The crowd roared as the cheer squad took the field.
Taro only caught a glimpse of it, bright uniforms, synchronized movement before ducking back into the equipment tent.
'That should be the cheerlead squad after their performance is the final relay race… come to think of it Akari said she joined them, their almost done too bad I won't be able to see the performance"
Taro was pulled out his thoughts by on of his juniors "umm. Senior everything is complete but we can't find the batons for the relay and it's happening a while after the cheerleading performance." He glanced at taro with a worried expression
taro looked around "That's odd it was definitely meant to be here, haaa," letting out a sigh he continued "don't worry I was in charge of the equipment I'll take full responsibility and find it"
the student froze there for a moment uncertain but then he spoke "It was also my fault so let me help you"
"Ok sure, lets look around" saying that taro turned around and left the tent.
Taro moved along the edge of the field, the noise of the festival swelling and fading with each step.
"Still missing…" he muttered, checking the storage list again. The two batons were missing.
The field opened up to his right.
The cheerleading performance had just ended.
Akari stood near the edge of the track, slightly out of breath, her hair a little out of place. Someone handed her a drink. She laughed, bright, easy, waving off something one of the girls said.
Taro slowed.
Just for a second.
Then someone brushed past him, nearly knocking the clipboard from his hand.
"Sorry!"
He steadied it, already moving again.
"…Right."
He sighed and turned away before the moment could settle.
Further down, the energy shifted.
Students were scattered across the open space, groups sitting on the grass, sharing snacks, trading drinks, talking over each other. The tension from earlier events had melted into something softer, louder in a different way.
A ball rolled across his path.
Someone chased after it, laughing.
Taro stepped around them without stopping.
Near the shaded area, he spotted them again.
Lila was sitting cross-legged on the ground, talking, really talking, the way she always did when she was comfortable.
Ren stood nearby, hands in his pockets, listening more than speaking.
Kenji was mid-sentence, gesturing too much like usual.
"…I'm telling you, if I fall, I'm taking all of you down with me," Kenji said tying to sit on Renn's shoulder.
Lila laughed.
Ren didn't, but there was a small smile there.
Taro paused.
They hadn't noticed him.
For a moment, it felt like he'd stepped into something he wasn't part of.
"…Hey, Taro!"
A voice called from behind him.
He turned.
"Did you check the west side already?"
"…Not yet."
"Do that first. We're running out of time."
Taro nodded once.
"Got it."
When he looked back
They were still there.
Talking. Uninterrupted.
He adjusted his grip on the clipboard and walked on.
As he was away Lyla's gaze landed on his retreating back for a short while
"He looks stressed" she mumbled to herself
By the time he reached the far end of the grounds, the noise had started to gather again.
Students were moving back toward the field.
The final event.
The crowd was reforming, voices rising, anticipation building all over again.
Taro stopped near the boundary line, scanning the area one more time.
Still nothing.
He exhaled quietly.
"…Where did it even go?"
Around him, people were already settling into place, eyes fixed on the track, waiting for something to begin.
Taro turned away from it.
And kept walking.
*
Eventually he circled back to the tent, the pressure was building up, he had kept everything perfect but at the last moment it seemed that everything was going to come crashing down, everyone was prepared and it was just a matter of time before the race starts.
Walking absent mindedly he kicked one of the boxes in the tent, he grimaced pulling his leg back
'We've already checked all the boxes in the tent I don't think there are any other bo…'
His eyes widened as he came to a sudden realization, immediately he walked to he back of the tent, searching. he found something at the corner covered by the fabric of the tent, it was a box, the box he sent to be kept at the back earlier.
Rushing through it he finally found it, two hollow tubes, red and green each. He stood up and made his way to the field, finding the official he gave them the batons
"Sorry for the delay here are the batons" he handed them both
"Oh, thank you, we were really worried we almost thought they went missing"
"I know right how would that sound" taro replied as a shy smile played on his face.
The last race and finale of the sports festival was coming to an end, just then the wind picked up and a drop of liquid landed on taros face and as he looked up dark clouds were coming bringing the smell of rain with them.