Sports Day 2: Relay Race

There was a police chase near my school a few days after our Sports Day; I could see the cars from my classroom. The class gossiped about what it could be – most people speculating another bank robbery. They were right, but the criminals remained at large.

The third Monday was another Sports Day event, this time for Ringomori. The two of us submitted my Sports Day as our first October peer outing and decided to use her day as our second. I didn't mind having to skip school that day, after all, Ringomori skipped for me. This would be my first time ever visiting her all-girls school, and I was a bit worried since I was a boy going to watch a bunch of girls play games.

My worries didn't linger long because just like on my day, the two of us strayed away from the action and watched from a distance at a polished wooden table; she was to my left. The only event she'd participate in was the final relay race, because she "won" a lottery and got chosen for it. Until then, we passed the time by eating homemade apple chip cookies.

"It's…not my best work...I'm still a bit rusty…plus it's a new recipe I'm trying out… So I-I'm sorry if––"

I engulfed a cookie and covered my mouth as I chewed.
"These smell really good, they're delicious too!"

She briefly paused, then giggled – either from my chipmunk cheeks or relief of my opinion. Her hand was over her left shoulder again.

I swallowed the cookie and reached for another.
"What motivated you to bake again?"

"I thought it could be a good segment for my videos. I can show my parents that I'm keeping myself busy. Also…I've been experiencing a few nightmares that used to be sweet dreams."

I chewed slower, giving her my undivided attention.

She continued with a choked voice, "Sometimes I'd find myself cooking dinner…with my parents, other times…they'd take videos of me baking a pie or cake. Then I'd wake up in the middle of the night and cry so I don't go back to sleep…because I'm scared of having those dreams again. They made me realize that my dreams can't come true anymore, and I'll have to learn how to cook and bake for…myself."

I was speechless.

"Have you experienced any sleepless nights due to hopeless desires?" she asked.

I pondered my answer: Yes.

I said, "Back in my first orphanage, I actually had a family set up an adoption appointment with me. I slept so soundly the night before, but then I woke up to the news that the family pulled out for unknown reasons. You don't tell an overthinker 'unknown reasons' 'cause it makes us think we're the problem."
I tilted my head back until my eyes connected with the nimbuses above.
"For the next few months, I'd dream about a world where I was adopted by that family, only to wake up to the reality where they rejected me. I'd stay up for nights to avoid that dream again, and I guess it worked, but at what cost, y'know?"

She also tilted her head back and said, "With every single day that goes by without an adoption appointment, I lose more faith and hope. Kids our age are destined to not grow up with parents. Like the saying goes… 'The F in orphan means family'."

I faced towards her, she had sunk her head and stared at the ground. She twiddled her thumbs and shuffled her feet. I shifted my gaze to the landscape ahead and said,
"That's crazy, criminals like those bank robbers are wanted more than us."

That sprung a little cheer inside Ringomori, as she covered her mouth to prevent a giggle, but it slipped out anyways. She didn't mind vocalizing it as her lips parted.

"I shouldn't complain too much," she sighed, raising her head. "Even if they aren't my real parents, the Shizuko couple are prominent adults in my life. With one being my therapist and the other being my medical doctor, I've developed a close bond with them as our time together progressed."

"Oh really? I've been with Shizuko-sensei for nearly seven years and I think I'm only kind of close with him."

"I think I'm closer with his wife. Nozomi––Ah, that's her name by the way, did check-ups for my parents when they were in poor health, so we've known each other for a decade now. She was there for me when they passed, and a part of me wished she'd adopt me, but it was too much to ask for at the time, and now the time is too late."

Is it? I thought. The timin' isn't too late, but the possibility of it happenin' is another question.

"Besides you, Vieira-kun, they're the only other people that know about my video recordings. I never showed them any videos besides the one my mother made, but I would still tell them what I recorded. I just wish I could see them more often than during appointments…"

Internally, I was satisfied with knowing she had other people in her life, worrying that she was going through everything on her own. Even in my brief time with Daishi and Ms. Ashikaga, I already noticed how easier it was to have other people to turn to, though I understood what she meant by not having permanent parental figures.

The talk about having people to turn to in our lives made me remember how she was the first person who got to see my true self – or well, closest to my true self, amnesia kind of fudged that up. Nevertheless, it was still just us rowing a boat on a river only we knew. But, I felt like the boat had gotten longer, or I was seated further away from her.

I want to close the gap between us again… I wonder if she feels the same way.

Before we realized it, it was time for Ringomori to participate in the final event. We had finished the cookies and packed away the trash and made our way to the field. I found a trashcan halfway there and went to dispose of the napkins and plastic wrappings. When I returned, I saw her standing with a few surprising guests.

A familiar little girl shouted, "Matcha-kun's here too?!" and I saw her dashing towards me as if she was participating in the relay race herself. I raised my right hand and received a powerful high-five from Delilah. I approached Dr. Shizuko and his wife, who went by her maiden name of Takashi.

Ringomori said, "I wasn't expecting to see you here due to work and Delilah's school hours."

Dr. Takashi said, "I was able to get off work early and my husband picked me up, then we went for Delilah."

"Hehe, I looked so cool as the other kids saw me leave class," bragged the child.

"Remember sweetie, you're going to make up for the absence with Saturday school," informed Dr. Shizuko.

Delilah immediately frowned, causing her parents and Ringomori to laugh. From behind us, a student of the school called for Ringomori to attend the track.

"I will be there momentarily," she responded softly.
She turned around and told us to find a spot together near the fourth section of the track, since she was the last runner, and then left.

The Shizuko family and I did just that. As we waited for the race to begin, I thought about her again.
Her bond with them must be truly close if they decided to come here to support her on their own volition. I mean, even Takashi-sensei is recordin' with her camera. Wow, if only they did adopt her.

The relay race started. I knew she was academically intelligent – more so than me – but I was unknowledgeable in her athletic ability because she was quite reserved. Her class had fallen behind, and I would find the answer to my curiosity when she was handed the stick and began running.

The other three classes were meters ahead of her, but she was focused, determined, and adamant on – not just catching up – but surpassing them entirely. She cut the distance and was lined up with the others, but she stood out the most amongst them all. Sweat usually made people appear tired or unappealing, but it only accentuated her belle.

I thought, She's the person closest to me in my life, and yet I'm always findin' out more things about her. I don't really know her, do I? I want to know more, about her life before I entered her orphanage. I want that.

Everyone saw her unwavering stare, but I remembered her genuine smiles with her hand over her shoulder; only I would get to see something like that. I wanted to know what kind of girl she truly was, and what she meant to me.

She won the race, and with that the overall tournament, for her class. After the formal celebrations, I congratulated her on her victory.

"Go big or go home, right?"

She displayed a smirk.
"All we can do is go big."

We chuckled, and caused a bit of confusion for Delilah.
"What's that mean?" she asked.

Ringomori and I met eyes, then she answered the question with, "You wouldn't understand, thankfully."

I gave Ringomori a friendly wink.

Delilah shrugged it off and turned to her parents.
"Can we celebrate this win with dinner?"

"I'm sorry sweetie, but remember your promise about getting a head-start on homework? That starts now."

Once more, Delilah frowned and crossed her arms.
"Curse my desperate past self! You should've negotiated more!"

We exited the school from the side gate, and the Shizuko family waved farewell to us as they headed to their vehicle.

Delilah shouted, "Bye Matcha-kun! Bye Yasumi-chan!"

My ears twitched and eyes widened at the sound of that name.
Ringomori-san is 'Yasumi"? That actually makes so much sense, since Yoru and Yasumi relate to night time. That's quite fittin' for her, and also kind of cute. Unfortunately, Matcha is better, so…

Similarly to the end of my Sports Day, we celebrated the victory at the pie shop.