Chapter 78: My Whole Life Feels Like Walking on Thin Ice—Yet You Still Push Me from Behind…

“The men’s 400m final has ended. Please, competitors, do not leave the area near the Finish Line until your results have been confirmed.”

“—All classmates near the Finish Line, please leave the track immediately! Repeating, all classmates near the Finish Line, please leave the track immediately!”

***

The final was over in a flash.

Still overwhelmed by the tightly packed crowd, the girls returned to the (5) Class Tent.

“Sou-kun~ You’re the best~”

“Ah, seriously, that’s so cringe!”

Yui Hori exaggeratedly moved her mouth, grumbling as she imitated Kondo Haruka.

The girl’s eyes nearly rolled to the heavens, even higher than her neat short hair.

“But she really is… over the top.”

Yuzuki Yasuda said vaguely, chewing on a lollipop, “It feels like even the air around Kanzaki is dominated by her.”

“It’s not just the air.”

Mio Sato chimed in.

“She wants to monopolize all of Kanzaki’s time, space, and attention. Koharu, don’t you think so?”

Miura Koharu, who had been listening quietly, subconsciously nodded slightly, then hurriedly shook her head.

“Eh, it’s not that exaggerated…”

“It is that exaggerated. You didn’t notice, Koharu? Didn’t we talk about this before?”

Yui Hori widened her eyes at her; Miura Koharu could only avert her gaze in embarrassment.

“Ha… Haah—? We talked about this?”

Of course, she knew what Mio Sato said was true, but her current position was almost the complete opposite of Kondo Haruka’s…

She didn’t want to say too much bad about Kondo Haruka.

The warmth that had arisen from Kanzaki Sou’s kindness over the past few days was now frozen again by Kondo Haruka’s undisguised hostility.

The double pressure of survival and emotions had made Miura Koharu too tired to deal with anything else.

She now just wanted the Borrowed Item Relay to come quickly—at least to bring things to a swift conclusion.

“Okay, let’s stop talking about them,”

Perhaps sensing that Miura Koharu’s mood was off, Mio Sato clapped her hands and shifted the topic.

“Yui, your triple jump is about to be called. Go get ready.”

“Oh, right! I almost forgot, I got so mad at that girl—let’s go, let’s go!”

Yui Hori immediately stood up, dragging the others to the check-in area.

“Why do I have to go too…??”

Miura Koharu’s voice trailed behind her, her thoughts left behind for the moment.

Time passed quickly in the sound of the Starter Pistol and sweat.

In the blink of an eye, the sun slanted west, and the orange glow of dusk gently bathed the Sports Field.

“It’s Yuzuki’s high jump match!”

Yui Hori, just back from helping classmates with water, ran back to the (5) Class Tent, slightly out of breath, holding an unopened Sports Drink.

“Want to go cheer, Koharu?”

“Eh? High jump?”

Miura Koharu pictured Yuzuki Yasuda’s petite figure in her mind.

“Yuzuki?”

“Yeah!”

Yui Hori replied.

“Mio’s already over there. Koharu, since you’re not doing anything sitting here, come with us.”

She walked over to Miura Koharu, who was sitting alone, distracted.

There really was nothing to do.

Miura Koharu thought.

“Then, let’s go.”

Together with Yui Hori and Mio Sato, Miura Koharu squeezed into the spectator seats next to the High Jump Area.

“Yuzuki—Go for it—!”

“Jump over! Jump over!”

The two cheered hard for Yuzuki Yasuda, and Miura Koharu joined in, shouting, “Yuzuki, you can do it!”

It felt like at times like this, you didn’t have to think about anything else.

To Miura Koharu’s surprise, Yuzuki Yasuda’s high jump was amazing.

She cleared the set height with a beautiful back layout, and the crowd erupted in a small wave of awe.

“Wow—Amazing! Yuzuki!”

When the match ended, Yui Hori and the others rushed excitedly to the High Jump Area, surrounding Yuzuki Yasuda.

“Alright, I want a cold drink,”

Yuzuki Yasuda pretended to be cool.

“Okay, okay, here you go!”

Yui Hori’s cheeks were flushed with excitement.

“I want something tasty too. Mio, go buy it for me~ The usual one.”

Mio Sato smiled and shook her head, taking the money Yui Hori handed over and heading toward the concession stand.

Yui Hori and Yuzuki Yasuda grabbed Miura Koharu, deciding to wait in the (5) Class Rest Area.

The three of them crossed the half-empty track; the light was already dim.

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long, and the noise of the Sports Field faded, leaving only a few sounds of people packing up and the whisper of the evening breeze.

As they laughed and chatted, walking to the center of the track—

“Bang—!”

Miura Koharu’s back was suddenly shoved hard from behind.

Caught off guard, she stumbled, her steps thrown off, and she pitched forward as if weightless.

“Ah!”

With a cry, Miura Koharu fell forward onto the grass.

“Koharu!”

Yui Hori and Yuzuki Yasuda were startled by the sudden turn of events and quickly turned to check on her.

They bent down to help Miura Koharu up, concern in their voices.

“Koharu, are you okay?!”

“I-I’m fine…”

Miura Koharu gritted her teeth and looked back.

A few Girls in White Team gym uniforms were laughing as they ran away along the track.

They ran fast, glancing back as they went, their faces twisted in mocking amusement.

“Ah! Sorry, I bumped into you!”

“Really, so sorry—”

There wasn’t a hint of apology in their voices, only contempt and ridicule.

“Hey! You—”

Yui Hori was about to shout in anger.

“Aren’t those Girls from Class 1??”

But Yuzuki Yasuda spoke first, her voice uncertain.

Miura Koharu looked up; in the dim light, she couldn’t see their faces clearly.

But if they were Girls from Class 1…

Was this Kanzaki Sou’s warning, come true?

A shame and rage more intense than the pain in her knees surged in Miura Koharu’s chest.

She knew this was no “accident”—it was a blatant threat and retaliation.

“How awful! They’re too much!”

Yui Hori stomped her foot in fury.

“Koharu, are you hurt?!”

“I’m fine…”

Miura Koharu shook her head, holding back the pain.

“Koharu, your knee’s scraped.”

Yuzuki Yasuda pointed at her leg, eyes wide.

“Come on! Let’s go confront them!”

Yui Hori was burning with anger and started to charge after them.

“—Wait, Yui!”

Miura Koharu grabbed her arm.

She knew that rushing in now would only let Kondo Haruka get what she wanted.

If things got big in front of everyone, she’d be exposed to the public eye for sure.

In that situation, she’d only look more pathetic and powerless.

“…… It’s fine.”

Miura Koharu steadied her breath, her voice trembling but full of stubborn resolve.

“Let’s go back first.”

“But!”

“Let’s go back.”

Miura Koharu’s voice turned cold, her frustration and anger crystallizing into new resolve within her.

Kondo Haruka.

This match—you started it.