Ch. 6: Carrying Out the Challenge
Vio, who had injured his foot on a tack that had been inside his shoes, accepted some simple medical treatment, then immediately started his warm-ups.
(Even if it was only a tack, it caused bleeding…and…)
When Vio had been getting treated, his foot had been shaking slightly. His eyes had also been restless, as if betraying the trembling in his heart…
OO: “Vio…don’t you think you should really change the day for this?”
I asked it of him, unable to bear the worry I was feeling.
Vio: “No, it’s no good if I don’t do it today. If I can’t do it today…there’s no point.”
Vio said it like it was nothing, and a terrible feeling came over me.
Vio: “OO, I want you to sit with that boy in the audience. okay?”
Vio put his hands on my shoulders, and stared straight at me with a serious look on his face.
Ch. 7: Fist of Promise
Before the day of the challenge, within the bustling town of Lecord…-
Vio: “No, it’s no good if I don’t do it today. If I can’t do it today…there’s no point. OO, I want you to sit with that boy in the audience. Okay?”
In order to do as Vio had asked and watch the foot race with the boy, I went in search of him outside the stadium grounds…-
(T-that boy.)
I spotted the boy, crouched down in a corner of the town and making himself small.
OO: “…what’s wrong? Vio’s race is about to start, do you want to come watch it together?”
I called to the boy, and he looked up at me with tears in his eyes.
Boy: “Prince Vio…he was hurt, wasn’t he.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Boy: “I…I really thought I should quit, and that this was stupid, and I had planned to take it all back. Bu-but, I didn’t make it…”
(This boy…he put the tack in Vio’s shoes…)
Boy: “I did something really bad! Even though Prince Vio didn’t do anything wrong!”
The boy started crying, and I gently rubbed his back.
OO: “It’s alright. Vio wasn’t even mad, and he said he wants you to watch his race.”
Boy: “But…”
OO: “You know, Vio said he was the best at running. And that he’ll set a new record from practicing so much. So, shall we go cheer Prince Vio on?”
I continued gently persuading him, and the boy scrubbed his face and stood up.
Boy: “Yeah…!”
…
……
When we returned to the stadium, Vio was already on the grounds.
(I wonder if he’ll notice us…)
I thought it might be difficult within the crowd of people, so I vigorously waved my hand…-
Vio: “…!”
Vio noticed right away and waved back.
Vio: “You came to watch! Today, I will definitively, without a doubt, get number one! I’ll absolutely for sure keep our promise! It’s a promise between men.”
Vio turned to where we were and punched his fist into the sky, his smile a bottomless fount of cheer and not even a shadow of the injury or trembling remained on his face.
OO: “Are you going to answer him?”
I spoke quietly to the boy, and he hesitantly held his fist up into the air…
Vio: “It’s a promise…!”
As if guided by his loud voice, Vio held his fist up high. In the clear, serene sky, two fists pointed to the heavens.
(I’m glad…do your best Vio!)
As I prayed that from the depths of my heart, I fixed my eyes on the stadium grounds.
Announcer: “And now without further delay, we shall begin the race to set a new world record for short-distance running.”
The announcement spread out over the grounds, and the crowd got louder. Vio looked like he had set his mind to concentrating, taking deep, deep breathes, and stepped up to the starting point.
Ch. 8: Goddess of Victory
The air was tense, and the stadium was packed…-
Vio’s gaze was intense, fixated in front of him on the goal he would race to.
(Vio…!)
At last, the starting pistol rang out, and Vio took off like the wind.
Spectator 1: “Prince Vio-!!”
Spectator 2: “You can do it-!!”
Their loud cheers intersected each other. Without realizing, the boy next to me roughly grabbed my hand as he watched, his tense expression the same as mine.
And then it was over, having lasted an instant and all of eternity…-
Announcer: “Goooooooooooal!!! Prince Vio, Prince Vio’s time…! W-what, it’s the same! It’s the exact same time as the world record…!”
Along with the announcer, the entire grounds filled with cheering and applause.
OO: “Vio…!”
I called out without thinking, and the boy and I rushed over to Vio.
OO: “Vio! Congratulations.”
Vio: “…”
OO: “Vio?”
Vio let out a heavy sigh and hid his face.
Vio: “I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t break the record…”
Seeing him like this, when he’d been so passionately fixated on being number one, made my chest ache.
(But he was able to make everyone smile like this…that’s something Vio gave them.)
At that time…-
Boy: “You were so cool…!”
Vio: “You…”
The boy spoke up excitedly.
Boy: “Um…um, Prince Vio, I’m sorry…!”
Then the boy bowed his head deeply.
Boy: “I’m sorry…I…I.”
Vio: “You don’t have to say anything. More importantly, thanks for coming to watch me!”
The boy hung his head as he tried to speak, but Vio patted his head and smiled kindly at the boy.
Vio: “I promised. So I’ll quit…”
Boy: “No…!”
Vio: “But, there was no difference in my record.”
Boy: “Then…then keep challenging the records! You said you’d do what I said.”
The boy appealed to Vio, his voice sounding like he was on the verge of tears.
Vio: “…”
OO: “Vio, you can’t break your promise, right?”
Vio put his hand on the boy’s back and I smiled at him.
Vio: “…you’re right. As promised, I’ll keep challenging the records. So you can’t give up either. If you do, that’s the end, and there won’t be any dreams or future after that. Everyone wants to keep trying, and everyone has a chance. No matter how many times it takes, keep going! I’ll keep trying my best too from here on out.”
As I watched Vio, his eyes glistened brightly with tears, and the boy gave a big nod…-
That night, we returned to the castle and there was a magnificent congratulatory party held. The delighted look on Vio’s face, and the image of him when he’d crossed the goal line were firmly etched into my mind.
OO: “Vio, congratulations.”
Slowly, Vio and I stepped away and into the garden, and I congratulated him for the umpteenth time.
Vio: “Thanks. But I didn’t actually get first place so I feel kind of weird…”
OO: “But it was so fun, and I was so excited…”
Vio: “Then I gave you a dream too? Along with being excited?”
OO: “Yes, of course.”
Vio: “Alright. I really can’t give up!”
OO: “…!”
He seemed so excited as he said it, and Vio wrapped his arms around me and held me up.
As I hung unsteadily in the air with Vio holding me up, I put both my hands on his chest. I could feel the tight, corded muscle there, and it sent a shock through my heart, which started pounding.
Vio: “Thanks to you, I tapped into my inner strength and was able to concentrate. And I completely forgot about the pain in my foot…I ran my best right until the end. Thanks OO!!”
OO: “Ah…Vio.”
While being held up, Vio excitedly spun me round and around…and within my spinning gaze, Vio’s smile was remarkably brilliant.
Vio: “I feel absolutely amazing today!”
Vio said as much in delight, and slowly lowered me to the ground. I raised my eyes, and saw Vio’s expression full of affection…
Vio: “You’re my…”
As he spoke, Vio put his fingers on my cheek, and gazed into my eyes. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight, and were lit with passion, a gleam more beautiful than I had ever seen…
Vio: “My Goddess of Victory.”
Vio said those words to me, his expression satisfied and without even a trace of embarrassment.
(My cheek feels warm where he’s touching it…)
Vio: “So, will you always cheer me on? If you’re there, I feel like I can run anytime, anywhere.”
OO: “Vio…”
Vio’s face slowly drew nearer. I couldn’t control the pounding of my heart, and his gentle lips touched mine for a moment…-
Vio: “Well, I can’t really let you refuse. The Goddess of Victory is mine alone.”
Vio’s voice was strong as he whispered those sweet words, and my chest felt like it was burning. Floating on that heat, I couldn’t even hear the crowd of people.
END