Sakura Airi, who suddenly appeared before Natsukawa, seemed to have made a huge decision. Her hands, which were clasped behind her back, suddenly gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
"Um... Sōsuke-kun!"
Although her voice was still trembling slightly, there was a rare stubbornness in her tone.
"What is it?" Natsukawa stopped his movements and looked at her patiently.
"Although... I've been consistently doing morning runs before, and my physical fitness has improved a lot. But... facing the intensity of the Sports Festival, I'm still a bit unsure."
Sakura Airi awkwardly pinched the hem of her clothes, but quickly looked up again, her eyes firm.
"So, could I ask Sōsuke-kun... to guide me again, like before? I want to undergo more professional special training for the Sports Festival events!"
"I want to... be more useful."
Looking at the clear-eyed girl in front of him, a hint of surprise flashed in Natsukawa Sosuke's eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile.
The girl who didn't even dare to speak loudly before now knows how to actively seek improvement.
"Even if the training will be very tough?" Natsukawa asked knowingly.
"I'm not afraid!" Sakura Airi shook her head vigorously, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "As long as it's something Sōsuke-kun teaches me, I can stick with anything!"
"Heh... Since you've said so."
Natsukawa reached out and ruffled her cute little head.
"Then let's go. It's a good chance for me to see how your solo morning runs have paid off during this time."
"Mhm! Please guide me!"
...The two arrived at the sports field.
"Since we're preparing for the Sports Festival, it can't just be simple jogging anymore."
Natsukawa Sosuke took off his uniform jacket, casually draping it over the nearby parallel bars. He was only wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up.
"Although there are many events at the Sports Festival, whether it's a relay or other events, the core is basically 'running'. As long as you can master the correct force exertion techniques, even if your physical fitness doesn't make a qualitative leap, your performance can still improve significantly."
"Yes! Please guide me!"
"Airi, run a bit for me first."
"Okay."
Sakura Airi didn't hesitate, walked onto the track, took a deep breath, then swung her arms and started to run.
Natsukawa watched from the side, nodding secretly.
Indeed, compared to a few months ago when she seemed out of breath after two steps, Sakura's pace was much lighter now, and her breathing was very rhythmic. It seemed she hadn't been lazy during the days he couldn't see.
"Stop."
Natsukawa waved his hand, and Sakura immediately ran back obediently, her cheeks slightly flushed, looking at him expectantly.
"Your basic form is good. But your starting posture is too casual; it wastes a lot of explosive power."
Natsukawa walked to the starting line and demonstrated a standard standing start posture.
"Your center of gravity needs to be lower, forefoot on the ground, and your back leg coiled like a spring. Come on, you try it."
Sakura Airi walked to the line and mimicked Natsukawa's posture.
"Like this?"
Natsukawa walked to her side, took a look, then shook his head.
"Your center of gravity is too high, and your back isn't straight. This will disperse your power."
"Eh? Th-then what should I do..."
"Don't move, hold this position."
Natsukawa said, walking behind her.
"I'm going to physically help you adjust, is that okay?"
Sakura's earlobes instantly turned crimson. But she just nodded gently: "Mhm... Please do."
Having received permission, Natsukawa no longer hesitated.
He reached out, one hand pressing on Sakura's slender lower back, the other gently patting her calf.
"Straighten your back, don't slouch. Here, exert force."
'Sōsuke-kun's hand... is so warm...'
Her heart pounded violently, even drowning out the noisy voices from the far end of the sports field.
"Bend your legs a bit more, press your center of gravity here."
"Yes, just like that. Do you feel the back of your thighs tightening?"
"Y-yes, I feel it..."
"Good, maintain that feeling. Try to sprint."
Natsukawa released his hand and stepped back.
The moment she lost his support, a wave of disappointment surged in Sakura's heart. But she immediately gritted her teeth, transforming all her shyness and fluttering emotions into motivation.
"Ready—Go!"
Sakura Airi pushed off the ground sharply. Although her body was still a bit clumsy, her starting speed was noticeably faster than before.
"Good! That's the feeling!"
Hearing Natsukawa's praise, Sakura stopped, turned around, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.
"Hehe..."
...After the short-distance running technique training, next was endurance running.
"There are many events at the Sports Festival; without sufficient stamina, you won't last until the end." Natsukawa slowed down, accompanying her. "No need to run too fast, maintain a steady pace and regulate your breathing."
The two jogged side by side on the track, like a couple taking a stroll.
However, for Sakura Airi, this was no leisurely walk.
Although she had done some running exercises under Natsukawa's guidance before, her physical foundation was too poor, and the short-distance training just now had already consumed a lot of her energy. Now, with every step she took, her legs felt as heavy as lead, and her lungs began to ache faintly.
But she didn't stop.
She turned her head and secretly glanced at Natsukawa beside her.
He ran effortlessly, his breathing steady, and there was hardly any sweat on his forehead. His composed demeanor was like taking a stroll in his own backyard.
(Sōsuke-kun... is truly amazing.)
(Both his mind and athletic abilities are so outstanding.)
And herself?
Gloomy, timid, no friends, and even running left her breathless.
If it weren't for the stalker incident, someone as brilliant as Sōsuke-kun probably would never have noticed her, hiding in the corner, right?
Ichinose-san is so cheerful and beautiful, Kushida-san is so understanding, Karuizawa-san is so good at dressing up... Compared to them, she was like an ugly duckling among swans, seeming so out of place, so... unworthy.
(Do I really... have the right to be by his side?)
This deep feeling of "unworthiness" made her feel suffocated, but it was precisely this fear that transformed into the fuel supporting her legs' movement at this moment.
(If I don't work hard... if I don't change... sooner or later, I'll become insignificant, won't I?)
(I don't want that!)
(I want to keep watching his back, I want to... always be by his side! Even if it's just as an inconspicuous little follower!)
Sakura Airi bit her lip hard, tasting a hint of blood.
Her vision began to blur, and her throat felt like it was on fire, but she still mechanically swung her arms, forcing herself to maintain the rhythm.
'Just a little longer... just one more step...'
'As long as I can get a little closer to him... what is this pain!'
She was like Kuafu chasing the sun; even when exhausted, even when her body was about to fall apart, she refused to stop chasing the light.
Just as she felt her vision darken and sensed she was reaching her limit, a hand firmly supported her.
"Alright, stop."
Natsukawa Sosuke's voice rang in her ear, carrying an unquestionable command.
Sakura Airi stopped, her entire body feeling as if her bones had been removed, collapsing softly into Natsukawa's support, gasping for air, her chest heaving violently.
"Ha... ha... I-I can still... run..." she stammered, her voice tinged with unwillingness.
"Walk for a bit. If you keep running, you'll end up in the infirmary."
Once she had recovered a little, Natsukawa helped Sakura to a bench by the lawn and sat her down.
"Airi."
Natsukawa took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"You did very well. Really."
"Much stronger... than I imagined."
Hearing this praise, Sakura Airi's eyes instantly reddened. The grievances and anxieties accumulated in her heart seemed to find an outlet.
"But... but I'm still far from good..." She lowered her head, tears plopping onto the back of her hands. "I run so slowly... my movements are so clumsy... I can't catch up at all..."
"Look at me, Airi."
Natsukawa interrupted her self-deprecation. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
"Effort has its limits. But perseverance does not."
"Today, you ran one more lap than yesterday, and that's enough."
He looked into Sakura's eyes, his tone gentle and serious.
"However, too much of a good thing is bad. Wanting to become stronger is good, but if you harm your body, it's counterproductive."
"You need to value yourself more, you silly girl."
"You know, if you get hurt..."
"I'll be worried."
These five words were like a warm spell, instantly dispelling all the gloom and chill in Sakura's heart.
She stared blankly at Natsukawa, tear tracks still on her face, but the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably.
"Mhm!"
"I... I'll be obedient! I'll definitely take good care of my body!"
On this early autumn evening, the girl still felt like an ugly duckling, but she knew that as long as the boy named "Hero" was by her side, she had the courage to fly into the sky.
"Then... can you still train with me tomorrow?"
"Of course. But don't push yourself too hard again."
"Mhm! I love Sōsuke-kun the most!"
Even if she flies slowly, even if her posture is clumsy.
As long as she can keep chasing that light, that's enough.