The school gym was buzzing with excitement. Today was the mini sports festival, and all the first-year students were divided into teams for various fun competitions. Aiko tugged at Ren's sleeve as they surveyed the scene.
"I'm… not very good at sports," she admitted nervously.
Ren smiled reassuringly. "That's fine. We'll stick together. It's all about having fun, right?"
Aiko nodded, feeling her heart warm at his calm confidence.
Their first event was the three-legged race. Aiko's shoelaces became a hilarious problem as she and Ren struggled to coordinate their steps.
"Left! No, right! Wait—" Aiko laughed, nearly toppling over.
Ren caught her with a quick arm around her waist. "Gotcha! Just follow my lead."
Finally, after a few wobbly attempts, they crossed the finish line—last, but laughing hysterically.
Next, the balloon pop relay brought more fun. Aiko ran with Ren beside her, holding the balloon between their heads. She could feel his warm presence just a little too close, and her cheeks burned.
"Careful!" Ren whispered, trying not to laugh as they bumped into another team.
They popped the balloon successfully, both collapsing into giggles. Around them, teammates cheered, but Aiko felt like it was just her and Ren in the moment.
Finally, the tug-of-war event ended the day with excitement and playful competition. Ren leaned down to whisper, "You're stronger than you think," making Aiko's heart skip.
As the festival ended, the pair walked home together, arms brushing, smiles still lingering from the day's chaos.
"You know," Aiko said, brushing a stray hair from her face, "I think sports festivals are actually… kind of fun. Especially with you."
Ren's gaze softened. "Yeah… I had a great time too. We make a good team, don't we?"
Aiko nodded, feeling that their small victories—and even their clumsy failures—had brought them closer than ever. The day had been full of laughter, teamwork, and tiny heart-fluttering moments, making it one of her favorite memories with him so far.