowed. "That's ... too bad."

"No, you don't understand." Hamaguchi hissed trying to make it so Nishikata couldn't hear him. "It's supposed to be a secret."

"Hm? Then tell me what you can."

Hamaguchi sighed. "Look, I can't tell you the specifics, or much of anything. What I can tell you, is that Nishikata agreed to be a part of it. No one forced him, not me, and not Takao."

"Takao?" She asked. "That's another one of your friends."

"Yeah, and?"

Her eyes narrowed again. "You didn't mention your other friend ... Kimura I think his name was."

"Yeah, he didn't force him either."

She was silent for a moment. "You three are having a competition, aren't you?"

'Shit.' Hamaguchi thought as he began to panic. 'Does this mean I'm disqualified? No, I didn't mention the contest itself ... but it was supposed to be that no one can find out about it.'

"Judging by the look on your face, I must be on the right track. But seeing as you're silent, I take it that it's a secret contest."

'How the heck was she able to figure that out?' "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Is winning this contest really worth your safety?"

He glanced back at Nishikata who still looked like he was ready to kill him. "All I did was deliver a letter, and point to the roof, nothing else. Why should I have to take the punishment for what Takao most likely did?"

Takagi looked at him for a few moments until the teacher walked in. "Okay, everyone take your seats, it's time to start class."

'Oh, thank god.' Hamaguchi thought to himself.

"Sorry I'm late!" Takao exclaimed as he rushed through the door.

"I guess you're safe for now, but I still want to know what happened."

'Damn it, Nishikata was right, there's no way to outsmart her.'