The field didn't feel heavy today.
For once—
it felt alive.
---
Banners stretched across the school yard.
Voices overlapped without hesitation.
Laughter came easily.
---
"Alright! Write your names clearly!"
---
The class was louder than usual.
Sheets were passed around.
Different events listed—
sprint
relay
long jump
obstacle race
---
Daichi grabbed the paper immediately.
"I'm taking relay. Obviously."
---
Riku didn't even look up.
"Obviously you're going to lose stamina halfway."
---
"Shut up."
---
The sheet reached Haruki.
---
He looked down.
Names already filled most spaces.
Loud ones.
Confident ones.
---
His hand didn't move.
---
"…you're not writing anything?"
---
He looked up.
Aoi.
---
"…I don't really do this kind of thing."
---
She tilted her head slightly.
"…you're here anyway."
---
That was it.
No push.
No pressure.
---
Just—
a simple truth.
---
Haruki looked back at the sheet.
---
One empty slot.
100-meter race
---
He hesitated.
Then—
wrote his name.
---
---
The field later—
was louder than he expected.
---
Whistles.
Announcements.
Footsteps hitting ground.
---
"…this is too much."
---
Daichi laughed.
"You say that now. Wait till you're running."
---
"I might not even win."
---
"Winning isn't the point."
---
Riku added quietly—
"…but don't lose badly either."
---
"…that helps."
---
Aoi stood nearby.
Watching.
Not saying anything.
---
But—
there was something different in her expression.
---
Like she was waiting.
---
---
Events started.
---
Students ran.
Fell.
Cheered.
Argued.
Laughed.
---
Normal.
---
Strangely—
Haruki didn't feel out of place.
---
Not completely.
---
---
"Next—100-meter race!"
---
A whistle echoed.
---
Haruki stepped forward.
---
The track stretched ahead.
Straight.
Clear.
---
But—
his chest tightened slightly.
---
Not fear.
---
Something else.
---
"…why does this feel…"
---
Familiar?
---
---
He took his position.
---
Other runners lined up beside him.
---
One of them glanced over.
"You look calm."
---
"…I guess."
---
"Don't fall behind."
---
"…I won't."
---
---
"On your marks."
---
Silence fell.
---
"Set."
---
A breath.
---
Then—
Bang.
---
They ran.
---
Fast.
---
Too fast.
---
One runner immediately took the lead.
---
Haruki followed.
Second.
---
Footsteps pounding.
Wind cutting past.
---
"…faster."
---
His body moved naturally.
---
Too naturally.
---
Like it remembered something—
his mind didn't.
---
Another runner caught up beside him.
---
Now—
neck to neck.
---
The finish line ahead.
---
Closer.
---
But not close enough.
---
"…one more step…"
---
His breath tightened.
---
Legs pushed harder.
---
Then—
a flash.
---
A voice—
"Don't hold back!"
---
A laugh.
Running beside someone.
---
---
Haruki pushed forward.
---
Just a little more.
---
---
He crossed.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
noise exploded.
---
"HE WON!"
---
"NO WAY—!"
---
"That was so close!"
---
---
Haruki slowed.
Stopped.
---
Breathing uneven.
---
"…I…"
---
He looked back.
---
The others—
just behind.
---
Barely.
---
---
"YOU DID IT!"
---
Daichi grabbed him immediately.
"You actually won?!"
---
"…I guess I did."
---
Riku shook his head.
"…unexpected."
---
Aoi stepped closer.
---
She didn't say anything at first.
---
Then—
"…you looked like you remembered something."
---
Haruki froze.
---
"…did I?"
---
"…just for a moment."
---
---
Before he could respond—
hands grabbed him.
---
"LIFT HIM!"
---
"What—wait—"
---
Too late.
---
They raised him up.
---
Cheers.
Laughter.
Noise all around.
---
For a moment—
he didn't think.
---
Didn't question.
---
Didn't feel lost.
---
---
He just—
smiled.
---
---
---
Inside the school building—
a quiet room.
---
A screen displayed the field.
---
The principal stood near the desk.
Watching.
---
"…that boy won."
---
Behind him—
the mayor sat calmly.
---
"…yes."
---
Shin stood near the door.
Silent.
---
His eyes on the screen.
---
"…so he won."
---
The mayor glanced at him.
"…aren't you going to congratulate him?"
---
A small pause.
---
Shin turned slightly.
---
"…not yet."
---
"…why?"
---
"…it's too early."
---
His gaze returned to the screen.
---
"…let him enjoy it first."
---
A faint smile.
---
The mayor didn't respond immediately.
---
Then—
very slightly—
he smiled too.
---
---
Outside—
the celebration continued.
---
Inside—
the room stayed quiet.
---
---
After a moment—
Shin turned.
---
"…I'll go."
---
The mayor nodded.
---
---
As Shin stepped out—
the principal spoke.
---
"…you know him?"
---
Shin stopped near the door.
---
"…yeah."
---
"…how?"
---
A short pause.
---
Then—
"…you can say he's my kid brother."
---
The principal blinked.
"…what?"
---
Shin opened the door slightly.
---
"…and he's the grandson of the man sitting behind you."
---
A small, quiet laugh.
---
Then he left.
---
The door closed.
---
---
Silence.
---
The principal slowly turned.
---
"…sir…"
---
The mayor looked at him calmly.
---
"…please treat him like any other student."
---
"…but—"
---
"…no special treatment."
---
A pause.
---
"…and if possible…"
---
His gaze moved toward the screen again.
"…keep it that way."
The principal nodded slowly.
Still processing.
"…understood."
Outside—
the festival continued.
The noise returned.
Haruki stood among his friends.
Still surrounded.
Still pulled into conversation.
But now—
something had changed.
Not outside.
Inside.
The feeling from before—
during the race—
hadn't disappeared.
It stayed.
Quiet.
Waiting.
He looked toward the far side of the field.
For a moment—
he thought he saw someone standing there.
Watching.
Then
gone.
"…again."
But this time—
he didn't feel confused.
Just—
closer.
"…why does it feel like I'm catching up to something?"