A Case in Which My House Is a Gathering Place for Girls - Chapter 17: Are You Planning to Aim for the Record?

“Alright!! I’ll do this!”

Wada screams and starts running ahead. He glanced at me half a lap around the track. It was also meant as a provocation judging by his grin.

“You bastard… Alright, let’s do this.”

I’m not a hot-blooded protagonist in a boy’s comic book, but it’s only proper to accept a challenge when it’s thrown at you. Besides, Wada has been thoroughly defeated by me in every event so far. He’s likely planning to use every last ounce of strength to win this one. But will he be okay with gym assessments still to come?

“Wow… Sasazuki-san, you’re surprisingly fast. Kanna… Well, hang in there.”

Surprisingly, Sasazuki was still in the leading group of girls even though she had less than 500 meters left. Her steps were light, and her expression showed she still had plenty of energy to spare. Perhaps her work as an actress, which often requires stamina, has kept her in good shape.

On the other hand, Kanna was already on the verge of collapse, although she wasn’t falling a lap behind. It was evident at a glance that her sedentary lifestyle from desk work had caught up with her. Maybe I should encourage her to exercise a little for her health.

“Huff… Huff….”

Among the cheers of encouragement like “Just a bit more! Hang in there!” There was one student moving their body while keeping time for their partner. None other than Asakura Nao. She was doing simple stretches like rotating her legs in circles and bending forward to avoid cooling down.

It was just ordinary stretching, yet her expressions were strangely enticing. The way certain curves swayed or how the delicate lines of her inner thighs peeked through was almost too bad to the eyes.

“Yeesss!!! I’m the number one!!”

Wada’s roar reverberates through the ground as if to blow away my stagnant thoughts. As expected from someone who runs continuously during basketball practice. His record was an impressive 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

“Ha, ha, ha… W-what do you think, Itsuki!? This time… you can’t beat me.”

“Catch your breath before you talk. Also, I’m still measuring the time between Kanna and Sasazuki, so please don’t disturb me.”

“Wha…?! What did you just say!?”

Wada grabs me by the shoulder and shakes me. I hope he doesn’t do that because the girls are almost at the finish line.

“Weren’t you close to Sasazuki Mika during class? Are you releasing some sort of pheromone that makes you irresistible?”

“Calm down, Wada. You’re sounding more ridiculous by the second.”

“Shut up! Is this a situation where I can stay calm!? I can’t believe you’re not satisfied with Hanazono Kanna and now you have Sasazuki Mika… I can’t forgive you!”

My persuasion was ignored as Wada was shouting in my ear. I’d like to ask him when Sasazuki became mine, but that would be like throwing a fuel drum into a campfire, so I held my tongue.

“Hey, my dear friend, will you tell me? What do you think is the difference between you and me?”

“I like that kind of fun side about Wada.”

“Itsuki… you’re a nice guy… That’s not a compliment, is it!? You’re rather making a fool of me, aren’t you!?”

I looked back at the field while ignoring Wada, who was shouting. The leading group of girls were finishing their laps, and shortly after, Sasazuki crossed the finish line. About a minute later, Kanna finally made it back as well.

“Good work, both of you. I’ll tell you the time later, so take it easy for now.”

I offered words of encouragement to the two as they looked ready to collapse to the ground even though I mentally added that the lesson wasn’t over yet.

“Yeah… let me take your word for it.”

“J-Jinpei-kun… now, oxygen…bring me some oxygen…”

Kanna staggered toward me like a zombie as she reached out and clinging to me. I lightly patted her back, her labored breaths, flushed body from running, and the sweat trickling down her cheeks oddly exuding a kind of charm. Her weakened state also stirred a strange protective instinct in me.

While I was thinking about such foolish thoughts, the first group seemed to have all finished running, so I headed for the starting line.

“Good luck, Jinpei-kun. By the way, the 1500m record for a freshman in high school is 3 minutes 44 seconds.”

“I’m not one of the best track and field athletes in the country.”

“Just so you know, the high school boys’ 1500m record is 3:37.18 seconds. Good luck, Jinpei-kun!”

“I’m not a superhuman either.”

Kanna looked at me with sparkling and expectant eyes. I returned a wry smile and secretly resolved to do my best. After all, I’d already been issued a challenge.

“By any chance, are you planning to aim for the record?”

Asakura happened to be next to me and asked me in a slightly sharp tone. Her expression was tense, and she looked at me as if she were staring at her enemy.

“Of course. I’m free to aim, right? How about Asakura? I don’t know about girls’ records, but are you aiming for it?”

“Suddenly calling me by my last name… well, I don’t mind. My specialty is sprinting. Endurance isn’t my forte. I don’t want to force myself to get hurt, but I don’t want to lose either.”

Asakura gave a sharp grin. It wasn’t the least bit delicate—it was the smile of a predatory carnivore who had found its prey. Her relentless drive to win, no matter what, was typical of a top-tier athlete. Competing on the world stage would remain nothing but a dream without such determination.

“Wow… That’s quite the expression. Did I accidentally fire you up?”

“Thanks to you. I suddenly got motivated.”

The faint flicker of my fighting spirit roared into a blaze. I couldn’t help but laugh at how easily influenced I was, but seeing even a glimpse of the fire burning in someone destined to compete against the world’s best was more than enough to ignite my own motivation.

“I’m rooting for you with all my might. If you get a good time, can you join the track and field team?”

“I’m sorry, but my former sensei and grandfather nailed me not to join the club. I’ll have to decline in advance.”

Asakura’s expression showed she didn’t find it regrettable in the slightest. Our conversation ended, and the time for us to start is finally approaching.

“Alright, everyone in the second group, are you ready? Don’t forget that the most important thing is to run safely and without injury. Then here we go. Ready, start!”

I took a step at the same time as Misuta-sensei clapped her hands.

In order to run the 1500m in three and a half minutes, it is necessary to run the 100m in at least 15 seconds and maintain a speed close to full speed.

There was no point overthinking pace or conserving energy without the knowledge of efficient running forms, breathing techniques, or training. All I could do was convert my thoughts into stamina and run with all I had from the start.

“Isn’t he going way too fast?”

“There’s always that one guy in class who goes full throttle at the start just to stand out.”

“Even Wada had more self-restraint… He won’t last.”

I can hear ridicule from the outfield, but I ignored them. I grit my teeth and take a step forward. I go to the finish line as fast as possible. I was determined to see what lay beyond my limits.

“Damn… If only my legs were in perfect condition…!”

Asakura’s murmurs reached me from behind which caused my pace to falter slightly. I glanced back and I saw her maintaining her speed but unable to pick it up any further. Her expression looked strained, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.

“Asakura, are you…”

“What are you doing? Just run and don’t worry about me! Do you not care if you miss your record!?”

It wasn’t clear if she had caught my hesitation or misunderstood it as me holding back, but her sharp words hit me like a whip.

“…I got it. Don’t push yourself too hard!”

“Who do you think you’re talking to…!”

Asakura’s lips curled into a fierce and competitive smile. Her stubbornness and tenacity were essential qualities for an athlete, but that wasn’t what I had meant. Still, I can’t afford to tell her.

I forced my speed back up as I disrupted my rhythm, and fatigue quickly flooded my legs. But with the endurance I’d built running through countryside as a child, I managed to launch into a final sprint.

But the reality was cruel. I hit my limit just before the goal. My time barely made it under four minutes.