Reiryuu Academy Student Council Chapter 21

Athletic Festival Arc
21 100 Meter Race and Injury

 Meru and Maiko headed toward the organizing area.

The 100 meter race partic.i.p.ants were already gathering. As far as one could see, the line-up was full of sports club members, so Meru of the go-home club felt timid.
Not to mention, the ones running in her same lane were two people from her year, one of her seniors, and one of her juniors. The two in her year were people she recognized from pa.s.sing them in the hall.

Finding it difficult to approach the atmosphere of the sports club members who were aiming for results, Meru clung to Maiko until the last second.

"Ah, Meru. I have a message from Takimoto."
"No."

Refusing before hearing was a very Meru-like response. However, even though she said that, it was also very Meru to actually listen in the end.

"If you get second place or below, you need to provide madeleines for a month. Incidentally, Matsuda too."

It seemed that Takimoto really liked the madeleines from the other day. The faces of Takimoto and Matsudsensei who had entrusted the message to Maiko floated to the surface of Meru's mind and she immediately shook her head to make them go away.

"They really just want to eat them, right? That message…"

Meru pursed her lips and Maiko said "Well, if you take first place it'll be fine," as though it was someone else's problem. In reality, for Maiko, it was someone else's problem.

"100 meter partic.i.p.ants, to your places."

The teacher in charge of the race said. Meru reluctantly waved at Maiko and headed toward her own place.

It was at that time.

THUD

"Kya!"
"Uwah…!"

A female student from the same event came flying out. She tripped in the crowd. Meru reflexively caught her.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Ku-Kusuha.r.s.enpai!"

It seemed that that female student was one of her juniors and bowed her head several times upon seeing her face. Meru was a little surprised, but since she had become an executive, she was one of the academy's famous figures so it was natural.
When Meru told her it was okay, that female student apologized once more and then raced to her course.
Meru sent her off, then took a step to head toward her own course.

"…!"

A sharp pain shot through Meru's leg.

At the time she caught the student, she had twisted her leg. It seems that it was a considerably violent twist, so the pain wasn't small.

"Wait, Kusuharsan. Are you ok? That sweat."

A female student from her year in the neighboring lane was looking at Meru with a worried face. So much sweat was welling up on Meru's forehead that someone she had never talked to was worried.

"Ahaha, it's hot isn't it, today."

Meru replied like that. Since she was able to laugh so carefreely even though they were about to start, the female student figured that Meru was okay and didn't worry about her anymore.

"This…might be a little bad."

Meru muttered.

The result was just as she had thought.

Meru took third place by a narrow margin. First place was the track and field club's third year ace. Second place was the captain of the basketball club. Her opponents being who they were, everyone agreed and admired Meru's placement. However, Takimoto and Matsudsensei mercilessly accepted the madeleine month privilege.

Meru briefly conversed with her cla.s.smates before heading to the bathroom to check on her right leg's condition.

"Uwah… This might swell."

Meru's face twitched looking at her own leg.
The affected part had gotten red. Maybe it had reached down to her bone.

She cooled her leg for a while with water, then left the bathroom.

Meru decided that until the final representative relay, she would do her best not to use her leg.

The athletic festival had only just begun.

Is her luck good or bad? The world may never know. See you next week!