Chapter 74

(A/N Notes: I thought yesterday was Friday)

"So, what do you think?"

"Hmm… I think she reached first, what about you?"

"I can't say it, they're too close together to the finish line, and because they're quite slow it's even harder to see who's the one crossing it first"

"Wait, I think I can see her fingers being just a little bit ahead of his fingers"

"You can?… If they're really ahead, it's just for a few millimeters"

"I mean, ahead is ahead no matter what, right?"

"… Eh, that works for me"

"Me too"

"Me three"

"Then we have our results"

After a long series of discussions, the teachers analyzing the photo of the finish line from the relay race, finally got to a result and could now go announce it. As for the two people present in the photo of the finish line, Taker and Sakurako, they were currently sitting under the tent that they had been taking shelter in for most of the sports festival.

"*Slurp slurp slurp sluuuuuuuuuu-* Haa!…"

"*Slurping* Whew… *Slurping* Whew… *Sluuuuuuuuuuu* Puhaa!…"

As they both slurped their choccy milkshake and iced coffee respectively, Takeru made an angry-looking expression as his face was still a bit red from his surge of embarrassment caused by Ichiro's provocation earlier, while Sakurako had her usual expressionless face, with both of them showing a satisfied atmosphere at drinking a really cold dessert under the intense heat of the day.

"So Takkun, are you enjoying your favorite choccy milk?"

"…"

Hearing the familiar voice, all that Takeru did was look away with an even more annoyed face as his blush turned redder.

"I'll take this as a yes. What about you, Sakurako-san? Are you enjoying your iced coffee"

"*Stops drinking* Yes, I am, Ichiro-san. Thank you for bringing it to me"

"You're welcome, Sakurako-san…"

After saying so, Ichiro observed Sakurako, who was currently only wearing her gym clothes, and nothing more, a completely new sight than what he was used to seeing her wear. As such, Ichiro was having trouble where to look at her without thinking of indecent stuff, so he had to make do by not looking directly at Sakurako for the time being.

Then as they were all doing nothing, the three noticed, a certain silver-haired girl walking up the small podium used to announce the results of the games, with a short blonde-haired girl standing next to her as she kept pointing her nose up in a very prideful manner.

"Everyone, after much deliberation from our teachers, we've concluded that the winner of the relay race was…"

"Is she your girlfriend, Takkun?"

"!?" *Twitches*

As Yuriko announced the winner of the relay race, Ichiro decided to take the opportunity that Yuriko was in full view of everyone, to ask such a question to Takeru who responded by looking at Ichiro with surprised eyes and his face filling with concern about what Ichiro was about to say.

"…" *Smile getting bigger ands scarier* "Hoooh? So our little Takkun has finally found himself a girl, eh? And on top of that, a very handsome one, hmm? That's great! That's really great! Our little tsundere has finally got some courage to ask his newly found crush to go out with him!"

"…"

At Ichiro's barrage of praise mixed with sarcasm and laughs as he joyfully slapped him on the back, all that Takeru could do was blush even more and try to hide his embarrassment by continuing to drink his milkshake. And as the two bantered, the winner was announced.

"Kogane Sakurako from Tani High, thus giving the Tani Team the final point from the relay race!"

"That's right!!! This means that Tani High won! WOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!! WAHAHAHA!!! Take that Yama High! This year we're the victors! We're now even! So now ya'll can't make fun of us for losing last time anymore! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Having announced the winner with a joyful voice Yuriko gave way for Himari to speak, who in stark contrast to Yuriko's calm and happy atmosphere, immediately began acting high and mighty alongside the rest of her school's students and principal. Which was shouting, laughing like a villain, and provoking the Yama High Students. Truly a very healthy and friendly competition between the two schools.

Having finished doing her part of the announcement, Yuriko left the podium. As she made her way to the tent that Takeru was currently taking shelter in, and as she got closer to it, she noticed Takeru blushing intensely as Ichiro showed a satisfied expression.

"Good afternoon"

"! Yes, Good afternoon to you too, are you Nanami Yuriko-san by any chance?"

"Yes, I am. May I ask you, how do you know my name?"

"I just asked my cousin Takkun here, to tell me more about his girlfriend that he loves so very much"

"Oh! Is that what Takkun said? I'm really happy to hear that"

"*Nods* Ah! That's right, my name is Hirano Ichiro, it's a pleasure to meet you, Nanami-san"

"Likewise, Hirano-san… Hm? Are you perhaps dating Kogane-san, Hirano-san?"

"Yes, I am"

"I see, she once talked about you with me, when we last met some time ago"

"I see, I am happy to hear that"

The two shook hands, and for some reason, Takeru felt a chill at the two seemingly reaching a mutual understanding in this short conversation. Then after greeting Ichiro, Yuriko looked at Takeru as she flashed he usual bright smile whenever she was with him.

"Takkun, shall we go back home?"

"! Eh?… Ah! S-Sure…"

"Fufu!~"

Seeing Takeru's cute embarrassed face, Yuriko couldn't help but hug him, pressing his head deep into her bountiful chest, just like all the other times that she hugged him.

*Flash*

" "?" "

Hearing a familiar yet strange noise, Takeru and Yuriko both looked in the direction from which the sound came, and there… They saw Ichiro holding his phone as he pointed at them.

"… And sent"

"… I-Ichiro… W-what did you just do?"

"Hm? I just took a photo of you being hugged by your girlfriend and sent it to the family group, Takkun"

"… … … !?!?!?!? W-W-W-WHY YOU!?"

"Ah! The responses are already coming… Oh! Look at that, Takkun! Everyone is congratulating you! Also, Takkun's mother said that she wants to meet you, Nanami-san"

"Is that so? Thank you for telling me, Hirano-san"

"You're welcome, Nanami-san"

As the two again appeared to reach a mutually beneficial understanding of each other, Takeru who had remained silent in these few seconds finally exploded.

"IMMA GONNA KILL YOU, ICHIRO!!! KUH! L-LET GO OF ME, YURIKO!!!"

"No can do, Takkun. I want to keep hugging you"

"Just let go of me! So that I can kill, Ichiro!!!"

Takeru then began to flail his arms and legs around in an attempt to break free from Yuriko's embrace, but that did little to stop her, rather it had the opposite effect.

"… Chu"

"!?"

" "!" "

Yuriko gave Takeru a short kiss on his cheek, which made him freeze on the spot, while Ichiro and Sakurako, who were both watching the two, made surprised expressions, before glancing at each other, causing their cheeks to turn slightly pink.

"Takkun, if you don't stop now, I will kiss you on the lips"

"!?… … … F-Fine…"

"Good *Bring her face closer to his ear* *Whisper* I'll make sure to give you lots and lots of kisses and love back home, Takkun~"

"!?!?!?"

"Fufu~… Ah, that's right, Hirano-san, Kogane-san, are you two also going home now as well?"

"Yes, we plan to ride the train together back to our hometown"

"I see, then how about you two have lunch with us? I'm sure Kogane-san might be quite hungry after the relay race"

"… Sakurako-san?"

"Hmm… I don't have a problem with it, Ichiro-san"

"I see, then we'll gladly accept your suggestion, Nanami-san"

"Great! Then I'll go pick up my belongings and then we can all leave together"

"Okay"

After retrieving everything that she had brought to the sports festival, Yuriko returned to the three, and they all began making their way to Takeru's apartment, which by all intents and purposes had effectively become Yuriko's apartment as well.