Chapter 53: Inter High

At the same time as the closing ceremony of the first semester, a cheering party was held in the gym to encourage the representative athletes.

　There are very few people who can participate in the Inter High.

　This year, it was just me and the boys’ badminton team from Mouki Mourosu High School.

　The senior Ichigaya also lost in the block tournament.

　The representative players and their advisors went up on stage, and one by one, they spoke about their aspirations.

　After the badminton team finished, Sakurako-sensei took the microphone.

　I stared at her face.

　I had thought that she was a quiet, unemotional, and clumsy person like me.

　But I was completely wrong.

　Underneath that poker face, there was a lot of emotion swirling around. At best, she is feminine; at worst, she is jealous.

　She is an amazing actress in that she doesn’t let you feel it at all.

“—–Yes, Yagami-kun.”

“Ah, yes.”

　Before I knew it, my turn seemed to have come.

　I received the microphone from Sensei.

　I’ve already decided what I’m going to say. This kind of thing is not something to talk about for a long time. The words will be too thin.

“I’m Soma Yagami from Class 2-D, representing the track and field team in the 1,500m and 5,000m runs. In order to fulfill my promise to my classmate Himari Rurikawa, I will definitely take first place in both races.

　As the applause rang out, the student council officer came over to pick up the microphone.

“That was a great speech. Yagami-kun.”

“Thank you very much.”

　The officer returned to the moderator’s position.

“Then, students, let’s have a big round of applause!

　I walked down from the stage as the whole school applauded.

　Himari, I’m going to win.

　Then, wake up, please.

　The day of the inter high school.

　The spectator stands were filled with cheering fans.

　I was grateful to them for coming all the way to such a remote place.

“Brother!　Please dedicate your victory to Tsumugi!”

“Senpai!　Definitely win!”

“Yagami!　I won’t accept your defeat!”

“Overwhelming victory!　Crushing victory!

“Yagami!　Please run down Victory Road!　Soiya, soiya!”

“Soma!　Be a man!　Show me the man!”

“Fure ! Fure ! Sa Zhen !Fure!　Fleur! Sa Zhen!”

　I raise my hand to the group of pongees and get to the starting line of the 1,500-meter run.

　Every time I participate in this event, I think of the endurance run in the sports test.

　It was the reason why I joined the track and field team.

　I wouldn’t be standing here if Sakurako-sensei hadn’t told me to “get serious” there.

　As I relaxed my body, I looked at the other players.

　Since I was serious about winning the Inter-High Championship, I started to check out the players from other schools.

　They were all known as geniuses in their hometowns.

　Naturally, I was one of them.

　But–

“I’m the best genius.”

　I don’t think anyone can beat me.

“On Your Marks.”

　The gun sounds, and all the competitors start running at once.

　I run, keeping a little ahead of the midfield.

　I’ve found in practice that my times are better when I sprint at the end of the race. So, I conserve my energy.

　However, my speed is much different than before.

　To be honest, I’m pretty close to full strength at this point, and there’s not enough room to conserve my energy.

　With each lap, the group splits up and the line grows longer.

　I gradually increased my pace and stayed behind the lead group.

　Then, in the last 100 meters, I went for a full-on sprint.

　However, the riders in the top group were increasing their pace as well.

　This made it difficult to close the gap.

　With about 50 meters to go, I finally passed one participant. Two more to go.

　With 20 meters to go, I pass a second participant. One more!

　With 10 meters to go, I still can’t let him pass.

　With 5 meters to go, I’m finally in line.

　But I’m running out of stamina. I can’t run at this pace any longer. ……!

　–No, I can run!　This is not what I’m really like!

　I’m Soma Yagami, the strongest negative guy in the world!

　Finish.

　I look up at the monitor that displays the results.

“1st no.716 Soma Yagami Mouki Mourouzu 3:44:87

“SHIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

　I raised my right fist to the cheering crowd.

　Two days later, the 5,000m run.

　I don’t feel like losing at all.

　I’ve been building up my strength until the end, and I’m going to explode in the last 100 meters.

“1st no.716 Soma Yagami Mouki Mourouzu 13:37:52”

　This is how I achieved first place in two events, as promised.

　After the closing ceremony, I immediately took the bullet train home and returned to Himari’s hospital room in triumph.

“Himari!　I took first place in both the 1,500m and the 5,000m!”

　I squeeze her hand. Even if she couldn’t hear me, I knew she could feel me in her heart.

　But Himari didn’t show any reaction.

　This shocked me.

　In my own mind, I had thought that winning the inter high championship would wake her up.

“That’s right, …… I’ll give you this …….”

　I gave Himari two gold medals to hold.

“One piece alone is more impressive than your calligraphy gold medal. That’s two of them, remember?”

　The medal falls from Himari’s hand.

“Himari, …… celebrate with me, …… with your loud voice.”

　I stroked Himari’s cheek.

“Why don’t you wake up, Himari?”

　I turn my head back. –I turned around to see Shino and Sakurako-sensei.

“Aah ……

“Himari-chan is greedy, so winning the Inter-High Championship may not be enough for her.”

　Shino smiled, “Ufufu.”

　When I was feeling a little down, I appreciated this smile. I guess she was trying to cheer me up.

“Well, I guess I have to take first place in the world with ……[Black Iron Warrior]. ……”

“Is that so?”

“‘Is that so?’ I showed you that here.”

“I didn’t watch it because I was annoyed.

“Mou, Sakurako-chan is ……. Here it is.”

　Shino handed Sensei a piece of paper.

“[I’m going to participate in the world tournament of the Black Iron Samurai with my friend, and win!] …… this is impossible …….”

“That’s true…… you’ll have to participate with me to win.

“That’s a problem……Even if you win by yourself, it doesn’t mean you’ve fulfilled your promise. ……”

　I hold Himari’s hand and talk to her.

“…… Himari, I can’t fulfill my promise if you don’t wake up. The Kaiserschnitt (laughs) is waiting for you, too.”

　As soon as I said those words, Sensei and Shino erupted.

　No matter how many times I hear Himari’s aircraft name, I always find it amusing. To be honest, I almost laughed myself when I said it.

　Himari glared at Shino.

“…… huh?”

“No way …….”

“Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!　　Sensei!　Sister is!　Sister is!”

　Shino rushes out of the hospital room.

“Himari!　You’re awake!”

“Crap!　I have to call dad!”

　Sensei hurriedly pulled out her phone.

　Himari looked at Sensei blankly.

　After the examination, we found out that Himari could not move her arms and legs and could not speak.

　We had been prepared for this, but it was still hard when it became a reality.

　However, I was told that she might be able to recover to some extent through rehabilitation, and it was a miracle that she had regained consciousness in the first place. I think I should be honestly happy about this.

“Himari, do you recognize me?”

　Himari shook her head at Sensei.

　She can’t speak, but she understands what we are saying.

“Then do you recognize me?”

　Again, Himari shook her head.

“What about me then?”

　Himari stared at me and shook her head with a sullen look on her face.

　Later, her best friends Kitahara and Komatsu, as well as her classmates, tried it, but the results were the same.

　It seemed that Himari had lost her memory of the person.

　But there must have been something deep in her memory.

　First it was Sakurako-sensei and Shino, then her parents, then Kitahara and Komatsu, and little by little she began to smile.

　It’s a very cheerful story, but I have one concern.

　Himari didn’t smile at me at all.