The four of them were allowed to use the school track without any problems. As the sun rose, so did the temperature so they decided to make this quick. Shinji and Asuka got on their marks and Toji and Kensuke took their places beside them. "Go!" Kenuke and Toji yelled at the same time.
They ran like the wind. If Asuka won then she would get the last slice of pie. Just thinking about it made he legs weak. She slowed. Asuka wondered if she cold trip Shinji and say he fell. He would demand another chance -if he could still walk, that is- but she could say that he lost fair-and-square.
They rounded the far end.
She knew that if she did that, Toji or Kesnuke, or both of them would see. Too risky. Then she would never get her pie. So she pushed herself to the max. And as they crossed the finish line she thought she may have won. But when Toji and Kensuke held out their stopwatches, she fell even harder than even if she lost.
"Shinji," Kensuke said. Shinji was doubled over trying to catch his breathbut looked at him anyway. "Fifty two point three seconds. Asuka got-"he looked at Toji's watch, "-fifty three point two. You win."
Shinji felt energized again. He spun around prepairing to mimic Asuka by thrusting his fist in the air and yelling 'How do you like that!', but when he saw the look in her eyes he thought better of it. She looked like she would tear hisfaceoff at the slightest provocation. So he just smiled and said, "I guess it's a tie."
Asuka's features seemed to lighten a little. "Yeah," she said, regaing her breath. "I can still beat you."
"No way," he said.
"Shinji," Kensuke and Toji said from behind. "Feeling generous?"
After they had left the track, Toji and Kensuke showed them to a fast food place. They chose a nice table outside under an umbrella. And cleaned Shinji out. After they were all done ordering, Shinji hardly had any money left at all.Though Asuka hadn't ordered. "I'm on a diet," she said. Not that she needed it. "Those drinks have way too much sugar in them. Do you know what they would do to my face? I'd have zits all over!Besides, I'm saving room for pie."
So while Kensuke ate his cheese burgers and Toji chomped down on a chili dog, Shinji thought about the day. The running and swimming.He still felt the ahce in his limbs.Since they hadn't planned it, they didn't know what to do next. They were tired and both hungry for pie. He couldn't think of any other sporting events to break the tie.
"Well," Toji said through a mouthful of food. "What next?" He swallowed. "You're tied aren't you?"
"Yeah. You guys got any ideas on what we can do next?" Shinji asked.
They thought about it. After notsaying anything for so long that Shinji thought they'd forgotten, Kensuke said, "How 'bout a race?"
"We already did that. I won," Shinji said. Asuka thought it was an insult aimed at her but she didn't hear any bitterness in his voice.
"No," said Kensuke. "I mean a race to your home. You know, the first one to it-"
But Shinji didn't hear him finish. After making eye contact with Asuka, the two of them blasted away from the table and began racing home. To their pie.
This is it. Who will get it? More to come.