Sports days are full of opportunities

Yuri opens the door of the student council room as usual, and sees Yaoi in a weird costume once again, but this time, she kind of welcomes it.

Yaoi is standing in the middle of the room with a basketball in her hands and wearing her PE clothes, but her top has the number 1 on it, like sports players usually have.

She has both of her eyes closed, as if she is focused on something. Yuri takes her eyes off of Yaoi and she notices something else about the room. The wall in front of Yaoi has a basketball hoop on it.

Huh? That wasn’t there before.

Yuri thinks, but before she could says anything about it Yaoi starts talking:

“I can hear my own heartbeat. It’s drowning out all the other voices. This is the very last chance to win. If I miss, it’s all over. Everything I worked for, everything we worked for! ...I still remember the day when I first saw the coach play. It was all so mesmerising… In that moment I knew, I knew that I belonged on the court. It was that feeling that I wanted to experience again, for myself. And I did, after all that hard work, I felt it while playing alongside my teammates and much, much more. But this would be too soon to stop. I want to aim even higher. I want to make it to the top! And it all rests on this single shot. Will I have the strength to make it? Even if I succeed, what comes next? If I don’t make it, will everyone blame me? ...As the moment of truth comes closer, my heartbeat drowns out even these questions. But no! I won’t let it end here! For my coach, who couldn’t make it this far. For my friends, who believed in me. For my teammates who are on this journey next to me! And for my own dream, that I swore to make true! Here it goes!”

Yaoi exclaims and throws the ball towards the hoop. It’s a pretty good throw and it looks like it’s probably going to make it, but it hits the side of the hoop and… it falls to the side, missing the point.

Yaoi keeps standing in the same position as she threw the ball in, and she watches as it falls to the ground, bounces a few times, then it comes to a stop. After that she suddenly turns to Yuri and says:

“So the sports day is tomorrow. What events did you sign up for?”

“Huh? What was that?” - Yuri asks, confused.

Yaoi tilts her head a bit and asks:

“What do you mean?”

“Well I… okay, whatever, let’s move past that.” - Yuri says.

“What about a plan?”

“Ah! No, we don’t actually need one today. I already rigged the-”

Yaoi coughs a bit.

“Ehm, I mean I made sure Kei and Rin end up together in the events where you need a partner. So you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery.” - Yaoi explains.

...Did she just-?

Yuri’s thought process gets interrupted by Yaoi:

“Oh, thank you for the ...sick visit by the way. Although I don’t remember much about it.” - Yaoi says.

“Ah no, it’s okay. Are you feeling better?” - Yuri asks.

“Yep! I made a full recovery and just in time for the sports day.”

“Wait, are you participating?” - Yuri is surprised by Yaoi’s statement.

“Well yeah. How would it look if the student council president didn’t take part in it? Although, it’s true that exercising isn’t my strong suit...”

“Heh? But what about your-”

“Ah, that reminds me…” - Yaoi interrupts Yuri

Does she not want to talk about it? - Yuri thinks.

“I don’t think I saw your name at any of the individual events. Are you bad at sports too?” - Yaoi asks.

“Well, that’s not really it. I just don't want to drag my team down.”

“Hm? I wanted to watch you though. Well anyway. As I said, we don’t need to do anything this time, we just need to watch everything play out. Find me near the tents tomorrow and you’ll have a nice spot to keep an eye on them.”

The next day comes around and an undeniable feeling of excitement fills the school as the sports day starts. Although it’s cause could also be that there are no classes today… But anyway, after a short speech from the principal the event finally starts. First up are the individual competitions, which are starting soon.

“Ugh, I can’t believe that you managed to talk me into doing this.” - Rin complains.

“Come on, I know you will do much better than me.” - Yuri says.

“You know that I’m written up for a number of competitions that need a partner as well right?”

“I’ll be cheering you on from the sides!”

Yuri says and pats Rin’s shoulders to give her a small push. However she does feel a bit guilty.

“Whatever.”

Rin says and begins walking towards the starting point of the competition.

Sorry Rin, I’ll treat you to something next time. - Yuri thinks

I guess I’ll look for Yaoi-senpai.

Yuri looks at the different tents that have been set up, mostly for storing equipment. It doesn’t take much time before she recognises Yaoi.

She seems to be coordinating something with a few other people. It’s weird for Yuri to see Yaoi do something so student council president-like.

Huh. I guess she does things like that after all. I mean things have gone smoothly so far, so I guess that’s thanks to her as well. Hm, I probably shouldn’t bother her right now.

Yuri thinks and walks over near the tents, but she stops in the shade of one of them. She has a line of sight on Yaoi and she can see the field as well.

Yuri waits there for a while and before she realises the three legged race is up. Yuri looks for Rin and Kei and just as Yaoi said the two of them got paired up.

“Wow, I guess she really took care of everything.” - Yuri mumbles to herself.

“Right? There are like three events, where I managed to put them together.”

Suddenly a voice comes from behind Yuri. She turns around and sure enough, Yaoi is standing behind her.

“D-don’t scare me like that!”

“Sorry, sorry.” - Yaoi says with a smile on her face

“Come, I know a better place to watch this from.”

“But what about...” - Yuri looks towards the tent she originally saw Yaoi at.

“Oh, I’m pretty much done with everything, so it’s okay.”

With that Yaoi starts leading Yuri away to a less crowded spot.

“Did you come with your family?” - Yaoi asks while walking.

“Yes. My mom and little brother are sitting at the benches.” - Yuri answers.

“Ah, that’s nice. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be with them?”

Yaoi asks, but there’s something faintly different about her voice.

“I mean I’m going to see them when I get home anyway.” - Yuri says.

“Ah, I guess that’s true.” - Yaoi replies as they walk by a lamp post.

Soon Yaoi stops next to the gym and turns around.

“Well, here we are.” - She says and sure enough it’s a pretty good place to watch the events from.

“Ah, look! It’s starting.”

Yaoi motions toward the running tracks. It doesn’t take long for Yuri to spot Rin and Kei.

“They make quite the pair don’t they?” - Yaoi asks with a sly look on her face.

“Yeah...”

Huh? She doesn’t deny it anymore? - Yaoi thinks as she hears Yuri’s unusually honest response.

The two of them watch the events unfold and cheer on the other two, as they produce pretty good results. Although it’s clear that Rin isn’t as athletic as Kei, but she tries her best too. Seeing the two of them work together makes Yuri think of something.

“Wait. How does it work?” - Yuri asks.

“Hm?”

“Isn’t this whole thing a competition between the separate classes? I mean, they aren’t only in different classes, but years as well.”

“Ah! Well yes, originally all the events used to work like that, but I wanted to change things up a bit this time, so we made a few competitions a joint effort by students from different classes and, or years. The points they get are halved for both of their classes. Officially this is to make the students at the school interact more, unofficially well, take it as you will.” - Yaoi explains.

Eh? Did she just do it so Rin and Kei could end up together? - Yuri thinks.

I mean I shouldn’t be surprised by this point, but still.

“The running relay is about to start, the students that take part, please take your places.” - A voice announced from a speaker.

“Ah, looks like I’m up.” - Yaoi says.

“Huh? You’re going to run?” - Yuri asks, concerned.

“I mean, yeah?”

“Is it alright?”

After a moment Yaoi realises what Yuri means, smiles a bit and then says:

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me. I know my limits.” - She exclaims with a confident look on her face.

“Well then, I’m going. And if I remember correctly you’re up in the next class event, so you should go back too.”

With that Yaoi starts walking away. Yuri slowly starts walking as well, but her mind is elsewhere:

Didn’t the vice president say that Yaoi-senpai has a weak constitution? And from what I saw it’s quite possible that it’s true. I mean even if it’s true, she seems to have it together pretty well. Although it might just be a front she puts up in front of everybody. Like her personality. Do I even know her real self? I wonder if-

*Thud. Bang.*

With two loud noises Yuri’s thought process gets temporarily stopped as she walked into a lamp post while not paying any attention to her surroundings.

“Ugh, my head.”

Yuri feels her head hurting as she slowly opens her eyes. She puts her hand to the source of the pain and feels a bump. Once her eyes focus, she sees an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Oh, are you alright?” - Yuri turns to the side and sees Yaoi.

Yuri relaxes at first, but then remembers all their previous exchanges and quickly sits up and looks around to make sure Yaoi isn’t planning anything weird.

Yuri seems to be in one of the beds in the school’s infirmary. And nothing unusual catches her attention, which makes her even more suspicious.

“Ehm, yeah. More or less.” - Yuri answers.

“Ah, that’s great.”

Yaoi lets out a sigh and she genuinely seemed worried. Yuri is still unsure about how to feel about this. Yaoi notices her anxiousness and asks about it:

“What is it?”

“Oh, ehm. Well, you’re not planning anything are you?” - Yuri asks.

“What? Come on, I was really worried about you, you know. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Wait, actually, what happened?” - Yuri asks as she can’t really recall it.

“Well I didn’t see it, but you probably walked into one of the lamp posts near the running tracks. It’s a good thing I noticed you, there weren’t many people nearby.” - Yaoi explains.

“Ah, that explains the bump on my forehead.” - Yuri says - “Oh, and thank you.”

“...yeah, of course.”

“Ah, but what about the competitions?” - Yuri suddenly remembers.

“Don’t worry about it, I arranged substitutes for both of us.” - Yaoi says with a smile.

“Oh, that’s good…” - Yuri lays back into the bed.

“Ah, I just caused a lot more problems for everyone, huh?”

Yaoi is a bit surprised by Yuri’s sudden mood change, but she kind of understands why she feels that way. She pulls her chair closer to Yuri, leans a bit closer to her and then says:

“Don’t think about it like that. You’re alright, that’s all that matters.” - she smiles a bit - “And anyway, you can consider it me paying you back for last time.”

Yaoi’s words console Yuri a bit. And she does feel better after hearing it. After Yaoi sees this, she continues:

“But you know, this situation kind of reminds me of something...”

Yaoi says as a sly grin comes across her face:

”Two students in the infirmary. The nurse is away. There are no other people nearby...”

Huh? What is she..?

Yuri’s mind begins to race as Yaoi stands up.

“Next up is-”

But then suddenly two small arms wrap around Yaoi from behind. She immediately freezes up, maintaining the exact same position, like a statue. Yuri sits up again to take a closer look and then a face comes out from behind Yaoi.

“Sis! I found you!” - says a small boy, who looks about elementary school age.

“Yu! What are you doing here?” - Yuri asks her brother.

“I heard you had an accident so I came here to check up on you.” - He explains.

“Oh, I see.” - Yuri says - “But, ehm, why are you hugging Yaoi-senpai?”

“Ah! Just felt like it.” - he says with a smile.

Oh that’s right. He’s really touchy-feely. - Yuri thinks and looks at Yaoi, who is still frozen stiff.

“Uhm, could you let her go?” - she asks.

“Okay.” - he lets go.

“Ah, thank yo-”

Yaoi gets interrupted by another one of Yu’s hugs.

Whoa, she really is bad with physical stuff. - Yuri thinks.

At least with me she was able to keep walking and talk about stuff. More or less.

While Yuri was thinking, Yu made a game of letting Yaoi go and then hugging her, over and over again, interrupting her every time.

“Hey, I’m mostly alright by now. Let's go back to mum and dad, okay?”

As amusing as it was to watch it play out, Yuri thinks that she should save Yaoi.

“Okay.” - he lets go again.

“T-thank you.” - Yaoi manages to put the words together.

She looks at Yu, who has a sly look on his face, like he is ready to do it again. Chills run down Yaoi’s spine and instinctively takes a step back.

“I’ll be with you in a moment, say goodbye to Yaoi-senpai.” - Yuri instructs.

“Bye-bye!”

With that he walks out of the infirmary while waving.

The moment he leaves the room Yaoi collapses on her chair, feeling exhausted.

“Ugh, elementary schoolers are scary.”

“Pfft.” - Yuri manages to stifle her laugh.

“Ah, sorry about that, he’s always like that.”

“That was way more than I can handle. I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”

“Yeah, sorry. And thank you again for today. I’ll take back Yu and then find you later okay?” - Yuri says.

“Yeah, sure.” - Yaoi says still a bit shaken up.

After this only a few competitions remained and while Yuri and Yaoi were out Rin and Kei shined as replacements, contributing greatly to the victory of their respective classes. And with that the sports day came to an end without a hitch (mostly).