Morning doesn't arrive quietly.
It crashes into the school grounds in waves of color and noise—flags snapping in the wind, loudspeakers cracking with energy, students shouting like their voices alone could win the day.
The red band tied around Shin's arm flutters once, then settles.
He doesn't.
"…This is too much," Kei murmurs beside him, fingers fidgeting with his own band.
"It's just noise," Shin replies.
But even he can feel it—
that restless current under the air.
A few steps away, Minato stands with the rest of the red team.
Laughing.
Talking.
Alive in a way that feels… distant.
Shin notices.
Minato doesn't look at him.
Not once.
A whistle slices through everything.
"First event! 100-meter race!"
Minato steps forward with his usual dramatic confidence.
"…Watch closely," he declares.
The race begins.
He runs fast.
Too fast.
Trips slightly.
Recovers.
Finishes without glory.
"…I was warming up," he laughs to others.
"…You slowed down at the end," Shin says before he can stop himself.
Minato pauses.
Just for a second.
Then smiles—
not at him.
"Didn't know you were watching."
And the space returns.
Tug of war drags them into the same frame.
Same rope.
Same team.
"PULL!"
Minato leans back too hard—
slips—
The rope jerks.
Shin adjusts instantly, grounding the pull, steadying the rhythm.
They win.
"…You overdo it," Shin says quietly.
Minato dusts his hands.
"…You don't do enough."
The rope lies between them now—
even after it's gone.
The day continues.
Noise builds.
Laughter spills.
Then—
"Borrowed Item Race participants, gather!"
Minato perks up immediately.
"Oh this one's fun—"
Shin steps forward too.
Minato blinks.
"…You?"
Shin says nothing.
They line up.
Each runner picks a folded slip of paper.
Shin opens his.
For a moment—
his eyes don't move.
Then—
they do.
He folds the paper again.
Quietly.
"Go!"
Runners scatter into the crowd.
Searching.
Calling.
Dragging random people.
Minato watches someone run past holding a chair.
"…What even is this event?"
Then—
a hand grabs his wrist.
"…Come."
Minato turns.
Shin.
No explanation.
No hesitation.
"…Oi—what are you doing—?!"
But Shin is already pulling him forward.
Through the crowd.
Through noise.
Girls notice.
"Shin!"
"Over here!"
"Take me!"
Voices rise around him—
bright, eager, loud.
Minato stares.
"…They're calling you like you're some celebrity."
Shin doesn't react.
He keeps moving.
Still holding Minato.
Minato's voice drops a little.
"…You can go, you know."
No answer.
They reach the finish line.
Shin stops.
Hands over the paper.
The judge reads it—
Then smiles.
"Correct!"
The whistle blows.
"Red team scores!"
Cheers erupt again.
Minato pulls his hand back.
"…What was that?"
Shin doesn't answer immediately.
Minato snatches the paper.
Reads.
"Bring your best friend."
For a second—
everything goes quiet.
"…Best… friend?" Minato repeats.
Shin looks away.
"…It was the closest option."
Closest.
Not correct.
Not wrong either.
Minato lets out a small laugh.
"…You're unbelievable."
But his voice doesn't fully agree with his words.
Before anything else can settle—
another wave hits.
"SHIN!"
"THAT WAS AMAZING!"
A group of girls rushes toward them, eyes shining, voices overlapping.
"You won again!"
"You're seriously cool!"
Minato steps slightly aside.
Watching.
Shin stands there—
surrounded.
Not smiling.
Not rejecting.
Just there.
One of the girls reaches out—
almost grabs his arm—
But stops when Shin takes a small step back.
"…Thanks," he says.
Flat.
Polite.
Distant.
Their excitement doesn't fade—
but it doesn't reach him either.
Minato watches all of it.
The noise.
The attention.
And the space around Shin that no one seems able to cross.
"…You're popular," Minato mutters.
Shin glances at him.
"…You're loud."
It's the closest thing to their old rhythm.
But it doesn't stay.
Relay race arrives.
Final event.
They run.
Win.
Red team takes first place.
The field explodes in celebration.
Kei smiles softly.
"…We won."
Minato raises his hand with the others.
Laughs.
Shouts.
But when no one is looking—
his smile fades.
Shin stands at the edge of it all.
Watching.
The cheers.
The people.
And for a brief moment—
Minato.
Their eyes meet.
The same question.
Unanswered.
Then—
like always—
they look away.
Victory fills the air.
But between them—
something remains unfinished.
Quiet.
And still waiting.