A Brother's Sacrifice

The track and field club occupies a terrain which is behind the school buildings for club activity purposes in the afternoon.

This proper field can also be used for physical education. But it is mostly used by the members of the track and field club, especially runners. It is grand and can provide spaces for spectators to view the activities.

The running track was not used but instead, the huge space in the middle of the track was bustling with teenagers.

The reason was because a podium was built in the middle and all the teachers were standing on.

There was also a young populace mixed in with a large number of middle-age people, further away from the running track. They were parents and some young relatives that came to watch the participants.

On the centre of the podium, there stood the old principal that always bring boring speeches.

"Hello everyone! Students and parents have come here on this special day that the school has organized....."

He continued rambling on as the teachers, students and spectators listened to him.

I noticed that a small group of students was on the podium alongside the teachers. I also detected a familiar visage that I did not see in a while. The only name in this school that I would remember despite my forgetful behaviour on strangers' names.

Ichijo.

I only know the surname but I will definitely keep that name in my mind.

I was standing amongst the mass of students who were listening to the principal. Now, as I decided days ago, I would not partake in the Sports Day activity.

When that old man's speech ends, I am going elsewhere to rest and maybe cheer the participants silently if I feel like it.

I lost Aki and Ken when the crowd was gathering near the podium. We kind of got separated and dragged by the crowd's momentum.

Now I'm standing here with a bunch of unknown teenagers. Even if this guy beside me is a classmate of mine, I won't still know.

So what I did was grab his shoulder lightly and greeted him like a polite person.

"Hey, what's up?"

"..."

He swept a glance at me and nodded at me silently. I thought maybe his mouth was closed because of fear but no. Instead, he was as calm as the still ocean.

"You know me, right?"

"...Yes."

It seemed like he does not want to deal with me but I get the feeling that if he does, then he would not mind beating my a.s.s up.

Now that I take a good look at him, he has a well-built body as seen from the well-developed forearms of his. He ranges from a second year to a third-year but it is certain that he is older than me.

Nevertheless, I resumed conversing with him. Informally.

"What's your name?"

"....."

"Your name bro. What is it?"

"...So rude."

It was precisely aimed at my tone so I ignored it. I did not mean harm for him but it is my way of talking. Yet if he keeps persisting, then I'll stop here. Needless arguments are not my cup of tea.

"....."

"...Whatever."

I recuperated my sight to the principal, who is somehow still talking about this event.

What the hell? Is he going to speak an essay on how Sports Days was established in this institution!?!? Even the other guy in front of me just yawned out of annoyance.

The feeling's was mutual so I could understand. Or rather, everyone would understand. One more example, the girl next to me was chatting with another girl since they could not be bothered.

"Why did you want to strike a conversation with me?"

I again looked to my left, where my upperclassman was. The silent boy that is.

"I was bored just standing here and listening to that old geezer's voice. So like the majority here, I am reducing the boredom that I am having."

"....Is that all?"

"You also felt like that, didn't you? Isn't that why you started to talk to me again?"

I smirked at him, thinking that I predicted his actions. He stayed silent as he stared at me with a slightly irritated face.

"You should really learn how to be respectful towards someone older than you."

"Someday, but for some reason, I'll only respect you, since you are the only one who told me to respect my upperclassmen without even laying a finger on me, That's a great privilege, isn't that right, Senpai?"

I grinned and gazed at him with curiosity. It is true that he is the only upperclassmen in this school who tried to straighten my manners towards any second year or third year. And that too without seeking any fight with me.

"I'm not the least happy about that."

"Ah really, don't lie to me."

I guess I have a feeling that we will be on a strange good terms if I continue to chat with him and be on his good side.

"....."

"By the way Senpai, how much old are you?"

".....I'm a second year."

"Only a year huh. Well, whatever. I have a really small request for you Senpai."

".....Yea?"

"That group of students on the podium, who are they?"

I pointed at the podium and they were not at their place where I saw them last. Instead, they were in the centre. A girl from that group was talking through the mic.

I guess I am kind of happy that when I saw who grabbed the mic. As long as it was not the principal, it was alright.

The creepy boy, Ichijo, was standing next to some other students as he lazily looked at the gathering.

"Those are the student council members."

".....Student Council members...?"

I was left appalled. Ichijo....in the student council? That..... explains his behaviour when I encountered him those two times.

"I'm gonna ask one more tiny request...That Ichijo guy, what position does he retain in the Student Council?"

"Huh? You don't know? Everyone does."

"....."

What does that mean!? Is he the Vice President or something!?

"He is the President."

EVEN WOOOOORRSE!!!!!!!!!

Then does that mean I picked a fight with one of the most important students in the school!? His authority could clearly corner me to the point of expulsion!!

"Hey, then-"

I was about to ask for more information on that Ichijo but the speech was done and the students dispersed. That Senpai of mine too walked away to his group or whatever classmates he went.

Speakers were installed and it was considerably well placed since everyone in the school ground could hear the announcements.

I also searched my two friends but I could not find them.

"To begin this event, the 100-metre race for boys will be a great start. Everyone who is a first-year and is taking part in the 100-metre race, please assemble near the starting line."

The announcement from the speaker spoke really like a commentator who looked forward to this day.

Well since I won't participate in any activities, I will stay clear of the field track. I was planning on going to the roof so that I can spectate all of this.

"Oi Tenma! Come here!!"

I heard Aki's scream and I search for her but I could not find her.

"I'm here you idiot!"

She smacked the back of my head and I instantly look behind. Ever since she first started slapping the back of my head, it has become a kind of custom for her, as well as for me. The pain became less aggravating as time goes.

I stayed silent and did not argue with her because she would feign ignorance to it by focusing on other topics.

"Where's Ken?"

"Don't know."

"Anyway, help me stretch. My turn will come after the boys do the 100-metres race."

"What, no one wants to be your partner? How sad."

I again got smacked, but this time on the top of my head. She glowered at me, so I silently accepted her favour.

The parents and other relatives of this school's students cheered the boys who were getting ready on the starting line for the first game.

Aki sat down, spread her legs and I pushed down her back to the ground with my hands. It is a pretty common stretching exercises called the seated inner t.h.i.g.h stretch.

"How flexible." I was impressed so I unintentionally murmured that out in a low voice.

"You lechering over my s.e.xy slender body?"

"S.e.xy? I admit that you have a slender body but 's.e.xy'? You must have accidentally blurted that out. The suitable word that I can definitely suggest would be 'ugly'."

"Oh, what a coincidence. I exactly thought of that word when I glanced at your shitty face."

I pushed her upper body more to the ground, expecting for her to feel pain. But she endured the pressure that I gave her and I was thoroughly impressed again as I continued to push more with all my might.

"Your strength rivalled that of a mouse. Oops, sorry, I meant a worm."

I gritted my teeth in embarrassment.

Even though I had the advantage, she tolerated the force that I applied. I was reaching to a certain point that would even use my leg to stomp on her back, applying more pressure.

I refrained from carrying out such action as I took a break. I sighed as I saw Aki stood up and stretch her legs by using my shoulder as support. A quadriceps stretch.

She smirked at me as she stretches her other leg.

"Don't you think that it is time for you to do some exercise. I can see that your body is stiff."

"I don't see any point in that. It's not like that I'm always looking for a fight."

"Look who is saying."

"F.u.c.k you."

She changed position to stretch. She faced her back to me and beckoned to hold both her hands. She then leaned forward as I hold onto her hands.

As I was helping Aki stretching, I saw Ken at the corner of my eye.

"Well, Ken found us."

Aki twisted into the direction that I was looking. Ken approached us quite weirdly.

He looked kind of restless as he stares at us two. He was eager to ask something but could not because he was too shy. He looked like that.

I continued helping Aki as I talked to Ken.

"What is it, Ken?"

"U-umm..." He looked in all kind of direction as he had a blushed face.

What is this? Is he going to confess his love or something? He is fidgeting like a girl who always gather their courage to confess to their crush.

".....Can I join too?"

"You mean stretching?"

"Y-Yes."

"Is that it?"

Oh my god.....

Why the heck is he blushing for that reason?

Aki also thought it was strange. She beckoned me to stop helping her. It was good enough to her she said.

"I'm going to go. Soon, it is going to be my turn."

"Yeah. Good luck. I'll cheer for you from somewhere."

"Thanks but I don't need it. I'm going to crush everyone."

Quite a determined fellow. She left casually as I was left with Ken.

"C'mon Ken. You turn."

He sat down and did the same pose that Aki first did to stretch out.

"Why are you nervous? Is it like your first time or what?"

"...Yes, it is..."

"Are you joking..."

As I pushed his upper body down, I felt a bit of melancholy

"I never did have a partner to do this in middle school."

"Now stop."

I pushed down even more and made him feel pain.

"I-It hurts Tenma!!"

"I bet it does."

"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Stop!"

I lighten the pressure he felt and gave him a good stretch.

"When I'm with you or Aki is with you, don't discuss your sad story. I'm sure that even you don't want to hear it."

".....Yea."

He positioned himself for a next pose and I helped.

"For now, it is time to focus on the present. Enjoy yourselves while you are at it."

He stayed silent and moved on to the next pose. I aided him again.

"Tell me. What are you going to do right now?"

He grinned at me and happily said, "Enjoy myself."

"Good."

I finished helping and patted him on his back.

"Good luck Ken. Cheering for you is on my bucket list for today."

"Thanks."

He left me standing there as I watched him go near a group of boys that have gathered for other events.

I put my hands in my pocket and walked towards the school building. Now that I see it, a big banner witch welcomed the students and the parents were tied on the last floor.

It was artistically covered with creative graffitis. On the banner, it was written," Sports Day." Which defined the day for us today.

I entered the building and reached for the stairs that lead to the rooftop. But the door was locked. That's strange.

Looks like they put the roof off-limits for this day. Oh well, I'll just watch the scenery from one of the third year's classroom. Since all third year's classroom are allocated on the top floor, I preferred to go there.

I opened the door to class 3-1 and entered. As expected, no one was here I got near the windows and opened one of them. It was at the back of the classroom.

I brought a chair the window and stuck my head. I made my head rest on my arm as I viewed all the mass down.

An exasperated sigh came out of my mouth as I thought about what am I going to do now. To be honest, I want to sleep because a good breeze swimmingly flows throw the gap of this opened window.

That Ichijo.....just bugs my mind.

The President of the Student Council. Why would anyone even appoint him such an important position?

A c.o.c.ky in that seat would spell danger to me. I am quite lucky that he did not consider expulsing. But I doubt that it was only luck that saved me.

I wonder what is he waiting to punish me? I don't see any reason why he would not take any action against me. He just 'threatens' me.

That time at the roof, where we first met, he was there to discipline me because the roof is off-limits.

Ah.....Wasn't I the one who broke the door to the roof...?

Anyway, he is really shit in lecturing me. All he did was blabber confusing topics that I fully did not understand. Although I did escape from him, that encounter was itching in my mind for some time.

Ichijo....

I'm going to have to be wary of him. At least it is the best that I avoid every person of interest that I acc.u.mulated in my mind.

But I doubt that this will go smoothly.