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

Fan

Fan!

Good morning. You're here early, Nishikata.

G'morning. Same to you, Takagi-san.

I figured it was going to be extra hot today.

So I left before the sun was all the way out.

Oh yeah?

It was so hot in my room that I woke up.

What's the deal? It's almost October.

It sure is hot.

I've got just the thing.

Now that looks handy!

Ah! So nice and cool!

Man, I'm so glad I brought this.

How's it feel, Takagi-san? Bet you're jealous!

Weep over your lack of a fan while watching me enjoy a refreshing breeze!

Hey, use it on me too.

Why should I?!

Because I feel hot.

Well, join the club.

Okay.

Then let's make a game of it.

A game?

Yeah!

If I win, you fan me.

All right. But what if I win?

Then I'll fan you instead.

This is paradise!

I could go for that.

Deal.

Great!

Let's see here...

This'll do.

An eraser?

Whoever can use the fan to move this eraser farther is the winner.

Sounds good.

Okay. Then you go first.

So, all I gotta do is move it more than her?

That mean this is a battle of power and stamina.

I have the advantage!

Here goes!

Move!

Move! Move! Move! Move!

MOOOOVE!

It's working!

Did you see that? Stupid Takagi-san!

That feels good.

Were you watching?! The eraser moved!

Yeah. I saw it.

It moved just a tiny bit, huh?

I didn't think it would budge. I'm shocked!

I see how it is.

She thought I couldn't move the eraser, so she made up this "game" just to get me to cool her down!

Well, I guess it's your turn now.

Done.

Huh?

I moved it farther than you.

Wha?

You realize, all I said was to "use the fan to move the eraser farther", right?

Okay. Time for you to fan me.

Fudge. How could this have happened?

Everything was supposed to go my way!

Curses!

If I stand here, you get some of the breeze too, right?

Come on, get to fanning.

Uh, right.

Looks like the heat is getting to you.

Fanning you is hard work.

Plus, I put a lot of effort into moving that eraser.

Oh?

What's your problem?!

I think I'll feel even cooler if I move closer to you.

You stopped again.

Gosh, it's so hot.

Something must be wrong with the weather. That's gotta be it.

Hot...

So hot...

Bewilder Ball

Bewilder Ball!

Seriously! The main character is so freaking cool!

He throws a ball that's like a special attack!

It's basically a battle manga, guys!

The coach is strict but loves baseball more than anyone!

The manager is an ex-player who got injured unexpectedly!

Plus, the rival team is insanely strong!

I'm telling you, you gotta read it!

Summer Slammer

Man, I love this series.

Aw yeah! This technique is just so sick!

Whoa! I recognize that pose!

Is he really going to do it?!

The ultimate pitch!

Yes! He calls it...

Bewilder Ball! Time Lea-!

Hey there, looks like you were doing something cool.

Crap! I totally let my guard down!

Summer Slammer

She must've overheard me talking yesterday, and then rolled that ping pong ball toward me on purpose!

Just how calculating can she be? Darn you, Takagi-san!

Um... so, about this...

Could you please keep it between us?

Gosh, I dunno.

You looked like you were having so much fun.

I kind of want to try it now.

I'll agree to keep my mouth shut if you can strike me out.

Fine.

Okay! Play ball!

I absolutely HAVE to win!

Oh hey! Do your impression of that manga again!

Like you were doing earlier.

N-no way!

That being said, I'm going to need my imagination if I want to boost my focus!

Well folks, we're down to the last batter.

Nishikata is now on the verge of fulfilling his dream of victory!

But stepping up to the plate is his long-time rival, Takagi-san!

And throughout their history of matches, Takagi-san has won them all!

Two and three.

Nishikata, play it safe and throw a ball for starters.

What?!

I'll do it for them!

For Coach Tanabe, who's only strict out of his love for baseball.

It's all on you,

Nishikata

For Takao, whose injury led him to becoming our manager.

If only I hadn't gotten that injury!

And also...

Go team! Go team!

Just play it cool!

We've got your back, bro!

For all the people who supported me along the way.

This will be a pitch filled with gratitude!

BEWILDER BALL! TIME LEAAAAAP!

Strike!

I'm just getting started.

Is that one of the lines from that manga?

I let it slip...

Come on! Throw your next pitch!

Darn it! The illusion is totally shattered!

I can't believe I just screwed it all up...

Come on, I'm waiting.

Whatever. I'll just have to power through!

Time Leap! Bewil- AH!

That's wrong! I got it backwards!

WHAMO!

Home Run!

Looks like I win.

Is that another manga thing?

No... it's a me thing.

Um... Takagi-san...

Please don't tell anyone... what I was doing in here alone...

Well, I dunno.

I guess I could.

But in exchange...

I want you to lend me that baseball manga!

Wait, are you sure that's all?

Yeah!

I'm not sure you'll find it very interesting, though...

That's okay.

Because I want to know everything I can about the things you like!

Summer Slammer

After I finish reading it,

let's do what we just did and have another showdown while pretending to be the characters.

F-fine, but just so you know, I wasn't pretending!

It's almost the time of year we change to our winter uniforms,