Chapter 4 – The Village Boy Challenge

Morning homeroom felt familiar now.

Not comfortable—just less terrifying.

Haruto sat at his desk, listening to the low hum of voices around him. Someone laughed near the windows. Someone else argued about homework. He still didn’t join in, but he didn’t feel like he was intruding anymore.

From the seat beside him, Hana tapped her pencil against his notebook.

“Oi.”

He flinched. “S-Sorry—”

She grinned. “Relax. I wasn’t scolding you. Just checking if you’re awake.”

“…I am.”

“Liar,” she said cheerfully. “You look like you’re thinking too hard again.”

Before he could answer, Mr. Fujimoto cleared his throat.

“Alright, everyone. Quiet down.”

The room settled.

“There’s an upcoming school event you should know about,” the teacher said. “Next week, we’ll be holding a physical education assessment combined with teamwork activities.”

A collective groan filled the classroom.

“It’s nothing extreme,” he added. “But participation is mandatory.”

Haruto stiffened.

“And yes,” the teacher said casually, “this will count toward your participation grades.”

Haruto’s stomach dropped.

Already…?

Someone whispered behind him.

“Wonder how the village guy’s gonna handle that.”

Another snicker followed.

Haruto lowered his gaze to his desk.

The rest of the morning passed strangely.

In Chapter 3, Haruto had laughed—awkwardly—but still laughed when Hana teased him. Today, his smiles came slower. He dropped his eraser twice and didn’t joke about it. When Hana nudged his foot under the desk, he barely reacted.

She noticed.

At lunch, she leaned across the table. “You’re quiet again.”

“I’m just tired.”

“You say that when you’re nervous.”

He paused. “…Do I?”

“Yes.”

She studied him for a moment, then smirked. “What, scared of running laps?”

He hesitated. “I don’t like being watched.”

Hana blinked.

Then she laughed. “That’s it?”

He nodded.

She leaned back, folding her arms. “If you trip, I’ll just laugh first.”

“That doesn’t help.”

“It does,” she said confidently. “If I’m laughing, it means it’s not serious.”

Haruto didn’t understand why—but his chest loosened a little.

The assessment day arrived faster than expected.

The gym was loud, echoing with sneakers and voices. Haruto stood in line, hands clenched, feeling smaller than everyone else.

When the activities began, things went exactly how he feared.

He misheard instructions.

He started late.

He tripped during warm-ups.

Someone laughed.

His ears burned.

Across the gym, Hana cupped her hands. “Wow, village boy! That was impressive—in a tragic way!”

A few students laughed louder.

Haruto swallowed hard.

Then he heard her again—quieter this time.

“Hey. Slow down.”

He looked up.

She wasn’t smiling.

“Just move how you’re comfortable,” she added. “You don’t need to match them.”

Something clicked.

During the next activity, Haruto stopped rushing. He focused on rhythm, breathing, simple movement. When teamwork was involved, he listened instead of panicking.

It wasn’t flashy.

But it worked.

The laughter faded.

By the end, Haruto was exhausted—but standing.

Hana smiled.

Not teasing.

Just… proud.

After school, Haruto sat on the steps outside the gym.

Hana approached, hands in her pockets.

“You didn’t totally embarrass yourself,” she said.

“…That’s good?”

She paused. “Actually—yeah. It is.”