On A Jog
Miyuki giggled. “That’s the spirit! Besides, running with a friend is so much less boring than running by yourself! Unless you’re like me.” She contemplated it for a while, and shrugged. “But I’m used to being alone, doesn’t bother me.”
Miyuki slowed down even more, worried about Seika’s well-known low endurance. There was no way she could run at the pace she usually did and expect a first-time runner (as she saw the other girl) to keep up with her. Besides, she rather enjoyed the conversation at this pace - it was sort of like a walk through the park for her, conversing casually. One look at the other girl’s face was enough to tell Miyuki that it clearly wasn’t a casual stroll for her though. Miyuki laughed, and pointed at a vending machine up front, perhaps 100 metres or so from their position. “Race ya there! Beat me and I’ll buy you a drink!”
Seika nodded, “Thats true!” She frowned at that last bit. She didn’t want to pry, but she did want to make sure her friends were okay too.
Noticing the other girl slowing down, the brunette smiled slightly. All my seniors in 00 are so kind! Still, she didn’t have time to slow down, even though she was still struggling at the new speed. I wish I had long legs too!
In response to the challenge, she asked, “Can I at least get a handicap?” Laughing, she ran off - winning or losing something like this wasn’t a big deal, after all.
Miyuki waited till Seika was a bit ahead, and then put on the burst of speed that had got her into the track and field team, easily covering the 100 metres…Before slowing down right before the vending machine, and letting the other girl pass her. “Hey, you won! Here, I’ll grab us a drink.”
She slid a couple of coins into the machine, laughing. It must’ve been extremely obvious that she had slowed down, but she intended to treat the other girl to a drink either way. The race had just been an excuse to get to the vending machine faster. She tossed the ice cold drink to Seika, and plomped down on the grass, patting the space beside her as though indicating for the other girl to sit.
“I know I’m contradicting what I said before about not resting till you’re completely done, but I’ll let you off for today since you’re a beginner!” Miyuki said jokingly. She lied down on the grass, staring up at the sky. “Don’t you think it’s been really fun lately?” she said suddenly, in a strangely contemplative voice. “I mean, with everyone…It feels different for me, somehow. I never really had this many people to have fun with.” She smiled and shook her head. “But you don’t need to listen to my complaining about my past.”
