Ch. 7 ~ I Want to Win!!
Student: Everyone in position, ready—
Kathrina: It's begun! I'm first up!
Kokona: Go, go~! Red team, you can do it~!
Shizuka: Nikako-chan was third and the anchor, was it?
Kokona: Yeah! Ah! Next is Nikako-chan's turn!
Iruru: ...
Nikako: (We're in first place! I have to make sure to widen the gap as much as I can during my slot before passing it on...!)
Shizuka: Nice pass! Now it's Nikako-chan's turn!
Kokona: Nikako-chan, you can do it~!
Nikako: Haah, haah.
Nikako: (Around this corner, pass the baton—)
Iruru: Ah!
Kokona/Shizuka/Kathrina: She fell!
Nikako: ... Oww...
Iruru: Nikako!
Nikako: (I got overtaken...!!)
Shizuka: She stood up! Next, pass the baton!
Kokona: Nice pass! But...!!
Kathrina: ... She was overtaken, huh?
Shizuka: But we're still in the first half!
Kokona: Rather than that, how's Nikako-chan!?
Iruru: ... Nikako. Come on, sit down.
I'll give you treatment.
Nikako: But, the relay—
Iruru: You're running as the anchor, right? I know.
Iruru: So that you can run, that's why we're patching you up. 'Kay?
Nikako: ...... Mhm.
Iruru: Good.
Nikako: ......
Iruru: ... The disinfectant is going to sting a bit.
Nikako: Mhm.
Nikako: ... Hey, Irurun.
Iruru: What's up?
Nikako: ... I fell.
Iruru: Mhm.
Nikako: I fell.
Iruru: ... Mhm.
Nikako: We might lose...
Nikako: We might lose! Even though it's the last athletics festival for Irurun and the others!
Nikako: Because I, fell, because I...!
Even though, I'm the cheering team leader, even though they entrusted it to me...
Nikako: Even though I, want to do my best, I have to do my best...
Nikako: What should I do, Irurun?
Iruru: ......
Iruru: Say, Nikako.
Nikako: What?
Iruru: I think you've already worked hard enough.
Iruru: No one will blame you. They know you did your best.
Everyone is glad they chose you to be the cheering team leader.
Iruru: Me too, and the other third-years.
Everyone in school thinks that. Hatsumi surely understands as well.
Iruru: That's why, even if we lose—
Kathrina: Like it'd be fine!
Nikako: !
Kathrina: Are you giving up!? We haven't lost yet!
Kathrina: We still have people running, but you're going to quit!?
What you're doing right now is the same as leaving the stage in the middle of a play!
Kathrina: Have some pride! I won't forgive you giving up! You need to seriously believe that we can win and cheer everyone on until the very end! You're the cheering team leader, aren't you!?
Kokona: Kathrina-chan, that's a bit—
Kathrina: Kokona! You're the one that said we could broaden our acting experience by taking this seriously!
Kokona: I did say that, but...
Kathrina: And Shizuka, you asked if I was going to hold back!
Shizuka: ... I did.
Kathrina: Then, are we just going to make Nikako give up!? No way!
Kokona: I... I guess.
Kokona: ... Nikako-chan. We haven't lost yet.
Nikako: ... Mhm.
Shizuka: Not even "yet," we can totally win.
Kokona: Hehe, that's true. We can totally win.
Kokona: Of course, if you're really hurt,
or if you think you can't, you don't have to push yourself.
Kokona: But, in the end, it's your decision, Nikako-chan.
Kathrina: So, what'll it be, Nikako?
Run? Quit? It's your choice.
Nikako: ......
Nikako: I don't want to lose.
Nikako: ... No, I want to win!!
Kathrina: Then, go run, Nikako.
Nikako: Okay!
Kokona: You can do it! Nikako-chan!
Shizuka: I'm cheering for you.
Nikako: Thank you, Kathrina-san.
Kokona-chan and Shizuka-san, too!
Nikako: ... Irurun.
Iruru: ...... What is it?
Nikako: I'm going to win.
Iruru: Eh?
Nikako: I'm going to win, so watch me.
Iruru: ... Okay.
Nikako: It's fine to bet everything, like you're gambling.
Iruru: ... Putting just a single bet on an upset victory is a pretty big gamble, you know.
Nikako: Then, will you make that big gamble for me?
Iruru: ......
Iruru: ... Alright. I'm going all in on you, Nikako.