As the time until the Sports Festival drew nearer and nearer, the atmosphere across the entire academy grew tense.
The preparations of each class could be called quite serious, and with PE classes increasing as well, this semester could be said to be the one in which all the students across the whole school trained the most.
Even after school let out, there were now students training on the school's athletic field.
Shikime Natsu, at this moment, was also at the school's athletic field.
He hadn't gone to take part in that fervent, bustling training; he merely stood alone in a shady spot at the edge of the field, both hands stuffed into his pockets, his gaze falling upon the crowd of people coming and going.
As far as Shikime Natsu was concerned, this kind of training really wasn't necessary.
Warm-up exercises and the like were, to him, things he could take or leave.
After all, his physical fitness had long since surpassed the realm of ordinary people. Even without doing any warm-up activity at all, going straight onto the field to compete would pose no problem whatsoever.
As for Shikime Natsu's girlfriends...
Shikime Natsu's gaze swept across those familiar figures on the field, and in his heart there wasn't really any worry.
Their physical fitness now was, each and every one of them, fairly decent.
After all, every day he could improve their physical fitness through kisses, and accumulated over such a long stretch of time, even the girls who had initially been weaker in constitution had by now undergone quite considerable changes.
Their participating in these activities now was nothing more than getting familiar with the format of the events; they didn't need to desperately raise their stamina the way the others did.
As for Shikime Natsu himself...
His body right now could basically be said to be kept in its very best condition.
Whether it was speed, strength, endurance, or reaction ability and coordination, all of them rested at a rather perfect point of balance.
No need for deliberate training, and no need for extra practice on top.
Simply maintaining the status quo was enough.
As Shikime Natsu thought this, his gaze continued to drift aimlessly across the field.
Just then, a figure came into view.
It was a petite girl.
Her deep-blue twin tails swayed gently behind her head as she ran, and within her purplish-red eyes shone a certain earnest spirit.
She wore a well-fitted set of athletic wear, exposing her slender arms and calves, running lap after lap on the rubberized track.
It was none other than Mei-Yu Wang of Class D.
Shikime Natsu's gaze fell upon her, but he didn't immediately walk over.
He merely stood where he was, watching.
Mei-Yu Wang's breathing was already somewhat rapid by now, her panting appearance making it look as though she'd been training for quite a while already.
Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a few strands of stray hair, dampened by sweat, clung to her fair forehead.
Her steps were no longer as light as when she'd first begun, having grown somewhat heavy, but she still didn't stop, gritting her teeth and pressing on.
Watching her in this state, the corners of Shikime Natsu's mouth turned slightly upward, revealing a faint smile.
This girl was quite earnest, after all.
After a little while, Mei-Yu Wang finally came to a stop.
She bent at the waist, both hands propped against her knees, gulping for air in great mouthfuls, sweat sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground, where it quickly vanished from sight.
Only at this moment did Shikime Natsu set off, walking toward her.
At some point a bottle of water had appeared in his hand—the kind at a moderate temperature, neither cold nor hot, just right for drinking after exercise.
"Mei-chan."
Shikime Natsu walked over to Mei-Yu Wang's side and called out to her.
Hearing this voice, Mei-Yu Wang's body gave a slight start.
She lifted her head, and when those purplish-red eyes saw Shikime Natsu's face, a flash of joy plainly crossed them.
"Na-Natsu..."
Her voice was a little out of breath, but the happiness in her tone simply couldn't be hidden.
Then she noticed the bottle of water Shikime Natsu was holding out, and the expression on her face grew even softer.
"Thank you..."
Mei-Yu Wang took the water bottle Shikime Natsu held out, cupping it in both hands as though cradling a precious treasure, and softly thanked him.
"Good work."
Shikime Natsu said to Mei-Yu Wang, his tone gentle.
Hearing these words, a faint blush surfaced on Mei-Yu Wang's fair cheeks.
She lowered her head and, a little bashfully, said in a small voice.
"N-no... It wasn't really that hard for me..."
She paused, then added another line.
"Everyone in Class D is working hard right now, and I don't want to drag everyone down..."
Watching her earnest appearance, Shikime Natsu gave a light chuckle.
Within that smile was a measure of encouragement.
"What events did you sign up for?"
Shikime Natsu asked.
Hearing this question, the expression on Mei-Yu Wang's face grew a little embarrassed.
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting at the cap of the water bottle, and said in a small voice.
"I... I didn't sign up for any events..."
She paused, then, as though explaining something, continued.
"The events the class could sign up for were basically all taken already... I... I only signed up for one scavenger-hunt race."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, as though she was a little embarrassed to admit she hadn't taken part in many events.
"Even though running isn't exactly essential, but..."
Mei-Yu Wang lifted her head, an earnest spirit shining within those purplish-red eyes.
"I also want to improve my own physical fitness a bit. That way, if I'm needed to go out on the field when the time comes, I won't drag everyone down too much either."
After hearing these words, Shikime Natsu smiled and nodded.
"Do your best."
Shikime Natsu said, his tone carrying encouragement.
Mei-Yu Wang nodded and answered him.
Then, as though she'd just remembered something, she lifted her head to look at Shikime Natsu and asked, a little curiously.
"Natsu... are you looking for Airi and Kei?"
Mei-Yu Wang looked at Shikime Natsu and asked.
After all, both Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei of Class D were Shikime Natsu's girlfriends. In all of Class D—no, rather, since Shikime Natsu was a man of the hour for the entire Advanced Nurturing High School, whenever Shikime Natsu added a new girlfriend, everyone knew about it.
Hearing Mei-Yu Wang ask this question, Shikime Natsu shook his head.
"That's not it."
He said, his tone casual.
Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei's physical fitness was nothing he needed to worry about either. Although Karuizawa Kei had started dating him relatively late, after spending these days together, Karuizawa Kei's physical fitness was already more than sufficient.
After hearing these words from Shikime Natsu, Mei-Yu Wang looked at him with some confusion.
Then she wore a look of sudden realization and said to Shikime Natsu.
"Then, Natsu, did you come over to train too?"
Shikime Natsu shook his head again.
"That's not it either."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd on the field.
"I just wanted to come take a look, and then I happened to run into Mei-chan."
After hearing these words from Shikime Natsu, Mei-Yu Wang smiled.
"That really is quite a coincidence."
She said, her tone carrying a touch of happiness.
And in her heart, she felt a little bashful, and a little delighted.
Being able to run into Shikime Natsu here, and to have such a rare chance to be alone with him, was—for an ordinary girl like her—quite a fortunate thing.
After all, the time she could spend alone with Shikime Natsu on an ordinary day wasn't much.
Although Shikime Natsu already had girlfriends, and more than one at that, still, Mei-Yu Wang quite wanted to be close to Shikime Natsu.
A maiden, too, has her own small selfish wishes.
This much, Mei-Yu Wang herself understood in her heart, but she didn't think it was anything shameful.
To like someone, to want to spend a little more time with that person—isn't that a perfectly normal thing?
Shikime Natsu looked at Mei-Yu Wang and suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, that's right, Mei-chan."
He paused, as though thinking about something.
"Since you're practicing your running right now, why don't I give you some coaching?"
Shikime Natsu looked into Mei-Yu Wang's eyes, his tone carrying a measure of earnestness.
"I've studied it a little bit too."
After hearing these words from Shikime Natsu, Mei-Yu Wang was a little shocked.
She widened those purplish-red eyes, looking at Shikime Natsu, her face filled with disbelief.
"I-is that okay?"
Mei-Yu Wang asked, a measure of uncertainty in her voice.
She really hadn't considered whether Shikime Natsu could do this sort of thing.
In Mei-Yu Wang's impression, Shikime Natsu could be counted as an all-rounder.
Not only could he speak many countries' languages, but he could also cook many kinds of dishes, and quite deliciously at that.
His studies were quite excellent, and he was great at sports too...
In short, he was just very impressive.
At the very least, Shikime Natsu gave people a sense of being beyond reach.
A maiden is always one to pine with love.
Against someone like Shikime Natsu—handsome and quite excellent—there was no resisting at all.
And on top of that, Shikime Natsu was very gentle.
At the very least, Mei-Yu Wang was completely won over by this side of Shikime Natsu.
"Of course it's okay."
Shikime Natsu nodded as he spoke, his tone certain, without the slightest hesitation.
Hearing this answer, a brilliant smile immediately bloomed across Mei-Yu Wang's face.
"Then... I'll be in your care, Natsu!"
Her voice carried a touch of elation, like a cheerful little bird.
Shikime Natsu agreed, then said to Mei-Yu Wang.
"Have a little sip of water first—don't drink too much."
Mei-Yu Wang nodded, then unscrewed the bottle of water Shikime Natsu had given her and took a small, gentle sip.
The warm, mild stream of water slid down her throat, moistening her body, which had grown somewhat parched from exercise.
"Much more comfortable..."
Mei-Yu Wang said softly, a satisfied expression on her face.
Shikime Natsu waited until she'd finished drinking and set the water bottle aside before walking over to her side.
"First, let me take a look at your running form."
Shikime Natsu said, his gaze falling upon Mei-Yu Wang.
Mei-Yu Wang nodded, then took a deep breath and ran a short stretch along the track.
Her running form couldn't be called bad, but it absolutely couldn't be called good either.
Her footfalls landed a bit heavily, the swing of her arms wasn't quite right, and her body's center of gravity was also a little too high.
Watching her movements, Shikime Natsu quickly formed a judgment in his mind.
"Alright, you can stop now."
Shikime Natsu said.
Mei-Yu Wang stopped, turned around to look at Shikime Natsu, a measure of anticipation in those purplish-red eyes.
"How was it...?"
She asked, a little nervously.
Shikime Natsu walked over to her side, then spoke.
"On the whole it's not bad, but there are a few spots that need adjusting."
He paused, then reached out a hand and lightly touched Mei-Yu Wang's arm.
"When you swing your arms, the range doesn't need to be too big, but it needs to be forceful. Keep the bend of your arm at around ninety degrees. When swinging forward, don't go past the centerline of your body, and when swinging back, put strength into it to drive your body forward."
As Shikime Natsu spoke, he gently adjusted the position of Mei-Yu Wang's arm.
Feeling the warmth of Shikime Natsu's fingers touching her arm, the blush on Mei-Yu Wang's face couldn't help but deepen a few shades.
Her heartbeat began to quicken, and her breathing grew a little unsteady.
But she still strove to focus her attention, listening to every single word Shikime Natsu said.
"Next is the footwork."
Shikime Natsu released her arm, then crouched down, his gaze falling upon her legs.
"When you land, don't let your heel touch down first—that produces a braking effect and instead wastes your stamina."
"Land on the ball of your foot first; that way you can better make use of the elasticity of your ankle and reduce the loss of energy."
As for the maiden's legs, Shikime Natsu didn't go touching them carelessly—especially since Mei-Yu Wang right now looked rather flushed in the face. Mei-Yu Wang was, to begin with, a girl who blushed quite easily, and, well... sometimes she was even a bit careless, and would trip and fall on flat ground.
If Shikime Natsu were to touch the maiden's calf at this moment, the maiden would probably faint.
Mei-Yu Wang firmly committed every word Shikime Natsu said to memory. Although Shikime Natsu was very close to her at this moment, even without any contact, it was still quite nerve-wracking for Mei-Yu Wang.
On top of that, this was Shikime Natsu personally coaching her—and she was the one who'd troubled Shikime Natsu to coach her at that—so naturally Mei-Yu Wang had to do her very best, at the very least...
She couldn't display her somewhat clumsy side in front of Shikime Natsu.
If she had to trouble Shikime Natsu to say it all over again, the maiden would feel quite ashamed—even if Shikime Natsu himself wouldn't think anything of it.
"There's also your body posture."
Shikime Natsu stood up, walked to Mei-Yu Wang's side, and then slowly continued.
"When you run, your body should lean slightly forward, but don't bend at the waist. Keep the natural curve of your spine and let your body's weight fall onto the balls of your feet."
Then Shikime Natsu pointed at Mei-Yu Wang's shoulders.
"Keep your shoulders relaxed—don't hunch them. If your shoulders are tense, it'll consume a lot of unnecessary stamina."
"Understood..."
Mei-Yu Wang quite earnestly committed every single word Shikime Natsu said to memory. However, at this moment Mei-Yu Wang's heart was still quite shaken, unsure whether she could do it well.
What if she'd memorized what Shikime Natsu said, but her body hadn't memorized it?
To get her body to memorize it would probably require a long stretch of training, so that muscle memory could form.
And besides, this was only the first time she was running using the method Shikime Natsu had taught, so it was perfectly normal to make mistakes...
Mei-Yu Wang hurriedly cast aside this kind of dreadful thought in her heart—how could she think this way? She ought to work hard and do her best.
But... even though Mei-Yu Wang gave herself this kind of hint, at this moment her heart was still uneasy and fidgety. Such pressure.
"Try once more, using the method I told you."
Mei-Yu Wang nodded, took a deep breath, and strove to calm herself down.
Then she began to run.
This time, her running form was clearly much better than before.
Her footfalls landed more lightly, the range of her arm swing became more reasonable, and her body's posture grew more coordinated as well.
After running about fifty meters, Mei-Yu Wang stopped and turned around to look at Shikime Natsu.
Her face carried a measure of pleasant surprise.
"Na-Natsu...!"
Her voice carried an excitement she couldn't conceal—she'd actually managed it in a single try; she'd actually been able to do it; Shikime Natsu had taught it so well! She'd even managed to grasp it well in just one go.
"It really is so much easier now!"
Watching her happy appearance, Shikime Natsu smiled and nodded.
"Not bad. Keep it up."
Mei-Yu Wang jogged back to Shikime Natsu's side, the smile on her face more brilliant than the sunlight.
"Thank you, Natsu!"
She said, her tone brimming with gratitude.
Then she paused, and, as though she'd made up her mind about something, took a deep breath.
"Um... Natsu..."
Her voice grew a little small, and the blush on her face deepened a few shades again.
"If... if you have the time..."
She lowered her head, not daring to look into Shikime Natsu's eyes, her fingers unconsciously twining together. "Let... let me treat you to a meal, Natsu..."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, so small it was almost scattered by the wind.
"As... as a thank-you of sorts..."
As Mei-Yu Wang invited Shikime Natsu, her face was very red, blushing red like a fully ripened apple.
She was so nervous she could hardly get the words out, an obvious tremble in her voice.
Her heart was beating absurdly fast, her whole self like being roasted over a fire.
She didn't know where she'd found the courage to say such a thing, but... she didn't want to miss this chance.
Mm... it was a rare moment, being after-school time now, and on top of that, it was rare for Shikime Natsu to have free time right now, with none of his girlfriends around.
Watching her nervous appearance, Shikime Natsu gave a light chuckle.
"Sure."
He said, his tone gentle.
"Then I'll trouble you, Mei-chan."
Hearing Shikime Natsu agree, Mei-Yu Wang snapped her head up.
Her eyes sparkled with the light of pleasant surprise, the smile on her face as brilliant as a blossoming flower.
"Mm, mm!"
She nodded forcefully, a happiness she couldn't conceal in her voice.
"Then... then I'll prepare properly!"
Watching her elated appearance, Shikime Natsu couldn't help but feel his heart soften a few shades.
This girl really was quite cute.
The two chatted a bit more, and then Mei-Yu Wang went on practicing her running, while Shikime Natsu stood off to the side, occasionally speaking up to offer a few words of guidance.
The lingering glow of the setting sun spilled across the field, stretching the two of their shadows very, very long.
Once Mei-Yu Wang felt she'd more or less gotten the hang of it, she thanked Shikime Natsu once again, and Shikime Natsu handed the water bottle over.
"Thank you."
Mei-Yu Wang took the water bottle Shikime Natsu gave her, then took a gentle sip of water.
"Then... I'll trouble you to come buy some groceries with me first, Natsu."
Mei-Yu Wang suddenly thought of something, and then her cheeks grew a little red. Planning to treat Shikime Natsu to a meal had been entirely a spur-of-the-moment impulse, so Mei-Yu Wang hadn't made any preparations.
Of course, if it were a matter of inviting Shikime Natsu to eat at the school cafeteria or the like, there'd be nothing to prepare—it was just that... last time Shikime Natsu had treated her to a meal he'd cooked with his own hands, so Mei-Yu Wang also wanted to treat Shikime Natsu to a meal she made with her own hands. Even though it might not be very tasty... the maiden still wanted to.
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