The weekend has passed, and it's now Monday. Two days before the sports festival.
As the final bell rang, Mocha-san, Aria-san, and I went to the SSC clubroom, tending our club, wondering if there's gonna be any requests coming in today.
Looking at our club's activity log, a requirement that every club must submit each month, I notice that most of our records are a bunch of manual labor requested by the student council. Specifically from Shiori-senpai.
Not that I'm complaining, as it's listed in the student council's name, increasing our club's merit. This puts us in a safe line, so we shouldn't get complaints from the school that the club isn't contributing enough to support. In short, we might get our club budget soon as recognition of our club's contributions for the betterment of the school.
*I wonder if Shiori-senpai's still mad at me?* I pondered to myself, staring at our club journal, realizing that Shiori-senpai hasn't come by today, reminding me of what happened days ago at the library.
Just when I try to reflect where I went wrong, a knock on the door interrupted the silence.
*Could that be Shiori-senpai?* my ears perked up, seeing a chance to apologize if it really was Shiori-senpai.
"Come in" I gave permission, to my disappointment, it wasn't Shiori-senpai. Instead, I was surprised to see a familiar face. One of our classmate's.
"Satoru-kun?" I uttered, wondering what one of our classmate's reason for visiting.
After settling in the sofa, with Mocha-san serving coffee, Satoru-kun took a deep breath and revealed his request. "Please, help me win the relay race."
A grin crept my face as I replied, "Sure"
And so that's how Satoru-kun and I got listed at our class's relay race roster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, at the park. Satoru-kun and I decided to meet up and strategize how we should decide the order of our run in the relay. With us, Mocha-san and Haru-san who is part of the same relay team, as well as Aria-san who came in to practice for the three legged race with me as her partner.
As Satoru-kun and Haru-san teach Mocha-san how to run properly, Aria-san and I practiced our synergy for the three legged race.
"Will that girl really be alright?" Aria-san commented in concern, watching Mocha-san trip on herself as the three had their proxy run.
"Haha. It'll be fine." I replied, not really sure myself how it'll work out. However, there one thing I know, as if assuring.
"Haru-san and Satoru-kun is part of our school's track team. They should be able to teach Mocha-san a thing or two before the relay race." Also, as if bragging. "I'm also decently fast as well, so we should be fine in terms of overall speed."
As if turning to the bigger issue. "But for us" Our steps are totally out of sync. Maybe it's due to the difference in height, or that our personality doesn't match well? Either way, this is gonna be a problem if we plan to win this three legged race.
After falling a couple of times, "Why did you even chose me as a partner for this?" I sigh as I mused, "Isn't it about time you befriend the others in class?"
Aria-san pouted, "Hmph. It's just that I'm self-aware that I'm not that athletic." with an smug grin, she continued, "So I'm dragging you down with me."
"Why you..." I wanted to argue, but I know I'll just be wasting my breath from how stubborn she can be.
As I was there, thinking she's doing this just to toy with me, Aria-san haughtily clarified, "But don't get me wrong. I don't really like losing. So try your best to match my phase."
"Aria-san..." *You're the one slowing me down,* is what I wanted to say, but didn't, fearing she might lose motivation.
Meanwhile, on Mocha-san's side:
"Relax your jaw. Shoulders down and back, chest open, no twisting at the torso. Elbows bent eighty to ninety degree angle, swing back and forth, not side to side. For your core and hips, lean like a falling statue. Land under your center of mass, push back, not up. Avoid over striding."
Satoru-kun and Haruka-san coached Mocha-san the proper running posture, aiming to increase Mocha-san's speed.
Taking a short break, "Here, have some water." Haru-san handed Mocha-san a towel, as well as a bottle of water to hydrate.
Breathing heavily, "Thanks" Mocha-san replied, accepting the gesture.
"How about it? Don't you feel a little bit faster?" Haru-san inquired, engaging on small talks.
"Y-Yeah. You're right. I did feel like I've gotten faster" Mocha-san confirmed, feeling that the training is indeed taking effect, even just a little.
Actually, Mocha-san wasn't planning to join any sport, but participation is required. Amongst the girls, she has an average running speed, and just so happens that the relay race was the only spot that's open. Well, there's also the cheerleader option, but Mocha-san is not confident enough to memorize each step, unlike running which was pretty straight forward.
Satoru-kun then speaks his mind, assessing our progress so far. "With this we should be able to manage to take first place in the relays"
Mocha-san then began to wonder, *Why does Satoru-kun want to take first place anyway?"
As if putting into words what Mocha-san was too afraid to say, Haru-san asked Satoru-kun with curiosity, "By the way, why do you want to win the relay race?"
*Nice job, Haru-san.* Mocha-san mentally gave a thumbs up, thinking how convenient Haru-san's timing is.
Satoru-kun just stared of at a distance, replying with a solemn smile, "I heard my girlfriend's ex would be participating. He's part of the same track team as me in this school." He then returned his gaze, grinning at us widely, "I guess I just wanted to look cool in front of her."
"I see..." Haru-san smiled earnestly, a hint of sadness to her tone.
"One two three go, one two three go, one two three go..."
"Looks like those are also starting to get their groove." Satoru-kun commented, watching Aria-san an me no longer falling as much on our feet.
Aria-san and I started to synergize after making some compromises. Just like she said, I tried matching her pace, taking shorter strides as hers the best that I could. We also improve our balance, suggesting to let her arm wrap around my torso and my hands holding her side. "If you try touching anything weird, I'll end you." She warned me, making it difficult at first but we slowly started to get comfortable the longer we maintain our phase.
Breaks over and Mocha-san and her trainers resumed their training.
Pressing the stop watch, "Nice job, Mocha-chi. That last lap was three second faster."
Mocha-san tilted her head, "M-Mocha-chi?" hearing a strange honorific attached to her name.
Haru-san then explained, "Ah, sorry. I always attach chi to my friend's name. It's become a habit. I'll stop if you don't want to."
Mocha-san's eyes lit up, "No, it's okay. Th-then, can I call you Ha-Haru-chi?"
Haru-san grinned and replied, "Sure. Mocha-chi.. Mo-chan-chi... MOCHI!" A lightbulb lit up in Haru-san's head, coming up with a cute nickname to her classmate she thought she could really be close with.
And so we did everything that we could to prepare for tomorrow's sports day. With Mocha-san gaining a new nickname on top of that.