After that, our practice continued.
We started with light jogging before gradually increasing the speed while trying to maintain our rhythm.
"Hey, your rhythm is off again! I know it's hard, but if you can't maintain it, our feet will get tangled and we'll both fall down."
"I-I'll do my best…"
"That's the spirit! We're almost done for today by the way."
At first, Umi was still lenient on me, but as time went on, she became harsher to the point that she stopped showing mercy, despite me being too tired to keep up.
I had to repeat the cycle of resting and running more times than I could count. Unlike Amami-san, both Umi and I weren't good enough to adjust our coordination instantly, so we had to practice really hard to improve it.
It was only the first day of practice, but it felt like I had run more in the last hour or two than I had ever before.
Even though I took frequent breaks, I still felt exhausted.
I had been working out from time to time, but it seemed like my body still couldn't handle this much exercise yet. Should I start doing daily morning jogging?
Meanwhile, Umi looked the same as usual even though she went through the same amount of exercise as I did.
"Haah… Haah… S-Sorry, Umi… I can't…"
"Is that so? Well, it can't be helped then. It's almost time anyway, we can stop here. Tomorrow is the team practice, so we'll do this again the day after."
"D-Demon…"
"What? Did you say something just now?"
"N-No, I didn't say anything."
"Well, whatever. Go rest in the shade until you can catch your breath. I'll lend you my shoulders."
After practice, Umi immediately switched her mood from 'demonic coach' to 'girlfriend'. We went to the back of the club building, the place where Nozomu confessed to Amami-san before
"I'll get us some water, don't wander around by yourself, okay?"
"I won't… I can't move even if I wanted to…"
"Jeez, why are you so weak?~"
Umi left while grinning mockingly at me. I leaned back against the bench exhaling in utter exhaustion.
It had been a long time since I exercised this much, but unlike last time, it felt refreshing.
I could probably survive if we were to do this practice every other day. Though I still had to deal with my sore muscles.
Practice for the day was coming to an end soon. The previously bustling atmosphere on the school ground had started to quiet down.
The atmosphere felt somewhat relaxing and I didn't mind it. The temperature had gotten a little cooler too.
"Thank you for waiting, Maki~ Here."
"Ah, thank you, Umi."
I received my water bottle from Umi and poured the contents of the bottle down my throat.
The unique scent of the barley tea tickled my nose and the cold liquid that entered my body managed to revive me.
"Phew, I'm alive again…"
"You're overreacting. Well, I get it…"
After she took a sip of the tea she had just poured into a cup in her hand, Umi leaned closer to me.
"Uh, Umi? I'm all sweaty right now, you know?"
"So?"
"I smell. I don't want you to be grossed out…"
"Don't care~"
My P.E. uniform was damp from my sweat, but Umi didn't mind that and clung close to me, sniffing my neck.
"…Yeah, you smell. Well, that just means you did your best today."
"Only because you're with me… I didn't make it to the very end though."
"Don't worry about it, it's only the first day. You'll get used to it soon."
"Guess so, huh? Oh well, I'll try a little harder then."
"Yeah, fighting~ Also… About your reward…"
"A-Ah, right…"
She most likely had something in mind for the reward already. Since it was Umi, it should be something good.
"Oh wait, your legs are hurting, aren't they? Should I give them a massage?"
"Sure, but can you actually do it?"
"Well, I looked it up, but I've never really done it before, so I don't know if it'll be effective…"
"Well, better than nothing. I'll be in your care."
"Hehe, you're in good hands."
Even if it wasn't effective, since Umi was the one doing it, I'd still be healed either way. I had no reason to refuse her.
I took off my shoes and socks as per her instruction and laid my legs on the bench. Then, Umi massaged them gently with her hands.
"Woah, your legs are tighter than usual, Maki. Good luck dealing with the pain tomorrow."
"I hope tomorrow won't come…"
"I know how you feel. I was exactly the same as you a while back… How does this feel, Maki?"
"Ouch… It hurts, but at the same time, it feels good…"
"Glad you're honest. Alright, here goes~"
Her hands firmly massaged my legs. From the soles of my feet up to my thighs.
Even though she was inexperienced, her massage felt comfortable enough for me. I wasn't sure if I felt better because of the massage or because of her touching me, though.
"All done. You just need to put a compress on them later and pray that tomorrow's pain is bearable."
"In the end, I still have to leave everything to fate…"
"That's just how it is sometimes. Well, at least you got a massage for free."
"I guess."
"Mhm~"
After thanking her and putting my shoes back on, I moved my legs around. It felt lighter than before. I should do what Umi told me to do and hope for the best tomorrow.
"Thank you Umi… For practice and the massage… I feel bad. I've been reliant on you all day…"
"Yes, be thankful. You're lucky you have a cute and caring girlfriend like me."
"I can't even refute that…"
She was strict when she needed to be, but at the same time, she would take care of other people like this when everything was over. She knew how to apply the carrot and the stick well.
It felt like I was rolling in the palm of her hand.
"By the way, are you okay? I can give you a massage too if you want. Don't expect anything, though."
"I'm fine. I'm jogging every morning, so I'm used to this. Thanks for asking though… Wait, you can do something else for me instead."
"Something else? Well, sure if you say so."
"Alright, then…"
She leaned toward me and whispered something to me.
"Can you do the usual here?~"
"The usual? …Oh no…"
"Mhm~ Tell me the thing that you always say to me every night. I want you to whisper it to me while holding me tightly~"
I called her every night before I went to sleep, so I knew what exactly she wanted me to say. I only said those words to her whenever I felt like it, so I guess that was enough reason for her to demand it as a reward.
…But still, doing it here?
"Pretty please?~ My massage felt good didn't it? Your legs feel better, don't they? It'd be unfair if you're the only one who felt good, wouldn't it?"
"Ugh… I can't say anything to refute that."
We still had ten minutes left before the assembly, so as long as we did it quickly, we should be fine… The problem was that Umi was in her 'spoiled child' mood currently. It wouldn't be over in ten minutes if I were to do it.
But still, if this made her happy…
"I-If you want it that badly, sure…"
"Yay! Now I know another weakness of yours. I should do you a favor before demanding something from you, that way you'd do anything I ask. I'll keep that in mind."
"Shut it. Come here quickly."
"Yes…"
She buried her face in my chest with a happy face.
Seriously, why was she so cute?
"Maki, can you hear my heartbeat?"
"Yes. Can you hear mine too? It's always like this whenever I'm with you."
"Is that so?~ I'm happy to hear that~"
While everyone else was practicing hard, we were making out in a place like this.
I felt a little guilty, but that wouldn't stop me.
"Umi…
"Y-Yes…"
After I blowed on her ear slightly, I moved my lips closer to it and—
"Hey hey, you two seem to be having fun, hm?~"
""!""
When I was about to whisper the words, someone interrupted us. Thanks to that, we both jumped in surprise. We still managed to hold onto each other though, so we didn't fall down.
""N-Nakamura-san…""
"Hello, my favorite idiotic coup— I mean, Asanagi-chan, Maehara-kun."
We turned our eyes toward the owner of the voice, a girl in glasses wearing a white armband on her left arm. There was 'sports festival committee member' written on the armband.