Teasing Master Takagi-san (からかい上手の高木さん)

On White Day, I'm gonna tell Hojo that I love her.

So listen, Nishikata...

You better tell Takagi-san that you love her on that day, too!

What?!

Wh-why the heck should I?!

Because I'm scared to do it alone!

March

14th

March 14th!

We steamed some meat buns at my house yesterday that were really yummy.

I'm going... to tell Takagi-san that I love her?

And guess what? They were sent to us by a relative who's going to get married next month.

Nope, no way!

They're much bigger than normal buns and have extra filling inside.

I mean, it's not like I have feelings for her...

But maybe it looks that way to everybody around us...

And meat wasn't the only filling,

they sent a whole variety of different buns.

and I just haven't realized it...

Even the sweet bean kind!

Do you like curry buns, Nishikata?

So, do I actually like Takagi-san...?

Nishikata?

What is it?

Do you like?

Nope! That's not the case at all!

Oh really?

You said before that you liked pizza buns, so I figured that you liked curry buns too.

Oh... you meant curry buns.

I do like those.

Hm? What did you think I meant, then?

Uh, nothing.

Oh? Sounds suspicious.

You were spacing out about something.

Has that been on your mind this whole time?

No...

She's gonna know if I lie and that'll make things worse for me.

I'll just have to forge on in complete silence!

You said "that's not the case at all", so does that mean you don't like whatever it is?

Why bother asking me when you don't even know what it is?

I thought I might try and guess it!

So you hate it?

When you put it that way... no. I guess.

Like or hate? You have to pick one.

If I had to pick... then I suppose it's the opposite of hate.

So you like it.

I wonder what "it" is.

Does she know?!

No, that can't be!

Takagi-san can be annoying when she teases me...

but I enjoy hanging out with her.

And I think... she's cute.

Wait. That basically means...

I...

I have feelings for Takagi-san...?

What?

I just think it's funny that your face has been beet red this entire time.

No! I definitely don't!

White Day...

I was gonna give a gift in return for the chocolate I got,

but saying I love her is out of the question!

Argh! I can't even focus on my homework!

This is all Takagi-san's fault!

Or maybe it's actually Hamaguchi's fault...

No, Takagi-san still deserves some blame for it!

Curse you, Hamaguchi and Takagi-san!

Keep it together!

If I wanna stay true to myself, this whole "say I love you" thing isn't the answer!

That's right! The only goal I have is to defeat Takagi-san!

And White Day is the perfect opportunity for me to challenge her to a contest!

Then I'm gonna beat her once and for all!

Self-Study

Hey, Nishikata. What are you doing?

Just some stuff.

Making a new jack-in-the-box?

It's definitely a box, but there's no jack in it.

Oh yeah?

But it might still catch you by surprise.

Little does she know, I'm preparing the greatest contest I've ever put together in my life!

I call it...

NISHIKATA QUEST!

On March 14th, when Takagi-san arrives at school...

She'll say "Yay! It's White Day!", but be sorely disappointed!

Because inside the box is a mysterious code!

Solving that will lead her to the hidden location of another box.

But after struggling through a barrage of challenging riddles, Takagi-san will give up in frustration!

Ugh! I can't take anymore!

Looks like victory is finally mine, Takagi-san!

But don't cry, here!

It's perfect!

I don't know what you're up to, but it seems fun.

It is.

Just you wait and see, Takagi-san!

By the way, Nishikata.

I need you to do a little something for me on March 14th.

Wh-what's that?

She wants a favor on March 14th?!

I think you're smart enough to figure it out, Nishikata.

No way... does she want me to say "I love you"?!

Aw crap, what do I do?!

I can't just say okay to that, and I'd feel rude for outright rejecting her...

Ugh, but then...

I'm going to a relative's wedding ceremony the day before that,

so I'll be coming back the morning of the 14th on the earliest ferry.

Huh?

I won't be arriving at school until 2nd period starts.

So I want to copy your notes from 1st period, okay?

Oh, that's what you meant.

Huh?

I told you before, right? About someone in my family getting married this March.

Did you?

Hold on, Nishikata. What did you think I was going to ask you for?

Huh? Uh...n-nothing.

But Takagi-san coming late that day works out perfectly.

That gives me plenty of time to set up everything for Nishikata Quest!

You're in for it now, Takagi-san!

Students who are

independent and strive for

wisdom, virtue, and health

A bright and energetic

middle school

March 14th.

The day has finally arrived.

Time to get started on setting up Nishikata Quest.

Step one, put the first box in place.

It won't fit?!

Oh right, Takagi-san said...

I bought some new indoor shoes to use in the gym.

I totally forgot!

But who puts the whole box in their locker?!

Fine. I'll switch things up and put it in her desk.

Seriously?!

Dang it, she must have predicted I was gonna try and put something in here!

Takagi-san is too good!

But that's not gonna be enough to make me give up!

This works.

Let's see, the second box is supposed to go...

Nishikata!

Today's the big day!

Uh, well, I...

Best of luck, man!

Wait! Hamaguchi!

Keep it together!

I can't let anything like this distract me, or Nishikata Quest will end in failure!

Just forget all about this love stuff!

"The spring time ocean Waves march throughout the long day All undulating"

Everything is set up!

Do you know what the seasonal phrase of this poem is?

All I have to do now is wait for Takagi-san to come!

That's right, it's "spring time ocean".

Whoa! What's this?

Oh, right. She wanted to copy my notes for this period, so I better focus.

Morning Reading

Morning Drills

Morning Meeting

1st Period

2nd Period

3rd Period

4th Period

Lunch Prep

So, as you can see, the diagonals of each rectangle are equivalent.

That means, corner a is equal to corner c.

And corner b is equal to corner d.

Takagi-san hasn't shown up...

What happened?

Hey, Nishikata.

You've got library duty by yourself during lunch break today.

Huh?

By myself...?

The ferry couldn't leave because of strong winds.

I won't be back until tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

The ferry couldn't leave because of strong winds.

I won't be back until tomorrow.

This really sucks.

Get ready to rumble!

And go!