Memories
Miki hugs herself to keep in the warmth as she walks down to the track. An hour after dawn, the temperature hovers just above freezing, and the late winter sun makes the frost patches sparkle. She smiles as she sees a handful of the Track Team training, and watches quietly for a while.
“Pick those feet up Asahi! You’re gonna be racing at a cross country meet, not some namby-pamby track event!” she yells as the group runs by.
“As if I’d take advice from a sprinter,” he replies with a grin and a wave.
She sticks her tongue out in response and continues her tour of the part of Yamaku she will miss the most. She smiles wickedly as she passes the track shed. ’There’s still time for us to leave our mark here, though I kinda wish I’d thought about it back in summer…’
Coming around to the bleachers, she sees a trestle table set up with insulated flasks and disposable cups, and a boy dressed in what looks like all of his training kit.
“Hi Yuuto. How long’ve you been playing tea-boy?”
“If you ever came to morning practice Miki, you’d’ve known we started offering hot drinks when I took over as captain. I thought it might tempt more people to show up.”
“It is a good idea but getting students out at this time of day is a hard sell at the best of times, let alone in the middle of winter.”
“I bet a tonne of people would turn up if they thought you were gonna be here.”
“I highly doubt it, Emi’s the popular one, all that peppy ‘fastest thing on no legs’ and cutesy twintails.”
“You’d be surprised.” He looks down and shuffles his feet. “I’m… we’re going to miss you. It won’t feel the same when you’re gone. I don’t think you know how much people appreciate the banter, the encouragement. I swear Yui grew two centimetres when you said her sprinting form was first rate.”
“Hey, I got a lot out of being on the team too, it’s gonna be hard to leave you guys behind.”
“It’s the right time for you to move on though. You’re the real deal Miki, you need more challenging competition to stretch you.”
“We’ll see. Maybe I won’t be able to hack it in the real world. Maybe I’ll come running back with my tail between my legs.”
“Nah, Miki Miura runs from nothing!”
She reaches out and ruffles his hair affectionately. “Thanks man, I appreciate the confidence. One thing’s for sure, I’m looking forward to being invited back to present the prizes at the end of season meet!”
“Yeah yeah, let us know when you’ve got your Olympic medal and we’ll think about it!”
With a laugh she turns and sets of towards the main building, a grin on her face and a spring in her stride.
Mutou looks up from his science journal to see Miki walking into the classroom. “You know seniors don’t have classes, Miura?”
“Of course I do. And call me Miki, surnames are too stuffy.”
“I’ve been declining that offer since we first met, what makes you think I’d change my mind now?”
“I mean it’s pretty much your last chance, live a little!”
He smiles awkwardly. “I believe I can resist the temptation. Do you need something from me?”
“Not really, I’m just…restless. I’m not used to having this much time on my hand.”
“Ah yes, your satellites have managed to escape your gravitational well for a while. It was a relief when you three found a mutually acceptable centre of mass to orbit around, I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with the big bang I thought was inevitable.”
“I have absolutely no clue what any of that means.”
“I was referring to Suzuki and Nakai.” Seeing the embarrassed expression on her face, he continues, “while it’s part of a teacher’s job to have a general idea of their students’ relationships, that doesn’t include prying into things which are none of their business. However, I’ve seen how much you benefit from each others’ support and I hope it’ll continue past high school.”
“Well yeah, we’re planning on ending up in the same place.”
Mutou nods approvingly. “Good. How will that work with your sponsorship?”
“They said it doesn’t matter where I train as long as it’s with a qualified coach, and the universities Suzu and Hisao are trying for have strong athletics teams.”
“At first I wasn’t sure about this ambassador rôle you’re going into, but the more I think about it, the more I realise it suits you. What point would there be for you to struggle through a university course you’re not interested in, only to fall into a career you hate? This way you can inspire others in your position and help educate the public. Heaven knows this country’s attitude towards the disabled needs shaking up, we shouldn’t need places like Yamaku for kids like you to be given a fair chance at life.”
He fiddles with the journal, avoiding looking at her. “I hope you realise that being in the public eye comes with many pitfalls. The recent scandals involving those pop idols show how easily a career can be torn down.”
“Yeah, but I’m gonna be a runner not a singer. Which is a blessing, my voice is nothing to write home about. And there’s no way I’d touch any of the filthy drugs they were caught with.”
“Then there’s the case of the politician who was photographed leaving his mistress’s apartment when he was supposed to be on paternity leave.”
“What are you going on about? I’m not even married, let alone a parent.”
“I’m just trying to…” He sighs and looks up at her. “I don’t want you to be unprepared. You need to realise that all aspects of your life will be under scrutiny if your athletics career takes off, you’ll need to make sure you at least appear to be abiding by society’s norms.”
“I don’t know wha-” Miki splutters.
“Just remember it’s not only you who could be affected. Anyway, speaking of scrutiny, it’s high time I got on with this grading. I’ll see you at graduation, Miura.”
“Um, yeah, thanks I guess.” With that, Miki leaves the classroom for the last time.
“Hello, Miki, I thought I’d be seeing you sooner rather than later,” Nurse says as she walks into his office.
“Really? What are you, some sort of mind reader?”
“When Hisao picked up his prescriptions early because he was going away for a few days, closely followed by Suzu asking for something to help her concentrate in some upcoming entrance exams, I put two and two together and realised you’d be bored without your…support mechanisms. And you only ever come to see me when you’re bored.”
Miki cannot help laughing at the exaggeratedly glum expression on his face before scowling and saying, “I don’t like it when you give her that shit, it can’t be good for her.”
“Your concern for your friend is commendable, but I’d appreciate it if you treated me as a member of staff. Don’t presume too much on our long acquaintanceship.” When she nods apologetically, he continues, “the studies haven’t found long-term issues with anything I might hypothetically prescribe for a narcoleptic. Keep being suspicious of drugs though, there are many temptations in the world you’re about to set foot into.”
“I’ll never end up like Marion fu- um, flipping Jones.”
“Good. You know, I’ve felt more than a little guilty about prioritising Emi over you since we arrived, but you’ve hardly needed any support. You adapted pretty quickly to life here, as long as we don’t mention the shaky start,” he adds with a cheeky grin.
“Hey, it’s years since I got into a fight.”
“Thank goodness. You can ill afford to have that hand out of action. But as I said, we won’t mention that. Let’s focus on the positives, like how well you’ve managed to rebuild your life, like how you’ve found something to run towards. Thanks in no small part to Suzu!”
“I’d’ve kicked up a fuss about baby-sitting her if you hadn’t already brain-washed me into doing whatever you told me to.”
“You shouldn’t question the wisdom of your elders. My plans never fail! Well, almost never. I didn’t anticipate how things would turn out with Hisao…”
He laughs when Miki’s stomach growls loudly. “I bet you forgot breakfast without anyone to nag you. Go and get some lunch, I don’t want to have to scrape you off the track because you fainted from hunger while training! In case I don’t see you again before graduation, I’d like to say it’s been an honour working with you Ms. Miura, and I look forward to watching you compete on the world stage. Now stop bothering me and let me get on with my work!”
Grinning at the stunned expression on her face, he ushers her out of his office and gently closes the door.
Miki walks into the cafeteria and joins the queue, scanning the day’s offerings. ’I’m gonna miss the free food, even if it is bland as hell!’ she thinks, depositing a bowl of ramen and a bottle of Pocari sweat on a tray which she lifts carefully and steadies on her stump. Looking around for a seat, she spots a shock of blonde hair and makes her way to where Naomi is sitting. “Fancy some company?”
“Hi Miki, that’d be lovely. It’s pretty quiet now most of the seniors aren’t around. How come you’re on your own? We don’t often see you without Suzu or Hisao in tow.”
“I could say the same about you and Natsume. They’re away doing entrance exams, they figured out they could take in three different campuses on consecutive days, so they went on a tour. Madness, if you ask me, but at least they’re due home later this afternoon.”
Naomi shudders. “I can’t imagine putting myself through something like that! It’s tiring enough taking one exam, and when you factor in the travel…”
“Is Natsume off doing exams too?” Miki is surprised to see Naomi’s eyes suddenly glisten with unshed tears.
“I-I don’t know. I’ve hardly seen her since we finished classes and handed over the Newspaper Club to the juniors. It feels like she’s avoiding me.”
“What the hell? You two have been practically inseperable since first year. Did you fight or something?”
Naomi shakes her head, tears starting to leak from the corner of her eyes. “I really can’t think of anything I might have done to offend her. I’m scared Miki. What if she’s decided she’s outgrown me and is planning on going it alone?”
“Nah, I can’t believe that, I’ve seen the way she looks at you. It must be some sort of misunderstanding. Maybe she thinks you’re gonna leave her behind?”
“Oh no, I’d never do anything like that! I’m at my wits’ end, what am I supposed to do?”
Miki takes Naomi’s hand reassuringly. “You’ve gotta find her and talk it out. You’ll kick yourself if you let it slide and never see her again.”
“You’re right!” Naomi stands up decisively and wipes her eyes. “Thank you. I wish I’d talked to you earlier, I should’ve known someone in your position would give good relationship advice!”
“Fuck’s sake,” Miki mutters under her breath as Naomi rushes out of the cafeteria. “Does everyone know our business? At least she’s got enough sense not to shoot her mouth off about it.” Finishing her lunch, she stretches and decides to have a nap before training.
Miki comes around the bend of her final warm down lap and sees a familiar pair of spectators sitting in the bleachers. With a whoop of joy she shifts into top gear and sprints towards them, impatient to be reunited. Gathering them into a tight hug she says, “welcome home, how were the exams?”
“Ewww, Miki, you’re gross! But I’ll allow it ‘cos it’s your birthday. I think it’s fair to say we’re cautiously optimistic, right Hisao?”
He pulls them closer and nods. “Missed you so much.”
“Yeah yeah, I find that hard to believe when you’ve had this saucy minx all to yourself for the past few days!”
“To be honest, we’ve been too stressed and tired to do more than cuddle.”
“Fuck’s sake you two, I know what I’d get up to if I had the chance to stay in a room with a big bed and soundproof walls!”
He disengages from the hug and offers Miki a bag of souvenirs they had picked up on their travels. “Happy birthday!”
“Aww guys, you didn’t have to get me anything. Having you back is the best present I could’ve wished for.”
“Oh, so you don’t want this then?” Suzu giggles, waving an ornate envelope.
Miki grabs it and fumbles it open, an intrigued look on her face. When she sees what it contains she gasps. “The Imperial Suite at the Westin Hotel? Suzu, are you mad? This must’ve cost a fortu-”
Suzu stands on tiptoes and kisses her soundly, cutting off her protests. “You’re worth every Yen. Being away from you was torture for both of us. Don’t you want to show us what you’d get up to in a room with a big bed and soundproof walls?”
Miki’s grin is almost broad enough to split her face in half. “Hell yeah, you have no idea what I’ve been dreaming up while you were away. Come on, we’re heading into town as soon as I’ve showered and changed. I’m not gonna waste a second of this!”
“Think of it as a taste of things to come. When we leave school we’ll be able to get a little apartment together. Imagine having a place where we can be ourselves, where we won’t have to hide!” There is no mistaking the excitement in Suzu’s voice.
“Maybe this growing up and moving on business isn’t so bad after all!” With that said, Miki leads them away from the track, towards their future.