Ch. 6: Postponing the Challenge
Contrary to the enthusiasm that I could see bursting from the stadium, my heart was subdued and filled with unease…-
Vio: “I-I’m fine, it’s no big deal! Don’t worry about it. I’ll still make my attempt.”
(Vio…)
Vio: “Really, I’m totally fine.”
I wondered if Vio was in self-denial, and if his heart was actually unsteady, and I became unable to bear the worry in my heart.
But I couldn’t say anything as he stubbornly made as if he’d go out to the stadium grounds, and he disinfected his injury…-
Referee: “…Prince Vio, let’s postpone the challenge for today.”
Vio: “…!”
I wondered if he’d heard about what had happened as the referee went over to talk to Vio with a subdued expression on his face.
Referee: “For something like this to happen to the prince…if anything else were to happen, it could be terrible. You cannot go on like this.”
Vio: “No, no way. I will absolutely not postpone or suspend this.”
(Vio…I’m sure this is because of his promise with that boy.)
OO: “Vio, I’ll go talk to the boy. So how about you challenge the record when you’re back at one-hundred percent.”
Vio: “! No.”
OO: “…please.”
Vio: “…I will NOT turn my back on this competition.”
Vio shook his head forcefully.
OO: “Vio.”
After Vio’s foot had been disinfected, I took his shaking hand.
Vio: “OO?”
OO: “I think that even if you were to do the race in your current condition, you wouldn’t have the strength for it.”
Vio: “But…to stop the competition just because of my condition…”
I stroked his hand, trying to calm him.
OO: “Since you’re so fixated with being number one…shouldn’t you be fixated on your body being in perfect condition too? So you show everyone your dream.”
Vio: “…”
Vio pursed his lips and hung his head so that his pink hair hid his expression.
I kept my desire to touch his hair in check, and firmly held on to his hand.
Ch. 7: Desires Conveyed
A few days later…-
For a while, Vio was frustrated and his expression grim. But not long after, he regained his footing and seemed back to his old positive self and made adjustments for the new day when he would challenge the record.
Vio: “Alright, I’m in luck, the weather’s clear! I’ll do my best for sure today!”
Having fully recovered, Vio continued his warm-ups.
And then…
(Vio, do your best…!)
The starting signal rang out with a loud crack that pierced my ears, and Vio shot off.
Spectator 1: “Prince Vio–!”
Spectator 2: “Prince Vio! You can do it!”
Just like before, the large crowd of people enthusiastically cheered Vio on.
(Vio…!)
With a single-minded focus on what was in front of him, Vio ran on, and I continued to stare at him without blinking.
OO: “Go Vio…!!”
But then the results came…
Announcer: “How unfortunate! That’s too bad! Once again, there is no new world record…!”
And so Vio’s attempt ended, once more without him being able to break the record…-
(Vio…!)
As if something snapped, I went down the stadium seating and turned towards where Vio was.
But as soon as I reached him, I saw Vio with his head hung in frustration as he bit his lip, and I couldn’t find the right words to say to him.
And then…-
Vio: “…it probably would’ve been the same, running when I was hurt or running today.”
Vio spoke, his voice quiet.
Vio: “I couldn’t keep my promise…sorry, I showed you something so uncool.”
I felt a pressure on my heart hearing him sound so depressed, not like him at all.
(Don’t say that…)
Vio: “I’ll stop…”
OO: “No! Please don’t give up…!”
Before I could stop myself, I grabbed Vio’s hand and shouted.
Vio’s eyes went wide as he looked at me, those eyes glistening with a thin film of tears.
OO: “I was really moved when you said you wanted to give everyone a dream. Me, and everyone else, we get courage from you Vio. So don’t give up…to me, a Vio like that is…”
I was emotional as I spoke, but then I caught myself in surprise and calmed down.
(What…am I saying?)
Vio: “…”
Vio looked surprised as he stared at me, his eyes wide.
(I-I’m so embarrassed…!)
As I moved my hands to hide my cheeks, which were a little warm, Vio grabbed my wrists.
Vio: “Um!! …I.”
Even though I unintentionally tried to shake my hands, Vio’s powerful grip wouldn’t let me go.
Vio: “Right now, I, um…-“
At that time…-
Spectator 1: “Prince Vio, you can do it!”
Seeing the state that Vio and I were in, the people in the crowd all stood up at once.
Spectator 2: “Please show us a lot more challenges again!”
Spectator 3: “Everyone enjoys watching your challenges Prince Vio!”
Everyone’s voices echoed as one as they called out shouts of support.
Spectator 4: “I always think of how I can keep going when I watch the prince!!”
Vio: “Guys…”
(Vio’s feelings…reached them.)
At that scene, both Vio and my eyes glistened, and my heart filled. At that time…-
Boy: “…I-I’m… s-sorry….”
I turned to the voice that had come out of nowhere, and the boy who had made the promise with Vio stood there, his eyes full of tears.
Boy: “Before, I did something bad…I put the tack in the prince’s shoes!”
OO: “…”
(I had thought that might be the case…but…)
Vio: “…”
Vio smiled gently as he crouched down in front of the boy.
Vio: “…yeah, I know. But it’s all over now, so don’t worry.”
Boy: “Eh…!”
OO: “Vio…”
Then Vio smiled at the boy, his eyes wide.
Vio: “Hey, so, how’d I do?”
Boy: “…you were cool.”
Vio: “Yeah!? That makes me happy!!”
Boy: “Your clothes…are uncool though.”
Vio: “Yeah, I see!!”
Vio spoke in a loud voice as he ruffled the boy’s hair.
Boy: “…um, s-so it’s okay, you don’t have to keep our promise! For someone like me…”
Vio: “Don’t say that. You and everyone else are the precious friends of this country. Friends who have dreams together!”
Vio, moved to tears, gestured his hand towards the large crowd of people.
Vio: “From now on, I’ll keep racing towards my dream of being number one, and make everyone excited! So, let’s light this country on fire, together!!”
After that, the people couldn’t be stopped as they descended on Vio.
At the center of this passionate, burning country was a prince who blazed like fire…
I watched that sight, and it filled my heart.
Ch. 8: A Charge of Energy
The next day…-
The sun shone brightly, and the warm sunlight fell on the country.
Vio: “From now on, let’s light this country on fire together!!”
(He couldn’t get number one…but Vio’s desire reached everyone.)
As I spent time with Vio in his room, I once again remembered what had happened the day before.
Vio: “Ha…I was always outside for the short-distance challenges. It’s been a long time since I took a break like this.”
Vio spoke quietly as if to himself and reclined on the sofa.
OO: “Since you’re always trying so hard…it’s good to take a break for just today isn’t it?”
Vio: “You think-? I feel like my body’s getting weak.”
OO: “You really like moving about, don’t you Vio.”
Vio: “Yeah! I never miss weight training, which I do every morning when I get up and before I go to bed. And I pay attention to what I eat…”
Vio said as much, then suddenly stopped talking.
OO: “Vio…?”
Vio: “Nothing…I was just thinking of how I showed you something so uncool yesterday…”
OO: “But…it wasn’t uncool.”
Vio: “But, I had thought this time for sure. Why is it always…I fall one step short…I’m so uncool…”
Seeing Vio look so sad, his eyes downcast, I felt a prick of pain in my heart, and then it was filled with a passion…
OO: “Vio, you weren’t uncool at all. In fact, I was really moved by you. No matter how many records you challenge, no matter how many times you can’t get number one. You’re serious about your goals and try your hardest, and when people see you do that…I think it gives them all strength. To me, that Vio is number one…”
Vio: “…!?”
Vio stared at me in surprise.
(Ah…-)
I felt a moment of embarrassment as I talked about what was on my mind, but I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out…-
OO: “…Vio, you give a lot of people dreams. Me, and that boy, and the many people in this country…! You are definitely not uncool, so please, stay like you are now. That’s the Vio I want to cheer on forever…!”
I appealed to Vio with the same enthusiasm I had taken in the day before.
Vio: “OO…forever, that’s…”
(Ah…just now, was that like a confession…!?)
OO: “Um, I…-“
Regardless, I was embarrassed and stood up in a panic.
But I wasn’t allowed to move away as I was immediately caught in Vio’s arm.
Vio: “Nope, I’m not letting you go.”
He pulled me in tightly, and I looked around at his face…
It was something I was seeing for the first time, a Vio different from the one I’d seen until this point.
(Vio…?)
My heart started pounding loudly in my chest.
Vio: “Since you said it like that, I want you to be with me now. And from now…until forever…”
As he touched me, he pulled me back so I sat next to him.
Then Vio gently rested his head on my shoulder.
Vio: “You sure say some weird stuff… It’s like you’re making this strength well up from deep inside me, like you’ve got some weird power.”
Vio said it like a whisper, in a voice more quiet than usual.
Vio: “And when I’m like this…I can relax.”
I was at a loss, feeling our bodies against each other and hearing the pounding of my heart, and I slowly looked at Vio…
His usual stiff expression was relaxed…and his profile looked sorrowful as the light from the window shone on it.
Vio: “I charge everyone up…but, OO, will you do that for me?”
OO: “Me?”
Vio: “Yeah.”
He drew closer and his hair tickled my cheek.
(I…I want to give Vio his energy. I want him to smile…)
I was happy that Vio and I shared the same feelings, and I felt a satisfaction in my heart.
OO: “Sure, of course I will.”
I smiled, and Vio’s face lit up in delight.
Vio: “Just a little longer… let me recharge. That okay?”
He sounded a little like he was relying on me, but also a little like he was demanding it, and I gave a small nod.
OO: “…sure. Just a little longer…”
As I felt Vio’s warmth, slowly…
I stroked Vio’s hair, which smelled like sunshine.
END