The roar of footsteps thundered in her ears, as if the crowd running in all directions had suddenly filled every corner.
For a moment, Xiao Chun Miura felt dazed.
“– Miura-san, I’m off!”
“!”
It was still Kanzaki Sou’s voice that pulled her back to reality.
She withdrew her panicked gaze and looked at her Partner, who had spoken.
“Wait for me at the Starting Line…!”
From the Starting Line, she could only see the boy’s side profile, but the determination on his face was clear.
Because of that expression, Xiao Chun Miura found herself returning to the competition.
***
The rules of the Borrowed Item Relay were that in a two-person Partner team, one person was responsible for heading to the end of the track to the Borrowing Box, drawing a Borrowed Item Paper Slip from the box, and then bringing it back to the Starting Line.
After that, the other person would open the slip and, according to its instructions, borrow the corresponding item from the competition area.
Once the item was acquired, the person who received the slip had to run with the borrowed item to the opposite end of the track—the Finish Line.
When they reached the Finish Line at the track’s end, that team’s race was complete.
Xiao Chun Miura and Kanzaki Sou had agreed during practice: Kanzaki Sou would handle Card Drawing, and Xiao Chun Miura would do the borrowing.
“During the competition, I’ll draw the card, and you handle the borrowing.”
One day during practice, Kanzaki Sou and Xiao Chun Miura confirmed the process.
“The first half, the Card Drawing, is purely a race. After that, depending on the content of the drawn card, the time consumed for borrowing varies for each contestant.”
“So, there’s quite a bit of room for maneuver in the borrowing stage—meaning there’s always a chance for a comeback.”
The boy spoke thoughtfully.
“The less time spent on the Card Drawing, the more time can be secured in the borrowing stage.”
“So I hope to be the one to draw the card, giving you, Miura-san, more time to complete the borrowing task.”
Alright, I understand.
Xiao Chun Miura’s memories from that moment flashed through her mind.
She unconsciously clenched her fist.
Kanzaki Sou’s plan had no flaws, and she hadn’t objected at the time.
But—
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt an extra intense gaze from the side of the track, level with the Starting Line.
She didn’t dare turn to check.
No matter what expression Kondo Haruka wore right now, she felt she couldn’t handle it.
She hadn’t expected Kondo Haruka to enter the race either.
By letting Kanzaki Sou handle Card Drawing, in effect, she and Kondo Haruka remained at the Starting Line.
That gaze continued to bore into her, so strong she wanted to turn away and escape.
Until Kanzaki Sou returned, she had no choice but to remain under the scorching gaze.
Xiao Chun Miura felt restless.
All she could do was hope Kanzaki Sou would come back quickly and end this silent torture.
Thinking that, she looked evasively toward the track.
After Kanzaki Sou’s words meant to cheer them both on, he had already shot out like an arrow.
His speed was remarkable among all the contestants heading for Card Drawing.
Only a handful managed to keep pace with him—these few formed the leading group of card drawers.
Seeing their formation from afar, Xiao Chun Miura’s heart inexplicably tightened.
Among them was the boy who had stood next to Kondo Haruka before the race.
From behind, he looked even more muscular than Kanzaki Sou—if Kanzaki Sou had a lithe, athletic build, this boy was visibly muscular.
Although he trailed Kanzaki Sou slightly in the first half, he gradually gained on him during the sprint.
Perhaps the initial gap was caused by the start, but his acceleration made up for it.
As a result, Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka’s Partner almost reached the Borrowing Box at the track’s end at the same time.
Xiao Chun Miura’s heartbeat sped up.
— What would he draw?
Kanzaki Sou’s speed at drawing the slip from the box was slower than she expected.
Normally, one would just reach in and grab a slip at random.
But from her distant viewpoint, Kanzaki Sou seemed to pause at the Borrowing Box for several seconds before turning to run back.
Did something happen?
After turning, Kanzaki Sou immediately began his return sprint.
He was still fast, and Kondo Haruka’s Partner followed close behind.
The two of them almost returned to the Starting Line at the same time.
“Miura-san!”
Kanzaki Sou, gripping the slip, ran toward Xiao Chun Miura with an outstretched hand.
“Haruka!”
Kondo Haruka’s Partner shouted as well.
With standard Relay form, Kondo Haruka deftly took the slip from her Partner.
Without even looking at the words on the card, she dashed toward the Finish Line like the other borrowing contestants.
Xiao Chun Miura’s eyes widened in shock—Kondo Haruka’s movements were too fast. That unwavering determination was as if she were destined to win, her overwhelming aura pressing straight through to Xiao Chun Miura.
On her end, Kanzaki Sou’s speed was so great that Xiao Chun Miura barely had time to react—the process of handing over the slip was a bit clumsy, but she managed to take it.
“Go for it! Miura-san!”
Kanzaki Sou’s breathing was ragged, sweat beading on his forehead, but his eyes were locked firmly on Xiao Chun Miura.
“Y-Yes!”
With her heart in her throat, Xiao Chun Miura forced herself to open the trembling slip.
The words written on the slip came into view—and for a moment, the girl’s heart seemed to stop.
[Item to borrow: Your Most Important Person]
“…Eh?”
Xiao Chun Miura’s mind went blank the moment she saw the words.
— Item to borrow: The person you treasure most.
Th-this… What is this?
— The person you treasure most?!
She instinctively looked up at Kanzaki Sou, who was also looking at her.
His usually calm expression had changed slightly.
Even Kanzaki Sou seemed surprised.
— He didn’t expect this either.
How do you even borrow—
Sorry!
As Xiao Chun Miura stood frozen, a familiar voice called from behind, approaching quickly.
Xiao Chun Miura turned instinctively—Kondo Haruka’s crimson ponytail was bouncing nearby.
— Kondo Haruka was coming toward her??
No, she wasn’t looking at Xiao Chun Miura.
The direction of her gaze—
When Xiao Chun Miura realized what Kondo Haruka was looking at, her blood froze.
“Sou-kun, come keep me company, okay~?”
That sweet invitation rang out beside her, and Xiao Chun Miura felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss.