Miki Route 2-10: Track Star Upset

label en_M10

    "The events for male athletes follow each other with all the ceremony of applause and a few pats on the back. It doesn't take long for the final race to begin."

    #starter pistol fires, followed by running footsteps.

    "The runners make it through the first bend in a tight pack. The frontrunners try to create a lead over the others, but any gap is filled almost immediately."

    "The audience grows tense as the fierce competition draws us in."

    "Even though Suzu and I were only waiting for Miki’s events, our eyes are glued to the track as the runners round the last corner."

    "Finally, two students manage to pull ahead of the pack for the final sprint. I'm surprised to recognize Haruhiko in second place."

    #Running footsteps, audience cheer swells

    "As they cross the line, Misha’s excited voice announces the final results. Even though he came in second, the Yamaku students are cheering for Haruhiko."

    "The students, families and teachers that make up the spectators of this particularly close race continue to cheer long after the last runner crosses the finish line."

    "Miki has been on her feet the entire time, whooping and beaming at her friend."

    "Her track star friend."

    "A strange kind of envy wells up in me. Is that the kind of thing she looks for? Something I’ll never be?"

    "I glance in her direction and Suzu catches my eye. She shrugs, offers a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes and applauds the runners on the track as they gather around the podium. I join in, for the sake of appearance more than anything else."

    "Out on the track I spot some girls from the Newspaper Club, one taking pictures while another makes her way over to Haruhiko. It’s easy to forget the school has its own student-run newspaper."

    "And just like that, the boys’ events are over."

    #show Miki, sitting back down

    Mk "Didya see that? I didn’t think he had it in him!"

    Hi "What? Not even after he came up asking if you’d cheer him on?"

    #Miki frown

    Mk "Well I didn’t exactly see him training a lot these past weeks, did you?"

    "Thinking back to the times I spent there with Miki, I don’t think I would have noticed a chorus line of Haruhiko’s dancing their way along the track. I shake my head instead of telling her as much."

    Mk "There ya go, then. I thought I’d cheer him on in case things didn’t go so well, but that jerk must’ve been planning for this, making me look like some stupid cheerleader. Suzu, remind me to kick his ass."

    "Suzu nods, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards in a poorly disguised smile."

    Su "Noted."

    "She checks her watch and frowns."

    Su "How much longer until your events start?"

    Mk "Not that long, once the track clears out a bit I’ll go warm up."

    hi "I can't wait."

    "On the track, the people gathered around the day's winners have begun to disperse. Through the din I pick up a familiar click-clacking of prosthetic footsteps."

    #emi's footsteps

    "Emi has finally arrived. She's wearing her P.E. uniform and despite her stature, the look of confidence on her face befits the reputation of Yamaku's fastest runner."

    "Next to me, Miki has noticed her as well and I can tell she's tensing up at the sight of her rival. Her natural smile fades as she tightens her lips into a harsh line, her gaze set on the diminutive figure on the track."

    mk "I think I'll go warm up now."

    "Suzu and I exchange looks, but remain silent as Miki rises to her feet and strolls onto the track with just enough ease to mask her tension."

    hi "I hope those two can save it for the race."

    "Suzu nods, watching Miki stretch. It's a little comforting that not even she is immune to that sight."

    "I manage to peel my eyes away from her and notice that Emi is joined by Rin, who stares right at me and offers a smile that seems out of place somehow."

    su "Got a thing for girls missing hands, do you?"

    hi "W-What?"

    "My cheeks flush at the accusation, too late to recognize the joke. I try to laugh off my embarrassment."

    hi "Careful now, if you keep watching me instead of her people might think we're on a date or something."

    "Now it's Suzu's turn to go from surprise, to shock, before arriving at realization."

    #Suzu glare

    su "You're not as funny as you think."

    "I flash a grin and gesture a truce. I'd rather not risk upsetting her, even if she did start it."

    "From the corner of my eye I spot Emi waving at someone in the crowd. For a moment I think it might be me, but when I take a closer look I realize it's at a woman who looks like an older version of her. Emi mentioned her mother would be here, but she looks a bit young for that."

    "Meanwhile Miki has finished her stretches and with little pomp she takes off for a lap. Somehow it seems like she's showing off, catching the eye of many a student, including Emi."

    "The girl's eyes remain fixed on Miki casually running along the track, even as she motions for Rin to take a seat on the bleachers."

    "Rin shrugs to nobody in particular and moves to join the young woman behind us. On the track Emi quickly begins stretching as well."

    hi "Maybe if we're lucky Emi will wear herself out before the events even start."

    su "You think Miki would sit idly by while that happened?"

    "Having finished her stretches, Emi takes off for her first lap. Rather than try to catch up, she seems to make a point of ignoring Miki. In turn, the tan runner doesn't so much as look over her shoulder."

    "The mood between the two runners runs from cold to Siberian as the gap between them closes. By their third lap the track has cleared out and even the girls who will be competing against them are simply staring at the two girls stubbornly trying to hide their obvious rivalry."

    #crackling speaker

    mi "R-right! Will everyone please clear the track, the 400 meter dash is about to begin!"

    "Misha's voice blasting through the speakers gets the girls' attention. Miki looks over to the announcer's table where Misha is beckoning them and comes to a halt. The legblades clack for two more deliberate steps, before Emi hops ahead of Miki."

    "The slight is enough for Miki to frown, but she lets it go and quietly makes her way to the starting line, brushing her bangs out of her face."

    "Seeing her jogs my memory and I quickly retrieve the stopwatch from my pocket, much to Suzu's surprise."

    su "She let you borrow that one?"

    hi "Hm? Yeah, she said she had plenty of spares, but since we used this to time her during practice, I thought it might bring her luck or something."

    "Suzu doesn't seem to be paying attention, instead looking at her friend with a faint smile. Miki beams at the sight of the worn timekeeper and waves enthusiastically before lining up with the other students."

    "Misha's voice assaults us once more, running through the list of students as if she were participating in a race of her own. I can't really pay attention to it."

    "Miki's lane is close to Emi's, with a student from the other school between them. Focus has taken over from animosity and right now they seem only vaguely aware of one another."

    "The announcements come to a merciful end and the official lines up, starting pistol in hand. As one the girls kneel to take their positions."

    "When the girls are ready, the audience is silent and I can't hear so much as a whisper from the people around me."

    #clicks of pictures being taken

    "A few cameras click, but even that ends when the official raises his arm and points the barrel of the brightly colored pistol to the sky."

    "My fingers find their way to the buttons on the stopwatch. Even with all these people and an official on the other side of the track, it kind of feels like I'm helping Miki train again."

    "I almost blurt out 'on your mark', but thankfully the official beats me to it."

    "I mouth along when he continues with 'set'. The girls rise up, shifting their center of gravity forward. This is it. Miki's eyes are locked on the track. If she's bothered by the weight put on her left arm, she doesn't show it."

    "There is a total absence of sound as everyone waits for the pistol to be fired. Only my heartbeat indicates the passage of time."

    #thump, thump, thump

    #pistol fires on the last thump, followed by footsteps/Emi's footsteps

    "The girls take off and Emi dashes to an early lead, her steps short, quick and brimming with the energy I've gotten to know her for. It's as if she wants to make it clear from the start that she's the fastest girl in school."

    "Fortunately Miki isn't far behind as she uses her long legs to her advantage and catches up to Emi by the second corner, her graceful strides making it look as if she's running in slow motion."

    "Next to me Suzu is fidgeting with the hem of her skirt again. Her eyes are glued to Emi and Miki running in front, to the point that I don't catch her blinking."

    "While the hushed crowd watches the race unfold, I venture a question."

    hi "Has it ever been this close?"

    "Suzu's only response is a barely perceptible shake of her head."

    "Behind the two the other athletes try to keep up, but it quickly becomes apparent they're competing for third place as Emi and Miki pull away from the pack."

    "They round the third corner and with less than half a lap to go, Miki still manages to keep up, not wanting to give an inch."

    "I catch myself thinking back to the times I've seen Miki run this lap before. The way her body seemed to flow from one step to the next like she was born to run this fast."

    "The stopwatch in my hand is far more patient than I am, counting the seconds since the race began. I don't even remember pressing the button."

    "If Miki can keep this up, she'll have beaten her personal best once more. I don't think she'll care if she doesn't beat Emi as well, though."

    "Suzu's elbow jabs me in the side. Right, I can't get distracted now."

    "The final corner is taken and on the final stretch Emi reaches within and gives the race everything she has, managing to run even faster while the crowd bursts into cheers for her efforts."

    "My heart skips and for a moment I fear the first race will end in a loss, but Miki seems to have reserves of her own and makes for the finish line."

    "Suzu jumps to her feet, cupping her hands around her mouth. Before she can finish her first cheer, I'm standing as well. I wave the stopwatch high over my head for all the good it will do."

    "Miki catches up and with only a few meters to go the two are running abreast. The thoughts of a photo finish cross my mind."

    #camera flash

    "Kneeling by the finish line, one of my classmates snaps a picture of Emi and Miki crossing the line."

    "Among the audience students from our class erupt in applause, whooping and calling out the name of the winner."

    "Miki."

    "In those final moments she managed to get half a step ahead. The ribbon caught on her midriff drifts to the ground as she comes to a stop, her face equal parts surprise and unbridled joy."

    "The speakers crackle as Misha rattles off the placements but the names don't register. I call out to Miki and she almost skips over, grinning madly."

    hi "I don't think I've ever seen you run that fast."

    mk "Of course, I didn't have Emi to chase around when I was training."

    "Suzu has put on a mask of calm and offers a smile, though she can't hide her excitement in the face of Miki's triumph."

    su "You were great."

    mk "I'm not done yet, you can suck up to me after I win the others."

    "Suzu's mask cracks and she lets out a chuckle, shoving Miki's shoulder. Laughing, Miki sways back out of the shorter girl's reach."

    su "The next ones will be shorter though, so I wouldn't repeat the dramatic finish you had just now."

    "Smiling, Miki quickly brushes the bangs out of her face again. When I look past her I see Emi with her hands on her hips. She glances over in our direction but looks away when our eyes meet, instead pretending to stretch."

    hi "What's next?"

    "On the track the athletes have switched out. Emi and Miki appear to be the only ones competing in the next event as well."

    su "The 200 meter, 100 meter and the relay."

    mk "Aren't you supposed to be my coach? You should know the events I'm competing in."

    hi "I'm just the guy who pushes your buttons."

    "Miki quirks an eyebrow and I show her the stopwatch so she can see her time."

    mk "Hey, I really did run faster!"

    hi "Well, you did say you didn't have Emi to catch up to when you were training."

    #Miki pout, then smile

    mk "Thanks for my words of wisdom, coach."

    "We grin at each other like children until the speaker comes to life again to needlessly amplify Misha's voice."

    #speaker crackle

    mi "The 200 meter dash is about to begin! Please report on the track if you're in or on the bench if you're not! Wahaha~!"

    mk "That's me. I'll see you guys in a bit."

    "She makes her way to the starting line with a skip in her step. I don't think I've ever seen her more pleased with herself."

    "Still, it's no time to get complacent. Without thinking I reset the stopwatch as the girls get in position under the watchful eye of the official."

    "When the brightly colored pistol is pointed at the sky, the crowd once more falls silent."

    #pistol fires, running steps/prosthetics

    "Emi is first off the blocks again, somehow managing to do it even faster than the last time."

    "It's easy to forget that someone as small as her has a reputation for being the fastest runner in school, but today Emi is definitely earning that claim."

    "Miki is close behind, having to compensate for the shorter distance."

    "The smirk she sported at the starting line has turned into a grimace as she gives it her all, but when the girls pass the halfway point, the gap between her and Emi still hasn't been bridged."

    "If she is to win this, she needs to catch up now. She has to."

    "She doesn't."

    "Emi speeds up and the gap widens."

    #audience cheer and applause

    "Miki finishes almost a full second slower than Emi."

    "I expected to see disappointment, but instead I see disbelief in her eyes."

    "It all happened so fast, I can't really say I blame her."

    "The loss finally sinks in and Miki frowns, trying her best to take it on the chin."

    "She makes her way over to us, avoiding the people congratulating Emi on her win."

    mk "What was my time?"

    "I show her the stopwatch. It's not her personal best. I'm not sure if she'd feel better if it was."

    "She peers at the display as she catches her breath, then shrugs dismissively."

    "There's no silver lining to this race, but I can't let her go into the next one like this."

    hi "It's just the one race. Emi's one win won't matter if you win the others."

    "Miki frowns and opens her mouth to reply, but changes her mind. She shakes her head."

    mk "Maybe."

    mk "Thanks, coach."

    su "Give the 100 meter everything you've got. Emi took this win from you, so you go out there and take it right back."

    "Suzu's jaw juts out defiantly, so much so that Miki has to take a moment to realize what she's saying."

    mk "Just like that, huh?"

    su "Exactly like that."

    "Miki snickers, unable to keep a straight face."

    mk "Alright, like you guys said, it's just one win. All she's done is even the score, so I'll go put us in the lead again."

    "She pauses. I'm not sure if she's waiting for us to say something, but before I can, the moment has passed. Miki turns and heads for the starting line for her last solo event."

    "Hopefully this time Emi won't be able to grab such an early lead."

    "At the starting line Emi manages to exude the confidence of someone used to winning, as if the natural order of things has been restored with her win just now."

    "The girls line up on either side of her. I'm not sure if the other athletes swapped out. To be honest I haven't been paying attention to any of them."

    "I'm sure I'm not the only one. Looking around, I'm guessing the students here who aren't in my class came to see the fastest girl on no legs show off her speed."

    "I wonder if it bothers any of them to be treated almost like extras in Emi's show."

    "Miki's earlier confidence is gone. She's not smiling anymore and her attention is split between the track, Emi, and us spectators."

    "Annoyed, she impatiently brushes the bangs out of her face. She shifts her weight from one leg to the other, eager to change the score in her favor."

    "I don't know what I could do or say to calm her down, anything to keep her from getting psyched out."

    "For the third time today the official instructs the girls to get ready."

    "Miki has stopped stealing glances at her rival, glaring instead at the track in front of her. I hope it means that her focus is back."

    su "Come on…"

    #gunshot, running/prosthetics

    "Miki manages her fastest start yet, but it's not enough."

    "Emi is faster still, and she quickly gains a step on Miki."

    "To catch up, Miki forces herself to run faster and faster, taking shorter steps instead of her usual pace."

    "She closes the gap to half a step, almost managing to pull alongside her rival."

    "Almost."

    "As if wanting to make a point, Emi effortlessly widens the gap back to one step, then two."

    "The crowd cheers at the display, while Suzu and I exchange looks of concern."

    "On the final stretch she really cuts loose and when Misha calls her name, Miki and the others aren't even close."

    "There is no doubt in anyone's mind: Emi is the fastest girl here."

    "There is little fanfare while Emi's win is celebrated and preparations for the relay race are already being made. Suzu and I wait for Miki to come and receive a pep talk but she stays on the track, lost in thought."

    "Suzu and I share an uncomfortable silence. I have to break it."

    hi "It's still impressive that she beat Emi once, at least."

    su "I doubt that's how she would see it."

    "On the track, Miki has turned away from us. She looks to be catching her breath."

    "It doesn't take her long to recover. She wipes her face and heads for her team."

    hi "She could still win this, it'd even out the score between her and Emi, wouldn't it?"

    su "It's not the same. This time they aren't the only ones running; it's a team effort. There's a big chance that those teammates will decide the outcome."

    hi "Oh, I hadn't thought of that. So ideally they would have to run the first leg then."

    su "Right, but Emi is running anchor."

    hi "So Miki is running anchor too."

    su "Yes."

    "By now the runners have lined up. Emi and Miki are waiting at their marks, doing an impressive job of ignoring each other."

    #gunshot, footsteps

    "The first leg is underway, but I don't recognize the students taking part. I can only hope that the girl in the lead is on Miki's team."

    "It's a close race after that, with baton passes causing the lead to shrink and widen again."

    "Miki's teammates manage to increase their lead further until their last exchange. When Emi takes the baton, Miki is already at full speed."

    #prosthetics running

    "Emi doesn't make any mistakes; her start is unbelievably fast. I don't know if Miki would have been able to win if they'd started at the same time."

    "It doesn't matter if she owes the win to her team, it's the result that counts."

    "I can feel my worries begin to lift as Miki seems to be back to her usual fluid form, taking full advantage of her long legs. As she gets closer to the finish line, I can see her smile."

    "Behind her, Emi is rapidly closing the gap, but there doesn't seem to be enough track left for it to matter."

    "Miki seems to know it too, and as the audience erupts into applause her smile turns into a smirk. It's the most beautiful smirk I've seen in my life."

    "I stand up, shouting her name. Suzu stands up as well."

    su "Miki!"

    "It comes out more as a scream than a cheer."

    "Then I realize how close Emi has gotten."

    "Against anyone else, Miki's lead would have cemented her win in the relay. Unfortunately, against Emi it just isn't enough. In the last meters before the finish line she manages to get in the lead."

    #cheering audience

    "That's it."

    "For Miki, the track meet is over."

    "Even though she came in second, she doesn't stop to be congratulated. One of the students from the newspaper club tries to get a comment, but Miki shoulders past her."

    hi "I think I'm going to go after her."

    su "I don't think it'll do her any good."

    hi "I have to at least try."

    "She shakes her head, offering a pitying smile that seems oddly condescending."

    su "She deliberately walked away from us. Don't you think that's a pretty good sign she doesn't want us around right now?"

    hi "I can't just turn my back on her and pretend I don't know she's upset."

    "Her smile fades with a sigh as she reluctantly gives in."

    su "Suit yourself."

    #Suzu leaves

    "The brisk departure of Miki's closest friend leaves me with a nagging concern. Still, what I told her is the truth. I can't pretend everything's fine, so I leave the stands to look for Miki."

    #Yamaku grounds bg

    "The weather has taken a turn and a chilly breeze is making me wish I'd brought a coat."

    "Sounds of applause from the track suggest the awards are being handed out. It doesn't seem right for Miki to miss out on that, considering she did manage to come in second place for the races she didn't win."

    "She doesn't seem to be heading for the main building, or the nurse's station for that matter, so I head for the one spot that comes to mind, other than the dorms."

    "Sure enough, when I round the corner I spot her heading for the place Suzu sat us down for lunch."

    hi "Miki!"

    "She doesn't respond, not even slowing down."

    "I hurry to catch up, grateful for what little stamina I have gained thanks to her."

    hi "Miki!"

    "I tap her shoulder, which causes her to jerk away from me."

    "When I see her face, the first thing I notice is the redness in her eyes. Rapid blinking hides tears I'm not meant to see."

    "She crosses her arms, waiting for me to explain myself."

    "I then notice how quiet it has become. The celebrations at the track are a distant murmur while the leaves overhead rustle in the wind. We stare at each other, our stillness separating us from the world around us."

    "I try to think of the right thing to say, but I keep drawing blanks."

    "Maybe I should have listened to Suzu."

    "Miki breaks the silence."

    mk "What? Come to tell me 'it's alright'? I tried my best, and hey, at least I won the 400 meter?"

    hi "Well…"

    mk "Save it. You said it yourself, what does one win matter when you lose all the others?"

    hi "Look, I didn't mean it that way. You still beat Emi, even if it's only once."

    mk "Who gives a shit about her? This was never about beating her."

    "It's not? Then why compare yourself to her all the time? Why compete specifically against her? Why take part in the same events?"

    "They're all frustrated questions that I want to ask, but I don't. She's already upset, I'm not here to make things worse."

    hi "Then what is it about? You came in second three times today, that should count for something."

    "She almost tells me, but changes her mind."

    mk "Forget it. Just leave me alone, alright?"

    "Miki starts walking towards the dorms. I want to call after her but for the life of me I don't know what I'd say."

    "Second place doesn't mean anything to her. Miki lost."

    return