CHAPTER : 12  RACE

“Well, since you are new let’s go with a simple easy race” Katsuro said.

“Just don’t take me as easy opponent.” Elaine stared at Katsuro without a spec of fear in her eyes.

“Ooh you have an attitude too, let’s see how long it lasts.” Katsuro remarked.

“WHY DON’T YOU WORRY BOUT YOURSELF?”

“Hah, I don’t need to. Alright there are two similar distanced routes to the lake, it’s a completely straight path. All you have to do is bring a white flower that blooms besides the lake, the one who gets back first will win the race.”

“Alright let’s do it.”

Students had started gathering with curiosity to witness the drama.

“Guys… we really shouldn’t do this. Teachers might arrive here any moment.” Ammy who was in charge of monitoring everyone said in a worried tone.

“We can’t stop it now; we can only watch” Hikaru had a smirk of excitement on her face.

“Emi, why don’t you announce the challenge?” Katsuro said in an excited tone.

“Sigh, you will never listen. Fine.” Emiko continues in a loud voice for all the students to hear.

“Hello everyone, we have a challenge here between Katsuro and Elaine who has joined yesterday. Both will be having a race and the first to return back with the white lily near the lake will win the race and thus will have his/her demands fulfilled.”

Everyone started murmuring about the sudden challenge.

“Alright you both may take your position on the count of three you may begin.”

Elaine and Katsuro go down on to their hands and take the ready pose of a sprinter.

“3…2…1 GO!” Emiko shouted as both Elaine and Katsuro dashed off, almost becoming streaks because of how fast they are. As their paths split Katsuro smirks to himself thinking he will finish this sooner.

“He shouldn’t have taken race as a competition. It’s unequal.” Emiko said to Hikaru while Beatrice overheard their conversation and came near to hear them.

“Well, she should have thought of that before accepting a challenge from someone who is here since a week. She cannot win against ‘Ramhas’.” Hikaru said while casually sitting and tying her hair.

“Wait, what is Ramhas?”Beatrice asked in a worried tone.

“Pfft, Ramhas means speed. Katsuro’s magic power itself is speed! You should have stopped your dumb friend haha.”

Hikaru rudely mocked as fear swelled in Beatrice and she spoke in slightly loud voice.

“BUT THAT’S NOT FAIR TO ELAINE!”

“Oh please. Life is never fair.” Hikaru rolled her eyes.

‘Elaine was the fastest runner in our school, but this is completely cheating! How will she win here?! I should have done something!’ Beatrice thought to herself as she looked at the racetrack awaiting the winner.

Soon as minutes passed the moment of truth arrived.

“It’s him. Katsuro is here!” Emiko said in a loud voice as sadness swelled on Beatrice’s face.

“OH WAIT, I SEE ELAINE TOO!” Emiko screamed in an excited voice. Elaine was just few steps slower than Katsuro.

All of them were shocked to see how fast Elaine was trying to catch up. But alas as the finish line appears Katsuro wins by a few steps.

Beatrice feels sad but proud on how hard Elaine had tried to win. She approaches Elaine who is tired and was breathing quiet heavily. While others surrounded them congratulating Katsuro.

“You did so good El!” Beatrice reassured Elaine.

“Huh-hah-huh thanks” Elaine smiled while still breathing heavily.

“Oh, here take these.” Elaine handed the 3 white lilies she had brought from the end point and sat down tired.

Beatrice took the lilies in her hand but suddenly felt something wet on the long stem of the flowers she looked at the stem and her own hands. She was shocked the stem was covered in blood as well as the back side of flower was red. She shivered in terror as she threw the lilies on floor and screamed at Elaine forgetting that all the people were around her.

“WHY IS THERE BLOOD ON THE FLOWERS??”

“Oh, um sorry about that I just fell down on the way nothing to worry about” Elaine said while hiding her hand behind.

Beatrice harshly pulled Elaine’s hand out. Shiver runs down her spine as she recalls the night of the assassination. Elaine’s hand had a huge open wound. Beatrice stared at the room, her feelings to extreme mix of worry and horror. “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!! WHO DID THIS TO YOU EL? ANSWER ME!”

Beatrice was angry and worried at same time.

“Bliss calm down I’m alright it’s just a wound.” Elaine tried to calm Beatrice. Elric and Emiko moved a bit closer.

“ANSWER ME WHAT HAPPENED?”

“Sigh. Well on the way I saw a forest rabbit, its leg was stuck on a strange metal thing. So, I stopped to help him get it out. It seems that the rabbit had manged to somehow get rid of half weapon so the on part stuck on his leg was the part with metal spikes which I pulled out.”

Elaine said while showing the weapon she brought back with her.

No one said anything. All of them were stunned. Emiko just got up and rushed to the doctor.

“So, you are saying you stopped to help that rabbit yet were able to almost catch up with me??” Katsuro said in a serious tone.

“Did you really think I would have lost that easily. Jokes on you pfffft.”Elaine laughed out mocking him.

“My power is speed. I chose to race so I would be at an advantage. This is not my win. If you hadn’t stopped back there you would have won.” Katsuro continued while turning his back and proceeding to leave.

“You win.”

“HUH, why are you leaving?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted, and we had decided upon?”

Katsuro said stopping in mid tracks.

“Pfft well if I won then this is my choice.”

“What choice-” As Katsuro turned around while finishing his sentence Elaine swiftly three a mud ball straight on Katsuro’s face as whole mud splattered on his face, hair, and dress.

“NOW WE CAN BE FRIENDS, HEH” Elaine said with a big smile.

“You will regret choosing this” Katsuro said while wiping off the mud near his mouth while still having that confident smirk on his face.

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” A woman’s voice boomed in the area as everyone went silent.

“Welp, now we are in trouble” Beatrice whispered.

‘You may not be able to control every situation, but you can always choose how to react on them’.

Chapter ends

Writer : Manasa

Editor : Black Beary

realistic version of Katsuro (traditional art)

Introducing Hikaru