Quickened pace.

Ayane walked with a quickened pace and paranoid footsteps. She was too scared to look back, but she was feeling someone was following her, and that someone is very close behind her.

"When did Ayane-chan become such a fast walker?" Miko mumbled. She was having a hard time catching up to her with her normal footsteps. "I should walk by her and talk, otherwise I can't know what's happening."

She quickened her pace, and so did Ayane. She quickened hers again trying to catch her. "Eh? Why is she running now?!?" She said to herself.

"Ayane-chan!!" Miko screamed. "Wait for me!" She said while gasping for Air. She has also been running behind her.

"Eh!? Miko-chan? What are you doing here?" Her worried expression quickly disappeared. She felt it was those 'spies' Sakiko hired. Thankfully it was not.

Ayane went to Miko, leaning over. "Are you okay?"

"Im... fine... ah..." she was wheezing. She didn't know Ayane could run this fast. "You should... be in... the track team... water... I need... water..."

Ayane looked around. Thankfully there was a playground for them to go and sit. It was looking lifeless though. "Miko-chan, I have water now in my backpack. Lets sit there and drink, okay?" She asked calmly.

"No!" Miko protested. "Water... now... or Miko die..."

"Ehh?!" Ayane gave a worried expression. "Who told you to run to your limits..."

She handed her the water bottle from her backpack. Miko snatched it from her hands and chugged the whole bottle down. "Ah... feeling much better." She said as she wiped her lips, feeling replenished. "Lets go sit there now, Ayane-chan."

Ayane nodded her head. Miko took her hands and guided her to a bench at the corner, further away from any roads. The bench had an overhead filled with greens and leaves. They both sat down in silence.

"Here." Miko said, handing Ayane a bar of chocolate. "Take it."

"For me?" Ayane asked.

"Who else?" Miko took Ayane's hand and placed it on her palm. "Eat it."

Ayane glanced at her for a bit, before opening the wrapper and taking a bite. "You want some?" She offered some to Miko-chan. She nodded a no.

Ayane closed her eyes. The world was spinning around in her head today. But it now felt a bit calmer. Maybe its not the world, but her eyes, strained from crying.

She felt a slight push— her eyes closed. Miko wrapped her hands around and pulled Ayane's head close to her chest, stroking her head with the other. "I have never seen you cry with this much pain, Ayane-chan. Whatever you are going through, it must be hard..."

Her eyes had a bit more work to do, producing a few more tears. But this time the tears were not forced, nor straining. It felt easy, relieved and light. Ayane was sobbing in Miko's arms, her best friend.