So, to commemorate the coming Valentine's Day and all the recent romantic drama, I've started a poll on who you all think Blake should end up dating! Check it out on my profile! But I'll warn you, your votes won't directly affect the story. I just want to see where everyone's thoughts go!

Jay Hayden: Claire's a tricky one, alright.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: It will be a show, I bet.

Hellraiserphoenix: An interesting ship to be sure.

Pokemonking0924: I don't think she's starting have feelings for him, at least not consciously. We're way far from that.

Epifanio Therion: Yeah, Claire can be quite cruel when she wants to.

Duskzilla: Especially with a hottie like Claire.

MaMcMu: Okay, I'll check him out.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 95

When Claire lunged at her, Sango's instincts told her to prepare for a grapple, for the girl to low or maybe give her a sucker punch to lay her out. She tensed up and prepared to counter the girl's attack.

But what ended up happening was completely beyond anything she could have expected.

Claire reached up and cupped Sango's cheeks, squishing them together as she looked up at her.

"You're perfect!" Her eyes were wet, and she actually had a smile that seemed almost reflective of actual joy, with no traces of venom or predation to be seen.

"L-let go of me!" Sango said, shaking free from the girl and stepping back, thoroughly confused.

"Sorry," Claire said, shaking her head. "Truly, truly sorry…"

Tears began to well up in Claire's eyes and she fell to her knees, lowering her head to Sango. "I'm sorry… Sorry…"

Their exchange had already been loud, but this little number was starting to draw strange looks from the other customers, much to Sango's discomfort as she glanced around at them.

"What are you doing?!" She hissed.

"Apologizing," Claire mumbled up to her.

"Look, uh…" Sango's anger hadn't dissipated in the slightest, and the horrible words Claire had spewed at her had cut deep wounds in her heart. But staring down at the target of her rage prostrating herself in front of her was not something that she exactly capable of processing at the moment. "Just sit down, okay?"

"O'gay," Claire said, raising her head. Her makeup was running and snot was dripping from her nose. She slid back into the booth across from Sango, wiping her face clean with some napkins. Damn. Even fresh-faced she was still gorgeous.

Sango stared at the sobbing girl, her eyes heavy with suspicion. Everything she'd said, and now… she was crying? She suspected crocodile tears.

"Fbthlth…" Claire blew her nose into the napkin, and then wiped away the residue on the edge of it.

They were a little too… snotty for crocodile tears though.

"I'b sowwy…" Claire sobbed through another napkin. She took a few more deep breaths before calming down. She looked at Sango with eyes that seemed regretful… and… something that she couldn't really face. From anyone else, she'd think it was admiration.

"You keep saying that, what the hell is the matter with you?" Sango snapped. "All that shit you were talking, and now that I've threatened to tell Blake everything you've been doing, you're suddenly all contrite? Don't bullshit me you…"

"No, no, it's not… that's not what I…" Claire exclaimed, shaking her head in denial. She glanced at Sango with a guilty expression, and hung her head. "I… I was saying all that to hurt you."

"Yeah, no fucking shit."

"No, but I mean, not like that! Not because I hate you, really! It's just… I had to know for sure."

"Huh? Know what for sure?!"

Claire beamed up at Sango, her cheeks tinging red.

"That you really do love Blake."

It was Sango's turn to blush, caught off guard by the girl, but she quickly switched back into anger.

"Yeah, I do. That's why I'm never going to let you get your hooks in."

"I'm glad," Claire smiled, "that you're the sweet kind of girl who would protect him. Like I said, you're perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

"Marrying Blake, of course."

"Marry-?!" Sango choked on air, gagging a little. What was this girl saying?!

"Sorry, sorry, I was jumping the gun, it's just… I needed to be sure. That you were really the kind of person who you seemed to be. And because of that…" She lowered her head, clasping her hands in front of her.

"I said such terrible things! The worst, most horrible things I could imagine, all so that I could hurt you as much as possible! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Please, please forgive me… Or even if you don't forgive me, at least know that I was only saying all that for Blake's sake, not only because I wanted to hurt you…"

She was rambling, and only about half of her words made any sort of sense to Sango.

"Wait… so you're telling me you didn't mean what you said?" Sango sighed.

"What? No, I meant every word."

This girl-!

"Well, I mean, except the stuff about me being a gold digger only after Blake for his money. I just said all that to try and scare you off, in case you were that kind of person. It's the sort of thing that's fairly believable when girls get a look at me, y'know?"

"So you really were trying to hurt me?"

"Well, yeah," Claire said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "People let out their real selves most often when they're angry and when they're around people they think hate them. So if since I wanted to see the real you, I-"

"I get it," Sango sighed. "So you were really saying those things for his sake?"

"Uhum," Claire said, a somber expression crossing her face. Her eyes had shadows in them that made them go much deeper than Sango had ever thought possible on this shallow-aired girl. She had a sinking suspicion that all the things she'd accused Sango of attempting towards Blake, she'd seen more than her share of real girls actually do.

Frankly, this pissed Sango off. Whatever the reasoning, Claire's words had hit Sango right at the core of her self-esteem, and the wounds were nowhere near healed. That pain had mixed with her anger and indignation, and now that Claire was explaining how it had all been a show to draw out Sango's real nature, some sort of "hidden test" to see if she was worthy…

Five minutes ago Sango had wanted so badly to smack this girl across the face, and now she felt like if she did it she'd feel guilty. She didn't exactly have any outlet to release this anger that she'd just built up, and that was pissing her off even more.

"I know that you can't forgive me…" Claire said, frowning. "And I know that saying I did it for his sake doesn't make what I did any less cruel. Anything else I have to say… it would just seem like an excuse. So it's fine if you want to hate me. But I still want to support you, in any way I can."

God fucking damn it. No matter how infuriating this girl was… the look in her eyes was so pure. Sango felt like if she pressed on, she'd make Claire burst into tears all over again. The fact that this bothered her was really infuriating.

"I'm not forgiving you," Sango clarified. It was way, way too soon for that. "Just so we're clear. But you said what you did for Blake. So I'm fine with putting it all in the past. Besides… For you to do something like this, you really must care about him a lot. So I guess you aren't a completely terrible person."

"I see," Claire smiled, sighing in relief. "I'm glad that you're so kind, Sango. Growing up looking the way you do must have helped you grow into such a generous and loving person…"

"On second thought, let's see you grovel a bit more."

"Sorry, sorry, but I'm still sort of halfway in bitch mode…" Claire apologized again. "Stuff like that just slips out, I'm really trying to not be mean, it's just a force of habit."

"…Yeah…" Sango muttered, shrugging. "But even if what you were saying is true… you must have been doing stuff like that for quite a while, huh?"

Claire nodded silently, her eyes getting a glassy look.

"It makes sense, looking at me, and thinking I'm a gold digger. Blake and I… our friendship really doesn't make any sense, especially as long as we've known each other. Quiet, reserved guys like him are much more suited to girls like you."

"Homely, you mean," Sango said, her voice only carrying a hint of venom.

"Real," Claire clarified. "Not someone obsessed with how the world looks at them. Ironically, what makes Blake such a good friend is that I don't have to pretend with him. Though I won't deny we're an odd couple, to put it lightly."

She took a sip from her coffee, which had long since gone cold, and stared out the window into the distance.

"We're friends of circumstance, more than anything else."

She glanced back to Sango.

"How much do you know about Blake's family?"

"Nothing but what you told us before," Sango admitted.

"Well… his father is the head of a major company in Kalos, but his mother… she came from the Sinnoh Region."

"Sinnoh Region?"

"Yeah, but they aren't related by blood or anything like that. Still, that's where Blake was adopted from. See, when he was a kid… some stuff happened, and he had to stay in the hospital for a while. A long while. That's where I first met him."

"In the hospital?"

"Yeah," Claire said, frowning. "See… my mom was a nurse, so I would spend a lot of time in hospitals ever since I was young. But then… my mom got sick. I was really young then, I didn't really get death very well. So while my mom was sick in bed… I yelled at her because I thought she was abandoning me, and I told her that if she left I wouldn't ever forgive her. I still regret saying those words. Hearing something like that, from your own child… I guess even back then I had a talent for cruelty, huh?"

She laughed, but it was a painful and bitter laugh.

So I ran off, crying. I think a part of me knew what was happening, but I was too scared to face it. Too scared to live in a world without my mom. And after I ran for a while… I found him. He was just lying in a bed, unable to move. He was in pretty bad shape, both his legs were busted, and so were his arms, and- nevermind."

"What? Was he in an accident, or something?" Sango asked. She hadn't heard of this before.

"…Yeah, something like that," Claire said halfheartedly. It smelled like a lie, but it also wasn't Sango's place to pry into Blake's past through the girl. "Anyway… back then, Blake was basically like an empty shell. I'd overheard one of the doctors saying stuff… about what he'd been through, and compared to me, well, let's just say that I didn't exactly have it good, but even losing my mom, I knew I'd eventually be able to get over it. Hanging around Blake… my own problems didn't feel so bad. We didn't even really talk the first times I would go into his room. But I enjoyed the company, and I think he did too."

"Then, when my mother finally passed away…" Claire paused, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Blake was just… there for me. Our friendship really started from there. Even back then… he couldn't ignore a girl's tears."

She looked to Sango, sighing wistfully. "And that's how we got here. When he moved out to Kalos, I requested to stay with him, since living at home with my dad and… her was difficult. Then, starting around middle school, I became aware of the fact that girls had begun to… sniff around him. His brother was rather famous already, and coming from money and fame, well, he was a target for a lot of girls. And for rather horrid reasons. And… I couldn't let the boy I loved end up with anyone but the best, now could I?"

"Wait… so you…?"

Claire gave Sango a rueful smile, shaking her head.

"The past is for the past. Over and buried. But luckily for me, that was about the time when the 'girls' really hit their stride." She gestured to her prominent chest, much to Sango's irritation. "As I'm sure you know, a beautiful and curvaceous older girl aggressively pursuing a guy is a great way to ruin self-esteem. If any girl was getting a little too close, I'd stick myself in the middle and go Queen Bitch on them."

"But… weren't you afraid you were ruining Blake's potential happiness?" Sango demanded. "What if he liked one of those girls? What if one of them really did like him for who he was? Instead of for his name or his money?"

"Maybe so," Claire nodded, "and very likely more than one or two really did care for him. But in the end… none of them were ever willing to fight me over it. Someone who gives up on their feelings halfway because they're intimidated by the competition… I'd never entrust my precious Blake to such half-hearted hussies."

Sango blushed a little. She'd opposed Claire more out of rage at the words she'd said, it didn't feel like that particularly unique or courageous of a thing to do. And yet…

"You said yourself, you feel the same way, don't you? Even if it wasn't you… you still want to preserve that smile on his face," Claire said. "I… even if it means I've got to tear down truly kind people… even if Blake were to despise or deride me… I suppose in the end I just want the guy I like to find a special someone who won't ever let him slip back into that darkness, right?"

Sango nodded, a smile slowly crossing her face. For the first time since they'd met, this girl who had done nothing but goad, irritate, and enrage her had finally, truly, become someone that she could see the real face of. And unlike the one on the outside, it was certainly not a pretty face. But it was still lovely in its own harsh way.

"I meant what I said, Sango," Claire said, staring her in the eyes. "So far, you're perfect. I think you're someone that really could make Blake happy. So I won't get in your way anymore. I'll help you however I can."

"Thanks…" Sango sighed. "But it's a moot point… there's no way he could like someone like me."

"Oh?" Claire asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion. "But Blake's not the kind of guy who cares about looks-ow!"

She rubbed her shin, glaring at Sango.

"No, it… it's not that. I just feel like… even now, there's someone who he cares about more than me. So… I don't think there's really any room in his heart for me to take up more than just a sliver."

"You're talking about that mask girl, Elaina," Claire said, frowning. "The one with harmonia."

Sango nodded.

"Well, I guess you're right to be concerned," Claire sighed. "…And at the same time, not really? I mean, knowing Blake… I don't think he's seriously considering her romantically."

"What?!" Sango asked, her face lighting up and her eyes shining. "How? What do you mean?"

"…Well someone just did a complete 180," Claire smirked. Then her expression turned serious again. "I think that when Blake sees that girl… he's thinking about her the same as his sister."

"His sister…" Sango echoed.

"Again, though, that doesn't mean anything…" Claire sighed. "Blake's relationship with his sister… is really, really special."

"Huh?"

"I didn't meet her until I moved in with him," Claire said. "And even though I love her to death, she didn't seem to like me very much. At first I thought it was because she was afraid that a pretty girl like me was going to steal her brother away, but as I got to know her better, I realized that, no, it wasn't about me… to that girl, human beings that aren't 'Blake Harker' are things that don't even exist in her world."

"Wha?"

"It's complicated," Claire sighed. "Ask Blake to explain it. But anyway… It's a pretty codependent relationship. But Blake… he's trying to look out for that girl… because he's just that kind of guy, you know? I can't say for sure that there's nothing to worry about, but…"

Claire reached up and grabbed Sango's hands.

"You just focus on doing your best, and let me handle the rest!"

"Uh… right."

"What are you doing here?"

Blake froze in place, dropping his hand. He set his face into a calm mirk, and turned to the door.

"Well, I've got to say, I'm stunned, Gerard" Blake smiled. "I would have thought that a guy like you wouldn't both coming in to check up on someone like her."

Blake crossed the room in a few steps, glaring at coldly at Blake.

"I think you should leave," he whispered, wrapping his fingers around the top of the mask, staring icily at him.

"Fine," Blake shrugged. "But I'm taking this with me. This mask has caused her nothing but problems. I'm freeing her from it."

Gerard smiled, and a strong blow slammed into Blake's stomach, causing him to double over in pain. The white mask cluttered to the ground.

"That reminds me…" Gerard growled. "I still haven't paid you back for hitting me, have I?"

"So that's how it is," Blake chuckled. "So you're taking out your frustrations at losing out on me."

Gerard grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up off the ground, fury in his eyes. He drew his fist back and punched Blake in the jaw, then pulled his hand back and struck him again.

"Well? What's wrong?" Gerard laughed, shoving Blake back. He slammed against the wall and sunk to the floor, Gerard picking the mask off the ground and setting it back down on the table. "Aren't you going to fight back, kid?"

"No need," Blake muttered, spitting blood onto the ground. "But in your case… you just keep being so violent. For me to stand up against you…"

Gerard grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to his feet.

"What sort of nonsense are you spewing?"

"All I'm saying is that it would better for you to show some restraint, is all," Blake smiled. "Imagine what would happen if someone came in here and saw the strongest of the Eight Leaders beating up one of the student body?"

"Hah," Gerard chuckled. "Ridiculous."

Blake shrugged as best he could while in Gerard's grasp, raising his hand up to reveal a small white device with a red button in the center, attached to the bed by a white cord.

The smile on Blake's face grew wider, as he stared at Gerard, who put the pieces together slowly.

The Nurse Call button!

Gerard dropped Blake as the beep sounded out, grabbing Elaina's mask and storming out.

"Sorry about this," Blake, looking back apologetically to the curtain Elaina's sleeping form rested behind. "I'll be back next time, hopefully I can spend a little more time talking with you."

He walked out the entrance as a nurse ran in, heading toward the front of the building.

"Blake!" Claire gasped as Blake entered the café. She jumped up and ran over to him, gingerly touching her cheek.

"What happened?" Sango asked, shocked.

"Nothing to worry about," Blake said.

"Your lip is bleeding!" Claire cried. She glanced back at Sango. "Quick, kiss it to make it better!"

"Eh?!" Sango gasped, blushing.

"Yeah, no, it's fine," Blake laughed, shaking the idea off. "Believe me." He wiped his mouth off on the sleeve.

"Still, I'm glad to see you getting along now."

"Yup!" Claire said, stepping back from Blake and pulling Sango out of the booth, draping her arm over her shoulder and pressing her boobs up into her back. "Sango's now, like, my third favorite person!"

"Get off!" Sango huffed, shoving the girl off of her.

"Aw~ isn't she just the cutest~" Claire gushed. "Now then, Blake, what's the plan? Me and Sango are, like, super tight now, so we can just do whatever."

"Well, that's good, then. I feel a little bad dragging you two around everywhere, but, see, I actually have another appointment today that I need to get to. I mean, you can come with me, if you like…"

"That would be great! Right, Sango?" Claire said.

"Sure, I guess… where are we going?" Sango asked.

"I thought it would be nice to check out the Track Team," Blake said. "I need to have a talk with Ayame about something."

Sango flinched, an act not missed by Claire.

"Sure!" Claire said. "But first, me and Sango need to, um… do some girly things, you go wait ahead, 'kay?"

"Sure," Blake said, smiling. "I'm just glad that you finally have a female friend now, Claire."

"Aw, I've got a female friend, Blake," Claire smiled. "Your sister's just adorable~"

Blake stepped outside and left the infirmary, Claire pulling Sango to the side.

"Okay, listen."

"Look, Claire, I appreciate this, but I mean-"

"Do you want to XXX Blake, or not?"

"Uh… not!" Sango exclaimed, blushing in embarrassment.

"You might not know this, but he's in a pretty vulnerable place right now. See, Blake's lived most of his life looking after his little sister and doting on her. But now that the two of them are separated, he might not even realize it, but he's shifting his protective instincts onto other girls, like that mask girl. So you need to set yourself apart from the other girls."

"But why are you telling me this now?"

"Track Team, duh! That's the perfect time to show off your skills and win him over!"

"Claire… this is just a guess, but… you've spent all your time keeping girls away from him, so he hasn't really ever dated a girl. So I'm wondering… do you even know what Blake's attracted to?"

"Uh… little sisters and butts."

"You're useless!" Sango hissed.

"Sorry! What, do you want me to write you a guide through his event flags?! I already had the Blake Route shut off for good, I have no idea what triggers you should be looking for!" Claire hissed back.

Sango rolled her eyes and stormed out after Blake, Claire following after her.

The track team was set up a pretty decent ways away from the center of campus, in a clearing that gave them lots of space for both humans and pokemon to run. Needless to say, like with all the clubs on campus, pokemon had been well-integrated into the club, the track many times wider to allow for various pokemon bodies. Humans were currently using it now, though, the girl's track team currently making full use of the fields.

"What are you guys doing here?" Two older girls in white shirts and red mini-shorts walked up to them.

"Are you looking for someone?" One of the girls asked. She eyed Sango's figure hopefully. "Or maybe you want to try out?"

"No, actually, I'm the one with business," Blake said, the two girls glancing at him momentarily, disinterested. "I'm here to have a chat with your president."

"The captain doesn't have time for chats," the other girl rudely denied him. "She's busy. We have a meet coming up in a few weeks! She's devoting all of her time and effort into winning! She doesn't want anyone to bother her!"

"Hey, wait, Jamie," the other girl said. She leaned up and whispered into the taller blonde's ear. The two girls glanced at Blake every few seconds, smiling in a way that made Claire suspicious.

"Well, why didn't you say so in the first place?" The blonde giggled, walking around Blake and pushing him forward encouragingly. "The captain will be so happy you've come by to cheer her on!"

"Actually," Claire reached up and gently grabbed the girl's wrist to get her attention. "We'd hate to be a distraction. We'll just watch on our own, no need to worry."

She stepped up and wrapped her boobs around Blake's arm, leading him forwards. Sango trailed after them. While she hated to see it, Claire's… aggression was certainly helpful for cutting through the bullshit, no one else was talking to them.

The three waited on a hill right beside the track, staring at the short distance runners that were practicing.

The starting gun fired, and the runners were off. From the beginning, Ayame was head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the girls. She took first with no problems whatsoever, slowing to a stop. Breathing hard and dripping sweat, the tall girl turned to the recorders eagerly.

"What's my time?" She demanded.

"12.2," the girl reported.

"Ho, that's pretty good!" Sango said, her eyes widening.

"Really?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, for a high schooler that time on the 100 meter dash would probably put you at a competitive level," Sango explained.

"Damn it!" Ayame's voice carried quite well. "Still not under 12…"

"Come on, captain, that's one of your best times today…" the reporter insisted.

"Not good enough," Ayame snapped. "If I can't break under 12, then there's no way we'll get any higher than the top 8!"

The other girls looked warily at one another.

"Captain, don't you think you're trying a little too hard?" One of the girls asked worriedly, walking up to her.

"No," Ayame said, wiping her brow. She walked over to her backpack, taking a quick swig of water. "Classes start up again next week! We need to spend as much time as we can while we have it, so we can't go taking things easy!"

"Yes, captain!" The club members surrounding her agreed, though their hearts didn't seem into it.

"Great," Ayame said, smiling. "You guys just take it easy! As long as I'm here, I can promise you that we won't have anything to worry about!"

"Yup, that's our captain alright!" One of the girls said, smiling.

"You're just the coolest!" Another gushed.

"Yup, yup," Ayame said, bathing in their compliments. "With my skills, even winning the national tournament will be a breeze! You guys just take it easy and watch my form!"

Blake had been watching things silently, not wanting to butt in just yet. The time had come, though.

"Yo, Aya!"

Ayame choked on her water at the sound of Blake's voice, coughing frantically and wiping her mouth.

She whirled around, shocked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ayame exclaimed.

"Huh? Who's that?" One of the girls asked.

"And that girl, you think she's trying out?" Another thought. "She looks like she could do pretty well!"

"And that other girl, she's… wow." A girl said, the envy in her voice clear as she crossed her arms self-consciously over her chest.

"Hey, you don't think that's the captain's boyfriend, do you?" Excited whispering followed.

"Yeah, I was with her yesterday, and he's the one who came up to talk to her!" Another squeal.

"And now he's cheering her on? Gosh, that's so-"

"Five minute cooldown break!" Ayame declared in a voice that was more than a little yelling. "Then the short distance runners will get back to our intervals."

"Enjoy yourself, captain!"

Ayame bit her tongue to keep from snapping at her teammates. She stormed over to Blake, clearly fuming as he glanced at her with a smirk.

Claire intercepted Ayame halfway there, staring up at the girl.

"Hello there, I don't think we've been properly introduced," she smiled. "I'm-"

"Move." Ayame said simply, Claire suddenly finding it a really good idea to move. She stepped out of the way, glancing apologetically at Sango.

"What are you doing here?" Ayame demanded.

"Being disappointed, clearly," Blake replied. "What's a track team doing without bloomers?"

"I thought I'd contact you when we would meet up," Ayame said.

"Yeah… but then I thought I'd much rather come see you in person. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Seeing you in motion was super worth it."

Watching the two of them trade barbs was making Sango more than a little anxious. She was about to step in and say something, when she felt Claire's hand on her shoulder. She girl shook her head.

"And what about those two?" Ayame nodded her head at the girls. "Why're they here? The tall one could go a long way here, as for the other one…"

"Jealous?"

Ayame smirked, leaning forward in a way that was almost presentation like.

"Nah. Just could use without the distractions."

"So I'm distracting to you, huh?"

A quick flash to her dream that morning made Ayame's face grow hot.

"Forget it. What do you want, anyway? We're practicing here, we don't have time to entertain guests. Get lost." Well, there went the cordiality.

"I thought you were the one who wanted me to join up with you guys?"

"That's the boss," Ayame replied. "She's infatuated by you, for some reason. As for me, I'd be perfectly happy if you kept your nose out of serious affairs like this."

"Oh, are you worried about me? How sweet!"

"So this is your negotiation strategy? Infuriate the other party into giving into your demands?"

"Is it working?"

"Look, I don't have the time to get into stuff like this as usual!" Ayame snapped. "I'm practicing right now! If I don't get faster, then… nevermind."

She shook her head, and sighed.

"Let's just postpone this for later."

"Well… what about we handle our negotiations while you got some practice in, then?" Blake asked, smiling.

"What?" Ayame asked, dumbstruck. "You want to have a talk while I'm running? What would be the point of that?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Blake said, shaking his head. "I was suggesting we could have a little contest."

"…A contest."

"Yeah, a quick race, you and me. 100 meter dash," Blake suggested.

Ayame had to resist the urge to double over laughing.

"Ha! Are you mental? You want a race against me?"

"Sure. If you win, I'll join you and your little group, sound good? No conditions at all," Blake said, lowering his voice. "Whatever position Olivia… or you, want me in."

Ayame rolled her eyes.

"Well, fine, and what happens when you win, then?"

"Oh, well, I hadn't really thought that far," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Though… if I win, how about you and me go on a date tomorrow?"

Ayame choked again. The club members who'd been overhearing their conversation erupted in proclamations of excitement.

Sango's face went pale white.

"Oi, girl, snap out of it!" Claire cried, shaking her.

"No, it's… it's fine," Sango admitted, sitting down, her face looking like she was about to cry. Claire huffed in anger, storming over to Ayame.

"Listen, ribbon girl, I don't care what you-"

Ayame placed her hand on Claire's face and shoved her away, not taking her eyes off Blake. Yeah… he really was serious about this, huh? She really didn't want to go on a date with him, but thinking back to what Olivia had said that morning… Could she really give up an opportunity to get him over to their side like this? It wasn't like she could actually lose, right?

"Well, fine then, if you're that eager to join us."

"Wow, no hesitation at all," Blake grinned. "Quite confident in your abilities, I like that."

"Damn right," she grinned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Since there's no way I'm losing, it doesn't really matter what conditions you set. But…"

She glanced down at Blake's clothes.

"Are you really going to run in that?"

"Oh, yeah, you're right," Blake said, nodding. "You guys don't have a jersey or something, do you?"

"Not just shorts?" Ayame asked, confused. Blake and Claire both winced, sharing a glance.

"We don't really have any in your size," she said. "So I guess we'll have to forget it."

"Captain, what about your tracksuit?" One of the club members shouted, Ayame twitching. Admittedly, she was the only one there with comparable dimensions to Blake.

Ayame glared at the girl and muttered something unrepeatable before going to fetch the jersey.

A few minutes later, Blake was changed and the two were at the starting points, ready to go off.

"At least your starting form is fine," Ayame said. "You can still back out." She calmed her breathing, preparing herself. She told herself not to think of the fact that Blake was wearing her jersey. She made a mental note to burn it after this.

"I win, I get a date. I lose, I get to stare at you from behind for a few seconds. Sounds like a win-win to me."

Another eye roll.

"Hey, you good?" Claire asked, sitting down next to Sango on the grass.

"Yes, of course," Sango said, her face anything but okay. Claire sighed.

"Don't worry. You just focus on getting to a point where you can tell him how you feel. Let me worry about the competition."

"…Thanks." Thanking the brunette still felt weird. "Although… I don't really know if I want him to win… or lose. Both of those seem pretty bad."

"Well, see, the thing about Blake, I don't know if you know this, but…"

The starting gun fired and the two took off.

What the hell? Ayame thought, hitting her top speed, her eyes shooting to the side. This guy-!

How in the hell is he able to keep up with me?!

"To recover from his injuries, Blake went through serious physical therapy and surgeries," Claire explained. "What ended up happening after that, he began running as his body recovered, to build his muscle back up. Then he got too really like it. I'm sure you know, Blake really likes running. He's not competitive level or anything, but… he's not exactly a pushover, either.

The two crossed the line simultaneously, and they whirled around as they came to a stop, panting.

"Time!" The two shouted.

"Uh…" Ayame's recorder checked her watch. "11.98"

"11.94," Blake's recorder reported.

"No way…" Ayame went chalk white, falling to her knees in the dirt. She… she actually lost to this kid who was three years younger than her? How… it isn't fair!

Blake did feel a little bit guilty. For a guy, his time wasn't even at a level that could be considered competitive. But compared to a girl's competitive time…

"Damn it!" Ayame cursed, punching the ground in frustration. "Damn it, damn it!"

She rose to her feet and uttered another stream of curses.

"Ayame…" Blake stepped up to her, the tall girl whirling around with anger in her eyes.

"Piss off!" She snapped, shoving him back. "You happy?! Fine! You get your little date, you fucker!"

She pushed past him, fuming.

Fucking… fuck! It's not fair…

Well, he won, I guess… Claire thought, glancing at the catatonic Sango sitting beside her, brain short-circuiting.

Massive losses for our side too, though.

So, there we go! Blake doesn't have to join Olivia's group! And not only that, he's getting a date! Though, I don't think it's gonna be the most romantic of outings…

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