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

First Shrine Visit

First shrine visit!

Happy New Year!

Same to you!

Nishikata!

Takagi-san...

Happy New Year to you.

Happy New Year...

They're really warm.

These gloves that you gave me for Christmas.

Oh, uh, that's good.

This scarf you gave me is really warm, too.

You came by yourself?

No, with my family.

They ran into some old friends and got caught up in conversation.

Oh yeah? Same here.

Hey. Let's go visit the shrine together.

Sure. Whatever.

Hooray!

It's pretty crowded.

Well, it is January 1st.

I know it's not surprising, but there are mostly only families or couples here today.

We don't really fit in either category, so it's kind of weird, huh?

Uh, so we're supposed to do 2 bows, 2 claps, then 1 bow, right?

Yeah, that sounds right.

My wish for this year is that I don't get teased by Takagi-san!

What did you wish for?

Not saying. It's private.

Maybe something about not getting teased by me this year?

I knew it!

Crap! She's already doing it!

Why?!

What did you wish for, Takagi-san?

It's a secret.

Try guessing.

I bet you just wished for more opportunities to tease me or whatever.

Nope.

Because I already know that'll happen even if I don't wish for it.

Curse you, Takagi-san!

Hey, Nishikata.

Let's have our first contest of the new year.

What?

Fortunes

Fortunes

100 YEN

We'll both pull our own fortunes. And whoever has the luckier one wins.

Interesting. That means the winner is entirely based on luck.

The year has barely started and I'm already getting teased, so I'll use this opportunity to change that!

I accept your challenge, Takagi-san.

You can go first.

She's not even worried.

Just watch, I'm gonna beat you for sure by pulling the best fortune there is!

Fortunes

100 YEN

That was fast!

Please! Say "amazing luck"!

Fortune

Plain Luck

Oh!

Is "plain" considered good?

If I remember right, it's the one after "amazing luck".

I think it's better than "some luck" and "little luck".

Wow! Then so long as Takagi-san doesn't pull "amazing luck",

this contest will end up a draw at worst!

Amazing Luck

You gotta be kidding!

AMAZAKE

200 YEN

I'd like 2 servings, please.

Comin' right up! That'll be 400 yen, please.

This is yummy, huh?

Yeah.

Was it a wish for good health?

Oh. You mean what I wished for earlier?

Wrong.

Dang it! I'm already doing nothing but losing this year.

I have to hurry and guess this right, no matter what!

Oh, it's my mom.

Yeah? I'm having some amazake now.

Okay. Sure.

Sounds good. Yeah.

Sorry. I have to go meet with my family.

Wait!

What? You wanted to hang out with me a little longer?

Uh, no, that's not exactly...

I'm just kidding.

It feels good since I won our first contest of the year.

I'm glad we ran into each other.

Well, when we do it again next year, I'm gonna get the better fortune!

So, in other words, you're inviting me to join you for next year's first shrine visit?

Uh... er... well...

O-only if we run into each other again...

I really hope we get to do it again next year.

Just like today.

Uh... sure. Let's do it next year.

I know my parents are gonna be busy talking to their friends again, anyway.

Well, that was fast. My wish already came true.

Huh?

What I wished for earlier was that you would ask me out on a date again, Nishikata.

Wha?!

W-wait, that's not...

I wasn't asking you out on a date!

And I know you're totally lying about your wish!

Here's to another year of fun together!

Darn you, Takagi-san!

Snowman

Snowman!

Awesome! It snowed! It snowed a bunch!

Yahoo!

You have a new message

Yo, Takagi-san!

Oh! Nishikata!

You got here fast.

Must be because of how excited you are about all the snow, huh?

N-not really. Nothing exciting about it.

But it's uncommon to get this much snow around here, you know.

Yeah, totally! I think it's been like 5 years since the last time! It almost never piles up like this!

Uh, not that I'm excited about it or anything...

Anyway, let's hurry and get started! You're the one who proposed we have a snowman contest!

Wanna have a snowman contest

over at the empty lot?

Okay

That's right. Let's do it.

Okay, come over this way.

I wore these gloves today since the snow will get them all wet.

Oh yeah?

A pair of thick gloves, huh? I bet she thinks that will give her the upper hand here, but boy is she wrong!

Because little does she know, I'm a total pro when it comes to making big snowmen!

Although, I haven't made one since I was in elementary school.

The time limit is 30 minutes.

And we can't use any tools, okay?

That's it. Whoever can make the better snowman is the winner.

Okay. I'm ready to start.

Huh? Did you say a "better snowman"?!

Not a "bigger snowman"?!

It's the better snowman.

A-and just how the heck are we gonna judge that?!

Let's decide by giving each other a score.

I'm screwed!

I totally thought this was going to be a size contest!

What does a good snowman even look like?!

Well, I don't mind if we make size part of the points.

It's only fair, since I forgot to explain the details.

She definitely didn't tell me on purpose.

Ready?

Start!

Artistic points and size points.

Whoever gets the most overall will win, huh?

Fine then.

All I have to do is focus on making mine extra big!

Oh?

Well, I'm going to fetch some decorations first.

You think it's so easy, don't you, Takagi-san?

But you've only got 30 minutes!

All right, let's build this up. I gotta make sure the core is extra firm as I pack more snow over it...

Okay, this is perfect! I'm gonna make it even bigger!

Wow! That's huge!

She's obviously freaked out.

Because she definitely didn't expect me to make mine this big!

And I'm not done yet, this is just the beginning!

It's done!

This one is gonna be the body. And next I'm gonna make the head!

Let's see, how is Takagi-san doing?

Whoa, that looks...

like a really good snowman!

It's gonna be fun deciding your penalty after I win.

Fine! I'll just make mine even bigger!

SUPER MOVE! ROLLING SNOOOOOOOW!

One minute left.

Check these bad boys out!

They got a little dirty from all the rolling,

but they're so huge I'm definitely gonna beat Takagi-san puny snowman!

30 seconds left.

Wh-whatever! I just gotta finish...

Dang it!

It's too heavy!

I should have known! It was already hard enough just for me to push it!

I'm so stupid!