At the Finish Line [Haiji Kiyose] - Run With the Wind

eight - "a waste"

Head squeezed in a vice-like clamp and throbbing to the point of nausea, Chiyo scrapes her wet hair back and throws her hood up. She places one hand on the wall to steady herself, the other clutching her forehead as she takes a few steps forward.

Voices sound from the kitchen and she groans, wheezing from her dry throat. She staggers down the corridor, pulling the blue curtain up to see Haiji, Nico, Yuki, Kakeru and Shindo sat around the kitchen table.

"There she is!" Haiji calls out.

Clamping her hands over her ears, she squints and raises a hand to shield her face from the bright lights. "Gahh--"

"What a fun night, hey, Chiyo-chan," Yuki smirks.

She lowers her hands, furrowing her eyebrows. "Huh? Chiyo-chan?"

Nico laughs. "We said you wouldn't remember."

"What?" She groans.

Grabbing a glass of water from the side, Haiji pulls the chair out next to him for her and she sits down, slumping further in the seat.

He slides over a packet of painkillers and antacids. "They're there if you need them."

"You know, the pen may have washed off in the bath." Shindo suggests.

Haiji nods. "You're probably right, Shindo."

Lifting her head, Chiyo squints in response, Haiji lifting the sleeve of her jumper to see the words written on her forearm.

"Huh?" She looks down and frowns. "What does that even say? Dad...?"

"It's a shame her kanji reading is so poor." Haiji chuckles. "Though her hangover isn't helping, I'm sure."

Yuki shakes his head. "Even a bath couldn't wash away last night."

Nico grins. "You don't remember, do you?"

"We can fill you in," Haiji tells her as she rests her forehead on the table. "You told us how you failed your courses to prove a point to your dad before promising to stay at Kansei and to work hard to bring your grades up."

"I'm never drinking again." She mumbles into the table. "I'm going to be sick."

Haiji laughs. "Just not on the floor please, Chiyo."

From the cabinet under the sink, Kakeru grabs the bucket and hands it to Haiji, who places it in front of her chair.

"What else...?" She mutters, raising her head and rubbing her eyes as she sips the glass of water.

"What else did you say?" Yuki asks, crossing his arms. "Not much. You just kept drinking, offering up sake for the group and telling us stories of you and Haiji in school."

Shindo nods. "You also started speaking in French."

Rubbing her temple, she sips more water and shudders. "That's when you know I've drunk too much."

Haiji laughs. "We figured as much."

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Chiyo furrows her eyebrows and wipes the perspiration from her forehead. "Did you guys go for a run?"

"Bright and early." Haiji grins.

She rests her chin in her palm with her elbow on the table. "Huh? Were any of you guys hungover or anything? Shindo?"

Shino waves a hand. "I might be a lightweight but I can easily sleep off the alcohol."

"We all have a tolerance to alcohol," Nico shrugs. "You need more practice."