After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - V2 Chapter 5.4
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Chapter 5.4
The day of the Sports Festival was finally here.
The weather was fine.
The sun was shining, and there was not a cloud in the sky, making it a perfect day for a midsummer festival.
The area I’m in is shaded by thick trees, perfect for cooling off and hiding from the direct sunlight.
I’m not lazy, just taking a break.
The people in my class are getting excited about the sports festival, but honestly, I can’t keep up with that kind of excitement.
What’s the fun in this competition, anyway? There are no rewards or prize money for winning.
More importantly, there are too many differences in physical ability between individuals due to birth and environment. It is a well-known fact that people born early are at a disadvantage. In simpler words, the tournament is too unbalanced.
Well, even if it wasn’t, I’m someone who has always pretended to be a shady character because I’m not good at working with others, or so to say, collaborating.
Recently, I’ve been hanging out with Kazama and Kasugai a lot. But before that, I barely interacted with any of my classmates.
And since both Kazama and Kasugai are fond of such festivities, they are now getting together with other classmates.
I mean, they’re such cheerful people, aren’t they? Completely different personalities from mine, who stays in the shadows. It’s strange how we usually get along with each other.
“But I guess it’s fun to cool off in a corner while everyone’s having a good time.”
I looked up at the roof of the trees, sighing.
I closed my eyes because, why not?
Guess I could take a break here.
“I knew you were here…”
I heard a voice and hurriedly opened my eyes.
And then I saw the familiar girl looking down at me.
“Kokoa Shirayuki… So it seems you’re also part of the shadows, right? Are you here for a nap?”
“Who are you calling part of the shadows? Yu, it’s time for you to go. You’re going to be in the relay.” [EN: Race where each team’s player goes through a section, passing an item to the next teammate.]
“… Relay? Now?”
“Yes. Relay is next. And Kamishiro-Sensei is looking for you. Hurry up and get in line.”
“…”
Oh no… I had forgotten all about it all.
I was so focused on running away from my classmates that I forgot that I, too, have to participate in the race.
“Anyway, how did you find me?”
“I know where you’re likely to go. I know you more than you think, Yu.”
“… I see.”
Those words alone are enough to convince me.
That’s right, Kokoa knows me best.
“So, let’s go back to the field.”
“No, just a little more…”
“Do you want them to get angry at you?”
For a moment, I thought about skipping it, but everyone would definitely get angry. Besides, I don’t think Kokoa would let me.
“All right.”
Kokoa reached out her hand, and I grabbed it and stood up.
“After all the effort I put into sewing your name into the headband, I can’t allow you to miss the competition.”
“You’re right.”
Kokoa went to a lot of trouble to sew my name on the headband. I should just do my best.
“Yeah. Thanks for your hard work.”
I went straight to the playground, feeling like I was about to die from the direct sunlight.
“Oh, here you are. Where were you?”
As I entered the ground, Kamishiro sensei approached me, who seemed to have been looking for me.
She was wearing a kimono as usual, despite the intense heat.
“I know you were trying to skip games. Anyway, please hurry up and get in line. It’s time for you to get serious. I’m sorry, Shirayuki-san, and thank you for bringing Sawatari-kun to me.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s my mission to manage Yu.”
No, I’m sorry, but I wasn’t trying to skip it. I just forgot about it. I got a little carried away.
“Good luck, Yu.”
“Thanks.”
Naturally, at that moment, I was the only one left to join the race, so I parted ways with Kokoa.
Well, this will be my line, right?
I don’t recognize many of the faces, but… I have to do it anyway.
A relay race is an event for a single year, but it’s still a team competition.
Our school’s sports festival’s rules are that each grade is divided into four teams. Students in different years and the same team share points and co-operate to win the championship.
Well, that’s why there are more students from other grades in this place now…
“… Hey, you.”
I heard someone calling me, so I turned around and saw a familiar third-year student.
I know this guy very well.
I don’t feel any respect for him. If I had to choose between liking and disliking him, I would lean to disliking.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Saotome senpai?”
In response to my words, my handsome senior’s temples quivered.
It seems that I have to play with a very troublesome person.
“Ha…! Hahahaa! I never thought I’d be in the same competition as you, Sawatari!”
Saotome, the soccer club’s ace who not only messed with Kokoa but also harassed her before.
Kokoa got annoyed, so I tried to stop the harassment, and later, he was stabbed with a knife by a girl who was tired of his frivolousness with many girls.
“Because of you, my life, which was on the road to success, took a turn for the worse… I was kicked out of the soccer club because I had become a nuisance to them, and the girls who fawned over me began to hate me… Now, look at me. I’m just trash to them.”
Saotome, I didn’t know that he suffered that much… If anything, I’m a little more sympathetic to him, though I don’t feel any closer to him.
It’s definitely not my fault, though, is it?
Maybe he has a grudge against me.
“I’ve been waiting for a chance to make up for that time. Today, I’m going to win this race and bring your dignity down to earth!”
“Oh, okay.”
No, I don’t care if I win or lose.
I was selected for the relay simply because I am a relatively good runner. I’m not part of any club, but I also wasn’t picked with any expectations. I won’t lose any credibility anyway.
It was because none of the other guys wanted to do it. I didn’t care, so I was picked for this competition.
“Now, first runners, please take your positions.”
The first runners lined up at the starting line on the playground, following the words of the sports committee member in charge of the competition.
It seemed that Saotome is a third runner, just like me.
My class was part of the red team while Saotome’s was in the blue team. Incidentally, Kokoa’s class is also blue.
Pan!
The starter pistol rang out to the sky.
The first runner in the first place is from the red team, followed by yellow, green, and finally blue.
After confirming that the runners before us had started running, we, the third-place runners, took our position.
The second runners are waiting half a lap behind us, and we, the third runners, would be the next ones waiting at the starting point.
The baton was passed to red’s second runner first. The difference in the start was apparent, but the order soon changed.
The blue, which was supposed to be at the back of the race until then, overtook the first place, while the red block lagged behind by a large gap.
“Fufu. It looks like the game was decided before it even started.”
Saotome was confident.
No, I don’t really care about the competition, but this is not good. Team red is in second place. I’ll be a war criminal if I ditch from here.
In addition, I suddenly saw my childhood friend cheering for me.
She clenched her fists and encouraged me to do my best.
Are you sure? I’m an enemy of your team.
She is even posing like I should punch the guy next to me, but Saotome is on your side. Maybe she wants me to take this guy down.
“As expected, she hates me too.”
Saotome let out a few words, and of course, he is right. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what you did to Kokoa.
Saotome took the baton and started running before me.
Oh god…
I was going to take it easy, but apparently, I had made a huge mistake. I was wrong about myself.
When Kokoa, the girl who sewed this headband for me, cheered me on like that, there was no way I could not do it justice.
No, this is different.
I probably don’t want to look bad in front of her.
Why?
Oh, God, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Anyway, I’m going to run so that the guy behind me doesn’t catch up, and then I’ll catch up to the guy in front of me, Saotome.
He’s a guy who used to be the ace of the soccer club.
I’m the representative of the go-home club, and I know it’s impossible for me to win in a race, but so be it!
But something strange happened to Saotome running ahead of me.
He slowed down while holding his side, and I, who had been gaining momentum, passed him without a second thought…
“Guuh… Why does it hurt at a time like this!”
I’m sure I heard something like that the moment I crossed him.