"Running Emotions: What?"

As Shiriku stepped out of the car and strolled towards the school gate, he was greeted by Ayaka and Aoi, their friendly faces welcoming him to the new day. Ayaka's smile was bright as she chirped, "Good morning, Shiriku! How was your weekend?"

Returning the greeting with a warm smile, Shiriku replied, "Hey, good morning, Ayaka and Aoi! My weekend was awesome. Fuyumi and I went for a run. It was a blast."

Ayaka's curiosity piqued as she raised an eyebrow. "Fuyumi?" she questioned, prompting Shiriku to explain.

"Yeah, Fuyumi," Shiriku confirmed. "I invited her along since running solo was getting a bit dull. We even joined a couples' run, even though we're not actually a couple. Pretty wild, huh?"

Aoi, intrigued by the idea, chimed in, "Couples run? That sounds like a unique experience."

Shiriku nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it was definitely interesting," he confirmed.

Ayaka, misunderstanding the situation, jumped to conclusions. "Wait, so you and Fuyumi are dating?" she asked, her tone laced with surprise.

Quick to clarify, Shiriku chuckled and shook his head. "Oh, no, nothing like that," he explained. "Fuyumi was just really keen on joining, and I couldn't say no to her persistent enthusiasm. We're just friends."

Aoi, ever the inquisitive one, prodded further. "Was there any particular reason she wanted to join?" she asked.

Shiriku shrugged, dismissing any ulterior motives. "Nah, Fuyumi's not like that," he replied, defending his friend's innocence.

Ayaka, sensing the need to redirect the conversation, scolded Aoi gently. "Aoi, don't pry too much," she admonished. "It's not polite to ask such personal questions."

Aoi, realizing her mistake, apologized sincerely. "I'm sorry, Shiriku. I didn't mean to overstep," she said, contrite.

Shiriku waved off the apology with a laugh. "No worries at all," he reassured her. "It's all good."

Ayaka, eager to change the topic, grinned at Shiriku. "Well, I'm glad you found someone to run with. Maybe I should give it a try too," she mused.

Aoi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, running is a great way to stay fit and clear your mind, Ayaka. You should definitely consider it."

Shiriku chimed in, encouraging Ayaka. "Absolutely! You should totally give it a shot, Ayaka. I think you'd enjoy it," he said, offering his support.

Ayaka smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Shiriku. Maybe I will," she said, feeling motivated by their conversation.

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AFTER TEN MINUTES PASSED:

Ayaka and Aoi headed towards their classroom, Ayaka turned back and waved goodbye to Shiriku with a wink. Shiriku couldn't help but feel a little flustered by the gesture, but he waved back with a smile.

AYAKA AND AOI POVS:

Aoi said to Ayaka, "Miss Ayaka, what about the plan?" Ayaka replied, "Don't worry, we still have time, okay?" Aoi nodded and said, "Okay."

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Shiriku spotted Junichi and Sachi waiting for him and grinned and waved at them before hurrying over to join them.

"Hey, guys! How's it going?" Shiriku greeted them cheerfully.

Junichi and Sachi looked at Shiriku with curiosity. "Hey, Shiriku! What were you talking to Ayaka about?" Junichi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shiriku chuckled, "Oh, nothing serious. Just a casual chat," he replied casually.

As they walked towards the classroom, Shiriku chatted with them about their weekend activities.

"So, what did you guys do over the weekend?" Shiriku asked.

"We went hiking in the mountains," Sachi replied with a smile.

Shiriku mentioned that he had gone for a run with Fuyumi, and Sachi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Fuyumi ran? Or jogged, I mean. That's surprising," she said, sounding impressed.

At that moment, they reached the classroom, and Shiriku spotted Fuyumi sitting at her desk. He walked over to her and playfully slapped her back, not realizing that she was already in pain.

"Hey, Fuyumi! Ready for another exciting day of school?" Shiriku teased.

Fuyumi winced and rubbed her back, her face contorting in discomfort.

"Oh, sorry Fuyumi," Shiriku said, feeling guilty for his thoughtless actions.

Sachi, noticing Fuyumi's reaction, asked her if she was feeling okay.

Fuyumi shook her head, telling them that her whole body was aching.

Shiriku immediately remembered the run they had gone on over the weekend, and he told Sachi and Junichi about it.

"So, we went for this run over the weekend, and it was pretty intense," Shiriku explained.

Junichi joked, "What, did you guys run a marathon or something?"

Shiriku laughed, but Fuyumi didn't join in. She was clearly in too much pain.

Shiriku then turned to Fuyumi and asked if she was still up for the couples' run they had planned for next week.

"Hey, Fuyumi, are you still up for that couples' run next week?" Shiriku asked, sounding concerned.

Junichi and Sachi looked at them in surprise.

"Couples' run?" Sachi repeated, incredulous, "WHAAAAAAATTTTTT?!!"

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Shiriku glanced at Junichi and Sachi, who were giving him skeptical looks. "Yeah, Fuyumi and I are thinking of joining a couples' run next week," he explained, feeling a tad awkward with their scrutiny.

"Couples' run?" Junichi repeated, eyebrows shooting up. "What's that, like a race for couples?"

Sachi chimed in, looking puzzled. "I've never heard of that before," she admitted, scratching her head. "Why would anyone want to run with their partner? Sounds kind of strange."

Shiriku shrugged, a hint of defensiveness in his tone. "Beats me, Fuyumi thought it'd be a blast," he said. "And hey, we're not actually a couple. I only agreed 'cause Fuyumi wouldn't take no for an answer, ha ha." Junichi and Sachi exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "Well, that explains it," Junichi chuckled. "But seriously, that's pretty amusing."

Hold up," Junichi leaned in, looking intrigued. "So, you and Fuyumi are just pals? 'Cause it kinda sounds like a date."

Shiriku rolled his eyes, irritation creeping into his voice. "Nope, definitely not a date," he insisted, his frustration evident. "Just a run. Why's everyone making such a fuss?"

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Sachi looked a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, Shiriku, we didn't mean to pry," she apologized, cheeks flushing pink. "We've just never heard of a couples' run before, so we were caught off guard."

Junichi and Sachi exchanged a glance, making Shiriku feel like he was under a microscope. Being a bit of a loner, he wasn't used to sharing much about his personal life with his classmates. Now, he felt like he had opened up a whole can of worms.

Shiriku sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt for snapping at them. "No worries, guys," he reassured, trying to ease the tension. "I guess it does sound kinda odd when you say it like that. But trust me, there's nothing romantic happening between me and Fuyumi."

Junichi and Sachi seemed to buy his explanation, and they lapsed into an awkward silence.

Despite feeling a bit embarrassed, Shiriku couldn't help but smile. He was relieved that his friends were taking it in stride. Turning to Fuyumi, he asked, "So, are we still on for next week?"

Fuyumi beamed and nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! It's gonna be a blast." With a playful wink and an elbow nudge, she added, "Can't wait to see if you can keep up this time!" However, Shiriku just shrugged it off, oblivious to any underlying hints from Fuyumi.