After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Midday break.

Kagura Hikaru and Ayakoji Chiyoko were running on the track field.

Maintaining a pace not much different from hers, he had already run ten laps, almost four kilometers, which was the distance for endurance running.

Naturally, his legs ached, his head felt heavy, and his body was sweating profusely.

Not used to exercising regularly, the moment he started, he ended up in this pathetic state.

The reason for all this began with the sign-ups for the sports festival.

"Before the sports festival, make sure you train properly!"

That's what Ayakoji Chiyoko had told him.

And so, he was dragged into running laps.

End of flashback.

"Ha... ha... ha... It's about, it's about time we take a break, right, President Ayakoji..."

Kagura Hikaru felt that he was only a step away from turning into a panting dog with its tongue out.

But in reality, his pace wasn't much slower than Ayakoji Chiyoko's, and his appearance was far from as pathetic as he imagined, with his breathing only a bit rushed.

All thanks to the various martial arts techniques he had mastered, in particular those related to reducing and conserving effort, which he applied to track activities.

That's why, when signing up for the sports festival events, he didn't choose sprinting but endurance running instead.

Outbursting in power might be hard to win, but in terms of stamina, he was confident he could compete with those athletic students from the Track and Field Club.

But ultimately, a technique was just a technique; the physical limits were there, and he would still get tired regardless.

"If you don't train now, you'll feel muscle soreness during the sports festival, and you wouldn't want to be absent the next day, right?" Ayakoji Chiyoko mercilessly denied his request for a break.

And the latter half of that sentence sounded more like a threat than anything else!

The sports festival lasted three days with the track events on the first day and the swimming competition on the second. If Kagura Hikaru used up all his energy on the first day and couldn't participate on the second day, it would disrupt Ayakoji Chiyoko's plans.

Kagura Hikaru silently lamented for himself and continued running, enduring the thirst.

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After running intermittently for an hour, he finally got a chance to rest.

They came down from the track field and cooled off in the shade of the trees.

There was a large pine tree beside the field that was a savior for the students during summer sports classes, providing shade from the scorching sun for countless generations of Uka students.

The two of them stopped under this pine tree.

Soon, a Discipline Committee member brought them sports drinks, towels, and hot bento boxes—since they'd started running right after class, Kagura Hikaru and the others hadn't had the chance to eat.

After delivering the items, a few Discipline Committee members tactfully left, allowing Kagura Hikaru and Ayakoji Chiyoko to sit under the shade and open their bento boxes.

"After school this afternoon, you'll stay to run laps, and when you go home, do some burpee jumps to increase your lung capacity. Getting fit doesn't happen overnight, but a few days of training should be enough for the sports festival. Don't disappoint me."

While eating, Kagura Hikaru felt somewhat exhausted listening to Ayakoji Chiyoko recite her training plan near his ear.

Before long, a familiar voice came from behind them.

To be precise, a voice he had heard just yesterday.

"Mr. Kagura, Classmate Ayakoji, what a coincidence to find you here."

Upon hearing these words, the two turned around and saw Saijo Mari, carrying a folder and walking towards them.

[Mr. Kagura... your relationship sure is progressing quickly.]

Kagura Hikaru saw this implication in Ayakoji Chiyoko's eyes.

Slight contempt.

No, although he had joked about being a playboy in the past, this time it really wasn't his fault—it was all Komori Ai's doing.

Saijo Mari approached, dusted off a spot just as they had, held down her skirt, and sat down on the pine tree roots, smiling over at them: "I saw you running. Are you preparing for the sports festival?"

"Yes," Ayakoji Chiyoko replied, gesturing with her chin towards Kagura Hikaru, "He's signed up for several athletic events, but his physical strength can't keep up. He's asking for my help to improve."

That was all your doing.

Kagura Hikaru took another bite of his meal, silently scoffing in his mind.

In truth, he hadn't failed to notice Ayakoji Chiyoko's intentions.

She was deliberately creating a topic of conversation for him and Saijo Mari.

As President of the Sports Committee, the latter frequently mixed with the sports clubs to understand the athletes' training plans, and she had a lot of authority on the subject.

As expected, when Saijo Mari heard that Kagura Hikaru was looking for help to improve his stamina, her expression brightened a bit: "If that's the case, I suggest you train following half the standard of the Track and Field Club, and you should see significant improvement before the sports festival. By the way, Mr. Kagura, what events did you sign up for?"

"...Endurance running and freestyle swimming."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"We can ignore the track for now, but the pool isn't open outside of swimming classes," Saijo Mari pondered, "However, if Mr. Kagura would like to practice there, I could try asking the Swimming Club if they'd let you join for a while."

"That's not necessary. I'm somewhat confident in the swimming events. Just increasing my stamina should be enough."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Kagura Hikaru, who held a swimming grade of Lv4, nodded politely in agreement.

Ayakoji Chiyoko had finished her lunchbox without him noticing and stood up, holding the empty disposable plastic box: "I'm going to throw this away, you guys can continue talking."

Once she had left, Saijo Mari sneaked a few glances at Kagura Hikaru and said in an embarrassed whisper, "Mr. Kagura... last night, I think I said a lot of inappropriate things to you... Please don't take it to heart, okay?"

"...Oh."

"I really mean it, please don't spread the word about my family issues."

"I won't talk about it."

"Phew, thank you, Mr. Kagura." Saijo Mari put a hand on her chest, relieved, "For some reason that day, I really wanted to talk to someone, maybe because there was too much pressure building up inside me. I'm sorry Mr. Kagura, did it make you feel uncomfortable?"

"It's fine." Kagura Hikaru said, "My parents also divorced, so I can understand how you feel."

"Eh, really?" Saijo Mari covered her small mouth in surprise, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said with a touch of loss, "Actually, my family might not be able to hold on either, my dad and mom both said they would fight for custody of us sisters if they got divorced. My mom quit her job at my dad's company and said she is going to look for new work, everything is moving in a bad direction, I don't know what to do..."

Kagura Hikaru fell silent.

At times like this, as a child, one feels the most helpless — he knew this feeling all too well.

"In matters of custody, your own opinion is very important."

"I know, but, if I were to live with my mom, my dad would be pitiable, and I don't want to be separated from my sister..."

"It seems you have already made your decision."

"...Yes."

"Thank you, Mr. Kagura. I feel a lot better after talking to you." Saijo Mari smoothed her short hair that almost reached her shoulders and smiled with lifted corners of her lips.

It was a sincere smile distinct from acting, faint but warm.

Although it lacked stunning enchantment, one could read her good feelings toward him from within.

As expected of the sports clubs' star of popularity, her charm was indeed genuine.

"I, I should probably go back now, there's still work to do at the club, I won't disturb your meal any longer." After making eye contact with Kagura Hikaru for a few seconds, Saijo Mari suddenly blushed, her heart thumping rapidly, hurriedly stood up and dusted off her bottom.

"I see, then see you next time."

"Yeah, see you next time."

Kagura Hikaru watched as she quickly walked away, then he turned and saw Ayakoji Chiyoko leaning against a pine tree, watching him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Saijo Mari seems to have taken a liking to you."

"It's just superficial appearance." Kagura Hikaru was unmoved.

"Superficial, huh... Well, I don't think so." Ayakoji Chiyoko walked over and sat down again, legs crossed, half-jokingly said, "Why don't you seduce her? If you could gain her support, we would be half-way secure in the Student Council election."

Kagura Hikaru's expression turned cold: "Show some respect, she is not your election tool, nor am I."

Ayakoji Chiyoko glanced sideways at him.

The atmosphere between the two changed abruptly because of his words.

"It wasn't me who first wanted to remove Kiryu Hina, it was you, and now you talk to me about tools." Ayakoji Chiyoko narrowed her eyes dangerously, "Do you care about her? Don't tell me you've fallen for her."

"Don't make such jokes."

"It's not impossible, right? After all, you are a playboy."

"..."

"Tch, forget it." Ayakoji Chiyoko stood up unhappily, "Since there's a chance, keep an eye on her, and try your best to cozy up to her for the votes."

After saying that, she left.

Her demeanor was very much like that of someone in a huff.

But Kagura Hikaru knew that could not be the case; the reason she was upset was that he had become disobedient.

And because, he had shown unnecessary emotion towards a 'pawn' and even tried to protect the pawn's dignity, which disappointed her.

For Ayakoji Chiyoko, Saijo Mari might really be just a tool.

But he could not see it that way.

If he acknowledged that, then what did that make him, who was asked to seduce a tool?

Completely disregarding others' feelings and pursuing his own goals, making him do things he didn't want to do.

It was exactly like that time...

Kagura Hikaru gazed at her tall, receding figure.

Ayakoji Chiyoko, in the end, you and Hina are of the same kind.

No wonder you two are archenemies.