The first semester arrived with a strange kind of chaos.
Not the quiet kind.
Not the manageable kind.
—
The loud, dusty, whistle-blowing kind.
—
"Sports Day practice starts today. Everyone, head to the ground."
The announcement echoed through the classroom.
A collective groan followed.
Some students dropped their heads on desks as if they had just been sentenced.
—
Minato stretched his arms dramatically as they stepped onto the field.
"Ah yes… the annual festival of unnecessary suffering."
—
Beside him—
Shin Hitori walked like he had been dragged into existence against his will.
Hands in pockets.
Face calm.
Soul absent.
—
"Don't tell me you're excited," Minato said, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm not," Shin replied.
"Good. Because if you said yes, I was ready to stop being your friend."
—
Shin glanced at him.
"…You say that like we're officially friends."
—
Minato froze.
"…Wow."
A hand went to his chest.
"That hurt. Deeply. Spiritually. Physically."
—
Shin looked away.
"Dramatic."
—
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
"Relay participants, line up!"
—
Minato nudged Shin.
"You're running, right?"
"Yeah."
"That's it? 'Yeah'?" Minato frowned. "At least pretend you have blood in your body."
—
Shin didn't answer.
Which somehow felt like confirmation.
—
They took their positions.
Dust floated lazily in the sunlight.
Students adjusted their stance like they were about to enter battle.
—
Minato leaned slightly closer.
"If you lose, I'm telling everyone you tripped on your own confidence."
"…I won't lose," Shin said.
"Wow. Arrogance. I like it."
—
"Ready!"
—
The field went quiet.
—
"Go!"
—
The first runner sprinted.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Chaos returned instantly.
—
The baton moved closer.
Closer—
—
And then—
Shin got it.
—
For a moment—
nothing happened.
—
Minato blinked.
"…Why is he standing like he's thinking about life?"
—
Then—
Shin moved.
—
And suddenly—
he was fast.
Too fast.
—
"WHAT—" Minato nearly choked on air. "SINCE WHEN?!"
—
Shin ran like gravity had filed a complaint and lost.
No panic.
No effort.
Just smooth, ridiculous speed.
—
Students started shouting.
Some cheering.
Some just confused.
—
"Is he even trying?!" someone yelled.
"I don't think he knows how to try!" another replied.
—
In seconds—
he crossed the finish line.
—
Done.
—
Just like that.
—
Shin slowed down like he had gone for a casual walk.
No heavy breathing.
No reaction.
—
Minato walked up to him, staring like he had just witnessed a glitch in reality.
"…You're hiding something."
"No."
"You are. This is illegal. I'm reporting you."
"…For running?"
"For emotional damage."
—
Shin looked at him.
"…It's just running."
—
Minato covered his face.
"Of course it is. Why did I even ask?"
—
Around them—
the noise continued.
Students complained.
Teachers shouted.
Whistles blew again.
—
And in the middle of it all—
Shin Hitori stood there—
like none of it mattered.
—
Which, somehow—
made it even more annoying.
The field didn't calm down after that.
If anything—
it got worse.
—
"Alright! Next—three-legged race practice!"
The teacher's voice rang out like a declaration of war.
—
Minato blinked.
"…No."
He turned slowly toward Shin.
"This is where I draw the line as a human being."
—
Shin glanced at the ropes in the teacher's hand.
"…You're overreacting."
—
"Overreacting?" Minato pointed dramatically. "They're about to tie people together and call it teamwork."
—
"Pair up!" the teacher shouted.
—
Minato immediately grabbed Shin's arm.
"You. Me. Survival."
"…Let go."
"Never."
—
A few minutes later—
their legs were tied together.
—
Minato looked down.
Then up.
Then back down again.
"…If we fall, I'm blaming you."
"You're the one who insisted," Shin replied calmly.
—
"Ready!"
—
Minato took a deep breath.
"Okay. Left, right, left—"
Shin moved.
—
Without warning.
—
Minato stumbled.
"WAIT—!"
—
Too late.
—
They fell.
Hard.
—
Dust rose around them like a dramatic explosion.
—
Silence.
—
Then—
laughter.
—
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Did you see that?!"
"They didn't even take one step!"
—
Minato lay face-down on the ground.
"…I trusted you."
—
Shin sat up, brushing dust off his uniform.
"You shouldn't have."
—
Minato slowly lifted his head.
"You moved before the count."
"You were too slow."
—
"…You betrayed me."
—
Shin stood up and offered a hand.
Minato stared at it.
"…This feels like emotional manipulation."
—
"…Take it or stay there."
—
Minato grabbed his hand and stood up.
"…I'm reporting you for attempted murder."
—
"Through a three-legged race?"
"Yes."
—
They got back into position.
—
"Again!" the teacher shouted.
—
Minato sighed deeply.
"Alright… this time, we synchronize."
"…Fine."
—
"Left."
"Left."
"Right."
"Right."
—
They moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
—
One step.
Two steps.
—
Minato's face lit up.
"WE'RE DOING IT!"
—
Shin said nothing.
—
"WE'RE ACTUALLY—"
—
They tripped again.
—
This time—
both of them fell sideways.
—
A louder thud.
More dust.
Even louder laughter.
—
Minato didn't move.
"…I'm done."
—
Shin stared at the sky.
"…You talk too much while walking."
—
"That's not the problem!"
—
From the side, someone shouted—
"Oi, Hitori! You're fast but useless at teamwork!"
—
Minato raised a finger dramatically.
"See? Even the public agrees."
—
Shin stood up again.
"…It's inefficient."
—
"What is?!"
—
"This."
—
Minato stared at him.
"…It's a game."
—
"…Exactly."
—
Minato covered his face.
"I don't know why I expected a normal answer."
—
A whistle blew again.
"Water break!"
—
Minato immediately dropped to the ground.
"I survived. That's enough achievement for today."
—
Shin stood quietly, looking at the field.
Students laughing.
Arguing.
Falling.
Trying again.
—
Minato glanced at him.
"…You know," he said, still lying on the ground, "you could at least pretend to enjoy this."
—
Shin thought for a moment.
Then said—
"…It's not unbearable."
—
Minato gasped.
"Wow."
He sat up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have progress."
—
Shin ignored him.
—
But for a brief moment—
as the noise of the field surrounded them—
he didn't look as distant as usual.
—
And Minato noticed.
—
"…Yeah," he muttered to himself.
"That's enough for now."