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

Hey, Takagi-san.

Can I interest you in taking a little side trip on the way home?

Sounds good.

Is this the place?

Side Trip Part 1

Side trip!

Let's go to the top.

Oh?

I wonder what's up there.

Well, it's gonna be fun to find out.

I'm excited for sure.

By the way, have you ever been here?

Nope. Never.

Why?

Cool. It's nothing, I was just curious.

Oh! Then it gets to my favorite part! You know, where the guy totally blocks the shot!

Ah, that part. Yeah, that was a really cool scene.

After that is great, too! How he gets all injured and stuff!

Personally, I liked the scene where their eyes meet before the match starts.

Totally! That part was awesome, too!

So, Takagi-san. What other manga do you like?

Takagi-san?

Hey.

You're being extra chatty today for some reason, Nishikata.

Wh-what makes you say that?

I'm just being the usual me!

Maybe you're feeling nervous or something?

Nervous? Why would I be?

I guess it's fine if you're not.

But I was feeling kinda nervous myself.

Just a little.

Why's that?

Whatever. I'm not anymore!

Looks like she hasn't caught on.

My big plan when we reach the top is to ask her: "How many stairs do you think we just climbed?"

I can't underestimate Takagi-san.

She might know how many steps are in the school stairwells,

which is why I had us go out of the way to come here.

She just confirmed she's never been here before, and since I've been talking to her nearly nonstop,

that should eliminate any chance of her counting the stairs as we go.

I've got this in the bag.

Whew! We made it!

Wow. The view is beautiful up here.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Takagi-san!

You have no idea the despair you're about to taste!

Come check it out, Nishikata.

Uh, sure.

It looks pretty, huh?

So, did you invite me up here...

just to show me the scenery?

No! I did not!

Sure, whatever you say.

Seriously! I brought you here to have a contest!

Yeah, I figured as much.

I mean, you were talking way more than you usually do.

If you knew, then why imply otherwise?!

So, what kind of competition is it?

It has to do with all those stairs we just climbed.

How many steps do you think there were in total?

415 steps.

Since I'm sure it's impossible for you to know exactly, I'll give you a handicap.

You win if you can guess correctly within 20...

Huh?

What?

415 steps.

WHAT?! HOW?!

How could you know that?!

It's famous, silly.

Famous how...?

Well, since it's 415 steps...

415 =

Sweet Love

it can almost be read as "sweet love".

So there's a legend that says boys and girls who come up here together will start dating.

Wha...?

You really had no idea, huh?

Well, I wouldn't put it past you to pick a place like this at random.

C-crap, I never would've come here if I had known that!

I feel like such a huge idiot right now!

By the way, there's a notebook kept inside of that little shrine there.

And people say if you write down the name of the person you love, you'll be with them forever.

Uh-huh...

Oh right! You'll have to suffer a penalty since you lost.

So, why don't you write in that book...

Nope, no way. There's no one like that in my life, anyway!

I'm just pulling your leg.

Your penalty will be... oh, I know.

You have to bring me here again someday.

Since I like the view.

Huh?

Hold on, isn't this place meant for...

What's the problem?

You're not going to start complaining after you brought me up here yourself, right?

Besides, it's just a legend. Don't tell me you believe it?

As if! Anyway, that's totally not the point!

I mean, legends are, you know...

Side Trip Part 2

Side trip, part 2.

He said he wanted to take me somewhere with a nice view, and I didn't see any reason to say no.

But thinking about it, I'm pretty sure these are the 415 steps of sweet love from the legend people talk about!

Why did he bring me here? What the heck is going through his head?

Is he really in love with me...?

Wh-what's up?

It's nothing.

Oh god! I'm turning red!

I just wanna go home!

But if I bail on him now, he's gonna think I'm some kid who believes in fairy tales...

Wow.

The view is nice. You were right about that.

What's the problem?

Hurry up and say something about the 415 stairs legend!

I've been ready and waiting for my chance!

You believe in silly stuff like that? What a child.

Hojo.

So, actually, this place has...

Finally!

...really fresh air.

Huh?!

Nope. A wuss like me never had the guts to pull this off to begin with.

I'll try again another day.

Seriously? Look at him breathing in the air like that...

No way! Did we really come here just to look at the view?!

I was the only one thinking about the legend!

Oh god! I feel like such a child!

Fine then!

Have you heard? There's a legend about this place.

Huh?

Well, you see...

U-uh, I forgot because it was way too childish.

What a beautiful view.

Yeah. Sure is.

Really pretty.

Side Trip Part 3

Side trip, part 3!

Okay, Nakai-kun! On the count of three! Let's climb the stairs together!

Huh?

Wait a second, Nakai-kun!

Jeez, why are you trying to start without me?

Oops, sorry. I just like stairs.

Enough with the jokes!

Don't you get it? These are the life-changing stairs that are supposed to help couples start dating!

We gotta do it right!

Yeah, but, we're already dating and stuff.

That doesn't matter!

Come on, get back here! We're gonna do it at the same time!

Gosh. This is kinda weird.

W-well, I mean, aren't you nervous?

Now that you mention it, I guess so.

Really?

Oh! Check it out.

That rock totally looks like it has a face!

We made it.

Huh? What's up, Mano?

Um... well...

What is it?

I... I want to...

to know if you really... love me.

Yeah, of course I do!

Let's check out the view!

Too casual!

Huh?

You're being way too casual about this! It's actually making me worried!

Okay, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do different.

Just forget it.

For the time being, let's just write each other's names in this notebook.

The legend says that we can be together forever if we do that.

Nah, I'm good...

BUT WHY?!

I knew it. You must not really love me.

Hold on, you've got it wrong.

Then tell me how I'm supposed to take that!

Shucks... this is embarrassing...

Oh come on! Then just suck it up for me!

What I mean is...

I actually came here before on my own.

So I've already written your name in the notebook.

MANO

Jeez, then why didn't you say something earlier!

You really do love me, don't you, Nakai-kun?

You got that right.

Side Trip Part 4

Side trip, part 4!

Mina... Sanae...

Is this where you wanted to come so badly?

Yep!

Yeah.

Those two were so desperate to go somewhere on the way home that I agreed to tag along.

But I never imagined it would be the famous 415 stairs!

If my guess is right...

Mina and Sanae found someone they like,

but they're too afraid to ask them out and are stuck admiring them from afar!