Finals came and went as did any reasonable chance for the golden couple to spend any amount of time with each other .

Together with his sister Ryu created small windows of opportunities . They owed those friends at least that much .

With the help of Yukio and Kyoko Ryu managed to turn the club into a dating central for Urufu and Kuri, and despite failing to make most of those dates come true, a few fell through the tightening net around the two of them .

This was one of them, or rather this wasn't one of them but it was . A freezing morning saw the student body line up for five respectively ten kilometres of wet depression . While the girls ran a different course than the boys, everyone still gathered at the same place before the start . That place being the soccer field .

"Boring!" someone shouted from somewhere in the middle of the crowd .

'Got to agree with you on that one,' Ryu thought, but he knew he'd place among the best of the first years . Maybe among the top fifty in the school, which was more than decent considering juniors and seniors partic.i.p.ated as well .

"I'm worried," Noriko said .

"Worried about what?" Ryu replied and threw a sidelong glance at his sister .

She looked back at him, eyes hidden under bangs plastered to her forehead by the stubborn rain that seemed to have gone on for over two weeks straight by now . That wasn't true, but there hadn't been many days in December without a downpour, which made for the wettest winter month he could recall .

With a scowl on her face Noriko elbowed him and nodded in the direction of a golden halo that stood out among the students like suns.h.i.+ne at night .

At first Ryu didn't get it, but then he saw Urufu behind Kuri . She was tall enough to hide even his face, but a sudden gust of wind threw her hair sideways, and Urufu's face became visible as he moved to shelter her from the wind .

'Always playing the knight . Why are you trying so hard to act like some stupid hero?' Because it was outlandish or old-fas.h.i.+oned, and in the case of Urufu perhaps both . Ryu sighed and smiled . It also made him a little jealous of his friend . Daring to be so lame that it was somehow cool came natural to Urufu . He had half a century's worth of experience, and caring about what he looked like to others apparently didn't have all that much of a priority for him any longer .

"Worried?" Ryu asked again . Urufu looked like he was having a blast .

Noriko nodded . "Yeah, look at them . That's all desperation . "

Ryu stared at the pair . Just as she had said something was off . 'd.a.m.n, you're right sis! Wait a moment . ' "Sis, when did you learn . . . "

"I didn't . Mom did . "

'Huh? Mom?'

"We had a talk last night," Noriko continued . "She told me a lot I didn't know . She told me that she was you and dad was me . "

At first that didn't make any sense, but Ryu knew his parents well enough to eventually grasp what they meant whenever they tried to be cryptic . Still, dad being Noriko he could understand, but mom? 'You really mean you played merry h.e.l.l with the boys during your high-school years?'

"She told me she almost lost dad after graduation, and that their best friend saved them . "

Looking at Kuri clinging to Urufu Ryu felt something cold slither down his spine . 'She told you that after meeting Kuri?' "Sis, I know they're having a hard time, but that's not why you're worried, is it?"

In response his sister shook her head . "Mom told me Kuri's desperate to show Urufu she'll be able to handle school, career and their relations.h.i.+p, but that she's already given up . "

'Then he should act accordingly,' Ryu thought . He searched his friend's face for clues, and despite the distance Ryu saw how hyped up Urufu was . 'c.r.a.p! He's going to run for it . He'll want to prove to her that he's worth her feelings . '

"Ryu, please keep pace with him . I'm not in love with him any longer, but I still care . For them both," his sister added after a moment of silence .

He didn't need to be told . Ryu guessed Kuri would pace her marathon well enough, and even if she didn't there wouldn't be any danger, but Urufu . 'Have you recovered enough for this?'

The sound of a whistle woke him from his thoughts, and as Ryu walked to his starting position he made an effort to look for where Urufu and Yukio made ready .

Then everything slowed to a crawl as expected . They had to wait an eternity for everyone to get ready and the PE teacher to run what he hoped was a heart-warming speech, but only forced them all to freeze in the wind for that much longer .

Then the girls were off and Ryu saw Kyoko and Noriko group up together with most of the club members and slog off somewhere in the middle . Kuri, however, caught up with some girls he recognised from the track and field's club .

'So, maybe not pacing it too well . Have fun as long as it lasts . '

The girls would be back within half an hour to an hour, Ryu guessed . The winner possibly in a bit over twenty minutes .

After the girls had vanished the boys lined up for real . As usual Ryu felt antic.i.p.ation rising in him . He was a natural athlete and genuinely liked compet.i.tions . He just wasn't interested enough to spend his days trying to become the best .

At long last a subdued boom from the starting gun sent them away and Ryu stretched out to take a position just behind the track and field club members . Then he remembered Noriko's request, but just as he was about to slow down he saw Urufu well ahead of him .

'Idiot! You d.a.m.n idiot!'

Pus.h.i.+ng a little Ryu made the extra effort to get behind Urufu . From here on he could only wait until the idiot either collapsed or realised the tempo was way too high for him .