My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 797

It's just an intra-school marathon. It's not a large-scale event and won't affect grades. Few people would be enthusiastic about an event that forces students to run in the cold wind.

Only that person was an exception.

Ye Shan, burdened with the mission of winning consecutive victories, should not, in principle, achieve poor results, nor should he blatantly throw the game.

Hayama stood at the very front of the starting line, a few people behind me. In racing terms, it was like being in pole position. As Hayama stretched out his body, the girl watching him start immediately cheered.

The girls start their race half an hour later than the boys. Before that, they seem to cheer for the boys or watch the race.

Hayama waved lightly in response to the cheers, his gaze fixed on Miura, who was keeping a distance from the agitated female students.

Miura kept stealing glances at them discreetly, perhaps startled by the girls around him. Next to him were Ebina and Yuigahama, while Yukinoshita stood a step away from them.

At that moment, Isshiki also arrived.

Upon seeing Isshiki, Ai Miura nodded indifferently, and Isshiki also bowed slightly to her, her gaze shifting back and forth between Miura and Hayama, revealing a smug smile to her.

She put her hand to her mouth and shouted:

"Good luck, Hayama-senpai! ...Oh, and senpai too."

Ye Shan smiled wryly and waved his hand. For some reason, the Ministry of Revenue, who was standing a little distance away, responded with a loud shout.

“Oh—”

"Uh, I wasn't talking to Senior Tobe."

Isshiki waved his hand in denial as he spoke. Miura, who had been silently observing, made up his mind, took a deep breath, and shouted as he exhaled:

"Hayabusa, Hayato... Go, go!"

The volume was controlled so low that it would be drowned out by other cheers, but Hayama silently raised his hand and revealed a composed smile.

Miura looked completely absorbed, nodding slowly without saying a word.

Isshiki, standing to the side, watched the two with satisfaction, then turned back to face them.

"...Good luck, senior too!"

This time, it seemed like she was talking to me.

Oh, oh... why won't that guy call me by my name no matter what... does he not remember...? I wondered, and then I stared blankly as Yui stepped forward.

She waved back at me.

"Go, go for it!"

Perhaps out of consideration for others, her voice was much softer than Isshiki's, but I could hear her perfectly clearly... Thankfully, she didn't call my name. Thank you for being so considerate in this situation.

With gratitude, I discreetly raised my hand, and Yuihama responded with a fist bump. Then, my gaze met that of Yukinoshita beside her. Yukinoshita nodded slightly, without saying a word. Her lips twitched slightly, but I couldn't hear her voice.

I don't know what she said. I don't know who she said it to.

However, well, I've mustered up my enthusiasm.

Then I'll do my best...

I squeezed to the front and stood at the very front of the starting line, just like Hayama. Hayama didn't look at me; he just kept looking ahead.

I moved my shoulder joints, stretched my Achilles tendon, and approached Hayama step by step.

Along the way, a few people clicked their tongues at me or looked impatient. I silently said "Sorry, hehe☆" to them in my heart. I finally managed to squeeze next to Hayama.

He was chatting with a group of people from the Ministry of Revenue next to him. When he noticed me standing there, he gave me a gentle smile and asked what brought me here.

I shook my head and stared ahead.

The game is about to start. I don't even need to look at the park clock to know.

The voices of the male students who were huddled together at the back gradually quieted down, and the cheers of the female students also subsided.

As soon as everyone shut their mouths, someone walked toward the white line drawn on the ground, as if waiting for this moment.

"Okay, is everything ready?"

The one holding the starting pistol and pointing it into the air is Hiratsuka-sensei.

How could it be Ms. Hiratsuka...? It's usually the PE teacher who's in charge. This person is trying to do something attention-grabbing again. Or does she just want to shoot?

Ms. Hiratsuka raised the starting pistol high and covered her ear with her other hand. As soon as her finger touched the trigger, the boys faced forward, while the girls held their breath in anticipation.

After a few seconds, Hiratsuka-sensei slowly spoke.

"On your marks... get set—"

The next moment, the trigger was pulled, and the sound of gunfire echoed in all directions.

We ran out together.

Just jog slowly for now, treat it as a warm-up. The immediate goal is to keep up with Yeshan.

However, most of the people on the sidelines were running at full speed, and the race reached its climax right from the start.

The reason is probably the constant flashing of camera lights. There are photographers waiting on the sidelines during marathons, maybe for graduation yearbooks or something. Countless idiots are giving it their all just a few dozen meters ahead, scrambling to get in the shot. Are they trying to show off, "I've run in first place before!"? How can boys be so stupid?

Most of those people risked their lives at the start and quickly ran out of energy.

Therefore, the battle begins when you cross the park and enter the trail.

Those who were rushing to be first slowed down, and I nimbly dodged past them, gradually closing the distance with Ye Shan, who was running in the lead.

Totsuka told me that Hayama came in first place across the entire race in the previous marathon. This time, he again took the lead from the start, probably wanting to leave everyone else far behind.

I mingled with the students in the front class and ran around with him for a while.

Aside from Hayama leading the pack, everyone else was huddled together, but as expected of the top class, each person faced forward and ran silently. Having almost certainly secured a top spot, they couldn't afford to have their pace disrupted at the very start of the race.

However, only one person was ostracized among that group. Who was it?

Haha, it's me! -- Isn't this question too easy?

Always being ostracized, I naturally ended up being excluded from the top classes as well. Forget about making it into the top ranks, I didn't even have any hope of finishing the race.

Therefore, I can fight them using a completely different logic.

"Hayama".

I called out to him as I walked, and the others turned to look at me in surprise. Hayama himself seemed surprised as well, glancing at me.

I seized the moment when his pace was disrupted and ran forward to stand next to Ye Shan.

"I have something else to tell you."

As I spoke, I raised my chin, pointed forward, and then sped up, as if shifting gears.

"Come with me." I gestured to him with a smile. Ye Shan paused for a moment, then let out a laugh a few octaves lower than usual.

"...I'll listen to what you have to say."

After speaking, he sped up, catching up with me in the blink of an eye, and even ran past me, quickly widening the gap between himself and the class ahead. The others just stared blankly at Ye Shan, no one trying to keep up.

That's fine. Now I just need to be alone with Hayama.

I stared at Hayama's retreating figure as he ran ahead.

The stage is ready.

My conversation—exclusively between him and me—is about to begin.

× × ×

The sea breeze made my cheeks numb with cold. The warm air escaping from the inside of my face, when it came into contact with the cold air, sent shivers of pain through my skin.

Every time the soles of your shoes hit the asphalt, the impact travels deep into your body.

It was impossible to tell whether the buzzing sound in my ears was the sound of wind or the sound of my body moving. The two sounds gradually mixed together and turned into warm breath that was exhaled from my mouth.

I was panting, and I could smell the sea.

The trees planted along the coastal road were probably sand-control forests. There were many pine trees at the starting point, but that scenery has long since disappeared; now only withered trees resembling skeletons can be seen.

The brain doesn't need to think, and the legs will run forward. Like a heart without self-awareness, constantly pumping blood. The heartbeat and pace race against each other.

During the run, scattered thoughts would surface in my mind and then disappear.

Luckily, I ride a bicycle to school. Otherwise, someone not in a sports club like me probably wouldn't have been able to run for very long. I'm not bad at long-distance running; compared to other sports, it's actually one of my strengths. I guess it's because this sport can be done alone. It doesn't bother others, and there's a clear finish line. You just need to clear your mind, think about meaningless things, and move your legs like a machine.

Today's marathon is quite different.

It was harder to get through than usual.

Because I ran even faster than I do in class. The temperature was even lower than before, and it was windy. I thought about a lot of things last night, so I'm a bit sleep-deprived.

These are all reasons.

However, the main reason was Hayato Hayama, who was right next to me.

Hayama, true to his soccer club roots, showed no signs of fatigue, running at his own pace. His upper body moved with perfect stillness, his lower body as steady as a mountain – a truly graceful form. No wonder he was the champion last year.

Conversely, I was lying face up, not conserving any energy, but my legs started to give way. Every time I slowed down even slightly, Hayama seemed to be putting pressure on me by slowing down, repeating this forward and backward motion. After a while, Hayama probably couldn't bear to see me so exhausted, and broke the silence first.

"Is this far enough?"

"yes……"

Now is indeed a good time. I took a few breaths and continued:

"Regarding that rumor, if you want to deal with it, you have to do it today. Because all the students in the school are here."

"I already said that's not a problem. If you absolutely need my help, you should explain why."

Ye Shan didn't even pant, while I answered in a broken voice:

"There's a problem. It's a big problem for me."

I only said that one sentence, then slightly increased my running speed. Focusing my attention on my heavier legs, I lifted my feet, ran a few steps ahead of Hayama, and turned around.

"I don't like it."

Ye Shan looked quite surprised and tripped for a moment, which was quite rare for him. However, he quickly covered it up and chased after him from behind.

"...I never expected you to say something like that."

He smiled broadly and leaned closer to me, as if urging me to continue.

"I dislike people who speak irresponsibly and carelessly. Those who form cliques, think they're the winners, and act superior all the time also annoy me."

I finally uttered the words that had been stuck in my throat ever since that rumor started. I could come up with all sorts of reasons for it.

However, Hayama seemed to be testing the sharpness of my gaze. I suppose so; you don't want to hear this kind of excuse disguised as a common opinion. I understand.

"...More importantly, I feel disgusted with myself for being so disturbed by those rumors. Just hearing about confessions and such makes me want to vomit. The fact that I don't want this to happen makes me so shallow that it makes me want to vomit."

My throat was so dry that my voice was hoarse, but I still managed to squeeze out these words, pouring out the emotions that had been stuck deeper in my throat and weighing on my chest.

"To give an example... it's very similar to the feeling of finally having the chance to go out together, but only being able to watch the other person go shopping with someone else."

I raised one corner of my mouth and gave him a mocking smile.

"yes……"

Hayama looked away from me and turned forward. His face looked a little sour. He maintained that expression and spoke.

"...Hachiman, couldn't you just state your thoughts? You don't need to ask me for help. You...you didn't need to resort to those methods."

I knew you'd say that.

I couldn't help but smile wryly.

Upon closer reflection, Hayato Hayama has always remained consistent. He consistently walks the right path, bearing the expectations of others, and acting as someone who responds to those expectations.

Only in certain specific aspects can one glimpse the dark, obsessive heart that contradicts the image of a virtuous and saintly person. Sometimes, it may even reveal an extremely evil and ugly side.

What Hayama asked me wasn't common sense that anyone would say, nor was it a grand principle used to criticize others, much less the fallacies I preach.

What Hayama wants to hear is not what I have to say.

Rather, it is someone else's statement seen through my statement.

I forced down my disordered breathing and forced a distorted smile through the throbbing pain in my chest.

"That sounds like the answer you would give."

Hearing this, Ye Shan, who was running beside me, trembled, stopped, and gave me a chillingly cold look.

I was panting, supporting myself on my knees with my hands, trying to breathe in and out, wiping away the dripping sweat, trying to appear calm.

"From an average person's perspective, you would probably think I'm right. But that's all... Someone who handles everything perfectly is just pointless."