The next day, I went to school early. And on the way…

“Senpai…O-Ohayo…”

“Ohayo Horikita-san. Are you feeling fine today?” Koike-senpai gave me a smile. “Um, yes. I’m really, really, really sorry for yesterday. Please forgive me.” “It’s okay, let’s just forget about that.”

We were both pretty quiet on the way to school. “Ne Horikita-san…are you busy this Sunday?”

…!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m not ready for this!

“Um…why?” I felt my hands shake. “Well, I saw a new cake shop open near the train station last week. There seemed to be a lot of customers. I asked my friends if they wanted to come, but they were too busy.”

N-No…!

Tegoshi hasn’t given me a lesson about this kinds of things yet!

“Uh, senpai…”

I couldn’t look at him.

“Well…if you don’t want to come, it’s okay.”

No Maki, this is a chance! Don’t let it pass!

“Um…what time?”

His face broke into a gentle smile. “Sunday, 5:30 in the afternoon. You can bring a friend if you like.” I smiled. “Got it. Thanks senpai!”

I’m going to have to make this work. Hmm…should I bring Yui? Or…

But what if Senpai misunderstands?! But…I need Tegoshi’s help…UHH! What should I do?!

~~Lunch time~~

“Oh…cake shop.”“Yes, cake shop. Do you think it will be a good idea if you would come?” I stared at Tegoshi as he ate his coffee-flavored bread. “Hmmm…I’d go for the cake.”

I jeered. “Be serious please.” He laughed. “Are you sure you want me to tag along? He might think of me as your boyfriend.”

I coughed. “Seriously impossible.”

He teasingly smiled at me.

I coughed again. “I already thought of that, but its okay if we tell him we’re not…together…and I really need your help. What if he says something and I don’t know what to say?” He patted me on the head. “Sigh…poor Maki-chan. Okay, I’ll come. You might starve to death if I don’t feed you well with enough information, right?” He smiled jokingly. “STOP TREATING ME LIKE A DOG!”

He laughed. “Heehee. Hey, don’t forget lesson one! Your temper!”

I froze. “Oh…gomen. Sorry.”

He brightened. “I have a better idea. If you really want my help that badly, why don’t I just look after you two in the distance. I’ll just stalk- I mean…spy on the both of you…but I’m not going to be too close.” He looked mischievous. “It’ll be like a mission!”

I laughed. “You’re such a kid…”

But that’s not…such a bad idea…

He brightened again. “Oh! Why don’t we practice?” “Practice? What?” “We can practice for that day! What do you think? Let’s think of some possible situations and practice what you can do, or say.”

Whoa?

“That’s a…swell idea. So where do we practice?” “Hmm, wanna come over to my house?” “That’s fine. We don’t have any homework today, anyway.” “Great.”

Hmm…is this really going to work?