A Brother's Sacrifice

All of the final events are beginning just after midday.

Mr Kimura got out of the classroom first. He said that he would be controlling the starting pistol of the races.

Well for me, I stayed in this classroom. From the beginning, I established that this is my little room for the day. I spectate the lively mass from above, that was the plan.

The finalists for each of the designated events was gathering for their own specific events. Again, the first years will be doing the events and then at the end of the day, the third year would conclude this Sports Day.

The boys started first with 100-metre race with all the finalists taking their position.

Mr Kimura, as foretold, initiated the race with a bang sound from the starting pistol. The finalist began to battle themselves.

It was tight but there is always one winner. An unknown first year raised his hand energetically and part of the student crowd cheered. Maybe they were classmates and friends.

The next event was one that I wanted to see. I rested my head on the palm of my hand. The edge of the window frame supported my arm and my curiosity peaked.

The first-year girls were assembling near the starting line. Amongst them were Aki and Reika.

Aki was calm but I could see how she seemed ferocious. To win this race, that was the sole objective that she needed to absolutely accomplish right now.

Reika was tying her long black silky hair and made it short so that it would not hinder her. She looked also as calm as Aki but competitiveness enshrouded her.

In fact, all of the girls had their game face on. They did not get bothered by Aki's unnerving presence. Instead, they concentrated on the race.

I wanted to see the result. Who would win in this race?

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, I detected a girl who I must have known since she had quite the familiar face. Her b.o.o.b.s were top notch for a high schooler, that I can say was one of the good qualities about her.

She was in the line up alongside Reika and Aki. Somewhere I must have met her. Maybe Ken will remind me.

The forgetful guy that I am, I decided to ignore her.

The girls took their stance and prepared for the dash. Mr Kimura lifted his hand and pointed the starting pistol to the sky.

*Bang*

The second bang of the final races. All of the spectators concentrated on this specific event.

Their feet left the ground and the girls started sprinting. Reika got a good start since she was ahead of everyone. However, even if Reika knew that she had a good start, she did not look a tad bit happy.

She continued sprinting with all her might.

Aki kept up with her speed as she was just a bit behind. The fiery eyes of hers did not waver when she knew what her position was.

It was like this halfway until when they entered approximately the final 20 metres.

Aki put more energy into her leg muscles and bolted with amazing speed. Faster than before.

Noticing the change in Aki's speed, Reika too put on the peddle and sprinted as fast as she could. The girl that I could barely remember, was keeping up with the two astonishing speed.

The finish line became closer and closer as Reika, Aki and the other girl were battling it out. But, as always, there was one winner.

To my surprise, it was Aki who finished first. The sweats that were generated from Aki's body and the panting that hindered her breathing was proof of how hard she had to run to win this.

The announcer grandly denoted the conclusion of the race, confirming the position of the participants.

First came Fujimoto Aki.

Kaburagi Reika occupied second place.

And the third, a familiar name went through my ears as the announcer claimed that it is Hirabayashi Maika that got third place.

That long-ass name pricked my mind as I tried to remember where did I meet this girl. Seriously though, if there is a medicine that can cure my forgetfulness, then I would unhesitantly consume it.

Anyway, I noticed Reika was not that sad or irritated. Instead, she wore a satisfied smile as she watched over Aki's state. She approached Aki slowly because she used up a good amount of energy.

Aki detected Reika coming closer to her. Then with a friendly grin, Reika put forward her hand expecting for a handshake.

"Congratulations Fujimoto."

"....."

Aki was in a state of confusion, nevertheless, she replied to Reika awkwardly.

"...You too."

They shook their sweaty hands and Reika's smile became warmer which surprised Aki. Then, they separated but not before greeting each other off.

Aki went on his own and so did Reika.

"Congratulations on grabbing first place, Aki."

"Thank you."

Ken walked to Aki and gave her a bottle of water to quench her thirst. She was now less fatigue and able to pant less heavily.

"It is your turn now to do the same."

Ken lightly chuckled and responded.

"I hope so."

On that note, Ken separated from Aki after a little while so that he could prepare for the final 200-metre race.

....

The boys sprinted using all their energy in their body and mind. In the end, they all crossed the finishing line. They all were exhausted but they have given their best.

Most of the boys were motivated by the girls cheering for them while others because their family was here.

The one who came first, the one who surpassed all of the finalists, was not that tired after having sprinted in the last 30 metres or so.

The commentator, as always, announced the winner of this race plus the runner ups.

"First place came Kinoshita Ken! Second place is Kiyotani Ryo! And third place is Ryuzaki Aiza."

Ken's expression was filled with happiness as he chatted with Aki. The strange thing that I discovered was that Ryuzaki Aiza came third.

Ryuzaki Aiza, our class' representative, a crucial member of the soccer club, was behind 2 boys in terms of speed. The second place I could understand if he was in the track and field club but Ken?

Ken was not trained.

Neither i nor Aki gave him tips on how to run efficiently and conserve his stamina. Then how did he prevail this race?

Does he have potential?

Is this the case that he is technically gifted? Maybe I can consider him as a jack of all trades. He could possibly excel in everything he tries.

My lips subtly curved upwards.

Later, Aki and Ken participated in another two events of their own. Sadly for them, they did not grab first place.

In the long jump event, Aki only got fourth place. I presume that she must have greatly used up her energy in the race. That can be the factor that affected her performance.

And for the 500-metre race, Ken got leg cramp as he was about to enter the final 100 metres. As a result, he came last. That was disappointing for them.

Reika dominated other events that she participated apart from the 100 metres race.

At the end of the day, the winners were getting the awards they deserve. The parents were happy with what they saw in the field. Children smiling as they make friends.

In the podium when they were getting medals, in contrast to the situation, Aki and Ken were annoyed at the results. They were irritated about their performance on their second event.

Ken was trying to hide his emotion while Aki could be blatantly seen having a furious face.

They wanted absolute victory so it was a shame for them.

But it was their fault and lack of endurance that made them get this result. In the first final events, they used up most of their stamina to dominate the competition.

When those two had got their award, I decided that it was time that I get my a.s.s off this chair. This chair was my friend of the day and I had to say goodbye to it.

I got out of the class that I was in and found a dustbin in a little corner. I threw the empty plastic wraps of chocolate and the orange juice can.

I entered the fields where the students were roaming and some were boasting about the medals they got. I travelled through such boisterous teenagers to find Aki and Ken.

There were even civilians, considerably parents or relatives of the teens. There was a bigger population in this area so it took me a while to catch a glimpse of those two.

Quite sometime after, I saw them. Those two were talking to each other so I approached.

But as I got closer, I noticed that they were not talking to each other. Instead, they were talking to another person. I continued to walk to them.

The third person was a girl. The same girl that I thought I knew was there. The name was Hirabayashi Maika.....I think. I reminisced on how the commentator said her name.

Ken's expression was fl.u.s.tered and at the same time, unwilling. I wonder what are they talking about.

Now that I think about it, that expression of embarrassment that invaded Ken's face was familiar. That helped my memory.

Isn't that girl....

"Ah! The drowning girl!"

Ken, Maika and Aki simultaneously veered their heads to my direction. Maika, who I assume to be the drowning girl from the days of our study camp program, reacted to my comment embarrassingly.

"...It's Maika. Hirabayashi Maika."

"Yeaaaaaa. That long-ass name. I remember completely now."

Aki sighed as she was staring at my forgetful behaviour.

"What are you all talking about?"

I intruded their space and it turned into a conversation with us 4 together. Aki gave a summary to me in just one line of what was going on.

"She was requesting us to join the track and field club?"

"Heh~ Then what have you decided?"

"For me. It's a no." Aki replied negatively to which Maika was disappointed.

But she was not that sullen because she may have braced for this kind of answer.

"What about you, Ken?" I asked curiously.

He was thinking about it but he was also giving me a look of worries. So, I made his decision making more easier. I declared as I smiled gently

"Your life. Your decision. Don't mind us."

He had a subtle grin as he stared at me. Then after a few moments, Ken looked at Maika and replied with a lack of uncertainty in his tone.

"I'm afraid but I have to reject your proposal."

There was a pause in between us 4 but Maika sighed and broke the small silence.

"*Sigh*.....If you would have accepted, you would have been one of our club's major member."

"Sorry."

Ken was apologetic but his decision was final. I looked over at their small interaction and thought of slightly changing the topic.

"I did not know that you were in the track and field club."

"...R-Really? Did I not look the part?"

"Logically speaking, I thought flat c.h.e.s.ted girl like Aki would enter this club since they-GAHH!!!"

I did not get to finish my sentence.

The absurd amount of pain that keeps surging into my brain was overflowing. I reflexively put my hands at the place where I got hit.

I tumbled slowly as I tried to adapt to the pain but that was extremely difficult for me to achieve since I was hit in the nut.

"Don't mind him. He is just a lecherous bastard that knows nothing else than s.e.x.u.a.l harassment."

With a straight face that was accompanied by a suppressed anger, Aki shrugged me off.

Ken was watching me with anguish as he does not want to be on the receiving end of Aki's vicious kick. The empathy of pain was there and Ken was feeling miserable for me.

After all, Ken was a boy like me.

He tried to help me stand up slowly but surely and I supported on his body.

"You can do it too if he ever passes off this kind of comments on you. He can't do shit."

"I...I-Is that so?"

The two girls were chatting while I could barely stand up. I tried to cuss at Aki but the words would not come out. I was having difficulty to even speak.

Maika excused herself as she worriedly walked away from us.

"I'm sorry did I hit too hard?"

If I heard correctly, her tone clearly contradicts her apologetic comment. Aki was absolutely not feeling bad about me!!

F.u.c.k you Aki!!

She helped me the same way Ken is doing right now. I snuck out a few words to Aki as I was panting from the pain.

"I.....I just was.....s-saying it..... from a rational....point...of view."

"Oh is that so?"

She put on the same playful attitude and apologised in a very irritating way.

"Sorry. Teehee."

Sticking out her tongue and hitting her head lightly, she played dumb.

'Stop pretending you are cute for god's sake!!!!!'

Those 2 abandoned me when I separated from them to go to my own house....

.....while they were laughing at the way I was walking.