Sprint

For a girl who wasn't terribly athletically-inclined by nature and physique, there was only so much running around the school's track field could do for Kumiko before she started to turn red. After several weeks of Taki-sensei's extensive and rather unique training, she thought she would've gotten used to it by now.
But clearly that wasn't the case.
Hence why she'd set a goal for herself, a goal to run by herself for a few extra minutes after school was let out. She convinced the others to go home without her, and presently was doing her best to lap the track while simultaneously avoiding the sports teams that were practicing.
"Gosh!" she wheezed, already breathless just halfway through her first lap. "Kousaka-san... makes it look so easy! How... does she do it?"
By the time she'd completed her first lap, she was convinced she was becoming delusional.
"I think... I can hear trumpets..."
Locating a vacant bench nearby, Kumiko staggered over to it and slumped down, already rather exhausted.
"Ugh, geez..." she sighed. "I just wanna get better at playing euph... so I can be on-par with Kousaka-san... I want her to be proud of me, too..."
Wait, what? she thought quickly. I-Is that really how it is? Am I really pining for her to notice my effort that much?
With another sigh, she closed her eyes, leaning her head back.
"I must be going crazy. I can still hear trumpets..."
And then - as if on cue - the sounds stopped. Kumiko grimaced; the tune in her head had been nice in assisting her to nap for a second. She was so focused on trying to produce that sound in her head again and she didn't notice the actual sounds of footsteps coming her way.
Suddenly, there was a presence beside her.
"Ugh, Shuuichi..." she groaned. "Why can't you just-"
But as she opened her eyes, she was met with two curious pools of violet.
"Waaahhh!" She very nearly fell off the bench. "K-Kousaka-san?!"
"Yes?" The other girl ran a hand through her luscious black hair, letting it fall over her shoulder like strings of dark silk.
"Wha-Wha-Wha-What are you doing here?" Kumiko peeped, scrambling to get back on the bench.
"This is the school campus. I can be here, can't I?"
"I-I mean, yeah of course! B-But uhm..." She could never seem to hold a proper conversation with her. It was like a curse. Reina tilted her head curiously, then shrugged.
"I was just practicing a bit before going home." She flashed her glance downward, and Kumiko followed it, noticing the trumpet that had been placed on the bench between them.
"Ah! So I wasn't imagining it! That was you playing again!"
"I guess it was."
"Ahh, I see. I was just practicing my running so I could do it better when Taki-Sensei next asks us to do it! I just ran a whole lap!" She said this proudly, puffing out her chest - pitiful as it might've been. Reina merely blinked and nodded.
"That's good. You're practicing in your own way."
"Y-Yeah... you, too, Kousaka-san! Thanks for your hard work!"
"I'll join you."
"...Eh?"
"I'll run a few laps with you."
Silence.
Then-
"R-Really?!" Kumiko shrieked. "I-I mean, you're more than welcome to! I didn't mean to sound rude! I just don't think I can handle more than one-"
"Then let's get going." Without another word, Reina laid her trumpet down on the bench and stood, dusting off her skirt a bit and heading for the track, leaving a flustered Kumiko with no other option other than to follow.
They started on a jog, and it was all she could do to keep up with the dark-haired beauty. She did her best not to beg the other girl to slow down. Kousaka-san's right! This is part of my training, too! I can't give up so easily!
It was odd. After the next full lap, Kumiko didn't feel as enervated as she thought she should've. Rather, she felt almost empowered in a way, like she could keep running for another lap or two without issue.
By their third lap together, Kumiko was comfortably keeping pace with Reina, a wide smile on her face as she controlled her breathing and her stride.
"This is... actually kinda fun!" she exclaimed. "I didn't know I could run this much!" Reina flashed her a quick glance, smiling softly before directing her gaze ahead once more.
A few minutes later, Kumiko was ready to being her fourth lap, but she realized Reina wasn't beside her. She quickly turned around to glance back over her shoulder.
"Come on, Kousaka-san! I can go one more time around! Let's-" But she cut off with a gasp when she noticed the other girl had stopped running. Reina's hands were on her knees, her long hair pooling out over her shoulders as her back heaved. Kumiko quickly rushed to her side, placing a hand on her back, voice high with concern. "K-Kousaka-san? Are you okay? Sh-Should I get the nurse?"
Reina would've laughed if she had the breath for it at the moment. She lifted her head a bit, straightening her back with a chuckle on her lips.
"No..." she panted. "It's fine. Just give me a moment..."
Kumiko was anxious for that moment, her hand never leaving its spot on her classmate's back. When Reina straightened up once more, her long, dark tresses fell back into place, brushing over Kumiko's hand.
"Normally I could run for longer," she explained. "But I was practicing trumpet, so I'm a bit short of breath."
"Ahhh, I see," Kumiko mumbled. "I'm glad that's all it is and you didn't hurt yourself!" she smiled.
Reina inhaled a few more times to regain her composure, still feeling the caring hand on the small of her back.
"Oumae-san..."
"Y-Yes?"
"You're really kind."
"...Eh?"
"I'd love to run with you again after school sometime."
Kumiko was silent, nearly dumbfounded. She realized her hand was still on Reina's back, and she quickly recoiled it.
"Really? I-I mean if you'd like to, then yes! Yes, we can do this again sometime!"
Reina offered a faint smile.
"Alright. Maybe tomorrow then."
"Ah, y-yes! Tomorrow sounds great!"
Another moment of silence passed between them. Kumiko had no idea what she should be doing or saying right now. So panic seemed like a good option.
Wh-What do I do? Is this really happening? Does this mean we're-
"Oumae-san."
"Y-Yes?"
The other girl looked away briefly, as though she wasn't entirely confident about what she intended to say next.
"You can... call me Reina..."
Kumiko's thought her jaw might hit the ground. Her mouth hung open dumbly as incoherent sounds slipped out. It was a long moment before she realized the other girl was waiting for a reply.
"Ahh, I-I mean if it's okay with you!" she squeaked. "Then... Reina-chan."
Another smile. Reina's violet eyes shimmered at the sound of her name, and her hand went up to pull through her bangs and hair, that split second revealing her forehead just before the hair fell back into place.
"Then I'll see you here tomorrow," she said. She started making her way toward the bench to collect her instrument. Kumiko was baffled. She felt almost as though she were living in a dream.
But no! This is real! I've got to-
"R-Reina-chan!" She reached out, and with an excited hand, grasped the girl's sleeve. Reina paused and turned back, casting her gaze over her shoulder. Kumiko felt the feverish blush clearly on her face.
"Y-You can call me Kumiko, too!"
Another moment of silence.
And then another smile.
"Okay," Reina said. "Kumiko-chan."
Hearing Reina say her name-
-it made her unspeakably happy.
With an elated giggle, Kumiko jumped forward, throwing her arms around the other girl.
"Reina-chan!" she squealed, just loving that she could say the name aloud.
Reina was clearly surprised, but she didn't push her away. It was only for a moment, but she returned the embrace.
Kumiko didn't even spare a second to be embarrassed about the close contact.
Reina-chan's so warm...!
With a sigh, Kumiko closed her eyes and squeezed a little tighter.
Until-
"Mm-hm... Kumiko-chan?"
"Hm? Oh!" With speed on par with a startled rabbit, she released Reina and took a few rapid steps back. "Ah, s-s-sorry! I was just thinking how nice it felt to hug you and how warm you were and you smell so good and-"
She felt like she was going to explode.
She totally thinks I'm weird now! And she just started using my first name!
"Uwaaah I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
"Kumiko-chan."
And then the warmth was back again, pressing softly against her chest as a pair of arms encircled her back. A familiar voice spoke softly into her ear, and she could hear the smile in the words.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, Reina let her go.
She walked back over to the bench and picked up her trumpet, ready to head off.
But not without one last flip of her luscious hair and a wink over her shoulder.
Kumiko watched in bewilderment, feeling her jaw going slack again.
Then, a wide smile broke out across her lips.
"Right!" she beamed with a wave. "See you tomorrow, Reina-chan!"
Maybe running wasn't so bad after all.