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

twenty-three - "just a theory"

Elated and giddy, Chiyo practically floats down the stairs on the lodge the next morning as she continues to ride on the high of last night.

She and Haiji managed to share another kiss before they went to their respective rooms after they were interrupted by Hana and Kakeru before. Of course, she didn't want to tell Hana when she went back to their room, but the girl put two and two together and Chiyo couldn't help but gush about it to her.

So as she skips down the stairs, she's disappointed to see the kitchen and dining room empty, plates of uneaten breakfast covered over. Furrowing her eyebrows as she glances at the clock on the wall, Chiyo scratches the side of her head in confusion.

"They must be back from their morning run, surely?"

Peering around the bannister, she raises her eyebrows as she notices the door to the side of the kitchen open. She walks past the sofas and dining table into the kitchen, spotting her packet of strawberry tartlets on the counter next to the kettle and her eyes widen.

Not being able to resist, Chiyo tears open the packet and takes a small bite of the first tartlet, almost salivating at the mouth as she finishes one tartlet and starts the next.

Carrying the packet with her as she continues to the open door, she's surprised to see Hanako and her father stood on the balcony outside, looking off into the forest. An eyebrow raised, Chiyo swallows the rest of the second tartlet and steps outside.

"Good morning." She smiles at the two and they turn around.

"Ah, good morning, Chiyo-chan." Hana greets her.

Her father adjusts the cap on his head. "Are you hungry? I could whip you up some breakfast, Chiyo?"

She waves a hand, motioning to the packet in her hand. "I'm fine, thank you. Don't worry about me, I'm just stuffing my face with sugary goodness."

Hana gasps quietly, looking Chiyo up and down. "You look so nice! I love your dress."

Laughing awkwardly, Chiyo brushes down the skirt of her blue and white striped summer dress and tucks her sleek bob behind her ear. "Really? Thanks, Hana-chan."

"Any special occasion?"

Chiyo shakes her head at Hana, attempting to hide her blushed cheeks. "Nope, no reason... Anyway, speaking of breakfast, where are the guys?"

The two stand aside and sat around on logs in a circle, deep in discussion are the guys.

"Oh," Chiyo nods. "Haiji mentioned they were going to all talk together."

"We can't hear much because it's mostly Kakeru speaking, but he seems sad," Hana tells her. "Do you have any idea what's wrong?"

Chiyo scratches the back of her neck. "Haiji said something about Kakeru and that other guy, Sakaki, I think. I was right, they're ex-teammates from high school."

The guys stand up one by one, laughing at something that's just out of earshot when they all look back at Kakeru.

Hana's dad checks his watch, calling out to the group. "Breakfast is getting cold, so hurry up!"

"Yes!" They chorus back, taking that as their cue to start walking back over to the house.

From Chiyo's feet, Nira barks excitedly, running back into the kitchen and out the other side door. Chiyo curses under her breath, following quickly. She steps into her sandals, grabbing the lead and running after Nira.

"Nira!"

Chiyo groans as she bounds further away and over to the guys, who notice the dog running over.