The field looked nothing like it used to be, the plain stretch of grass had turned into a battle field of colors; red banners snapping in the wind on one side while the blue banners fluttering on the other. Tents arranged all-round the field, the uneven strings of music could be heard from trumpets in the tent with the beating of drums as students warmed up for the march, some students were carrying around equipment, organizing and other helping out set up the tables and speakers and in the center of all this was taro.
The sun hung high in the sky watching the grandiose scenery.
"um, put this here, Ayasaka please tell the boys to take these equipment to the side they may be used later."
"Okay, lemme tell them" She responded, quickly turning around to give some instructions.
"Sigh, I didn't think it would be this hard to organize things" Walking over to a tent Taro took a seat as he flipped through the the schedule of things to be done, the wind blew flipping the pages as he squinted his eyes, after the wind settled down he could open them wide enough just to see a shadow looming over him.
"So this is where you are, aren't you meant to prepare for the march Akari and Lyla were looking for you" Saki asked waiting for an answer.
" Well I cant, im in the event management team" He riplied with a shrug
"huh? Aren't those for teachers"
"well as you can see this time there are a lot of students helping out, not only that I somehow ended up being the manager and its quite stressful, you should be able to tell just by looking at me"
Palming her face saki waved her hand having heard enough "You know sometimes I wonder how you do these things, but at this point I don't even want to know" her voice was as exhausted as it could be.
"Well I guess they just happen, you could say I'm pretty lucky"
Grimacing Saki turned to walk away "Maybe but I don't really care, I going for the march and I'll tell them that you're here if they want to meet you"
With a short sigh taro turned back to the table of event "This is gonna be quite stressful"
With the final testing of the speakers, the sports festival began.
Students gathered and lined up, their shirts painting the field blue and red on each side as they listen to the opening speeches and announcements. Some were excited, others tired or bored and some were in the background arranging equipment.
Taro in particular was quite neutral watching everything from under a tent near the equipment storage.
Soon enough the march ended just as fast as it started, and the first event finally began.
*
"Hand these track shoes the two teams."
"The track is set right?"
"Ok everyone is in their correct position"
"Please take this box behind the tent"
"Everything is ready they can begin" Taro said speaking into the receiver in his ear as he took a seat.
"I think I'm getting the hang of it" he said sinking to his seat as he watched the race
"Huh, I thought red would win but who knew Suzuki was so fast, well that's interestin… oh okay, I'm coming now"
He let out a sigh before standing up to leave "too bad I'll be too busy"
Things went by in a blur and…
"It is now time for the calvary battle, participants please come over to the feild". The announcement rang across the field drawing everyone's attention once again.
"Well at least we just have to give them the headbands"
Voices carried from the field, louder than before. He looked up again, this time properly.
Renn and Kenji were already there.
Kenji looked tense, adjusting his sleeves like he always did when he was nervous. Ren stood beside him, quieter, but not backing away either.
And Akari…
She was right in front of them, talking, smiling, saying something he couldn't hear from this distance.
Taro paused.
…then smiled, just a little.
Without really thinking about it, he picked up a few extra headbands from the box.
"I'll just give it to them" he said to no one in particular.
It was a small excuse, but it was enough.
He stepped away from the table and started toward the field.
"Taro!"
He stopped.
One of the staff students was waving at him from the side, slightly out of breath.
"We're missing a set from the east side, teacher said you should check it now."
Taro glanced past him then toward the field again.
They were still there.
Akari was still talking.
He paused for a second
"…Got it," he replied.
He turned back, holding out the headbands to the other student.
"Give these to them for me."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, okay."
Taro nodded once, already stepping away.
he didn't look back again.
*
Akari clapped her hands once, lightly.
"Okay, you guys got this."
Kenji let out a small laugh. "You say that, but I feel like I'm about to die out there."
"You won't," she said, smiling. "Just don't fall. That's literally it, what could be so hard."
Renn adjusted the band in his hand. "Yeh…That's not reassuring."
"It is," Akari shot back. "And don't let Saki get in your head either."
Kenji groaned. "Too late. She already said we'd embarrass ourselves, but it was all her fault for recommending us, arrgh, I'll never forget this till I die"
Akari rolled her eyes. "Ignore her. She just likes saying things."
Ren glanced toward the equipment area briefly.
"…Wasn't Taro supposed to be here?"
Akari paused for a second.
"…He's probably busy," she said.
Then she smiled again, lighter this time.
"Anyway focus. You're about to lose your headband."
"Dammit" Kenji cursed barely evading the hand aimed at him.