With August behind us, September arrived, heralding the start of a new semester. Until last month, the calendar in my house had been a collage of summer—sunshine, watermelons, and sunflowers. But a single flip of the page revealed a serene image of a full moon and pampas grass swaying in the night.
The sweltering heat outside hadn't changed, though, so the shift in seasons still felt a little distant.
"It's been exactly a year since then, huh…" I murmured, my head still fuzzy as I got out of bed to make breakfast.
A full cycle of seasons had passed, bringing with it the second autumn of my high school life.
"Won't you be my friend?"
The year that began with those words from a female classmate had completely transformed the world around me. The days of retreating into my shell were gone, replaced by a life where people called my name and beckoned me to join them. I used to wonder how anyone could find school enjoyable, but now, welcoming a new morning felt… just a little bit exciting.
"Maki, morning," Umi greeted me. "Classes start again today, huh? Did you finish your homework?"
"Of course. What about you, Umi? Did you manage?"
"…I was at Yuu's house all day yesterday," she said with a sigh. "And for some reason, Nina was there too, you know."
"I knew it," I chuckled. "Well, good work."
It seemed Umi had her own taste of the last-day-of-summer-vacation-hell, a rite of passage for students everywhere. Her wry smile painted a vivid picture of the chaos at the Amami household, and I gently patted her head. "You survived."
"Ehehe… Maki, you've gotten so good at this recently," she purred, leaning into my touch. "It feels really nice when you do this."
"Really? Well, that's good then."
Since summer, we started touching each other more frequently, and I felt like I was slowly beginning to understand her more intimately—the sensitive spots, the places she tensed up, the way she'd react with a soft sigh when I stroked her hair. These were secrets about Umi that her 'friends' like Amami-san and Nitta-san didn't know; secrets known only to me, her 'boyfriend.' And in turn, Umi knew almost everything about me.
"Speaking of which, you're wearing your blazer today too, Umi," I noted. "Isn't it hot?"
"It is, but… it's already autumn," she replied, her gaze distant. "It's been a year, huh?"
"…Yeah."
"How was it? Did this past year fly by for you, Maki?"
"Half and half, I guess," I admitted. "The first six months were a long, drawn-out hell, and the last six felt like a flash of light."
"Ahaha, that's a perfect split, isn't it? What about now?"
"Now? I'm always in the light."
"I see," she smiled softly. "Then, you're just like me."
It had been nearly a year since I became friends with Umi and about nine months since we started dating. My days with her passed in a blur if I wasn't paying attention. Even now, a brief morning chat with my girlfriend had somehow made the clock jump forward, and it was already time to leave for school. An hour in real-time felt like five or ten minutes with her, making me question if time truly flowed the same for everyone.
"Well, it's time. Shall we get going?"
"Yeah."
We held hands naturally as we left the house. When we first started dating, we were too embarrassed to be so open, but now we didn't care who saw. Our fingers intertwined, a comfortable, secure connection. Umi was my girlfriend. There was no need to feel embarrassed.
Although it was the first day of classes, we'd been at school nearly every day since the end of Obon for sports festival practice, so there was no post-vacation slump to speak of. Still, I wouldn't fully shift into second-semester mode until after the festival this weekend.
"! Ah, g-good morning, you two…"
"Morning, Yuu," Umi chirped. "I went home before midnight, but how did it go after that?"
"I was working on it until just a little while ago, but I somehow managed."
"Alright, you're amazing, my best friend!" Umi declared, pulling her into a hug. "You did a great job."
"Ehehe~ praise me more~"
The two best friends were as close as ever, but their journey hadn't always been smooth. They'd clashed, their true feelings creating a rift between them for the first time, but they had managed to overcome it. I wasn't going to say "all's well that ends well," but for now, this was more than fine.
"Oh, the usual sight," a familiar voice drawled. "Seein' this makes it feel like school's really started, y'know?"
"Yo, Maki, and you too Asanagi, Amami-san."
"! Oh, it's Nina-chi and Seki-kun," Umi exclaimed. "Good morning! What a rare combination… Hah, don't tell me while I wasn't looking…!"
""As if!"" they both protested in unison.
I had to admit, they made a surprisingly good pair, at least as friends. As a couple… that was a different story. I'd learned a lot over the past year, but the subtleties of human relationships were still a mystery.
"Well, I've got morning practice for the cheering squad, so I'm heading off," Seki announced. "Sorry to you four, but we're not planning on losing."
"Because you've been utterly defeated in love?" Nitta-san quipped.
"Gueh."
"N-Nozomu…! Nitta-san, you can't say that."
"Oops, my apologies."
"…Nitta, you seriously need to get punched just once."
"Yeah, yeah. C'mon, hurry up and get to practice."
With that customary exchange, it finally felt like the second semester had truly begun. New feelings, new companions… well, it was a bit embarrassing to call them that, but I hoped for another fun year with my friends.
But just as I was settling into my usual routine, a discordant noise reached my ears.
"Hey, look at that guy over there."
"You're right. Heh, with a face like that, he's quite the popular one."
"One is his girlfriend, and the other two are his little pets, I guess?"
"Whoa, that's harsh."
Umi, Amami-san, and Nitta-san tried to act normal, but I could see the sullenness in their expressions.
"Things had calmed down for a while," Nitta-san sighed, "but somewhere along the line, I got added to the class rep's harem. Class rep, you have any idea?"
"I wonder… I don't remember doing anything to stand out in a bad way," I said, glancing at Umi. "Right?"
"Yeah. Maki and I are a couple, so I don't mind what people say about that, but… I wonder if some weird rumor has started?" Umi mused. "Yuu, have you heard anything from the juniors or seniors on the backboard committee?"
"Eh? I-I wonder… Everyone on the committee is really nice, so I don't think there's anything like that… I'd like to think so, at least."
We couldn't pinpoint any reason for the sudden gossip. Being a group of one guy and three girls, it was annoying but ultimately ignorable if it was just for fun. We'd dealt with similar incidents before, but with the sports festival approaching, the rumors had spread to other grades and were proving to be persistent. I thought my efforts in the three-legged race had quelled the talk, but I was wrong.
"Normally, ignoring it would be the best option, but… Nitta-san, could you do a little digging?" Umi asked.
"Sure. Since I haven't heard anything, the source probably isn't our grade. I'll casually ask some kids who have connections with the underclassmen."
"Then, I'll also try asking Takizawa-kun and the other members while I'm helping out with the student council," I added. "They're all serious kids, so I doubt they'd know about such nasty rumors."
It wasn't a witch hunt, but if there was a cause, it was better to know so we could take countermeasures. What a pain, right before the sports festival.
"As for me," Amami-san said, "since Umi and Nina-chi are on it, I guess I'll just be my usual carefree self. I don't want to make Nagisa-chan or Yama-chan worry unnecessarily."
"Right. In this situation, you'll stand out no matter what, Amami-san."
So that was our plan: Amami-san would act as a decoy while the rest of us searched for the source of the rumors. And that, of course, included me, the unwitting star of this whole mess.
After parting ways, I headed to the classroom with Amami-san. My classmates seemed to be acting as usual, their glances at us together having become a familiar sight over the past half-year. 'Oh, it's just Maehara again,' they probably thought. It was the usual, and right now, that was a relief.
"Ah, Amami-chan, morning," one of her friends greeted her. "You look tired. Did you pull an all-nighter on your homework?"
"Eh? Ah, y-yeah," Amami-san stammered. "Ehehe, I was just having too much fun during summer vacation and kept putting it off. You too, right, Nagisa-chan?"
"Don't lump me in with you. I finished everything in July."
"Eh, seriously? …Arae-san, you usually act so listless, but you're actually pretty diligent, huh? A diligent gyaru?"
"Yama, you just shut up for a bit."
Watching her, I could tell she was just barely managing to act 'as usual.' I was concerned about Arae-san's reaction, but her policy was to not interfere with us, so I had no choice but to leave it—
"Oh, right. Hey, Maehara—"
"! …Uh, um, what is it?"
"I told you, don't look so disgusted," she scowled. "After the opening ceremony, I need to talk to you for a bit. And I'm warning you, if you run, I'll beat you up."
"I feel like you'll beat me up even if I don't run…"
"Huh?"
"No, it's nothing."
The sudden summons sent murmurs through the classroom. The time had finally come for Maehara to get his ass kicked—or so they thought. Arae-san's intense glare silenced them instantly. She had completely established herself as the shadow leader of Class 2-10.
"Behind the gym," she said. "I think you know, but come alone."
"…"
"Jeez, don't worry. It's not a big deal. It's just that I'm not good with that guy."
"…If that's the case."
If it wasn't a secret, I could tell Umi about it later. Still, the fact that Arae-san would go to such lengths for something that was 'not a big deal' meant it probably wasn't good news.
"Well, that's that."
As Arae-san returned to her seat, Yamashita-san and Amami-san tried to approach her, but her unusually stern expression made them hesitate.
"Um, Nagisa-chan… what did you and Maki-kun talk about—"
"It's none of your business," Arae-san cut her off. "…Well, if you wanna know, ask Maehara later. I don't know."
As I thought, it seemed to concern Amami-san as well. I was curious about this sudden talk, but a part of me wished it would never happen.
After homeroom, the opening ceremony was held in the gymnasium. My mind was elsewhere, though, and I barely registered the club awards or the sports festival announcements. When the ceremony ended, I quietly slipped out of the class line and headed to the back of the gym.
Arae-san found me waiting in a shady, deserted spot.
"…Yo."
"Hey. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Yeah. We don't have much time, so I'll make it quick."
She held out her phone. "This picture. Do you know anything about it?"
"! This is…"
On the screen was a photo of me in my uniform and Amami-san in her gym clothes, a blue headband tied around her forehead. It was slightly blurry, but it was unmistakably us.
"Arae-san, who did you get this from?"
"From a junior girl I started talking to during sports festival practice. It seems to be making the rounds among the first-year girls in the blue team… saying that Amami-senpai is kissing a guy with a girlfriend after school."
"…That's a terrible thing to say."
So this was why Arae-san had been so evasive with Amami-san. Nitta-san and Umi were already looking into it, so Amami-san would find out sooner or later. It was a baseless lie, but the photo made it seem credible. The angle was so exquisitely timed that it looked like we were kissing.
"Maehara… just in case," Arae-san said, her voice low. "I'm just confirming, but did you… do that kind of thing with Amami?"
"I didn't. And this image has been photoshopped."
"! …Is that so?"
"Probably. Look, if you look closely, the background doesn't quite line up, right? Around the border between me and Amami-san."
"Ah… ahh, you're right."
It had likely been edited with a smartphone app, but in their haste to put us together, they'd left several small flaws. The poor image quality masked the trick at first glance. It was a dirty move.
The photo must have been taken the other day, when I was helping with the finishing touches on the backboard. I hadn't noticed anyone else there, but someone must have been watching. That one brief moment my face was close to Amami-san's had come back to haunt me.
But now I had a rough idea of the cause. All that was left was to share this with the others and figure out what to do.
"Anyway, that's all I had to say," Arae-san said, pocketing her phone. "…Well, sorry for taking up your time with something unnecessary."
"No, we were just having trouble with this too… Thank you, Arae-san. For worrying about us."
"It's not like that," she grumbled, looking away. "It's just that because of Amami, the people around have been getting noisy and annoying lately… what's with that, Maehara, don't laugh."
"Sorry. But, you're just being too much of a tsundere—"
"Huh?"
"Th-that's still scary, though…"
I held my tongue before I really got beaten up. Arae-san was truly a good person who cared about her friends. There weren't many people who would go this far for Amami-san. Her only flaw was that the 'tsun' part was a bit too strong.
"Well, see you later then."
"Yeah, see ya."
After parting with her, I immediately sent a message with the image to the others. Last year, I would have had to endure this alone, but now I had a girlfriend and friends who would listen. I even had a reliable junior. There was no need to carry this burden by myself.
During lunch, seven of us gathered around a table in the student council's priority section of the cafeteria: the five of us, plus the new student council president Nakamura-san and vice president Takizawa-kun. The topic of discussion, of course, was the photo.
"I'm sorry, everyone…" Amami-san began, her head bowed. "The sports festival is this weekend, and because of my carelessness—"
"Yuu, we're not blaming you, okay?" Umi interjected. "It's true that you and Maki were a bit careless, but the one at fault is whoever spread this picture."
Putting together the information Nitta-san and Umi had gathered, it was clear the rumors had originated from this photo. The source had to be the person who took and edited it, but finding them wouldn't be easy.
"Yuu-chin, just from what you can remember, do you have any idea?" Nitta-san asked. "Like, did someone confess to you during summer break and you turned them down?"
"Nope. When I was at school, I was almost always with Nagisa-chan, Yama-chan, and the others from the backboard committee, and I wasn't called out by anyone."
"Right… How about you, class rep?"
"I wonder… it's not that I don't have any, but it's not that I do, either."
The jealousy and backbiting had been prevalent during last year's cultural festival, but it had died down on its own. I had been overconfident that this time would be the same.
"Hmm, normally we'd just ignore it, but then Maehara-shi's bad image won't be cleared up," Nakamura-san mused. "Being friends with a popular person is surprisingly tough, huh. Especially if it's someone of the opposite sex… Maybe I should be careful too? Right, Souji?"
"Mio-senpai, I feel like you'd enjoy this situation and gleefully hunt for the culprit," Takizawa-kun replied. "…Of course, I'd help you with all my might at that time."
"I just heard about this from Maki today, but… what's so fun about doing this?" Nozomu said, his voice laced with frustration. "Making fun of Maki, and making Amami-san feel bad. I don't know why they did it… but it's in seriously bad taste."
Everyone at the table nodded in agreement. We've all felt jealousy at some point, but to act on it in a way that causes actual harm is crossing a line. What was worse, they were spreading false information to tarnish our reputations. No matter the reason, it was unforgivable.
"So, what are we gonna do?" Umi asked, looking at me. "If you wanna find the culprit, I'll help too… Maki, what do you want to do?"
"Hmm… if we leave it alone, it could become irreversible, so I'd like to take care of this from the root if possible," I said. "…But with the story having spread this far, it might be difficult to track down the source."
The photo hadn't been taken that long ago, but it had already spread to multiple sources. It would be difficult to get honest answers if we asked around.
"Leaving it alone will only encourage them, and confronting it head-on is like giving them the attention they want," Umi sighed. "…Nina, you got any good ideas?"
"Even if you say that…"
A heavy silence fell over the table. Our only option seemed to be to ignore it and try to win back our reputation, like we did during the three-legged race practice. But that might make it seem like we were confirming the rumors. As we all pondered our next move, a voice broke the silence.
"—Um, Maehara-senpai."
"! Takizawa-kun, what's wrong?"
"Would it be possible for you to leave this matter to me?"
"Eh?"
The offer came from Takizawa-kun, the one person who was an outsider in this situation. His raised hand and serious gaze told me he was determined. Even Nakamura-san seemed surprised.
"Um… sorry, can you say that again?"
"Would you let me find the culprit?"
"By 'me,' you mean you'll do it alone, Takizawa-kun? We don't have to help?"
"Yes. It's easier for me to move alone… or rather, it's difficult to work with you seniors around," he explained. "If possible, I'd like you to do nothing and focus on the upcoming sports festival."
He seemed to have a plan, but leaving this whole matter to a junior felt wrong. As I hesitated, Nakamura-san bowed her head.
"Maehara-shi, can I ask you as well? I don't know what this boy is planning to do, but it seems he strongly wants to help you guys… Right, Souji?"
"Yes," Takizawa-kun said, his voice firm. "The seniors have been very good to me, so I want to repay that kindness. You are all such good people, and for you to be disparaged by a silly lie is unbearable for me as a junior… I'm angry too, for the first time in a while."
My junior, who was always so calm and gentle, was biting his lip in frustration, showing his emotions for the first time. He must have had his own reasons for wanting to help.
"Takizawa-kun is saying this, but… everyone, what should we do?" I asked the group.
"I think I'll respect Maki's opinion," Umi said. "What about you, Yuu?"
"…I think I'll leave it to Maki-kun, too. This time it's partly my fault, so I'm not in a position to say anything."
"I don't really mind either way," Nitta-san shrugged. "I'd just prefer it if the misunderstanding was cleared up quickly."
"If Taki wants to do it, why not let him?" Nozomu added. "You can tell he's super competent from his recent work."
The decision was up to me. It was a difficult choice, but…
"In that case, Takizawa-kun, I'm sorry, but could I ask you to do it?"
"Understood," he replied with a nod. "Ah, of course, I'll keep you updated on the situation, so please don't worry."
I didn't ask about his methods. For now, we would trust our reliable junior and focus on the sports festival.
The practice period that had stretched from summer vacation finally ended, and on the first weekend of September, the day of the sports festival arrived. We had worked tirelessly on setting up the venue, and everything was perfect.
It was only seven in the morning, but a large number of students had already gathered on the grounds, watching as the final preparations were made. The backboards, masterpieces created by the students, were being installed behind the stands. As each one was unveiled, cheers erupted from the respective teams.
"Nozomu's team has a red oni, huh," I remarked. "It has a Japanese-style touch, like something you'd see in an old scroll."
"They said there are a lot of materials at school, so they used them as a reference," Umi explained. "They apparently had a hard time since they didn't have anyone from the cultural clubs, but I think they did a good job."
Despite some teams having trouble finding the right talent, the red, yellow, and white teams had all produced high-quality work. Finally, it was our blue team's turn. I had seen it when it was nearly complete, but Amami-san and her team had worked on the finishing touches until the very last minute. I was excited to see the final result.
"Ooh…"
The moment the completed backboard was assembled, all I could do was murmur in awe. It was even more polished than before. Each scale of the blue dragon glittered, its fangs and claws exuding a wildness that was both beautiful and fierce. And it was all done with just two colors: blue and white.
"What do you guys think?" Amami-san asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I personally thought we didn't have enough time, so I was worried."
"Eh? This is insane, Yuu-chin!" Nitta-san exclaimed. "The kids from the other teams are stunned, you know."
She was right. The other teams could only stare in amazement at the quality of our backboard. It was a masterpiece that stood out from the rest.
"Umi, what do you think?" Amami-san asked. "I did my best."
"No, it's not 'did my best,' you overdid it, Yuu," Umi teased, pulling her into a hug. "But, it's amazing! You worked so hard for a whole month."
"Yeah, thanks, Umi… ehehe."
Amami-san, who had looked anxious just moments before, now had a relieved expression on her face. Her first big job, unfamiliar art supplies, the sheer size of the painting… it must have been a struggle, and I was glad her hard work had paid off.
"Ah, Maki-kun, thank you too for helping out, even if it was just for a little bit," she said, turning to me. "See, the part with the water splashes you did, the other members praised it, saying 'it's really well done'."
"What I did was nothing, but… well, if I was able to help everyone even a little, then I'm glad."
"…Everyone."
"Eh?"
"Ah, n-no, it's nothing," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Ehehe, I was just thinking that if you're glad, Maki-kun, then I'm glad too."
I thought I heard her mutter something, but my attention was on the backboard. She was acting as usual, but I knew she must be worried about that picture.
"Anyway, the preparations are done, so let's just enjoy the sports festival today!" Amami-san declared, her energy returning. "And since we're doing this, we're definitely gonna win! Come on, everyone, gather 'round and let's form a circle. For a big cheer to get us going!"
"With just the four of us?" Umi asked. "I don't mind… Maki, come on, you put your hand in too."
"So I'm being forced to participate… but if Umi says so, then yes."
"I feel a bit embarrassed getting all fired up in the morning," Nitta-san admitted, "but I guess this kind of mood is pretty rare, so maybe it's fine. Seki, you join in too."
"Technically we're enemies today, but… if it's to praise the efforts of the five of us."
We placed our hands one by one on top of Amami-san's, forming a small circle. The fake kiss picture, the baseless rumors… the environment around us was still unsettled, but at times like these, we had to unite.
"And with that, Maki-kun, please give us the cheer," Amami-san said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Eh? M-Me? I'm not prepared at all…"
"It's fine, it's fine. A simple cheer like 'Let's do our best, yay!' is enough. Right, Umi?"
"Well, one way or another, you're our leader," Umi agreed. "It might be more fitting for you to do it than Yuu."
"Right. Ah, class rep, if you mess up, you're buying everyone juice," Nitta-san teased.
"Nitta, don't put unnecessary pressure on him," Nozomu chided. "Maki, if you really don't want to, I can do it."
"Thanks, Nozomu. But, I'll do it this time."
When this circle of five was first formed, I thought I was just an accessory to my girlfriend, Umi. But as we spent more time together, I realized they had all gathered because they looked up to me. They respected my thoughts and feelings, and they watched over me kindly. I had no confidence in being a true leader, but I secretly hoped I could become someone they could rely on.
"Alright then… regardless of the result, let's do our best since we're doing this… O-Ohh!"
""""…Pfft."""""
"W-Why are you all laughing?" I grumbled, my face turning red. "I know it's not my thing, so try a little harder to bear with me."
"Fufu, sorry, sorry," Umi giggled. "But you were so cute being all serious, I couldn't help it."
"Ahaha, class rep, you're too nervous over a simple cheer. That's hilarious."
"Maki-kun, you don't have to be so embarrassed. I'll stick with you until the end."
"Sorry, Maki. But, I don't think that's bad at all, you know?"
It was a bit anticlimactic, but maybe this was our style.
"Jeez… anyway, good luck everyone," I said, trying to regain my composure. "But don't overdo it, and be careful not to get injured."
""""Roger."""""
And with that, the curtain was about to rise on the first and last sports festival of our high school lives.
"We, the students, pledge to demonstrate the results of our practice and to make our school's once-every-two-years sports festival as exciting as possible."
With the opening declaration from Nakamura-san, the morning session began. The first events were the three-legged race, the centipede race, the obstacle course, and the scavenger hunt… which meant it was our turn right away.
"Students participating in the three-legged race, please line up at the entrance gate. I repeat—"
As the announcement echoed across the grounds, I felt a series of pats on my back. It was Amami-san and Nitta-san.
"Maki-kun, do your best."
"Class rep, don't fall~"
"I don't know what our rank will be, but I'll try my best."
With their encouragement, I went down from the stands to meet Umi, who was already waiting for me.
"Maki, everything okay? Your leg doesn't hurt, you don't feel sick?"
"Yeah. I'm a little nervous, but other than that, I'm in perfect condition. I went to the bathroom too."
"Good… Um, want to hold hands?"
"…Mhm."
We intertwined our fingers, our hands trembling slightly from nervousness. But as we felt each other's warmth, the trembling subsided. We were ready.
"Maehara-shi, Asanagi-chan, sorry to keep you waiting," Nakamura-san said, arriving with Takizawa-kun. "Fufun, you two are the same as always even in such a conspicuous place. I'm envious."
"Maehara-senpai, Asanagi-senpai, good morning."
"You two, good work."
It was their first big official event as the new student council, and they seemed to be running around frantically.
"Nakamura-san, are you sure you didn't need help today?" Umi asked. "Our promise was until the end of the sports festival, so you can work us as hard as you like."
"Honestly, it's tough, but then you wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself, would you, Asanagi-chan? It's the first and last sports festival since you started dating Maehara-shi, so you should stay by his side as much as possible."
"You think so? But, if anything happens, don't hesitate to call me. I'll help you anytime… with Maki. That's okay, right?"
"Of course."
We hadn't known them for long, but Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun were important to us. And with Takizawa-kun currently working on our behalf, we were especially grateful.
"Um, Takizawa-kun, about that matter…" I whispered, so no one else could hear.
"…"
He didn't say anything, but he gave me a firm nod. He had taken action.
"Thank you," I said, before returning to Umi's side.
—Next up is the three-legged race. Competitors, enter!
At the announcement, we took our positions. The running order and our rivals were the same as in the practice run, but we couldn't let our guard down. We had been practicing just as hard as everyone else.
The red team was currently in the lead, with the other three teams competing for second place. We needed a good rank here to stay in the running.
We tied our ankles together with a cord and stood up.
"Maki, let's have fun, no matter what happens, okay?"
"Yeah. Let's have fun, and win, if it's possible."
"That's the spirit… Alright, well then, shall we go?"
We linked our arms tightly around each other's shoulders, the Idiot couple combo ready for action.
Due to a stumble from our first runner, our team was in last place, but the gap wasn't huge. We could still change the rankings.
"Maehara-senpai, Asanagi-senpai, please do your best," Takizawa-kun called out. "If you can close the gap with the top by just two seconds… no, even one second, the third-year senpai and I will manage somehow."
"…Mhm."
I gave him a firm nod and received the sash from the previous pair.
"Umi."
"Mhm!"
The moment her reply came, we shot off. Our practice start dash was perfect, and we immediately overtook the third-place team.
"Oh, not bad, you Idiot couple!"
"Umi! Maki-kun! Go~!"
The cheers from Nitta-san and Amami-san cut through the noise, and Umi and I reached top speed in an instant. We matched our strides perfectly, putting pressure on the team in front of us. We were about to catch up to second place, but the goal was already in sight.
"Maehara-shi, Asanagi-chan, come on~!"
Aiming for Nakamura-san, who was waving at us from the starting line, we charged at full speed.
"Nakamura-san, please!"
"You bet! Leave the rest to this Nakamura!"
We couldn't get first place, but we tied for second. We had given it our all. All that was left was to watch the others.
"Maki, good work," Umi said, panting slightly. "Our practice paid off, huh?"
"Well, I did endure Umi's tough training regimen."
The nervousness I felt before was gone, replaced by an incredible sense of refreshment. The cheers, the live commentary, the cheering performances in the stands… the excitement was overwhelming, and it made me regret not taking school events seriously until now.
"…Hey, Umi."
"What? …If it's a reward, I'll give properly give you one later."
"Ah, that's not it… Of course, I'd be happy with a reward too."
"…Yeah."
"Thank you, Umi. For showing me this view."
"You're welcome. So? Think we can add it to our album?"
"Absolutely, of course."
Sora-san, who was in the parents' section, must have captured our performance perfectly. I couldn't wait to look back on it later, along with our beach trip and my birthday.
—Now, it's finally time for the anchor showdown! Will the red team run away with it, or will there be an upset from the blue team in second place?
The live commentary hyped up the final leg of the race.
"Takizawa-kun, I'm leaving the rest to you!" I cheered.
In response, the vice president raised his right fist, and a burst of high-pitched cheers erupted from the blue team's stand. That serious expression on his face felt reminiscent of Amami-san from that one time.