Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Adagio
Sanae, the twins, and Haru rushed over to Minami, grabbing her hands.
"Are you okay!?"
"Yes, he didn’t do anything to me!" Minami assured them.
Taiya spoke up, teasing her friend as usual: "He called you little bunny!’"
Immediately, Tsuka added: "That’s so cute!!"
"No. No, it’s not cute at all."
Asayoshi joined the conversation, much more serious than usual:
"Are you really okay, Minami?"
"Hm? Yes, he really didn’t do anything," she replied, sitting back in her seat.
"These aren’t the circumstances I imagined for our race, but who cares! Let’s give it our best and keep it in the spirit of sportsmanship, okay??" He extended his fist toward her, radiating a sense of warmth and encouragement.
In response, Minami smiled and gently bumped her fist against Asayoshi's
Three hours later, at Azumi’s house.
Azumi was peacefully reading a book she had borrowed from Minami. It’s worth noting that Mrs. Katayama loved cozy spaces. She had transformed the living room into a haven perfect for reading. Scented candles added to the ambiance, making everything feel just right.
However, her bubble of tranquility popped when she remembered that Narumi would be coming home soon. Right on cue, the door opened, revealing Narumi and her friend, Sayana.
"Hi, Mom!! Ohh, it smells amazing in here!!" Narumi exclaimed, immediately noticing the inviting atmosphere.
"Hello, my darling. Hi, Sayana, how are you?" Azumi responded warmly.
"Very well, thank you! And you?" asked Sayana, visibly delighted by the welcoming environment.
"I’ll be in the living room if you need me. I’ll start preparing dinner in about 30 minutes—does that work for you?"
"Nooo, Mom! You’ve gone all out today! Let me take care of it. You’re off-duty tonight," Narumi declared enthusiastically, eager to give her mother a break.
Amused, Azumi smiled at her daughter’s determination.
"Alright, I’ll leave it to you, then!"
The two friends headed upstairs to Narumi’s room, leaving Azumi to return to her book. But she barely had a moment to sit down when Minami walked in.
"Hi, Mom!" Minami exclaimed cheerfully.
"Haha, you’re home earlier than usual today!" Azumi replied, clearly happy to see her daughter.
"Yep! Just a little warm-up before the race later. Asayoshi is challenging me again," Minami said with a mischievous grin.
"My little champion will win with flying colors!" Azumi added, radiating confidence in her daughter.
Minami seemed to be trying to remember something important, her brow furrowing in thought. Azumi noticed but decided not to comment, focusing instead on her book.
Suddenly, Minami squeezed onto the small couch beside her mother.
"Minami, really…" Azumi sighed, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You’re not a little kid anymore."
"Ohh! You’re reading the book that disappeared from my bookshelf!" Minami noticed.
"Yes! Manipulation fascinates me. I love understanding its mechanisms. I’m surprised you read a book like this all the way through."
"Oh, it was mostly because of the author. I love their perspective. The topic itself didn’t really interest me that much."
"Ah, that makes sense," Azumi said thoughtfully. "It would resonate more with your sister."
"Narumi!? She struggles to finish the quarterly assigned novels—no way she’d tackle a book that deeply explores such a theme!" Minami said, laughing.
"You underestimate her, Minami."
The doorbell rang, abruptly snapping Minami’s memory into place.
"Right!! Dad texted me that he’d be home earlier than usual!"
"Earlier? He would have messaged me, too." Azumi checked her phone. "Ah, yes, he did…"
Minami teased with a giggle: "Mom, you’re so cute when you’re flustered. I’ll get it!"
Minami headed to the door and opened it with a wide smile—only to find herself face-to-face with someone completely unexpected.
The man standing there was very, very tall. His eyes nearly reached the top of the doorframe, his massive build exuding an aura of overwhelming presence. Broad shoulders and a towering posture added to his intimidating appearance.
His face was marked by sharp, serious features that hinted at a professional demeanor, though perhaps one tied to dubious activities. His piercing eyes, observant and focused, gave the impression that he was constantly evaluating his surroundings.
He wore a professional uniform, likely associated with the organization he worked for, which emphasized his dedication to his role. His very presence radiated confidence and authority.
Thinking he might be some sort of mobster, like those in her books, Minami stammered:
"Go–Good afternoon? How can I help you? Please tell me you’ve got the wrong house!"
The man seemed to analyze her like a machine. Countless scenarios began racing through Minami’s mind, fueled by her love of dystopian and horror stories. Suddenly, Azumi appeared behind her.
"Ohh, if it isn’t Sao!"
"Ah! Good afternoon, Mrs. Katayama. Lovely to see you in good health," he replied, his voice surprisingly gentle.
"Mom knows him?? Wait, that logo… Do you work with my dad??"
"Bingo! You must be Minami! You’ve grown so much!"
Azumi invited him in to wait for Shinsuke, offering him a seat in the living room. She went to fetch him a drink while Minami and Sao locked eyes.
At that moment, Narumi and Sayana came downstairs to start preparing lunch.
"I’ll take care of everything, Sayana—you’ll see how good I—" Narumi froze mid-sentence, spotting the intimidating giant sitting in their living room.
Sayana whispered nervously: "You know him, right?"
"Uhh… Hi, sir?"
"Hello! You must be little Narumi!"
"Y–Yes…?"
Azumi returned with a small tray and decided to jog her daughters’ memories.
"This is Mr. Tsuji Sao. He’s worked with Shinsuke since the founding of SCGD, your father’s company. Minami, you adored him! You always played with him and never wanted to leave his side. He was like your Jun. Narumi, you were just a baby, so it’s no surprise you don’t remember him."
Minami scrutinized him.
"My Jun?? Why am I only seeing you now?"
"Well… It’s not proper to visit your boss’s family uninvited. Today, he seemed in a good mood, so he asked me to wait here. That’s rare!"
"He ‘seemed’ in a good mood?" Azumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Haha, interpret that as you wish, Mrs. Katayama. That’s all I’ll say," Sao replied with an enigmatic smile.
The two adults exchanged knowing looks, sharing nuances the others couldn’t grasp.
"Add to that the fact you were sent to manage operations in another city. That’s why you haven’t visited. Don’t make my husband seem unnecessarily harsh in front of my daughters."
"That wasn’t my intention at all!"
Narumi quickly changed the subject.
"Well, come on, Sayana, let’s go. Are you staying for lunch?"
"I don’t know! That depends on Mr. Katayama."
"They’re staying," Azumi stated firmly.
Minami continued to eye Sao with suspicion.
Fifteen minutes later, Shinsuke finally arrived.
"Is everyone here?"
Azumi greeted him at the door.
"Yes, everyone," she said, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
Shinsuke joined the group in the living room, sipping the tea Azumi had prepared. The adults talked while the others listened quietly. It was clear Shinsuke was holding back from discussing work, likely to maintain confidentiality.
Narumi returned with a simple yet impressive dish that wowed everyone at the table.
They shared the meal with joy. As time passed, it was time for the girls to return to school. Shinsuke insisted on driving them, and even Minami reluctantly agreed, despite her lingering feelings about what he had done in front of her school that night.
Shinsuke kissed Azumi goodbye before leaving.
"You’ll still see him tonight!" she thought to herself.
After dropping off Narumi and Sayana, only Minami remained in the car. The conversations gradually became more open.
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"How's school going? Is that boy from last time still bothering you?" asked Shinsuke, her father, in an interested tone.
"Are you kidding? Of course not! He wouldn’t dare try anything again after what you did to him. Especially now that rumors are spreading about it," replied Minami confidently.
"Oh, he did his job," added Shinsuke, amused.
"What? You paid a student?! Don’t tell me you did that!" exclaimed Minami in shock.
"I did, actually. I paid a student to spread the rumor so that both the teachers and students would be more vigilant. Don’t worry, no names will come out," Shinsuke explained with a sly smile.
"Oh, for crying out loud... Dad, please! Don’t get involved in my stuff. Let me handle it, okay? This isn’t your workplace, and we don’t pay kids to spread rumors!" Minami replied firmly.
"Well… that’s what I used to do at your age when I wanted some peace," admitted Shinsuke with a nostalgic grin.
"Alright, stop! I’m getting out here, and you’re not going any further. I’ll take care of it, okay?" insisted Minami determinedly.
Shinsuke stopped the car to avoid irritating her further and let her leave. As Minami stepped out and closed the door, she added in exasperation, "Paying a student—what nonsense, Dad!"
Inside the car, Shinsuke chuckled to himself. Sao, his assistant, was stunned by this unexpected side of his boss and found himself speechless. Breaking the silence, Shinsuke remarked, "It’s moments like these that I want to cherish."
"Yes, I understand, sir," Sao replied, regaining his composure.
"Alright, let’s get back to work," Shinsuke said, returning to his serious demeanor.
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At Unmei High School, Minami joined her friend and couldn’t believe her eyes. Sanae was taking her revenge against Arata Kurou, with the rest of the group crowding around the table where they were playing.
"S-Sanae?? Why are you playing against him!?" Minami asked, baffled by the scene.
"He beat me earlier! I don’t want to end on a loss!" Sanae replied with determination.
"But I’ve beaten you again, Sanae. I predicted all seven of your moves." Kurou laid down his cards and walked away with his friends cheering him on.
Devastated at losing again at her favorite game, Sanae slumped onto the table. "How can I keep losing to him…"
"Hey… it’s just a game, who cares? Let’s go to class," Minami said.
Sanae stood up, dragging her feet behind her.
"Poor Sanae. She always used to win against me. I understand how she feels!" Minami thought, loyal to her friend.
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Later, in the classroom, barely had the girls walked in when Katsuro, one of the troublemakers, shouted, "Haha, if it isn’t the loser!"
Kurou gestured for Katsuro to stop and added, "Leave her alone. Don’t want her crying—otherwise the bunny will get upset."
The troublemakers burst into laughter, while Minami looked at him with weary indifference.
"Come on, let’s sit down and ignore them, alright, Sanae?"
Oddly, Sanae didn’t respond. When Minami turned to check on her, she saw the fire of determination in her friend’s eyes. "I’ll beat you one day, Arata. You’ll see," Sanae declared triumphantly as she went to her seat.
The quiet "love-note writers" in the corner were jotting down observations of the scene until the twins yanked their notebook away.
"Enough with writing those fake romances, you two," the twins scolded.
Haru’s disapproving glare made it clear the love-note writers weren’t allowed to claim ownership of someone else’s story. They eventually returned the notebook with sullen expressions.
The math teacher entered, and class began.
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As soon as class ended, Asayoshi rushed over to Minami. "It’s time, MINAMI!!"
Without paying him any attention, she grabbed her things and walked out with her friend, munching on a cereal bar as she went.
Asayoshi caught up to her in the hallway, putting a hand on her shoulder. Minami turned to him, intrigued, and waited for whatever nonsense he had to say this time. Instead, he silently pulled out a snack—a perfect cereal bar in Minami’s eyes. It was, in fact, the very same one he had taken from her earlier.
"We’re going to be even now!" he said triumphantly.
Tired of arguing, Minami simply nodded. "Alright, Asayoshi," she said before continuing on her way.
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In the locker room, students were changing into their gym uniforms. Some of the troublemakers, like Nao, were loud and rowdy, boasting about the recent student vote. His disruptive noise reached such a peak that a teacher had to leave their classroom to tell him to quiet down.
On the field, Minami noticed another student who wasn’t part of Class 2-2 standing with the teacher. A sense of unease washed over her. "Oh no," she thought, anticipating an uncomfortable situation.
"Good afternoon, students. Allow me to introduce Hiroto Tanaka, a representative from the track and field club. For those who don’t know him, he’s here today as an observer. He’s scouting for potential talent to strengthen his team!"
"Our club is already one of the best!" Minami thought to herself. Raising her hand, she asked with a tone of suspicion and curiosity, "Why our class?"
The representative seemed prepared for her question. "Don’t worry—I’m not here to see you run. I’m visiting every class," he replied.
"Does he even attend his own classes?" the students collectively wondered.
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As the students prepared for an intense session of endurance training, Minami displayed her usual athletic confidence, though her focus was on supporting Sanae, who stood beside her with a mix of nervousness and determination.
The teacher blew the whistle to start the warm-up lap, and Minami set her pace to match Sanae's. Instead of sprinting ahead, she encouraged her friend to keep going.
Asayoshi jogged past them. "Minami? We’re racing at the end of the session, right?"
"Sure, sure. Just don’t wear yourself out and come up with excuses later."
"Haha! Don’t worry about me—I’m full of energy!" he said as he sped off.
After the warm-up, the students gathered around the teacher to hear the instructions for the next activity. It was a challenging aerobic speed endurance test in pairs. One partner would run on the track, while the other would sit in the stands, recording the number of cones their partner passed every time the whistle blew.
Minami and Sanae paired up for the exercise. Minami mentally prepared herself, knowing the challenge would test her stamina and focus. Sanae sat with a notebook and stopwatch, ready to track each cone Minami passed.
When the whistle blew, Minami launched into a steady, determined run. Sanae followed her movements carefully, recording the results with precision.
Minami maintained a strong rhythm, her experience helping her pace herself effectively. Each cone she passed brought her closer to her goal. The competitive yet supportive atmosphere of the session spurred her on.
By the end of the activity, Minami completed an impressive number of cone passes. As she returned to the stands, breathless but satisfied, she asked, "So, how did I do?"
Sanae smiled and handed her the notebook. "You passed 22 cones in three minutes!"
Pleased with the result, Minami wiped her forehead with a towel, slung it over her shoulders, and sat next to Sanae. Doing a quick calculation on her phone, she said, "So, dividing the total distance by time—1,100 meters in 3 minutes—gives 366.67 meters per minute. To convert that to kilometers per hour, we multiply by 60… that’s about 22 kilometers per hour. My aerobic speed is 22km/h. Eh, I’ve slowed down a bit. Oh well."
Sanae smiled as Minami finished her calculation. "Oh no... Is it my turn now?" she asked nervously, glancing at the track.
Noticing that several students from the first group were still recovering, Sanae said, "Yeah, we’re waiting until everyone in the first group has had time to recover."
Sanae, slightly concerned, discreetly observed Asayoshi, who was focused on his own performance. "It’s strange. Asayoshi didn’t come to check your results," she remarked, glancing at Minami for an explanation.
Minami, who knew Asayoshi’s behavior well, replied confidently, "He’s focused, that’s normal. He’s probably mentally preparing for his turn. Besides, Tishiku is a great runner… He plays soccer, so it’s not surprising."
Standing up with determination, Minami carefully folded her towel and placed it on the bench beside her. "Stretch properly. I’m going to talk to Tanaka," she told Sanae, who nodded with a mix of determination and nervousness.
Approaching Tanaka, who stood nearby, Minami was greeted by his usual sense of humor. "You’re terrible, Minami," he teased.
Raising an eyebrow, Minami, accustomed to such remarks, replied with a faint, amused smile. "Thanks? I’m not sure what you mean by that."
Tanaka grinned and added in a more serious tone, "I’m just kidding! You’re amazing as always! Did you see Tishiku? He’s impressive, isn’t he?"
Minami quickly recalled Tishiku’s performance. "No, I didn’t really notice, but I think he came in second," she admitted.
Tanaka nodded before adding admiringly, "Exactly! But he’s already in the soccer club. Have you run with all your classmates yet?"
Minami shook her head slightly. "No. I’ve always stayed with Sanae."
Tanaka gave her a friendly piece of advice, "Break away from her a little, explore more with the others. You never know what you might discover!"
Minami nodded but smirked slightly as she replied, "No, thanks. Sanae is my priority. I’ll stick with her for now."
Tanaka studied her for a moment before smiling back. "As you wish! But don’t forget, there are hidden treasures among your classmates."
"Really? By the way, I came to ask if you spotted anyone interesting in the first group," she asked, leaning against a nearby table.
"Hmm, yes, there are two or three," Tanaka replied. Then, pointing to a student in the distance, he added, "And I really like that one."
Curious, Minami asked, "Daisuke?! Don’t tell me he’s secretly talented at running?"
Tanaka shook his head with a mischievous smile. "Not at all. He waves his hands while running—it’s hilarious!"
Minami gave a small smile but said nothing. "I can’t tell if he’s joking or not," she thought.
The whistle blew, signaling the second group to get ready. Minami bid farewell to Tanaka and returned to the bleachers.
From the stands, Minami could be heard loudly cheering. The starting signal was given, and the MAS test began. Minami caught sight of her rival spraying perfume in the corner of her eye. Amused, she approached her.
"What are you doing?" Minami asked, curious.
"Mind your own business!"
Minami sat down next to Ayemi and snatched the sheet from her hands. "Let me see your form, will you?" she said. Noticing an empty box, she added, "You can’t fill in this part? You need to convert your MAS into kilometers." While explaining, Minami did the necessary calculations to complete the sheet.
Fortunately for Ayemi, Kaori and Rikka were running and didn’t notice what was happening. "Am I dreaming, or are you… being nice? Could it be that you’ve changed?"
Minami burst out laughing. "No way! Normally, I hate you with all my heart. But right now, we’re doing the best sport in the world—why would I waste my time fighting with you?"
After finishing Ayemi’s form, Minami set it down, grabbed a bit of her perfume, and walked away.
"Hey! You don’t use someone else’s perfume!! And she just told me she hates me with a smile on her face!? I hate you too, idiot! I hope you trip during your race against Asayoshi!"
The teacher overheard her yelling and scolded her for her language, but Minami seemed unfazed and simply laughed it off.
Moments later, Kurou and Nao joined Minami. "We’re here to see your MAS," Kurou said seriously.
"Of course!" Minami handed them her form with a smile.
Nao and Kurou exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "You’ve got this in the bag! You’re definitely going to win!" Nao exclaimed. "We’re going to clean out everyone’s bets! Hahaha!"
"But Asayoshi is still running. Wait to see his MAS before you get too confident," Minami reminded them.
Hearing this, the smug smiles disappeared from their faces. The two boys sat next to Minami and watched Asayoshi’s performance in silence.
After three minutes, they went to check Asayoshi’s MAS, while Minami quickly headed to congratulate Sanae on her effort.
Sanae had achieved a MAS of 12, which wasn’t bad at all. She was proud of herself but too exhausted to repeat the same performance.
The twins and Haru joined them. Haru had reached 14, another solid result. As for the twins, they both scored 12, showing they were on par with Sanae in terms of athletic ability.
The teacher then initiated a general recovery phase, calling the first group for an active cooldown together. After 10 minutes, they were instructed to repeat the MAS test.
Ultimately, Minami matched her initial MAS exactly, impressing the teacher, who couldn’t believe such talent was in his class.
As expected, Sanae’s performance dropped in the second run, down to 11. Minami, who had predicted an even bigger decrease, reassured her.
Finally, the students were asked to walk a lap around the field to cool down. However, the troublemakers interrupted, proposing a final race between Asayoshi and Minami to settle the score.
Seeing that no one objected and that the participants seemed willing, the teacher agreed.
Standing on the starting line, the teacher announced the rules. "This will be a 100-meter sprint. You’ve done endurance, so let’s mix it up a little."
Both nodded, ready to go. The leader moved behind the teacher for a better view of the race. Excitement filled the air as everyone’s eyes fixed on the two athletes.
"This is it, Minami!! Get ready to lose!" Asayoshi taunted, brimming with confidence.
Minami, as bold as ever, replied with a sly grin, "Haha! I like your confidence! I hope you ate that cereal bar—this is going to be a piece of cake!"
Feigning offense, Asayoshi shot back, "What?! So you admit it!"
Minami raised an eyebrow. "Are you an idiot or what?"
At first, not many seemed invested in the race. But soon, the whole class buzzed with excitement, eager to see the showdown between the top performers. The murmurs grew into shouts of encouragement as the teacher prepared to start the race.
"On your marks!... Get set…" the teacher began, while the students shouted in unison, "Go!"
The race was on. Minami kept accelerating, her speed seemingly increasing with every stride. Her pace was so impressive that some spectators wondered if she had hidden superpowers. Her black hair flowed behind her like a superhero’s cape as she devoured the track effortlessly.
Meanwhile, Asayoshi struggled to keep up. His determined expression betrayed a hint of worry as Minami pulled further ahead. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t close the gap—it was as if Minami was in another league.
The class’s cheers turned into astonished gasps as they witnessed Minami’s overwhelming dominance. Some joked that she might have rocket boosters in her shoes, while others claimed she could outrun a racehorse.
Crossing the finish line with an absurdly wide lead, Minami left no doubt about her victory. The class erupted into applause mixed with laughter and admiration. It was an epic sprint, though Minami’s win was so decisive it bordered on comedic.
Among the loudest and most cheerful were Kurou and Nao, their enthusiasm spreading throughout the group. Amid the commotion, the class representative slipped away with a wide grin, leaving behind a celebratory atmosphere.
As the teacher tried to restore order by asking the students to walk a recovery lap, Kurou and Nao, still buzzing with excitement, grabbed Minami. Kurou placed a bunny-ear headband on her head, and together they hoisted her onto their shoulders to parade her around the field.
Surprised but amused by their energy, Minami went along with the playful celebration. Though she didn’t fully understand what was happening, she recalled the competitive spirit from the previous year and decided to embrace the moment, enjoying the spontaneous joy of the scene.
END OF CHAPTER