Chapter 76: So, You’ve Liked Her All Along

Smoothly leaving the Class (5) tent area, Kanzaki Sou led Xiao Chun Miura across the Sports Field and the Lawn.

The two walked one after the other up to the Grandstand, sitting at the highest point.

From here, the entire Sports Field could be seen at a glance, the noisy voices carried far by the wind, creating a relatively tranquil space.

“I’m sorry for suddenly calling you out, Miura-san.”

After sitting down, it was Kanzaki Sou who broke the silence first. His voice was especially clear in the gentle breeze.

“It’s just that… there are some things that have to be said face to face.”

Xiao Chun Miura’s heart tightened again.

–This development doesn’t seem quite right.

She couldn’t help but clench her index finger.

Not knowing what Kanzaki Sou would say next made her nervous for the words yet unspoken.

The worst-case scenario would be Kanzaki Sou suddenly canceling their Partner entry.

But based on what she knew about Kanzaki Sou, he wasn’t the type to do such things.

Consistent, serious, striving to do his best.

That was Kanzaki Sou’s way of living.

So Xiao Chun Miura believed that even if Kondo Haruka took the trophy in ranking, it didn’t necessarily mean she had won a “complete victory.”

From Kanzaki Sou’s perspective—of course, also an objective fact—Kondo Haruka was someone who didn’t need extra training to participate and win competitions.

So even if she achieved better results, “it didn’t mean anything.”

Her victory in the competition was “expected.”

But she herself was different. Anyone could see she wasn’t good at sports.

Losing in a competition, for her, was just as “expected” as Kondo Haruka’s rightful ranking.

However, before losing, there were still things she could do.

–As long as she could show Kanzaki Sou that kind of “effort,” to resonate with him in character, it should earn her quite a few impression points.

“…What is it, Kanzaki-san?”

Those thoughts repeated in her mind as Xiao Chun Miura followed up on Kanzaki Sou’s words.

However, unusually, Kanzaki Sou became the one hesitating to answer.

“—It’s about… the upcoming match.”

After a few seconds, Kanzaki Sou seemed to have gathered his resolve and began speaking with Xiao Chun Miura.

But as he spoke, his gaze drifted past her, looking diagonally downward to a spot behind her, his expression somewhat complicated.

Curious, Xiao Chun Miura turned and followed Kanzaki Sou’s gaze.

It was the Rest Area of Class 1.

“I… heard some not-so-good rumors.”

“Rumors?”

Confusion rose in Xiao Chun Miura’s heart.

She turned back and saw that the calm smile Kanzaki Sou always wore had disappeared from his face.

In its place was an expression she’d never seen on him before—serious and worried at the same time.

“It came from my own Class 1.”

He lowered his voice.

“Haruka… seemed to say something in front of her friends.”

“She said—that she would definitely embarrass you at the Sports Meet.”

A chill instantly shot up Xiao Chun Miura’s spine.

“Eh?”

She froze.

She had expected Kondo Haruka’s hostility and knew her image in Kondo Haruka’s mind was bad enough that being disliked was normal.

But she never thought the other would openly voice such malice.

Even if it was only among friends, there was still a difference between harboring emotions inside and saying them out loud.

It was even more so a declaration.

“I don’t know what exactly she wants to do.”

Kanzaki Sou continued explaining, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Recently… I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

“The class group competition, fine, that’s her own business, but…”

“Our Committee match is between you and me, something just for us.”

His gaze returned to Xiao Chun Miura, filled with genuine concern.

“I think the two sides shouldn’t interfere with each other.”

“Our Committee match… Miura-san, if something unexpected happens during the competition—”

“Although I hate to say it, if she deliberately tries to interfere, or uses other means to affect you—”

He seemed to find it difficult to voice those despicable words, frowning, and in the end could only solemnly remind her.

“—Anyway, you must prioritize protecting yourself, Miura-san, and absolutely must not get hurt.”

“Just as you said, the result of the match doesn’t matter. I won’t care about the outcome, either.”

“So please, protect yourself, Miura-san.”

Xiao Chun Miura was at a loss for words.

Her mind went blank, leaving only Kanzaki Sou’s eyes filled with concern.

A wave of warmth surged up, nearly overwhelming the panic that had just struck her.

It was like being helped during bullying—a feeling she had never experienced.

—A new emotion.

For a moment, Xiao Chun Miura felt her eyes heat up.

“You…”

Her voice was a little hoarse.

“Why did you go out of your way to tell me this?”

“Don’t you think I’m a bother? Because of me, you and Kondo-san…”

“This isn’t your fault.”

Kanzaki Sou interrupted her, his tone firm.

He looked at her as if to reassure her, slowing his words.

“Haruka… no.”

No one knew what Kanzaki Sou originally wanted to say, but his shake of the head seemed to reject the words he was about to utter.

Then, he spoke again.

“No matter the reason, it doesn’t justify her actions.”

He paused, a trace of complex emotion in his voice.

“This kind of thing is wrong. It’s an undeserved misfortune for you, Miura-san.”

“You are my Partner. I can’t stand by and watch you get hurt during the match.”

Partner.

The word stirred countless waves in Xiao Chun Miura’s heart.

The intensity of her feelings left her unable to express them for a moment.

She wanted to say something, maybe “thank you,” or “I understand,” but her heart pounded with complex and unfamiliar emotions, making her open her mouth without being able to utter a sound.

At that moment—

“—All athletes for the 400-meter Final, please assemble at the check-in area!”

A clear announcement rang out from the broadcast.

The conversation between the two ended abruptly, and the atmosphere froze.

“Ah, looks like it’s time.”

Kanzaki Sou stood up with a complicated expression, dusted off his pants, and still couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes.

“—Sorry, Miura-san, I have to go.”

“—Kanzaki-san!”

As Kanzaki Sou was about to leave, Xiao Chun Miura called out to him on instinct.

“Is it troubling for you to be teamed with me…?”

“Because! Kondo-san does all sorts of things, right?!”

“It’s all because of me… so—!”

Xiao Chun Miura didn’t finish.

For a moment, the air grew silent.

Kanzaki Sou was quiet for so long that Xiao Chun Miura thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then, he let out a soft, nearly inaudible sigh.

“…There’s no such thing, Miura-san.”

He turned his gaze away, looking up at the blue sky before him, a hint of fatigue in his voice that even he didn’t notice.

“Haruka and I are just childhood friends, Miura-san.”

“You did nothing wrong, so don’t think of yourself like that anymore—the one at fault is someone else.”

Xiao Chun Miura stared at the boy before her in disbelief.

All this time, she thought she was fighting alone, chipping away at an unbreakable stone.

She never considered that the perfect stone already had cracks inside.

A surge of indescribable joy mixed with bitterness instantly flooded her.

She still couldn’t see the finish line, nor the light at the end.

But she knew—Kondo Haruka couldn’t see it either.

She didn’t need to cross the line herself; she only needed Kondo Haruka not to cross it.

And now, at this very moment, knowing Kanzaki Sou’s attitude toward Kondo Haruka, not seeing Kondo Haruka at the finish line meant Xiao Chun Miura’s victory.

No matter how much Kondo Haruka declared her own advantage, the match hadn’t even started.

Yet in this moment, Xiao Chun Miura truly felt the exhilaration of victory.