The three-legged race, as the name implies, is a sport where the left leg of one person is tied to the right leg of another. While technically an athletic event, it is more often treated as a lighthearted, entertainment-based race meant to add fun and levity to a sports festival.
Because coordination is everything, even a single misstep can lead to spectacular and hilarious falls that delight spectators. According to the rules, any pair that falls must return to the starting line, so despite the 100-meter length, it isn't unusual for some teams to take several minutes just to finish.
But for Class 1-D, this race wasn't a joke. Karuizawa Kei had submitted it as one of the three key team events, meaning they had trained for this moment.
From the very start, Karuizawa and Horikita executed a perfect launch, adjusting their rhythm and stride instantly, quietly chanting "1-2-3" in sync. From a distance, it looked like a single person sprinting.
"If the start goes well, then the next challenge is the pace adjustment," said Sakagami Kazuma, Class 1-B's homeroom teacher, calmly analyzing from the stands.
As a seasoned veteran at the school, Sakagami was deeply familiar with the nuances of the three-legged race.
"The first key is the start—stride length and timing. Kitagawa and Karuizawa had no issues there," he explained to his puzzled students. "But acceleration is where things get tricky. As you try to gain speed, your body subconsciously urges you to move faster—which, in solo races, is fine. But here, both runners must be in perfect sync. Even one person slightly out of rhythm can cause a stumble or even a fall."
As predicted, both teams began accelerating after the start. But quickly, a gap appeared—and surprisingly, it was Kitagawa and Shiina Hiyori who began to lag.
"It's the height difference," Sakagami pointed out.
While some might treat the event as fun, there were strategic aspects—such as whether the pairing was same-gender or mixed. In this case, it was two girls versus a boy and girl. And height played a big role.
Kei and Horikita were roughly the same height, meaning their stride length matched naturally. But Kitagawa, being about 20 centimeters taller than Shiina, had longer legs. In a couple's relationship, that height difference was cute. In a three-legged race, it was a problem.
Even though Hiyori did her best to stretch her stride, the imbalance slowed them down.
"Still, don't worry," Sakagami said cheerfully as he wiped his glasses with a cloth. "This isn't the first time. Some teams intentionally pair tall guys with shorter girls."
"Huh? Doesn't that hurt their chances?" Ishizaki asked, confused.
"Not if the guy leads," Sakagami replied with a grin.
At that moment, Kitagawa's hand, which had been resting on Shiina's shoulder since the start, shifted to hold her tightly. He pulled her close, securing her waist with his other hand.
"Hold on tight."
With those words, Kitagawa half-lifted Shiina into his arms. His right arm powered forward, shifting their combined center of gravity. With one leg leading, Shiina was now essentially being carried by Kitagawa.
It was no longer a two-person run. Kitagawa was doing a solo sprint with extra weight.
It consumed massive stamina, but the results were instant. With gasps from the crowd, the duo's speed doubled, quickly closing the gap with Class 1-D.
This running style was only possible with a male-female pair—and only when they were close. To the audience, it looked as though Shiina clung to Kitagawa like a koala, a pose so suggestive it made some blush.
Shiina's cheek pressed tightly to Kitagawa's chest. She could hear every heartbeat pounding in sync with his footfalls. But something smelled different—a faint fragrance of roses and lavender.
It was like perfume.
But she couldn't think about that now. She had to help him.
"Speed up!"
"If we're going to lose anyway, let's bet it all!"
Noticing Kitagawa gaining, Karuizawa shouted to Horikita, "I'll keep up. Go all out!"
During prep for this event, Horikita was the obvious choice due to her athleticism. But finding a partner was tough. No one could match her pace—except Kei, who volunteered.
Even though their physical abilities differed, Kei could adapt to Horikita's bursts of speed, and more importantly, she shared Horikita's burning desire to beat Kitagawa.
Now, Kei was being dragged forward, barely keeping balance, her foot nearly slipping each time. But she kept pushing. "I can do it! Go faster!"
Their lead was shrinking. Kitagawa was catching up. But Kei refused to fall.
As they neared the finish, Kitagawa and Shiina finally pulled ahead.
"Tch."
Only 15 meters remained.
Horikita's eyes narrowed. She would admit defeat but never accept it.
In a bold move, she wrapped her arm around Kei, mirroring Kitagawa's method. Kei understood instantly, lifting her leg to match Horikita's sprint. The two bounded forward.
In that chaotic movement, Kei brushed past Shiina—a slight contact, but not a foul.
10 meters. 9. 8.
Everyone held their breath.
Then Shiina stumbled. Her foot slipped.
Kitagawa instinctively protected her, shielding her head as they crashed onto the track.
Gasps filled the air.
Kei and Horikita surged past the line.
"Hiyori! Are you okay?"
Kitagawa untied their legs and checked her injuries. Her knees and elbows were scraped, bleeding through her tights.
"I'm sorry, Ryo... we lost."
"That doesn't matter now. Come on, let's get you to the infirmary."
He lifted her effortlessly and carried her off the field.
Class 1-B students swarmed around, worried. The race result momentarily forgotten.
Kei turned back just in time to see Kitagawa holding Hiyori.
"Class 1-D wins the three-legged race! Final score: 4 to 3!"
The announcement rang out.
Horikita waved triumphantly to her brother in the stands. Class 1-D erupted, surrounding Kei and Horikita.
Everything blurred. The cheers felt distant. Time slowed.
"We won!"
With that shout, Kei embraced Horikita.
Then she turned to Hirata, who had just returned.
"Thanks for everything today!"
She gave Miyake a thumbs up. "You were amazing!"
She hugged her friends. "Told you we could do it!"
Laughter and applause followed.
"Karuizawa! Karuizawa!"
Not just her classmates, but students from all grades began to chant her name.
She had beaten Kitagawa Ryo, the hero of the morning.
One person stood to clap. Then another. Then more.
Tears welled up.
In this whirlwind of joy, crying felt completely natural.
Didn't it?
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