The whole crowd was buzzing with whispers. It was as if time had stopped. Even the teachers were stunned by the unexpected arrival. Marina stood frozen, her usual calm expression replaced by shock and confusion. She took a deep breath, then walked towards the man who had just stepped out of the shiny black car.
Ashford Kamiyama, head of the Kamiyama Group and Marina's father, stood tall and confident. His black coat looked expensive, his jet black hair neatly styled, and his eyes were sharp but warm. He looked at Marina with a playful smile.
"Father...?" Marina's voice wavered. "You're supposed to be on a business trip. Why are you here?"
Ashford chuckled, his deep voice carrying a light, teasing tone. "That trip ended two weeks ago." He stepped closer and placed his large hand on her head, ruffling her hair. "I missed my daughter. Is it so strange for a father to come watch his daughter at a sports festival?"
Marina's cheeks turned pink as she swatted his hand away. "Stop that! People are watching..." she muttered, clearly embarrassed.
Ashford laughed. "You're still as serious as ever." His eyes softened. "But I'm glad to see you're doing well."
Marina crossed her arms, trying to regain her usual calm. "You could have told me you were coming."
"Then it wouldn't be a surprise," Ashford replied, his playful grin never leaving his face.
Meanwhile, Izumi watched the scene with wide eyes. He had never seen Marina look so... flustered. It was almost cute, which made his heart skip a beat before he quickly shook the thought away.
Just then, one of Ashford's bodyguards leaned in and whispered something into his ear. Ashford's eyes shifted, locking onto Izumi. His gaze was intense, calculating, as if he was trying to read Izumi's very soul.
Izumi felt a chill run down his spine. "W-Why is he looking at me like that?" he muttered.
Before he could figure it out, Ashford called out, "HEY!, You there. Come here."
The crowd went silent. All eyes were now on Izumi. His heart raced. "M-Me?"
Marina looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening. "Father, what are you—"
But Ashford just waved his hand, motioning for Izumi to come closer. "I just want to meet him."
Izumi gulped. His legs felt heavy, but somehow he managed to walk over. The crowd whispered as he approached the man who was not only Marina's father but also the head of one of the most powerful families around.
Standing before Ashford, Izumi felt like an ant facing a giant. Ashford's presence was overwhelming, his eyes sharp and piercing. But then, to Izumi's surprise, the man smiled.
"So, you're the one," Ashford said, his voice calm but curious. "Marina's first friend."
Izumi's jaw dropped. "H-Huh? First... friend?"
Ashford nodded, glancing at Marina, who looked away, clearly embarrassed. "Marina never mentioned having any friends before. But my men told me about you." He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me, boy, how did you become friends with my daughter?"
Izumi's heart raced. "W-Well... we both like anime... and she's nice... and... uh..." He fumbled over his words, feeling like a complete fool.
Ashford blinked, then burst out laughing. "Anime, huh? Who would have thought?" He patted Izumi's shoulder with surprising friendliness. "I see. Then I'll leave her in your care."
Izumi's eyes widened. "Huh?"
Ashford's expression softened. "Take care of my daughter, okay? She may act tough, but she needs good friends."
Izumi looked over at Marina, who was still avoiding his gaze, her cheeks slightly red. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Y-Yeah. I will."
Ashford smiled, then turned back to Marina and ruffled her hair once more. "Be good, Marina. I'll be watching from the VIP section."
"Stop messing with my hair!" Marina protested, trying to fix her now messy hair.
With that, Ashford walked away, his bodyguards following closely behind. The crowd was buzzing with excitement and disbelief.
"That was Marina's dad?"
"He's so cool!"
"I didn't know she had that kind of background..."
Marina sighed, clearly annoyed by all the attention. Izumi watched her for a moment, then smiled. He had learned something new about her today.
But there was no time to relax. The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers.
"Attention, everyone! The next event is the highlight of our Sports Festival—the relay race!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Izumi's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The event that Ren had been waiting for. The event where he had challenged Marina.
The racers lined up, each team ready to give it their all. Izumi was third in line, with Marina as the anchor—the final runner. Ren was on the opposing team, his eyes fixed on Marina with a smug smile.
Marina glanced at him, her face calm and cold. "Ready to lose?" she asked.
Ren's grin widened. "We'll see."
The race began with the crack of the starter pistol. The first runners dashed forward, the crowd roaring with excitement.
Izumi watched as Yuki ran with all his might, passing the baton to him. "Go, Izumi!"
Grabbing the baton, Izumi ran as fast as he could. His legs burned, his lungs ached, but he pushed forward, determined not to let his team down. He looked ahead and saw Ren already gaining speed.
"Damn it... he's fast," Izumi muttered, giving his all. Finally, he reached Marina and passed her the baton. "Sorry... I'm... late..."
Marina took the baton with a calm smile. "Don't worry."
And then, she was off.
The crowd roared as Marina sprinted like lightning. Her form was flawless, her speed unmatched. Even the announcer was speechless.
"Amazing! Look at her go!"
Ren's eyes widened as Marina caught up to him. He pushed himself harder, but she was relentless, inching closer with every step.
"No... I won't lose!" Ren gritted his teeth, but Marina's determination was stronger. With a final burst of speed, she overtook him, crossing the finish line just a second before he did.
The stadium exploded with cheers. Marina's team had won the relay race!
Izumi collapsed on the grass, exhausted but relieved. "We... did it..."
The award ceremony followed, with Marina's team standing on the podium. Ashford watched from the VIP section, a proud smile on his face.
After the ceremony, Marina approached Izumi. "Good job out there."
Izumi looked up, surprised. "But... I was slow. I almost ruined it..."
Marina shook her head, her eyes softening. "Because of you, I was able to run without worries. So... thank you."
Her smile was gentle, genuine, and breathtakingly beautiful. Izumi's heart skipped a beat as he felt his face heat up. "Y-Yeah... no problem..."
And with that, the Sports Festival came to an end, leaving behind memories that none of them would ever forget.