Even In The Next Life

Pilot

[Taiyo's theme: RAVE by Dxrk ダーク]

  "On your mark. Get set." The sound of a gun going off signaled for the runners to go. Watching them put everything into running, their only focus was on the lane ahead of them and the people running beside them. I sat in the stands, watching while holding my water bottle in both hands.

  I liked watching the track kids run- They looked so determined and free as they raced along the leveled path. I wasn't in track myself, I wasn't in any sport actually, but I was friends with Miki since we had so many classes together. Miki was the fastest runner, but my eyes usually followed the slowest one out there because he always seemed content with being where he was.

  No, that wasn't right.... It's not content, but more like....accepting?

  He was okay with being last, and it was as if just the act of running and being able to was good enough for him. I wasn't actually sure if that was why because I hardly ever talked to him, so I couldn't say anything for certain. The only time we ever talked was at these track meets when I was with Miki.

  Drinking my water as my head tilted back, Miki won the race again with Miko in second. They were both extremely fast, so it was no surprise that they were always on top with races even in practice.

  "Akira's crying again. Was someone sad?" I looked back to see Miki standing in front of two guys while Akira was just standing there as tears were streaming down his face. The boy rubbed his eyes while pointing at a phone in one of the guys' hands, and Miki looked. "Ah, the super high-schooler." She said as I got to my feet. "I'd cry, too, if my friend died."

  "But this guy isn't crying, is he?"

  "Why are you crying?" The boys sitting down said, and I nudged Akira's arm while holding out a towel to him. He sniffled while taking it, using it to wipe away his tears as I handed the other towel to Miki.

  "Oh, hey. Let's do a 4-by-100-meter relay. A mixed relay." Miki smiled while waving a baton and slinging the towel over her shoulders. "There's supposed to be an event, right?"

  "Seriously?"

  "Isn't it a memorial service? Wonder what happens because of this case."

  "You seem concerned, but what you really want is to run a 4-by-100, right?" Miki chuckled, and I glanced up at Akira. He was taller than me and a bit on the scrawny side, but he still had some muscle on his legs from running almost every day. He was also still crying into the towel I had handed to him.

  "It's Mr. Nagasaki." Miko called out after a ringtone caught our attention.

  "Sorry, gotta go." The green-eyed girl then walked away to answer her phone. Miko came over and sat behind the guys, and Akira had finally stopped crying as he sniffed.

  "Who's Mr. Nagasaki?" One of the guys asked.

  "Someone who takes photos of Miki." Miko replied.

  "The guy taking photos of Miki?"

  "Probably her boyfriend." The girl smirked.

  "Waaah?!" The one with what looked like a rocket made a weird noise while the other guy just sighed.

  "Fans across the country are bummed."

  "She's out of your league, guys." The brunette girl said. "Miki is a star, after all."

  "Taiyo....thanks for the towel." Akira said lowly while glancing over at me.

  "No problem...." I mumbled while shifting on my feet and unconsciously pushing my bangs behind my ear. Focusing on my water bottle as I took a drink, I tried to ignore the fact that Akira was smiling at me. Despite hardly ever talking to him, I had grown a huge crush on the sweet guy.

  "I'll wash it before I give it back, okay?"

  "Yeah, that's fine." I fiddled with the top of my lid while looking at the ground. "Just....don't forget to give it back, okay?"

  "Okay." And I could hear the smile in his voice as the tips of my ears were getting hot.

~

  "Ugh....this is too hard!" I groaned as my head hit my desk. I dropped my pencil and just looked at the math homework in front of me. "Why can't I just draw and watch people run?" I mumbled, but then my face scrunched up as my cheeks got hot. "Oh, my God, how does he say my first name so easily?"

  Pushing the math work to the side, I just covered my head with my arms while groaning in frustration. 'I couldn't even look at him.... He probably thinks I don't even want to be his friend....' Clenching my hands into fists, I tried to bury my head further under my arms to hide myself.

  "I couldn't even talk right....again. Goddammit!" I whispered. "Why did Miki tell him it was okay to use my first name? Oh Lord, I'm probably going to die of embarrassment, aren't I?" I continued to talk to myself while ignoring my homework for the time being.