The noon sun pounded against the schoolyard, rendering the track a glittering haze. PE class was noisy and wild, students running in relays as teammates hollered encouragement from the side.
The teacher calls Hikari to track.
Then Hikari Amamiya stands up with a cheerful voice, "Yes, sensei!" grabbing the attention of the class.
Then she stands on the track with a baton in hand and full of confidence.
Then, with a playful challenge in his voice, one of the boys called out from the side, "Don't lose, Amamiya-san!"
She tossed her hair back and grinned. Knowing how it would irritate them, she shot back, "You sure you can keep up?"
As she turned to run, she saw Yuuto Kurokawa sitting by himself on the bleachers. As always, he was ignored and left out because of his typical pose, quiet, aloof, and introverted nature. Then she said out loud. "Hey, Kurokawa-kun! With a tone full of teasing, she called out, "Cheer for your girlfriend!"
Yuuto's eyes widened in shock when he heard Hikari's voice, and he blushed, turning his face opposite side. He can feel the glares of the boys in his class like they are going to beat him up.
She chuckled to herself before returning her attention to the track. However, she was powerless to stop the slight thrill that passed through her. He was too easily teased.
She launched forward with a burst of speed, light on her feet, fast, effortless. Even Yuuto, watching from the shade, couldn't look away. She was popular for her beauty, but now she is athletic too.
Then it happened.
"Ahh...."Her foot caught wrong on the curve. Her ankle twisted. She went down hard.
A sharp gasp rippled across the field.
"Hikari-chan!"
Students ran over, voices overlapping in a blur of worry and noise.
"Are you okay?!"
"Is it broken?!"
Phones twitched in pockets.
No one touched her. Hikari gritted her teeth and tried to sit up. "Tch… I'm fine. Just… shut up."
But her ankle throbbed, and she couldn't move it.
Then a calm voice cut through the panic.
"M…Move."
The crowd split. Kurokawa-kun stepped forward, unreadable as always, his bangs hiding his eyes.
Without waiting, he crouched beside her. "Let's get you to the nurse's office, Amamiya-san."
"No, I am okay—Wha—?Wai—Kurokawa-kun?!"
Before she could stop him, his arms were under her, lifting her off the ground in one smooth motion.
Princess carries.
Gasps exploded behind them.
"No way!"
"He just picked her up?!"
"Kurokawa? Seriously?This weak loner."
She didn't look back. Her face was on fire, her heart pounding so loud she could barely think. She clutched his uniform instinctively. "…Am I heavy?" she muttered.
His ears turned red, but his voice stayed steady. "You're not. Don't worry. I won't drop you."
Her breath hitched.
What… what is this feeling?
She held on a little tighter.
Then they reached to infirmary, Yuuto called out for the nurse, but there was no response.
Kurokawa said, "I think the nurse is not here." Then he helped her to sit on the bed.
"Wait, let me help you." He says.
But she says, "No, you can go, I can help myself." When she trys to stand, "Wahh—!" she is going to fall, but Kurokawa catches her at right time.
"See, I told you, let me help you." He says with a taunting voice.
Her face turns red when he catches her, heart pounding, she thought, "What is this feeling, this is because he catches me right...?"
Then he once again helped her to sit on the bed and reached to cabinet for the spray and bandages.
He sprayed her ankle and wrapped it with surprising care. His hands were steady and gentle.
Hikari watched him, unable to look away. He looked… normal like this. Calm. Kind.
When he finished, he stood and picked up his bag. "Rest, Amamiya-san. You'll be fine."
"Ok, thanks..." she says in a quiet voice.
He smiled and just like that, he left.
The room fell silent again.
Hikari turned toward the window, the wind brushing the curtains. Her ankle still tingled where his hands had been. Her ears were red.
It's not love, she told herself. It's just… no one's ever carried me like that before. That's all.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Kurokawa-kun.
"Sorry if that was embarrassing. I just didn't want to see you in pain."
She stared at the screen.
Then, slowly, a smile tugged at her lips.
"…Idiot."
And for the first time since this whole fake relationship started… she wasn't sure what was fake anymore.
To be continued....