Hisa and Rem held me from teaming up with Araki. That Narumi…
"Su-chan, snap out!" Hisa shouted at me over all the students' rambling.
My mind returned to reality and realized I stared at Araki on the other bridge.
"You can look at him all you want after the hunt," Rem added, holding the team's basket.
My cheeks blushed for a brief moment, but I managed to focus on the important matter.
"Let's win this!" I shouted, eager to begin.
"Are you ready?!" Shimamura-sensei shouted into her megaphone.
"Yes!" all the students shouted back.
I bent my knees on the most favorable angle and fixed my feet on the ground to get the best launch possible.
"Three!" Shimamura-sensei started to count down.
A sudden pain crushed my ankle and made my foot feel like an anchor under the sea.
Please, not now!
"Two!" Shimamura-sensei continued.
Come on, Kozue Suzuka, don't let your team down again!
"One!"
The world became silent. My eyes focused on the other side of the bridge and a heat arose in my chest. The pain faded away.
"Go!" Shimamura-sensei shouted and a horn blasted through the whole school.
My instincts took control of my body and launched instantly right after the horn sounded.
Before I realized, I already crossed the bridge ahead of everyone.
I need to stick to the plan!
I ran by the open hallway and crossed through to the other side of the building to arrive at the garden, taking the turns as quickly as possible and making sure not to slip.
I'm first! Now, where are the eggs?
I looked at the garden in every direction to find them, but I couldn't find any at plain sight. I decided to run towards the closest bushes and searched between them.
Bingo!
I crouched down to pick the egg up and saw another one next to a tree as I stood up. I ran to pick it up and noticed students running around the same place.
We won't find many more eggs here. I should tell Hisa and Rem.
I sprinted back to the building to meet with them at the middle point we established when someone inadvertently came out from the hallway in front of me.
Distracted by thinking of what the team needed to do next, I had no time to react and crashed into someone. We both fell to the ground but I managed to keep the eggs safe on my hands. I noticed my hands were a little scratched.
"I'm sorry!" I apologized. "I was running without— Araki!"
"Kozue!" Araki said. "No, I was the one distracted, I'm sorry."
He held his team's basket while sitting on the ground.
"Are your eggs okay?" I asked him as I stood up.
"Yes. We only have a couple anyways," he responded.
I offered him my hand to help him stand up.
"I think we shouldn't do that," he said as he stood up.
"Oh, you're right," I giggled. "Wait, did we touch just now?"
"I doubt it. We're wearing jackets and long pants."
"True!" I smiled. "We should run now or we'll fall behind!"
He nodded. "Are you okay? I saw a scratch on your hand," he asked me.
"It's nothing," I replied. "Well, see you in a few minutes!"
I began to run again, but the piercing pain came back as soon as I put my foot on the ground. A short groan came out of my mouth and I tripped forward, but I managed to keep my balance.
Not again!
"Are you sure you're okay?" Araki asked again. "I could help you go—"
"I am! I said it's nothing!" I said without looking at him.
You have to be kidding me…
I limped to the meeting spot with practically one leg.
"Su-chan, there you are!" Rem shouted. "Hm?"
She looked down at my foot as I approached. She left the basket on the floor and ran to me. I put my arm around her neck and she helped me to sit down.
"Are you okay?! How long have you been walking like that?!" she asked me, extremely worried.
"One minute, maybe…" I replied between my heavy breathing and groans.
"You should've stopped when it started hurting," she said.
"I know," I added. "But I won't let my team down. Not again…"
We stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Rem, Su-chan!" Hisa arrived, holding our basket. "Why did you… Su-chan? Why are you on the floor?"
"My ankle…"
She looked at me and then looked at Rem.
"I expected this could happen," Hisa said.
"Then why didn't you stop me?" I asked.
"We wanted you to have fun running," she replied. "It's been a while since you do."
"And you've been a lot happier ever since you met Araki-san," Rem added.
I stared at them for a moment. "Thank you," I said.
I began to stand up but Hisa and Rem immediately stopped me.
"You shouldn't move anymore," Hisa said.
"Yeah. We'll look for the eggs and you'll hold the basket!" Rem smiled.
"Sure…" I replied.
Hisa handed me the basket. "I'm really sorry, Su-chan…"
They ran off in opposite directions.
I put the basket at my side and curled up to hide my face with my arms on my knees.
Not again…
I sat there, feeling useless, watching everyone run through the buildings and gardens. I could see the smile on the students that passed in front of me. Hisa and Rem gave everything for the team while I waited in the hallway. Just like that time.
Kawahara and Tarō teamed up with another guy. I also got to see Araki, Narumi, and Tsuga. They smiled, but Araki didn't. Our eyes met a couple of times, but I turned away instantly.
I wonder what he thinks of me now…
The same horn blasted through the air and Shimamura-sensei shouted at the megaphone, "The hunt is over!"
Everyone stopped and breathed heavily between chatter. Some of them even fell to the ground, exhausted. Hisa and Rem returned after a minute with a couple more eggs.
The students gathered back at the central garden with baskets filled with eggs, some more than others. The majority had only a few eggs, but some were quite full.
"Look, I think we have a chance!" Rem said happily after she observed the other teams' baskets.
"Yeah! We managed to get a lot!" Hisa replied.
"You both are awesome," I tried to smile, but the frustration and pain got in the way.
I don't think I can stand up much longer!
"We hope you had fun," Shimamura-sensei said at the megaphone on the platform. "We hid more eggs this year for more competition."
Unable to hold my stance, I lost my balance and dropped to the ground.
"Su-chan!" Rem shouted in a hushed voice and crouched down to help me.
Hisa also crouched down and grabbed my arm to put it around her neck. "Let's go to the infirmary."
"I said I'm—" the pain interrupted my protest.
"Give the basket to Rem-chan," Hisa asked me.
I handed the basket to Rem, then Hisa helped me stand up.
"Rem-chan, you should wait here in case we win something," Hisa said.
"Sure," she replied.
We began to walk between the students, who stared at us and murmured among themselves.
"I didn't expect you to be this heavy," Hisa said, panting.
I stared at her instead of replying.
I'll kill her.
"I'm kidding I'm kidding! You look like you wanna kill me," Hisa laughed. "Oh."
"Oh?" I repeated, puzzled.
Hisa looked behind me and grinned evilly.
Oh no, I know that smile…
"Araki-san!" Hisa shouted in a low voice and waved her hand.
I knew it!
I turned my head around and Araki stared at us. He talked to Narumi and Tsuga then handed his team's basket to Narumi.
He walked towards us.
"Araki-san!" Hisa mumbled, still smiling widely. "Can you help Su-chan go to the infirmary?"
He'll say no. What if we touch by accident—
"Sure," Araki replied.
…
"Great!" Hisa said. "Come here."
She slowly moved my arm away from her and guided Araki to hold it. "Put it around your neck, on your shoulder."
"Like this?" he asked.
My arm wrapped him. However, I noticed he was careful not to touch my skin.
His other hand passed behind my back to my other shoulder.
Why is he so warm?! At least he didn't—
"You should put this hand here to support her more," Hisa grabbed Araki's hand and put it on my waist.
My face burned.
"But I don't know where the infirmary is," Araki said.
"She'll guide you! Right, Su-chan?" Hisa asked, grinning.
Hisa! I'll definitely kill you!
"Y-Yes…" I replied.
"Perfect! We'll go see you after they announce the winners!" she said.
I could hear her internal squealing just by looking at her face.
We walked to the bridge, but Natsuhiko-sensei stopped us before stepping on it.
"Is everything alright?" she asked us with a light voice.
"Yes," I replied. "My ankle aches and Araki-kun is helping me go to the infirmary."
"I see. Please, be careful and come back when you can," she said, worried.
Araki and I nodded, then continued our way.
We remained silent as we passed the bridge. However, it wasn't awkward at all. On the contrary, it was peaceful and soothing. My mind forgot that I was in pain for a brief moment. All the fuss from the garden faded away and only the water running beneath us sounded in my ears.
Why is this so calming?
"Kozue," Araki called me and awoken me from my trance.
"Ah! Y-Yes?"
"What's the way?" he asked me as we stood in the hallway.
"To the right. It's actually not that far, luckily."
As he stepped on the floor, he slipped and tightened his grip on my waist for us not to fall.
"Sorry, I didn't expect it to be so slippery," Araki apologized. "Kozue?"
"I-It's okay! I didn't either," I laughed nervously as I looked away from him.
Doesn't he realize what he's doing?!
"Kozue Suzuka-san. Araki Koji-kun. What are you doing here?" Kawahara asked as she walked past along Tarō, who held their basket.
"Kawahara-san? Tarō-san? I should ask you the same," Araki said.
"We came to ask the doctor for help because our teammate felt very sick just now," she replied.
"That sucks. I hope he's okay," I said.
Kawahara and Tarō nodded.
"May I ask what are you two doing?" Kawahara asked as she stared at us.
Araki still held my waist.
"He-He's helping me go to the infirmary because my ankle aches!" I stuttered.
"Oh, so it is that," she said as she pushed her glasses. "I understand. We shall go, Takuto Tarō-san."
"Yes!" Tarō replied like a soldier following orders.
No, you don't understand!
They walked away.
My ankle throbbed in pain again and I let out a short groan.
"We should keep going," Araki said.
We continued walking through the hallway until we almost reached its end.
"It's here—" I said, but got interrupted by the door opening.
"Suzuka-san?" the doctor questioned in front of us.
"Hi, doc," I giggled.
He stared at me for a moment. "Is it your ankle again?"
"Yes…"
He sighed. "How many times have you came?"
"I lost the count…"
"I even felt that something was missing on holidays!" he laughed.
"I don't come that often!"
"I'm just kidding!" he smiled. He looked at Araki. "Oh? Are you the transfer student?"
"I am. How did you know?" Araki asked back.
"Well, it's not often that someone transfers to this school," he responded. "Ah! I should go check that kid! I'm sorry, Suzuka-san, but can you put ice on your ankle until I come back?"
"Sure. It's the same as always, right?"
He nodded and sprinted away. "We'll greet later, kid! Please, stay with her for a bit!" he shouted to Araki.
We stepped in the empty infirmary and I lied down on one of the beds. Araki searched for an ice bag around the room.
The pain became worse as soon as I stopped moving.
I can't even think properly…
"I found one," Araki said and approached.
"Can you put it on my ankle? Just lift my pants a little."
He nodded. The ice froze my ankle but made the throbbing calm down.
"Thank you," I sighed in relief. "I'm sorry for giving you this much trouble."
"It's nothing. It's my fault, after all," he replied.
"Your fault?"
"I made you fall. I saw you limping and then you couldn't anything after that. You couldn't have fun because of me."
"But we crashed at each other, it was both our fault," I said. "And my ankle was aching before that already."
"Really?"
"My ankle is quite weak," I giggled.
"I see," Araki said.
"Is that why you helped me? Because you felt guilty?" I asked him.
He nodded. "Also because Hisako-san asked me."
My chest sank under an ocean of emotions.
He's right. For what other reason would he have done it? What did I expect?
"Kozue?" he called me.
"I see. Can you leave me alone for a bit? I want to relax."
I put my arm on my face to cover my eyes.
"Are you sure? The doctor said—"
"I'm sure."
He waited for a moment before I heard a couple of steps.
"Kozue," he called me again.
"Yes?" I responded.
"I know you said you weren't interested in this stuff but…"
I moved my arm away and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
He turned away from me.
"I think I like you."
…
"Eh?"