(Dazai Crowley's POV)
Cerulean Academy, Present Day
A race between me and Ryoku.
This seems like an interesting challenge.
The distance between our current location and our destination, the academy, was roughly half a kilometer or so long, which is generally a good distance to run for a recommended light workout.
Assuming she works out properly, overcoming that distance should be relatively easy for both of us.
So then, it boils down to both speed and stamina.
Which one of us is faster?
Who can last the longest?
Those questions were soon about to be answered.
"One….—two…..—Three!!"
On her count, we leapt to our feet and took off.
The scenery of both trees and buildings alike soon darted past us, or rather us with it. And before we knew it, roughly five minutes had passed since then.
As we were running, I decided to glance to my left and analyze my opponent's current movements.
I was surprised to see the situation didn't seem to be cut and dry at first. Because from the looks of it, Ryoku and I were both evenly matched in speed. We ran parallel with each other, while neither of us showed signs of our stamina failing anytime soon.
At this rate, this match just might end in a draw.
—Or atleast that's what I thought.
We arrived at the halfway point. From here, glimpses of the academy came into view.
The race was almost over. Understanding this, I asked myself how exactly I should approach this.
Should I go for a decisive victory, or should I trail behind and give Ryoku the win?
Ah, but should I really give up the chance to kiss a beautiful girl so easily though?
Hmm…
However, this one moment of thought turned out to be my downfall.
I glance back at Ryoku one more time.
However, she too looked back at me.
"...Heh."
For some reason though, she smiles.
I raised my eyebrow.
But before I could even question this gesture of hers, she accelerates even faster than ever before.
—!?
She's fast!
Her legs stretch across the ground, as if to devour the very distance between us and our destination.
At this point, I couldn't even see her face anymore.
Her back was all I could see before she eventually faded away into the distant horizon.
I decided to catch up to her.
But in the end, it was already too late.
One minute later, we finally arrived at the school.
Now that the race is over, Ryoku stops to catch her breath. And then she spoke.
"—Aww, looks like you lost~"
"Seems like it."
In the end, I was thoroughly defeated.
It wasn't even close either.
Ryoku was simply just that much faster than me.
Sigh.
Upon admitting my defeat, she flashes me another small yet bright and victorious smile.
"Well then, I guess that means somebody isn't getting a kiss~"
"—My, my, what a shame", I said sarcastically.
Though I said that much, I suppose a small part of me did feel a little disappointed.
Regardless, a loss is a loss.
I rolled my eyes and took out my student ID.
If I remember correctly, there should be a function here that allows us to transfer points to others.
"What are you doing?", she asked.
"Five points, just like you promised."
I agreed to the match, and I lost.
Therefore, as per the conditions, I must pay up.
"Ooh, that…—Eh, don't worry about it."
She waves her hand nonchalantly.
I raised my eyebrow.
"Wait, seriously?"
Something was off.
"Yep, just drop it. Five points isn't much anyways."
"Huh, so then why did you—"
"—In exchange though, that means you owe me one now, right?", she cuts in just like that.
Oh.
I then immediately realized the situation.
"....I guess that means I'm in your debt", I replied.
"Heh."
As she said that, she then pulled out a small water bottle from her pocket and refreshed herself.
After taking a sip however, she later noticed I didn't do the same for some odd reason.
The reason being, well, it's because I couldn't.
Simply put—
"—You didn't bring any water with you?"
"I didn't plan on running long enough to need one."
Unfortunately, that turned out to be a mistake, huh.
Sigh.
"Hmm…—well then, here you go."
Suddenly, she hands me her bottle.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, why not. It'd be a serious problem if you randomly got dizzy from dehydration."
"—No, not that. I'm talking about your…—bottle."
"Bottle…?"
Did she not understand what I was getting at?
Well, I guess I "am" being a little too vague about it…
"...Wouldn't it be—"
Suddenly though, Ryoku realized exactly what I meant. But then she simply smiled.
"—Ooh, don't tell me~…—you're not worried about some indirect kiss, eyy!?", she replies teasingly.
Her lips pursed into a smug-faced expression.
She even nudges my arm with her elbow while chuckling.
"Mmgh…"
Embarrassed, I looked away.
"Pfft! What are you, five!?~"
She chuckles even more.
…This girl, man.
"Screw this."
Refusing to take a sip, I hand back her water bottle.
However, she only laughs yet again.
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine!~ I don't really stress out over things like that anyways, so drink up already."
"Hmph."
Since she was so insistent, I decided to ignore her words and help myself to a drink.
That's right.
Just ignore the fact that this cup touched her lips…
…Ugh.
Suddenly though, Ryoku leans close into my ear.
"...Consider this a gift for trying so hard~"
"—!?"
Surprised, I immediately choked on my water.
I was then unable to stop myself from coughing.
"Pfffftt!! Hahahahaha!!"
This time, Ryoku bursts out into a round of laughter.
"Ugh…"
How incredibly annoying.
Embarrassed than ever before, I glared at her.
"Ahaha…—in any case, all jokes aside though, thanks for indulging me in this selfish race of mine, Dazai. I think my back feels a whole lot better after all that."
"Glad to hear it."
"You know, Dazai. If you're ever in the mood for another rematch, that kiss is still on the table~"
"—Leave me alone…"
She chuckles lightly again.
"Well then, I'll see you in class later today, okay?"
"Yeah."
We then go our separate ways.