Chapter 87: Like Gentle Raindrops Falling on a Flower’s Heart

Xiao Chun Miura’s voice was a bit hoarse from running and shouting, trembling amidst the noisy crowd.

Sato Mio, who had her name called, was stunned, and the same reaction appeared on the faces of Yui Hori and Yuzuki Yasuda beside her.

Before Sato Mio could do anything, she saw that hand—usually so timid—grab her wrist tightly.

That hand was sweaty with nervousness, hot to the touch, and gripped so tightly that Sato Mio felt as if she were being dragged along.

“S-Spring?!”

“Can I explain after we reach the finish line?”

Although she said this, Xiao Chun Miura’s actions did not pause.

As a result, there was neither explanation nor hesitation—Xiao Chun Miura grabbed Sato Mio’s wrist, spun around, and charged back toward the track.

Yui Hori and Yuzuki Yasuda were both stunned, their hands raised in mid-air, forgetting to put them down.

“Wh…What’s happening…”

Yui Hori muttered.

“It feels…so intense—”

Yuzuki Yasuda also spoke quietly.

***

The wind howled in her ears, her lungs aching as if stretched like bellows.

She understood why some people liked the sport of running.

Letting her thoughts take over and running forward of her own will… It was an exhilarating feeling.

Although Xiao Chun Miura felt her legs wobble at first, her gaze was clearer than ever since coming to this world.

She couldn’t lose.

She absolutely couldn’t just exit here like a joke.

Kanzaki Sou was still waiting.

Even if Kondo Haruka was still ahead, as long as the finish line hadn’t been crossed—the race wasn’t over.

She would fight until the last second, chasing with all her strength after Kondo Haruka’s back until she crossed the finish line.

Xiao Chun Miura’s mind replayed Kanzaki Sou’s expression before he was pulled away.

The boy being led by the hand, the shock in that instant, grew clearer the more she remembered—

The boy who said, “I’ll give it my all,” probably fell into chaos for a moment, unable to witness his partner’s victory.

Normally, even if a Borrowed Item Relay turned into “one person running with another,” or even carrying someone—those were all normal.

But for someone like Kondo Haruka, after entering the field, to take another person’s partner as an “item” and borrow them—such a situation was very rare.

So Kanzaki Sou hadn’t expected it either.

Unable to watch his partner finish the race, he could only run ahead, completely unaware of what was happening behind him.

If she gave up now, it would betray his promise that “partners should help each other win,” and also betray her own resolve to do so much just to survive.

Xiao Chun Miura lifted her gaze, Kondo Haruka and Kanzaki Sou’s figures were just ahead.

—Watch me catch up to you!!

***

At this moment, the situation on the track had become chaotic.

Some contestants were still borrowing their target items at the edge of the field, while others staggered toward the finish line with various strange items.

Among this crowd, only Kondo Haruka moved like a fish in water.

She pulled Kanzaki Sou, smoothly weaving through the moving crowd, running toward the finish line.

Kanzaki Sou ran passively, his brows furrowing unconsciously.

He tried to break free from Kondo Haruka’s grip, but she held on tightly, showing no intention of letting go.

“Sou-kun! Don’t fall!”

The childhood friend’s voice was lively, as if overflowing joy had taken form.

“Haruka, let me go.”

“No.”

Her tone didn’t change, and her answer was crisp and decisive.

“Why should I let go? Don’t you want to help me win the race?”

“You want her to win, so my victory doesn’t matter to you?”

Kanzaki Sou felt the grip on his hand tighten.

“She’ll only drag you down from behind, Sou-kun.”

“—I’m the one who can cross the finish line with you side by side!!”

Kanzaki Sou’s expression froze.

The childhood friend running ahead looked back, her face blurred by the backlight.

But Kanzaki Sou knew.

His childhood friend was showing a confident and proud expression at that moment.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

After crossing the finish line, Xiao Chun Miura squatted on the ground, almost collapsing.

Her physical strength wasn’t so poor that she’d die after a few hundred meters.

Was it because of nervousness, or being too emotionally charged, that she lost control of her body?

Her feet felt itchy, her knees a bit feverish.

Her vision was blurry, and all she could see was her hair falling from her shoulder to the ground.

“Guh—!”

She struck the asphalt of the track in frustration.

She had undoubtedly lost.

Kondo Haruka was just too fast.

She had thought that with Kanzaki Sou in tow, Kondo Haruka would be a little slower.

But in the end, it made no difference.

Kondo Haruka crossed the finish line first, unstoppable.

“…Koharu, are you okay?”

Sato Mio’s voice came from behind on the left.

Xiao Chun Miura forced herself to stand, her friend with the single ponytail looking at her with concern.

“I’m fine, just…”

As she spoke, Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t help but glance at the area beside the finish line.

Sato Mio looked over too.

In the direction the girl’s gaze pointed, Kondo Haruka was laughing and talking with her friends at the finish line.

The student in charge of recording scores looked helplessly at the cheerful group, repeating something loudly.

Kondo Haruka was the first to report her score.

She was number one.

No miracle occurred, and she hadn’t caught up.

She hadn’t brought victory to Kanzaki Sou.

“Miura-san.”

As frustration filled her heart, a calm male voice came from behind Xiao Chun Miura and Sato Mio.

Her long hair, usually draped over her shoulders, had come loose after being tied up.

When the girl turned around, Kanzaki Sou was quietly watching her—face flushed, body trembling.

She hadn’t crossed the finish line in his sight.

When he passed through the finish line, Xiao Chun Miura was still far behind.

She lost the race.

But…

This girl had earnestly finished the race.

She hadn’t avoided it, hadn’t given up.

Even if she now looked fragile again, the determination she showed during the race was real.

There was no other reason.

As he ran toward the finish line, Kanzaki Sou could feel the pressure from behind him.

That pressure came from Xiao Chun Miura.

She hadn’t won, but she had shown her resolve.

She competed in the most proper, upright way, head-on.

“…You gave it your all too, Miura-san.”

During the Sports Day, Kanzaki Sou had spoken to Xiao Chun Miura several times.

But for the first time, he held back his smile as he spoke.

Kanzaki Sou looked at Xiao Chun Miura with serious eyes.

“Today, you were really brave. As your partner, I’m proud of you.”