Chapter 16: Netsuno Chika, Onemine Nene

"Aren't you cold wearing just that, Netsuno?" Onemine asked.

Netsuno, dressed in lycra shorts and tops that revealed her robust thighs, looked at Onemine. She didn't know her, this 20 degrees girl dressed in white sleeveless tank top and black shorts. "No."

Onemine said. "I heard about you from Komi. You're as hotblooded as she said."

"Oh, that's good." Netsuno continued looking around, for that new spark.

"Are you waiting for someone?" Onemine asked. Netsuno noticed a little boy (about 36 degrees) behind Nene, just about her knee.

"I'm scouting."

Onemine blinked. "Ah, other runners?"

"Anyone with enough heat. I want to match our heat," Netsuno said. As she said this, her eyes started blazing.

"That's a literal flame, wow," Nene said, looking at Netsuno's eyes. "No one could match your speed in college?"

Netsuno scoffed. "They're merely missiles. I'm looking for rockets."

Onemine sensed Netsuno's not in a mood for conversation and was about to leave her along when a phone rang. "Hello?"

A cacophony of screams rang out from inside the phone, surprising even Netsuno. However, Nene didn't flinch. She moved the phone slightly away from her, but continued listening. It was as if she could clear out the noise.

"Kazuya what?" Nene said. 30 degrees. She ended the call, put the phone back in her pocket, picked up the little boy and started running.

She was fast. More exciting for Netsuno, however, was that she was also furious. 40 degrees. Netsuno began running after her. Now, of course, Netsuno knew there was likely a serious family problem ahead, so she's not challenging her to a race, but she's interested in feeling how fast Nene ran, so she ran just a few steps behind her.

It took Netsuno a few seconds to register that she couldn't catch up. At first she deliberately slowed down so to stay behind Onemine, but the distance kept increasing, so Netsuno increased the pace. And yet. And yet. The distance would not disappear. Netsuno blazed and burned and flared, but Onemine remained number one in this race. 80 degrees.

Inclines. Downhills. Curves. Turns. Concrete. Grass. No matter the surface type or the structure, Onemine's speed exceeded hers. Onemine finally stopped on a park, where there were four boys, three about elementary school, one about middle school, were being scolded by a police officer. The middle schooler had a phone on his ear, clearly marking him as Onemine's caller. Netsuno remained outside the park.

"What's happening, officer?" Onemine asked. Amazingly, despite her sweating, Onemine's tone remained calm. "As they fight, they started a fire?"

Netsuno smiled. 160 degrees.

The small boys began to argue, but Onemine hit their heads with a series of karate chops so quick Netsuno could feel the wind from where she was standing. Onemine told them to apologise to the officer, The boys shut up, their flames dwindling rapidly to a mere... 50 degrees? That's still hot. But the boys were silent. Then a few seconds later, still 50 degrees hot, they said sorry.

Netsuno now realised how different Onemine was. Netsuno wanted to burn brighter than her rivals, to leave them tired and lost, like spent fuel. Onemine, on the other hand, burned brighter to overshadow other flames so that they remained burning but knowing their place. When there's no other flames, she barely burned.

Netsuno smiled. Onemine was special. Onemine was a star.

[break]

"Netsuno," Komi said. Netsuno, standing at her old school's gate, saw the girl she once thought was cold, running alongside some guy. "Were you looking for someone?"

"Yeah," Netsuno said. "I'm looking for Onemine Nene. You know her, right, Komi?"

Komi turned to the boy next to her, who was catching his breath. He shook his head. "I haven't seen Onemine today."

"That's fine. When you meet her, can you leave her a message?" Komi nodded. "Tell her Netsuno Chika could burn even brighter than her star."

Realising Komi was confused, the guy said, "Netsuno felt Onemine bested her in some competition, but ever the lasting flame, Netsuno wanted to challenge Onemine again."

Netsuno blinked as Komi nodded. "Uh...yeah, you got it. Good job," Netsuno said.