Ponytail and Protein Bars 9
“Are you okay?”
While running, Sōma took out a sports towel and draped it over her neck. Instead of thanking him, she glared at him fiercely.
“Sōma-san, why can you run so effortlessly?”
She seemed annoyed that he wasn’t tired at all despite running the same distance at the same speed.
“I run quite often. I can handle about twenty kilometers easily.”
“That’s cheating! You’re a cheater!”
“It’s not cheating. It’s the result of steady effort.”
He was at a loss for words in response to the unreasonable complaint.
It can’t be helped. Time to switch to Plan B.
They had set a park ten kilometers away as their goal, but anticipating that they might not be able to make it, he had also set several closer goal points.
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It was the first day, after all, and it would be better not to push her too hard.
“Come on, just a little more and then we can take a break. Hang in there.”
“Okay…”
She responded weakly to the encouragement and continued to run with a form so poor that any track and field coach would surely scold her.
It was probably around the time they had covered another kilometer when Chika suddenly spoke up.
“――You know, I really love stuffed animals.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s right.”
He responded with a nod, though he was puzzled by her abrupt topic. He had been to Chika’s room once before and remembered that she had a shelf dedicated to stuffed animals. It was quite a sight, with a whole array of stuffed animals neatly lined up. It’s said that girls like stuffed animals, but it’s rare to see such a huge collection.
“But it’s not like I’ve always loved stuffed animals. Actually, I wanted to have a pet. A dog or a cat. I really wanted a fluffy white rabbit when I was little. I wanted to play with a bunny that hops around.”
“Is that so?”
He couldn’t see the point of this conversation.
Was it just idle chatter? Yet, he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck for some reason.
“However, my parents, who would usually grant any wish I had, were strictly against having a pet.”
“That’s, well…”
He quickly understood the reason. Chika’s parents were both a patissier and a patissière. When you’re in a profession that deals with food, you have to be very careful about hygiene.
It made sense that they would be cautious about keeping an animal that could shed fur or leave feces.
“I couldn’t have a pet, So I started collecting stuffed animals instead.”
“Hmm.”
He had thought her parents were just spoiling her, but they were quite proper as patissiers. They were a bit intimidating, but he still wanted to have a proper conversation with them sometime.
“――So, I’ve been thinking.”
Just when he thought she was making conversation to distract from the fatigue of running, she continued.
“My parents said no because I wanted to keep a living creature. After all, things like feces and fur are not hygienic. It would be a disaster if we brought those into the shop.”
“Yeah, well, that’s true.”
“Then, why not have a human as a pet?”
“…What?”
What started as a somewhat melancholic trip down memory lane suddenly took an unsettling turn.
“A human would be able to use the toilet and take baths properly, so it would be hygienic, right?”
“Hygienic, maybe, but that’s ethically wrong.”
“Is that so? I think a collar would look really nice on you, Sōma-san.”
“Wait a minute! You just casually said something outrageous!”
“I wonder what color collar would suit you. Red? Blue? No, maybe pastel colors would be better.”
He finally realized the cause of the tingling sensation at the back of his neck.
“It would be fun to take Sōma-san for a walk with a collar and leash.”
“Don’t imagine it so cheerfully! That’s scary!”
This is bad.
‘Chika has finally snapped because I’ve let her run too much’
“Don’t worry. If I’m going to keep you, I’ll take responsibility and train you properly.”
She was smiling, but the look in her eyes was dangerous.
Scary, scary, scary!
Sōma began to run faster, trying to escape while covering his neck.
“Ah, hey, Sō-chan, stay!”
“You’ve already decided on a pet name!? Don’t tell me, this isn’t the first time you’ve fantasized about me being your pet!?”
“It’s not good to run ahead of your owner!”
“Who’s the owner here!”
With a voice close to a scream, he dashes at full speed.
Time to switch to Plan C!
He needs to let Chika rest at the nearby park, or his own safety will be in jeopardy.
Upon arriving at the park, which is just a little over five kilometers from the Satomi residence, Chika collapses onto a faded yellow bench.
“Hee, haa, hee, haa…!”
Her chest rises and falls rhythmically with each deep breath.
“I’m… I’m so tired…”
“We’ve only done half of what we planned.”
At this rate, they’ve only burned half the calories they intended to.
“I did my best!”
“Hmm, well, I guess you did.”
It’s more like she got through it with a strange burst of energy rather than effort.
“Anyway, good job. Here, have some barley tea.”
He hands her a slim water bottle taken from his running backpack.
“Barley tea? I would have preferred a sports drink.”
“Don’t be picky. Sports drinks have too much sugar. If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”
“I want it, I want it. I really want to drink the barley tea!”
When he pretends to put it back in the backpack, she hurriedly snatches the water bottle and gulps down its contents.
“Is there any more?”
“Don’t drink too much or you’ll bloat. Let’s have a snack instead.”
“I’ve been waiting for that!”
Sōma takes out a Tupperware container, and Chika sits up after regaining a bit of her energy.
“I hope they didn’t break from all the running.”
He carefully opens the lid while praying, and fortunately, the contents are intact.
Inside are about ten long, stick-shaped items.