She was sitting at her desk at home, packing the remainder of her things into a cardboard box for moving. Kagura was moving on to university, like the rest of her friends. She was going to be a sports star for sure, doing her best to compete. She knew she would miss her friends very much, all of them were so special to her. And Miss Yukari, and Miss Kurosawa. It was a very nostalgic summer with them, and leaving was not easy.
But of all the people, one made the sorest patch in Kagura's heart. She would never again race Sakaki, her one true rival. Nobody in college was going to be a rival like Sakaki. Nobody was ever going to be like Sakaki.
Kagura began to tear. It was all too much. Sakaki had grown on her, ever since that footrace three years ago. Sakaki had defined Kagura's purpose to her, in a strange way. They weren't the closest of friends, Sakaki was always so quiet. But on the inside, Kagura knew her rival closer than the rest. Kagura was closer to Sakaki in her heart than anyone else.
Life was changing too fast. What was she, if she wasn't the girl who had to beat Sakaki? What was she now? She felt empty, meaningless. She wanted to rewind and live the last three years over, this time taking advantage of every moment. Savoring every day of class. But alas, it was too late.
Kagura wanted her friend back. She wanted her rival back. They would see each other again, but it wouldn't be the same. They would see each other for an hour or two, chat about what had been going on, and that would be it. It tore at her. She felt like a little girl, not wanting to grow up.
In time Kagura adjusted to the loss of her rival. Se was a sports star in college, too, as she desired. But she never felt as alive as she did in high school. She never felt like she did around Sakaki. She didn't know what that feeling was.