Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330665542028014/episodes/16818023212209960968
“All right ! ! Let’s do it ! !”
Wada runs ahead of me with a yell. I wonder if he meant it as a challenge when he glanced at me halfway around the track. The fact that he’s smirking is a provocation as well.
“That bastard…okay, let’s do it.”
I’m not exactly the hot-blooded protagonist of a shounen manga, but it would be impolite to ignore him. In addition, Wada has been completely defeated in every event up to this point, so he will try to win even if he has to use all of his remaining strength. I wonder if he will be okay with the measurements still to be taken in the gymnasium.
“Heh……Sasatsuki san, you’re surprisingly fast. As for Kanna……well, keep it up.”
Surprisingly, Sasatsuuki was still in the lead group of women with less than 500 meters to go. Her steps are light, and her facial expressions seem to have more leeway. I wonder if she trains on a daily basis because the job of an actress is a test of physical strength.
In contrast, Kanna is not slowing down, but she is already crawling along. It is obvious at a glance that her daily desk work is taking its toll on her. Maybe I should give her a little exercise for her health.
“Phew……phew…..”
Amidst the cheers of [You’re almost there, hang in there] etc., there was a student who was moving her body while measuring her partner’s time. It was none other than Asakura Nao. She was bending her legs and turning them in a circular motion, bending forward, and trying to keep her body cool.
Although she was doing ordinary stretches, her expression was strangely glamorous, and her swaying fruit and the fine line of her groin were too much for the eyes to take in.
“All right ! ! ! I’m number one ! ! !”
Wada’s roar echoed across the ground as if to blow away my stagnant thoughts, and since he was a member of the basketball team that runs the court for 40 minutes, his record was a very fast four and a half minutes.
“Haa, haa, haa,…..how do you like it, Itsuki ! This is something that even……you can’t win…..huh, huh….against me !”
“I want you to catch your breath before you speak. Also, I’m still measuring Kanna and Sasatsuki’s times, so please don’t disturb me.”
“Wha…!? Ooh, what did you just say !?”
Wada grabs me stiffly by the shoulders and shakes me with his rough breathing still intact. I want him to stop because the two of them are almost at the finish line.
“You weren’t close to my Sasatsuki Mika in class !? Is there some kind of special pheromone coming out of your body !?”
“Calm down, Wada. Your remarks are getting dumber and dumber.”
“Shut up ! Is this a situation where you can remain calm ! To think that you were not satisfied with Hanazono Kanna……you even managed to tame Sastsuki Mika !”
Wada was screaming in my ear, despite my efforts to persuade him not to. I’d like to ask when Sasatsuki became yours, but that would be like throwing a can into a campfire, so I held my tongue.
“Hey, my best friend. Tell me something. What do you think is the difference between you and me?”
“I like your funny side, Wada.
“Itsuki……you’re a nice guy……that’s not a compliment, is it? It’s more of a mockery, isn’t it !”
Ignoring Wada’s ranting and raving, I returned my gaze to the ground. While the first group of women were steadily finishing their run, Sasatsuki reached the goal a little later. After about a minute had passed, Kanna finally returned.
“Thank you both for your hard work. I’ll tell you the time later, so please get some rest.”
While offering words of comfort to the two who were about to fall to the ground, I added in my heart that the class wasn’t over yet.
“Yeah…I’ll take your word for it.”
“J-Jinpei kun,…..can you bring me some oxygen?”
I wander up to Kanna who was staggering like a zombie back as she reaches out and clings to me. Rough breathing, a body on fire from running. The sweat running down her cheeks is a sexy thing that can’t be put into words, and the fact that she is so weak from fatigue makes me want to protect her.
While I was thinking about such stupid things, it seemed that the first half of the group had all finished running, so I headed for the starting line.
“Please do your best, Jinpei kun. By the way, the 1500m record for a high school freshman is 3 minutes and 44 seconds.”
“I’m not one of the top track and field athletes in the nation, remember?”
“Moreover, the record for the 1500m for high school boys is 3 minutes 37.18 seconds. Jinpei kun, please do your best !”
“I’m not a superhuman, okay?”
Kanna looked at me with twinkling expectations, and while I gave her a wry smile, I secretly vowed that I would try as much as I could. After all, I have been given a challenge.
“Hey, are you aiming for the record??”
Asakura, who happened to be standing next to me, asked me in a somewhat barbed voice. Her expression was stern and she looked at me as if she were glaring at her adversary.
“Of course. We’re free to go for it, right? What about Asakura? I don’t know about the women’s record, but aren’t you going for it?”
“Suddenly calling my name…..well, I don’t mind. Endurance running is out of my scope. I don’t want to overdo it and get injured. However, I won’t lose.”
Asakura smiles with a grin. The smile is the exact opposite of a dainty smile, like that of a ferocious predator that has found its prey. Her attitude of greedily going for victory in everything she does can only be seen in top athletes. Otherwise, it would be a dream come true to compete with the world.
“Heh…….you suddenly look nice. Did I perhaps just set your face on fire?”
“Thanks to you. I’m suddenly motivated.”
The weak fighting spirit suddenly flared up. I mocked her for being so easily influenced, but when I was shown a glimpse of the fire of someone who would eventually compete with the best in the world, I was filled with motivation.
“I’ll be cheering for you, even if it’s only in a small way. If you set a good record, may I recruit you for the track and field team?”
“I’m sorry, but my mentor at junior high school and my grandfather have already warned me not to join any clubs. I’ll have to decline while I still can.”
[That’s a shame] Asakura said with a look of no regret at all, and the conversation ended. The time for our start is finally approaching.
“The second half of the group, are you all ready? Remember that the most important thing is to finish the race without any injuries, as the saying goes. Let’s go! Let’s get started !”
I took a step forward at the same time as Misuta sensei clapped her hands.
In order to complete the 1,500 meters in three and a half minutes, I had to run 100 meters in at least 15 seconds or less, and I needed to maintain a speed close to that of an all-out sprint.
With lean form, breathing techniques, no specialized knowledge, and no practice, I would not think about pacing or running out of gas, but would convert even my thoughts into physical strength and run as fast as I could from the beginning. This is my only choice.
[No matter how you think, it’s too far, right?]
[There’s definitely one in the class, isn’t there? Idiots who give their all from the beginning in order to stand out.”
[Even Wada mocked himself a little more……but he doesn’t have the strength.]
I can hear the ridicule from the outside, but I don’t care. Clench your teeth and move forward, even if it’s just one step. Go to the goal as fast as you can, even if it’s just for a second. I will only run for the view that lies beyond my limits.
“Kuh…if my legs were in perfect condition…!”
Asakura’s mutterings coming from behind me slowed my speed slightly. When I glanced back, I saw that although her speed hadn’t slowed down, she couldn’t speed up either, her expression seemed to be in some pain, and there were large beads of sweat on her forehead.
“Asakura, are you…..”
“What are you doing ! Run without worrying about me ! Don’t you care about setting the record !”
I’m not sure if she saw through my hesitance or if she misunderstood that I had cut corners, but Asakura started to yell at me.
“…I understand. Don’t push yourself too hard!”
“Hmph. Who are you talking to…!”
Asakura’s belligerent smile curved up at the corners of her mouth. Having a strong competitive spirit is an important quality for an athlete, but that’s not what I’m talking about, but I don’t have the luxury of being able to convey that.
By forcefully increasing the speed I had dropped, my rhythm was disrupted and fatigue piled up in my legs all at once. However, I use the stamina I have developed from running around in the mountains since I was a child to make the last spurt.
But alas. Just before the finish line, I stalled out and my time was just under 4 minutes.
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