I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 33 - Relay Race

Natsu’s gaze drifted toward the window as if the weight of his memories pressed heavily on him. The vibrant noise of the festival outside felt muted in the quiet classroom. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly before continuing.

“After the accident, there were whispers,” he began, his voice tinged with hesitation. “You know how middle school is. Rumors spread faster than anything. People said the ladder wasn’t stable, that maybe someone messed with it.”

I sat frozen, the words sinking into my chest like a lead weight. “Tampered with it?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Natsu nodded, his expression darkening. “Yeah. At first, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was just an accident—something that happened because of bad luck or carelessness. But then…” He trailed off, his hand gripping the edge of the desk. “Then I remembered what I saw.”

“What did you see?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“I was on the other side of the auditorium,” Natsu said, his voice quieter now. “Helping with the decorations for another class. I didn’t notice anything weird at first, but when the ladder fell, I looked toward the stage. Everyone else was panicking, but Naoki…” He paused, glancing at me, as if debating whether to continue. “Naoki was just standing there. He wasn’t moving or yelling—nothing. He looked… frozen. Like he wasn’t surprised.”

My chest tightened. “Are you saying… Naoki had something to do with it?”

Natsu raised his hands quickly. “I’m not saying that for sure. I didn’t see him do anything. But the way he reacted—it didn’t sit right with me. And then, when the rumors started about the ladder being tampered with… I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

I rubbed my temples, the fragments of my own memories crashing into me like waves. The groan of the ladder. The sickening thud as I hit the ground. Hoshino’s scream. And now, Natsu’s words added a layer of uncertainty I wasn’t ready for.

“But why would he do that?” I muttered, more to myself than to Natsu. “Why would Naoki…?”

Natsu shrugged, his brows furrowed. “That’s the part I don’t get. Naoki’s always been protective of Hoshino, right? Maybe he didn’t like you two getting close.”

The suggestion made my stomach churn. The idea that someone—especially Naoki—might have intentionally caused the accident was almost too much to process.

Natsu leaned forward, his tone softening. “Look, Takeshi. I don’t know what really happened that day. All I know is what I saw. And what I saw didn’t feel right.”

The room felt unbearably quiet. I swallowed hard, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. “Assuming that if you’re right… If Naoki did do something…” I hesitated, struggling to find the words. “What am I supposed to do about it?”

Natsu studied me for a long moment before asking, “What do you want to do?”

I looked at him, unsure how to respond. The truth is, I don’t know what to do. But one thing is clear: I need to know the truth.

.

.

.

.

The sun hung lower in the sky now, sending long shadows across the track as the crowd’s excitement grew. The atmosphere was lively, with applause and chatter merging in with the faint fragrance of grilled festival food rising from neighboring stalls. I stood at the track’s edge, extending my legs and looking around the staging area.

Hoshino was nearby, adjusting her headband. She seemed completely at ease, her expression calm and focused. The contrast between her composed demeanor and my slightly frayed nerves was almost comical.

“You’re cutting it close,” Hoshino said with a teasing smile, her eyes meeting mine as I approached.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” I replied, letting out a breath. “Got held up talking to Natsu.”

“Anything important?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Nothing that can’t wait,” I said, shaking my head. I wasn’t about to ruin her focus with talk about the past or my spiraling thoughts.

“Well, make sure you’re focused,” she said with a playful smirk. “Don’t trip or anything. I’d hate to have to pick up the slack for you.”

“Ha, very funny,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “You just worry about being fast enough to make up for my slow start.”

The announcer’s voice blasted through the speakers, directing all relay race participants to their starting positions. The crowd’s excitement increased as the racers lined up, and the loudness vibrated through the ground beneath my feet. I took one more look at Hoshino before heading to my position.

“You’ve got this,” she called, giving me a thumbs-up.

“You too.”

I was the second runner in our lineup, positioned just after the first leg. I gripped the baton tightly in my hand, my knuckles white against the smooth plastic. The crowd’s cheers grew louder as the announcer counted down.

“On your marks…”

The runners at the starting line crouched into position, their muscles taut like coiled springs.

“Get set…”

I steadied my breathing, focusing on the runner in front of me. My teammate leaned forward, ready to explode into motion.

“Go!”

The starter gun fired, and the first runners took off in a blur of speed and adrenaline. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices blending into a chaotic roar. I watched as my teammate approached, his strides powerful and steady. My heart pounded in time with his footsteps.

“Here!” I shouted, extending my hand.

The baton slapped into my palm, and I bolted forward, the world around me narrowing to a single focus: the next checkpoint. My legs burned as I pushed myself harder, the wind whipping past my ears. The track blurred beneath me, each step pounding out the rhythm of my thoughts.

“Keep going,” I muttered to myself, my breaths coming in sharp gasps. “You’ve got this.”

As I neared the next checkpoint, Hoshino came into view. She stood poised and ready, her eyes locked on me with unwavering determination. The baton felt like an extension of my arm as I stretched it toward her.

“Go!” I shouted, and she grabbed it with practiced ease, her feet already moving before the handoff was complete.

Hoshino’s steps were smooth and forceful, and her small stature sliced through the air like a bullet. The audience shouted as she passed one runner after another, her speed unwavering. I came to a stop on the sidelines, watching her with pride and awe.

“She’s incredible,” I muttered under my breath, unable to tear my eyes away.

The final stretch came down to a neck-and-neck battle between Hoshino and the runner from the opposing team. The crowd’s cheers reached a fever pitch as the finish line drew closer. With one final burst of speed, Hoshino surged ahead, crossing the line a fraction of a second before her competitor.

The sound was deafening as the crowd erupted into applause. I ran toward her, weaving through the other participants.

“You were amazing!” I said, my voice still breathless.

“So were you,” she replied, her smile radiant as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “That was a good team effort, right?”

“Right,” I said, my chest swelling with a mix of relief and joy.

For a moment, the worries and doubts that had plagued me all day faded into the background. But as the adrenaline began to wear off, I felt the weight of Natsu’s earlier words creeping back into my mind.