Prologue

And I recall one red-tinted day after school, a long time ago.

...In a distant sunset.

Someone is always running alone.

And the girl, looked bored staring from far away...

XXX

In the red tinted classroom, I remember ... the moment we shared.

The glowing sunset seeping through the window and I could only stared absent-mindedly at this melancholic feeling.

I tried to gather my courage...

"Senpai, do you remember?"

"It was long time ago, back before I know you."

"It was four years ago... It was a really red sunset like now. Everything was red and beautiful yet lonely."

"Even though it was after school, someone was still running alone."

"It wasn't something that could be done with effort. Even I could tell that it was impossible, but he kept on trying without complaining."

"He was so earnest that I felt worried. And... it made me fell uneasy and lonely."

"I was a bad girl back then. Something bad happened to me, and I just wanted to take it out on someone."

"So I kept on watching him."

"But he wouldn't give up. He repeated it over and over without complaining."

"Then I realized that he didn't care about what he was doing and only obstinate about not losing."

"He was so earnest that I even worried about him."

It made me pondered.

"He's probably someone very dependable. But that made me feel uneasy and lonely."

"Yes, he is the senior before me now. That's it. I've known Senpai since then."

XXX

Is it because of the evening sunlight?

Her familiar gesture looks so fresh and cute that I'm fascinated.

"Seeing the setting sun just reminded me."

And I am thankful.

Because…

I can fight alongside the girl I've always admired.

"That's not entirely true. I don't know about you, but I've known you for quite a while."

"N-No. I knew about you, but you didn't know about me. You are one of my traumas."

"It happened around this time four years ago. I don't know why, but you were there after school, doing running high jumps until the sun set."

"I was watching that. I was right by the school entrance. I was an idiot watching another idiot who kept trying to jump a height he couldn't clear."

She stopped for a while, feeling flustered after realizing the word she used felt so affectionate.

"I-it was just coincidence, okay?"

"I just happened to see that you keep trying to jump over a height you couldn't. That's all!"

But then… I remembered him even after three years. And I finally realized that you've been giving me damage all this time. I found out I was jealous of this guy who kept on running like an idiot.

The sighing felt as if recalling a fond memory.

"I felt like I'd lost... It would've been fine if he'd had hope of clearing that bar. I would've just gone home if that were the case."

"...But even he knew it was impossible. He knew nothing would change that, but he kept trying. It's as if he believed the effort was what mattered."

"To be honest, I can't do such thing. I've always been like that. I determine whether or not something is possible. If I know it's impossible for me, I quickly give up. I don't try what I can't do, and I never regret it or think I'm powerless because of it. I'm cold like that. I'm a terrible person."

"But I do sometimes think how pure it'd be to just keep trying without a thought for whether it's possible."

"... Well, as a child, it's shocking to see someone that's completely the opposite of you, right? That's why it was traumatic. That guy who foolishly kept running was..."

Someone I was happy to know existed. She then murmured with dreamy expression.

XXX

A memory that started with the setting sun...

It so useless...

Pointless...

Clumsy...

Yet...

He keeps on trying to complete his challenge. And it gives me this pleasant feeling.

There was someone else who was watching that scene.

Someone else who felt exactly like me, someone else who would like to embrace that feeling as well...

"Yes, we were both looking at the same thing."


Author Note:

Welcome. i try to write this fanfic, I hope you will enjoy it.