Higashiba Hazuki Feels Stimulated

After finishing the test, we were allowed a brief rest.

I sat not far away, slightly calming my still-rapid breathing.

Slowly recovering the little strength I had left.

At the same time, I narrowed my eyes a bit and watched the track.

More precisely, I was looking at the person already standing on it.

[Class Nine, Year One.
Uetsuki Yue.]

As her name was announced, Uetsuki Yue took her position.

Compared to the others, her posture was far more standard.

The gentle, girl-next-door aura around her vanished in an instant.

Replaced by a sharp, cutting presence.

And then—

[Beep—]

Like a cheetah, she shot forward.

In just a few seconds, she pulled far ahead of those who started alongside her.

A few seconds later, she reached the finish.

And then a number was announced.

A number that made people gasp.

[Thirteen seconds.]

[Who is that?
She’s amazing.]

[I don’t know.
Her name was Uetsuki Yue, right?]

Whispers spread around us.

For a moment, all eyes gathered on Uetsuki Yue.

[Very good.

Make sure you participate seriously in the upcoming training.

Don’t waste this talent.]

Qingyanshi Puran looked visibly excited.

Her gaze toward Uetsuki Yue carried clear expectation.

Naturally, Uetsuki Yue responded with a shy smile.

[Alright.
Next.]

Even though Uetsuki Yue’s result shocked many people, the test did not stop.

The tall girl who seemed close to her stepped forward.

[Class Nine, Year One.
Shimizu Miya.]

She reported her name.

The fact that she was in the same class explained their closeness.

The same sharp aura radiated from her body.

Perhaps because she had heard Uetsuki Yue’s result.

There was a clear sense of unwillingness to lose.

Uetsuki Yue watched seriously as well.

Not only out of concern for her friend.

But also to probe her performance.

It seemed they were comparing themselves.

Far too openly, in fact.

Easy for anyone to see.

Though to me.

It was information with no real value.

[Beep—]

Like an arrow released from a bow, Shimizu Miya burst forward.

Her start was even fiercer than Uetsuki Yue’s.

It looked like she might surpass that shocking record.

Unfortunately.

That unstoppable momentum suddenly faltered.

Right before all our eyes, Shimizu Miya fell hard onto the ground.

[Eh—!]

Uetsuki Yue once again displayed that astonishing speed.

She rushed to Shimizu Miya’s side.

Running with her were Qingyanshi Puran.

And me.

Compared to the two of them, my speed was nothing impressive.

I was even slightly out of breath from having run earlier.

Still, I was faster than the people frozen in place around us.

[What happened?!]

Uetsuki Yue, who arrived first, helped Shimizu Miya up.

Qingyanshi Puran asked urgently.

[I’m fine, Qingyanshi-sensei.

It’s just a small scrape.]

Her knee was already covered in blood.

It kept seeping out.

That did not look like a “small scrape” at all.

Qingyanshi Puran clearly did not accept that explanation.

[It’s better to take her to the infirmary.]

She looked around.

I, who had stepped closer, raised my hand at just the right time.

[Qingyanshi-sensei, I’ll go with them.]

As I spoke, I supported Shimizu Miya from the other side.

With both of us helping, she could finally breathe a little easier.

[I remember you.

Higashiba Hazuki, right.

Then I’ll leave it to you.]

[It’s no trouble.

I’m also very concerned about Shimizu-san’s condition.]

Higashiba Hazuki was a cheerful girl who actively cared for her classmates.

Everything I did fit perfectly with the role I was playing.

[Hurry and take her to the infirmary.]

[Yes—]

The infirmary wasn’t far from the track.

Perhaps it was designed with sports injuries in mind.

Or perhaps there was some other reason.

Either way, for us, it was convenient.

Just a few steps, and we arrived.

[It’s just a simple abrasion.

But for the next few days, no running.

Wait until it heals.]

The nurse was a woman in her forties.

Behind her glasses were fairly gentle eyes.

Not particularly large.

They now shone with a look of long familiarity with such situations.

After bandaging the wound, she gestured toward one of the white beds.

[Alright.

Lie down there and rest for a bit.]

[Okay, sensei.]

[Are you going to stay here with her?]

Her gaze shifted to us.

Shimizu Miya looked at us with a hint of hope.

Clearly, she didn’t want to be alone here.

That look, especially, was directed at Uetsuki Yue.

[Sensei, we’ll stay with her.]

[Me too.]

Aside from my decision slightly surprising them.

There were no other issues.

[Actually, you don’t need to stay with me.]

Shimizu Miya said to me.

[Yeah.

Class is more important.]

Uetsuki Yue added.

[Alright, alright.

I’m not so careless that I’d leave an injured person alone.

Even if someone is watching her, I still wouldn’t feel at ease.

I’m that kind of troublesome person, you know.]

Saying that earned me a few kind glances.

[Pfft.

Hahahahaha.]

I laughed lightly.

Then, in a playful tone.

[Honestly, I just wanted to rest a bit.

My stamina can’t really last through an entire PE class.

Thanks to you, I can avoid being exhausted and panting for a while.]

The atmosphere shifted in a good direction.

I seized the moment.

[My name is Higashiba Hazuki.

Nice to meet you.

Please take care of me.]

[I’m Uetsuki Yue.

Higashiba-san can just call me Xiao Yue.]

[Eh.

Doesn’t that mean there are two Xiao Yues now?]

I tilted my head, pretending to be puzzled.

[Then one can be Yue.

And the other Xiao Yue.]

Shimizu Miya said with a smile.

[My name is Shimizu Miya.

You can call me Miya, Yue.]

[Then I guess that means we know each other now.]

I smiled gently.

[Mm.]

They were really easy to get close to.

And surprisingly, not very sharp.

Just showing a bit of goodwill was enough to slip in.

As they nodded.

The smile on my face deepened.

I have to say.

This fall was truly a great opportunity.

It even made me feel as though some unseen existence was helping me.

I had been worrying about how to approach them.

Seeing things go well brought a bit of joy.

Perhaps that’s how it works.

Even though my withered heart felt nothing at all.

Ah.

So boring.

[How about we exchange contact information?]

I handed over a piece of white paper.

Shimizu Miya wrote hers without hesitation.

Using the infirmary’s pen.

She also wrote down Uetsuki Yue’s.

[Xiao Yue probably wanted to tell Yue too, right?]

There was no refusal.

Uetsuki Yue nodded with a smile.

[By the way—]

[You two run so fast.

Did you receive professional training before?]

I asked, sounding curious.

[Strictly speaking, I did receive some professional training.]

Shimizu Miya said a bit gloomily, pointing at herself.

[As for Xiao Yue, I taught her a bit when we first met.

I never expected her to run such an outrageous time.

She hid it way too well.]

There was dissatisfaction in her tone.

[Uh.

I didn’t expect that result either.

But I believe you’re much better than me, Miya.]

[You’re saying that again, Xiao Yue.

Excessive humility is arrogance, you know.

My result isn’t even out yet.

How could I be better than you?]

[Uh.

Are you saying you’re giving up, Miya?]

[Of course not—]

They were almost completely ignoring me now.

Chatting right in front of me.

A pair of very close friends.

At the same time.

There was competition between them.

A thick rope that held their friendship together.

And one that could also tear it apart.

A double-edged sword.

But it had nothing to do with me.

Rather—

So boring.

I smiled along with them.

But mentally, I was already getting tired.

In this dull atmosphere, my thoughts drifted.

Come to think of it.

I was a bit hungry.

Even though I couldn’t really eat.

My stomach still honestly felt hunger.

It couldn’t be helped.

Although I had the breakfast Ichijou Riku gave me.

And I brought it along in case PE drained my strength.

I absolutely couldn’t eat it here.

Then.

I’d just change locations.

[Ugh—]

I held my stomach, drawing their attention.

[What’s wrong, Yue?]

Shimizu Miya asked with concern.

[I’m fine.

I just didn’t eat much breakfast.

After exercising earlier, I got a bit hungry.]

[Eh—]

[But I did bring breakfast with me.

Just in case I got hungry during PE.]

[Then why didn’t you eat it earlier?]

Uetsuki Yue pointed out a flaw.

I brushed it off vaguely.

[Because I wasn’t hungry yet.]

[So Yue only acts once she’s hungry?]

[Xiao Yue, you’re making it sound weird—

It feels strange to eat in front of you.

I’ll go to another bed.]

[Eh, actually, we don’t mind—]

[Xiao Yue, let’s just go with what Yue said.]

Shimizu Miya was considerate.

She stopped Uetsuki Yue.

All in all.

She really helped me out.

I said I was changing places.

But in reality, there was only a thin curtain between us.

Their blurry silhouettes were still visible.

I took out the sandwich.

And slowly took a bite.

Honestly, I didn’t feel it was delicious.

To me, it was just ordinary energy replenishment.

While suppressing the nausea rising from my stomach.

So I ate quickly.

[Come to think of it.

This tastes like the sandwich I made this morning.]

[Yue, are you eating a sandwich?]

My eating slowed abruptly.

Then I replied.

[Yes.

That’s right, Xiao Yue.]

[Sandwiches all taste about the same, don’t they, Xiao Yue?]

[Hm hm.

Mine is different.

It’s a love-filled sandwich made especially for Riku-ge.

Packed with lots of heartfelt feelings.]

[Oh.

A love-filled sandwich.

And Xiao Yue, you mention your Riku-ge way too often.]

[Ehehehe—

I wonder if Riku-ge finished the sandwich I made.]

[He probably ate it all, right—]

Listening to their conversation.

For some reason, I started eating even more slowly.

[I did make a bit too much.

And Riku-ge is used to sharing with others—

But even if it goes to waste!]

[If he gives it to someone else.]

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

[I definitely won’t forgive him!]

I chewed slowly.

[Alright.

I think Ichijou-san will understand your feelings.]

Shimizu Miya’s comforting voice came from outside.

At some point.

That nauseating feeling eased.

And my pace slowed further.

[—I am not a despicable person.

But I cannot deny that.

When Akiyama searched in vain.

When he could only watch my envelope appear on Haruko’s desk.

When he could do nothing but rage helplessly and vow revenge against the unknown sender.

My heart was filled with a sense of vindication.

So pleasurable—]

The text we learned not long ago surfaced in my mind.

[So—]

It echoed.

[Stimulating.]

It really is stimulating.

I’ve finally found some fun.

Hehehe—