The Beautiful Senpai from the Archery Club Is Sleeping in My Room with Her Stomach Exposed. - Chapter 7: Tracing the Schedule— 1

Tracing the Schedule— 1

“Just a little more, Amemoto-kun! The finish line is almost there!”

“Ha…ah…!”

Every breath I took felt like my lungs were on fire. The wind against my face was cold. My head couldn’t think straight. My knees were screaming, and the soles of my feet kept begging for a brake, making noise all the while.

Even so, thanks to Watanuki-senpai pulling me along, my legs kept moving. I was still running.

“That sign ahead is the landmark! Just one more push, hang in there!”

“Uuwaaaaaa… oooooohhhhhh!”

I hadn’t screamed that loud in a long time. I mustered the last of my strength—and finally reached the finish line. I did it. I saw it through… and then collapsed onto the grass by the running track.

“Great job, Amemoto-kun! You were amazing, you really have guts!”

“Th-thank you…”

“No, I’m the one who’s grateful. Thanks for keeping up. Here, a sports drink. I’m glad I brought one for you too.”

Watanuki-senpai, who looked completely unaffected by the run, handed me the drink holder from the pouch at her waist. Thank you… I eagerly pressed it to my lips like a chick getting its long-awaited food.

Wow, that stings. Feels like it’s sinking in. My throat feels good. I can feel that I’m alive…

How long has it been since I ran such a long distance? Considering I used to give up after 20 shuttle runs, this felt like a major achievement.

“S-senpai… I… did it…”

“Yeah, you did! I saw it all. Your effort didn’t go unnoticed—”

Watanuki-senpai smiled at me gently, bathed in the morning light.

“Alright, let’s take a proper break and then run the 5 kilometers back together!”

“…?”

“Of course, I’ll slow the pace down even more. If you’ve made it this far, you should be able to do it!”

“……….”

I fumbled through the pockets of my track pants while still lying down. Naturally, I didn’t have any money for a taxi to get back. No miracle would happen. Running back was my only option.

“…I-I’ll do my best on the way back…”

I mustered what little energy I had left, trying to psych myself up. I couldn’t collapse here…

Incredibly, Watanuki-senpai’s day had only just begun.

***

During the morning’s information gathering, I was in no condition to talk to anyone.

Ignoring the noisy classroom, I slumped my face onto my desk.

I just wanted to alleviate the overwhelming fatigue. My legs hurt from forcing myself to finish the run.

Ah, I just want to merge with this desk and become an art piece in a museum… I want to be the kind of person whose mere existence is acknowledged…

“Hey, Amemoto, about that consultation…”

“…Urushibara, huh?”

I barely managed to raise my head and look up to see a boy with a youthful face looking down at me.

He was probably here to talk about yesterday’s “love story” conversation. But in my current state, if I responded, all I’d be able to say is “Just confess already.”

“Sorry, I’m not in a condition to talk right now… Can we do it another time?”

“Got it. I’ll catch you when you’re feeling better!”

“Oh? What’s up, Amemoto, feeling tired?”

A girl from a nearby seat came over with a teasing tone. The students around us began to gather, curious about what was happening.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by several students, both male and female. What kind of SSR (Super Special Rare) situation is this?

“Amemoto, not feeling well? That’s rare.”

“Yeah, really! I’ve never seen you look so tired. Did something happen?”

“Looks like it’s karaoke time to blow off some stress, right? It’s decided!”

And just like that, it was decided without any room for refusal. I haven’t been to karaoke in years though…

“Wait, singing after all this running is just going to make me more tired, right?”

“You guys really don’t get it, huh? It’s times like these that we need to get everyone pumped up! You know, I helped out with cleaning the other day, so now I’m going to be the one to get everyone hyped!”

“No way, I’ll be the one to get the crowd going. I’ve learned all the game tips from Touya!”

Conversations popped up one after another around me as my classmates created a circle. Urushibara, who had been caught up in this, looked hesitant.

The most surprising part was how much attention I was getting. I didn’t think my exhaustion was such a hot topic to discuss…

I forced a smile and could only manage a strained “We’ll go sometime… sometime.”

Usually, I’d fade into the background and slip out of the conversation, but I couldn’t do that with this group gathered around my desk.

It’s nice that they care, but there’s no way I can handle this many people when I’m this exhausted…

“Can’t sit down, huh?”

That voice, just like my sister’s, was unmistakable.

It was Watanuki Shion, the more wild and outspoken of the Watanuki sisters. With icy, sharp eyes, she looked at the circle with a glance that could freeze you. The strap of her schoolbag was slightly hanging loose from her shoulder.

“If Amemoto’s tired, just leave him alone. If it were me, I’d want to sleep, even just a little.”

Her words had a tone of indifference, but also a hint of reprimand. There was a certain pressure to her presence, like she was looking down from a higher stage. A nearby guy nodded hurriedly in agreement.

“O-oh… yeah, Watanuki-san’s right. Sorry, Amemoto.”

“No, no, I’m feeling a little better. I do want to hang out with everyone sometimes, so I’ll join in next time.”

My words helped break up the circle, and one by one, my classmates scattered off. The only one left nearby was Watanuki Shion, who had just arrived and sat at the desk next to me.

“Uh… thanks for looking out for me.”

“No need for thanks. I don’t need approval from anyone.”

She said this while pulling out a book from her bag, its cover still intact, and lost herself in the world of reading.

In the distance, I could hear the girls whispering about the lone wolf.

I’d heard their complaints before: “Isn’t Watanuki a bit harsh? She could at least try to get along more.”

…But I didn’t have the energy to think about that right now. More than that, my priority was with her older sister.

After all, the day tracing Watanuki-senpai’s schedule had only just begun.

***

The lingering fatigue from the morning carried over into lunch break. Once again, I met up with Watanuki-senpai at the bench we had used yesterday. It was the second day in a row we were having lunch together.

“Thank you for the food.”

Once again, Watanuki-senpai was tearing apart a salted bread roll as she ate. Her eating habits had such an elegant air to them.

I opened my own bag and said a quick prayer before digging in. Apparently, she had recommended a bakery nearby, and I’d ordered the same thing (already paid for).

The outside was crispy, while the inside was soft and fluffy. There were no fillings, and it was quite salty. It tasted good, but I found myself wishing for something with a bit more substance…

As I continued eating, Watanuki-senpai, with her chin resting on her slender thigh, looked at me.

“So, how was class, Amemoto-kun?”

“…I almost fell asleep a few times.”

I pinched the back of my right hand to keep myself awake, the pain snapping me out of the drowsiness.

“I get it. When you’re in the middle of intense practice, there are times I almost fall asleep too.”

“But… I figured that even if you were tired, you’d still stay awake, so I forced myself to fight the sleepiness.”

I said this while shoving the last bite of my salted bread into my mouth. She blinked her big eyes in surprise. Was it really that strange of a thing to say?

“Heh, you thought that much about me?”

“Ah… sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken as if I knew.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m glad. It’s true that I don’t nap… I hate missing out on lessons and falling behind.”

Her voice had a firm tone, but there was an undertone of anxiety and unease that seemed to contradict her outward confidence.

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

The conversation came to a natural pause, and we both drifted into silence, staring at the cloudy sky. Finally, a peaceful, relaxed moment. I thought it would have been perfect if we could enjoy some hot tea alongside “sister’s lovingly prepared lunch.”

But, as I bit into the salted bread again, I found myself wishing for more. This was good, but still…

“Is it just me, or does lunch seem a bit… small?”

I was already finishing my second one. It felt like I hadn’t really regained the energy I spent in the morning.

When I asked, Watanuki-senpai gave a small, somewhat awkward smile.

“I don’t usually eat much for lunch. It’s a matter of my body type… If you’re still hungry, I could go with you to buy something else.”

“Oh, no, if you’re not eating more, I don’t need anything else either.”

“…You don’t have to go that far to accommodate me. I trust your words, so there’s no need to go out of your way for me.”

She gave me a serious, piercing look. Just like her younger sister, there was an undeniable strength in her eyes, one that made it hard to argue with. Then, she gently placed her hand on my still-pained hand, which was likely a sign of her desire to convince me.

“No, I’ll continue.”

Despite the warmth in her voice, I wasn’t about to give in. I pushed aside my desire to quit, relying on the endurance I had developed over time. If I had come this far, I was determined to see it through to the end.

“Unless I experience the same pressure as you, I won’t be able to truly understand the issue. I need to continue, for the sake of responsibility.”

“Mm. You’re quite stubborn, huh? But… I don’t mind it. If you insist this much, I’ll stick with you to the end.”

“Yes. By the time I ran 10 kilometers this morning, I had already made up my mind to follow through.”

We locked eyes, facing each other unwaveringly, like two rivals. Eventually, we both couldn’t help but laugh softly. Watanuki-senpai tilted her head slightly, a playful look on her face.

“But, Amemoto-kun, what about after school? I’ve got archery club. We’re supposed to be on the same schedule, after all.”

It was a perfectly reasonable question, and yet I had something to ask that felt a bit difficult.

“Well, I do have an idea… but if it’s inconvenient, please feel free to turn me down.”

“No, go ahead and say it. I can tell you’re serious about it. I’ll do my best to help you make it happen.”

Her words made me feel even more determined. With that, I gathered the courage to speak.

“After school, would it be possible for me to observe the archery club? Perhaps as a trial member?”