Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Brynhildr Valkyries Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 7===

"Hah—Hah—Hah—"

I breathed regularly while striking the ground with my feet rhythmically.

We were having PE class in an underground sports field today. The temperature and humidity outdoors were too high, unsuitable for athletic activity.

The class involved endurance running. Running laps around the edge of the training site, after a while, I encountered Iris-san, who had fallen behind by one lap.

"Do your best, Iris-san."

I greeted her while overtaking her.

"Ehhh! I got lapped!? Mitsuki-chan, you're so fast..."

Panting irregularly, with sweat dripping off her forehead, Iris-san exclaimed a bit pitifully.

"Please try to pay attention to maintaining your posture even if you are tired. Otherwise, you will add unnecessary strain to your legs."

"O-Okay..."

Unsteadily, Iris-san frantically righted her posture.

"This is my last lap but you still have two, Iris-san. Hang in there."

"I still have two!?"

Leaving the wailing Iris-san behind, I advanced on my own. Next, Firill-san came into view.

"Oh... Mitsuki."

Firill-san noticed and looked at me when I ran alongside her. Despite her slow pace, her face showed a sense of composure unlike Iris-san.

"You are taking it slow today as usual."

"Because... it's tiring after trying too hard."

Firill-san shrugged with an expression of tedium. An indoor person to the very core, Firill had always been like this. During PE classes, she always did the bare minimum.

"Mitsuki—You've been all fired up lately."

"Really?"

I tilted my head slightly because I had not noticed.

"Yes... Did something happy happen?"

Firill-san nodded lightly and gazed at me.

Unsettled with surprise because I had been seen through, I nodded honestly.

"Yes—I have finally discovered the location of what I had been searching for."

"I see... That's wonderful news, Mitsuki."

"—Thank you."

I bowed my head deeply again then quickened my pace.

That was because I was about to smile from happiness due to what she said. Was I allowed to smile? I was not too sure about that.

Ren-san and Ariella-san suddenly came into view ahead.

"Ariella-san, are you feeling unwell today?"

Running alongside them, I asked.

Ariella-san's athletic ability and stamina were far beyond average. Normally, she ran even faster than I.

"Oh no, that's not the case. Ren looked like she's having a tough time, so I'm chatting with her on the side to take her mind off things."

Ariella-san was apparently accommodating Ren-san's pace.

"Mm..."

Ren was breathing hard. It did look like she was having a tough time.

"Ren-san, please do not overexert yourself."

"—Mm."

Seeing her nod, I sped up again.

After overtaking them, all I needed to do was race towards the finish line.

But at this moment, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Mitsuki-san, I shan't lose!"

Running alongside me, Lisa-san declared defiantly.

"—I have no intention of losing either."

Seeing Shinomiya-sensei at the finish line, I entered the last spurt.

Indeed, I must win regardless of my opponent. I must become that strong.

For the sake of reaching Nii-san with these hands of mine.

More than anyone, I must become strong.

Putting in every last ounce of strength, I raced forward.

Lisa-san vanished from my view. Her presence felt more and more distant.

"—!"

I held my breath and dashed across the finish line at full speed then collapsed on the ground.

"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

I stared at the ceiling and panted heavily. Next, Lisa-san appeared before my eyes.

"I lost this time."

"No matter how many times... I will never lose."

Hearing my forceful answer, Lisa-san showed slight look of surprise.

"—You have changed."

"Huh?"

What was going on? I looked at Lisa-san in doubt.

However, Lisa-san did not explain in detail. With what appeared to be quite a happy expression, she said:

"I prefer the way you are now."

I was unsure what she meant—Nevertheless, I seemed to have won some kind of approval from Lisa-san.