(Image)
...
Eighth lap.
They have finally reach eight lap after pushing their body to their absolute limits. The difference between the beginning and the current situation was like heaven and earth.
At the start, the boys had been full of confidence.
Now?
They looked like the brave survivors of a natural disaster.
"Haa... haa..." Hayama Hayato finally slowed down his pace, his usually composed expression was gone, replaced by exhaustion.
Sweat soaked his sports uniform as he bent over with both hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Every breath felt heavier and warmerthan the last.
Nearby, Tobe Kakeru looked even worse.
"Why...Haa...Why is PE class harder than my final exams...Someone...Please....Call an ambulance...Or a hearse..."
{T/N: A hearse is a specialized motor vehicle used to transport a deceased person's body in a coffin or casket, typically to a funeral, wake, or graveside service.}
His voice grew weaker and weaker with each words.
It's just that nobody even bothered responding. Not even Hayama.
They were too busy trying to stay alive.
Meanwhile, a certain owner of dead-fish eyes had already given up on life several laps ago.
Hikigaya Hachiman lay flat face on the grass beside the track.
Motionless.
Completely motionless!
If someone placed flowers beside him, nobody would find it strange. Except for—
"Water..." His hollow sound, might scared the innocent person.
A passing student glanced at him, as they finally reached the place he was at.
"Is he...okay?"
"No idea."
"...Should we call the nurse?"
"He was...talking a few seconds...ago."
"Oh, then..he's probably alive."
The conversation ended there.
Not because they lacked concern (they obviously do), but because everyone was equally exhausted.
At that moment as if a devil deal, Gojo Satoru's cheerful voice echoed across the entire playground.
"Come over and rest! Drinks are ready!"
The exhausted boys froze. Then their eyes lit up as if they have regain the love of their life.
Water!
Sports drinks!
Salvation!
As expected.
Although Gojo-sensei was a black-hearted devil who enjoyed watching students suffer...he still had a little humanity left.
Several boys raised their fists.
"Gojo-sensei!"
"We love you!"
"You're the best teacher ever!"
Gojo smiled brightly.
The boys smiled back.
Then—
"After drinking, continue running."
"..."
The entire playground fell silent, even the girls began to stare at him in horror.
A cold wind seemed to pass by.
As the boys slowly lowered their fists in weak motion.
The gratitude vanished instantly without leaving any trace.
Humanity?
What humanity?
THERE WAS NO HUMANITY AT ALL!
This white-haired demon was clearly enjoying their suffering.
"I knew it!"
"He tricked us again!"
"Never trust a smiling Gojo-sensei!"
Kitagawa Marin laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her drink only to catch it at last second.
While, Benio Adashino sighed, "They fall for the same trick every time."
Shirakawa Shiroha nodded in amazement, "It's honestly impressive."
Yukino Yukinoshita adjusted her posture, her voice as cold as usual, "At this point, they're victims of their own stupidity."
The boys immediately protested after hearing their comment,
"That's too harsh!"
"We're already suffering!"
"Show some sympathy!"
Yukino calmly took another sip of her drink, her face bear no emotion to be seen as she utter her word with pure indifferent, "No."
Critical hit!
The boys felt emotional damage as some began to fall to ground. They were emotionally dead.
Meanwhile, Gojo stood up, still under the shade, his expression looked like a victorious final boss.
"What are you all complaining about?" He sound like he was genuinely confused, "There are only two laps left."
ONLY?!
The boys nearly exploded.
For Gojo Satoru, two laps might be nothing.
For them?
Those two laps felt longer than their entire high school career.
Tobe's soul had practically left his body.
Hayama continued running through sheer willpower, he had already decided that he would only drink it after finishing this task!
Hikigaya somehow (barely) managed to stand up again.
Nobody knew how. Not even Hikigaya himself as he began to run with uneven steps.
The girls watched the spectacle while enjoying cold drinks.
The contrast was painful to even look at.
One side looked like a summer vacation advertisement.
The other looked like a documentary about human suffering.
Finally—The tenth lap.
The finish line was in sight.
The boys suddenly found new motivation.
"WE'RE FREE!"
"GO!"
"RUN!"
The last remaining energy hidden deep inside their bodies erupted.
Even Hikigaya accelerated.
Although "accelerated" was a generous description.
He looked more like a dying penguin trying to escape fate.
Several minutes later—
The tenth lap was completed!
Finally.
The boys crossed the finish line. Then they immediately collapsed.
Some fell onto the grass.
Some stared blankly at the sky with hollow eyes.
Hayama sat quietly and drank the water.
Tobe remained face-down on the ground biting the ground in misery.
Looking at the scene before him, Gojo nodded approvingly.
"Excellent."
The students glared at him, their voice full of complaint,
"What exactly is excellent?"
"The educational value."
"THERE WASN'T ANY EDUCATIONAL VALUE!"
"There was."
Gojo pointed toward the exhausted boys."You all have learned the importance of physical fitness."
The boys wanted to argue.
Unfortunately, they were too tired to continue arguing with their shameless teacher.
After confirming that nobody had actually died, Gojo stretched lazily.
His role as temporary PE teacher was officially complete.
Now it was time for the most important activity of all.
Relaxing.
He tired to quietly slipped away from the playground to take some rest before the period end.
Unfortunately...Someone noticed him.
A certain blonde gyaru secretly followed behind him.
Kitagawa Marin carefully peeked around a corner.
Then another corner.
Then another. As she began to follow behind him.
Unfortunately, her stealth skills were approximately zero.
Gojo had noticed her immediately the moment she took her first step.
But he decided to pretend otherwise.
The blonde girl continued following him without knowing that she is not a ninja.
Eventually, the pair reached an intersection near one of the school buildings.
Gojo figure disappeared around a corner.
Marin stopped her pace as she could find the person she was following.
"Eh?"
She looked left. Then right. Then left again.
"Where did he go?"
For several seconds, she stood there thinking.
A difficult choice.
The greatest challenge of her day.
Finally—
"Left!"
She confidently stepped forward.
When suddenly a voice appeared behind her.
"Wrong answer."
"KYAA!" Marin nearly jumped a meter into the air as she let out a kawaii scream.
She spun around to find that the figure she was after was standing behind her.
His shoulders were already shaking He had clearly been watching the entire struggle while suppressing his laughter.
"You're terrible!" Marin pointed accusingly. "You set me up!"
Gojo laughed even harder at the accusation of someone who was clearly stocking him.
Marin puffed out her cheeks.
As Gojo closed their distance, lowering his head as it reach her neck.
....
Meanwhile...Back in the school ground,
Since, their were still sometime left before the class ended, some of the girls who have too much energy left began to bring the badminton rackets and shuttlecock from the storehouse to play.
Chitanda Eru was also playing with Mei Misaki.
While, Shirakawa Shiroha watched the badminton game from the shade together with Benio.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Then Shiroha blinked as she turn to her other side. Realizing something.
"Wait."
"Hm?" Benio asked from her side.
"Where's Marin?"
Everyone looked around.
The blonde gyaru was gone?
Sure enough.
Kitagawa Marin had disappeared.
"She was here a minute ago." Chitanda looked confused. "Maybe she got lost."
"Again?"
"Again."
Nobody found that possibility unbelievable.
Then Benio looked up.
Her strong eyesight immediately spotted a familiar figure approaching.
"There."
The others followed her gaze.
Marin was walking back with a very happy smile.
The girls exchanged glances in suspicion.
A few moments later, Marin arrived to their location.
"Sorry!" She smiled brightly as she apologize, "I forgot to tell everyone where I was going."
The girls stared at him without saying anything.
Marin smiled in response.
The girls continued staring.
Marin's smile became increasingly awkward.
Finally, Shiroha broke the awkward atmosphere, "You're acting suspicious."
"I'm not." Marin rejected her immediately.
"You are."
Benio nodded as she continue to stare daggers at her neck area, "Very suspicious."
"BENIO!" Marin as if noticing quickly covered her neck area where their was a bright red hickey.
...
If you'd like to support me and read chapters in advance, feel free to check out my:
Patr**on.com/Zero0000683
Discord:- NmKxzWGEPf
.....
Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
.....
Word Count — 1,443