And so the next day, the three of us gather to start practicing . Since homeroom starts at 8:35, we meet up at 7:30 to get some good practice in .

Now that I think about it, this is the first I'm meeting up with people at school like this . Unsurprisingly, because of Hanabi watching me like a hawk, I never had the chance to hang out with other cla.s.smates .

I see Yukis.h.i.+ro-san and Hasuike on the sports grounds already, so I wave to them . Is this what it feels like to be a true blue student?

Looking back, this morning's train ride was sort of weird, but in a good way . I didn't see Hanabi and Kirigaya flirting for once . It'll do me some good not to be near them, that's for sure .

"Good morning Ichinose-kun . "

"Sup Ichinose"

"Hey you two . "

I already put on my gym clothes at home, so I drop off my bag and start warming up . On the other hand, Yukis.h.i.+ro-san, who apparently isn't athletic according to her, was moving around really awkwardly .

"O-okay . . . Aaa . . . Mmmm . . Ahh?!"

Yukis.h.i.+ro-san falls on her back as she tries to balance herself . Even though she's trying her best, I can't stop myself from cracking a smile . Her movements kind of look like a puppy almost .

"H-hey, you're laughing at me!"

"Sorry, sorry . You were just too cute . "

"Hnnng . . . "

I was just saying what was on my mind, but my directness seemed to have embarra.s.sed Yukis.h.i.+ro-san .

"Hey Ichinose-kun, are you some sort of secret stud or what?"

"Huh, a stud?"

I don't really interact with people, so I’m at a loss for words . . .

"Hey, you guys sure have the b.a.l.l.s to talk about studs in front of me . . . "

With tears in his eyes, I can hear Hasuike's pained voice . His face looks even more menacing than before, it's honestly bloodcurdling . . .

Geez, sorry dude .

"Guah . . . alright, let's get started with our revenge!"

"I thought you guys would be helping me with running?"

And so we added that to our regiment as well .

____________________

Thanks to Hasuike's coaching, Yukis.h.i.+ro-san and I managed to increase our times .

However, no amount of coaching could erase Yukis.h.i.+ro's cute way of running, so whenever I would tease her, she'd always say stuff like "Please stop trying to flirt with me" and "Ahh, stop trying so hard to be a stud!" . Hasuike would always burst into tears afterwards .

We continued for the next few days and we continued to see improvements across the board . Because we only have ten days until the athletics festival, we practice morning and night everyday . Hasuike opted to skip practice for his track team and instead focus training with us . As for me, I'm glad I get to have fun for once . I'm not risking it my all for the relay, but I will do my best, even if it's mostly due to Hasuike's insistence .

By the way, the next morning, I happened to see Hanabi on the train . However, she seemed to be in more of a bad mood than usual, probably because of how early she had to wake up . Her hair was all a mess . She was always fussy about her hair, so it's weird seeing it like this . I guess she's bothered with it too, since she keeps trying to fix it . She's making such a display out of it too . To the bitter end, Hanabi will be Hanabi . At the very least, breaking up with her has been the best decision of my life .

__________________

And so the days pa.s.s and it's the day before the athletics festival . We finished up our last practice .

"Alright, that's the end of that . You two did a good job!"

"Haa . . . We did it . . . "

Yukis.h.i.+ro-san throws herself on the ground after Hasuike was done speaking . While she doesn't really care about appearances, she was always studious and obedient, so it's pretty interesting seeing her so loose .

I'm quite p.o.o.ped too, so I take a seat beside her . Hasuike joins us too as we watch the crimson of the setting sun and relax our feet from all of the training .

"Tomorrow will be the big day . "

Muttering to herself, Yukis.h.i.+ro-san continues staring at the orange-stained sky . Hasuike decides to respond .

"You two have done great, I guarantee that your times have improved by a lot . And I just want to say thanks . You guys actually listened to my selfish request and even agreed to help me . The truth is, after my old girlfriend left me for Kirigaya, I always had sleepless nights . The pain kept me awake the whole time . But after starting training with you two, slowly but surely, I could feel my pain go away . It felt great being able to have fun again for once . I even managed to sleep again . This might sound cheesy, but I really am grateful to the two of you . "

"Well, I . . . If it weren't for Ichinose-kun, Hasuike-kun would never had coached me to become better at running . I'm glad I could have the two of you to help!"

"Me too . Having fun with cla.s.smates, hanging out and what not, it's been a lot of fun, more than I expected . So thanks . "

After each of us expressed our grat.i.tude for each other, the embarra.s.sment started to build up and we all burst out laughing .

"Hanging out with you guys has been awesome . but that doesn't mean my burning hatred for Kirigaya has subsided . "

"Speaking of which, it seems like Kirigaya completely changed his hair style . That was pretty unexpected . "

Yukis.h.i.+ro-san never fails to somehow change the subject to something more light . That being said, Kirigaya's hair, despite being part of the track team, used to be long, like a host at the nightclub . This morning on the train station he had normal length hair if I remember correctly .

"It's definitely a new look . Hmm, it kind of looks like your hair Ichinose-kun . "

"What? Like my hair?"

"Aa! Just the hair, everything else is totally different . "

"alright then . "

We both smile awkwardly . Seems like that guy and I give off the same vibe, huh . . .

"Since he started going out with that first year, his hair has been different . "

For how much he hates Kirigaya, Hasuike seems to have a strange obsession with him . I don't think it's healthy that he keeps blaming himself for what's happened .

"My old girlfriend loved his old hair style . I wonder if he cut it to spite her . That motherf.u.c.ker . . . I'll never forgive him . "

"Hasuike . . . "

"I'm such an idiot . "

"Huh?"

"I got dumped for someone else, and I still haven't moved on . I still have a tiny bit of hope that things can still work . I'm so pathetic . I bet I'll be a laughing stock . "

"Ignore the G.o.dd.a.m.n idiots who treat you like a laughing stock . So what if you have hope? This love is something you’re fully committed to, yeah? No one should be laughed at just because they earnestly fell in love . "

"Guah . . . Ichinose . . . you really . . . are a great guy, you know?"

Hasuike uses his sleeves to wipe away his tears, but I still hear the snot from his nose . Seems like he really is a crybaby, despite his tough looks . But these tears seem different then the ones he's been shedding before .

I look at Yukis.h.i.+ro-san and it seems like we both silently come to an agreement . Like guardian angels, we silently comfort Hasuike as he gradually calms down .

And so, on this day, the bonds among the three became stronger . At this very moment, the story of our friends.h.i.+p truly commenced .

With that, I had made my first real friends .

And thus, the night ended and dawn approached us .

Judgement day has arrived, time to prove our mettle!

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