Go-Toubun no Hanayome √AE

Chapter 17:Second Chance ⑨

Fuutarou:[There's no limit to how far you can go, but you need the courage to take that step.]

...

"The winner of the boy's relay race is Class 3-4!"

Fuutarou had finally crossed the finish line. Without a delay, he dropped to his knees, unable to catch his breath. With the last bit of his strength, he tried to look up to see what his final placement was.

...

It was fourth.

...

Dread began to wash over Fuutarou. All of the training, preparing, the massive gap he had at the start of the lap, gone.

Fuutarou:[It was just a game...It won't affect me in the long run...]

Fuutarou lowered his head in shame.

Fuutarou:"So why...Why do I feel so frustrated!?"

"Fuutarou!"

He raised his head to see the sisters looking down at him. Miku was being helped by Yotsuba. Nino was clenching her fists. Itsuki was smiling. These weren't faces of disappointment, rather they all looked proud.

Fuutarou:"You girls...I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I looked so uncool there."

Miku:"What are you talking about?"

Fuutarou:"Huh?"

Miku:"The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about how cool you were!"

Fuutarou:"Miku...Were you-?"

Fuutarou began to cough, his throat was filled with the taste of copper.

Fuutarou:"Ah, this sucks! How do you athletic people deal with this!?"

Yotsuba:"I guess you get used to it."

Fuutarou:"Bleh, no thank you...I'm sorry...I always talk about how failure is just another step, but I couldn't follow my own advice."

Nino:"It doesn't matter, does it? As long as you come to terms with it, you can always get better."

Fuutarou:"I guess so..."

...

"The three legged race will begin soon!"

Fuutarou:"We should go get a seat, it's almost time."

"Hm, where did Rito-kun go?"

"He left once the race was over, said he had something to do."

...

Rito was walking away, both hands in his pockets.

Rito:"Uesugi Fuutarou. You truly were useless."

...

"Oh no, it's Takeda's and Maeda's turn, they sucked during practice."

With that, the 2 men passed by them with extremely serious looks.

"W-What's with those faces?"

Maeda:"Uesugi showed us the very best he could do."

Takeda:"What kind of friends would we be if we didn't respond in kind?"

"W-Whoa."

Takeda:"Let's show them what we're made of."

Maeda:"Hell yeah!"

Close behind them was Tsubaki.

Tsubaki:[You can do it.]

...