I Want a Girlfriend who Won’t Betray Me - Chapter 18

Sports Festival

Today is the sports festival. Everyone has been looking a little nervous since the morning. After the joint warm-up exercises are over, we sit down at the Class 2A meeting place.

Sitting next to me are Kanbayashi, Koiwai-san, Sudo-san, Kato-san, and Hayase-san.

The events are proceeding according to the plan, and right in front of us is the three-legged race, where pairs of students tie one of their legs together and run.

“I really wanted to do that with you, Shinonome-kun.”

“But having our bodies so close together like that is a bit…”

“That’s exactly why it’s good, isn’t it?”

I see, so that’s her real intention. I’m glad I didn’t do it.

After that, it’s time for the obstacle course race. Participants have to run cross a balance beam, jump over a vaulting box, crawl under a net, and reach the goal. It seems pretty though.

Then afterwards, it’s the scavenger hunt race.

Kanbayashi turns to me.

“Shinonome, be careful.”

“Be careful of what?”

“You’ll understand soon enough.”

As the race starts, students pick up cards scattered along the track. For some reason, everyone starts to look around frantically. Some run towards the equipment storeroom, others toward the teachers, and some head for the class gathering spots…wait, that girl is coming this way. If I remember correctly…

“Shinonome-kun, come with me!”

“Me? Why?”

“Just come!”

“Go on, Shinonome.”

Kanbayashi told me so with a smirk on his face.

I stand up, and the girl suddenly grabs my hand.

“We’re heading to the goal. Run!”

“Eh? Ah, okay.”

We run together, holding each other’s hands. I can hear people saying something around us, but I can’t make out the words.

When we reach the goal, she hands over the card.

“Alright, let’s see…the task for 2B’s Kamijou Sana is…‘Someone you want to cherish’!”

“““Ooohhh!!!”””

“““Kyyaaaa!!!”””

When the scavenger hunt race is over, Kamijo-san asks me,

“Shinonome-kun, did you get it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hey, come on. Didn’t you hear my task for the race?”

“No…sorry, I didn’t.”

“Mohh.”

I actually did hear it, but I just pretend not to hear anything.

After that, I’m dragged away by a third-year female student. As she pulls me along by the hand, Kanbayashi and the other boys start cheering.

“Go, go, Shinonome!”

“Yeah, that’s right! Go, go, Shinonome!”

I have no idea what they are even talking about.

Then comes the final event of the morning, the 100-meter dash, the race I’m participating in. Since I’m a second-year student, our race takes place after the first year has finished.

When my turn comes, I step up to the starting line. Everyone looks fast.

“Ready…”

Bang!

At the sound of the electronic gun, we all take off at once.

For the first 30 meters, we are all running together, but then one person starts falling behind, then another, and before I knew it—eh? I’m the only one ahead.

When I realized it, I’m already more than two meters ahead of the second-place runner.

“Whoa! That’s amazing!”

“I didn’t know he’s that fast!”

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I knew it. Shinonome said he didn’t do any sports, but the guy running behind him is the ace sprinter of the track team. Look, they’re already calling out to him.

“You’re Shinonome, right?”

“Yes?”

“I’m Hideki Horikawa from the track team. I’m supposed to be this school’s top sprinter, but I never thought there’d be someone faster than me. How about joining the track team?”

“No, I’m not really into sports clubs.”

“Come on, you’re wasting that speed.”

“Ah, I should get back to my classmates.”

…does he even realize how fast he just ran? That was close to my personal best.

“Horikawa.”

“Ah, captain.”

“Who is that guy? He’s even faster than you.”

“He’s Kazuki Shinonome from Class 2A.”

“He’s nothing like the rumours say.”

“Haha, those rumours are just jealousy and envy toward him. You shouldn’t believe them.”

“Looks like you’re right about that.”

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Kazuki’s POV

When I return to my class’s meeting area, the guys immediately gather around me.

“Shinonome, that was amazing! You left the track team’s ace behind by two meters!”

“It was just luck. Maybe he wasn’t feeling his best today.”

“But your time is close to Horikawa’s personal best.”

I shouldn’t have taken it so seriously. That was a mistake.

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Wakana’s POV

Seems like Kazuki ends up standing out again. I have to do something.

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Kazuki’s POV

I go back to the classroom for lunch and open the bento my mom has made for me today. When Sudo-san and Hayase-san see what’s inside, they ask.

“Shinonome-kun, that’s…?”

“Yeah, my mom made it for me today.”

“Wow, it looks like someone professional made it.”

“Do you want to have some?”

“Eh? Really?”

“Wait a second!”

“Eh?”

“Sudo-san, we agreed that no one gets to monopolize Shinonome-kun!”

“But it’s just lunch.”

“Then we’re joining too.”

“Haha, maybe I should just eat behind the school building alone.”

“““No way!”””

And so, I’m surrounded by a group of girls, their sweat has a sweet scent…

“Kanbayashi, help me out here…”

“Give it up, Shinonome. This is your fate.”

“Come on, seriously?”

After lunch, I go to the 2A meeting place. Then, I immediately go to the starting line to take part in the first event of the afternoon, the all-grade class relay.

Of course, Horikawa is there too. He’s running as the anchor. Meanwhile I’m assigned as a mid-runner.

“Shinonome, why aren’t you the anchor?”

“Because I told my class that I don’t exercise.”

“Hey, that means you lied to your class.”

“Well, too late to change it now.”

“Unbelievable.”

From Class A to Class E, each grade has four participants, two boys and two girls, competing in this relay. The final runner from the third-year students will finish the race with a 200-meter sprint. I’m the third runner for the second-year team. By the time I get the baton, the group should have already spread out, so I just need to hold my position.

“Ready…”

Bang!

Due to the race setup, the start line is on the students’ side. The full lap is 200 meters, with each runner covering 100 meters. As the baton is about to be passed to the second-year runners, they all have already spread out. Just as planned.

Right now, the second runner is sprinting. As she turns the corner, she suddenly trips, just five meters away from me. It’s Wakana. But I can’t go and help her. There is no choice but to wait for her.

“Wakana, do your best! Just make it here!”

“Yeah!”

She gets back up, and the moment I grab the baton—

“Kazuki!”

“Leave it to me!”

Because Wakana fell, we are in the fourth position when I receive the baton. I have to do something. With that thought in mind, I sprint at full speed, catching up to the third-place runner at the corner and passing him. Then soon after, I catch up to the second-place runner and overtake him, finally restoring our position.

Looking over at Class 2A’s gathering spot, I see everyone standing up, shouting in excitement.

“That guy is insanely fast! What does he mean he’s never done sports?”

“Fufu, Takeo. It looks like things are going to get tough for Shinonome-kun from now on. He’s been pretending something he isn’t, but people are starting to see the truth.”

“Yeah. He’s tall, handsome, smart, and athletic. I’m looking forward to see what he does next.”

“Right? No one’s going to believe those nasty rumours about him anymore.”

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That guy, how can we get him into the track team? If he had been the anchor, we would’ve had a perfect chance for a rematch just now.