The Left Foot, Santo Masao

[blacktothefuture]

Masao keeps silent and speeds up to match his companions pace. Seeing the increase the two girls increase their pace as well now quickly approaching the library doors.

"I can't believe this" Shirou half murmurs, eyes now locked on the girl with long black hair. His pace now speeding up another notch in response to the pair.

[prosis]

He shrugs to the black haired girl's partner, kind of a 'What can you do?' sort of thing.

Masao speeds up once more to match Shirou's pace. Although any faster, and he would probably just drop this idiocy. His race, his problem.

(Masao continues to speed up, but the second Shirou starts to legitimately run, he's going to slow down to a walk).

[blacktothefuture]

The black haired girls partner actually returns Masao's look with a fierce stare. Even if Masao doesn't share Shirou's sense of competition it seems she certainly shares her partners.

All involved hold at the current pace until three feet from either side of the library entrance. On some unseen cue the black haired girl and Shirou both dart for the door, Shirou laying his hand upon the closest handle first. To which the girl responds by grabbing him by the wrist and tossing him back away from the door and darting inward!

Shirou manages to catch himself, a look of equal parts familiarity and annoyance on his face as the girls companion moves in front of the door.

"This is ridiculous!" Shirou shouts "Move out of the way right now!".

[prosis]

Masao turns to Shirou, "What did you do, anyway?" He asks curiously.

He then returns his attention to the girl blocking the door.

"Look, the teacher just sent us to fetch some books. I don't know what your deal is with Shirou, but can't it wait until after school?"

[blacktothefuture]

"Beats me. She's had it out for me since last week butting heads with me wherever we meet!" Shirou comments.

"Ms. Renka has sworn not to lose to him" the girl blocking the door explains "and that includes a race to the book pile. It seems her instinct was correct in that we are now competing for one of the few extra books".

[prosis]

"....Okay. Grats. She wins. Whatever. Be sure to celebrate. It's just some books. If you want to deal with it, you're on your own Shirou." He turns his back to the girl guarding the door, and winks at Shirou. He then proceeds down the hall. "Strange that she's so determined to beat you. Are you sure you didn't offend her or kick her dog or something?" He asks over his shoulder nonchalantly as he leaves.


Once around the corner, and out of sight, Masao waits. There was no feasible way to be able to get the books within the library. There would be students present, and the librarian would witness any disputes over the books.

But the goal was never to get the books. It was to return the classroom with them.

The hallway would make for a perfect ambush. Hopefully Shirou would argue a bit with the girl before leaving (and thus being able to join Masao). But even if he didn't, it would work out. Somehow.


Normally Masao wouldn't get involved in such a juvenile thing. But Shirou's words concerned him. Continual harassment of another student was petty and mean, especially with no reason for the grudge.

[blacktothefuture]

"Pretty..sure..." Shirou answers as Masao walks away.

Once around the corner Masao hears some footsteps and another voice asking about what is going on. The voice being interrupted by the sound of a door banging and the soft screech of shoes sliding on linoleum.

After a short exclamation from the girl and more door banging there is no sound for quite some time. Maybe five minutes later he hears Shirou, Renka and her friend exiting the library arguing with one another.

"If you hadn't escalated the contest and just settled for loss we would not be in this situation" Renka asserts.

"We could have avoided this all if you'd just chilled out!" Shirou fires back.