Roughly a week later, things settled back into routine.
Class practices were folded into our usual schedule, days blurring together without much incident—
aside from the time I accidentally elbowed a drunk classmate.
No one remembered that night.
The guy I hit didn't either.
Anathasia's memory wipe worked like it always did.
Either way, today marked the start of the sports festival.
Music blared from the PA system as students flooded the grounds in their sports attire. Some looked excited. Others just showed up for attendance, anything to avoid getting fined.
Anathasia and I wandered around, occasionally glancing at students warming up for their events as we made our way toward the track oval.
"Around three hours from now," she said, hands resting behind her head as we walked down the pathway. "That's when the relay starts, right?"
She glanced at me.
"So why are we heading to the track already?"
"Last-minute checks," I replied. "Maybe a final practice. Not sure. Arianne, Robert, and the others are already there." I shrugged.
"I heard them saying they're really looking forward to the relay."
Anathasia stepped ahead of me, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Seriously? That thing's basically already decided."
"For one," I said as the track oval came into view, "only you can see the future here."
I sighed softly, lowering my gaze.
"And maybe we should at least give the other departments a bit of hope."
Even if our lineup was already set to win.
As we emerged from the covered walkway, I looked at her back.
"Makes it more of a sport that way," I added. "Unpredictable instead of inevitable."
"Hoh…" Anathasia trailed off.
Everyone was already gathered by the track as we walked down the slope. Arianne and Robert stood on the lanes, warming up for the relay.
One guy noticed us approaching.
"Ah, Abe and Dunaleff are here," he said with a grin.
For some reason, everyone else turned our way. Teasing remarks followed—
which, frankly, were a bit annoying.
"The third and fourth legs are here," someone added.
"Dunaleff really picked the last two positions for her and her man, huh?" another guy said, folding his arms.
"Couple goals. Obviously," a girl chimed in from behind him.
Anathasia sighed internally.
[Are we in high school?]
She shot me a glance.
[Some things really don't need to be mentioned.]
I nodded subtly as I walked beside her.
[That's just how they are. Once this is over, we can bolt.]
[Our program head did say we'd be exempt from attendance if we won, after all.]
She stopped just short of the track.
"Attendance… exemption… no classes… additional points…"
I raised an eyebrow as I stepped up beside her.
"He did mention additional points too—"
I stopped.
"Anathasia…?"
There was something different in her eyes now. Focused. Sharp.
She clenched a fist over her chest and turned to me.
"We have to win."
"That is the goal," I said carefully.
She turned away, a small, almost manic smile curving on her lips.
"Skipping the rest of the festival *and* getting free points?" she muttered.
She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and lifted her head.
"That's a steal."
Her voice flattened.
"Losing isn't an option."
Her mumbling was cut short when someone suddenly pointed at her hand.
"Dunaleff—wait. Is that a ring?"
Anathasia glanced back at them, then turned casually, lifting her left hand just enough for them to see. She pointed at her ring finger.
"This?" She tilted her head slightly.
The guy nodded.
"Kyle gave it," she said. "Around… two weeks ago?"
"No," I added flatly from behind her. "That was about three weeks ago. Before Leah left. Maybe four."
She paused.
Then nodded.
"Right. Four weeks ago."
The track fell dead silent.
Students nearby, some from other departments slowed, stopped, and stared.
First at her.
Then at me.
Without batting an eye, Anathasia simply turned away and walked onto the track, where Arianne and Robert were already waiting. A few people gaped, others whispered, but she didn't so much as glance back.
"Two hours and fifty minutes," she continued calmly.
—
About an hour later, the four of us gathered near the track.
Robert rolled his shoulders, tilting his head as he cracked his neck. Arianne crouched to retie her shoes, tugging the laces tight. Anathasia, meanwhile, was still on her phone and finishing up whatever game she'd been playing.
I sat beside her, idly watching the screen.
Then, out of nowhere, Robert spoke.
"By the way," he said, hesitating. "Are you two… engaged?"
Arianne straightened immediately, eyes flicking between us.
"Engaged?" I let out a small laugh. "Not really…?"
Robert and Arianne exchanged a glance, then looked back at me.
"Didn't Anathasia say something about your parents already seeing you two as engaged?" Arianne asked slowly.
"And the ring," Robert added. "You gave her one too, right? Or—something like a promise ring?"
My mouth opened.
Then closed.
…I never actually thought about that.
I forced a smile as I looked at them.
Their eyes were practically shining with expectation.
I swallowed, glancing at Anathasia's screen.
How am I supposed to…
Or…
I shook my head lightly, then looked back at them, softening my expression on purpose.
"Something like a promise ring," I said calmly. "Yeah. But honestly…"
I glanced at Anathasia beside me and reached out, patting her head without thinking.
"I just thought she'd like it."
She paused, then looked up at me as she locked her phone.
"Something wrong?"
"Not really. Just keep playing," I said. "We still have about an hour and a half."
She nodded and went right back to her game, screen lighting up again.
Unbothered.
"That's all," I added, smiling back at them.
For a moment, everything went silent.
When I glanced past them, I realized why—everyone else was staring at us like we were something fragile. A few of the girls gasped quietly. Even students from other departments had turned to look.
Of course they'd react like that…
My expression flattened as I looked back at our two teammates.
"That's…" Robert started, then abruptly covered his mouth and looked away.
Which was… strange, coming from him.
"…That's honestly sweet," he murmured. "Maybe a bit too much."
He shook his head, cleared his throat, then stepped forward and extended his hand.
"I'll admit it," he said. "I don't think I can compete with that."
My eyes widened for a moment, but I took his hand anyway, still hesitating slightly.
"Yeah… sure…"
The instant our hands met, he suddenly pulled me up to my feet and leaned in.
"You're a good guy. Dense, intelligent, and physically capable," he murmured.
"I can see why Professor Wang is fond of you now."
He pulled back and gave a small nod.
"Sorry if I came off arrogant earlier," he said, lowering his head briefly before straightening.
"How about we focus on bringing home the bacon?"
I stiffened for a second, then inclined my head.
"Yeah," I replied.
For a moment, his eyes gleamed, just a little, before a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"That's the spirit." He clenched his hand into a fist and held it out.
A small smile formed on my own face.
I balled my hand into a fist and bumped his.
—
An hour later, with only about thirty minutes left before the relay, I made sure to warm up properly. A few stretches here and there, some calf raises off to the side.
Then three people approached me from behind.
"Looks like everyone's ready," Robert commented, his gaze drifting across the track.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Anathasia, Arianne, and Robert stood there together.
"I heard the participants from the Social Sciences department were former athletes," Arianne said.
Anathasia just waved it off dismissively.
"We'll be fine," she replied casually. "We're not exactly pushovers."
Their banter continued, and as I looked at them properly—
Our lineup is… definitely something.
A buff guy. Two white-haired girls who look like foreigners. And an androgynous guy with absurdly long hair…
I let out a quiet laugh.
"This team straight-up looks like it came out of a light novel or something."