Chapter 5 A Spicy Event, an Accident, and Then…
“Uoooooooh!”
“Go get ’em!”
“Crush the enemy!”
“Show ’em the red team’s the strongest!”
Amid the roars of cheers that bordered on battle cries, me and Sota were hollering just as loud, rooting for our team.
“C’mon, Kaito, you got this!”
“Show ’em what you’re made of!”
At the center of our gazes, the guys were locked in a fierce cavalry battle.
It’s a four-man team event where you snatch headbands from each other’s foreheads, and this year, just like last, the excitement was off the charts—plain as day.
“This is the clash of men! Pride! Soul! All the pent-up frustration of daily life! They’re throwing it all at their opponents in this epic battle! Fight, warriors, fight! Keep fighting and seize the glory that awaits!”The announcer’s hype was honestly outdoing ours.
Part of me wondered what the hell he was seeing or fighting against, but no doubt he was cranking the energy up even higher.
“This ain’t good!”
“Kaito!?”
As we watched intently, Kaito’s team was in a tight spot.
The battle starts with equal numbers of cavalry teams, but as headbands get snatched and teams drop out, the numbers gap widens.
Two other teams were closing in on Kaito’s group, where he was the rider on top, making it a three-against-one situation.
“Aoshima-kun…”
“Is he gonna be okay…?”
Even Arisa and Aina, standing nearby, were starting to worry. But Kaito moved with slick precision.
The three guys under him matched his rhythm perfectly, making it easier for him to maneuver.
It was like watching a single unit—man and horse in perfect sync—dodging enemy attacks. Then, with a massive bellow, Kaito turned the tables and took down the oncoming opponents.
“Whoa!”
“That was insane…!”
“So cool!”
“Impressive.”
We were all losing it, totally swept up in the moment.
Kaito’s team kept that momentum, mowing down their opponents, and the red team scored a complete victory against the blue and yellow teams.
Drenched in sweat—the proof of his hard-fought battle—Kaito came back to us. We exchanged high-fives to celebrate.
“Nice work.”
“That was awesome.”
“Hell yeah, I gave it my all!”
Kaito grinned, clearly pleased with himself. Damn, that’s a good smile.
“That concludes the morning program. We’ll now take a one-hour lunch break before starting the afternoon events.”With that announcement, lunch break began.
As students started heading off in groups, I took Arisa and the others to meet up with Grandpa and the gang. They’d already set up lunch, and the bento boxes Sakuna-san made were giving off a mouthwatering aroma.
“Whoa… smells amazing.”
“Fufu, eat up to fuel yourself for the afternoon♪”
“Well, damn… this looks delicious.”
“I wanted to cook too, but this time I left it all to Sakuna-san.”
Makes sense. Grandpa and Grandma only joined us this morning, so whipping up something beforehand would’ve been tough with all the travel.
Grandma’s cooking is top-tier, but I guess that’ll have to wait for another time.
“Hey, hey! Can I sit next to Grandpa!?”
“Then I’ll take a seat by Grandma-sama’s side.”
Maybe because they only got to chat briefly before the opening ceremony, Arisa and Aina couldn’t wait any longer and plopped down next to Grandpa and Grandma.
“Hoho! Go right ahead, go right ahead! Having cute girls like you next to me is more than welcome!”
“Yay! Grandpa, peace sign!”
“Peace it is, peace it is!”
“Grandpa? If you get too excited, you’ll hurt yourself again like earlier.”
“I won’t make that mistake again, old lady. I’m as fit as—ow!?”
“Grandpa-sama!?”
Did I just hear a nasty crack…?
“You okay!?”
“He’s fine, Aina-chan, and you too, Arisa-chan. This is just his punishment for getting too excited around young girls.”
“H-Huh…”
“C’mon, old lady… ain’t that a bit harsh?”
“Don’t care.”
“…Ugh, shot down.”
Yeah, he’s fine.
Arisa and Aina had been genuinely worried about Grandpa, but after that husband-and-wife comedy routine, they breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, clearly amused.
I was enjoying the show too, but my stomach growled, demanding food. I clapped my hands together and reached for the bento with my chopsticks.
“Munch… yeah… delicious.”
“Thank you, Hayato-kun♪”
“Nah, I’m the one who should be thanking you. This bento’s seriously good.”
When I said that, Sakuna-san, sitting next to me, blushed and smiled.
I could tell she was thrilled by the compliment, but that expression brought back memories of last night.
Me and Sakuna-san… no, just a memory I’m keeping locked away in my head.
“Something wrong?”
“Nah, it’s nothing!”
I’m terrible at keeping secrets, so I gotta be careful… this is one thing I’m taking to the grave!
“Munch! Munch… mph!?”
“Hayato-kun, water!”
In my rush to cover it up, I ate too fast and choked hard.
Sakuna-san handed me water, and I forced the food down, coughing a few times before finally settling.
“…Phew.”
“Hayato, you okay?”
“You good?”
“Y-Yeah… sorry, I’m fine.”
Man, getting this rattled is pathetic.
As Sakuna-san rubbed my back, Grandpa chuckled and said,
“This is the first time I’ve seen Hayato interacting with Sakuna-san and the others like this, but it really feels like you’ve found some wonderful people, huh?”
Grandma nodded, adding,
“Truly. Seeing Hayato smiling and getting along so well with others… it’s like stepping back in time.”
Back in time… probably to when Mom and Dad were still alive.
Back when I never imagined they’d be gone, when I believed we’d always be together. Back when I didn’t know the pain of losing family, when I was wrapped in their love.
(…No, I still feel that love now.)
Sure, Mom and Dad aren’t by my side anymore.
But I know they’re watching over me from above… and that’s why I still feel their love—I believe that with all my heart.
“Grandpa, Grandma.”
I paused eating and looked them in the eyes.
“I’m… really happy. Meeting Arisa, Aina, and Sakuna-san was the best thing that could’ve happened… I know I’ve said it before, but still.”
I’d told them over the phone and when I visited, but I wanted to say it again.
I haven’t quite figured out how to explain that I’m dating both Arisa and Aina—it’s complicated—but I’ll have to tell them eventually. For now, this is enough.
“We know, Hayato. Seeing you happy, seeing you smile—that’s our happiness too.”
“Exactly. Though I’ll admit, I’m a tiny bit jealous of Arisa-chan, Aina-chan, and Sakuna-san. As the ones who dote on you, we can’t help but want to be the ones making you happiest.”
Grandma narrowed her eyes as she spoke.
Her gaze shifted to Arisa beside her, then to Aina, and finally to Sakuna-san next to me.
There was a hint of sharpness in her eyes, but they were undeniably filled with kindness as she continued.
“Please, keep looking after Hayato.”
“Grandma…”
…Man, how lucky am I to have a family like this?
I’ve never once thought I wasn’t blessed, but having people who shower me with this much kindness and care… that’s gotta be the greatest fortune I could ask for.
“Yes, I’ll stay by Hayato-kun’s side.”
“Leave it to us! We’ll keep Hayato-kun smiling!”
“Though my daughters may take center stage, I’ll do my utmost to watch over Hayato-kun as well.”
And so, they said those words to me.
My tear ducts were already on the verge of breaking, and their words hit like a sucker punch. Still, I managed to press a handkerchief to my eyes and hold it together.
Now, then.
The mood had gotten a bit heavy in front of the delicious bento, but from there, it shifted into a lunch break filled with nonstop smiles.
“Hey, hey, Grandpa, Grandma! Tell us something about Hayato-kun we don’t know!”
“Hohoho! There’s plenty to tell! Might be embarrassing for Hayato, though… what do you say?”
“Considering how close we are to Hayato-kun, knowing these things is important. Please, do tell.”
“You’re not seriously gonna spill that, are you, Grandpa? That’s just too pitiful for Hayato! Not only did he oversleep, but he wet the bed and tried to hide it by chucking the blankets out the window!”
“Grandma!?”
“Wait, that actually happened!?”
“Little Hayato was wild…!”
“It happened, alright! …Wait, old lady, you’re actually telling them!?”
“……Oh my, did I say that?”
Oh my doesn’t cut it…!
I wanted to plug my ears as the embarrassing stories unfolded, but if Arisa and Aina were having fun, I’d just have to suck it up… no choice!
If only I could block my ears and be done with it.
Even so, there was no mistaking the overwhelming love I felt from both Grandpa and Grandma.
“……Goddamn, you guys love me too much.”
Yeah, talk about an ego trip.
Arisa and Aina were completely engrossed, listening to Grandpa and Grandma dish about me.
Sakuna-san, sitting right next to me, seemed just as curious—nodding, smiling, or gasping in surprise, keeping herself plenty busy.
“Uh… is it really that fun?”
“Oh, it’s tons of fun♪ Talking face-to-face like this makes it hit even harder.”
“……Ugh.”
If they’re enjoying themselves… fine, I guess.
Grandpa and Grandma didn’t just focus on Arisa and Aina—they clearly hadn’t had their fill of talking with Sakuna-san either, tossing conversation her way every now and then.
To me, it felt like they were doting on her the way parents dote on a daughter… almost like how they used to with Mom.
“Hohoho, this is just too much fun, ain’t it, old lady?”
“It really is. We’re getting forgetful with age, but when it comes to Hayato, I remember every little thing.”
Out of nowhere, they drop something that tugs at my heart in the best way.
My eyes started burning, and if I let my guard down, I’d be crying. I barely held it together, but they’ve gotta stop hitting me with stuff like that out of the blue.
I’m weak to that kind of thing… even if I brace myself, when it’s Grandpa or Grandma, I can’t hold back the tears.
“Grandpa-sama and Grandma-sama really love Hayato-kun, don’t they?”
“Fufu, just like us♪”
“Of course we do! Hayato’s our treasure, after all!”
“Ufufu, Grandpa’s right. Seeing Hayato’s smile honestly makes me feel like my life’s getting longer—no joke.”
Oh, man… I’m gonna cry, but the embarrassment’s unreal.
The stories about me kept coming, but we managed to polish off every last bite of Sakuna-san’s bento while the excitement carried on.
“Aina-chan, you sure can eat, huh…?”
“It’s just so delicious♪”
By the way, Aina’s appetite was on full display here, leaving Grandpa dumbfounded, which was pretty hilarious.
After that, we parted ways with Grandpa and Grandma again.
Instead of heading back to our team’s base, we still had some time and wanted to spend it quietly together, so we made our way to the rooftop.
I figured we’d bail if anyone was there, but as expected, it was empty.
The noise of the sports festival still reached us up here, though—nobody around, but you could hear the distant cheers and commotion.
“Mmm! So spacious~!”
Aina thrust her arms skyward, stretching with a look of pure bliss.
Arisa and I gave her a wry smile before heading to the opposite side of the entrance, sitting against the wall.
This spot was shaded from the sun, and with pipes and stuff around, it’d block us from view if anyone showed up… which, now that I think about it, makes us sound like delinquent students.
“Let’s head back in, like, twenty minutes?”
“Ehh?”
“Then it’s lovey-dovey time ’til then♪”
Once it was just the three of us, this was bound to happen.
The rooftop’s shade was breezy, cooler than the tents on the field. If we spread out a sheet and lay down, I’d probably pass out in a heartbeat.
“Hayato-kun’s Grandpa and Grandma are so kind.”
“Yeah. But… Fufu, you looked a little embarrassed, Hayato-kun.”
“Uh… can we drop that topic for now? It’s embarrassing.”
I’m happy, okay? Super happy.
But remembering it mixes joy with embarrassment into this weird emotional mess, so can we just pause that for a sec!?
My plea seemed to get through, because both of them sidled up to me with a mischievous lick of their lips.
“Then how about we do something really happy to overwrite it?”
“Totally on board♪ So, Hayato-kun, what do you want?”
“…………”
Just being close like this would be enough.
That’s easy to say, but I know that’s not what they’re after… of course, they want to go all out, within the time limit, with maximum devotion.
(…Man, this is beyond luxurious… am I gonna get punished for this someday?)
If I do get punished, what would it even be? Eh, whatever.
We’re just lovers, nurturing our feelings for each other.
“……Alright, then—”
“Say anything you want.”
“So exciting… I’m all tingly!”
Before I could finish, their hands were already on my lower half.
Between the morning break’s touchy-feely moments and the vibe they’re giving off now, I’m obviously getting worked up.
“Honestly, I still feel like… doing this at school is kinda… but I can’t go back like this, so… can you, uh, help me clear my head?”
“Leave it to us.”
“Yup!”
In perfect sync, they moved in front of me and started their naughty service.
“I love taking care of you like this.”
“Right? And it’s so cute when it twitches♪”
Their gentle hands and skillful tongues felt incredible.
Just like they were my first, I was theirs… and the more practiced we get at this, the more times we’ve done it, but… damn, they’re really good.
“Feel good?”
“Yeah… it’s amazing.”
Arisa’s got me in her mouth, so Aina’s the one asking.
The lewd slurping sounds—ones you’d never hear at school—amp up my excitement, while the thrill of doing this at school adds a layer of delicious guilt.
“My turn now!”
“Ugh, already!?”
Aina swapped with Arisa.
Her slow, teasing tongue, gauging my reactions, gave way to her usual high-energy intensity.
I’m fighting to keep my hips from bucking when Arisa mutters,
“You stripped Aina down earlier, and now you’re holding back?”
“Ugh…”
She’s… not wrong. I didn’t just strip her—I groped her like crazy, didn’t I?
“Nee-san, let’s lick together?”
“Got it.”
Arisa nodded and joined in.
They took turns licking and sucking, and watching them from above sent another surge of excitement through me.
I was this close… when the unthinkable happened.
“See? Told you no one’s here.”
“Yup.”
“Hey, wanna kiss?”
“Hell yeah.”
Some other students showed up.
I couldn’t see their faces, and their voices weren’t familiar, so they’re probably not people we run into often… but they sound like a couple.
“W-Wait, you two—”
“……Fufu.”
“……Ehehe.”
Even with people here, Arisa and Aina had no intention of stopping.
While that couple’s making out over there, we’re doing something naughty in secret… what’s going through Arisa and Aina’s heads right now?
They’re looking up at me, clearly enjoying themselves… what are they thinking?
Then, out of nowhere, they locked eyes and started playing rock-paper-scissors.
Arisa threw rock, Aina threw scissors… Arisa’s win.
“Darn… alright, Nee-san, you take it.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
After that exchange, Arisa took me in her mouth with a pop.
No gentle teasing this time—she was going hard, like Aina, aiming to finish me off.
“Should we head back? We’ll pick this up after the festival.”
“Hiding like this… kinda hot, right?”
“Totally!”
Sounds like the couple’s leaving.
The moment the door clanged shut, I finished in Arisa’s mouth.
“Lucky you, Sis…”
“Not sharing.”
With a gulp, Arisa swallowed.
At this point… they’re just too damn sexy. I knew it already, but their erotic level keeps breaking the ceiling day after day.
And it’s not just the naughty stuff—their sweet, romantic moments as lovers are leveling up too… whew, these girls are something else.
“Thanks, both of you… that was insanely good.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.”
“Hearing that makes me so happy♪ But, like, that was kinda thrilling, right? The whole ‘will we get caught or not’ vibe was super exciting♡”
I gave a wry smile at Aina’s words, but the fact that I got what she meant was its own problem.
“Knowing it’s wrong but still getting that thrill of guilt, huh?”
“Exactly!”
“Guess that’s just us being young. Of course, it’s better to be careful.”
Despite what we’d just been up to, the vibe stayed light and warm as we left the rooftop behind.
The first event of the afternoon was the three-legged race, with me and Arisa up to bat. We headed back to our team’s base and immediately tied our legs together with the rope.
“We’re about to kick off the afternoon program. All participants for the three-legged race, please gather at the entrance gate.”Right on cue. Following the announcement, we made our way to the gate.
It’d probably take a bit for all the participants to show up… or so I thought, when I noticed Arisa fidgeting with her legs.
Bathroom break…?
But that wasn’t it. Catching my gaze, she leaned in close and whispered.
“I’m… wet.”
“……Huh?”
Wet? Like… that kind of wet?
“Taking care of you got me… you know. C’mon, you get it, right?”
“S-Sorry…”
That’s on me for not thinking it through…!
Yeah, guys like me can just finish and be done, but for girls, it’s a whole different deal…
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just thinking naughty thoughts about you gets me soaked… so doing that much was bound to lead to this.”
“R-Right…”
I had my thoughts, but for now, Arisa and Aina would just have to bear with it.
“It’s already so hot out. Once we start moving, it’ll just blend in with the sweat.”
“Is that how it works…?”
“Totally.”
I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works, but let’s just go with it.
She laughed, despite the sneaky nature of our conversation, but then tilted her head with a curious huh.
Her gaze landed on the red team’s base, where Aina was standing with her arms crossed, wearing a school uniform jacket over her gym clothes.
“What’s she up to…?”
“Oh, that’s my old middle school jacket I lent her. Said she wanted to cheer us on with extra spirit.”
“I see… huh.”
The sports festival was hitting its second half.
Like last year, the cheering from all teams gets intense in the afternoon, so Aina’s probably hyping herself up in her own way.
Plus, it looked like she’d coordinated with some friends—there were quite a few girls around her rocking school jackets too.
“If she’s going that hard for us, we gotta step up.”
“Right.”
“And look, the other guys are pretty fired up too, yeah?”
It’s not just the girls cheering us on—some of the guys brought in drums, clearly set on hyping things up. Everyone’s probably feeling the pressure to live up to that energy.
“All right, participants, please enter the field!”Here we go. Time for the first afternoon event… let’s do this!
Just like the earlier events, we jogged onto the field under the guidance of the teachers and the sports committee.
With our legs tied together, the three-legged race kinda starts the moment you head out—some pairs were already stumbling on their way over.
“Fufu, their teamwork’s pretty sloppy.”
“Talk about high and mighty…”
“We’ve earned that right, haven’t we?”
Arisa puffed out her chest proudly, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She’s got a point.
We’re not trying to brag over the other pairs, but from what we saw in practice, no one was as in sync as us.
Still, the three-legged race is a relay, so it’s up to the whole red team to pull together and grab the win.
“The participants are ready! The three-legged race is always a heated event, but what’ll happen this year? Keep an eye on the pairs after they finish! Will they celebrate a smooth run, or will a lack of sync lead to some drama? It’s a spectacle!”Oi, quit with the doom-and-gloom commentary…
The announcer’s been hyping things up like this all morning, and as always, it’s a hit, drawing laughs from students and parents alike.
“On your marks, get set, go!”
With the teacher’s shout and the pistol’s bang, the first pairs took off.
None of the three teams tripped, but they were moving so cautiously it was practically a dead heat.
By the way, me and Arisa are just before the anchor, so we’ve got a while before our turn.
“……Phew.”
“Nervous?”
Arisa must’ve noticed my deep breath.
Yeah… like during the borrowing race, getting all this attention is seriously nerve-wracking.
“You nervous too, Arisa?”
“I am. But with you by my side, I’m totally fine.”
“……Haha, right. Then I’m good too.”
Arisa’s something else, though.
She says she’s nervous, but her cool, composed beauty vibe doesn’t waver one bit.
I wanna take a page out of her book, but since she and Aina keep spoiling me, saying my expressive face is cute… man, they’re way too soft on me.
“Hayato-kun, let’s move up.”
“Yeah.”
Our turn was getting close.
The red team was falling behind—way behind. The blue and yellow teams were neck-and-neck, but we were trailing by almost half a lap.
It was because one of our pairs had fallen earlier.
The girl seemed fine, but the guy had scraped his knee bad enough that I could almost feel the sting from here…
The rankings didn’t budge after that, and the half-lap gap stayed as our turn finally came.
“Go! Go! Re~d team!”
“Let’s go, let’s go, red team!”
Aina’s cheers rang out louder than ever, and as we tagged in with the pair that ran up, we took off.
Half a lap behind, but it’s too early to give up… especially since, as expected, Arisa and I were perfectly in sync.
(It doesn’t matter how we run—it just works. No fear at all.)
Yeah, there wasn’t a single wasted movement.
It felt exactly like practice, closing the gap bit by bit. Catching up completely might be a stretch, but we could at least find a shot at victory.
Then, out of nowhere, disaster struck.
“Woof!”
“What!?”
“Huh!?”
A dog suddenly darted out with an energetic bark.
It was obviously someone’s pet, but trying to dodge it was a mistake.
Arisa and I lost our balance and went down hard.
The scream that rang out was weirdly vivid, but more than the pain shooting through my body, I was worried about Arisa.
“Arisa!?”
“……Ow.”
I prayed it was nothing, but she was clutching her left ankle.
It looked like she’d twisted it badly when we fell, her face contorted in pain.
The dog had vanished—probably back to its owner.
“I’m okay… let’s go, Hayato-kun.”
“R-Right.”
She managed to stand, but there was no way she could run.
Amid the roaring cheers and concerned voices asking if we were okay, I thought for a split second—and my body moved on its own.
First, I crouched down and untied the rope binding our legs.
“Hayato-kun…?”
“I’m getting you to the finish line.”
“Wait—kya!?”
I dropped the rope and scooped Arisa up.
It’s basically a princess carry, but given the situation, just let it slide.
“Hey! I’m not that light, you know…?”
“I know… but I’ve already picked you up.”
Girls probably always want to hear they’re light, but a seventeen-year-old girl has some weight, so honestly, running like this is no joke.
But now that I’ve lifted her, I’ve got no choice but to run!
Falling already sealed our last-place finish.
Still, we put in a ton of practice, and this result would suck for Arisa… but more than that, I want to cross the finish line with her.
“Hayato~! You got this~!”
“You’re already stealing the show, now show ’em what a man you are!!”
…Tch, those guys.
Ignoring the strain on my body and the burning in my lungs, I just ran… ran!
It wasn’t just my friends’ cheers pushing me forward.
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My red team classmates, even seniors and juniors from other teams, were cheering for us.
“Hayato-kun! Keep it up!”
“Hayato! Show some guts!”
I could hear Sakuna-san and Grandpa’s voices too.
“Hayato-kun! Go for it~! Get to the finish with Nee-san~!!”
And of course, Aina’s voice came through loud and clear.
In that moment, the exhaustion in my arms from carrying Arisa seemed to vanish, and I forgot to even breathe—just kept moving my legs.
“……You got this, Hayato-kun!”
Arisa, nestled in my arms, said it with a hint of guilt.
No need for that look… I nodded, determined to get us to the finish line, and let out a massive roar.
“Daaaaaaaah!”
Just a bit more… just a bit… almost there!
I thought I was running pretty fast, but the goal line felt agonizingly far. Still, I powered through with Arisa in my arms, leaving the baton pass to her since she could still use her hands.
“……Haa… haa…!”
After crossing the line, I got a surprising round of applause, but I was too wiped out to react. I set Arisa down and collapsed onto the ground.
“Hayato-kun, you okay…?”
“Yeah… but I’m dead tired.”
I was gasping, my body screaming.
Running normally is one thing, but sprinting half a lap around the track while carrying someone? Never done that before… no wonder I’m beat.
“You good, Domoto?”
“That was insane, Domoto!”
“Looked damn cool!”
It wasn’t just Arisa checking on me—other students crowded around too, offering words of praise and patting my back.
Carrying a girl princess-style was a total break from the three-legged race rules, but no one seemed to care, so that was a relief.
“Your foot okay, Shinjo-san?”
“It still hurts a bit… Hayato-kun, you go on ahead.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
…Alright, I’ll leave Arisa to the teachers for now.
As for the three-legged race, our red team came in last, but our overall ranking across all events was a solid second, closing in on first—not bad at all.
“Phew… I’m exhausted.”
Seriously… I’m wiped.
My arms were dangling, too tired to even flex… and with that fatigue, I dragged myself back to our base, where Aina, Sota, and Kaito greeted me.
“Great job, Hayato-kun! You were so cool!”
“Man, you were straight-up a heartthrob out there!”
“You’re one hell of a guy.”
“Haha…”
Yeah, getting hyped up like this ain’t half bad.
But I couldn’t just say “thanks” and leave it at that—not with the accident that happened to Arisa.
“Wait, Hayato-kun! You scraped your elbow!”
“Huh?”
Only then did I notice the scrape on my elbow.
I didn’t feel it earlier—probably because I was so exhausted and too worried about Arisa to care.
It didn’t hurt much… but it was caked in dirt, so I’d better clean it.
“Good thing we’ve got water for this.”
“Got some bandages too.”
“Why’re you guys so prepared?”
I gave a wry grin at their over-the-top readiness, but Sota and Kaito moved like a well-oiled machine, washing the scrape and slapping a bandage on it.
“Thanks.”
“No biggie.”
“Yeah! But… how’s Shinjo-nee doing?”
Kaito’s question made Aina’s face cloud with worry.
Hoping to ease her nerves, I casually took her hand—just as Arisa came back.
“Nee-san!”
“Arisa! You okay!?”
“How’s your foot?”
Aina and our friends rushed over, but… she looked alright, didn’t she?
I figured the pain was just bad in the moment, enough to keep her from walking. Arisa reassured us before explaining.
“I think I’m fine, but it still hurts a bit. It’s not so bad I can’t walk, but they said it could get worse, so I should sit out the rest of the events and let someone else take my spot.”
“……Got it.”
“Ugh… but it’s not like you broke a bone or anything, right?”
“If it was broken, I wouldn’t be walking, would I?”
“Oh! Yeah, true!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the carefree exchange.
But yeah… I’d considered the possibility, but if the teachers said to rest, that’s the move. Even if they hadn’t, Aina, me, and Arisa’s friends would’ve stopped her for sure.
My eyes caught the compress on Arisa’s ankle as she stepped in front of me.
“Sorry for worrying you, Hayato-kun.”
“Of course I was worried… but it looks like nothing too serious?”
“Yeah, probably fine. You heard, but just to be safe, I’m sitting out the relay.”
“Smart call. If it gets worse, we’ll have Sakuna-san take you to the hospital.”
“Right… Fufu.”
“What’s up?”
Arisa suddenly covered her mouth, chuckling.
It wasn’t like she was remembering something funny—more like a smile brimming with affection aimed right at me.
“That accident was unexpected, and it did hurt… but I’m glad you didn’t get hurt, Hayato-kun.”
“I’m built tough.”
“Oh? Even after pulling a muscle?”
“Ugh…”
“Kidding aside, for that brief moment… I felt like a princess. You were so cool, Hayato-kun.”
“……Yeah.”
My face burned, and I turned away to hide it. When the hell am I gonna learn that’s the most obvious move…?
“Domoto-kun, you were seriously cool.”
“Like a prince!”
“I’m impressed.”
“What’s your deal, huh…?”
No need to say I got even more embarrassed with all the praise piling on.
Arisa’s injury from the three-legged race was a hiccup, but the program moved on without further issues, leading up to the final event: the color relay.
Our red team was sitting in first place.
The points were close, though—close enough that the team that wins this relay is guaranteed the overall victory. Talk about a perfect setup.
“Now, for the final event: the color relay! To the athletes—no, the champions who’ll decide victory—stand tall, carry your courage, and gather at the entrance gate!”“Uoooooooh!”
“Let’s do this!!”
“We’re taking the win!”
“No way, it’s ours!”
Alright, last event—here we go.
I slapped my cheeks lightly, psyching myself up as I stood.
Aina and Kaito, also running in the relay, lined up beside me. Their faces were brimming with determination—reliable as hell.
“Hayato-kun, Aina, Aoshima-kun, give it your all.”
“We’re cheering for you, so go kill it!”
“Hell yeah.”
“Yup!”
“Leave it to us!”
With Arisa and Sota’s encouragement in our hearts, we headed to the entrance gate and soon charged back onto the field.
The final event had the crowd at peak excitement.
Running under all these eyes made me nervous, but I shook it off—no time for that now.
“On your marks… get set—”
Bang! The pistol fired, kicking off the color relay, the final event.
Aside from passing the baton, it’s all about raw speed. Athletes from sports clubs have the edge, but even non-athletes have to give it everything they’ve got.
“Wow… the energy’s insane.”
“No kidding.”
Everyone was running with desperate intensity.
Not a single person was holding back, and that’s why the cheers echoing across the field—and my own shouts as I waited my turn—were so damn fired up.
“I… I really wanna win this.”
Aina, right beside me, muttered it.
Only me and Kaito, standing nearby, caught her words. I was the first to respond.
“We’re gonna win.”
“Hayato-kun…”
“I mean, we’ve got me, you, and Kaito.”
“Damn straight. If we’re doing this, we’re winning! That’s the best way to end it!”
“Haha! Yeah!”
That’s it—keep that smile and have fun.
Aina’s grin was almost predatory, like a leopard eyeing its prey, but that kind of expression is cute as hell… Whoa, gotta stop staring at her and get my head in the game!
“……We got this, we got this, we got this… huh?”
I glanced toward the red team’s base.
Arisa, now wearing my school jacket over her shoulders after taking it from Aina, stood up and locked eyes with me.
“……Heh.”
I shot her a thumbs-up.
Guys always wanna look cool for girls, right? Wanna be their hero.
Arisa’s probably still got that pumpkin-costume version of me stuck in her head, so I gotta up my game here… and not just for her, but for Aina and Sakuna-san too, right…?
“Hayato-kun, move up!”
“Oh, crap, sorry.”
Crap, crap.
No time to think about Jack—focus on what’s in front of you, Hayato! Kick that stupid pumpkin out of your head!
I could’ve sworn that smug, annoying grin was yelling at me, but whatever—forgotten!
While I was shaking that off, it was finally Kaito’s turn to run.
“You got this, Kaito!”
“Leave it to me.”
By the way, the red team’s holding first place right now.
With this being the final relay, there’s a lot of fast runners out there, but Kaito’s the type to pull ahead and give us some breathing room. The problem’s me.
Even if the gap closes, my job’s to keep it as tight as possible.
“……Here I go.”
With those short words, Kaito grabbed the baton and took off.
He’s running like he’s hell-bent on giving me and Aina an easy handoff, charging forward with a warrior’s intensity. To live up to that fierce look, I’m gonna run my heart out too!
“Hayato-kun, you got this♪”
“……Phew, yeah.”
Aina’s soft voice reached me as I waited my turn.
Not serious, just her usual playful tone with a bright smile—grateful for that, I took my spot at the handoff zone.
Kaito had opened up a solid gap, and I grabbed the baton from him—got it!
From there, I didn’t hear a thing… All I could think about was getting this baton to Aina.
(Run, run, run, run…!)
My mind chanted it like a mantra, over and over.
Arisa, Aina, Sota, Kaito… Grandpa, Sakuna-san—they’re all cheering for me right now, I bet. Yelling their lungs out, probably.
But I was so focused, I couldn’t even hear their voices.
Even if I was out of breath, even if I hit my limit, I kept pushing myself—run a full lap without slowing down, keep going, damn it!
“…Gaaahhh!”
With just a bit left, I let out a yell.
In that moment, sound came rushing back, shaking my eardrums—huge cheers, and among them, the voices of the girls I love, loud and clear.
“Hayato-kun! Keep it up!”
“That’s it, that’s it! You’re killing it!”
Their cheers gave me one last burst of strength.
Like I was pulling power beyond my limits, I sped toward Aina at a pace that shocked even me.
I slapped the baton firmly into her outstretched hand as she started running, passing the torch.
“Here!”
“Got it!”
Watching Aina’s back as she took off, the reality of finishing my leg hit me, and a wave of exhaustion crashed over.
So tired… so damn tired… ugh!
I wasn’t thinking at all while running—hell, I might’ve forgotten to breathe—because the fatigue when I stopped was unreal.
“Gotta cheer… gotta cheer…!”
My breathing was still a mess, but I switched right to cheering.
Aina, now with the baton, was blazing fast, showing off her killer athleticism without holding back.
“……Whoa.”
But I couldn’t help letting out a sound when I noticed something.
It’s like during the obstacle race—when a girl with a figure like Aina’s runs all-out… her massive chest was bouncing like crazy. No, dancing!
The final event’s grand finale, like some kind of victory rondo, huh… Wait, what am I even saying?
“Damn…”
“They’re really bouncing, huh.”
“Think you could cop a feel if you were Shinjo-san’s boyfriend?”
Oi, quit gawking and cheer, damn it.
I’ll admit I was thinking about Aina’s chest too, so we’re even… but staring at someone’s girlfriend like that’s a crime, so I just shot them a glare and left it at that.
“C’mon… you got this!!”
I shouted as loud as I could, pouring everything into cheering.
It felt like Aina picked up her pace right then—not my imagination, because for a split second, I swear I saw her smile as she ran.
“Hayato, let’s get up front to cheer!”
“Got it.”
Kaito pushed my shoulder, and we moved right up to the line.
It’s the final event, so tons of students were cheering like us, and as long as you don’t blatantly break the rules, no one’s gonna call you out.
“……Hey, Kaito.”
“What’s up?”
“Everybody’s like this, but… when someone’s giving it their all, they look so damn cool.”
Aina, running right now, is like that. So was Arisa.
Sota, Kaito, Sakuna-san who ran with us… and all our classmates, seniors, juniors—I got to see so much of that today.
It’s just… it was so damn fun.
“Everybody looks cool when they’re giving it their all. Look, your girl’s coming up.”
“Yeah.”
Aina just passed the baton to the next runner.
Panting and slowing to a walk, she came jogging over with a look that screamed I did it.
“Nice job, Aina.”
“Yup♪ You too, Hayato-kun♪”
Smiling wide, Aina wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Like me, she gave everything in this relay… and that’s why she’s got that satisfied grin.
“Alright, Hayato-kun, let’s cheer for the last leg!”
“Got it!”
Spurred on by Aina, we started cheering for our teammates again.
Win or lose, this would decide it all—yelling until our throats gave out, but having a blast until the very end.
And finally, the anchor crossed the finish line, and the rankings were set.
The result—red team took first, and with that, our second-year class clinched the overall championship.
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