A minute after Teshima ended his call, Arakita and Tadokoro appeared in the corridor, and Sakamichi watched in growing admiration as they picked up and carried away their injured juniors.
"Now it's up to you and me, Onoda-kun," Naruko folded his arms. "For Perm-senpai and Quiet-senpai's sake, we gotta make sure we complete the menu!"
He whapped Sakamichi on the back, then broke into a stride. "Do your best!"
Sakamichi nodded and hummed. Sugimoto clenched his fists.
"I will do my best, too!" he told himself as he hurried after Naruko.
Sakamichi followed soon after, his heart brimming with resolve.
At dawn, Sakamichi slipped out of the first-years' room on tiptoe, determined to make an early start and overcome his glaring deficits. The idea of having to complete almost three hundred kilometers on the last day of camp loomed over him like an oppressive shadow, but for his noble seniors, Sakamichi was ready to defy heaven and earth.
Those thoughts carried him to the bicycle racks, where he was astonished to find Teshima Junta kneeling by Sakamichi's assigned road racer, spare parts and tools scattered around him.
"Teshima-san!" Sakamichi stumbled over. "W-Why are you here?!"
Teshima scratched his head. "Well…"
At the medical office, Junta, Aoyagi, and Arakita lowered their bottles of Bepsi, staring into space.
"Onoda-chan's really something, huh," said Arakita. They hummed.
"I can't believe he beat us without cleats," sighed Junta. Arakita choked.
"He doesn't have cleats?!" he cried out in horror, furiously scratching at his head. "I knew something was up! Goddammit, Kinjou! I gotta find him a spare, I'm gonna go—"
"It's alright, Arakita-san," waved Junta. "Leave it to me. After all.. Onoda's about my size."
"Junta…" whispered Aoyagi. Arakita squeezed Junta's shoulder.
"You're a good senpai, Teshima-chan. I'm proud."
Despite himself, Junta felt better.
"Teshima-san.." mumbled Sakamichi. Teshima cracked a smile as he removed the regular pedals and set them aside.
"That's Arakita-san for you. Kinjou-san wanted you to figure things out on your own, but Arakita-san taught us that anyone can use a push every now and again."
"Thank you, Teshima-san..!" cried Sakamichi. Teshima paused.
"These cleats do come with a price, though," he shot a sly glance at Sakamichi, who squeaked in surprise. Teshima laughed.
"Don't look so scared! I just want to hear your amusing story about Arakita-san."
"Oh… alright!" Sakamichi rubbed the back of his head with a nervous giggle.
END NOTE:
Yes, Kinjou hasn't changed all that much in this AU, and still likes to play mind games with new recruits as a means of testing them. Arakita is not about that bullshit, but he honestly had so much to do, and was so used to everyone having well-fitted road racers that the idea that Onoda might not have cleats didn't even occur to him. Teshima and Aoyagi noticed, but said nothing, for several reasons. They just really, really wanted to go to the Inter-high.