Episode 2: Our Differences (3/3)

The annual school sports festival held in May.

A period of rivalry and cheers. Four houses have been erected in colours of red, blue, green and yellow.

Classes were off, and all students gathered at the field.

It first began with marching. The different uniform bodies made a round of the track, followed by the singing of the national anthem.

Then, a rocking band performance by the light music club to rile up the crowd before the first event began.

I had five events to my name, the same went for Elliot ♀.

100-metre sprint, 100-metre relay, 400-metre sprint, 400-metre relay, and the fun run relay. The events we were taking part in were exactly the same as it had been decided before our birthday.

“We’ll compete based on time for the sprints.”

To win, we had to beat the other 3 out of 5 events. We can go by the best time for the sprint events, as for the relays, we decided to count it based on team placement, not overall time.

So luck would be a decisive factor there.

I capped my medication and then exhaled.

Elliot ♀ who was standing beside me glanced at the inhaler and then my face.

“You had asthma?”

“You don’t?”

“No. I don’t have asthma.”

“I didn’t know that.”

That’s surprising.

I only took the medication for prophylactic sake. Since I’ll be running and all, I wouldn’t want to die from asphyxiation.

“Male 100-metre sprint to your stations!!”

The speaker boomed.

“Looks like I’m up.”

“Well, go break a leg.”

She was both cheering and booing me.

What a hopeless person.

I got to the starting position.

The crowd to my right at the long bleachers, racers aligned diagonally from where I set up posture.

All sounds cease. My line of sight narrowed.

The only thing I could feel then was my heart, my body, and the wind.

And then…

BANG!

The gun fired and I took off.

Swinging my arms and propelling myself with my legs, I ran with all my might.

The world became needlessly small in my view.

I crossed the finish line placing fourth.

Coming in first place was of course the track ace Leon.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked, confused by why I placed 4th instead of 3rd.

“Conserving energy.”

There’s no way I’m winning against the other me in the 100-metre sprint.

My time was 15.4 seconds.

“That was not bad.”

Elliot said when I came back around.

“Thanks.”

“Well, sorry but I’ll definitely beat you this time.”

“I expected that.”

“Yeah, just watch me.”

Really now… she’s overworking herself.

When it came to her turn, she scored a crazy 14.2 seconds, putting her in first place for the event.

BANG!

Next was the 400-metre sprint.

This event was mine.

64.3 seconds.

Compared to her 72.8 seconds.

She was clearly at a disadvantage when it came to long distance running.

I was a guy, she was a girl. She was clearly at a disadvantage for every event.

I might be wrong to assume but, the reason she chose to compete in sport was because she was too self-conscious of her own gender. Yes, the male physique has a physical advantage over a female one, but it doesn’t make a girl any less than a guy.

“Good work out there.”

I slapped Oliver’s back.

“You think so?”

He said, heaving.

“You were cool. Ten points.”

As a show of kindness, Willow gave him the thumbs up.

“Relay race females! 4 x 100 metres to the registration counter!”

“Looks like it’s your turn, Willow. Good luck!”

“Yeah!”

“Good luck!”

Aria, who sat nearby also cheered for her. She was waving a red flag—the red team. Willow and Aria were part of the same house.

“Yeah!”

We took the bleachers. Ellis, Elliot ♀ and Willow were both up for this event.

“You’re not taking any events Aria?”

I asked.

She shook her head.

“I’m only here to cheer.”

She said.

Elliot ♀ was part of the yellow team, the same as me. For this relay, she held the position of the last baton.

“GO! GO! GO!”

“WAAHHH!! RUN GREEN TEAM RUN!!!”

“GO RED! GO RED!”

“YELLOW!!! YELLLOOOH!!! GO, GO, GO!!”

It was absolute chaos here in the audience.

For the first two runners, green placed first while yellow placed second. I thought that Elliot’s ♀ could pull off a win in the last stretch, earning yellow team it’s first gold in the female relay.

What I didn’t expect was the third runner of our team tripping.

In the end, the yellow team placed last.

I hadn’t the time to console her as the relays for the males were up next.

In the male’s 4 x 100m relay, we, the yellow team clinched second place. Leon’s blue team won gold.

After the run, I tried searching for Elliot ♀.

She wasn’t with anyone I knew. Ellis looked like complete crap after the relay earlier too.

Before I knew it, it was time for the girl’s 400-metre relay.

Elliot was chosen as the first runner.

And then the gun fired.

She created a gap of almost one-third of the track between herself and the second-place runner.

She definitely wasn’t planning to lose on this one.

I went up to her at the finish line. The next runner in the yellow team had begun her sprint with a great advantage.

She was heaving, groaning on the grass.

The medics quickly went over to her.

“What the fuck?”

I also made my way over.

“What’s going on?”

“She sprained her leg.”

“What?”

“Get the stretcher.”

“No need, I can walk.”

“Seriously? Don’t force yourself.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine…”

She’s so stubborn…

“Shut up. I’ll support you.”

It was such a weird sight to those that knew and those that didn’t. The fact that we were both the same person, one supporting the other limping.

When we reached the med bay, they applied some sort of cream to her ankle before running a bandage around it.

The result of the 400-metre relay ended with the yellow team clinching first place.

I heard a hollow laugh.

“Looks like I’m completely out of the race now.”

I doubt the yellow team would be able to win the male relay considering how Leon was running his game for the blue team.

Which meant, in our little competition, it was two to two, a tie.

We were left with the fun run.

But, with her sprained ankle, could she even participate?

“Don’t think too much about it.”

I said and got up in preparation for the men’s 400-metre relay.

“Don’t think too much about it huh?”

“Yeah. You still stand a chance in the fun run. After all, it’s the gacha that matters.”

I would hate for her to give up at this point.

Leaving her behind, I went to participate in my event.

Ultimately, yellow team placed third. Blue team in first, red team second.

There was a short break before the fun relay. As many as two hundred students had applied to run for this.

Coincidentally, Elliot ♀ and I were placed in the same round. Different teams though.

“There’s still a chance.”

I said.

“I know.”

This was a race where even non-runners can win.

The distance between one gacha to the next was only 50 metres. The most time-consuming aspect was not the distance covered, but the completion of the task chosen from the box.

“You two…”

““Yes?””

We both turned around at the same time.

“Good work out there.”

It was Aria.

She had a number.

Huh?

“I thought you weren’t running?”

“Look there.”

Hm…?

She pointed at Willow’s name.

She was also in the same running group as us?

“She asked me to replace her because she didn’t want to run anymore.”

“What the fuck…?”

“What a coincidence isn’t it now?”

She smiled.

“A coincidence indeed.”

I didn’t know how to feel about it.

I felt both perplexed and fuzzy.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

And then the fun run relay event began.

Elliot ♀, Ellis, Aria and I sat together while waiting for our turn. There were no conversations shared in between. The mood was tense.

Ellis probably felt left out, that’s why she forced her way between us. She wasn’t going to run.

The 3rd race had just finished. Ours was placed 5th, so one more race to go.

It was silly how some of them literally ran around the school to find their partner. It delayed the race a whole lot.

Since the tasks were being recycled, I imagine some of them already know the kind of contents inside.

We, of course, remained clueless.

“Elliot.”

I don’t know why but I turned to Ellis when she called that name.

She wasn’t looking at me, but rather, at the other me.

“What do you think you’ll get?”

I didn’t know what I was expecting from this girl. I turned back to the track, feeling a dark shadow in my heart.

“I don’t know. Maybe throw an egg at someone’s face.”

“Is there such an option?”

“Who knows honestly. Who knows.”

“Elliot.”

It was Aria, but I didn’t turn around.

“Elliot.”

“Yes?”

“Sorry, I was referring to him.”

Me?

I turned to Aria.

“What is it?”

“Let’s do our best.”

“…?”

What… was she trying to say?

“You too.”

Then Aria turned to Elliot ♀.

“Y-Yeah…”

Ellis, who witnessed this could only raise an eyebrow.

She likely already knew about me crushing on Aria. So I think her suspicion here was directed more towards the relationship between Elliot ♀ and Aria?

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

Runners to your line!

It was finally our turn.

Based on the name list, I was placed on the fourth track as the last runner.

Elliot ♀ was the second last runner of the third track and…

Aria was the last runner for the first track.

Which meant she was in the same line as me.

Gulp.

BANG.

The crowd cheered.

The first of five runners in each team quickly reached their box and took out their task.

Some scoured towards the audience, others moved towards the box of items prepared for this event.

One of the runners ♀, dragged a skinny boy with her. Both their faces were red, it implied some pretty obvious guesses.

There was also one ♂ who pulled in a friend ♂. Let’s hope it’s not what I think it is.

“I’m starting to feel nervous.”

Aria laughed.

“Me too.”

I said.

“I wonder what we’ll get. Hopefully it’s not something embarrassing.”

The second track runner ♂ chided with a face half expecting, half despairing.

“Let’s pray.”

The third track runner ♀ placed her hands together and sang.

We continued watching from ahead.

The third and fourth track were in first and second place respectively. First track was in third.

Elliot ♀ had just arrived, she drew a paper and glanced at me once before limping towards the loot boxes.

A ping pong ball slammed into my face.

“GOO!!”

She shouted.

Fuck you!

The third track runner raced ahead as I rubbed my nose. I could hear Aria laughing in the background.

The first and third track arrived at the same time. Both rushed to complete their task, mine arrived slightly sooner than Aria’s team.

“I’ll go on ahead.”

I said.

“Good luck!”

I reached into the box and then pulled out a piece of paper.

‘Drag the person you’re closest with to the mark X.’

I raised my head blankly.

All of the tasks for the last runner required bringing someone of a certain characteristic on stage to declare a win.

I glanced at Aria.

She had just begun running.

The third track runner was still missing.

And then I glanced at Elliot ♀ who was walking back to the bleachers.

“Damn it.”

The closest person to me…

It could be referred to as the person closest to my heart.

But I felt like the requirements implied something different…

Closest as in… the person I understood the most.

Aria, no…

I got up and ran towards her.

“Hey?!”

“Come with me.”

“What?”

I suddenly saw the third track runner, Elliot’s ♀ team, arrive with Leon in tow.

“Damn it.”

“Huh? Oi?!”

I lifted Elliot ♀ in a princess carry.

“W-What the fuck?!”

Exactly my thoughts.

You can’t walk properly, we have no choice. You’re fucking heavy.

I ran, with ‘me’ in my arms. The crowd went up in flames as the third track runner, Elliot ♀ and I raced to the finish line.

A race between the yellow and blue team—

“GOOAAALLL!!!”

The stupid emcee roared into the speaker, blasting my eardrums with unnecessary ear rape.

In the end, our team clinched first place.

I finally put ‘myself’ down on the ground, and collapsed to the floor.

“Wow. I’m surprised you had the strength to carry yourself all the way here.”

Leon who arrived a beat late complimented.

“Well… I mean…”

Adrenaline man… adrenaline…

“What did it say?”

Elliot ♀ glared at me.

“What?”

“What the fuck did that paper say?”

I thought to show her the paper, but then realised that I dropped it on the ground in a moment of panic.

Oh well, I’ll just play pretend.

“Why not have a guess?”

I grinned.

“Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you…!”

She looked at me completely disgusted. It’s the kind of expression you’d give a voyeur.

Ahem. The pervert here is you. The task mentioned nothing about picking your lover or girlfriend. It was a simple fact that the person I was closest with was obviously ‘myself’.

I felt someone touch my head.

“There.”

“Huh?”

I looked up and saw Aria’s crooked smile.

“I’ve completed my task.”

She had two pieces of paper in her hand.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

By the end of the sports festival, Elliot ♀ won 3 gold medals, meanwhile I won 3 bronze ones. One for the solo 400-metre sprint, the other two for the 4 x 100-metre relay and 1 x 100-metre relay. The fun run did not contain any prizes.

The train station was rather packed today. We changed and took a quick shower at school before coming here, so we probably wouldn’t cause any problems with our smell?

I let Elliot ♀ take the only empty seat available.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t sweat it.”

She was the one with the sprained ankle after all.

She looked at the three gold medals in her hand and then at the three bronze medals in mine.

Then heaved a great big sigh.

Oh yeah.

How mysterious the way the world works.

Even though she had clearly gotten the bigger prize, she still ended up holding the short end of the stick.

She won overall, but in our little competition, she lost.

“Do your worst.”

She mumbled.

“You know I won’t do something like that.”

“Maybe.”

“Am I that untrustworthy?”

“Yeah, maybe you are.”

“I won’t tell mom, or anyone. But even if I don’t, they’ll probably figure it out in time.”

“Which is exactly why it doesn’t matter whether you tell them.”

“Then they’ll suspect that I’m gay.”

“That’s perfect then.”

“Son of a…”

“Bitch. No need to thank me. You can tell mom all you want.”

She looked so smug-proud.

Fucking bastard.

The train began to slow as it reached a connecting station, I held the railing to brace myself.

“Hey.”

She called out to me in a low voice.

“Tell me.”

I could feel her breath.

“What was on that paper?”

The door slid open with a sizzle.

“It’s time to go.”

I said.

She held my wrist.

“Tell me.”

“We’re going to miss it if we don’t go now.”

“Just admit it if you somehow fell for me.”

“What? Ew, no.”

“Then what is it?!”

Forced to make a decision, I dragged Elliot ♀ by force to leave the train before it went.

Out on the platform, her grip still remained tight as a vice.

Her expression was serious.

I knew she wasn’t going to let go until I told her.

“The person I’m closest with.”

I lisped.

She blinked twice in silence.

“The answer to that is obviously ‘me’, right?”

I stared at her.

“I swear the biggest flaw with ‘me’ is the fact that we tend to misunderstand things very easily.”

She muttered.

“Good that you know, pervert.”

“What you say about me is also you. So keep that in mind, pervert.”

Her expression loosened into a smile.

I rolled my eyes.

Seriously.

I didn’t know ‘I’ was so cute.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

<Aria Ocean>

“I’ll go on ahead.”

“Good luck!”

Elliot ran ahead of me, I waited anxiously for my teammates to reach me.

It didn’t take long, and by the time I knew it, I was already running for my goal.

I almost tripped when I reached the box, fortunately, I composed myself.

I ran my fingers through the dark box and pulled out a piece.

‘Drag the one you most associate with ‘love’ to mark X.’

I looked towards the box in the fourth track…

Elliot wasn’t there.

I stood up in a panic and looked around.

And then I saw it.

Him carrying her.

I blinked

A churning feeling in my heart.

Aha…

I must be a misunderstanding.

There was no way someone could fall for… themselves?

I noticed a piece of paper on the ground. It was probably Elliot’s.

I made my way over and picked it up.

‘Drag the person you’re closest with to the mark X.’

Reading the line, I folded the paper and placed it in my hands.

A stiff smile naturally graced my lips.

Slowly, I made my way to the mark ‘X’.

The place was loud, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

My whole world felt crushed as each step, glazed in darkness paved the way forward to my goal.

Alone.

By myself.

With no one.

Until the world which had been dark before I seized my light.

“There.”

I suppressed my cracking voice.

My heart was trembling.

“I completed my task.”

The person I most associate with ‘love’.