Chapter 51 Yuzuki’s Eighteenth Birthday: A First Step Toward Adulthood
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
At the four-kilometer mark of the final fifth section of the High School Ekiden Prefectural Qualifiers¹, runners dashed past my eyes one after another in a rhythmic blur of exertion. Finally, I spotted Yuzuki, clad in a vibrant yellow running shirt and navy blue shorts. Her expression was etched with a touch of agony, a testament to the grueling nature of the race. I felt I finally understood why she had asked me to wait for her here, at the most punishing stretch of the course.
”Yuzuki, keep going!” I shouted.
Manami and I raised our voices together in encouragement. A small, bright smile flickered across Yuzuki’s face as she saw us; she lifted her left hand in a slight wave and, with a fresh burst of speed, vanished down the road. Manami quickly captured a photo of Yuzuki’s retreating figure and sent the image to Emilia (who had insisted on the more grown-up name over ‘Emi-chan’), adding a comment that she had passed the four-kilometer mark.
Using a shortcut we had researched beforehand, we hurried toward the stadium on our rental bicycles. By the time we reached the stands, Yuzuki was just making her entrance onto the track. We rushed to the very front row, leaning over the railing.
”Yuzuki, it’s the home stretch!” I yelled.
Near the finish line, a crowd of first and second-year students, led by Emilia clutching a plastic water bottle, sent up a chorus of cheers.
”Yuzuki-san, the finish is right there!” Emilia cried out.
”Senpai, fight!” another junior called.
In our high school, Yuzuki was the only third-year student participating in the ekiden. It was the somber reality of attending a prestigious preparatory school where most seniors had already retreated into their studies. Yuzuki had said she wanted her juniors to see her running back, hoping they might feel something from the sight. Thinking back, Manami had been taking photos of that very back. Yuzuki was now rounding the bend between the first and second corners. The juniors at the finish would certainly have her back in their sights now. If they felt the weight of her effort, Yuzuki’s wish would be granted.
With only a hundred meters remaining, Yuzuki pursued the runner ahead of her with a truly fierce, almost demonic determination. When she overtook her opponent just moments before the line, a roar of triumph erupted from the juniors.
Crossing the finish line, Yuzuki was utterly spent, her legs wobbling precariously. Her juniors rushed forward to catch her, holding her upright in their arms. Some of them were openly weeping. It was clear that Yuzuki’s spirit had been successfully passed down to the next generation.
Emilia spotted me in the stands and beckoned me over. “Hiro-san, please come down here quickly!” she called. I had asked her to stop calling me ‘Hiro-chan,’ and this was the result. I wondered if it was truly alright for a non-participant like me to step onto the field, but I followed a teary-eyed Manami down anyway.
The moment Yuzuki saw me, she threw herself into my arms, clinging to me. I felt a momentary pang of embarrassment, wondering if such a public display was appropriate, especially as a chorus of squeals and high-pitched screams rose from her juniors.
”Hiro-kun… for my eighteenth birthday… please take my first time,” Yuzuki whispered into my ear.
I thought to myself that this was perhaps not the most tactical moment for such a confession, but instead of a verbal reply, I gave her back two gentle, reassuring pats.
I offered Yuzuki my shoulder for support as we headed toward the waiting room. Manami accompanied us, clutching a water bottle and crying softly, while Emilia followed closely behind. However, at the entrance to the room, Emilia stopped me. “Hiro-san, this is as far as you go,” Emilia said firmly. Since the room doubled as a changing area, I was barred from entering.
As a point of record, Yuzuki had received the sash in thirty-first place and managed to overtake four runners to finish twenty-seventh. Her sectional rank of ninth was the highest any athlete from our school had achieved in the race.
December 13th arrived—Yuzuki’s eighteenth birthday, the day of our promise.
Leaving the cram school, I hurried to our meeting spot to find Yuzuki already waiting. She had come all this way for the sole purpose of sharing her body with me, and perhaps because of that, her smile seemed stiff and awkward with nerves.
”Have you eaten lunch yet?” I asked.
”I haven’t been able to swallow anything since this morning…” Yuzuki replied quietly.
She was undeniably nervous. I felt a wave of sadness at my own lack of skill in easing her tension. In fact, her anxiety began to rub off on me, making my own heart race.
”Is there anything you’d like?” I tried again.
”Pasta,” Yuzuki answered, her voice somewhat curt from the pressure she was feeling.
After a quiet lunch at a pasta specialty shop, we made our way toward the hotel district. Whenever we passed another couple, Yuzuki squeezed my hand tightly. Naturally, as is the way of things, we couldn’t seem to decide on a hotel easily.
”I like this one,” Yuzuki finally said.
She had pointed out the Hotel Aegean Sea², a place designed to look like a sun-drenched resort. Upon entering the room, our eyes were met with a stunning vista of a white sandy beach. I initially thought it was a photograph, but it was a high-definition video of the ocean, complete with the soothing, rhythmic sound of crashing waves. It seemed the room’s concept was to allow guests to feel as though they were being intimate while looking out over the Aegean through a wide-open window.
Yuzuki stood frozen near the doorway. A king-sized bed sat prominently in the center of the room, looking for all the world like a stage for the act we were about to perform. For a virgin like Yuzuki, it must have been an overwhelming sight.
Deciding it was best not to sit on the bed immediately, I took a seat on the sofa instead. The ocean video was playing directly in front of it as well. I patted the cushion beside me, encouraging Yuzuki to join me, and she shuffled over with slow, hesitant steps.
Once she sat down, I took her hand in both of mine, wrapping them in a warm embrace. Yuzuki rested her head on my shoulder, her eyes fixed on the digital waves.
”Would you like something to drink?” I asked.
Yuzuki merely shook her head. She was even more soft-spoken than usual.
”I’ll go take a shower first,” I said.
I couldn’t bring myself to suggest we go together. When I emerged from the bathroom, Yuzuki took my place and headed inside.
I grabbed a cola from the refrigerator and sat back on the sofa, watching the ocean as Manami’s words echoed in my mind.
”You mustn’t force anything, ever.”
”Be very gentle with her.”
Repeating Manami’s advice like a mantra, I sat in the blue light of the screen and waited for Yuzuki to return.
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Summary:
Yuzuki completes a grueling ekiden race, achieving a high personal rank while inspiring her juniors. In the adrenaline-fueled aftermath, she whispers to Hiro to take her virginity on her upcoming birthday. On December 13th, the day of her 18th birthday, the two meet up and head to a resort-themed hotel. Both are visibly nervous as they prepare for their first intimate encounter. The chapter ends with Hiro waiting for Yuzuki to finish her shower.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights Yuzuki’s transition from the structured, communal world of school sports to the private, vulnerable world of adulthood. Her grit during the race mirrors her resolve to follow through with her promise to Hiro, despite her obvious anxiety. Hiro, meanwhile, struggles with the responsibility of Yuzuki’s ‘first time,’ guided by the protective advice of Manami. Their shared silence in the hotel room speaks volumes about the weight of the milestone they are about to cross together.
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Behind the Scene:
The ‘Ekiden’ is a staple of Japanese high school culture, often representing the pinnacle of youth and teamwork. Yuzuki’s desire to ‘show her back’ to her juniors is a common trope symbolizing the passing of a torch. The use of a themed ‘love hotel’ for a first encounter is also a culturally specific setting that provides both privacy and a somewhat surreal atmosphere for the characters.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Emilia – A second-year student, biracial (French father, Japanese mother), with white skin, dark brown semi-long hair, modest chest, and hazel eyes. A talented hurdler known as the Snow Princess. Looks like bisque doll.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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