48 – Someone’s Will – 2
I wasn’t completely convinced by her words.
That was a story that neither my head nor my heart could easily accept, but in front of Haruna’s confident tone, I couldn’t say anything more.
I have no choice but to believe in Haruna…
For Haruna Kato who believes in Eri Takase… I had no choice but to believe and move.
“Kyaa~~! Senior Takase!”
“Prince!!”
The spectator seats were exceptionally noisy.
To the point where you’d be mistaken that all of her spectators in the arena came to see her. The day of the tournament, full of Eri Takase’s fan club.
I was waiting for someone as I watched the members warm up after arriving at the stadium.
“Why are you looking so nervous?”
“…… Senior Sayoko.”
A senior in uniform came up to me and stood in front of me.
“The results aren’t even out yet. Don’t be so rigid.”
“…… Yes. Yes.”
She tried to smile at her and handed her her water bottle.
“Thank you.”
The senpai took the drink and looked around her.
“By the way, where is Eri? Is she still in the locker room?”
“……… ….”
Senpai Takase promised her victory with her straight eyes despite all her handicaps.
I know she will eventually collapse. Today’s competition will also end at the bottom.
Her unfounded optimism that Eri Takase would keep her promise alone and win her medal was inconceivable.
Today greeted like that.
I didn’t see Takase-senpai at the stadium on the day of the tournament.
“Prince Takase~~~!!”
“Look here!!”
“Kyaaa~~!”
At that moment, the shrieking cheers from the audience grew louder.
Turning her head, she saw Takase-senpai approaching from afar. She is a tall, beautiful girl in a black uniform. Her hum and shouts grew as she got closer, and flashes went off all over the place.
“You are an idol.”
Sayoko-senpai grumbled. Even in the midst of much greater cheering and enthusiasm than before, Takase-senpai calmly approached and stood in front of us.
“Eri. Why are you so late?”
“…… Sorry. I was meditating for a while.”
“Really? Are you nervous too?”
Sayoko-senpai laughed, but Takase-senpai’s expression was serious. It felt different from the usual energy itself.
“What… Because today’s competition is important. The manager was also hardened.”
Sayoko-senpai smiled and put her hand on my shoulder.
She raised her head and met her eyes with Takase-senpai.
“……… ….”
I couldn’t say anything to the senior who looked down at me with an expressionless expression.
She knew she had something to say, but she was speechless. It is the world’s predetermined future that she also ranks low in today’s tournament, and I couldn’t change that and ended up facing today’s day.
“……… Senior.”
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The words I had prepared didn’t come out at all.
Seeing me like that, when Takase-senpai opened her mouth….
“Sister~~!!”
“Sister Eri!”
I heard Haruna and Yuuki shouting from the nearby stands.
“Ah… Are you guys?”
Takase-senpai went over there and had a conversation with them.
I couldn’t say what I wanted to say, so I turned around and let out a sigh.
“…… Are you that worried?”
I raised my head at the voice I heard.
Sayoko-senpai stretched out her hand and stroked her hair.
“What’s wrong with you? I can’t say anything.”
“……… No, not like that.”
“Don’t worry. Because today’s Eri is different.”
“……… ….”
I can tell even from the side… It seems I was hesitating so much.
“I don’t know what happened between you two….”
The senior said, patting me on the back as if to encourage me.
“It will be fine. You’ve been practicing for today, haven’t you?”
“…… Yes. Yes.”
“I’ve been watching you from the side of the manager, too. Don’t you believe us?”
“I believe.”
Looking at Sayoko-senpai grinning, I also laughed along.
When I turned around, I saw Yuuki and Haruna exaggeratedly cheering. As if noticing my gaze, Haruna waved her hand towards her.
I stared blankly at her like that.
The woman who spoke to me with her strong conviction.
There was no basis for that.
I just had the strength to believe that.
***
“If only you would do that… I’m sure she can do it.”
I am the only one who can be her strength.
After saying that, Haruna added with a smile.
“…… Haruna, I….”
“I know. Do you think it’s not enough? I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
“……… ….”
It must be me who has the basis.
For confirming her injuries, and for knowing the future to come.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t deny her affirmation.
“But that’s not what unnie wants.”
“Whether you want it or not is not important, the current senior….”
“No, it’s important.”
This wasn’t the usual Haruna.
There was a strong conviction in that tone.
“If I forced her sister to stop right now… You will regret it for the rest of your life. And she will suffer from self-reproach.”
“……… ….”
“The bitterness of not being able to keep her promise. Feeling guilty that I gave up without even trying… It will ensnare her sister and keep hurting her.”
That’s Eri Takase.
Above all else, a girl who wants to protect her own pride and self-respect.
As expected of Haruna Kato, who had known her for many years, he knew her better than I did.
“So there is nothing we can do for you.”
“……… ….”
“And what her sister needs the most right now is….”
Looking straight at me, Haruna smiled.
“Maybe the manager cheered me on.”
Does that mean you want to become Takase Eri’s strength?
Asking her to trust her.
“More than anyone else.”
She lowered her head.
Because no further objections came to mind. I asked her, squeezing her voice as hard as she could.
“Haruna.”
“…… Huh.”
“If… Even so, what should I do if the senior doesn’t win a medal and ruins her body even more?”
That, too, would be a clear failure for a senior.
Even though I can’t think of anything other than that ending.
“At that time, I will do my best to help my sister.”
Haruna said without hesitation.
“Like my sister protected me… This time, I’ll stand by and lift her sister up.”
“……… ….”
“Of course Minsu will accompany you, right?”
Is it that easy?
In spite of all my doubts, she said firmly, as if it was natural, as if she couldn’t tolerate a bad ending in the first place.
After nodding her head, I came to the conclusion that I just believed in Haruna and Eri Taka, and left the cafe.
***
“Ah, Minsu… ! Here!”
I could see Haruna from the stands raising her body and waving her hand. She
She moves closer and she sits down next to him. While eating the sweets, Yuuki said calmly.
“It’s Eri-nee’s turn soon.”
“Everyone did a really good job. Right?”
“Yes. All that is left is my older sister.”
Fortunately, the other members recorded fairly good grades. I was relieved when I clapped my hands with Sayoko-senpai, who smiled brightly as she placed second.
“Sister, you seem to be in a bad condition. Are you okay?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Sweat was forming on my forehead even though I was standing still.”
Call the names of players who will appear in the next game.
When Eri Takase’s name is heard, shouts are heard from the other side.
“Wow. Fan club kids are noisy.”
“Yuu-kun. Do not say that. Everyone came to cheer us on.”
I see a senior warming up on the track.
“My sister… That’s number three.”
“Sister!!”
Yuuki shouted out loud, but the senpai stood calmly as if he couldn’t hear.
“Look at this. You can’t even hear our voices. Because of the fan club kids.”
“Ahahahaha… Still, my sister will definitely know.”
Unlike other track and field events, the reason why the spectators were exceptionally full was because of Takase-senpai. After the soccer club incident, she became a celebrity inside and outside the school.
“Look over there. Camera.”
“Wow… ….”
“Eri-noona, I heard you got a model offer a few days ago.”
When you are under the spotlight like this… All in all, in the worst physical condition.
Takase-senpai, who came to the tournament hiding it from everyone, took a posture to prepare for her departure.
“Begin.”
“Sister… Go for it… !”
Haruna muttered as she closed her eyes and held her hand.
A gunshot announcing the start rang out and the players ran out.
Takase-senpai took the lead and ran as fast as he could start.
A good start.
If you can keep it as it is, you may not be number one, but you can be in the ranks.
Takase-senpai, who was running with her momentum, gradually began to catch up with the players behind her.
The senior, who closed her eyes and opened them, was pushed back little by little, and her running speed also slowed.
Cries of support for the senior were heard from both sides.
However, I sat there as if nailed to my seat and just watched my senior.
I want you to be her strength. Haruna told her to trust and support her.
I couldn’t even say a word of her to her in the end.
And she was falling behind after all.
When I remembered that, I jumped up from my seat without realizing it.
I can’t hear it at all because it’s drowned out by the voices of the other spectators. I cried out her name.
I used to just watch when a certain member was running. At this moment, he was screaming with all his might, shouting Takase Eri.
“…… Senior!!!”
I don’t even know what happened.
Calling along with Haruna to just believe and cheer for her without any solid evidence or grounds.
“Wow… ! Sister… !”
Haruna jumped up after me.
With half of the track left, the senior gradually picked up speed and ran quickly.
Overtaking one by one, and when the finish line was in front of us, the senior was competing with the runner on the next track.