49 – Someone’s Will – 3
The pain in my ankle got worse and worse. I have endured to the limit, but today is the end. Whatever the result of today, I didn’t think I would be able to run for a while.
No, actually, even today is difficult.
I will concentrate my whole mind and endure until that day.
Because today was the day that was decided.
I closed my eyes before the starting line.
When I took a deep breath and meditated for a while, I couldn’t hear anything. The host’s voice through the microphone, the cheers of the crowd, and all sorts of other noises.
At this moment, only me and the red lane in front of my eyes were all there was.
I don’t look at all the situations around me. Just focus on the moment in front of your eyes and move your body.
As I set off with gunshots in my ears, I only looked ahead.
I don’t think about anything.
No sound is heard.
Only move your legs. Run with the wind
“……… Heo-eok… !”
At that moment of thoughtlessness, pain as if stabbed by a sharp needle overtook me.
A strong ankle pain that could not be relieved by just concentrating began to dominate my body. The orderly mind is disturbed again. When I closed my eyes and opened them, several players were already passing by in front of me.
Isn’t that too bad?
Just mentally.
Is it impossible to do it with only the will to do it?
At that moment, all sorts of random thoughts began to fill my head.
The man who looked at me from the back of the campus and looked puzzled.
The man who suddenly pushed forward to become the track and field manager.
The moment of the first date.
When we share earphones together. When I ate parfait. When he saved Sayoko together.
In trouble. At the field training ground. In bed.
Sometimes boldly.
Sometimes stupidly.
Sometimes sincerely.
From noble mtl dot com
I shook my head as I remembered the image of the man who stirred my heart and led me to this point.
No. The image of him was already in my head uncontrollably, and I couldn’t shake it off any longer.
I almost forgot I was running.
My eyes are wet, my vision is blurry, and blood flows from my bitten lips, but I don’t know if it’s pain or sadness anymore.
When it reaches the unknown.
“……… Eri Takase… !!!”
His voice caught my ear.
“Senior!!!!”
Ah…….
“Cheer up!!!!”
A voice you’ve never heard before.
I had never seen him scream someone’s name with such loudness and passion.
“I can do it!! Go for it!!!!”
I raised my head at that fierce cry.
It’s strange.
Among all the noise, his voice clearly penetrated my ears and woke me up.
All the distracting thoughts that dominated my head disappeared, and I didn’t even feel the pain anymore.
“Senior!!!”
He’s by my side.
You’re calling me with all your might.
Thinking that way, I no longer felt pain or sadness.
I moved forward in a trance.
I can’t see anyone anymore. I can’t hear anything.
Just the moment when I feel his constant support next to me
I was able to run with all my might.
That’s how you reach the finish line and cross the finish line.
When I slowly stopped and looked back, the cheers of countless people filled the arena.
Only then can I see my surroundings and hear all sorts of loud noises in my ears.
Someone shouted my name.
I looked around blankly, looking for his figure.
Turn around and approach the audience. The closer you get, the louder the roar grows.
I saw Haru-chan and Yuu-kun.
He stepped right in front of me and stretched out his hand toward me with a gleeful face.
“Sister~!!!”
“First place!! After all, she’s my sister!!”
Ah… Is it.
I did it.
When I slowly realized the situation with my head that was not turning, but still looked up at the crowd because I couldn’t find the person I was looking for.
“Minsu! That’s really good! Right!?”
“Today we all get together and have an after party!! Isn’t it just for the track and field team to do it~!?”
The manager stood next to them.
The fence attached to the wall separating the stadium from the spectators.
I put my hand on it and looked down at me.
“…………….”
If possible
At this moment, I wanted to hug him with all my might.
“…… Sister?”
“What’s wrong with you, sister? Why are you not saying anything?!”
But now, I just didn’t say anything and looked at him quietly.
“Senior… ….”
Manager-kun, why are you making such a pitiful expression?
This time, I was able to do my job.
I must have given you a nice look.
Why are you sending such sad eyes?
I wanted to ask, but at that moment the crowd of people pushed me away from them.
***
“Eri! Good job!”
I took the towel Sayoko gave me and wiped my forehead. Members approached and congratulated me, and I slowly drank my water bottle.
“Claim! Congratulations!”
“That was awesome!”
After taking a sip, he turned to them and said.
“Yes. Thanks.”
“Wow… It’s completely plain.”
“You’re happy, right?”
The members seemed to lose their energy at that thank you.
That was the best I could do.
“Has Eri been watching this for a day or two? You guys get used to it!”
“Still~ It would have been nice if Sayoko-senpai was even half happy.”
“Screaming and jumping around. Clap your hands.”
“Sorry! I was mistaken for being only second place!”
Sayoko yells at her and her team members laugh and tease her.
I was also quite satisfied with the record of the members today.
If they’ve done this much and I can’t show them, I’ll be in shame.
“Senior.”
“Ah… manager.”
At that time, I turned around at the voice I heard from behind.
“…… Congratulations.”
“Ah, yes. Thanks.”
I didn’t feel the unknown sadness from the moment before when I met him right in front of me.
“The manager is also quite calm.”
“Didn’t you pass it on to the captain?”
“No way, manager-kun~ When you’re happy, you have to express it clearly~”
The manager smiled at them.
“I’m glad. It’s real.”
“Takase-senpai waited so nervously for the match~”
“Right right! You said we were a bit sad?”
“No. You don’t know how good it is because everyone is so good to you.”
I wanted to talk to him some more.
Before he knew it, he was among his crew.
It always has been.
If I missed it a little bit, he was talking to the other members right away.
“Chief~ They say they’re having a medal ceremony.”
“Yes. Go now.”
There was definitely something I wanted to say to him.
Now is not the time to do that.
I have no choice but to postpone it for now.
Standing on a podium and wearing a gold medal around your neck.
When I looked at the camera to take a picture, I saw the manager looking over the photographer’s shoulder.
“Okay then, let’s take a picture.”
I don’t usually do things like this, but…
Looking straight at the manager over my shoulder, I put my medallion in my mouth.
Then he smiled broadly.
The flash fires.
When the manager saw that, he burst into laughter.
Yes. I wanted to see that expression.
I hope you are happy to see me.
I want you to be proud of it.
Because you are my…….
No, that’s for later.
I haven’t told the manager yet.
After returning from the ceremony, the members were eagerly discussing where to go for the after party.
“Do it in the infirmary, just.”
“Eh~ I hate it~ I want to do it in a bigger and better place!”
“Then, how about Mori-senpai’s house?”
“What? You… ….”
Several people agree that it is a good idea.
Apparently, thanks to her father’s frequent business trips, Sayoko was living alone in a large house with a large yard.
“Right! Mori-senpai said he was very rich!”
“What are you talking about?! I’m not even from the Shiraishi family!”
“Even if it’s not as good as Shiraishi, you live well~”
With the exception of Sayoko herself, an agreement is reached among her members.
Sayoko panicked and said she absolutely couldn’t. She objected desperately, but when the arrow returned to him, she was startled and she stopped.
“Manager-kun, how are you? Don’t you want to see Sayoko’s house? It’s so big and wide~”
“Really?”
“There is also a cute puppy in the yard~”
“A cute puppy….”
The wide-eyed manager shows interest.
“Sayoko-senpai.”
“Ugh… huh… ? Why, manager… Hopefully you too….”
“I want to visit that senior’s house.”
“……… Ugh, ugh.”
“Can’t we?”
When the manager-kun asked her with her eyes shining brightly, Sayoko, who gritted her teeth, turned her head away.
“Manager-kun~ Push on~”
“Just a little more!”
With the support of the members, the manager-kun takes a step closer to Sayoko and sticks out his head.
“Senior… Can’t we?”
“…………… Eww…… Ugh… !!”
Sayoko nodded her head as if screaming.
“That, yes… ! Shouldn’t it be too late instead?”
“Wow~ Successful capture of Mori-senpai~”
“I’m so soft on the manager.”
As soon as the place for the after party was decided, the excited members packed their bags with excitement.
I held my breath as I looked at the manager helping them.
Participate in the after party together.
Then the timing will come.
From noble mtl dot com
When the moment for just the two of us comes……
At that moment, I remembered my past mistakes and shook my head.
Let’s never drink alcohol.
You swore never to make that mistake again.
I decided not to panic that it was just the two of us today… Borrowing the power of alcohol… Don’t do anything sudden.
That’s how I decided.
“……… Senior?”
“Huh?”
“Why is that?”
When the manager, who noticed that I was staring at him, asked me, I waved my hand and hurriedly ran away.
No.
Thinking about what happened after that, I was already nervous.
I hope I can speak politely and generously while maintaining my good looks today.
I hurriedly packed my things, hoping not to lose my senses in front of him.