The Promise I Decided to Break

The scene was a bit awkward for a moment, and the four of them wore expressions of confusion on their faces.

Another team had already started running ahead, but they exchanged glances with their teammates.

Fuutarou: "Hey, it seems we've never practiced three-legged race for two people..."

Rizu: "I was so excited that I accidentally stepped on the wrong foot..."

Shinichi and Yotsuba: "..."

After a brief silence, they quickly picked up their teammate and hurried to catch up with their opponents who had already run a certain distance.

"Turtles, listen to my command from now on."

"Who's the turtle?"

"Use Crash! One, two, one, two!"

"Tsk, I shouldn't have signed up with you."

"Don't panic, Rizu. Just do what we practiced before and gradually get used to it... one, two, one, two..."

"One, two, one, two..."

"Very good, that's it! We're almost catching up to Asada-san and the others!"

"Um! Thanks, Yotsuba."

"Ehehe~ We make a great team~"

In the end, the two lagging groups relied on silent understanding and physical fitness to chase and compete for the third or fourth position.

Yotsuba and Rizu surpassed Shinichi and Fuutarou as they wished. Although the result wasn't perfect, seeing the satisfied expression on Rizu's face, Yotsuba couldn't help but laugh and feel relaxed.

"Whether you win or lose doesn't matter. What matters is whether you enjoy it and whether you smile!"

Facing the sky, Yotsuba proudly uttered her famous saying.

There was still time before the next match. After bidding farewell to everyone, she went to the Sports Festival Executive Committee to see if anyone needed help.

At this moment, the conversation of passersby suddenly entered her ears. Because the view was obstructed by the loudspeaker next to the command post, they didn't notice her presence, and Yotsuba froze, standing there eavesdropping on their shameless conversation.

"Too bad in the competition just now. For the first time, Yotsuba-san won something other than first place..."

"I can't do anything about it. Besides, she's carrying a burden. Why didn't she pair up with the athletic team members?"

"Yeah, that petite and cute girl seems unable to do sports. It's really hindering Yotsuba-san."

"Regardless of whether there's a delay or not, isn't the red team relying solely on her to score points? I just looked at the scores, and it seems that in the competitions she didn't participate in, the white team won eight out of ten times. The red team doesn't have strong players at all. I guess we can catch up in the afternoon."

"One thing to say, no matter how good her physical fitness is, she can't turn the tide in team competitions. No need to treat her as a big demon."

"The Demon King can't lead a group of slimes, right?"

"Maybe she can gain an advantage in solo team competitions."

"Terrifying... But even so, her physical strength won't last until then. I just saw the race record, and her speed seems to have slowed down a bit..."

"Yeah, no matter how slow, it's still faster than us. Don't talk about this! Did you know there's a new dessert shop nearby..."

"The one on XX Street? I know~"

After an unknown amount of time, the conversation faded away, but the cheerful laughter couldn't dispel the tension.

Yotsuba stood there with a blank look, her eyes dry but difficult to blink.

Her hands and feet felt cold, her heart began to race, she didn't even know how to explain this discomfort.

Should she explain to the group of people earlier?

"Not like this..."

She muttered, even though she stood there without anyone around.

"No one is holding me back, and Rizu did her best..."

She clenched her fists with a slight tremor.

"...This is my issue."

Yotsuba lowered her head, took a deep breath, and her expression, which seemed about to cry, gradually returned to calm and no longer trembled.

She lifted her gaze and stared straight ahead. The hesitation in her eyes turned into determination.

(Because of me, the red team members and Rizu will be looked down upon by others.)

Yotsuba thought so.

So...

As long as she continues to be in the first position, as long as she creates an absolute advantage and allows everyone in the red team to win, everything will be fine, right?

If she loses, there's nothing wrong; if she wins, no one will talk much.

It's a very simple truth, a fact even a fool like her can understand.

And she still carries the expectations of many people.

"Everyone, I'm sorry..."

The cheers in the stadium and laughter on the campus covered everything, and the guilt for breaking the promise seemed to never surface.

△

"What's the next obstacle course?"

Shinichi looked at the schedule. After returning to the rest area, Fumino and Itsuki were no longer in their seats; both were participating in the hurdles race.

After resting in his seat, Shinichi had no intention of being alone with Fuutarou, who was busy studying. He immediately left the rest area and planned to take a stroll.

The morning competition he participated in had ended, and he would wait for his parents to come for lunch, accompany them, and then face the afternoon match. Regardless of which team wins, as long as there are no inexplicable developments, it will be Shinichi's victory.

"I hope everything is safe..."

Shinichi wandered around the school aimlessly, admiring the smiles or tearful faces of the students. He neither rejoiced nor lamented. He just felt that the school was more energetic than usual.

After the sports festival, what changes would occur at Shuchi'in Academy?

As the student council president, Shinichi seriously pondered this issue, helping to plan the implementation of the student council's future administrative policies.

Unconsciously, he arrived behind the teaching building. As he was about to turn the corner where he met Mafuyu, he suddenly heard shouts.

"Why! Didn't you say you could come!"

While Shinichi stopped, he completely eliminated his aura and hid behind the corner.

He couldn't help but be careful not to be careless because this cry, full of sadness and heartache, came from the maid he knew.

"You're always like this! Please don't promise things you can't do!"

It was the first time Shinichi heard Hayasaka speak with a timid tone.

If he hadn't seen her shouting on her phone, Shinichi might reflexively feel guilty, wondering if he had done something more compassionate to her.

"...Actually, you don't care about me at all, do you?"

The girl lowered her head, and a gloom of loss enveloped her body.

Shinichi looked at her from the shadows, his mind confused, but the only thing he cared about now was one thing...

Who dared to break Hayasaka's heart?

His future self?

Or is there someone else she loves besides him?

"Mom, you're a big liar..."

Shinichi: "..."

Listening to her sobbing and complaints at the other end of the phone with teary eyes, Shinichi gazed at the sky with a subtle expression, exhaling without saying a word, and suddenly felt the urge to smoke for the occasion.

Hayasaka, who usually had a cold demeanor when they met, sometimes had a bit of a devilish side, sometimes pure, and sometimes bold. It could be said that she was always changing, even occasionally acting flirtatious towards her mother. It's truly...

So adorable.

Shinichi couldn't help but smile, he put his hand in his pocket, stopped eavesdropping, and left the place with a calm attitude.

Everyone has a side they don't want others to know, especially Hayasaka, who is used to pretending.

For now, let's pretend he didn't see her.

Before leaving, Shinichi made some special sounds to remind Hayasaka of the possibility of being eavesdropped without letting her know. It's not just caution but also a selfish desire.

He didn't want other men to see Hayasaka showing emotions like that.

After leaving the teaching building, Shinichi was contemplating whether to go back to the field to watch other people's matches when his phone suddenly vibrated twice.

It was messages from two different people.

Shinichi looked at it and saw that the first message was from Ichika, asking if it was convenient for her to make a video call now.

The second one made him open his mouth in surprise, and then he slowly lowered his expression, leaving only wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"Do you want me to do something with this statement..."

On the screen, the contact who was not a friend – [Driver Ebata] sent a message that had no beginning or end but was quite informative:

[The Master is busy with work, so he had no choice but to cancel the tour reservations, and he did not intend to inform the ladies. Of course, the sports festival event is eagerly awaited.]

"How does he know my LINE ID? I remember not giving it to him..."

Regardless of what it is, Shinichi put that issue in the "to think about" area in his mind. While analyzing the thoughts of the old driver, he clicked on Ichika's message and replied.

[I'm free, what's up?]

Immediately, the next moment after the word "read" appeared on the screen, a video call rang.