The last bell rang, and notebooks snapped shut almost in unison.
Before anyone could fully stand, the speaker crackled overhead.
"Grade twelve students, please report to the field and sit with your assigned classes. Sport day will begin shortly."
Excited chatter exploded across the room.
Heaven turned to Zane instantly, eyes bright. "It's starting."
He nodded, trying to ignore the way his pulse felt strangely uneven.
They followed the crowd outside. The field was alive with color — class banners, teachers organizing equipment, underclassmen finishing their final matches. Grade 12 gathered in their section, sitting together on the grass while they waited.
The sun was high now.
Too bright.
Zane blinked against it and pressed his palms into the grass. It felt real. Solid. Grounded.
So why didn't he?
(Watching the Other Game )
First up was basketball.
Haruto Kagawa was playing.
"GO, HARUTO!" Aiko Tanaka shouted, practically on her feet.
Heaven clapped enthusiastically, cupping her hands around her mouth. "You've got this!"
Zane hesitated before raising his voice. "Yeah! Uh—nice shot!"
It came out stiff, unfamiliar.
Haruto scored anyway.
The group erupted in cheers.
Next was ball tossing, and Miyu Sato was up. She concentrated intensely before launching the ball straight into the target.
"That's my girl!" Ren Ishikawa yelled.
Zane tried clapping louder this time. "Nice! That was—really accurate."
Heaven laughed softly at how formal he sounded, bumping her shoulder against his.
"You're doing great," she whispered.
He wasn't sure if she meant cheering — or something else.
Then came three-legged race, where Ren and Daichi Mori were tied together, arguing about who was messing up their rhythm.
"LEFT, IDIOT!" Daichi shouted.
"IT IS LEFT!"
They stumbled across the line in second place.
Heaven was doubled over laughing.
Zane smiled — really smiled — watching them.
For a moment, the strange feeling in his chest faded.
(Heaven's Turn – Tug-of-War)
Eventually, the teacher called for tug-of-war teams to line up.
Heaven stood, brushing grass off her skirt.
"You're going to win," Zane said before he could stop himself.
She looked at him — softer this time.
"I'll try."
Her team grabbed the rope. Across from them stood the rival class, equally determined.
The whistle blew.
They pulled.
The rope jerked violently. Shoes dug into dirt. Muscles strained.
"HEAVEN!" Aiko screamed.
"Pull! Pull!" Miyu yelled.
Zane stood without realizing it, heart racing as he watched Heaven's expression shift — focused, fierce, determined.
The first round went to the other team.
Groans echoed.
The second round was closer.
Dirt flew. Someone slipped. The rope shook back and forth in a brutal stalemate—
Until Heaven shouted something to her team.
They pulled together.
Victory.
One round each.
Final round.
The tension was unbearable.
Zane's hands felt ice-cold again, even under the sun.
The whistle blew.
Everything blurred into shouting and straining — and then—
The rope snapped toward Heaven's side.
They won.
Two out of three.
The field exploded in cheers.
Heaven laughed breathlessly, hair falling loose from its tie.
Zane clapped harder than he ever had.
His chest hurt.
But not in a bad way.
(Break Time)
After several more events, the teacher called for a break.
"Go get water, rest, eat something. We'll begin the final sport shortly."
Final sport.
Relay race.
Zane swallowed.
Heaven noticed.
"Let's grab food," she suggested gently.
They hurried to 7-Eleven with Aiko, Miyu, Ren, Daichi, and Haruto.
Inside, they grabbed quick meals:
-Onigiri (salmon and tuna mayo)
-Teriyaki chicken bentos
-Yakisoba in microwave trays
-Egg salad sandwiches
-Matcha Pocky
-Melon soda and bottled green tea
They heated the food quickly and rushed back, settling under a shaded area of the field.
Everyone ate and laughed, talking about how close the tug-of-war had been and arguing about who screamed the loudest.
Zane listened.
Smiled.
Took small bites of his food.
But the feeling returned.
Stronger.
The sun suddenly felt too distant.
The sounds around him slightly muffled.
He flexed his fingers.
They didn't feel like his.
"Zane?" Heaven asked softly.
He blinked. "Yeah?"
"You're up soon."
He looked toward the track.
Students were lining up.
The relay baton glinted in the sunlight.
His name was about to be called.
And for a reason he couldn't explain—
His heart felt like it was running before he ever stepped onto the track.
The whistle hadn't blown yet.
But somewhere deep inside him, something already had.