Chapter Text
Night approaching morning, Taki felt a man's hand touching every inch of her body. Until morning came, she was shocked to wake up in her grandfather's study.
"It's that man again..." Taki said to herself.
The girl walked unsteadily to the bathroom. She cleaned herself, then got ready to go to school. Her housekeeper had prepared breakfast. There was still an hour until the school bell rang.
Taki often packed her own lunch. Today, she and her friends would have lunch together on the school rooftop. There would definitely be Sasada, Tanuma, Kitamoto, Nishimura and... Natsume.
The latter had always been the main character in the girl's wildest dreams.
In the corner of the dining room, several youkai are talking about the owner of the house. Taki Tooru is in love, but doesn't know how to tell him.
♤
On her way to school. Taki had prepared additional fried shrimp. She would give the fried shrimp to the fat three-colored cat owned by the boy she liked.
The cat named Nyanko Sensei could talk because he was a high-level youkai. Taki was sure that the cat could help her.
♤
Taki has arrived at school. She is greeted by her two female friends. Taki approaches them and immediately gets ready to study.
"We are in third grade now! And I don't want to spend my third year in high school miserable!" said Nishimura.
"What do you mean?" Kitamoto asked.
While Natsume was busy looking out the window.
"I'm going to ask Taki out on a date, haha. Come on Natsume, let's go to class!" Nishimura explained, immediately changing the topic.
Nishimura invites his two close friends to chat in front of Taki's class. Until the first bell rings.
♤
Break time arrived, Taki brought her lunch to the school roof. In front of the class, the girl was greeted by Tanuma. The man said, maybe Natsume was already on the school roof with the others.
Taki's heart beat faster, when she heard Natsume's name or when she remembered the man's name. She didn't talk to Tanuma the entire way to the school roof.
♤
Sure enough, Kitamoto, Sasada, Nishimura, and Natsume had gathered on the roof of the school. Taki and Tanuma approached them.
On the roof of the school, They laughed at the various bento shapes and tasted each other.
Ever since Natsume had talked to Isamu, at the end of their second year, Taki felt something was different about the man.
♤
It seemed that Nishimura was starting to carry out his intention. The man dared to approach Taki. Meanwhile, the woman was tidying up her lunch box.
"Taki-san, do you have an appointment Sunday?" Nishimura asked straight to the point.
"Nope." Taki answered shortly. Her eyes saw Natsume seriously chatting with Sasada.
"Yosh! I'm taking you on a date to a park in Hitoyoshi, don't worry... you don't have to cook, I'll treat you there!" said Nishimura.
Taki thought Natsume was planning the same thing as Nishimura, to Sasada. The fire of jealousy was burning in her heart. Until she agreed to Nishimura's invitation.
"Yeay! Finally, my three-year wait, I can date the beautiful girl I adore, haha!" The shout made Natsume aware.
The man who was adored by Taki's heart, smiled slowly and narrowly.
♤
April is the start of a new school year in Japan. Natsume and his friends are in their third year of high school.
"Hey Natsume, I asked Taki out on a date, is that okay with you?" Nishimura asked. He sat behind Natsume and seemed concerned about his friend's feelings.
"We're just friends, there's no problem, good luck, Nishimura," Natsume replied, he was still focused on writing down the teacher's lesson in his notebook.
Natsume's answer was enough to make Nishimura confident in his determination.
♤
Sunday arrived, Taki was ready to wear a dark blue shirt with a long cream skirt to her ankles. She didn't want to be attractive in the eyes of other men. Her heart really regretted a decision.
Nishimura and Taki agreed to meet at the bus stop. They were going to the cherry blossom park in Hitoyoshi. Nishimura was ready with his fashionable clothes. Jeans and a black hoodie with a red shirt underneath.
"Later I'll order instant ramen that can be eaten under the cherry blossom trees. It'll be fun, right?" Nishimura asked.
Taki's gaze did not shift from the bus window. Nishimura patted Taki's right shoulder, then the woman's face turned to him.
Throughout the holiday with Nishimura, Taki didn't talk much. She didn't want to trust Nishimura with her secret. It was true, Nishimura paid for all their expenses while at the cherry blossom park. But Taki really wanted to go home quickly.
"Taki-san, I want to confess my feelings..." Nishimura and Taki sat on the mat a little apart. Not like a love-struck couple who were very clingy.
Taki knew that she had to be honest even though it was bitter. Taki had thought of using the excuse of focusing on studying for the overseas college exam to follow her family. However, that excuse might not be strong. Like it or not...
"Taki-san, I've liked you since the time you transferred to my school. And I just dared to be honest with you, do you accept my feelings?" Nishimura said while bringing his face closer to Taki.
"No. I can't accept your feelings, sorry. We'll stay friends. I don't want too much drama." Taki explained, as she tidied up their vacation mat.
Nishimura was surprised by Taki's honesty that went straight to the point. The boy immediately grabbed Taki's right hand, stopping his tidying up activity.
"Is there a guy you like, Taki-san?" Nishimura asked with a serious face.
"Yes," Taki answered with the woman's slightly intimidated state.
"Who? Just tell me Taki." Nishimura really needed a reason to be heartbroken.
"Natsume-kun... your classmate," Taki's answer made Nishimura laugh sadly.
"Hahaha, I thought so," Nishimura said while holding back tears.
Nishimura should have realized from the start... if the male side of the close friend said there were no more feelings, maybe there were on the female side. Sure enough, Taki was honest about it.
Two men and women who are friends can't possibly not involve feelings. Even though Nishimura knew, there was Tanuma in the middle of them. A girl's feelings can't be blocked.
Taki and Nishimura walked in silence. Nishimura's cheerfulness, which was talkative on the way there, disappeared when he returned.
"I'll pay for half of our food, and the bus fare..." Taki took out money from her wallet.
"No need, I'm willing to give it to you, Taki-san," Nishimura said as he boarded the bus. They were still sitting together, as friends.
"Thank you Nishimura-san," Taki said. They were busy with their own thoughts.
♤
Nishimura wanted to take Taki home, for the first and last time. When he arrived in front of Taki's house, the boy saw one of his male classmates busy acting strangely in front of Taki's house.
His heart was too tired to greet Natsume. The boy was seen smiling to greet Taki. On the other hand, he seemed to be approaching Nishimura.
Nishimura then ran to his house. He was not ready to face the whole reality. His dream of building a household with Taki, also expecting the girl to be the first person in his eyes every day, had disappeared. The boy who would play that role, was... Natsume Takashi, not him.
♤
Natsume intended to approach Nishimura. But the man had run very fast. Nyanko Sensei held Natsume back so that he could focus on saving Taki.
"Taki, what's wrong with you?" asked Natsume, when he saw Taki worried.
"What are you doing in front of my house?" Taki asked back. The woman was busy hiding her true feelings.
"Earlier, when I was helping Touko-san shopping, there was a big black youkai like a giant rock threatening to kill you as a form of revenge, because your grandfather had sealed it!" Natsume explained while trying to calm Taki down by putting both of his arms on Taki's shoulders.
Hearing that, Taki panicked. She immediately invited Natsume and Nyanko Sensei into the house.
Behind that, Natsume was actually curious about their date.
"Natsume, it's more important to finish the business with the youkai who will kill Taki than to calm Nishimura, you're going to school tomorrow, right? Well, that's the time for Nishimura." Those were Nyanko Sensei's words of advice.
♤
"Taki, I have to stay overnight, that youkai will finish you off right at midnight. We have to be on guard. I got this news from a youkai named Hinoe, and I've met that youkai," Natsume explained. The boy noticed Taki was quieter than usual.
"Okay, you can sleep in my older brother's room." Taki then left Natsume's presence. It seemed like he was going to her room.
"At the same time, I'll borrow your home phone to ask permission to stay over from Touko-san and Shigeru-san, and I'll also borrow your older brother's name, because I can't possibly say I'm going to stay over at a female friend's house," Natsume said at length.
"You can borrow everything in this house, Natsume!" Taki shouted. Natsume immediately called his adoptive parents.
♤
In her room, Taki's face was bright red. She let out a small scream because she was embarrassed. Not long after, he felt a strong wind pass by her, even though the weather was good, there was no thunderstorm.
Taki didn't care about it, even though he was afraid of what Natsume said. Now, the girl was changing clothes, with a very feminine dusk-colored dress. Not forgetting to dress up a little, she had cleaned up in the bathroom before going into her bedroom.
A knock on the door startled Taki, it turned out to be Nyanko Sensei. The cat she had secretly bribed to get closer to its owner.
"Taki, talk to Natsume about your feelings for him yourself. He wouldn't trust a cat when it comes to love," Nyanko Sensei said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Huh, now?" Taki asked nervously.
"Yeah, when else? Moreover, he's already tried to get you to date Nishimura," Nyanko Sensei explained.
"I reject him, I won't date anyone," Taki said firmly.
Taki Tooru didn't want to think anymore, she immediately carried Nyanko Sensei, and met Natsume.
Before reaching the living room, Taki forgot that Natsume had not been offered a drink. She immediately let go of Nyanko Sensei's arms and turned towards the kitchen.
♤
In the living room, Natsume is discussing with Nyanko Sensei about how to exorcise the evil youkai.
When Taki came with a tray containing three cups of green tea, Natsume's eyes were captivated by Taki who had already tidied herself up.
"Have you got a plan to chase away that youkai?" Taki asked, breaking Natsume's reverie.
"I think we should write a spell to stick on that youkai's forehead, on the front fence of your house too... I had a fight with that youkai," Natsume said while drinking his green tea.
"If not with you, how can I get through the dangerous thing my grandfather left behind? We have to go to my grandfather's study to write the spell." Taki took Natsume to her grandfather's study.
There he opened some books and got instructions on how to exorcise the big rock youkai. Taki immediately drew and wrote the youkai sealing spell.
"Congrats, Taki," Natsume said suddenly, as Taki finished writing the spell.
"Congrats?" Taki said confusedly.
"You're dating Nishimura, right?" Natsume asked with a soft smile.
The girl looked at the boy in his black shirt and light blue jeans. She couldn't believe what Natsume said. Disappointment almost squeezed her tears.
"I rejected your friend to be my boyfriend." Taki put her grandfather's magic books into the bookshelf behind her.
Words didn't come out of Taki's mouth. I want you not him...
"I don't want to date Nishimura-san. You, take a rest first. I want to go back to my room!" Taki said, she went back up the stairs to her room.
Nyanko Sensei then headbutted Natsume's right cheek until he almost fell. "You're so insensitive!"
♤
Exactly at 00.00 a.m. midnight, Taki felt something strangling her. The youkai's voice called out her grandfather's name. Taki tried to open her room door and knocked on her older brother's room where Natsume was staying.
Natsume saw the youkai emerge from Taki's neck. Without daydreaming, Natsume immediately lured the youkai towards the magic circle drawn by Taki. The girl followed Natsume to her grandfather's study.
In the magic circle, Taki saw how big and terrifying the youkai was.
"Taki, quickly attach the seal to the youkai's forehead!" Natsume ordered. Taki immediately followed the instructions. She did not realize that Natsume was hugging him to protect the woman from the evil actions of the youkai.
Taki was then aware of the distinctive scent of a man from the crook of Natsume's neck. The girl slowly released herself from the boy's embrace. Natsume collapsed to the floor.
"He has to go back to the Fujiwara couple's house at 6 a.m sharp. Natsume has to get ready for school on Monday, right?" Nyanko Sensei said.
"Go back to your room. Natsume can take care of himself," Nyanko Sensei continued.
"Thank you Nyanko Sensei, Natsume-kun..." Taki said as she reluctantly returned to his room.
♤
At school, Nishimura refrained from looking at Natsume. That action made him look cute.
"Hey Natsume, you can make Taki happy for me right?" Nishimura asked as he packed up his books and prepared to go home.
"What do you mean?" Natsume asked.
Nishimura was annoyed, he immediately pushed Natsume out of the classroom. Then loudly said, "Be honest with Taki-san about your feelings, stupid! Make her your girlfriend!"
Natsume walked out of the school gate. He directed his steps to one of the park benches near the school. There was Taki who was feeding Nyanko Sensei fried shrimp.
"Nyanko Sensei!" Natsume lost focus.
"Nyan!"
"Natsume-kun," Taki whispered.
"Taki, I want to be honest with you, I don't know about feelings for a girl, but... it seems like those feelings are directed at you..." Natsume didn't understand his own words.
"I understand Natsume, I know from the novels I often read," Taki explained. They chatted while standing in front of a park bench.
The weather in Kumamoto Prefecture in spring today was rather warm. Natsume's face was slightly red. They were still wearing jackets and scarves to warm their bodies from the thin school uniforms.
"I also understand a little from the novel, Nishimura said I have to make you happy," said Natsume very innocently.
"Okay, let's be happy together, Natsume." Taki's smile lifted Natsume's head which had been lowered.
"Huh..." Natsume was still trying to digest Taki's decision.
"Yes, they say that this relationship is called dating," said Taki, she tried to hold back his happiness and impatience.
"Then, what should a person who is dating do first?" Natsume asked.
Taki brought his lips close to Natsume's ear. "Takashi-kun."
Their faces turned bright red like boiled crabs.
"Yeah, Tooru-san."
"Come on Ponta, let's go home first, don't bother them!" Tanuma said suddenly appearing. Natsume and Taki were shocked by it.
"Call me Nyanko Sensei!!" Nyanko Sensei jumped into Tanuma's arms.
Behind the bushes, Nishimura let out a small scream and regretted asking Natsume to confess his feelings.
"Be patient, man!" Kitamoto said while patting his friend's back.
"Well, we have to share their happiness..." Sasada said with a forced smile. The woman silently followed Nishimura and Kitamoto.
{to be continued}