The Cheeky Junior Gal Becomes Too Cute When She Gets Attached to Me-Chapter 7Volume 1 .2 - The Junior Gal Cant Run Anymore

The Junior Gal Can’t Run Anymore

Senpai cared about his reputation among the Sensei and others.

He worked hard to improve his standing for the future, even if it meant dealing with troublesome matters.

I had interfered with that.

So, I shouldn’t get involved anymore.

Before I drag him down any further, I need to step back.

Even Matsurin, with whom I had finally become friends would surely be troubled by me soon enough.

Unlike me, she was an honor student, someone who shouldn’t associate with someone like me.

It’s sad, but it can’t be helped.

But it’s okay. I’m used to goodbyes.

『Today is the marathon event. Please change into your tracksuits and gather at the schoolyard.』

When I arrived at school, the announcement played.

We would start at the school, run a set course, and return to school. That was the event.

Rankings would be announced, and there were small prizes for good times.

It seemed like the athletic club members were quite eager.

But I wasn’t into it at all. I didn’t hate exercise, but I just wasn’t in the mood.

“I wish I could run with Senpai.”

Trudging towards the schoolyard, I couldn’t help but mutter to myself, even though I knew it was impossible.

There’s no way I can do that, but still…

As we gathered in the schoolyard, the energetic chairman of the physical education committee began explaining the rules with a microphone in hand.

It seemed the Student Council wasn’t involved in the management, and there was no sign of Senpai.

I felt a mix of relief and disappointment, about half and half.

『Alright, let’s get started with my countdown! Don’t worry, I’ll be coming up from behind!』

Laughter rose from the students at his joke.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

His enthusiasm was infectious, and my classmates seemed to be enjoying themselves.

I stood behind them all while blankly staring at the ground.

『Three, two, one, start!』

His voice echoed through the microphone.

The students then burst into a run all at once.

Pushed by the wave of people, I too started moving my feet sluggishly.

I was moving at a pace that was almost like walking, getting overtaken by others from behind.

It felt as if I was being left behind from everyone else’s youth.

If I were with Senpai, even a mundane event like this would have been fun.

“I must have been in love…”

No, not in the past tense, I still am in love.

Now I can say it with certainty.

My first love was Senpai. But now, it’s over.

How easy that would have been if I could have charged forward as usual without overthinking and just conveying my feelings.

I wonder if Senpai would have reciprocated if I had confessed.

He is a bit complicated, so it might have been difficult.

“I can’t run anymore.”

Too weary to even swing my arms, I finally stopped running.

My legs felt as heavy as if I were walking through a pool.

Maybe I should just run away from all this. While contemplating such an impossible idea, I slowly, very slowly, followed the backs of the other students.

The marathon was only about four kilometers. It wouldn’t take more than thirty minutes, even at a jogging pace.

The time for escapism ended sooner than I thought.

I finally reached the school, which was also the finish line.

――That’s when I noticed something was wrong.

“…?”

Something about the goal was off.

It was normal for a large group of students to be gathered since I was in the last group. Most of them should have finished before me.

But their attention seemed to be directed somewhere else, away from the marathon.

“This is crazy..”

“Seriously, this is no joke.”

The students held some papers and voiced their opinions.

They seemed excited by something unexpected.

“Shirahata is done for.”

Then I heard such a voice.

A piece of paper fluttered down in front of me, carried by the breeze.

I picked it up and directed my gaze upon it.

It had a design similar to a newspaper. It was intricately made clearly designed to draw people’s attention.

At the center was a photo—of Shirahata Sensei smoking behind the school building.

Yes, it was taken by Senpai.

“No way… this is…”

I gripped the newspaper tightly in both hands and devoured the text with my eyes.

Smoking on school grounds, which was supposed to be smoke-free, had become a daily occurrence. Even smoking inside the school building.

There were testimonies of power harassment and corporal punishment in the Judo club he advised.

It was nothing short of an abuse of authority, excessive guidance and punishment that went beyond the role of a teacher.

The newspaper detailed Shirahata Sensei’s misdeeds in detail.

It was as if it had been created solely to defame the Sensei.

“Senpai…!”

I threw the newspaper aside and started running.

I wasn’t sure if Senpai was there, but there was only one place I thought to go.

〇

I looked down upon the schoolyard from the window of the Student Council room.

I made sure to take in the impact of what I had done with my own eyes.

It wasn’t a clever method… It was far from beautiful.

I had caused trouble for many people. I had Reiya gather evidence, asked the Student Council Treasurer Kawana for the design, and secretly had Kugenuma Sensei print it.

After preparing the newspaper to expose Shirahata, all that was left was to distribute it.

I needed a timing that would ensure it wasn’t suppressed and that all students would be made aware of it.

The marathon event was just the right opportunity.

It was convenient that Shirahata had ordered me to do menial tasks to keep me from participating in the marathon.

I finished the tasks quickly and managed to place the newspapers at the goal without anyone noticing.

“How pathetic, me.”

I fell into self-loathing.