“……Hah…… Hah…… Yu-Yuzuki-san.”
“……Senpai? Are you…… okay?”
As I wheezed out her name, Yuzuki-san’s gentle voice drifted back to me, full of concern.
Beads of sweat trickled down her sun-kissed skin, and her ample chest heaved with every breath. Her athletic, toned physique—emphasizing both her bust and her firm, shapely hips—combined with her slightly labored breathing to create a rather provocative sight.
“……Sorry…… I’m…… at my limit……”
“Already? You’re giving up so soon? Just a little more…… just a little further…… You can do it, Senpai!”
Heat enveloped my body as if my core temperature had spiked, and a profound sense of exhaustion washed over me in waves. Trembling on the verge of total collapse, I bit my lip and forced my legs to move. Encouraged by her words, I pushed through the pain, layering one agonizing step over the next.
Even so, I was nearing the end of my rope. My breathing was ragged, and I felt as though I would lose all strength if I let my guard down for even a second. If anything, my body seemed to be screaming for me to do exactly that.
“……Senpai…… just a little more, okay?”
“……Ugh…… I’ll…… try.”
Her supple fingers brushed against me, her touch and words of encouragement acting as the only thing keeping me going through the stifling heat. Squeezing out every last drop of my willpower, I made one final push……
“……I-I can’t do it…… I’m going to die……”
“We’ve only run about five kilometers, you know? Personally, I was hoping to go several times that distance……”
“Asking that of me is just wrong…… Ah, my side hurts……”
“Fufu.”
In stark contrast to me—who had collapsed into a heap and was currently gasping for air—Hina-chan looked as energetic as ever. I suppose our "experience points" in this particular field were just on completely different levels. Seriously, this was brutal.
“St-Still, I’ve really let myself go…… I’m sure I used to have more stamina than this……”
“You’re starting to sound like an old man, Senpai. Besides, we still have to make it back.”
“……Can I just use Teleportation Magic?”
“No!”
The reason I was so exhausted was simple: I had realized that I hadn’t done any real exercise since arriving in this world. Thinking it would be better for my health to stay active, I decided to move my body. Since Hina-chan went for a run every morning anyway, I asked to join her, and the result was…… this pathetic display.
Honestly, I thought I could manage about ten kilometers if it were just a casual jog. But keeping up with Hina-chan’s pace turned it into a full-blown marathon. The Track and Field Club is seriously incredible. Her base endurance was in a different league entirely; not only did her pace never falter, but it seemed she had actually been slowing down just to stay with me. Being so thoroughly outclassed by a girl five years my junior was a bit soul-crushing.
Actually, she had offered to lower the pace at the very beginning, but my pride as a man got the better of me. I told her I’d be fine, and well…… look at me now.
What’s more, she wasn’t even using Physical Enhancement Magic. She claimed that using it would "defeat the purpose," which I assumed was part of her dedication as an athlete. Meanwhile, I was using it the whole time……
I really need to train more from now on. I want to at least be able to handle a proper run……
“Here, Senpai. For you.”
“Hm? Oh? Is this…… honey lemon?”
“I made it with ingredients I found here, so the name might be different, but it tastes about the same.”
“Thanks.”
I gratefully accepted the honey-lemon substitute she offered. The sweetness and acidity seeped into my weary muscles, making me feel like I could keep going forever…… even if my body would never actually let me.
“Wait, come to think of it…… where did you pull this from?”
“Fufufu, did you finally notice? Ta-dah!”
“Oh, is that a Magic Box? You got one too, Hina-chan!”
“Ehehe, Lilia-san gave it to me. She said it was because ‘a mountain of money came in thanks to Kaito-senpai.’”
Hina-chan brandished the Magic Box with a proud grin. Apparently, Lilia-san had come into a massive fortune and decided to give her a gift. I wondered what she meant by it being my fault…… Oh, right. It must have been the jewels I received from Isis-san.
Watching Hina-chan talk with such a beaming smile was a strange thing; it felt like her energy was contagious.
“I see, that’s great. So that’s why you’ve looked so happy this whole time.”
“Eh? Oh, no…… the reason I was happy…… was because you came with me, Senpai. It’s way more fun to run with someone else than it is to go alone, right?”
“I suppose so…… Wait, does Aoi-chan not run with you?”
“Aoi-senpai is…… a high jumper. She doesn’t really like joining me for long-distance runs.”
They were in the same club, but it seemed their specialties were different.
“More importantly, Senpai!”
“Yeah?”
“How long are you going to keep calling me Yuzuki-san?”
“……Eh?”
“You started calling Aoi-senpai ‘Aoi-chan’ before I even realized it…… so please, call me by my name, Hina, too.”
Leaning in close enough that I could feel her breath, she made her request. It was true that calling only one of them by their given name felt a bit inconsistent.
“U-Um, alright then, Hina-chan.”
“Yes!”
When I said her name, Hina-chan nodded with a radiant smile. Seeing her look so much like a happy puppy, I felt the tension in my own face melt away.
We spent a while resting and chatting, and once I’d recovered enough of my strength, Hina-chan stood up. She really did seem to love running; she called out, “Let’s get moving!” and started to trot forward while looking back at me over her shoulder.
“Wait, Hina-chan! Watch your step!”
“Eh? Kyah!?”
“Hina-chan!”
Concrete doesn’t exist in this world, and the roads aren’t nearly as well-maintained as they are in Japan. The ground where she was about to step was uneven and jutting upward. I tried to warn her, but it was too late; she tripped and tumbled.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-Yes…… somehow—ouch!?”
“Hina-chan!”
“Ah, sorry. It looks like I twisted my ankle a bit.”
She must have landed at a bad angle.
“I-I’m fine. I can walk.”
“No, absolutely not. Don't push yourself.”
Even as her face contorted in pain, she tried to stand and offer me a brave smile, but I stopped her immediately.
Still, this was a problem. I didn't know any Recovery Magic. But I couldn't just let her walk home on a sprained ankle. After thinking for a moment and failing to come up with a better solution, I crouched down in front of her.
“……Senpai?”
“I’ll carry you. Get on my back.”
“Eh? B-But……”
“You shouldn't be walking like that.”
“I-I understand…… um, excuse me then.”
“……!?”
Hina-chan hesitated for a second, but then she slowly climbed onto my back.
S-Still, this was…… more intense than I had anticipated. I could feel her soft, ample curves pressed firmly against my back. My face grew hot, but I fought to clear my mind as I stood up and began to walk slowly.
“……Senpai……”
“Just hang in there. Once we get back to the mansion, someone can treat you……”
“No, it’s not that……”
“Yeah?”
“……Couldn’t you have just used Teleportation Magic?”
“……Ah.”
I’ve been having this thought a lot lately: Am I an idiot? Whenever I get flustered, my world seems to shrink until I can’t see the obvious.
“Sorry, I completely forgot…… Alright, I'll use the teleportation tool—”
“Please wait!”
“—Eh?”
I was about to reach for the magic tool, but Hina-chan stopped me.
“Um, well…… if it’s okay with you, Kaito-senpai…… could you carry me like this for just a little longer?”
“Eh? U-Uh, sure. I don’t mind, but……”
“……Thank you.”
I felt like it would be better to get her treated as soon as possible, but if she said she preferred this, I wasn't going to force the issue. As I resumed my pace, Hina-chan clung to me a little more tightly than before.
“……Senpai, am I heavy?”
“Not at all. You’re surprisingly light.”
Her voice was a soft whisper against my ear, accompanied by a pleasant scent. It was a mysterious thing; girls didn’t seem to smell like sweat the way guys did. If anything, even her sweat had a faint, sweet aroma. Feeling her weight on my back made me realize all over again that she really was a girl.
“Your back…… is so big, Senpai.”
“You think so?”
“Yes…… I’ve always wanted a kind big brother like you, Kaito-senpai.”
“Hm? Is the Class Representative not kind to you?”
I asked as I continued our trek. She sounded so relaxed, so at ease.
“Not at all. My whole family is really strict. I hardly ever got to just play when I was a kid.”
“Hmm. I guess he does seem like the type to be hard on himself and everyone else.”
“It’s a bit much, right? My parents are already like that, so you’d think my brother would at least try to be the kind one to balance things out……”
“Ahaha, fair point.”
As she vented about her family, she sounded almost cheerful; it didn't seem like she actually disliked them. Then, she tightened her grip on my shoulders again, her voice turning soft and a little vulnerable.
“Senpai…… I’m sorry for being a burden.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is nothing.”
“……I was really happy that you ran with me today…… Will you do it again?”
“Of course. I need to work on my stamina anyway.”
“That’s true. You really don’t have much, do you, Senpai?”
“Urgh……”
“Fufufu.”
With her face resting on my shoulder and her happy laughter in my ear, Hina-chan felt like a precious younger sister—someone I just wanted to protect. I readjusted her on my back and put a bit more strength into my stride.
“Senpai, are you okay? Is it getting tough?”
“It’s fine. I can handle this.”
“……But we’re still about five kilometers away, you know?”
“Urgh.”
Hearing the specific number made the distance feel incredibly far. No, it was fine. Five kilometers…… that was only about an hour of walking. I could do this.
“……I’m a man too, you know. I have to show off my cool side once in a while.”
“……What are you…… talking about…… You’re…… always…… cool, Senpai.”
I could feel her warmth as she leaned into me, fully trusting. That warmth felt like a hand at my back, pushing me forward.
Dear Mother, Father—Hina-chan is a girl who is always bright and energetic, but she has a side to her that’s more delicate than she lets on, making her feel like a true younger sister. Spending time with her and receiving her straightforward trust is wonderful. In some vague way, I think that if I’d had a sister of my own—it would have felt like this.
Serious-senpai: “……I’m going home to my parents.”
Next time: “The Baby Dragon Returns”