Acceptance

"Eh?" Mao murmured, surprised, but in a positive way. "What do you mean?"

"Until that pole and back, right? Let's run." Yuri confirmed his participation.

"But you just said..."

"I still think I'm going to lose, but there's no harm in trying. Don't you dare go easy on me, gotcha?"

"A-Are you sure? You don't need to do it to make me happy and all..."

"What are you even saying?! Make up your mind, Mao! Do you want to run or not?"

"I-I do..."

"Then you count!"

"Um..." She fidgeted with her fingers, trying to gather the courage to say something.

"Mao? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, okay?! I wasn't angry at you! I just..."

"You were."

"I wasn't!" She pouted, waving her arms stubbornly. "You know what? It's all your fault!"

"You're having some mood swings, Mao..."

"S-Sorry..." Her face was red with embarrassment. It was almost as if she hadn't said what she meant, especially when she insulted Yuri.

"It's okay, Mao. Let's run, shall we?"

Mao nodded slowly. "Then... three... two... one... go!"

Then they started running at full speed, taking care not to trip on the sidewalk or bump into each other. Yuri's sprint was faster, but Mao was closing the gap. He gave a wicked smile and ran ahead of her, blocking her path. She frowned, feeling betrayed. Then, she smiled.

"Playing dirty now, huh, Yuri?" She commented, preparing to overtake him. She ran alongside him, easily passing him. She reached the post and touched it, ready to turn around. Even though he arrived later, Yuri turned around faster than her and ran back.

Eh?! She screamed internally, feeling left behind. Did he touch the pole? Is he cheating? Wait, I can't waste any more time!

Yuri looked back and stuck his tongue out provocatively.

What?! Yuri, you're playing with fire! I'm going to wipe that smile off your face! She ran furiously, catching up with her friend in an instant, especially since he was slowing down due to exhaustion.

In the end, she won. They both stopped in front of her house, breathless and clutching their knees.

"See?" said Mao, raising her fist toward him. "You're still doing great. Even though you tired a little too quickly..."

He greeted her with a fist bump. "Thank you— Wait, what?! I'm not the only one sweating here!"

"I can still run all over the city without getting tired!"

"I highly doubt it! I want to see you try!"

She gave him a light punch on the head, giggling softly. "I'm just kidding. After all, we're still kids..."

"I... If you say so..." He looked away, embarrassed that he hadn't understood her joke at first.

"Lighten up a little! Most of the things I say aren't serious! Come on, how come you still haven't learned that?"

"So you weren't mad at me? Like, not at all...?"

She gasped, feeling cornered. She forced a smile and glanced to the side, trying to think of an excuse. "S... Sometimes I can lose my temper..."

"It's good that you recognize your weakness, human. Because, unlike you, I can assess any situation realistically!" He posed proudly, with a snarky smile.

Disappointment was etched on Mao's face, making it clear that she wasn't buying it. "You were arguing with me just a few minutes ago."

"So what?! Fine, I lose my temper sometimes too! But you don't hear me yelling at you to leave!"

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, I accept your apology. Don't worry, I'm not mad at you anymore."

"But you're so stubborn, jeez... how much does it cost to say yes?"

"Y-You have to learn that both of us have boundaries..."

"But you enjoyed it, didn't you? You were denying it without even considering the question."

"I... I-I don't need to think to know what I don't like..."

"You like to exercise! You're the one who convinced me to do it!"

"I only do it when you call me. I don't necessarily enjoy the activity."

"Lies! You enjoy it very much! I always see you smile when we finish training!"

He looked away, trying to mask his thoughts. "T-That's not true..."

"It is! Why can't you be honest for once, Yuri?"

"You're the one who's too honest, Mao!" He remembered his sister. No, I'm not wrong here... they are!

"Hmph! If you insist on being a closet loser, so be it! I don't care!"

"You're not being honest now."

"I-I am! I don't care what happens to you!"

He grinned, noticing her embarrassment. "Then why do you want me to be honest?"

"B-Because I can't read minds, jeez!"

"I can. You're thinking about how you want me to agree with you."

"O-Of course I do! Because I care about you..."

"See? I was right—" Huh? Why do I suddenly feel so happy? There's nothing strange about what she said... 

"W-Why are you blushing?!"

"You said you care about me...?" He adjusted his glasses, sweating profusely.

"Yeah... what's the problem with that? You agreed to race because you care about me too, right? Even though you were the one who suggested it in the first place..."

"I-I guess so..."

"You also changed me because you care about me, right?"

"H-How can you say all that with a straight face? You're being too honest now!" He ran to her house, grabbed his backpack, went outside, and got on his bicycle before Mao could even speak.

"W-What are you doing?!" She yelled as he rode away on his bicycle.

"See you tomorrow, Mao! I have things to do!"

"What?! Why the sudden rush?!"

As she watched Yuri disappear over the horizon, she continued to wonder what had led him to act so strangely. If only he were just a little more honest...

But she was also acting differently. Even after her secret was discovered, she couldn't fully open up to him, much less discuss and tell him what he could improve.

The same applied to Yuri. He was terrible at expressing his emotions, or even his thoughts. It was like a very thick membrane echoed his thoughts back into his brain, preventing him from saying anything that could cause him any problem. Of course, this act alone caused far more problems than simply being sincere, but he couldn't bring himself to change. He needed assistance.

Mao and Yaoi were the only ones who could see past the barrier he himself had erected. But his sister was a little... too problematic. So, only one person could change him.

After a year, both went through a process of homeostasis. One influenced the other, trying to change their friend. But both failed to some extent. Both were too stubborn to accept that they had different characteristics and that they could never be 100% compatible. And they couldn't ask for a better or stronger friendship.

I wonder if he will stick around after class... Mao thought, fidgeting with her fingers. He doesn't like to waste time, but I can't change what he considers a waste...

Hmm... what do I do after class? Yuri thought, scratching his chin menacingly. Classes were suspended because of the inter-class competition! Everyone wins! Especially me... He looked around, grinning like a villain, rubbing one hand against the other. He didn't look back, however, and was startled by a hand on his shoulder. He jumped back, frightened.

"Hey," a female voice came from behind. He turned around and saw Mao, smiling at him. She was now half a head taller than him.

"M-Mao!" He looked around, embarrassed by his own reaction. "Do you really have to surprise me every time?"

"Eh? I'm sorry, that wasn't the intention this time!"

"This time?" He pouted and turned his head to the side, feigning anger. "If you think you can intimidate me, you're sorely mistaken."

"Intimidate you?" She tilted her head to the side, confused. "That was never my intention."

"Come on, play along!"

"Oh? So this is a theater?" She adjusted her imaginary glasses, trying to look like a genius. "Very well, my master. I will let you indulge your fantasies."

"As I was saying, my servant, thou shall never haunt me! Because I am the bravest man of all time!"

"Bravest man of all time, huh...?" she murmured, dragging out the words sarcastically. She grinned, unconvinced. Then, she tickled him under the arms, surprising him. He burst into involuntary laughter.

"Haha! Stop, my servant! Or I shall punish you! Hahaha!"

"Not so brave now, are you, master?" She paused, giving him room to breathe.

After the laughter subsided, he pouted stubbornly. "What you just showed your master was blasphemy! I'll punish you with..." He bared his claws like a hunter and was ready to tickle her in return, when...

Eh?

He stopped before he even started.

"Hm? What's wrong?" she asked, trying to read his thoughts.

He laughed awkwardly, trying to mask his embarassment. "N-Nothing..."