"Eh, is that Izumi-kun?"
"It's Yanami's childhood friend."
"Strange, why did Angel-sama proactively invite Izumi-kun to team up?"
"The three-legged race requires a high level of coordination. Could it be that Angel-sama and Izumi-kun have great chemistry in private?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"..."
As Mahiru walked up to Sora, various whispers immediately broke out in the surroundings.
Sora was in the Go-Home club. He used to go straight home every day after school, never participating in group activities. He kept a low profile, and if it weren't for the fact that he was Anna's childhood friend, his presence would have been quite low.
Now that he was suddenly invited by Angel-sama to compete together, it naturally drew countless stares.
"Sora-kun, let's team up for the race, okay?"
Shiina Mahiru looked up. Her eyes were clear and bright, completely ignoring the gossip and stares of others. Clearly, there was only Sora in her eyes.
Since Mahiru didn't care about the gazes of others, Sora naturally cared even less. His expression was calm:
"Since Mahiru invited me, then let's go snatch the victory."
Seeing Sora agree, unconvinced voices quickly rang out around them:
"Shiina-san, why team up with Izumi-kun? We've never seen him train after school."
"Yeah, he might drag you down."
"Shiina-san, please consider this carefully. Don't be impulsive."
"..."
Faced with everyone's doubts, Shiina Mahiru's gaze sharpened slightly, her tone quickly becoming serious, defending Sora without hesitation:
"Sora-kun is much more amazing than you imagine."
"As for training, Sora-kun and I often go night running together. Our coordination is much better than you imagine."
Although she hadn't practiced the three-legged race with Sora, Shiina Mahiru was very confident. As long as the two stepped onto the field, their coordination would definitely be super in sync.
"..."
The air quickly fell silent.
With Angel-sama's forceful defense, the others naturally shut their mouths one after another.
"Sora-kun, let's go."
Shiina Mahiru turned and walked toward the track.
Sora gave a light nod, handed his drink to Elf, and walked onto the field with Mahiru.
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
The cheerleaders were resting in the stands.
Anna was happily munching on a small bread roll when a companion's call suddenly rang in her ear:
"Anna, Anna~ look!"
"Mmm... wha is it?"
Anna looked up in confusion, her voice muffled by the food in her mouth.
"That boy is Izumi-kun, right?"
"Anna, it's your childhood friend."
"He actually teamed up with Shiina-san... It looks like they're participating in the three-legged race."
"..."
Hearing her friends' gossip, the ahoge on Anna's head suddenly twitched. Her "thieving cat radar" swiftly activated. She hurriedly swallowed the bread in her mouth and turned to look at the sports field.
Under the bright sunlight, Sora and Mahiru had already walked up to the starting line. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, their posture intimate. Their inner legs were already tied together with a rope, clearly about to participate in the three-legged race.
Sora is so mean!
He clearly said earlier that he didn't sign up for the three-legged race. Why is he competing with Mahiru!
Seeing the two standing shoulder to shoulder on the field, Anna involuntarily puffed out her pink cheeks.
Then...
Chomp!
Anna opened her mouth and took a huge bite, eating almost half the small bread roll in one go.
So mad!
I need to eat some bread to calm down first!
"Anna, don't just focus on eating, say something."
"Yeah, yeah, your childhood friend was stolen by the Angel."
"How strange. Although Shiina-san has a very easygoing personality, she never has intimate contact with boys. Why would she team up with Izumi-kun? Could it be they aren't just ordinary classmates?"
They were next-door neighbors and went night running together every night. Of course they weren't just ordinary classmates.
"Speaking of which, hasn't Izumi-kun gotten better-looking? I feel like he could be an idol."
Hearing this, Anna proudly lifted her chin.
Although they weren't praising her, hearing someone praise Sora made Anna just as happy.
Another piece of gossip sounded nearby:
"Izumi-kun and Shiina-san standing together actually look surprisingly good together."
Anna forcefully swallowed the bread in her mouth, gritting her teeth:
"What are you saying! They don't look good together at all, okay!"
"Ahem..."
The girl who spoke hurriedly covered her mouth, not daring to say more.
"Damn it, I want to participate in the three-legged race too!"
Anna bit her lower lip resentfully.
They were already standing on the field, so she definitely couldn't go over and tear them apart now. She could only watch helplessly.
No!
I have to take action, I refuse to just stand by and watch!
Anna rubbed her stomach, feeling her energy hadn't been fully replenished yet. She quietly opened her backpack, took out another bag of bread, and started munching chomp, chomp.
After finishing the small bread roll in a few bites, Anna stuck out her delicate pink tongue, quickly licking away the bread crumbs, ensuring not a single crumb was wasted, and then stood up:
"My stomach hurts, I'm going to the restroom!"
"..."
Meanwhile.
On the field.
Sora and Mahiru stood shoulder to shoulder, the rope already tied around their legs, waiting for the referee's starting pistol.
"Is Sora-kun nervous?"
Shiina Mahiru asked softly.
"Just a little bit."
Sora told the truth.
The sports field was packed with a sea of people. Moreover, his team with Mahiru was the most eye-catching. Sora could clearly feel countless gazes falling upon them from all directions.
"I'm sorry for suddenly asking you to join the race without asking for your opinion beforehand..."
Shiina Mahiru softly apologized.
"There's no need to apologize," Sora said casually.
"If we win the race, Mahiru can just give me a reward."
"Eh?"
Shiina Mahiru curiously turned her head to look. She didn't refuse, but asked curiously:
"What kind of reward does Sora-kun want?"
"I haven't decided yet. Mahiru can just give whatever you see fit."
"Umm, let me think..."
Shiina Mahiru blinked her bright eyes. Unsure of what she just remembered, her pretty face rapidly flushed red.
"Get ready—"
The referee's voice sounded nearby.
Sora and Mahiru immediately held their breath and concentrated, their expressions turning serious in unison.
'Competition first, friendship second'—this phrase is something only the champion can say. The losers will only be thinking about why they weren't the ones who won.
Since they had stepped onto the field, they wanted to take first place no matter what.
Bang!
As the starting pistol fired, Sora and Mahiru swiftly ran forward.
Their steps were perfectly aligned, and even their breathing remained synchronized. They quickly surged to the very front of all the teams.
Behind them, a team of participating boys fell right at the starting line just as they set off. Another team, although they didn't fall, had clumsy movements and even ended up running with the same arm and leg moving forward together. The sports field was momentarily filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"Sora, go for it!"
Yamada Elf had arrived at the finish line ahead of time and was cheering them on.
"Izumi-kun, charge~"
Tiara was also waving and cheering. It had to be said, she had a super strong sense of team responsibility.
Amidst the cheers and applause, Sora and Mahiru coordinated perfectly from beginning to end. They quickly clinched the championship with absolute certainty, leaving the second-place team a full twenty meters in the dust, and even broke the school's all-time shortest time record for the three-legged race in one fell swoop.
"Hah... haah..."
Shiina Mahiru's pretty face was flushed, panting slightly, but her eyes were sparkling brightly:
"Sora-kun, we won."
Sora was just about to speak when a hand suddenly reached out from beside him:
"Sora, drink this."
Under the gazes of countless people from the whole school, Anna's pretty face flushed slightly red. Shyly yet firmly, she presented the drink right in front of Sora.