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.


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Pub: 25 May 2024 22:27 UTC
Edit: 25 May 2024 22:35 UTC
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