The Ultimate Stride | Prince of Stride Fanfiction |

4 | Race Time

| {Kyouko's P.O.V.} |

Fujiwara, Nana and I had just left the club room, and we were now randomly parading around campus in search of Riku Yagami, the designated target for our new Stride runner.

Nana had already fully accepted her potential role as our relationer, and Fujiwara was perfectly content with running for the team.

    Or at least I thought he was; the guy didn't speak all that much, so I couldn't exactly tell.

    I was still brewing over the encounter I had with that super attractive third-year when we had finally found the club room.

That Heath guy obviously hasn't accepted me as a runner yet, but just wait 'till I show him!

"Kyouko, can you slow down? You're walking rather fast," Nana pointed out as my angry thoughts began to take over my actions. I was indeed walking too quickly, and the only idiotic person who could keep up with me was Fujiwara.

"Oh, sorry Nana. I'm just upset about that Heath guy. Who does he think he is anyways, judging my book by it's cover! IF HE READ MY BOOK, HE WOULD BE BLOWN AWAY-"

"Kyouko, calm down. We need to find Yagami" Fujiwara lectured me calmly, instantly shutting off my rant.

"Okay..." I pouted, feeling like a scolded puppy.

    "How do you know Yagami, Kyouko?" Nana questioned me after a minute or so of silent searching.

    "Well, we sort of ran into each other this morning while we were late. Like, literally ran into each other, mid-jump. He scraped his forehead, and I lent him my handkerchief, so I'm hoping he'll return the favor by joining the club," I answered, remembering the events from this morning vividly.

    That was my favorite handkerchief, too...

    "So that's why you were both nearly late this morning! Everyone in class thought you guys had been playing around until the final bell. You had a very surprising entrance," Nana chirped innocently, causing my cheeks to burn with embarrassment.

    Since when did I start blushing so much?

    "No, no, no! I don't play around. I'm too busy with my studies and training to be distracted by such troublesome things," I reassured her, telling nothing but the truth.

    It was true, I really didn't involve myself much in romantic relationships.

    I definitely had my fair share of gawking at hot guys, but I never really got myself involved with them. I've had my little crushes, but I usually didn't pursue them.

    "I see. I wasn't suspicious of you at all, Kyouko. You don't seem like that kind of girl," Nana smiled as we took a turn down another hallway, continuing to look through classroom windows for a particular blonde boy.

    "Well thank you Nana, for being such a kind specimen," I grinned as we began to approach the end of the hallway. There were still classroom doors on the left side of the hall, but on the right, there was only a large set of metal doors.

Once we got closer, I realized there was a sign above the doors that read 'Gymnasium' and I stopped in my tracks. The faint sound of excited cheers could be heard from the other side, then I remembered what Riku had told me after class was released for dismissal.