"Okay! Now I want 10 laps!" — the P.E. teacher shouted.
Just so you know, we routinely have P.E. class, but today I'll claim my rematch.
"Ryuichi?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's see who's going to finish first."
"Fine for me… is that what you want to hear!? I know you'll win this time."
"Seriously? Just so you know, it's not like I did secret training."
"Like I said before, you would've won if you hadn't sprinted like a madman in the first place. Not to mention you still completed 10 laps even though you were dead tired. Now that you're taking it seriously, I don't stand a chance."
"Then how about this: I'll start running after you finish one lap."
"Okay, deal."
♦♦♦
"Himari-san, how about we help each other stretch?" — I asked her.
"Thanks, Ayame-chan! Hehe, then if you excuse me."
"Come on, don't have weird thoughts."
"Can you blame me? You have a slender figure, I want to know your secret~."
After we started calling each other by first names, we became closer. Though the only person we still don't call by first name is Satou-san.
"Hmm? Ayame-chan, is it me or is Tomoki just standing there while Satou-san is running?"
"No, you're right… Fufu~ I can already guess what's going on. I think it's their rematch."
Not only me but all the girls noticed too.
"Hey! Tomoki's running! He's starting one lap behind—who do you think will win?" — Himari-san asked.
"Tomoki, of course!" — Do I even need to think?
Everybody started watching their race, each trying to guess who would win.
"Everybody, continue your warm-up. This is not a show!" — said the P.E. teacher.
"Yes!" — we could only obey.
However, when Satou-san completed seven laps, things got more interesting.
"Ayame-chan!"
"Yeah, Tomoki started sprinting."
"So, will you cheer for him?"
"Better not, the teacher will scold us."
SATOU! MORIKAWA!
All the girls started cheering. And the P.E. teacher hadn't said anything. Well, I guess everyone wanted to know who would win.
"Ayame-chan, you should cheer for him too."
"Wha—! What are you saying?"
"I'm cheering for Satou-san, so you should cheer for Tomoki. Are you fine letting other girls cheer for him?"
Who would've thought that Tachibana-san— I mean, Himari-san, who once had feelings for Tomoki — would be the one encouraging me to be more present for him?
In a way, it's a blessing she met the boy of her dreams at that summer festival.
"SATOU-SAN! LOSING IS NOT AN OPTION!" — Tachibana-san really cheered… or pressured him.
"TOMOKI! YOU GOT THIS!" — It's really refreshing doing this.
"Hey, Morikawa increased his pace too sudden. At this rate he won't be able to keep it until the last lap." — one classmate commented.
"Well, one lap of disadvantage is tough. He needs to keep this speed or he won't pass Satou-san." — another added.
They're right. Tomoki needs to keep this pace while Satou-san still has stamina to sprint.
…
Wait—he's really closing the gap!?
"Look, Ayame-chan! Satou-san started sprinting!"
"Yeah, he noticed Tomoki catching up. Now he needs to keep up through this lap."
But Tomoki started showing signs of fatigue, while Satou-san still had energy.
"Hmm… I guess this is the end." — the P.E. teacher suddenly said.
"Are you saying Tomoki doesn't stand a chance?" — Himari-san asked.
"No, I'm talking about Satou-san. You probably didn't notice, but he started increasing his pace the moment Morikawa-san started running. He's already tired."
"But he still has stamina to sprint."
"Maybe, but unlike Morikawa, he's not used to sprinting. Jogging doesn't make you faster. And look, Morikawa is using all he has left."
I couldn't believe my eyes. Even though Tomoki was clearly exhausted, he still managed to sprint through the last lap far faster than Satou-san. I guess he really was blessed with physical prowess.
"Ayame-chan, look! Tomoki won!"
"Yeah! I still can't believe it."
Then everyone started applauding both of them. And again, Tomoki's popularity only increased.
"Okay girls! Now all of you, I want 10 laps!"
Now I need to do my part… hmm?
♦♦♦
Pant—pant… Did I win? The only thing on my mind is trying to breathe as much as possible.
"Seriously… pant… either you lied to me or you have talent for this..." — Ryuichi was a mess too.
"That's… pant… because when I was a kid I ran a lot… pant."
"That explains a lot, I guess. You should try being an athlete."
"Nah… I'm nowhere close to the fastest."
"What!? Seriously!?"
Why is he so surprised… oh right, in this world men don't do much physical activity.
"Phew… so Tomoki, can you keep up?"
"Of course I can… just let me… pant… PANT!?"
Shit! Of course my other self wasn't an exception. A sharp pain hit my side as my breathing went wild.
"Hey… Hey! Tomoki!? Are you okay?" — Ryuichi asked.
Yeah! I'm okay.
"Teacher! Tomoki needs help!" — Ayame was overreacting.
I'm fine… just need time.
"Let me see! He's conscious but so tired he can't talk. Morikawa-san, can you walk to the infirmary?"
I nodded.
"Teacher! Let me guide him." — Ryuichi offered.
"I'll help too, in case we need to carry him." — Ayame added.
"Fine, I'll leave him to you both."
Sigh~ what a mess. Now I troubled both of my friends… no, everyone, just because of my rematch. I don't really feel like I won anymore.
"Take your time, okay buddy?" — Ryuichi said.
"You don't need to talk. Just give us signs." — Ayame said.
We walked slowly until we reached the infirmary.
They explained what happened and the male nurse checked me.
"I don't know if I should scold you for overworking your untrained body or praise you for pulling this off." — the male nurse said.
"I'll take both… sorry for the trouble."
"It seems you caught your breath. I'm impressive."
"He said that when he was a kid, he ran a lot." — Ryuichi said.
"I see. But something still doesn't add up. You're obviously not used to sprinting, yet you suddenly ran like that? It's like a retired athlete suddenly performing at full intensity after years away."
"Fufu~ seems like we found another talent of yours." — Ayame said.
"Thanks… I guess?"
I guess it's something close to muscle memory. My dad once told me about that. But in my case, it feels like only my mind can keep up, while my body can't.
"You can go back to class. Just don't overwork again, understood?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you very much!" — I bowed.
Since P.E. was still ongoing, Ayame and Ryuichi returned to the field. I went to the men's restroom to change.
While walking to class, I noticed a small girl carrying a large box.
I may be tired, but I can at least help her.
"Are you okay? Let me carry it for you." — I offered.
"D-Don't worry. I can handle it." — she said, clearly struggling.
"Sorry, but I can't just watch you collapse. Excuse me." — I took the box.
"Thank you. I never imagined a man wou— Mo-Morikawa-sama?"
"—sama?"
"O-Oh… don't mind it. It's just an honor to meet you in person."
"Relax. Besides, you're an upperclassman, right? You don't need to be so formal."
"I-I see..." — still stuttering.
"But I must say, this is really heavy. What are you carrying—!?"
I don't know exactly what's inside, but these two black antennae… I've seen them somewhere… No... it can't be right?
"Could you help me carry it upstairs at least?"
"Don't worry, I can drop it in the room you need."
"I-If you insist."
We climbed the stairs and walked down the corridor until we reached the destination.
"T-Thank you, you can give it to me now."
"Okay, be careful next time, senpai."
I should head to class now. Everyone must be worried.
…
♦♦♦
"Thank you for carrying it here. I would've done it myself, but I needed to finish this assignment first." — the president of the unknown club said.
"Don't worry, president. Actually, it was HIM who helped me." — the petite girl said.
"Him? Wait… you mean HIM? From now on, you're my left hand."
"Seriously, if you keep acting like this, someday you'll realize how embarrassing you acted." — the reasonable girl said.
"Maybe, but I don't care right now. Tell me everything."
"Well… he noticed I was struggling to carry the box, so he eagerly helped me. I couldn't stop stuttering."
"To receive such blessin— I mean, help, is incredible."
"So why did you call us?" — the reasonable girl asked.
"Of course—then, explain what you found."
"I heard that a new male student with a scholarship will transfer this week." — said the girl with the voice recorder.
...
"Wait, that's it?" — the reasonable girl said.
"You're my right hand, but you still need to broaden your perspective. With one male student we already saw big changes in this school… imagine two. Aren't you excited to see what will happen?"
"Fine... you have a point. Anyway, we need to return to class ASAP."
"President, did we really need to move this box from the clubroom to this storage?" — the girl with the recorder asked.
"Of course we did. Imagine if Satou-san saw this by accident—he'd never come to our club again."
"Well, even Morikawa-sama— I mean, Morikawa-san—was scared by it." — said the petite girl.
"PSST, PSST." — The girl with voice recorder.
"Can't you erase that sound?" — Asked the president.