[editing] 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 ; kyo sohma

CHAPTER 11. once lost, now regained

DESPITE THE COOL WEATHER outdoors, the bodies of students idling outside near the school's back gates provided a warmer atmosphere. The students in the large gym class conversed with each other, a few standing at the sides by themselves.

The day had come for them to run a marathon for gym, and it was safe to say that a majority of the students weren't excited.

Minako sat near the middle of the swarm of students with her arms lightly crossed. She stared at the light blue sky and the clouds that decorated it, successfully drowning out the voices of everyone else.

To say that Minako felt tired would be an understatement. Ever since the previous day, there was a minor headache that pained her. Now, minutes before the class would run the marathon, she felt her headache worsen. She should've been aware that drinking coffee would only worsen the headache, even though it helped her wake up.

The coffee's temporary burst of energy was almost gone, and Minako felt like dozing off as she sat on the ground. Beneath the sleeves of her jacket, goosebumps formed on her arms while she shivered. Almost uneasy, she waited for the marathon to start.

Some feet away from her, Yuki waited as well. He ignored the heat of Kyo's fierce gaze, aware that the one hissing was him.

When Kyo figured out about the marathon from Tohru, he immediately demanded that it would be a race between him and the Rat Zodiac. Yuki, who knew the Cat wouldn't back down, decided to agree to the challenge.

"All right, we'll start with the girls! Line up!"

At the distinct voice of her gym teacher, Minako snapped out of her daze. She blinked twice before she slowly got up from her spot on the floor. Her cold hands dusted her bottoms off before she began to walk towards the gate. Yuki caught her wrist before she could line up with the other females.

"Hey..." he noticed how her posture was more slouched than it usually was, "are you okay? I noticed you in the same state this morning."

Minako could only give him a weak smile, "I should be alright for the run. I'll just go as fast as I can to finish the race. Once that's over with, I can finally rest."

The dove didn't make a face while she walked away with the feeling of her head being crushed. As Yuki watched her walk up to Tohru and Hanajima, he thought about how she didn't answer his question.

"Ah, Minako-chan is here too. Hello," Hanajima greeted. There was a moment of silence before she said, "You seem to be feeling down."

"Really!? Oh no, are you okay?" Tohru asked out of genuine concern. She clasped the white-haired girl's cold hands.

Minako answered her, "I only have a headache. I should be able to push through. I've been through much worse, so don't worry."

"B-but..."

"Tohru-chan," Minako said in a more serious tone, "if there is a moment that I feel like I can't go on, I'll stop immediately. Does that bring any sort of comfort to you?"