The Danger of Athletics
Elyna was just reaching the final stretch of the relay race—she’d offered to file in for a missing female student—when someone screamed.
“SPIDER!”
It was a stupid reflex. The very worst. But she couldn’t help it; arachnophobia kicked in before her brain registered the mistake.
The prank could have been funny. Her screaming like a banshee in the middle of a track sprint, dodging an imaginary eight-legged monster.
With her long limbs, she was placed a good second, right after Ayumi, their very own bullet-train girl.
Yes, it should have been a funny prank with laughter and gentle mockery, and a lot of hysterical screaming. Yet the cascade reaction was anything but.
Elyna jolted in fright; treacherous gravel slid under her foot. Her weak ankle twisted with a jolt of pain, and yielded. Suddenly, she was plummeting down. Her right hand shot out in hope of cushioning the fall. Cries echoed in her ears.
How could a feeble joint possibly accommodate such strain?
Pain tore through bone and flesh as her hand hit the ground, twisted ligaments and burnt skin.
Agony shot up her arm, too strong to ignore, too intense to cry out; Elyna bit her tongue and went down hard.
Her head met the ground and the world turned fuzzy.
Someone screamed in the distance—definitely feminine—then footsteps pounded around her. Elyna was too stunned to move.
“It was very badly done,” a cold voice sounded, the usual emotionless tone laced by anger. Haruki-kun, her mind supplied. Why is he so angry?
Many thoughts danced in her brain, none of them stuck. Her cheek felt raw, burning like meat on a plancha.
“Sensei!” came an ear-splitting scream, way too close for comfort. The agony pulsating in her left side was particularly nerve-wracking.
“What happened?” A familiar voice reached her as steps screeched to a halt in the gravel. She’d never heard such panic in Sano’s tone.
Too loud. Too loud!
Hands grabbed her shoulders, gently rolling her around. Then a gasp. “WHAT HAPPENED?” he thundered. Her supervisor sounded almost as frightening as Katayū on a bad day. Words were exchanged, blurring in her mind. Ayumi cried about an accident. Just an accident.
Their class representative remained inconspicuously silent.
Yeah, it’s just an accident. Stupid Shūji. Stupid spiders. Stupid… ow. It hurts, it hurts. God damn it!
Elyna wanted to tell Sano it would be alright, as soon as that searing pain left her alone. The words wouldn’t come—only a low groan that burst out of her throat.
“Elyna-san, can you hear me?”
His soothing voice rolled over her senses like a blanket; she wanted to nestle inside it and sleep. But a fresh onslaught of pain pulsated down her arm, keeping her tethered to harsh reality.
“Someone get Sōhma-san!” he barked. The sharp command made her flinch, drawing another whimper. In the background, she thought she heard Shūji’s voice.
A soft hand prodded at her hairline, carefully brushing away gravel and dust. Pain suddenly flared and she couldn’t suppress a hiss.
“Gomen nasai.” His voice was thick with apology. “Please open your eyes. Tell me you are alright.”
She wanted to. Really wanted him to stop worrying because it wasn’t serious, right?
But that stupid sun was hurting even beneath closed eyelids.
One attempt. Two. She squinted. Sano’s large hand travelled around her head, a soothing touch that carded through her hair.
His voice, again, tantalised her senses, much closer now.
“Elyna-san, listen to me. You took a nasty fall, and I need to know how badly you are hurt. Can you feel all your limbs?”
An insistent ache came from her knee; this one, at least, was accounted for. Everything hurt on the left side. She managed a small nod, noting how even that simple movement sent fresh waves of pain through her neck muscles. A heavy sigh sounded by her ear.
“Good.” The relief in his voice was palpable, his breath warm against her cheek. “Does your neck hurt? Do not move it, just tell me if it hurts.”
His voice was low, almost intimate. One hand continued to support her head while the other began prodding gently at any potential injuries. Despite the clinical touch, she could feel how gentle he was; the contrast almost created a sensory overload, but she clung to consciousness fiercely.
To pass out would probably cause him a cardiac arrest. “Mmph,” she uttered as his fingers grazed her damaged knee.
Her mind was slowly clearing, the fog of shock beginning to lift. Her wrist pulsated like a bitch, a deeper pain than torn skin. But the rest seemed intact enough. Well, that’s a start. Sano was speaking to her continuously, his voice smoothing the pain.
A student sniffled in the background, a reminder that earth still existed. That the world was waiting. Eventually, Elyna found the strength to lift those blasted eyelids.
The first thing she saw was her supervisor, deep worry lines carved upon his face. His expression was painful to watch. Dishevelled strands framed him as he bent over her. And those pools of molten gold, filled with worry for her.
God, he’s beautiful! And I’m delirious.
Elyna tried, and failed, to pull herself up; his arms wound around her gently, but firmly, creating the softest cocoon. “Hey, hey,” he crooned, killing her heart with tenderness. “Stay put.”
Elyna’s eyes darted to the side, finding many worried faces.
Her students. Elyna suddenly became aware of her audience; propriety screamed at her to put some distance between herself and her supervisor—their teacher.
With her left sleeve, she brushed away the remaining tears; pain flared against her skin.
“Ow,” she moaned in surprise.
Shit. I hope it won’t scar.
Elyna soldiered on: she couldn’t possibly remain in Sano’s embrace any longer, lest her crush be revealed. It would both damage his reputation and set an awkward mood between them; she couldn’t afford to lose his trust.
“I can walk…” she insisted. “I think.”
His arms loosened fractionally, but one steady hand remained at her back, a solid anchor with the quiet strength of efficient muscles.
“Not even in dreams, young lady,” he responded sternly. The adamant tone invited a smile upon her lips, pulling at torn skin. “Ow. Merda.” Speaking was a little difficult with the fire eating her cheek away. “It’s alright, sensei. I think… I just sprained my wrist.”
Concerned eyes travelled down her regulation shorts, lingering on bare legs—or an injured knee?—with a frown. Guilt flared; she was loath to cause him sadness.
“How about the ankle?” he asked, gaze returning to her.
Elyna rolled around the joint carefully, feeling the usual sting that occurred when she didn’t pay attention. “Nothing bad,” she said with as much nonchalance as she could muster. “It’s… crap.”
It sprained often enough to forget about it. Ice skating had given her indestructible knees, but weak ankles from spending too much time constricted in stiff boots.
“All right,” he sighed, “I’ll bring you to the health room, come on.”
“Oh!” Elyna exclaimed, feeling really bashful. “It’s not necessary, I can go by myself.”
You’re strong, Elyna, came her mother’s voice in her head.
Was it the pain throbbing on every exposed part of her skin, or had she gone completely off kilter from Sano’s too intimate presence?
All manner of protests arose around her; she ignored them and pushed herself to rise.
Violent tremors electrified her muscles at the slightest pressure, the aftershock of trauma making coordinated movement impossible.
Sano did not meet her eyes; he did not even dignify her attempt with a response as his hand pushed on her back. One moment, she was stumbling like a baby deer, and the next, tilting backwards.
Elyna squeaked in fright. In one easy swoop, she was hoisted up in strong arms and surrounded by warmth. “I’ve got you,” Sano murmured, his voice low. “I won’t let you fall, so hold on tight.”
And despite the fire of torn skin, despite the throbbing ache in her wrist that promised many long hours of physiotherapy, Elyna couldn’t help but melt into his tall frame.
“Haruki-kun,” he called behind him. “You’re in charge.”
“Hai, sensei!” came a determined reply.
Sano walked away, seemingly unaffected by her weight. Her inner princess swooned, nestling into his embrace with a sigh of contentment, lost in his warmth.
These were the most perfect minutes of Elyna’s twenty-odd years. Perhaps sixty seconds, maybe twice that; she couldn’t really recall, adrift in his warmth. She abandoned the fight and set her head in the comfortable spot against his collarbone.
Sano shivered. His heart beat strong and fast beneath her ear, pumping blood to accommodate the strain of carrying a fully grown woman over the field.
The scent of him invaded her senses, a unique masculine fragrance that lulled her.
She could feel the flex and release of his muscles as he walked, could count each heartbeat against her ribs.
Her skin ached in sync with his steps, nerve endings awakening now that the shock was wearing off. Her guilt increased when his breathing grew laboured.
“I really should be able to walk.” Every movement sent a sharp jolt of pain in her abraded skin.
“Dr Sōhma will be the judge of that.”
So stubborn… but again, their little bubble of intimacy would burst soon enough. Lulled by his gait, Elyna tried to push through the ache to ask, ”… heavy?”
He huffed a breath, sounding almost amused. “Nothing I can't handle.”
They reached the covered path that led to the main building, shadows engulfing them as Sano walked, arms stiff around her.
I am too heavy, that’s a given. Considering how to walk the rest of the distance by herself, she was surprised when Sano’s low rumble caressed her ears. “You alright, down there?”
Elyna’s heart clenched; she was utterly, completely lost. She could only nod against his chest, taking a deep whiff of his natural fragrance.
She was doomed to try, and fail, to recapture this moment forever. To return to the perfect sanctuary of his arms.
To think it took an unfortunate fall to realise… she’d already fallen. It was wrong, so utterly wrong. Elyna knew she’d caught a glimpse of the man, forgetting he was her supervisor first and foremost. But there was no turning back.
When Dr Sōhma’s voice echoed in the corridors, she sighed in disappointment.
Dreamtime is over.
“Oh my,” the head medic said, her tone as unsettling as usual. “You really did a number on yourself, didn’t you?”
Sano didn’t respond at once, going straight for the open door and carefully laying her upon a cot. By his side, Shūji appeared, his usual cheeky countenance nowhere to be found. Elyna glared, and the boy’s head dipped in shame.
Damn brat!
Elyna: Ouch, ouch, ouch
Aksel: What happened?
Elyna sent a picture: Sushi happened!
Aksel: I’ll kill him with my bare hands
Aksel: The bloody boy had it coming, it is bullying!
Aksel: I’m jumping on a plane right NOW! Well, actually, I don’t have money so I’ll try in the baggage hold.