punishment games, this should be a lot easier. Who's afraid!?

"As for the loser's punishment--"

"Mn, say it, I'll win anyway!"

"If I win--"

"Um hm? If you win--"

"--You'll go out with me."

"Eh? Go out with you..a weekend kind of thing? You're going shopping?"

Minami's thinking of asking me to go out and help her carry things, right? I heard that girls will spend a lot of time on shopping, so Minami would ask me to do this? Maybe I have to carry a lot.

"Uu..well, anyway, it's like that. Shopping, eating, watching movies..a lot."

"That, that's..we can finish it off in a day?"

It feels like the schedule's packed. It seems that the punishment game Minami just said is really punishment.

"..And I didn't just mean 'for one day' when I said that."

Minami muttered to herself in a barely audible voice. Is she planning something else?

"Mn..I can go out with you for one day. But on my side, if I win-let me think, I want a good meal."

"Okay, I'll promise you that."

"So is our bet on?"

"Yeah, if I win--you really have to go out with me!"

Minami sounded really serious. Maybe she would force me to eat something really expensive with her or give me some extremely tough project for me, or maybe she would playfully drag me to the lingerie section to buy stuff..

"The 2-persons-3-legged race is starting soon. All second year students, please gather at the line."

At this moment, the announcement can be heard from the loudspeakers.

Mn, I just don't need to lose this battle! Since it's decided, a man's word is a man's word.

"Okay! Oi, Muttsurini, stop standing far away from me like that, we're starting soon! We have to get a good result!"

"..Akihisa, don't get too close to me."

"I SAID IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING!"

I could only try my best to explain to Muttsurini, who's keeping his distance away from me, as we head to the starting point of the 2-persons-3-legged race.

☆

At the starting point where many contestants are bustling noisily. According to the agreement, I line up together with 'Minami and Hideyoshi's group' for the showdown.

"EVERYONE READY! GET SET--"

BAM!

The clear bang of the guns can be heard, and the front row of contestants started moving. We're in the next group, so it's about time to get prepared mentally.

Trying to relax my joints and muscles, I gently shake my limps and simulate the situation of appearing there later when I step up. When I go up, I have to time my steps and breathing and then slowly speed up.

".."

Standing beside me, Minami's also waiting for the time to start. She seems to be nervous, looking extremely serious as well.

"You're rather serious, Minami."

"Eh!? Do, do I? I'm okay."

"Haha, why are you so nervous?"

"Since, since when am I nervous?"

"..You, you are, a little.."

"See, I said. It's good to be serious for the glory of the class, but if you don't relax, what's winnable will become unwinnable."

Even from afar, I can see that Minami's body is rather stiff due to nervousness. Why is she so enthusiastic about the 2-persons-3-legged race.

"..But I want to win no matter what.."

Minami muttered that softly, and those words enter my ears seemingly casually.

She's looking at the starting line with a serious look. I don't understand why Minami would be so enthusiastic, but since she's treating this so seriously, as the opponent who agreed to this, I should treat this match seriously. This should be a courtesy.

"EVERYONE! GET READY--"

BAM! The gunshot can be heard. The groups of people in front of us rush off. It'll be us next.

"Let's do this, Muttsurini, we'll be the first one to the finish line!"

"..(Nods head)."

"Kinosheeta, I'll leave it to you then."

"Mn, I'll do my best too."

"Understood. Miharu would do her best too."

After swallowing saliva, we wait for the starting gun. The time to decide the victors is right now.

"NEXT GROUP, GET READY! SET--"

BAM--the crisp bang can be heard. Muttsurini and I move forward. Left foot first, then right, then left, I count the beats as we take steps. It feels good.

Then, we should slowly increase our speed and finally end up running forward at the fastest speed. At that point, we almost forget that it's a 2-persons-3-persons race as we run off as if we aren't bound to someone else in the first place. With a partner that can breathe and move in the same movement, I even forgot of the other person's presence.

"THAT GROUP..WHY IS IT 3-PERSONS-4-LEGGED?"

It's only now that Minami realizes that beside Hideyoshi, her other foot is tied together with Shimizu-san's.

"Eh? Wha, WHAT'S GOING ON! HOLD ON, MIHARU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

"Ahh, onee-sama..even when sticking to you, I can't feel that little chest that's sticking so close to your body. This alluring feeling is making Miharu unable to hold it any longer.."

"STOP TOUCHING ME! MOVE AWAY! IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO WIN THIS!"

"What is onee-sama saying? Miharu's doing this for onee-sama's sake!"

"SINCE WHEN IS IT FOR MY OWN SAKE! IF YOU'RE DOING IT FOR MY OWN SAKE--OI, HO, HOL, HOLD ON! DID YOU JUST REACH FOR MY BACK AND UNDID MY BRA HOOK!?"

"No problems! Even if onee-sama doesn't use a bra to support, there won't be any problems at all!"

"YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS!"

"YES! MIHARU WON'T FORGET THIS FEELING!"

"I DON'T MEAN THAT!"

"What should I do in this situation.."

Recovering ourselves, we reached the end first. I guess our group won.

"Haa, haa, haa..Miharu, you.."

"That's wonderful, onee-sama!"

"What should I say, this two-persons-three-legged(?) race made me feel tired.."

We undo the ropes on our feet, and soon Minami's group came running in to the end.

The 3-persons-4-legged participants actually took second. No matter how I look at it, they're more impressive than us.

"MIHARU! WE LOST BECAUSE OF YOU!!"

"Miharu will go off here. We'll meet later, onee-sama!"

"AH! DAMN IT, MIHARU!!"

After bowing to Minami, Shimizu-san glared at me and shot off like a rabbit.

"..Really, she.."

Though angry, Minami gives a wry smile. That's strange? This match was ruined and yet Minami looked okay.

"Are you alright, Minami?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"No, well..if Shimizu-san didn't get involved, you two could have gotten first."

"Well..hm, maybe that would be that case."

"Isn't that right?"

They were able to run a 3-persons-4-legged race at that speed. If it were a normal 2-persons-3-legged race, it'll be hard to tell the outcome. But--

"Thinking through it calmly, this may be the better outcome."

Minami looked like she doesn't care, but wasn't she so adamant on winning at the start?

"Uu? What do you mean..by 'this may be better'?"

"If I use such a despicable mean--even if I feel alright now, I may regret it some day. It may be a little too late, but that's how I feel now."

Despicable means? What did she mean by that? Saying that to me who often hang out with those shameless and evil thugs, is she saying that she would do something even more cruel that I would regret? Thinking about that, my body started to tremble. If that were the case, I might really need to thank Shimizu-san.

"Then our bet is invalid because the match doesn't count."

"Eh? No need, I lose this time, so I'll treat you to a meal."

"No need, that's too awkward. Besides, we haven't had a real duel anyway."

"I insist! Or what is it? You're not willing to let me treat?"

"Uu..since you say it, I'll be thankful for that then."

"Mn, very good!"

After saying that, Minami gave me a bright smile.

"Oh ya, Shimada.."

At this moment, Hideyoshi, who was silent up till now, said rather hesitantly.

"Hm? What's up, Kinosheeta?"

"No, what I want to say is..that 'thing' of yours is still open. Don't you need to wear it back properly?"

"Eh?"

Dok dok, Hideyoshi points at his own chest.

To be honest, I've been mindful of that ever since the beginning..

"Ah..no, that's not it! I didn't forget to wear it back because I felt that there's no difference in leaving the bra hook off!"

Minami covered her chest with both hands and rush to the other corner of the school. I see..so Minami didn't realize it because she didn't feel anything even with no support..

"..(collapse)."

In a corner where nobody noticed, Muttsurini passed out due to massive loss of blood.