True feelings revealed

　　Startled, she rolled to the ground. With her black hair flowing, she sat with one knee on the track.

　　The girl named Soryuin Akemi patted her chest and smiled.

　　"Fortunately it's okay. This is just a blessing from training my muscles… No, no, where is Hibiki?!"

　　On the rope next to the feet, the feet that were supposed to be tied were no longer there.

　　 Akemi looked around anxiously, but she saw her teammates in front of the finish line.

　　The fall just now only affected Hibiki.

　　The next moment, she crossed the finish line in an instant.

　　"Win--! One step closer to delicious food for handsome men!"

　　The girl recovered from her violent state, raised her hands in the air and cheered happily as the staff at the side looked at her strangely.

　　Not long after, Shinichi leads Yotsuba to slow down, cross the finish line, and gives her a good reminder as she passes.

　　"This is a three-legged race between two people, not a sprint race."

　　"I know! Two people with three legs is a running competition where the legs of two people are tied together…" At first she didn't react, Hibiki answered happily.

　　But soon, the smile on her face became stiff.

　　She lowered her head and looked at her feet.

　　"...Where is Akemi?"

　　 Hibiki looked confused.

　　Could it be that she ran to the finish line together at super fast speed and then went to the toilet?

　　"I'm here, Hibiki."

　　At this time, Akemi came over with a ribbon in her hand and a wry smile: "Even though you were the first to reach the finish line, it's a pity that because of the foul, we couldn't get any points at this level... Sigh, I wonder if I can running again in this situation…"

　　"W-What did you say?!" Hibiki was pale and staggered a few steps.

　　"Handsome Male Chef Meal Set... My dream of having a handsome man feed me delicious food is even further away..."

　　"No, I think even if you win first place, he won't feed you…"

　　"Luckily I won…" Yotsuba said, "When I saw they were only thirty meters away from the finish line, I really didn't know what to do."

　　"It's normal to win. Their movements were very uncoordinated from the start. It's basically impossible to survive until the end." Shinichi said calmly, "I should have told you directly when I found out, so you could be less nervous."

　　Yotsuba lowered her head and wanted to apologize.

　　"Sorry, if Asada-san didn't remind me..."

　　Because their legs were still tied tightly, her sudden pause made Shinichi fall forward half a step. Luckily, he grabbed her hand in time and stabilized his ankle before he twisted or fell.

　　As soon as Yotsuba's words came out, she was interrupted by a palm.

　　Her feet were tied and her hands were held. This posture is definitely very intimate with other people.

　　"This is a testament to partnership."

　　"Whether it's failure or honor, we all share and bear it together... Isn't it the same for you quints?"

　　Hitting her forehead with the back of his hand, Shinichi couldn't help but laugh.

　　"What words can make people happier than apologizing?"

　　"Really, remember what you said many times before, idiot Yotsuba!"

　　"…"

　　Yotsuba stared blankly at his face for a long time.

　　It had been so long since she even noticed the redness on her face and the rapid beating of her heart.

　　"...Thank you, that's what you wanted to say, right?"

　　Shinichi felt the strength of the hand's grip increase, and Yotsuba's drooping head gently rested on his arm.

　　"Right, thank you for cooperating with me to slow down, otherwise I would never be able to catch up no matter what."

　　Yotsuba thought for a moment then said:

　　"Asada-san, thank you for calming me down in time. Otherwise, once I speed it up, it will easily destroy the balance between the two of us."

　　Shinichi asked jokingly: "Then, is this even?"

　　Yotsuba fell silent.

　　She turned around, gently shook their hands, took another step, and Shinichi followed her.

　　Without any slogans, they walked together under the shade of the tree.

　　There, there was a stick with a picture of a rabbit on it.

　　"...Thank you Lord Amulet for your blessings. I'll check what's better for the wand when I get back."

　　Letting go of Shinichi's hand, Yotsuba placed her palms together in front of the staff.

　　Then she took it along with the handkerchief and put it carefully into her pocket.

　　"I will return this handkerchief to you after I wash it."

　　Yotsuba knelt down and began to untie the red ribbons that tied their legs tightly.

　　Shinichi looked at the top of her head. After thinking for a few seconds, he planned to squat down and ask her something.

　　Unexpectedly, Yotsuba had already untied all her previous ties, took a step back, raised her head and looked at him.

　　"Asada-san."

　　"Yotsuba?"

Shinichi couldn't help but be surprised.

　　There was a complex expression on the girl's face that he had never seen before.

　　At this time, Yotsuba spoke while clenching the red ribbon in her hand.

　　"Obviously, a lot of things have happened between us... Obviously those things are very important. There is no way to even it out and just pretend nothing happened… Obviously, we are already at odds with each other."

　　"At least I can't do it... Then you..."

　　After saying these words, she bit her lip. Taking a deep breath, Yotsuba smiled indifferently.

　　"Ahah hahaha, what am I talking about~ How strange~ Asada-san, please forget it, because even I don't know what I'm talking about~"

　　After scratching the back of her head and laughing, seeing Shinichi still looking at her silently, Yotsuba quickly pushed his shoulder and urged.

　　"Okay, Asada-san, don't be in a daze! Quickly meet Ichika, then win TOP STAR in this challenge! Leave the rest to me!"

　　After pushing him away, she turned around and headed to the next level regardless of Shinichi's reaction.

　　"Asada-san, I'll go first~"

　　As if escaping from a deserted place, Yotsuba quickly ran into the crowd that was out of Shinichi's sight, and soon she disappeared from sight.

　　Shinichi couldn't even say a word.

　　(That sentence, I obviously just said it casually... Do you really not want to get even with me?)

　　But even so, what could Shinichi say to Yotsuba?

　　Even if he wanted to say something, would Yotsuba, who could run as fast as a rabbit, be willing to listen to him tell the truth?

　　 Shinichi shook his head with a sigh, then turned and walked towards the stage opposite.