Sports Day

October was a busy month. The school’s Sports Day was on the second Monday, and later in the month were the midterm exams. I didn’t mind Sports Day, because running was pretty much the only thing I was good at, but that didn’t happen this year.

Earlier in the semester, I sprained an ankle in P.E. that put me in crutches for a couple of weeks. I was exempted from physical activities, and also couldn’t do club work with my hands full. Luckily I was still able to play Karuta, and more importantly, write poetry.

During the sports festival, I didn’t pay attention to the competition. My presence in the events wasn’t needed, so I spent the day in the garden on my own while everyone else competed. I didn’t mind the solitary, it allowed me better focus.

Shouting cheers tore through the sky light a fighter jet. I received updates on the game from a female announcer on the speakers. Out of the three classes in my year, it seemed like mine and one of the other two were neck-and-neck. The day was nearly done when I realized how parched I was, and my water bottle was empty.

"All concessions are on the field. The others might be competin’, so I can’t burden them with bringin’ me one. Alrighty, guess I’ll have to walk."

I put away my notebook and lifted myself without putting pressure on my ankle. Hands on crutches, I started walking to the field when the announcer delivered another update.

"That’s it for soccer! Class 1-B takes home the victory over Class 1-A thanks to Mitoma-san’s hattrick! With that, Class 1-B also takes the lead in the overall competition! However, either class can win it all in the final event: 4-person rally!"

Classic. Maybe if I was a part of the event, our class would have a better chance at winnin’ it. But, if Mitoma-kun is participatin, then we’ve already lost.

It took me five minutes to reach the concessions part of the school’s field. By that time, the runners were already lined up on the track.

Maybe I can find Rossi-chan and wish her luck. She’s surely takin’ part in this event, so I wonder which number racer she’ll be.

Being too focused on scanning the track for her, I didn’t watch my step and accidentally brought down my crutch onto someone’s food tray. I nearly slipped due to the change in surface, but my back was caught.

"Are you okay, kiddo?" said a gruff, masculine voice.
His hands wrapped to my shoulders to stabilize me upright, and I turned my head to face him. I was already perplexed, because his accent wasn’t a Japanese dialect…it was foreign.

He wore a suit unlike those of the average Japanese office worker. It appeared more sleek, more designer, and more expensive. I quickly pulled myself away from him in fear that I’d messed up his suit.

"S-Sorry, mister. I-I didn’t mean to ruin your suit."
I bowed my head.

"It’s okay, kiddo. My suit isn’t ruined, don’t kick yourself down."

Shifting my eyes to my right, I looked at what my crutch had stepped on that caused me to slip. It was a food tray with a woman sitting on a blanket.

"A-Ah, I’m sorry ma’am for ruining your plate!"
I was more panicked than before, bowing again.

"Oh, it’s okay dear. The important thing is that you’re safe. No need to worry about the tray, it was already finished and there wasn’t a mess."

I lifted my head.
"O-Oh…okay."

The woman stood to her feet and said to the man, "Honey, did you wish our daughter luck on the race?"

"Yes, Aoi. She looked rather nervous, which is a rare feat for her, don’t you think?"

"Maybe for you. I’m sure she’ll do her best. As long as she’s having fun, then it doesn’t matter where she places in the race, correct?"

"Of course. However, the smile she makes when she finishes first is the reason why I want her to always reach that spot."

They were looking to the left of me. I slowly jittered my head to see if I could find the girl in the race they were referring to. Since we were by the race track, most other people were sitting, so it wasn’t hard to see the participants.

As I scanned the side the adults were facing, I saw only one girl on the track. I looked back at them as they continued their conversation. Then, down at their blanket, I connected who their daughter was.

They had signs that said "Class 1-A!" "Bring home the win!" and "You got this, my one and only Yuri!"

Like an owl, I returned my head to the track and focused my vision on Rossi-chan, who was the fourth runner of our class’s rally.
"Rossi…chan?" I uttered subconsciously. My right ear twitched.

"Oh, are you friends with our daughter?" said the woman I classified as her mom.

The starting pistol shot as I met eyes with Rossi-chan’s parents. The race began and the entire crowd around me roared their support in unison; deafening.

Her parents are here? Th-That’s her dad? Okay, okay, okay…calm down! Her mom just asked a question, better answer before she gets annoyed.
I cleared my throat. Her dad was focused on the race, but her moms attention was still on me. In order to not waste time, I answered her.
"Y-Yeah, we’re friends. I-I met her in the spring."

The announcer said, "Class 1-A and 1-B are both on their second racer!"

Rossi-chan’s dad went to pick up the signs they made.
"Get ready Aoi, she’ll see us waving these when she runs the final stretch."

I turned to face the track. Rossi-chan’s back was towards us, spectating our class as it passed to its third runner.
She’ll see us? She’ll see me with her parents? I…I better leave fast. This might cause her to worry or somethin’!

*Stay,* said a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time.

My feet were frozen. My right ear twitched again.

A feminine whisper entered my ear, "Are you one of her real friends? Or one of the ones who uses her kindness?"

A cold chill breezed through my clothes along my spine, as it touched every bone there was. An answer was prepared as the chill disappeared; I hadn't realized I prepared one.

"Her favorite flower’s a butterfly weed," I said. "But she doesn’t like the meanin’ of it."
I was too frightened to face her, but I knew my answer proved which type of friend I was because of her following response.

She handed me one of the three signs they must’ve made to support Rossi-chan and her class. Balancing on my crutches, I shakily took the sign with diligence and looked at it.

You got this, my one and only Yuri!

"The fourth runners are off! Class 1-A has some catching up to do!"

I nearly snapped my neck looking at her mother in bewilderment. Both parents were happily waving their signs and chanting the written words out loud.

She knows I have this specific sign… Why would she give me this one instead of one of them holdin’ it?! Why–– Wait, she’s runnin’ right now––

My poor body was being mishandled by the amount of times I moved so haphazardly. My poor mentality was also shaken with how I got into this situation. The autumn winds were harsh, but they did me the favor of clearing my vision as the girl of the flower garden approached closer.

From our time in P.E. together, I knew she wasn’t the most athletic person; quite average. I figured there was no way she’d be able to turn the race around in our class’s favor. I was mistaken.

Like her dad said, she would be able to see us as she ran by. She first saw her dad, her exhausted face mustered enough energy to form a closed smile. It grew slightly on the edges when she shifted to the right at her mother, and then her entire expression changed when she landed on me.

Our eyes connected. I displayed a face that told her "I don’t know how I got here, but I’m here; Surprised? I am."

She must’ve read the sign, because her smile bloomed to a greater degree. Her white quartz glistened through her cherry red lips. How she was able to look like that while running at top speed, I didn’t know.

Returning her focus to the race, a second wind had hit her, and she took off like the bullet train. Cheers from her dad and the rest of the Class 1-A supporters filled everyone’s ears, but once again, mine were preoccupied.

Her mother whispered to me again, “Perhaps I should’ve given a third option: More than friends?"

Class 1-A won Sports Day, but I won something different.