The girls crowded at the front, chatting and making plans to run together. The boys stood behind them. Some were acting like gentlemen, while others were blatant "pig-brothers," staring intently at the girls' asses tightly wrapped in blue bloomers and their smooth, pale legs.
"Listen up! When I see Ikumi-sensei wave, I'll yell 'Go!'" Suzuka shouted to the class.
"Run!"
At Suzuka's command, she burst forward like a bolt of lightning, instantly putting two or three meters between her and the crowd. The girls reacted a second later, followed by the boys.
Ho Fei-yu stayed in the middle of the pack. Within moments, Suzuka had a ten-meter lead on the second-place runner. Her speed put pressure on the other girls, and soon the athletic ones sped up to try and keep pace. The boys, unwilling to be outdone by a girl, also began to push themselves.
Ho Fei-yu maintained a steady pace, looking at the scene with a faint smile. Ah, youth...
His gaze fell on the girl in the lead. Her name was Suzuka Yotsumoto. She ran like a graceful leopard, her high ponytail swinging behind her, her eyes full of grit. Every step was light, as if she were running on clouds rather than dirt. Her gym shirt clung to her curvaceous upper body, revealing her slender lines.
Ho Fei-yu felt a flutter in his heart. It wasn't love, but admiration for such a vibrant girl. He looked down, ignoring the bloomers themselves, and focused on her powerful, slender thighs. They weren't overly muscular like a pro sprinter's, but perfectly toned and supple. He found himself imagining what it would feel like to have those sweaty, beautiful feet step on...
He quickly shook his head to clear the lewd thoughts. Ever since summer started, his libido had skyrocketed. Especially his specific fetishes—he used to control them well, but now, one look at a beautiful pair of feet and he was lost in a fantasy.
He shifted his gaze away from Suzuka and saw a "stupid" girl suddenly accelerating. Yūshin Aonoi, spurred on by Suzuka's performance, had sprinted in a burst of energy. But she had overestimated herself. Within thirty seconds, she was gassed. Her pace slowed to a crawl, her chest heaving, her throat burning like fire.
Should I give up? No... stay strong! Just 800 meters left... Her thoughts grew dark with exhaustion. Just as she was about to start walking, a figure appeared beside her.
"Keep it up, Yūshin-chan."
"Shh, don't talk. You'll lose your rhythm," Ho Fei-yu said, cutting her off as she tried to speak. She nodded, and seeing him beside her, she found a second wind, running neck-and-neck with him.
"Idiot. You don't have the stamina to sprint like that. What if you collapsed or had a heart attack?" he scolded.
Cruel Fei-yu-kun... after school, I'm... I'm telling Hana-nee you're bullying me! she thought petulantly, though she knew he was just worried.
"Do as I say. Breathe through your nose and mouth at the same time. Keep your mouth slightly open, teeth together, and press your tongue against the roof of your mouth," he instructed, his voice softening.
Yūshin followed his advice. Wait... it actually works! Breathing became easier, and a warm sensation spread through her body. It felt familiar... like the night they met, when his large hand had comforted her in the rain. She stole a glance at his profile, her heart skipping a beat.