After enjoying the two girls’ bentos and wild boar meat, we started marching again.
Of course, we took care of the fire properly.
-0-
After a while, there’s only one checkpoint left.
「Alright, let’s do it.」
「Yeah」
「Alright」
「Eh? What what?」
Yui and Futaba had no objection to my decision.
Sanada doesn’t seem to get it but I guess that’s to be expected.
「I’m talking about winning.」
「Eh? I thought we were going to cooperate with everyone? Don’t tell me we asked everyone to run on a marathon with us only to sprint at the end?」
「No, we didn’t. We didn’t say we’d finish the marathon together in the first place.」
「Eehto……areh? Right……」
「I’m not going to promise something that could get me in trouble later on. Now, let’s go.」
「And how are we supposed to catch up with the team that found this checkpoint when they are already on their way for the last one?」
「Simple. We just have to get to the last checkpoint first.」
「And how are we supposed to do that……」
「By running. Follow me.」
「「Affirmative」」
「Eh!?」
The two girls followed my command while Sanada looked deeply displeased.
-0-
I had a pretty good idea as to where we should go based on the signs of people scattered all over the mountain.
Naturally, the unexplored area is getting smaller and smaller as you move toward the summit.
No one seems to be planning on going to the summit yet.
That means the last checkpoint was likely to be somewhere where no one has passed yet.
「I’ll look at the right side from the top. Yui, support Sanada-kun so that he won’t get lost. Futaba, watch your step while looking at the left side.」
「Alright」
「Understood」
At the same time they replied, I jumped on the branch of a tree and jumped from tree to tree.
Futaba is right behind me.
Yui is a little behind because she’s following Sanada’s pace.
However, that’s alright.
-0-
I am zigzagging a bit as I’m looking for the checkpoint but Yui is ignoring my lateral movement and is just moving straight.
This is to shorten the distance Sanada has to run.
-0-
I quickly found the last checkpoint.
Judging from the footprints and signs around it, we were the first to find it.
「Haa………haa………i-it’s really here……awesome……」
I waited for Sanada, who was chasing his breath, to catch up to us before lighting the smoke bomb.
「Haa….haaa……you……aren’t even breaking a sweat……」
「If you eat well and work out the right amount of exercise, you’ll be able to do this.」
「Really………?」
Yui looked like she wanted to say something but even when we were training together, I made sure she’s not overdoing it.
Rather than training like your life is on the line, training moderately is better.
Probably.
