Morning had come for Lenny. He woke up to hear the alarm clock go off. Lenny was wide awake before silencing the alarm clock. Following the morning routine of taking his medicine for the day. Lenny checked over the heart monitor, it was acting normally. Lenny decided to make the best of the morning and shower himself up first, he was too tired to do so last night. After that was done, he slipped on the uniform before he made his way down the stairs and off to get breakfast. After getting breakfast, he made his way to where his first period class was going to be. Standing by the doorway was Mutou and Hisao.
Katawa Shoujo- Fripperies
"Good morning Mr. Hirahi, how are you doing?" Mutou asked in his usual greeting. Lenny turned to see the teacher and the student standing beside him.
"Good, I was mostly bored by the weekend as I just got all of my homework done within the first few hours after classes had finished. Spending more time on these runs with Emi that's for certain." Lenny explained. Mutou nodded as he gave a smile.
"Excellent to hear. I wish I could've given you more questions for you to answer with your homework but you only have to do as much homework as Hanako, staff's orders not mine." Mutou explained to Lenny that he wished he could have given him extra homework to keep Lenny busy but with his workload significantly reduced, Mutou was ordered not to stress him out too much.
"Did someone say my name?" The boys turned their heads to see Hanako with them as she entered the scene. "Sorry I had to use the bathroom before class starts."
"I see. Well it looks like you three are early. I'll let you walk in and you can hand your stuff in." Mutou told them before he unlocked the door. Lenny walked in with Hisao and Hanako following him. They got out their homework sheets before they handed them in and went to sit at their desks. Hanako turned to Hisao and tried to make small talk with him.
"Hey Hisao?" Hanako asked Hisao.
"Yeah?" Hisao asked Hanako back. Hanako began to think about it, she wanted to keep it a secret from Lenny who was busy getting the day set up as Mutou was looking over his notes on what he was going to teach today.
"Did you run into Lenny as of yesterday?" Hisao asked Hanako if she managed to spend time with him.
"Yeah I did, I headed onto the rooftop for lunch while you had to work on a project. I thought it was a good idea and I got down safely. We didn't talk much. I want to spend some time with him again and get to know him better." Hanako explained to Hisao. Hisao began to think about what Hanako had said, and head out onto the rooftop for lunch again.
"I'm coming too this time around. I too want to know more. Plus I've been using his shower for a couple of days now as the one in my dorm hasn't been working properly and they said it was going to be fixed. When I talked to him the day before. Lenny said he had to do something and ran off. I was trying to move one of his thumbs from his chest and he became skittish. I wanted to know more about what he's hiding but Lenny just ran." Hisao explained to Hanako. He was more or less worried about Lenny's behavior.
"Listen, Hisao, I was like that before you met me. Lenny must be having a hard time adjusting. Someone has to be there to help him forward like you did for me. If this goes well, he can be like me." Hanako explained to Hisao that she had been in the same predicament before. She found someone who cared for her and loved her and she thought if Lenny found the same person as she did, this could produce similar results.
"Who do you have in mind?" Hisao asked Hanako. Hanako began to think about who would be a perfect fit for Lenny. She thought about this for a moment as the rest of the class trickled into the room.
"I can't think of anyone right now, I need to go on some kind of observation training." Hanako told Hisao that no one popped into her head as she knew not many people. For now, there was nothing that Hanako could do. "I might have to start following others and getting to know them better."
"Good decision Hanako." Hisao told Hanako as Mutou began to write on the chalkboard and began teaching his class for the period. Lenny was absent minded for much of Hisao and Hanako's conversation as he was more or less prepared but Hisao and Hanako managed to sneak a few words past his ears.
As the day wore on, Lenny found himself at the track where for the first time, Emi's not out running. Lenny supposed that makes sense; it's too early, even for her. The bleacher seats are cold, but at this point he welcomes the sensation. The sun's hot rays are starting to show their fingers and bearing down onto Lenny, the bleachers were still cold as the sun hadn't hit them as of yet. Lenny knew with an awful certainty that he'll get no more sleep tonight. The sun's steadily strengthening rays start to warm him up, and Lenny watches the dew on the ground beginning to steam slightly. His mind calms down a little. Lenny closed his eyes and fell asleep, he was just tired. It wouldn't be long until Lenny felt himself being rattled around, someone's shaking him.
"Hey, wake up!" The voice belonged to Emi as she had noticed Lenny was dozing off.
"Huh? Where? Wha?" Lenny opened his eyes to see Lenny standing right on top of him. Lenny guessed he fell asleep after all.
"What are you doing out here? If it was night time you're going to catch a cold or something!" Emi told Lenny in a pouting voice that Lenny shouldn't be sleeping, what if it was dark outside and freezing, he was definitely going to get sick. Lenny rubs his eyes and he is confronted by Emi, who bends over me with a worried expression. He is still a little groggy, so his response comes out in a mumble.
Katawa Shoujo- Raindrops and Puddles
"I had a rough time sleeping last night, I felt like I needed more rest." Lenny tried his best to explain to Emi. Emi looked at Lenny with her mouth agape before closing it to her usual serious expression.
"Sounds like something Rin would say." Emi explained to Lenny. Lenny shrugs, feeling the stiffness that comes with sleeping on a bench for a few minutes.
"Is it? I wouldn't know." Lenny asked curiously, he didn't know what Emi's reaction was going to be. Emi grins a little at his somewhat cranky response.
"So, you couldn't sleep, eh? Obviously we need to run you harder today!" Emi told Lenny that she was going to push him even harder if he had extra energy left over and thus the reason he had a hard time sleeping. Even though Lenny has only known her for about a week, this seems a very Emi-ish response to the problem.
"Hey, my body was plenty exhausted after yesterday! My mind was just racing, that's all." Lenny tried his best to explain to Emi that he was tired and only his mind was awake. To Emi, this wasn't that much of her problem.
"I don't see the difference. If you run hard enough, your brain will get tired too." Emi explained to Lenny if he burned all of that energy off, everything would be tired. Lenny was seriously questioning the wisdom of doing this first thing in the morning. He doesn't know if his grades will be able to handle me tiring my brain out like that. Emi pulls Lenny up from the bleachers with surprising strength for someone her size. "Now come on, Lenny! The class is coming out for a run and we've got work to do!" Lenny still doesn't actually know if he's up to this today, to be honest. He meant that he obviously didn't get much sleep... and what sleep he got was on the bleachers!
"I don't know...should I really be running?" Lenny asked. He began to think of what the doctor said. Maybe he was used to too much sleep. Emi glares at him. Good heavens.
"What are you talking about? Of course you should be running! How else do you expect to work out the kinks? You've been sleeping on the bleachers, for heaven's sake! The best way to get that soreness out is to run around a little. Now stop hiding in the bleachers and get down here!" Emi demanded that Lenny get up and begin running, if everyone else was doing it, then why couldn't he? There's no arguing that. Lenny was pretty sure she'd kill him if he didn't do as she said. Lenny was quick to get to his feet and hop down to the track. The sun is warming things up rather nicely, he thought. Emi and Lenny begin to stretch out, and he finds himself once again hard pressed not to stare. If this is how Lenny has to wake up every day, he might be able to get used to this. "You know Lenny, it's not polite to stare."
"I wasn't staring! I swear!" Lenny called out as he wanted to make sure he wasn't staring at Emi. Emi raises an eyebrow and considers him for a minute, as if evaluating my response. There's a brief moment where he was afraid for his life. But then she smiles and laughs, shaking her head slowly.
"Honestly, you didn't have to deny it so strenuously." Emi told Lenny that there was nothing to be afraid of, she wasn't going to strike him like a snake. In response, Lenny claps his hands together and goes for a change of subject.
"So! That's enough stretching, right?" Lenny asked if she was ready for the run. Emi gives a casual shrug.
"Do you feel stretched? That's really how you tell." Emi explained to Lenny if he felt stretched out or not and he felt ready to run. Lenny gave a nervous nod. Something felt… off. Well, Lenny does feel up to the run, if that's what she means.
"Yeah, I feel ready to go." Lenny told Emi. Lenny didn't know what he was getting himself into when it came to the running.
"Same as yesterday, okay? We'll just run for a mile at a steady pace. Don't worry about going really fast, just worry about keeping the pace, got it?" Emi explained to Lenny that they were going to run for another mile, nothing too crazy, this wouldn't be a race for their lives. Lenny nodded though his heart monitor was beginning to act up.
Katawa Shoujo- Hokabi
"You're the boss." Lenny told Emi. Lenny could feel his chest begin to hurt but he wanted to try to hide this from Emi. He tried his best to shake the feeling from his head and focus on the run but that wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. Emi grins again, and they take off around the track. ... ... Lenny was beginning to think that he was going to die. They're not even done with the first lap, and his legs are on fire. His breath is coming in ragged gasps. Lenny can feel sweat pouring down his brow, and they've only just now rounded the second turn. Lenny's chest pain was also steadily growing worse.
"Come on, Lenny! You've got three more laps to go!" Emi called him on. She sprinted alongside Lenny to see if he was going to be able to keep up. Lenny looked over to see Emi. She was quite fast for someone without any legs. If this is any encouragement, he had to keep moving. Lenny huffed, he can't do this... he can't do this. He can't do this! Lenny thought he was going to collapse as the heart monitor was acting like his heart was beating way too fast. Somehow they're on the second lap. Emi's not even sweating. How can she do this so effortlessly? For some reason Lenny was still barely hanging on. She's like a machine. Third lap. What happened to the second?
"Almost there, Lenny!" Emi told Lenny to keep doing it, a couple more laps and they could finish. Lenny thought Emi was a liar. They've got another two! Nothing to be done.
"I... ca... can't... do... this." Lenny panted. His chest pain was becoming unbearable to him and Emi was wearing him out hard. It's hard to be this exhausted. Emi whirls around and begins running backwards. Her face is a mask of anger that surprises Lenny.
"Never say that! If you say that, you'll have already lost. Keep moving! If you're alive, you can keep moving, dammit!" Emi called out for Lenny to not give in with the pain he was going through Whoa, language. they're on the fourth lap now. She really seems to want Lenny to keep going. Legs move. Move. Move. They feel so sluggish. He felt like he was in mud, or molasses, or tar. When Lenny thought that he can't go on. He decided to go on. Finish the job. Emi began running backwards again, trying to get Lenny to finish the job.
"Final stretch, Lenny! Give it all you've got!" Emi called out for Lenny to finish the run. Lenny tried to pump his legs as fast as they'll go. They keep refusing to obey his commands. Somehow, he keeps moving. Somehow, he finished.
"That's it, Lenny! I knew you had it in you!" Emi shouted with joy that Lenny had been able to finish running the track. The anger Emi showed a lap ago is gone, replaced with pride. She's positively radiant, like she just won the gold medal or something. Lenny staggered to a stop and fell to his hands and knees, gasping for air. Lenny could feel his heart pounding far harder than it has in a long time. Lenny thought don't think it's done this since… Lenny feeling weak at the chest finally slumped down onto the track feeling his heart is ready to explode. Oh God.
Katawa Shoujo- Caged heart
Please slow down, heart. Just slow down. Stop racing. Lenny began to cough, and for some reason, felt a hoarse gasp coming out of his mouth, Lenny began to think. So this is how he was going to die, huh? Trying to stay healthy? How ironic. He was all ready to give up right there. But then, he began to feel his heart slow down. Two hands grab under my arms and tug upwards. Lenny looks up and sees Emi standing over me, with a mixture of delight and worry.
"On your feet! Come on, you'll never catch your breath that way." Emi instructed. Lenny felt Emi giving him some support. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you or anything?" Emi asked as she felt scared over the fact that Lenny had nearly died out on the track. A couple other students came over as they were worried about what this could have meant. Somehow, Lenny managed to stand. Lenny tries to raise his arms above his head, but they feel like lead. Almost like someone was sending blinding pain down them. Lenny starts to walk around the track while Emi keeps close to him, like she's afraid he'll fall over or something. She may not be far off. Lenny was beginning to feel terrible, and said so. Emi laughs. "But you finished, didn't you? You said you couldn't, but you did. Isn't that worth it?" Lenny was not sure, and he didn't really have the breath to say so. But that small grin he was able to tell on her face earlier hasn't left. So what if his heart is weak? Lenny still survived this morning. Maybe he'll survive tomorrow, too. The moment it becomes apparent that Lenny is not going to suddenly keel over, Lenny begins to speak to Emi.
"I'm sorry Emi." Lenny told her that he wasn't meant to collapse like that. Emi looked over as her eyes were wide and she looked over at him.
"I told you Lenny, don't worry about it, this kind of thing happens to all of us. There will be people that will help us and do our work when we couldn't do it ourselves. So everything is fine." Emi explained to Lenny that there was nothing really much to worry about.
"But… they weren't supposed to work. It's my fault." Lenny told Emi as he felt truly down by passing out on the tracks. Emi looked at him, she wanted to try to cheer him up the best way she knew how.
"Don't keep telling yourself that, we all love to work and run, it's… what we are made for." Emi explained to Lenny that they were made for what they were intended to do. A one handed track runner came over to speak to Lenny.
"Hey Emi's right, don't worry about it. We don't think of you any less than that. We're all one family." She told Lenny that there was nothing to really be upset over. Lenny was feeling a little better about himself though it wasn't much. Emi began speaking again.
"I'm going to do a few more sprints around the track and then I'll take you to the Nurse Lenny to see what's wrong. See ya Miki." Emi told Miki before she walked away. Lenny was now sidelined and had to sit down to make sure his heart was able to return back to normal. Emi takes off on her sprints. Lenny doesn't know how the hell she can manage to sprint after running a mile, but he could guess she's in much better shape than him. Once again, as he was sitting to catch his breath, he couldn't help watching Emi sprint.
It's weird, but she's like a different person when she's pushing herself. Last time Lenny noticed her eyes, but this time it's her mouth that catches his attention. She's not wearing her normal grin. She's still smiling, but there's a tightness to it. It's almost grim, like she's fighting a losing battle but doesn't care. She seems to be running harder, like she did yesterday. Sweat has started to pour down her face, but she keeps going. Her mouth finally opens as she can no longer get enough air through her nose. As she passes Lenny once more, legs pumping, arms swinging in time, and her lips slightly parted... She looks beautiful. After Emi had taken some laps around the track to cool down, Emi changed back to her usual self. The transformation Lenny saw in her is gone.
Katawa Shoujo- School Days
"Not bad today, Lenny." Emi told Lenny there wasn't anything bad with how he was able to do it. There's almost admiration in her voice.
"What do you mean? I would have stopped if you hadn't yelled at me." Lenny asked Emi before adding on, He was forced to run the mile and collapse due to the fact that Emi pushed him on further. Emi colors a little, seemingly embarrassed about her outburst.
"Sorry about that, I just... can't stand to see people give up. Especially about something like this. Saying "I can't go on" is silly when you're obviously going on while you're saying it. That's what this is all about." Emi explained that she was willing to push people to the end as giving up was not part of her vocabulary.
"What, saying silly things?" Lenny asked Emi. Emi gathered her belongings up while Lenny did the same. Emi sticks her tongue out at Lenny.
"Idiot. I mean showing that you're alive." Emi explained though her tongue was out for a little bit to show that she was going to keep her point. Lenny thought Emi was being a little silly by keeping her tongue out. Showing Lenny that he was still alive, huh? He didn't know it had to be so painful. But it does feel pretty good, despite that. "Besides, this is one of the hardest days." Emi continued.
"What do you mean?" Lenny asked Emi if she had anything to say.
"Whenever you start a workout, it's difficult the first day, really hard the second day, and then the third day is easier. You'll still get days that are really hard, but they'll pop up less and less." Emi explained to Lenny that beginning was going to be a tall order but if he kept going day after day, the hill he would be climbing would feel less like a hill and more like a flat piece of ground.
"So this will eventually get really easy, huh?" Lenny asked Emi if she knew she was talking about.
"Yeah, of course. But then you have to increase the difficulty, or you'll never get ahead. You'll just get complacent, and you'll lose the sense of accomplishment." Emi told Lenny that there will be certain days where it would be hard on him and other days that it would be smooth sailing.
"So I'll have to run more than just four laps, huh?" Lenny asked if he needed to keep going if he was to get better. Emi began to think about it for a moment before turning back to Lenny.
"Yep! But not for a while - you'll have to be careful, you know." Emi replied, reminding Lenny of his condition. Emi began to think for a moment, and she eventually came to a conclusion. A thought strikes Emi, and her face lights up. "Got it!"
"Got what?" Lenny asked Emi.
"You can come with me to see the nurse! That way you won't fall over dead or anything!" Emi reminded Lenny that he could come and visit her, she was still going to take him there after finding out problems with Lenny. How charming.
"Um... when?" Lenny asked Emi when they were going to see the nurse.
"Right now, of course! You'll need a shower and everything, right? We don't have much time, then!" Emi told Lenny they were going to go see him at this very moment. Lenny still had a few minutes between classes so a quick visit wasn't going to hurt him. Grabbing his hand, she's off, pulling Lenny along with her.
It wouldn't be long before Emi pulls Lenny into the Nurse's office. Lenny still felt his heart monitor beating abnormally, it hadn't recovered from the track. The School Nurse looked at Emi before flinging Lenny inside.
Katawa Shoujo- Ah Eh I Oh You
"My goodness, but you're in a hurry today, aren't you, Emi?" The Nurse would tell Emi. Lenny was still rattled by the way Emi handled him. Lenny had no idea how they got to the nurse's office so fast, but here they are. The nurse grins at Emi and seems to completely ignore Lenny. "You've got plenty of time to catch your lunch break and get to class, you know. There's no need to run through the hallways like that. I could hear you coming a mile away!" The Nurse told Emi that her legs made a distinct sound that he could recognize. Somehow, it doesn't seem like he's actually scolding Emi at all. It's like this is a sort of routine between the two of them. Emi does a passable imitation of remorse.
"I'm sorry! I won't ever do it again!" Emi cutely told the nurse that it was her fault but she was only putting on an act. The nurse and Emi both laugh at some private joke. Suddenly, it seems that he notices Lenny.
"Ah, hello Lenny. What brings you here?" The Nurse asked Lenny if there was a reason why he came to his office.
"Well, I've been—" Lenny began before he was cut off by Emi who made an announcement.
"Lenny's officially joined me on my morning runs." Emi excitedly announced. The nurse smiled but Lenny wasn't too pleased. Emi had cut off his statement and she continued to speak. "I thought he might need to visit you so that he doesn't die or anything." The nurse raises his eyebrows in mock horror.
"Yes, that would certainly put me out of a job fast, wouldn't it? Well then Lenny, let's have a look at you. Lift up your shirt, would you?" Lenny froze at the Nurse's command, he suddenly became very conscious of the fact that Emi's in the room with him and blushing in spite of himself. The nurse seems to sense my discomfort, but it only seems to amuse him. "A bit shy, are we?" The Nurse asked. He makes an apologetic bow to Emi. "Sorry Emi, I tried to get you a free show, but it doesn't seem to have worked." Emi stiffens slightly and fires a look of annoyance at him.
"You're an asshole." Emi mocked the nurse, she didn't like what he had to say and she left the room. Emi bows to Lenny apologetically. "I'll wait outside, okay Lenny?" Emi told Lenny she would be outside for him. Lenny was beginning to stammer that it's not really a big deal, she doesn't have to leave, but she's already out the door and the nurse is laughing as he watches her go.
"Still got it! Ha!" The Nurse told Lenny while laughing a bit. He definitely found Emi pretty hilarious.
"I don't follow." Lenny told the Nurse. The Nurse looked at Lenny and he laughed again, like he's in on some joke that's over my head.
"I can still get her flustered. It's a competition of sorts we've had going on for a while now." The Nurse explained to Lenny that this was something he would routinely do if he was to make Emi blush. That sounds incredibly sinister to Lenny, and it seems as if the nurse realizes that too. "Er. That sounded a lot worse than it actually is, come to think of it."
"I wasn't going to say anything..." Lenny tried to explain to the Nurse that he wasn't able to tell him what happened and why he nearly fell down.
"No no, you're right. I should fill you in so that you don't get the wrong idea. I'm actually relatively new here, you see. I got hired on the same year Emi started going here. Before that, I worked with Emi during her initial rehab following her accident." The Nurse explained to Lenny how he was able to get his job. Lenny was surprised but he was confused at the same time.
"Hold on, what?" Lenny asked.
"We had to amputate her legs after a really nasty car wreck. It nearly killed her, and succeeded—" The Nurse told Lenny. Lenny began to feel his heart race a bit again almost if memories of the past were flooding back to him. He shuts up abruptly. Lenny blinks at receiving this unexpected piece of news. "Well, that's not my place to say. Anyway, we've known each other for quite a while. So we have a slightly more familiar relationship than is strictly professional." He seems embarrassed, like he's done something stupid. Lenny could have guessed he's really worried about that. Lenny waved a hand to let him know it's not a big deal.
"Don't worry, sir. I promise I'm going to be discreet." Lenny told the Nurse that he wasn't going to tell Emi anything.
"I had been wondering about what caused Emi to lose her legs, and that was one of the scenarios I thought of. There were only so many ways that could have happened, but actually hearing about the facts... it's still a little shocking." The Nurse told Lenny about what caused Emi's legs below the knee to become non-existent. He then smiled at Lenny and began to speak to him. "Well, thanks. You're a good kid, Lenny. I can see why Emi became friends with you. She's quite indomitable, you know."
"What do you mean?" Lenny naked the Nurse if there was something he needed to talk about.
"You didn't see her learning to walk. She'd go for so much longer than the others in the hospital. She refused to quit. Normally it takes years to get to a point where you can even think about running again. Emi did it all in about a year." The Nurse explained to Lenny how she got into the accident in the first place. He almost seems proud of her, like a father who watches his daughter win a competition or something. "Hell, she'd probably have done it faster if not for the fact that we wouldn't let her."
"Wouldn't let her? Why not?" Lenny asked. The Nurse frowned before he began to speak to Lenny.
"Because she'd go for so long that her legs would start bleeding where they met her prosthetics. It's a real concern - it's why she comes by every day after she runs. To say nothing of the risk of infection if her legs get cut up and her prosthetics are dirty. But enough about that. If we don't get you on your way soon, Emi will think we're up to something." The Nurse explained to Lenny. As he says this, he gives a wink and begins checking Lenny's heartbeat. The stethoscope is way too cold. He really should have heated it up or something before he used it. After a few moments he leans back, satisfied. "Well, you sound pretty good to me, Lenny. You didn't have any chest pains while you were running, did you?" Lenny knew he needed to squirm his way out of this.
"No, not really. I had some trouble catching my breath, though - and my heart was racing by the end, too." Lenny tried his best to explain to the nurse about what exactly happened. The nurse frowns as Lenny says this, but then shrugs.
"It's probably just because you're out of shape... but if you don't improve, then you should let me know, okay? Don't push yourself too much - and of course if you have any chest pains, come to me immediately, right?" The Nurse gave Lenny some advice that he should keep trying and if exercise wasn't doing him much good, he should return to the Nurse's office. Lenny put my shirt back on, and the nurse leaned out of the doorway to call in Emi.
"What took you so long? Now I'm going to be late!" Emu called out. She wasn't pleased with the Nurse. The nurse gives Lenny a significant look.
"I was just seducing Lenny, that's all." The Nurse told Emi. Lenny didn't know how to react but Emi wasn't pleased.
Katawa Shoujo- Generic Happy Music
"What!? Come on, what have I told you about seducing my friends?" Emi growled in a puppy like manner, she didn't like it when someone else was trying to hit on someone she knew about. Lenny expected Emi to be shocked by this, but instead she seems merely annoyed, scolding the nurse as if he were a child stealing cookies. Meanwhile, Lenny was trying hard not to blush at the nurse's innuendo.
"I'll try not to do it again, though I fear young Lenny may be lost to the female gender forever!" The Nurse told Emi that he wasn't going to be doing something like this again.
"Not freaking likely." Lenny told the Nurse, he was trying his best to play along. He didn't mean to say that out loud, but both the nurse and Emi regarded Lenny for a moment before bursting into laughter again.
"Told you he was funny, didn't I?" Emi asked the Nurse if this was going to be something that was going to be a gag when it came to this. Huh. Lenny could guess Emi does talk to the nurse about a lot of stuff.
"Well Lenny, you should probably get moving. You still need a shower after class ends, don't you?" The Nurse asked Lenny that he should be off for lunch. Even with Lunch period an hour long which meant enough time to run back and get in the shower now for a clean washdown, Lenny thought it was smarter to stay near the classrooms where he didn't have to go running back and forth. Crap! He's got a point, and it looks like Lenny's lunch break was winding down, they better get to the rooftop.
"Thanks for your time. I'll see you later, Nurse!" Lenny told the School Nurse as he was off and into the hallway. Lenny dashes out of the room as the nurse begins to remove Emi's prosthetics. As Lenny heads down the hallway, he can just barely hear his voice drifting after him.
"Emi, you've got to be more careful..." The Nurse told Emi. Lenny didn't know what that meant but he decided to keep going.
Lenny made his way to the rooftop, huffing with exhaustion. Emi wore him out good. Rin was waiting with Hisao and Hanako, looking up at the sky while lying in the gravel.
Katawa Shoujo- Stride
"Lenny, where have you been? You should have been here five minutes ago." Hisao asked Lenny about his whereabouts.
"I was at the Nurse, I nearly passed out on the track." Lenny explained to Hisao. Lenny's heart monitor showed that Lenny hadn't properly recovered and his heart was beating faster than normal.
"I think Emi is also there from what I can gather as she is usually up here by now." Rin added that Emi was probably spending more time with the nurse. Hisao paused before he began speaking again.
"Lenny, you were there because Emi wore you out and how you nearly passed out is something I always wonder, have you been taking your medicine?" Hisao asked Lenny if he was keeping up with his medication.
"Yes I have, I've taken my pills this morning." Lenny replied to Hisao's question. Hisao looked at the heart monitor which was still beating faster than normal.
"I think Emi is working you out too hard, do you have any water left?" Hisao asked Lenny.
"Not much, I haven't been able to refill since the break." Lenny told Hisao that he was unable to get more water between periods.
"Okay, I got a couple of extra bottles since today is kind of a hot day." Hisao explained. He got out the water bottles while Lenny handed Hisao the nearly empty. Hisao unscrewed the cap and began pouring it into the canister. "It's always good to remain hydrated otherwise you might suffer from heatstroke."
"Well thanks. It's actually becoming really hot, so it wouldn't be surprising that many of us can't find good places to drink. I don't think there were any water bottles in the vending machines." Lenny tried to explain while feeling thankful.
"Lenny's right, none of us are able to get that much water around, summer is going to be a bit hard on us." Hanako added. Hisao sighed before he began to speak.
"I suppose you're right but Lenny I'm only going to say this because I like you. Be careful." Hisao advised Lenny to do his running more carefully. "Don't rush yourself and don't push yourself too hard."
"I will, Hisao." Lenny told Hisao.
"That's the spirit." Hisao told Lenny, then the door opened as Emi sprinted over onto the rooftop.
"Sorry for being late, the Nurse was checking my legs and he told me to be careful with the upcoming event this afternoon after class. One thirty it will take place at." Emi explained to the group.
"All right. I got everyone's lunches together." Hisao told them. He placed the bags down as everyone took their fair share of the lunches. The students began to dig in. Chatting would resume between the students as they discussed what events they had coming up. The fact that summer vacation wasn't too far away from everyone's lips and with this they wanted to see what their plans were going to be for Lenny, he had no plans for now, all he could really do was take in what everyone was talking about and go along with it. As the period wound down to the end, he decided to head off early to his next class. Hopefully the last period was going to go by smoothly.
Lenny makes it back to his room and showers in record time. It occurs to him that he's already been up for seven hours, and class has just ended with less than half the day left. This is going to be a really, really long day. Lenny hopes he doesn't fall asleep on the bed. Still, he can't deny that Emi wasn't lying to him. It has gotten a little easier. Lenny must have been worried that the runs would start to wear on his nerves, but thus far he hasn't minded them that much. Well, it's only been five days. Lenny supposes there's plenty of time for him to start dreading the sound of his alarm in the morning. Not that he could ever skip out now. As Emi said, it's harder to stop a routine when there's another person. And frankly, Lenny doesn't think he's equipped to deal with a disappointed Emi. She'd probably give him those puppy-dog eyes and he'll feel terrible about myself. Which reminded him... wasn't he supposed to be somewhere in fifteen minutes? Lenny's mind began to flashback to the day before.
"Hey, you're coming to my track meet on Monday, right? What am I talking about, of course you are. Right?" Emi's voice told Lenny where the track meet was going to take place. For Lenny, he began to think about those puppy-dog eyes again.
"Of course I'm going! I owe you, right?" Lenny's voice echoed in his head while he tried to wash the scent of sweat off of him.
"Exactly! So don't forget, okay?" Emi's voice told him the last few words to what was happening. Lenny's head snapped back to reality.
Crap, Emi's track meet! Lenny better get a move on if he doesn't want to miss her running, since she's the only reason he has even considered going. Otherwise, it would defeat the whole purpose of going. And so, Lenny quickly found himself quite suddenly surrounded by a crowd of people, all turning out to see our track team compete with another school like this one. He'll admit it, it's almost comforting to know we're not the only school like this. After you see that there can be two schools with a bunch of...defective kids, well. ...You stop feeling so defective. You also stop feeling unique, which in most cases would be a bad thing, but in this case it sure as hell isn't.
That's part of Yamaku's appeal, Lenny could guess. Learn that you're not unique - hell, learn there's a lot of others who would kill to be saddled with your problem instead of whatever they're dealing with. Some of the kids here aren't here because they're missing a leg or they have a heart condition. Some of them might be here because they're as good as dead in two, maybe three years if they're lucky. And that's only if they get the right sort of care. It's a bitter sort of comfort to be able to say "Well, at least I've got a chance of being alive through college," but there it is. Lenny was brought out of his rather morbid musings by the appearance of Rin near the entrance to the bleachers.
Katawa Shoujo- Air Guitar
"You came." Rin told Lenny about what he did if he was going to make an appearance like this.
"Of course. I said I would, didn't I?" Lenny replied to Rin who doesn't seem to be really bothered by this. Rin began to speak again.
"That doesn't necessarily imply that you had to follow through. Lots of people say things and don't mean them." Rin explained to Lenny that she might say one thing but someone might interpret the words differently. "I'm not a person who's easy to get."
"Well, I don't mean that." Lenny tried to explain to Rin. Rin shrugs. Seemingly bored with the conversation, she turns on her heel and heads back toward the stands.
"I owe Emi money now." Rin sighed. She felt like she lost the bet.
"Why's that?" Lenny asked.
"I didn't think you'd show up. Emi did. So I owe her 500 yen." Rin explained to Lenny about the bet. Lenny understood now. Rin and Emi must've done this to see if Lenny was going to make an appearance.
"You two bet an awful lot, don't you?" Lenny curiously asked. He wanted to see if Rin had anything to say but another shrug from his armless companion.
"I don't think so. Plus whatever Yen I do win I try to spend it behind Emi's back on computer games, those help me relax my mind." Rin explained to Lenny about what she liked to do when Emi wasn't there. They enter the bleachers, and Rin nods upwards. "Up there. I came out to see if you'd come." For the bet, Lenny could presume. Rin leads the way, and within moments they have settled down on an almost-empty bench. There's an older woman sitting next to Rin someone's mother, Lenny assumes. She's got rather long hair done up in a braid. On seeing Rin, she gives her an oddly familiar-seeming grin.
"Well, this is surprising. I thought you went to get a snack, not a boy." The older woman told Rin. Lenny was confused with who said that.
"Huh?" Lenny asked. Rin turned her head to the older woman as Lenny had placed himself between them. Rin spoke up next.
"A snack? I wondered why I was down there." Rin told the woman as she finally remembered why she was not at the bleachers. The woman laughs, again in a way that seems familiar. Where had Lenny seen her before?
"Well, I suppose you've always been one to go out for one thing and bring back another. But I'm being rude! I haven't introduced myself. I'm Meiko Ibarazaki, Emi's mother. Pleased to meet you." Meiko finally introduced herself to Lenny. "You look familiar, aren't you the sunshine child that my former landlord liked to talk about?" Well to Lenny, that explains it. She's like a taller, older and better endowed Emi. Apart from her hair being a darker shade than Emi's, there's really no mistaking the resemblance. Lenny's heart seemed to pick up slightly in its beating, how did this woman know him? Still he needed to tell Meiko who he was.
"Sorry, I'm Lenny. Lenny Hirahi. And really, you don't have to apologize for not introducing yourself, Mrs. Ibarazaki. That's really Rin's job in this situation, isn't it?" Lenny asked before taking a jab at Rin. Rin was too busy looking at the track field to contribute to the conversation. Another laugh from Emi's mother.
"I take it you've not known Rin for that long, then. It's best not to expect her to remember something like that. She's got other things to think about, I assume." Meiko explained that she was surprised that the two of them didn't know each other. Meiko began to speak to Lenny. "I say this as the landlord told me that he had a son that looked just like you. I haven't seen him in months but… I don't want to say what happened to him." Meiko explained.
"Well can I get a picture?" Lenny asked. Lenny felt his heart continue to gather speed as if his heart just didn't want him to exist. Meiko got out her phone and showed Lenny the picture. In the picture was a fair yet handsome looking man, his beautiful wife standing next to him and in the center was a calm blonde haired, blue eyed boy holding a book in his arms. Lenny felt some pain in his heart as the heart monitor took another beat upward. Lenny truly wasn't comfortable with this. He placed his hands on his chest while looking away.
"I think you miss your family." Meiko told Lenny. Rin nods, seeming pleased by this assessment.
"She's right. I was thinking about sunsets." Rin told them as she had been absent minded to what was going on.
You see? It's really up to us to make introductions and the like." Meiko told Lenny. Gently placing a hand on him. Lenny felt a little better as someone was there. For lack of any better response, Lenny nods. Mrs. Ibarazaki leans back a little on her seat and raises an eyebrow. "So, how long have you and Rin been dating?" Meiko asked Lenny if he and Rin were together. His response consists of silence as Lenny's brain suddenly lurches into gear. But just before he could begin to utter a hastily babbled explanation, Emi's mother bursts into laughter again."Ha! You're a blusher, aren't you?" Meiko told Lenny while noticing the blush on his cheeks. Lenny looks around and doesn't know if there's any way to keep his dignity in this situation, so he decides to settle for a mumbled response.
"Maybe." Lenny told Meiko. He still felt too embarrassed to say much.
"So this must be a new romance then, mustn't it?" Meiko asked Lenny if this was the question.
"Wait, that's not the question that—" Lenny nervously asked. He didn't want to get caught out in the open if Meiko had more unexpected questions for him. Another laugh.
"I know, but it's funny to watch you squirm. I'm sorry. Forgive an old woman for her amusement." Meiko told Lenny before she tried to draw him in closer for a hug. Old woman? She sure doesn't look that old to Lenny. Clearly Emi gets her youthful features from her mother.
"I suppose I can let it go." Lenny explained to Meiko.
"How kind of you." Meiko told Lenny about it. Rin however interjected with the news that the track meet was about to get underway.
"It's starting." Rin told Meiko and Lenny to look at the track. Lenny directed his attention to the track, where they're preparing for the first sprint. It looks like the 400 meter dash. His eyes scan the runners, before finding Emi. Emi was up first, ahead of the rest of the group as they had lined themselves up. It surely was a site to behold. She's smiling, with an almost cocky look on her face. The starter raises his pistol.
"Runners at the ready?" The coach would tell the group. Emi shook herself slightly, letting the energy build up inside of her, waiting for the signal, Emi was in it to win it. "Get set." Lenny, Rin and Meiko looked at the track, their eyes fixed on Emi who was still waiting for the signal. Miki looked next to her, her eyes fixed on Emi with the look of not this time. "Go!" The coach would call out before firing his starting pistol into the air.
Emi explodes off the block, disappearing from the starting line in a blur. It's amazing. Even as the other sprinters converge on the lanes closest to the inside line, Emi surges to the front of the pack. Miki, hot on her heels, tried her best to close the gap as Emi kept running faster. Meiko was cheering Emi on to do this. Lenny looked at Emi and then at Meiko. He wanted to join the cheering but he felt too scared to. By the time she rounds the final turn, some of the other runners have caught up with her. Their efforts come to naught though, since a final burst of speed from Emi leaves them at least a half second behind. Miki was left in the dust, frustrated by Emi's last burst of speed. Mrs. Ibarazaki whoops and shouts, applauding wildly, and generally looking like any other parent cheering on their child. Emi bounds off the track, looking pleased with herself. Lenny decided to cheer right along with the rest of them. The announcer sounding suspiciously like Misha gleefully gives the results. Meiko then turned her head to Lenny and Rin.
Katawa Shoujo- Daylight
"I think she's gotten faster since the last time." Meiko decided to tell them about what just happened. Lenny meanwhile saw Emi's determination and how she managed to wipe the floor against the other runners.
"That was incredible." Lenny had to admit that he was more or less surprised about this victory. Mrs. Ibarazaki grins proudly.
"Emi's a heck of a runner." Meiko explained to Lenny. they fall silent as the next event is being prepared. Lenny was surprised to see Emi striding out onto the track again.
"Wait, didn't she just run?" Lenny asked. Meiko Ibaraaki gave a nod before she turned her head to explain to Lenny.
"Yes, but she runs multiple events for the team. Especially the sprints. It's a lot of running, but Emi can handle it." Meiko explained. From the looks of things, she's right. Emi doesn't appear to be tired, as if she hadn't run the previous event at all. If not for the sweat visible on her shirt, you'd never know.
"Which event is this?" Lenny asked Meiko if he had any idea of what this was.
"It's the 200 meter dash. She'll do this one, the 100-meter, and the relay." Meiko would explain to Lenny about those events that were coming up. Lenny was wondering if he could participate in the dashes, He could handle a mile just fine but since his cooldown time was longer than Emi's, he wasn't going to complete all four of these events at once and not when so many people could be faster than him, including Emi.
"I see." Lenny replied. Once again the pistol sounds, and once again Emi flies off the block. A thumping sound draws his attention away from the race. It's Rin's foot. She seems completely absorbed in the race. Emi's mother cheers again, and Lenny has to assume that the race is over. Sprints don't seem to me like they'd take very long to complete. "Your foot."
"Hmm?" Rin asked Lenny who she had given her attention to him.
"Your foot was bouncing on the bleachers." Lenny tried his best to nicely explain to Rin about her foot.
"Oh." Rin sighed.
"You seem pretty into this stuff. I'm surprised." Lenny explained to Rin. Rin looked at Lenny quizzically.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Rin asked. Lenny tried to think about this, figuring out what Rin had to say
"No reason, I just thought stuff like sports wouldn't interest you." Lenny awkwardly explained to Rin about the whole tapping of her foot, she felt like she had been engrossed into this.
"Hmm, I suppose you're right. It's not that interesting. But I'm watching Emi, not the sport." Rin sighted before she continued to explain. "Emi seems in there to beat the competitors, she's like this whenever there is a race."
"I don't follow." Lenny told Rin that he still didn't get it. Rin sighed as she had to explain this in the simplest of terms… to her at least.
"Emi's the most Emi when she runs. You don't get to see Emi at her Emiest very often. But here, you can. See?" Rin explained to Lenny about Emi being in her environment and what variables that bring the best traits out of Emi. She directs Lenny's attention toward the track again, where the 100-meter dash is about to start. Lenny fixes his gaze and watches Emi closely. As she gets onto the starter blocks, her whole body seems to relax, but it's a false relaxation. Lenny could see that she's actually like a coiled spring. Miki, having bitten the dust twice so far, was determined to not bite it again. As the starter tells everyone to get set, Emi's head snaps up, and her eyes narrow slightly. Her mouth curls upward in what could be a grin and could be a growl. When the pistol goes off, it's as if she's been unleashed from a cage, like she was always moving at this blinding speed, but everyone couldn't see it happening until the starter's pistol dispelled the illusion of motionlessness. It's all over in a few seconds, but in those few seconds Lenny feels like he just witnessed something very personal for Emi. The moment she crossed the finish line, the fierce look was replaced by her normal grin. The conquering general returning to his farm.
"Amazing. She's really amazing. I've never seen anyone move that fast." Lenny told Rin that he didn't see anyone run as fast as Emi. Meiko decided to jump into the conversation.
"Well, don't look at me, I'm far too relaxed to run that fast. No, I think Emi's prowess all came from her father's side." Meiko explained. Lenny felt like had been struck in the chest at the mention of Emi's father, Mrs. Ibarazaki looks wistful, almost sad. "He got her into running, you know."
"Yeah, she told me." Lenny tried his best to get the words out of his mouth. He felt the heart monitor flash faster and faster, almost if he was going to keel over any moment now. Lenny was uncertain as to whether or not it would be rude of him to ask after Emi's father. But after that look on her face a few days ago, he felt compelled to ask despite the fact that he felt like his heart was rapidly collapsing.
"Where is her father now, if I might ask?" Lenny asked, trying to keep up his strength. Come on heart, don't collapse, the thought of death ran through his head. Nearly dying yesterday terrified him and to do it while Emi was running, terrified him even more. Emi's mother hesitates, clearly not willing to answer the question but at the same time not wishing to appear rude.
"He... isn't around any more." Meiko told Lenny about it. Lenny feeling himself get punched in the chest again tried his best to continue the conversation.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. Emi just seemed a little sad when she mentioned him earlier." Lenny tried his best to speak. Meiko sighed before she spoke.
"That's not surprising, considering." Meiko explained. For Lenny, he was trying his best to keep up.
"Hmm?" Lenny asked.
"They were very close." Meiko explained.
"I see." Lenny replied. He was cut off as he felt the pain inside of him become unbearable to handle. Rin turned her head and noticed this, she became worried. The flashing from the heart monitor was rapid as the pressure seemed to be high.
"Meiko, Lenny looks like he's going to keel over." Rin called out.
"What should we do? He looks like he hasn't been feeling well at all." Meiko told Rin. She instinctively took Lenny into her arms and hugged him. Lenny felt a calming sensation around him as he began to relax. Meiko and Rin were surprised as the heart monitor slowly went back to normal. "Did we just have to hug him?" Meiko asked Rin if this was going to be possible from now on.
"Maybe. I'm not entirely sure. He definitely seems to be calming down." Rin explained. Meiko looked down as the heart beat of the monitor was slowing down.
"I need to explain this to Emi when I get the chance." Meiko told Rin as she continued hugging Lenny. A beeping noise suddenly emanates from Mrs. Ibarazaki's pocket. Reaching into it, she pulls out a cell phone and looks at it. "Hold Lenny for a second ...Honestly, text messages? What is he, sixteen?" Meiko instructed as Rin had her legs and stubby arms around Lenny.
"Hmm?" Lenny asked as he was returning back to normal.
"Oh, nothing. I've got to go meet up with a friend of mine. Will you tell Emi I'm very proud of her and that I'll call her later tonight?" Meiko asked Lenny for the favor to tell Emi that she had to go and she wished her luck.
"Of course." Lenny told Meiko that he would, Meiko got up and left the scene. Lenny had to admit that he was beginning to zone out for a while. He almost doesn't notice that the relay's about to begin. But when Lenny tried to look, He can't find Emi.
Katawa Shoujo- Afternoon
"I thought that Emi would be running the relay." Lenny began. Rin who still had her legs around him began to look around too, she couldn't spot Emi.
"She runs the anchor. So she won't be running for a while yet. She's doing the last leg of the relay." Rin explained to Lenny that Emi wasn't going to be going first but she was going to do the last part.
"Ah." Lenny replied. Rin looked over to see where Emi was. Rin needed to ask Lenny another question.
"Did you see it?" Rin asked Lenny if he did.
"Huh?" Lenny asked. Rin sighed before she began speaking again.
"Emi at her Emiest." Rin told Lenny.
"Maybe." Lenny wasn't able to give a definite answer to Rin's question but it turned out that he needed to pay more attention.
"Hmm. Maybe this time." Rin told Lenny to observe.
"Go!" The coach shouted for the students to begin the relay run. Emi and the group were going to go first as they were going to head for the front and pass the baton on from one student to the next. Emi surged ahead of the pack as she wanted to be there and back to do her part of the race. Emi handed the baton off and began sprinting back where she was going to do her part finishing the race as she started it. Emi's teammates weren't in better shape as they steadily fell behind while trying their best to pass the baton from one student to the next. Lenny and Rin cheer Emi's teammates along as they pass the baton. Finally, Lenny could see Emi in position to finish the race. The students passed the baton to the others and when the sprinter came ahead, Emi was in last place. Might as well make up for lost time.
Emi sprinting onto the track to take the final handoff and win for her team. Once again Lenny was taken aback by how graceful she looks when she runs. It really is beautiful. The look of determination and fearlessness on her face only adds to the picture. Emi at her Emiest, Lenny could suppose. Emi sprinted ahead, passing competitors who were in to beat her, Emi just surged ahead passing Miki who had taken the lead for a while now and the finish line was in their sight. But then, as she crosses the finish line, Lenny sees her stumble slightly. It's only barely, but it's a definite stumble. Emi's janky movement from the stumble was seen as she quickly recovered. It wasn't enough to waste precious time as she had bound through the finish line when it happened. Rin inhales sharply, and actually looks concerned for a second.
"Aw, Emi..." Rin told Emi that she was concerned for the stumble.
"Did she hurt herself, do you think?" Lenny asked, trying to recall from the nurse about the moments where Emi was reckless and could cause bleeding where the legs met the prosthetics of Emi's legs.
"You noticed it too? It must be bad." Rin gave Lenny her reply as it must've been something they needed to be careful over. She frowns, as if deciding on the next course of action. Eventually that proves to be too tiresome, and she shrugs again. "Well, let's go down. Gotta crown the victor. See if you can find a laurel branch." Rin instructed Lenny to find the Laurel Branch so she could craft a crown for Emi. Lenny was confused.
"That's not going to be easy." Lenny tried to explain to Rin that he wasn't going to be able to find the thing that Rin needed. Rin shrugs.
"At least we tried." Rin told Lenny if this was a failure, don't make it into one. Well, they didn't really try all that hard. Or at all. But hey, whatever. Emi is surrounded by her teammates, all of them congratulating her on the run. Rin seems to be waiting for Emi to notice that she's arrived. Oh yeah, He could guess she can't exactly wave Emi over. Then again, Lenny was not sure that Rin would do such a thing even if she had arms. It doesn't seem her style to draw attention to herself. Or to emote beyond shrugging. Either way, Lenny was not willing to wait, so he decided to wave to Emi, who looks up and grins happily at Lenny - er, them.
"Hey, you showed up! Guess Rin owes me money, huh?" Emi asked Lenny if this was something he was going to do, she was glad he did show up. Rin wasn't amused and she began speaking next.
"We would have brought you a crown of laurels, but Lenny didn't find one." Rin explained to Emi that they promised to get Emi a present but that never materialized and for Emi she didn't mind but Lenny felt like he had to take all the credit for not looking.
"Hey, neither did you." Lenny told Rin that they were told never to look.
"It wasn't my job to look." Rin told Lenny in a sarcastic manner that they needed to do which. Lenny was confused.
"When did we assign jobs?" Lenny asked. He still didn't know what Rin was talking about.
"When I said "See if you can find a laurel branch." Try to keep up." Rin explained to Lenny about when they assigned jobs to each other. Lenny shrugs. Guess Rin's rubbing off on him.
"Seems it's my fault after all, Emi." Lenny told Emi that he doesn't seem to be good or feel good, his heart was still racing a bit after Meiko told him what happened to her husband. Emi laughs at Rin and Lenny.
"It's okay, I'm sure you'll make it up to me somehow." Emi told the two of them that she'll think of something to bring their attention and they could make up for the day they had lost.
"Uh, sure." Lenny tried his best to formulate a sentence but for Emi, that didn't matter.
"Good! So, how'd I look?" Emi asked Lenny if she did an excellent job on the track field that day. Lenny tried to think of words that would pop in his head. As he didn't want to go too far, he was forced to stop himself from blurting out "beautiful" or "amazing" and settle for the substantially safer "very impressive." Emi seems pleased with this assessment. Lenny doesn't mention how much more impressive her performance is given her lack of legs. He figures she knows that already. Besides, it seems like it would take away from her efforts, somehow.
"Great to hear! I was worried that I looked a little slow on the relay, but I guess I did fine, huh?" Emi asked if this was going to be something she really enjoyed. For Lenny he wanted to say something regarding what happened to Emi.
"Actually, I noticed—" Lenny began before Rin kicked him and kept him from finishing his sentence.
"What was that all about?" Emi asked Rin why she had to kick Lenny like that. Rin began to speak
"He noticed it. At the end." Rin told Emi that she noticed her stumbling in the end when she crossed the finish line.
"Hmm, that's no good. Guess the nurse will look at it for me later." Emi told them as she had to most likely see the nurse later on today if it meant trying to recover from the incident. There's a carelessness in her voice, as if it isn't a big deal, but Lenny suddenly notices a slight twitch on her face. Like she's trying to hide the fact that she's in pain. It's then that he notices her breathing is a little shallow, too. Lenny came to the conclusion that he could guess she really was hurt. She must notice Lenny's concern, because she skips up to me and gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, you look a little worried! I'm fine, really! Just sore from all the running, is all. And come on, a little pain isn't going to stop me." Emi told Lenny before she looked at the heart monitor as the vitals were still a little high. "I guess you're not okay then too. I guess I'll have the nurse check you over tomorrow as he needs to check me."
"Oh no?" Lenny asked. Did he really have to go back to the nurse to get his health checked out? Emi grins, and for a moment she looks like she did during her sprint, fierce and unconquerable. Or to put it another way, really beautiful.
"Hasn't yet."Emi asked Lenny.
"Well then. I guess I shouldn't worry, huh?" Lenny asked as he felt himself calm down a little bit. Emi was still beaming with pride.
"Damn right! I'm Emi Ibarazaki, fastest thing on no legs! I won't stop for anything!" Emi called out with excitement. She was a rocket that wasn't going to stop no matter what got in her way.
"Impressive." Lenny told Emi that there were no brakes on Emi. Rin began to think of something. Emi giggles, and then seems to remember something.
"Oh, before I forget... Rin and I are going to do something a couple days from now as a post-track meet celebration! You should come along! Normally we do it the day after, but since the track meet was on a Monday, I've got homework and class and all that stuff to take care of. Plus our morning run, of course." Emi explained to Lenny that he should come along and enjoy themselves when they had the chance.
"Right, of course. Oh, right. Your mom wanted to say she's proud of you. She'll call you later tonight." Lenny told Emi that Meiko was going to call her later tonight and see how she was doing so she had to leave early. Emi paused.
"I thought I saw her in the stands! I'm glad she made it! Used to be my dad who showed up to my meets, but Mom's done a pretty good job of taking over." Emi told Lenny. Lenny froze up as his heart beat increased sharply. Emi looked at him ready to panic. "Lenny, is there something wrong?" Emi asked.
"Not again." Rin told Emi, she was rather annoyed by this.
"It's okay Rin." Emi told Rin. Emi walked over and decided to hug Lenny to calm him down. Lenny eventually relaxed as he noticed Emi was hugging him. Lenny was beginning to think, was Emi there to help him in times of need? Emi shivers slightly, and Lenny realizes that she's still all sweaty. A breeze has started to blow, too. He was not cold at all, and he has his sweater with him, so without a word he threw it around her shoulders. Emi jumps slightly and then grins at Lenny.
"Hey, thanks! It's getting a little cold, I guess." Emi told Lenny that she was thankful for the sweater.
"Yeah, it looked like it." Lenny was able to give his reply. Emi then released her grip from Lenny once she sensed he had calmed down. Just as Lenny begins to wonder whether or not giving Emi his sweater could be taken the wrong way, a boy in a track uniform approaches.
"Hey, Emi! You're going to miss the medal ceremony!" A teammate called out. Emi's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Oh yeah, thanks!" Emi told the teammate about the medal ceremony. She turns to Rin and Lenny. "You don't have to stick around for this part. It takes forever. Besides, you should get cracking on your homework now if you don't want to be up late, Lenny. Morning run tomorrow! Don't forget!"
"How could I?" Lenny told Emi before he remembered. "Oh right."
"Good point. I mean, it's spending time with me, after all." Emi told Lenny before she prepared to leave. With this, she waves quickly and dashes off to receive her medals, or whatever they pass off as a medal these days. Rin and Lenny head away from the track,
"And Emi Ibarazaki wins first place in all competitions!" The coach announced to the wild cheering of the crowd. As Lenny and Rin walked away, Lenny decided to take a look around. Rin remains deep in whatever thoughts she has for most of the walk back to her dorm. As Lenny see her off, she speaks up.
"You're probably not getting that sweater back, I think." Rin told Lenny that he wasn't going to get back what he lended to Emi.
"I'm sure I'll get it back eventually." Lenny told Rin that he was going to take it back the next time he visits her.
"Interesting. Take it as it comes, huh? Very Emi-ish." Rin sighed as she walked away. With this odd statement, she turns and heads into the building. Honestly, was it that big a deal? Emi was cold and, unless Lenny had been mistaken, in pain. Giving her a solution to at least one of those problems seems like an obvious reaction. Though Lenny could have guessed there is a chance he could lose his sweater if Emi never remembers to return it. Lenny guesses Rin has a point. Still, he can't bring himself to muster much worry over the whole thing. After all, it's been getting warmer lately. He doesn't need a sweater. Odd. Lenny thinks he used to be a little more responsible with his stuff. "Emi-ish," huh? Maybe that's not really a bad thing. "Oh and Lenny, can I see you in the art room tomorrow afternoon with Hanako?" Rin asked Lenny.
"Sure, I think we should tell Hisao about this. Maybe he'll come too?" Lenny asked Rin. Rin sighed before she turned away and walked off.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Rin told Lenny before she finally walked off. Lenny was left to head back to his dorm as he still had the rest of the afternoon to himself. Homeworks awaits.
[A/N]: Another long chapter for you. Emi's race has been redone with some more details added in and dialogue. The characters will be getting more scenes to themselves but I feel like I want to stretch things out so the relationship between main character and main girl progresses more slowly as well as Lenny having a lot more problems to contend with other than his frail heart health.