"Screech…"
After a short break, the loudspeakers, which had been silent for a long time around the sports field, blared again, emitting a slightly harsh static sound.
After a brief adjustment to ensure the equipment was working normally, a sweet female voice clearly echoed through the speakers, reverberating across the entire sports field.
"Will all students from the senior group participating in the three-legged race please report to the track to prepare—"
The senior contestants responded, moving unsteadily towards the center of the field. Around them, cheers from their classes rose and fell.
"I wanted to nap a bit longer." Onii-san leaned against the back of his chair, rubbing his temples.
"Onii-san, why cling to sleep in life? You'll have plenty of time to rest in death."
"…"
No sooner had Yuzuru playfully darted in front of him than he pushed her away with his large, well-defined hands.
"Ajitani, who's up for our class later?" Yuzuru turned to Ajitani beside her.
Ajitani smiled slightly: "Everyone."
...
As the loudspeaker blared again, Tsuna had just opened his eyes when Nishikata patted his shoulder. They were still partners for the next event.
"Tsuna, Takagi-chan and I are heading down first." Shouko said with a smile.
Before he could respond, Takagi and Ajitani linked arms with Shouko, one on each side, and quickly led her towards the sports field.
Tsuna rubbed his eyes and walked down with Nishikata, Yuzuru's and the parents' cheers ringing in his ears.
After receiving the bright red leg-binding rope and a small numbered tag,
Nishikata quickly sidled up to Tsuna, nudging him lightly with his elbow, his face unable to hide his excitement as he asked:
"Miyamura, what do you think of my plan?"
"I don't think much of it…" Tsuna rolled his eyes at him.
"What plan? What are you two talking about?" Ajitani asked curiously.
At this moment, Shouko and her two companions also walked over, accompanied by Takagi's partner, Rinko.
"It's nothing," Tsuna shook his head, explaining, "Just Nishikata's sudden idea."
After speaking, without waiting for Ajitani to press further, he motioned for Nishikata to walk with him towards the track.
The boys' group competition was first, followed closely by the Girl's group.
It was still early, and the four people nearby were not in a hurry, beginning to prepare to cheer for Tsuna and Nishikata.
"How enviable."
"Enviable of what?"
"That."
Kitano, from the second group of boys, looked in the direction Tanaka indicated and saw four distinctive Girl cheering for Miyamura and Nishikata.
"…That's it?"
"Isn't that enough?" Tanaka bit his teeth enviously: "If Miyamura hadn't started dating Nishimiya, why would any Girl be cheering for him?!"
"Hehe…"
Kitano chuckled dryly, his gaze sweeping over the Girl on the field who were preparing for the three-legged race.
Many eyes among them were, without prior agreement, focused on those two individuals.
Were they looking at Miyamura? Or were they looking at Nishikata? There was no need to guess.
…
"Ready!"
"Bang!"
"Go, Tsuna!"
"Miyamura, Nishikata, go!"
…
Before the finish line, several figures on the plastic track, with arms linked, strove towards the finish line amidst waves of cheers.
Not far behind them, Tsuna and Nishikata's steps were steady but not swift, their breathing slightly strained.
At this speed, they would at most rank in the teens among all first-year students.
"Miyamura, the first and second places… we're out of luck, but… but we can still push for a charge!"
Nishikata had his arm over Tsuna's shoulder, his words broken and continuous due to their up-and-down movement.
"Third… third place… is definitely… no problem!"
Seeing no reaction from Tsuna, he continued to persuade him with more force: "Trust me! That… move, we've tried it during training before, haven't we?!"
"…It's just too embarrassing."
"I haven't said anything, what are you afraid of? Come on!"
Before he could hesitate further, Nishikata leaped up on one foot and lunged at Tsuna, putting his entire weight on him!
At first glance, the two looked like they were in a princess carry, but it was far from as beautiful; Nishikata's foot, still bound by the rope, dragged on the ground, like a forgotten anchor.
Nishikata's sudden movement caused Tsuna to stumble and almost fall.
"Wow…"
"Nishikata really knows how to have fun."
"You can tell he came up with that move just by looking at it."
"I didn't expect Miyamura to be so strong; he can carry him and still pass the ones in front."
The four people closely observing that duo immediately noticed this move.
Ajitani even jokingly pretended that Nishikata's action might make Shouko jealous, and quickly reached out to cover her eyes.
But Shouko, almost without pause, lightly pushed away Ajitani's fingers, then joined their three-person discussion with great interest.
This peculiar duo on the track was quickly noticed, and the news spread like wildfire through the venue. In a flash, even the broadcast began loudly announcing their conspicuous bib numbers.
The teasing didn't stop until the two reached the finish line.
Many boys tried to imitate them afterward, but all ended in failure. Either the person carrying wasn't strong enough, or they both fell.
Even if they managed to lift someone, whether they could run was still a question.
...
The two returned the ropes and bibs under the tent next to the starting point, then turned to find Shouko and the other three.
They caught a glimpse of Ajitani pursing her lips to suppress a laugh, playfully giving them a shining thumbs-up.
…
"Onii-san, you two seem to be famous… Pfft…"
As soon as they returned to the spectator stands, they heard Yuzuru's laughter. Nishikata felt many eyes on them.
"I'm used to it." Onii-san sat down beside her. He had already anticipated this outcome.
The students from the boys' group gradually left the field amidst the loudspeaker announcements. Next, it was Shouko's turn to compete.
When they had finished their competition and returned to the stands, Ajitani began rubbing her sore shoulders as soon as she sat down, sighing repeatedly:
"Finally, only one event left. Once the closing ceremony is over, we can call it a day and go home!"
Shouko beside her also felt a bit sore, but thankfully Yuzuru was thoughtfully helping her massage and relax.
The broadcast loudspeaker, with a slight crackle, was still rambling about some competition results. A few half-hearted "Go!" cheers occasionally echoed across the field.
Short whistle blasts were heard now and then, but louder still were the chirping conversations and the rolling sound of mineral water bottles on the concrete ground.
After chatting for a while, Shouko and her companions stood up amidst the sweet broadcast voice and walked towards the sports field.
"Onii-san, don't you need to go?" Yuzuru looked at someone still sitting on the chair playing with his phone, very puzzled.
"No." Tsuna shook his head as he put away his phone: "This is mainly for entertainment; I never thought about signing up."
"I see." Yuzuru nodded.
"…If it weren't for the class president's requirement, Miyamura, you probably wouldn't want to sign up for a single event, would you?" At this moment, Nishikata's teasing voice suddenly rang out from behind them.