Chasing After You (Kyosuke Kuga x Reader) (A Prince of Stride Fanfic)

Chapter 3

     Heath POV

     "Wait. Didn't they start the club just last year?" Takeru asked surprised.

     "Yeah. That's what makes them so incredible. Even though the powerhouse teams do change a lot, it is still amazing how they managed to get to the top when they just started the club. They managed to win the Spring Stride Festival and be semifinalists in the End Of Summer tournament. " I responded.

     "If they just started the club, how do they have so many talented runners? Were they scouted or something?" Riku asked.

     "No. It's nothing like that. We just got lucky." (Y/N) said with a smile. 

     The new first years tilted their heads in confusion. 

     "A lot of our team have played different sports before joining the club. Like, gymnastics, track, and some have done a little bit of parkour but they had never done stride before. I was the only one who had done stride when the club had started." (Y/N) continued.

     "I really got lucky with teammates who were prodigies in their own sports who chose to join." She said.

     "Why did they choose to do stride when they had never done it before?" Riku asked.

     "The answer's simple. Ever since we all saw (Y/N) do stride we decided that we wanted to do it with her. She had managed to make us fall in love with a sport we had never played." Emiko stated. 

     "Asuga, you're a first-year, right? Who was on the team before you?" Nana questioned.

     "My older sister was on the team before me. When I saw them, I immediately knew that I also wanted to do stride. I am sad I didn't get to run with my sister though." Asuga said. 

     Nana POV

     (Y/N) looks very familiar but I can't really put my finger on it.

     (Y/N) POV

     "Alright guys! Let's get back to work." I said. 

     We did a few relation drills and then some gimmicks. 

     As usual, Emiko gave them a show clearing the obstacle with ease.

     It was my turn. I did a flip over the bar. 

     Riku and Takeru were surprised. I just laughed and then I had an idea.

     "Hey, guys? Why don't we have a quick match? You guys finally have enough people for it so why not?" I suggested.

     They all agreed. 

     We set up the course and Ari gave us our earpieces. "Sorry if my calls are a little off. I'm still not sure how the first years will work." He said with a sheepish grin.

     We got to our spots and got ready. 

     The order was:

     1: Riku vs Asuga

     2: Hozumi vs Emiko

     3: Ayumu vs Hana

     4: Heath vs Mari

     5: Takeru vs (Y/N)

     Once we were ready I heard Mr. Dan give the signal to start. 

     "Hey Takeru. Aren't you apart of the U-15 Japan stride team?" I asked him. 

     He nodded. 

     "Thought I recognized you," I said. 

     "What do you mean?" He asked confused.

     "I used to be in the U-15 girls' team but they had to move me up to the U-18 team. I walked by the boys' practice all the time when I was heading to mine. So you see, beating me is not going to be as easy as you think." I said cooly.

     "Okay (Y/N). We're four seconds ahead. You think you can handle it?" Ari said teasingly.

     "Please. What do you take me for?" I responded as I set myself into position. 

     He laughed and then said, "3,2,1 go." 

     I took off as soon as I heard go. I was approaching the takeover zone and saw Mari in front of me. She stuck her hand out and we made contact. Now, it was just me and Takeru. 

     Damn he's fast. I continued to sprint as a smirk appeared on my face. But I bet I'm faster.

     "(Y/N) now!" I heard Ari say into the mic. 

     I ran at full speed. I saw the end up ahead. 

     I reached the finish line with a huge grin on my face. Around seven seconds later, Takeru appeared. 

     "(Y/N), why did it take so long to reach full speed?" Ari asked. 

     "Sorry. My ankle's still a little messed up." I apologized.

     "Ankle?" Nana questioned.

     "Yeah. She hurt her ankle before the semifinals but still ran. The team wasn't feeling as confident because of her injury so that's why we lost. And that included me. All of us were off our game." Ari explained.

     "So that means Takeru lost to someone who is still recovering from an ankle injury?!" Riku asked in amazement.

     As soon as he said that Takeru's face fell. Hozumi and Ayumu went to go try to comfort him.

     "Yup. (Y/N)'s usually way faster than that. Once she's recovered she'll be back to her full potential." Ari said as if he knew what he was talking about. 

     "Okay guys! That's it for today." Heath announced. 

     I ran up to Heath and asked, "Have you heard anything about Kyousuke coming back?" 

     "No. He keeps saying he lost the right to be on the team. Sorry. I wish I had a better answer for you. I know you guys were pretty close." Heath said with a sigh. 

     "You guys were pretty close, too. If anyone should be apologizing it's me. You're suffering a lot now that he isn't here." I told him.

     "He'll come back one day. I'm sure of it." Heath said reassuringly. 

     We walked back to our respective locker rooms and got changed.