Volume 13 Chapter 201-2 Run, Shintaro!!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Well, that’s fine, but…”
”More importantly, why is mother here?”
Mother hands me the string she was holding.
I see, so it’s a 3-legged race from here.
”Shin-chan, mom isn’t very athletic, so take it slow, okay?”
”Yeah, I got it.”
Because that athletic ability has been fully passed down to me.
Mother and I begin to walk slowly around the track.
”Mother, thank you for always caring about me.”
”Shin-chan, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m the one who should apologize for not being able to do anything.”
I shake my head at mother’s words.
”No, it was because you watched over me without saying anything back then that I feel I’ve grown in many ways. Rather, I’m sorry I couldn’t care for you, who was suffering.”
”N-no, that’s not true. I’m the one who…”
I stop mother.
If we keep this up, we’ll end up apologizing to each other forever.
Aqua said it too, but I want to express words of gratitude rather than apologies.
”Mother, I’ll say it again, thank you. I’ll do my best.”
”Thank you too, Shin-chan! I’m going to do my best so that you can have a little brother!”
Mother.
You don’t need to try so hard there.
I will absolutely never call Aqua “father”!!
”Chigiri-san, please take care of Shin-chan. In various ways.”
”Y-yes.”
When mother whispers something in Chigiri-san’s ear, Chigiri-san’s face turns red.
I hope she didn’t say anything unnecessary!?
I hope it’s just my imagination…
”Shintaro-kun, are you really okay?”
”Yeah.”
I pretend to be fine, acting like it doesn’t hurt.
”Geez! You think pretending like everything’s fine is fooling anyone? It’s pretty obvious.”
”Haha…”
So I was found out.
But being worried and scolded by someone important like this isn’t so bad.
I remember Aqua saying with a serious face, “Recently, I’ve started to enjoy being scolded.”
Aqua must have meant the same thing as me.
”Sorry. I really wanted to finish in a cooler way.”
”Shintaro-kun, you told your mother earlier that apologizing is no good, right? Besides, there’s no way you’re uncool for coming back like this, all battered. Everyone here thinks you’re cool enough.”
I thought Chigiri-san and all the fans were really kind.
”So, I’ll do my best to lead you, Shintaro-kun.”
Chigiri-san looked down slightly, as if to hide her flushed face.
I think Chigiri-san is already leading me well, but what more could she possibly strive for?
”Well then, let’s do a baton touch here.”
Chigiri-san untied the string that connected our feet and handed it to Yuu-chan, who was waiting on the truck.
”Yuu-chan… are you okay?”
”Yeah! More importantly, Shintaro-oniisan, look up!”
Up?
I looked up as instructed, and the roof of the National Stadium slowly began to open.
Then, gentle sunlight streamed in, brightly illuminating the track.
”Shintaro-oniisan, do you remember our promise?”
”Ah… yeah!”
Once Yuu-chan can run again, we’ll race together under the sun.
Yes, I promised.
”Shintaro-oniisan, it’s not a race, but will you run with me?”
”Of course!”
I walked slowly on the track to match Yuu-chan’s pace.
”You know, I worked really hard on my rehabilitation. Seeing you, Shintaro-oniisan, trying your best made me think I had to do my best too.”
”I see.”
That was also because Aqua pushed me forward back then.
I wouldn’t have had the courage to talk to Yuu-chan alone.
That guy really is amazing.
When Yuu-chan looked at my face, she stopped in her tracks.
”I see. But even if you say that, Shintaro-oniisan, you don’t really get it, do you?”
”Huh?”
Yuu-chan puffs out her cheeks and glares up at me.
Did I say something to make her mad?
I panic.
”It’s not thanks to Aqua-oniichan that I was able to do my best… It’s thanks to Shintaro-oniichan.”
”It’s because of me…”
Could that really be true?
Seeing my anxious face, Yuu-chan clasps her hands in front of her chest.
”Shintaro-oniichan, my hero isn’t Aqua-oniichan, it’s you!”
”I’m Yuu-chan’s hero…”
I recall the cheers and the messages written on flags in the town square.
I have been desperately running to not be left behind by Aqua.
There are those who found courage in watching me.
Is it alright to feel a bit confident?
My chest warmed.
”Geez, Shintaro-oniichan, I told you to look at me, not Kenzaki’s brother. Did you forget?”
”I’m sorry. I remembered, but I seem to have forgotten.”
I can’t believe Yuu-chan pointed that out.
I gently pat Yuu-chan’s head.
”Shintaro-oniichan, you’ve been apologizing, but what I really want to hear are other words.”
”Ah, right.”
I crouch down and untangle the laces binding our feet, then whisper in Yuu-chan’s ear.
”Yuu-chan, thank you for making me your hero.”
”Then, next, make me Shintaro-oniichan’s bride, okay?”
Saying that, Yuu-chan kissed my cheek.
I… let my guard down, thinking she’s just a kid.
No, maybe it was my carelessness whispering in her ear that caused this.
Aqua would probably deflect by saying, “When you grow up,” but that would be the worst move.
Does Aqua realize that saying that ties me to a promise to marry once I grow up?
”I’m sorry. Right now, I’m full of thoughts about Chigiri-san.”
”Yeah. Then, when I become a big sister, I’ll say it again!”
When I become an older sister…
I never imagined I would be doing something like this just a little over a year ago.
The future is unknown to anyone.
Even our future, Yuu-chan and I, I thought we couldn’t know what would happen.
So I won’t deny Yuu-chan’s words.
”Yuu-chan, shall we run together all the way to that point?”
”Yeah!”
It was a short distance, but I started running with Yuu-chan.
Warm applause came from the fans in the audience watching us.
”Tenga-senpai!”
”I’ve been waiting for you, Shintaro!”
After a high-five, Tenga-senpai and I embraced in joy.
Tenga-senpai is amazing after all.
Even though he ran a longer distance than me, he arrived at the finish line faster.
”Now, shall we wait for the juniors together?”
”Yes!”
I sat down on the track and had my foot treated by the medical staff who rushed over.
Toa, Aqua, and just the two of you left!!
Tenga-senpai and I will be waiting here for you until you arrive!!
But since Tenga-senpai looks like he needs to go to the bathroom, please come as quickly as you can.
My dear friends!!
<hr>
Kohina-senpai noticed and hurriedly said, “Tenga-kun, go to the bathroom quickly!” so Tenga-senpai’s bladder was saved.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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