"It was an amazing race, wasn't it?!" Urara said, her energy still overflowing despite their loss.
Rush lowered her head. Bitterness sank deep within her. Guilt followed close behind. They had lost because of her—because she hesitated, because she lost hold of herself when it mattered most.
"I'm sorry, Urara," Rush muttered. "We lost because of me… and you failed to beat Mary because of me. Everyone gave their best, yet I fumbled during my part."
She paused,
"I'm truly… not someone as impressive as you think I am. I'm just the worst…" she choked.
Tears threatened to be spilled, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to cry in front of Urara, and especially in the middle of the hallway.
Urara simply grinned.
"Then we'll win next time!" she declared.
Rush blinked.
"Maybe we failed today, or even the next time. But that doesn't mean there won't be a tomorrow for us to try again! Or the day after that… or the next!"
"Urara…" Rush muttered, speechless.
Unlike her, Rush had always been quick to surrender when things turned ugly. Yet Urara—who rarely stood at the top, who stumbled far more than most—never seemed defeated.
Perhaps that was her true strength.
Not overwhelming speed.
Not prodigious talent.
But the refusal to stay down after falling.
Before Rush could gather her thoughts, Urara suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Come on, let's go! I'm starving after all that running!" Urara said, already pulling her down the corridor as if nothing had happened.
"W–Wait, Urara!" Rush yelped, stumbling after her.
As they moved through the hallway, Rush studied Urara at her back. How could she carry all that brightness, all that optimism, so naturally?
"How can I... How can I be like you, Urara...?" she uttered, "How can I be someone without a care for the world, without a care for the voices from others. And to just be... you...?"
"I… I want to be like you, Urara…" she added as they disappeared down the corridor together.
***
***
***
After a few minutes of running...
Just as they were about to return to their classroom for lunch, a blur rushed past them.
It was Lidden.
She sprinted down the corridor—only to trip over her own feet.
"Ah!" she yelped before face-planting onto the floor, sprawling like a gecko against the tiles.
"Lidden, are you alright?"
"Lin-chan!"
Rush and Urara hurried toward her.
Meanwhile, Lidden pushed herself upright and turned, meeting their worried faces. Urara quickly extended a hand, pulling her back onto her feet.
After regaining her feet, Lidden brushed off her uniform and bowed repeatedly. "Th— thank you!"
After thanking them, she asked urgently, her fists curled near her chest, "Have you guys seen Young?!"
"Wh— no, I didn't…" Rush, startled by her urgency, answered.
"Me too! We were about to get lunch. Wanna join us, Lin-chan?" Urara offered brightly.
"Oh… I… I see. I'm sorry for causing you guys trouble! And thank you for the offer, but I have to go!" Lidden bowed again before turning to leave.
"Plea— please let me know when you guys see her!" she called out one last time before fading into the corridor.
Rush and Urara remained frozen, blinking after her.
"Wh— what's got into her?" Rush muttered.
"Probably looking for Young-chan, like how Urara did for Rush-chan! They're friends like us after all!"
Rush paused.
"Wait… you ran around the school to look for me…?"
Urara nodded casually.
"Well! It wasn't hard, but I did it anyway!"
"Then… I'm sorry for causing you that much trouble…" Rush apologized softly.
"It's no biggie!" Urara replied, puffing her chest. "All Urara did was run around the corridor until she stumbled across someone talking about a person rushing into the toilet! Then, they led me to you!"
"Oh… That's how you found me…?" Rush asked.
"Not really! They just reminded Urara that she wanted to use the toilet! And so I went to it, and then Rush-chan magically appeared! Truly unbelievable!" Urara declared proudly.
Rush smiled in defeat. "So, it was coincidental then…" she sighed.
"But I didn't see you use the toilet we went to together," Rush added.
Urara froze.
"Ah! You were right! Urara was so happy to see Rush-chan that she forgot she wanted to use the toilet!"
"How can someone forget something like that…" Rush squinted in disbelief.
"Now that you mention it—Urara really needs to go! See ya, Rush-chan!"
In a blink, Urara dashed away down the corridor.
"There she goes..." Rush murmured, watching as that pink creature slowly disappeared.
Then, Rush leaned slightly against the nearby wall, deciding to wait for her.
That was when she noticed a figure hiding behind a pillar at the corner of the corridor—peeking toward them.
Young.
Their eyes met.
Young startled, then immediately turned and ran.
"Wait… Young?" Rush called, already moving after her.
"Young!" she hollered, waving her hand as she gave chase. "Lidden was looking for you!"
Meanwhile, Young kept running without looking back, "Why do I think it was a good idea to peek at them!" she told herself as she ran faster and faster.
Then, they ran from one corridor to another, climbed one flight of stairs after another, until the rooftop door burst open.
Young staggered toward the fence that bordered the roof and leaned against it, breathing harshly. She glanced behind her, thinking she had finally shaken Rush off.
Suddenly—
The door slammed wide open.
"Young!"
Rush stepped out, only mildly winded. The difference in stamina between them was undeniable.
"Wh… what you… you… want… uh…" Young panted, raising a shaky hand, "Uh... you... are?"
She paused, clearly trying to recall Rush's name.
"Rushing Sky. We've met before," Rush said gently as she approached.
"Right… Rush…" Young nodded faintly.
"Well… I'm here because Lidden wanted to meet you."
Young froze.
"But... do you really... need to go... this far... for it?" Young sighed in disbelief.
"Besides… I…" she muttered before sliding down to sit on the floor, still catching her breath. "I… I don't… don't want to see her…"
"What?! What's wrong? Did you two get into a fight?" Rush asked, startled.
"No… it's just…" Young tilted her head back, staring at the sky. "It's just I feel like… she no longer needs me. She shouldn't."
"She's got a pair of wings ready to flap… while I…" Young swallowed quietly. "…as a sideliner… should stay away and let her do her things…"