Hikigaya “But don’t worry. I won’t tell the others your secret. Your hard, unloving persona still holds strong!”

He winks at her and she rolls her eye and smiles before heading inside. She tosses her bag in her room as her mom turns to her from the living room.

Hamasaki “How was it sweaty?”

Shiori “It was a lot of fun.”

Hamasaki “I’m so glad to hear it.”

Shiori smiles at her mom and heads into her room. She flops down on her bed. 

Shiori ‘I guess I have put up that persona…’

CH. 8

Later that week, back at school, the bell rings ending the first class of the day. The next class is physical education. The group all heads into the locker room to change into their p.e. uniforms. Fortunately, they all got lockers fairly close to one another so there weren’t too many people around them they weren’t comfortable changing in front of. 

Haru “I heard that they finally got a permanent teacher for our class.”

Lucy “I hope they’re just as easy as the sub. Man, did I enjoy walking laps and doing squats. So easy.”

Chizuru and Sugawara giggle at Lucy’s laziness. Shiori puts on her shorts as she looks over at Ryuji changing shirts. She blushes as she watches in slow motion Ryuji pull up his shirt showing his belly button and chest. She smiles, enjoying the view before Hikigaya snaps his fingers in front of her face.

Hikigaya “Hello, calling Shiori back down please.”

She quickly snaps out of it and continues putting on her uniform.

Hikigaya “You know he’s going to notice you staring one of these days.”

Shiori “No he won’t. He’s all the way down there.”

Hikigaya disappointedly looks away.

Hikigaya “How did I get stuck in the locker next to yours anyway?”

Shiori “We’re stuck together, remember?”

Hikigaya “Ugh, don’t remind me…”

Haru “Haha! Yeah that’s right! Man, you guys should’ve seen your faces when you got your numbers! It was priceless!”

They remember the first day P.E. started. Everyone was getting different numbers for their lockers. Hikigaya was excited, looking forward to maybe being put next to Chizuru but once they got their numbers they noticed they were right next to each other. They both had looks dread and defeat. Shiori swings her hand around, wiping away the memory bubble.

Shiori “Yeah, yeah. We were there. Let’s just go.”

As they finish up and head out, they go to where their class is designated on the field and line up. Suddenly they hear yelling.

Mr. Goda “Alright, listen up! I’m your new and permanent trainer, Mr. Goda! But you lot will address me as Sir and nothing else, got that! I’m here to whip you lazy teenagers into the best shape of your lives! Now I want to see sweat, I want to see drive and nothing less, understand? Now get out there and give me three laps around the track! Go!”

He blows into his whistle hard as the class stands there shocked.

Shiori ‘Oh boy…’

She sweats. Before anyone moves, one of the boys of the class leans forward.

Boy “Um, Mr. Sir. You’re, like, just supposed to be our p.e. teacher. Not some drill sergeant.”

Mr. Goda, who is a very large, muscular man, steps up to the boy and towers over him. He breathes out his nose causing steam. 

Mr. Goda “Son, you will know if I give you drills.”

Boy “Yeah that’s not what I mean- AHHHH!”

Mr. Goda then grabs the boy by the shirt with one arm and throws him into the sky. The class looks in shock.

Sugawara “Is he even human?..”

Mr. Goda turns to face the class. They all stiffen up.

Mr. Goda “I only have one rule. If it pertains to physical education, do what I say when I say.”

He then catches the boy in his arm from the sky.

Mr. Goda “Got it?”

They salute him.

Class “Yes sir!”

Mr. Goda “So what are you still doing here!? Move, move, move!”

He starts clapping at them and they all take off running. They make their way from the grassy field to the track and field area with the large track around the field. As they run, Lucy whines about having to exercise and as Sugawara and Chizuru struggle to keep up. Ryuji and Haru jog with moderate effort. While Shiori jogs towards the front with seemingly no effort. As she goes, Hikigaya catches up to her and starts jogging next to her.

Hikigaya “You’re pretty fast.”

Shiori “Thanks.”

Hikigaya “Too bad I’m faster. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to talk you up to Mr. Goda while we wait for you.”

He smirks at her and takes off running. She looks offended and picks up her pace. As she starts running, she eventually passes him so he gets faster too. As they start competing, reaching an all out sprint, they do their laps and eventually charge back to Mr. Goda. He stands there with a stopwatch in hand waiting for the first of the students to come back, not expecting anyone to be back at least for another 5 minutes. To his surprise, he turns to see Shiori and Hikigaya angrily racing each other towards him at breakneck speeds, almost knocking each other over. He freaks out as they dive at him yelling his name.

Hikigaya/Shiori “MR. GODA!!”

They dive and land on their face, sliding across the grass to his feet. They both shoot up at the same time, panting.

Hikigaya/Shiori “*pant* Mr. Goda… *pant* I was first!”

He has a look of surprise before smiling a bit and sighing. 

Mr. Goda “I can see why you two are the special case.”

They both stare for a second, shocked by his words. Mr. Goda straightens up and smiles at them with his eyebrows narrowed. 

Mr. Goda “Regardless. Did the both of you actually run the full 3 laps like I said?”

They nod.

Mr. Goda “Wow that’s… that’s incredibly impressive. Have either of you thought about joining a sports team?”

Shiori rolls her eye as she walks to a post on the blacktop just next to them.

Shiori “Nope, and I’m not gonna. Let me know when the rest of the class makes it back.”

She closes her eye as she sits against the post. Hikigaya shrugs at Mr. Goda who just smiles and shakes his head. Eventually the rest of the class returns, sweating and panting. Lucy lugs herself over to Shiori and plops down next to her.

Lucy “Please… Don’t let everyday be like this…”

She leans against Shiori who giggles a bit at her. The others sit in a little circle around Shiori as Ryuji walks up sweating too. She looks over to see him lifting his shirt to wipe away the sweat on his face. Shiori blushes looking at his body again. Then Lucy gets up and slaps his tummy. He jumps, shocked by the motion.

Lucy “What are you sweating for? You’re in great shape!”

Ryuji “Doesn’t mean exercise doesn’t affect me.”

Lucy “Yeah well get over it. You’re making me sweat more just looking at you.”

She sits back down. 

Mr. Goda “Alright, good job out there guys. I liked the effort I saw. I hope you bring your A game everyday from now on, got it? Now go back and get changed. Class is almost over.”

He sends them off and they do.