Overtaking

Eh? I feel like I should leave them alone...

Yuri walked slowly backward until he reached a corner and ran upstairs, straight to Mao's room. There, he stared at the framed awards on the wall, even though they weren't hers. Katagiri Kanade was the name engraved on them.

Kanade? That's a female name... so Sanchou is Mao's father's surname. But why does Mao's room have these? It's not like she's won any awards so far...

Yuri scratched his chin thoughtfully. I think I understand why Mao was jealous of her mother... Best volleyball player in the Sendai and Aichi annual championships... not bad, huh? Seeing this every day can be a little demotivating...

Suddenly, the door opened, startling Yuri. "I swear I wasn't spying on anything!" he stammered, glancing at the door. It was ajar, and Mao was cautiously peeking out. "Eh? Mao?"

"You saw it, didn't you?" she asked, unable to look him in the eye.

"What? Your mother's award? Of course not! I was just staring at the wall!"

"What? No! You know what I'm talking about..."

"Eh? What is it?"

"You saw... me crying... didn't you...?"

"Oh, that?" Of course! You looked so cute! But I can't say it out loud, otherwise you'll kill me! "N-No, I didn't see a thing..." he replied, giving a nervous little laugh and scratching the back of his neck. "Why do you ask?"

She punched him in the head, furious. "You're not even trying!"

"What, you want me to tell you how cute you were?!"

"Of course no- c... cute?!"

"Yes, I've never seen you so vulnerable before! But if you think I'm going to laugh at you, you're sorely mistaken! Now, punish me! I'm waiting!"

Yuri expected another punch, but Mao didn't seem angry. Instead, she looked confused and conflicted. "W-What are you even saying?! I don't understand this!"

"W-What part of that didn't you understand?! I just said I saw you crying, and there's nothing wrong with that!"

"There's nothing wrong with that...?" She tilted her head, dumbfounded. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with YOU, not me! You want me to simply delete that memory? I don't have such power!"

"W-Would you like to be remembered for something embarassing, huh?! No? That's what I thought!"

"Embarrassing? What is embarrassing about crying?"

"Huh?!" Mao and Yuri seemed to be seeing things differently. They couldn't grasp what the other was trying to say. Someone knocked on the door. "Mao, Yuri? May I come in?"

"M-Mom?" she replied, startled. "W-What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I bought some snacks for you," she answered, entering with a few bags of chips.

"S-Snacks?" Mao asked, her eyes gleaming. Then she shook her head, trying to break free from the hypnosis. "W-Why do you think I want something so unhealthy?"

"Unhealthy?" replied the mother, giggling. "Oh my, you used to love unhealthy food!"

"That was my old self! I can't eat unhealthy things..."

"I wonder what could have possibly changed your mind." The mother glanced at Yuri and smiled. He blushed.

"I-I just changed on my own, okay?" Mao answered, trying to appear strong.

"What's wrong with eating junk food once in a while? I do it and I'm perfectly fine!" the mother said proudly, while flexing her prominent biceps.

Yuri felt intimidated, but also amazed. "H-How do you manage to reach such level?" he asked, curious.

"Well, I train every day to maintain this physique. It's not easy, but it's fun!"

"O-Of course you can say that, Mom..." Mao replied, looking away. "Because you already have a perfect body."

"I was small too, just like you. I was fragile and was made fun of at school, but then I decided to change. The first few years were difficult, but look where I am now. You are my daughter, Mao, of course you will reach even greater heights than I did."

"B-But..."

"And you, Yuri, don't get discouraged. It's not just about genetics. It's about willpower. If you decide to do something, don't give up and you'll eventually succeed! It may take time, but it works, trust me." She gave a thumbs-up.

What a sad way to deal with this... I wish I had both the genetics and the willpower. I only have the weirdness. Wait, is that part important?

"But Mom... you also had to eat healthily to get stronger, didn't you? If I eat junk food, I'll become a loser..."

"Are you calling me a loser? Because I love junk food!"

"Ehh? N-No way, that's not what I meant!"

Mao's mother playfully patted her head with the side of her palm. "It's not that serious. Like I said, it's fine, as long as you don't make it a habit. So, go ahead and enjoy yourselves." She handed Mao and Yuri one bag of chips each.

"T-Thank you, Mao's mom!" Yuri said gratefully. "No problem!" she replied, giving a thumbs-up and leaving the room.

"I don't understand my mom..." Mao said, pouting. "One minute she says junk food is bad, the next she says it's good..."

"It's all about moderation, I think..." Yuri replied, opening his bag.

"Um... S-Sorry for yelling at you..."

"I-It's no problem, really! I was a little nervous, so I ended up losing control a bit..."

"But I still don't want you to remember that..."

"What, you crying? I still do, haha!" he pointed at her while laughing. Mao threatened to punch him, but he backed away. "W-Wait, I'm kidding! I just wanted to gauge your reaction... Like I said before, I don't think you should be ashamed of crying at all."

"Y-You! Stop being so confusing! Make up your mind!"

"I'm serious this time. I find the act of crying wonderful. It releases all your negative emotions at once and cleanses your mind."

"B-But that makes me look weak..."

"Not at all. You've never been weak, Mao."

"What about when we met for the first time?"

"Okay, you used to be weak."

"Huh?!"

"But you're not anymore! Just look at you, you're bigger than me!"

"Not a high bar..."

"H-Hey!"

Mao's mood lightened, a slight smile appearing on her face. "But I still feel proud... of both myself and you."

"As you should! You shouldn't compare yourself to your mother, because she's way ahead. But you'll surpass her one day, I promise!"

"That's a very high bar..."

"Then I will help you reach it."

"Not a huge help, but thanks," she said jokingly, with a smirk.

"H-Hey, I'm still growing! I will be taller than you one day!"

"The tables have turned! Your days of reigning are over! Kneel before your new queen!"

"N-Never!" He looked away, pouting. They both laughed as she hugged him, overwhelming him. "W-Wait, take it easy!"

"Haha, you're so fun to tease!"

"I-If you're so confident about that, let's compete in a race!"

"A race?" She gave him a smug smile. "You sure about that?"

"Well, yes. I need to know how far behind I am now."

"Far behind? Wait, are you serious?"

"Hm? What's wrong with accepting the facts?"

"Hey, you've got to be kidding me..." She slowly approached him and gripped his arms tightly, a desperate look on her face. "Never say that to me again!"

Eh? What should I have said?

"If you give up..." she trailed off, conflicted, "what am I going to do?! You were the one who motivated me to get this far! And now you're just going to accept being left behind?"

"That's not what I said... I just know that there's no competing with genetics."

"That's the same as giving up, dumbass!"

"Is it? What other way is there?"

"Not giving up! Listen, just don't accept defeat! Let's go now!" She pulled his arm forcefully out of the house, toward the sidewalk.

"Hey, that... hurts a little."

"S-Sorry... but it's your fault for making me angry!"

"What's gotten into you today? You're angrier than usual."

"It's just... ahh, let me think!"

"No objections..."

"All the way to that light pole!" She pointed to a pole a few dozen meters away. "And then back!"

"...What?"

"The race! Have you already forgotten about it? You were the one who suggested it!"

"Oh, right, the race..."

"Why do you sound so unmotivated? Come on, be more cheerful!"

What's the point of competing if I know I'm going to lose?

"Hey, you..." she said, with tears in her eyes, "are you really going to abandon me like that?"

"Abandon you? What are you talking about?"

"You know what? I don't care! Just leave me alone and..." her expression was one of anger, but also of despair.

"Listen, it was not my intention to—"

"Just leave! I don't care anymore!"

She seems really angry this time... But it's not my fault, is it? What should I do? Just leave, like she said?

"Mao..." Yuri stopped beside her, looking ahead. "I'm ready. Let's go."