Hisao and Lilly's Married Life: Chapter 14 (Patreon)

The rising Saturday sun brought the entire world to life. As the end of October grew ever nearer, the days were becoming shorter, and the sun shined earlier.

Birds awoke, springing forth from their nests on trees to find food that was still just struggling awake. Their chittering and whistling of shrill song slowly grew as more and more sprang forth from their nest in the search of wriggling insects.

A diverging sound built slowly but steadily, as the rhythmic clacking of an artificial creation smacking against the pavement overpowered the sound of birds hunting their waking prey.

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Hisao yawned quietly, and with his right arm reached up and rubbed at his eyes. He twisted, laying onto his back and sleepily looked up towards the white ceiling. A sudden thought of painting it came to his mind, as it looked garish. He remembered, then, that they were renting this apartment, and that they couldn’t do that. They couldn’t even get the pet dog that Lilly had told him she wanted when they moved in together.

‘Soon.’ he thought to himself. ‘Someday soon.’

He attempted to sit up, but found himself pulled back down as a shot of pain twisted up his left arm. He looked over to see that his arm was twisted, trapped beneath a body of soft white flesh that didn’t seem to be in any hurry to awaken. Lilly lay naked on top of his left arm, curled up and away from him. He was struck with the memory of last night, of her hair creating a cocoon around them as she rode on top of him, twisting her face down and pushing her lips against him as her naked body shook and bounced with every thrust. Her hands gripping his shoulders, her nails digging in as she gasped for breath as pleasure shook her to her core. The feeling of her breasts and stomach pressed up against his as they squeezed one another so hard that it hurt, her heavy breathing turning into a pant as she fell off of him, and Hisao could feel her muscles twitching as he pulled her against him.

He also remembered kissing afterwards, soft kisses on her supple flesh, hands massaging areas that his lips couldn’t reach. Whispering sweet nothings to one another, the snuggled together, her hands searching his own body and committing every muscle, every twist, and every hair to memory.

He remembered whining mockingly when she got up, declaring herself needing a shower before being able to sleep. How she bounced her butt when he whistled at her, then, giggling, walked across the hall to shower.

When she returned, she’d curled up in a ball and he curled himself around her. Feeling her naked body push against him was such comforting feeling, a tangible real weight that assured him that this was no dream, that every day with his beautiful wife was real and happy, and he’d fallen asleep face pressed into her hair in a smile.

Now? Now he just wanted to move. His arm was more than a little asleep, he was surprised it wasn’t dead. He tugged on his arm, and Lilly made a catlike noise as she moved slightly, but remained locking him in place. 

A devious grin spread across Hisao’s face as a thought entered his mind. He curled up around her once more, his legs intermingling with her own as his hands wrapped and squeezed her. With his right hand, he found her stomach, and began to slowly massage it in circles as he brought his lips to the nape of her neck, kissing and sucking on it. Lilly let out a slight gasp, but did not pull away, instead her body pushed backwards against his own, her thighs and butt softly spread against his push, and he rhythmically began to grind against her. She gasped, and Hisao could see her eyes flutter involuntarily as he bit her skin, signs of pleasure on her face as she blushed. He continued to massage her stomach, as she pushed back against him is left arm slowly grew more and more in feeling, now reaching forwards and griping her breast. Her areola was erect, pushing against his hand as she scooted back towards him, the gap between her and the bed widening until…

There! Hisao withdrew his left arm, bringing it up and above him. He withdrew his lips and body, and Lilly flopped down onto her back, her eyes half open facing towards the ceiling as she breathed heavily, her chest puffing up and down as her lungs will with air. He laughed, rolling from bed and opening the blinds to their apartment to let in the morning sun. “Rise and shine, sleepy head.” He said in a sing-song tone.

Lilly groaned. “I feel like I was already shining.” She said. “What a way to wake someone up.” She added, sitting up and rubbing at her face. Her stomach pooched into her lap in a way that made Hisao want to hop back into bed with her, but he knew it was time to get going.

“Come on, it’s 9 O’clock. We already slept in more than normal.”

“Maybe you did…” Lilly said. She put her hands over her head, stretching her back in a yawn. She scooched to her edge of the bed, her naked body jiggling as she hopped, blankets falling off of her. Hisao turned away, a giant smirk plastered to his face, and pulled open his dresser drawers. He withdrew a pair of black shorts and a white running shirt. He looked himself over, not for the first time wondering why he didn’t just buy a mirror already, and was slightly disappointed. He looked more like an athlete than a coach, running T-shirt and running shorts. Though, he supposed, that’s kind of what he was. This was only his first week ever coaching, after all, and given that the competition was an old friend… well, Hisao didn’t exactly have the highest hopes.

He turned around as the sound of creaking springs and a grunt of effort. Lilly had sat on the bed, no longer naked but wearing a matching lace bra and thong. She grunted again, giving a slight whine as she pulled black leggings up over her thighs. She huffed, stopping halfway.

“Need some help?” Hisao asked, once again with a smirk. 

“No!” Lilly said forcefully. “I can… Mmph, I can handle it.” With a grunt of effort, she got the leggings up over her plush hips, the sound of a few threads stretching. Hisao was amazed that they held at all, but Lilly seemed to refuse to acknowledge it as she sighed in relief, letting them bunch up beneath her stomach. “There. See?” She stood up, posing towards Hisao with her hands on her hips. “Nice and snug.”

Snug was… certainly a word, but Hisao wasn’t sure if it was THE word. Lilly’s middle puffed out into a perfect muffin top, the tight leggings constricted her middle, making her stomach appear even bigger as it hung over the top. He watched as she scooped out a gray skirt and black and gray stripped sweater. “Honey? Do these match?”

“Huh? Oh, yea.” Hisao had been observing her body as she moved, how her hands felt out each object. She smiled gleefully as she strapped the skirt around her waist. When she began to raise the sweater over her head, Hisao saw that her newly added weight had added a slight thickness to her arms as well. No longer were they slender and pointed, instead a soft layer added a curve to the woman. She pulled her hair through the gap with her, taking an extra moment for the length, and felt around for her bow. Hisao came over and she stopped, standing straight and smiling as she predicted his movements. He swiped the bow up from the dresser and opened his arms around her, scooping her long hair into it and pulling it up. “Is this the longest it’s ever been?” he asked.

Lilly hummed an affirmative, then leaned upwards and kissed him as he tied it tight. She’d been aiming for his cheek, no doubt, but got a laugh as she kissed his eye, which he thankfully closed in time.

He stepped back to admire her. She looked good, with everything on. Hell, she looked good with it all off, and Hisao was weighing whether it was worth the soft shoulder smack to say so with a grin. The stripped sweater was not flattering in the way most people might want it to be, but to Hisao it was all the more showing of just what a happy and comfy life may bring.

“You look beautiful.” He told her, making her face glow.

“Thank you. What time is it now?” she asked.

Hisao went to his desk and scooped up his phone. “It’s about 9:15. Wanna head out now?”

There was the sound of a stomach rumbling, and Hisao turned around to find Lilly pouting down at herself, shushing it. He laughed, making her blush. “Come on, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’ll try my hand at those flap-jacks.” He said, truly content with the world.

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Rai sat outside the train station pouting at her car’s clock. The time read 9:45, and Pika was supposed to have arrived on the 9:30 train. She knew the train had come through, hell she’d seen it, but her sister had yet to exit the station with the throngs of people going about their weekend commute. A taxi honked at her, not for the first time, and she had to resist the building urge to go and strangle the driver. She was waiting in the pick-up zone! What the hell did he expect!? 

After a moment, he honked again, and Rai unbuckled the seatbelt to go and give him a piece of her mind when she saw a giant yellow stuffed doll exit the train station. It was a giant Pikachu doll that looked like it was wheeling along a pink suitcase attached to it, though Rai could see a pair of long legs beneath it and groaned. The Pikachu stopped by the curve, and the person carrying it plopped it down. The tall chubby girl wiped at her neon blue hair with the back of her hand. Rai stepped out of her car and raised her hand in greeting. The girl saw her and squealed, dropping her suitcase and running forward.

“RAaaaaaiiiii!!” She shouted as she rounded the car, pulling the small girl into a hug. While not as tall or as large as Lilly, she was a lot more aggressive, and Rai felt herself being crushed as her sister scooped her up and twirled her. 

“P-pika. Pika please.” Rai coughed out. The taxi behind the honked again.

“HEY! FUCK OFF YOU STUPID MOTHER-FUCKER! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, GET OUT HERE!” Rai’s sister shouted. The taxi quickly pulled away, darting from the angry Asian woman that looked to smash the guy’s headlights in. Another one quickly filled its space.

Rai got her breath back as her sister shouted obscenities into the street after the driver. “Pika! Pika we gotta go, come on pack it up.” Pika looked over and hopped, seemingly having forgotten her possessions. She hurried over and grabbed her suitcase and the doll, opening Rai’s back door and sliding them both in. “Where did you get that thing?” Rai asked of the doll.

“There’s a giant claw machine in there! It took a few tries, but I got it!”

Rai was familiar with the machine. The one that cost 500 Yen per try. “Where did you get the money for that?” she asked.

“Oh, mom gave me some money to help pay for food for the weekend. I’m kiinda short now though. Just like my liittlle siissteerr.” She teased, rubbing at Rai’s head.

Rai sighed leaning forward and banging her head on the steering wheel.

The taxi behind them honked its horn.

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“I am telling you, it’s the syrup. We need a bigger container, because we cannot be using an entire bottle of it in one sitting. When we go shopping, next, remind me.” Lilly instructed to her husband. In truth, she’d used a fair bit more of it than needed, and Hisao thought she was about to lick the plate to get it all, but he wasn’t about to argue any points.

He laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” 

Lilly pouted, her face falling. “Don’t call me that! It makes me sound so old…”

“Okay, okay sorry. Yes, matriarch.” She laughed at that, her face tucked behind her hand as she blushed. Though Hisao noted that she wasn’t so actively denying that remark. They walked the rest of the way to school simply enjoying one another’s company.

Hisao checked his phone as they walked onto school grounds. The time read 10:15, but Hisao could see a few students that had already arrived, along with Yuki down at the bleachers going through stretches with them. Others were pulling up with parents in cars. Hisao recognized some of the students, including the war horse that was Akido, and waved.

A car pulled up nearby and the slamming of a door drew the attention of several passers-by. A girl with neon blue hair bolted up to Hisao and Lilly, who stopped looking at her.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to meet you!” She said.

“Uhh, hi?” Hisao said. Lilly tilted her head, probably trying to place the voice. The girl was a bit bouncy, seeming very jubilant. Before Hisao knew it, she was hugging the both of them in a tight embrace. 

“Rai didn’t tell me you were so pretty!” the girl said, looking at Lilly

“I prefer handsome. And you must be Pika.” Hisao said, thinking he understood. The girls laughed, and sure enough Rai came running up behind her panting.

“Sorry. She ran ahead and… sorry.” Rai said, embarrassed. Pika beamed at her.

“I assure you it’s no trouble.” Lilly said with a smile. She let go of Hisao’s hand and pulled her cane out of her purse, ignoring Pika’s whispered ‘oh yeaaaaa’ and Rai elbowing her sister.

“Hisao, you better get along. I can hear them down there waiting for you.” Lilly said.

“Yea, alright.” He kissed his wife. “Wish us luck.”

“Good luck!” Both Lilly and Pika said simultaneously, though with varying degrees of volume. They both laughed airily, and Hisao, smiling walked towards the track.

Behind him, he heard Pika say, “So, my sister tells me she’s gotta put the moves on you.”

He walked on, trying to get his head focused ahead on the coming meet. He kept smirking though, thinking of how embarrassed both girls must be. He loved his wife, to be sure, but one of the things that he’d learned in marriage that some of the most fun you can have is teasing one another. He was forced to focus when Yuki called him over. The older man looked nervous, his beard hair seemed twitchy.

“Are you competing or are you coaching?” Yuki asked, forcing a laugh. “Here, this is for you.”

From the bleacher, he picked up a red and black jacket, the schools colors, with the word Samurai stenciled on the back. Hisao was about to ask what the Samurai meant, when he remembered that that was their schools mascot. He rationalized it, why would he have to know that after all, but he knew what he was doing and wanted to place his palm firmly against his head all the same. He shrugged the coat on, and it seemed to fit well. Yuki looked him over and gave a nod of approval. 

“So, when does the other team’s bus get here?”

He was answered by Yuki staring past him. Hisao knew before he even turned what was coming. A high-pitched girl’s voice that sounded like she was trying to make it deeper barked an order, and Hisao saw Emi Ibarazaki jogging in place as a squad of boys and girls jogged past her in marching formation. She looked almost as if the past few years hadn’t happened, though instead of her cheery grin she wore a scowl. She jogged on prosthetic legs, but not her usual running legs, instead these looked almost human. She must have not really been putting in an effort, to not be wearing her running blades. She carried a gym bag slung over her back. The kids all wore matching faces of people who weren’t allowed emotion, almost as if they were solders.  Coming up from behind was another woman, an adult, comically overburden with bags and looking just as pleased. She said something to Emi, but was ignored as Emi took up the rear position and jogged with the students to the track.

“That’s Emi, isn’t it?” Hisao heard Lilly say. She stood at the chest-high fence that surrounded the track next to Rai and Pika, her face one of worry.

“Yea. She doesn’t look too happy to be here.”

“Geeze, I didn’t know Emperor Palpatine was in town.”

“She has them jog here. Every year.” Yuki said. Hisao could hear legitimate fear in his voice.

Her assistant, or who Hisao assumed was her assistant, fumbled with a bag and dropped two of them. Hisao saw Victor walking to the track, saw the boy take a drink of some sort of flask as he passed the woman, and shot daggers at him. Victor noticed, looked at him pleadingly, then hung his head and walked back to the woman, helping her with her bags whilst doing an amazing impression of the orphan Oliver with how sad he looked.

Emi’s students jogged in pairs of two to the away-team’s bench. She stood over them as they filed in and sat. She barked over at her assistant, reminding Hisao of a loud misbehaving Chihuahua. The assistant collapsed on the ground next to the bench, and the students all grabbed their bags and water bottles.

Cold hard eyes stared across the field towards Hisao, though whether they were focused on him or Yuki he didn’t know. Victor walked over by Emi and dropped the bag next to her, which made a loud noise that Hisao could hear from the opposing track. Victor said something that made Emi’s scowl deepen, though Hisao was sure that she didn’t know that Victor just told her to go fuck her mother.

The boy hurried over to his spot, and Hisao walked over to him. He motioned for the flask, which Victor rolled his eyes and gave to him. Hisao sniffed it, smelling nothing. “Is water. Father give bottle, because broken.” Victor said, trying to communicate.

“Relay.” Hisao said, touching his shoulder. Victor tilted his head, but nodded after a moment. 

A league referee motioned for both the schools coaches to head towards center field. Yuki and Hisao went, as well as Emi and her assistant. The assistant was a timid woman, who had nearly half a foot on Emi but also half of her muscle mass. As Hisao came closer, he could see that Emi was as slim as ever in her red running shorts and light pink shirt. She looked almost like she’d never left Yamaku, though she too now wore a coach’s jacket.

“Team leaders. You will separate now into two individual teams. One for track and one for field. The track will be set up for hurdles as the first event, and field will prepare shotput. Are these terms agreeable?”

“Sure.” Hisao said with a shrug.

“You bet.” Emi said, a competitive glare to her eye. “You think your students could keep up?” 

“Team leader from St. Mary’s. You are already on suspension, I will remove you from the coaching roaster if you continue. We are here for a competition for the students, not the leaders. Do not make me remind you again.” The referee interjected. Hisao could see other men in striped uniforms already setting up for the events.

“Yes, I know.” Emi said, not taking her eyes off of Hisao.

“Then I insist you act like it this time.” Hisao stared back, and he knew that Emi hadn’t a care. She smiled, a malicious smile that said ‘I’m going to wipe the floor with you.’ He shrugged, which got the reaction he wanted out of her as she scowled deeply at him.

“The cross country teams will come with me to the start of the route. They will be going until the end of most of the events here.” The referee declared. 

The teams nodded, Emi and Hisao still eyes locked, until he turned his back to her, and returned to the students. They were already splitting into the three groups when Hisao got there. He spied Lilly and Rai and Pika setting out a blanket on the hill, and sitting down. Pika waved, and Hisao smirked and held up his hand in acknowledgement. He turned back to the students and told them they’d be doing hurdlers first. One of the boys looked on the verge of tears at the news, as it was easily their worst event, but there was nothing to do about it.

The runners took their starting positions and… well, they were beaten. Hisao thought slaughtered was the more appropriate word. The whistle blew every time one of the students hit the hurdle, faulting them, and the boy who looked like he was going to cry did burst into tears as he ran after hitting his 5th consecutive hurdle. The smugness off of the side of the field from St. Mary’s was palpable. Emi stood like a sea captain, posing with her foot on the bench as she postured at Hisao, ignoring her high-fiving students that had just won the event.

The crying boy sat down, and was quickly approached by Victor, who held out his flask. The boy took it, took a deep pull of it, and fell backwards onto the ground. Victor helped him back up and he stood shakily, looking pretty green in the face. ‘It’s just water it’s just water it’s just water.’ Hisao reminded himself as he watched, not believing a word of it. The referee called for sprinters to take positions, and that there’d be three events, all totaling up to as much as the hurdles had been worth. 

As they did, Hisao felt himself glance towards the blanket where Lilly was, and did a double take when it appeared to him that the group had been joined by a massive Pikachu. The gun shot summoned him back though, and the students nearby began shouting cheers. Akido blew past everyone in the hundred meter dash, making even Emi balk as he rushed past. The two hundred meter wasn’t as bad, one of her students was throwing everything he had into it, but Akido won by a couple leg lengths. The students from his side exploded in cheers as he did, and the boy had a giant smile plastered onto his face. The crying boy wobbled as he raised a finger towards the St. Mary’s students who sat in shock that, luckily, the referee didn’t see. Emi stomped her foot and shouted at the sprinter, who looked at her stun-locked. 

The quarter-mile sprint was next, and again Akido shot out ahead of the group. He was nearly half way when the other students were exiting the first turn, but Hisao could see the group starting to gain ground. The students began frantically cheering, calling for Akido to keep running and that he could do it, and Hisao was sure he heard a Russian accent call for Akido to, “Punch the cunt,” as he passed the St. Mary’s bench. He entered into the final turn, obviously haggard, but the inspiration of his classmates must have inspired him because as the group came closer, with almost all of St. Mary’s kids in the lead, Akido broke ahead once more, shortly followed by Hitome. They crossed the finish line together, winning the race. Hitome jumped up onto Akido as the team let loose with cheers, and Emi stamped her feet and tore up a piece of paper. A referee said something to her, and Hisao saw the words “Good job” growl out of her lips to the runners, who at this point looked more like Vietnamese refugees. Hisao wondered what would happen when they got back. He wondered just what HAD happened to Emi? The cheerful happy-go-lucky girl that had been loved to run every morning was acting more like a… well, a big jerk than a coach. It wasn’t like her to act this way… Though, it’d been years, and Hisao knew her all of, what, two weeks in reality? It’s not like they communicated all that much… though she obviously remembered him quitting on that run so long ago.

As the relay racers got ready for the final event, a full mile race, Hisao wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t given up. Would she be this mad towards him still? Hisao shrugged off the thought. He might not even be alive if he did, he could have collapsed on the track right there. 

“A butterfly flaps its wings in Yokohama, and a hurricane strikes New Zealand.” He said to himself.

The starting gun went off, and the runners all took off. Emi’s team had very obviously drilled this race reputedly, as the first handoff went smoothly and they even seemed to gain a bit of a lead on Hisao’s Samurai. He crossed his arms as he watched, feeling himself becoming more and more invested as the race went on. He cared about the outcome, he wanted to see that smug face fall from Emi and to gloat in the girls face. A look over his shoulder showed Lilly and the others standing, Rai and Pika cheering the students on wildly as Lilly intently listened. He shouldn’t think like that. He knew he shouldn’t think like that. But he knew, deep down, that this mattered not only to the students as athletes, but to him as a coach as well. The second handoff went well again, Emi’s team taking a slight lead. 

Victor hopped out onto the track, giving a thumbs up to the boy who was now nurturing his flask like a bottle. He looked excited, he looked ready, and Hisao knew right there that he was going to win. The runners came at a dead sprint into the final corner. Victor reached out, tapping the other runner on the shoulder, and pointed straight at Emi, who noticed and tilted her head. The other runner looked at him in confusion, from Emi and then back. Victor squeezed his chest with a smirk and whispered something. The other runner looked at him, then back at Emi, then started laughing. Emi was screaming at him from the other side of the field to get ready, and he bent over laughing and Victor clapped him on his back, both boys laughing hysterically. She hopped up and down, which only made it worse, as the other boy fell over, tears falling from his eyes. The two runners ran up, slowing as they looked at the odd sight. Victor straightened up and sighed, whipping tears from his own eyes. He reached out, took the stick from the girl, and saluted the other runner before taking off. It took a moment to register for the other boy, who cursed loudly as he scrambled to his feet, taking off before remembering that he needed the baton and doubling back. 

Victor reached the other side of the field before the other runner even entered the first turn. He stopped and turned towards the bench and faced Emi, who was as red as a very furious tomato. In a voice loud enough to carry across the field, he shouted out, “You have very tiny boobies.” And then, he was gone, stunned silence falling over the St. Mary’s students whilst several could be seen sniggering behind their hands. 

Victor finished the race with time to spare, though a whistle from the referee called attention. Due to gross Misconduct displayed during the race, the points will be awarded to St. Mary’s.” announced the referee. “Mr. Nakai, I urge you to get a better hold of your athletes.” He chided, though he wore a grin.

“Ah, very understandable, ref.” Hisao loudly remarked, holding his hand out to give Victor a high five. “We will be discussing this in depth, I assure you.”

“Hisao?” Called a voice from over his shoulder. Lilly stood, her head tilted to the side in confusion, at the fence as Rai pouted in the background at her own chest whilst Pika laughed hysterically. Hisao walked over to them as Victor was welcomed back with cheers. It was the best loss the team had ever had.

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Lilly’s brow furrowed as Hisao hopped the fence and walked over to their blanket, trying not to laugh as he explained the events. Try as she might, she let out a laugh. That Ibarazaki girl deserved it. That may be harsh, but it was by no means unfair with how she’d been treating her love. Entirely uncalled for.

“It sounds like you should double check that flask…” Lilly said. She thought Victor was a… well, she thought he meant well at least. She didn’t think poorly of the boy, but she also knew better than to simply leave it. Even now, though, she could hear the students cheering for him.

Suddenly, the sound of the chain-linked fence shaking drew her attention. Hisao must have noticed, as she could hear him ask “Lilly? What is it?” His voice carried as he turned. 

“Nakai!” Demanded a small shrill voice in anger. Emi Ibarazaki stomped up the small rise towards them.

“Emi…” Hisao groaned, attempting to placate her. “I know what-”

“Race me!” Emi shouted over him.

“What?” Hisao asked.

“Race. Me.” She growled. “The league will ban me if I gut your little Ivan, so you will race me. He won, doesn’t matter how, and I will not stand for this. Race me.”

“Emi.” Lilly interjected. “There is no need-”

“Oh my god! Lilly??? I didn’t even… Wow, you look… Well-fed.”

Lilly’s nostrils flared. Even without sight, she could see red.

“Hey! Rai, and Pikasa interjected. Lilly nearly reached out to smack the air where Emi had stood.

“What? She’s huge!” Emi said exasperated. “You’ve gotten so fat that- what are you doing?” 

“You want to race? Put on those damned running legs and you and I will race.” Hisao quietly whispered from right next to where Emi stood. 

A loud thump on the ground and the sound of a zipper being pulled showed she was changing her legs. “If I’d know that’s all it’d take, I’d have called her a fatass the moment I came up.” Emi said from the ground as she unclasped her walking legs and put on her running blades. Lilly heard her zip up her bag once she was done, her normal legs likely inside. She didn’t heft it up as she stood. “Let’s go. You and me. 4 laps. I’ll show you why they call me the fastest thing on no legs.”

A thought occurred to Lilly as Emi clacked away with Hisao in tow. She stretched her foot out, and indeed the bag was still there. She smiled maliciously as a plan began to form in her head.

‘I am a “fatass,” after all. A clumsy clumsy fatass.”

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Hisao felt like a bull as he hopped the fence back into the track. The race would be there arena, and Emi was playing the matador. The thing about that, Hisao knew, was that the bull was a fool that wasn’t expected to win. He charged and charged the flowing red cape, and the matador danced and waved around.

If he was going to win this, he had to calm himself. He breathed deeply, practicing a technique he hadn’t used in years to calm his beating heart.

Emi stood at the starting line, and Hisao felt the eyes of all the students and some of the parents center on them. He was acutely aware of Yuki and the field members returning after their completed activities, as he waved warning and shook his head. “So what’s the deal, you guys expecting a litter of children or something?” Emi asked, an infuriating smirk on her face.

The red flag waved. Hisao felt himself buck in anger, mentally he stomped and reared his foot. “Shut up and run.” Hisao said.

[Coach! Coach!] Shouted a voice as he bent down. Emi looked over towards the Russian voice, but Hisao remained stock still. “Tiny!” Victor shouted from the sidelines. Hisao took off as Emi started to shout something in reply, and then bounced off after him whilst cursing Vladimir Putin.

Hisao was able to maintain a lead at his opening pace, having risen out of the ground and gotten a better start as his legs sprang forward from the track. He could hear the click clacking behind him of Emi, of her shouting taunts and jeers, but Hisao ignored her voice and focused on sprinting ahead. He rounded the second corner, maintaining a small lead over the woman, but she was ever so slowly gaining ground. Hisao knew that neither of them were going full tilt, though he did his best to appear so. He heard cheers from his team as he passed the finish in front of them, and screams of encouragement, as well as a ‘Kill her,’ from the sisters as he passed them by the fence. Lilly stood a little back, smiling a huge smile towards the track that spurred him on, though he heard the pace of Emi’s blades increase as he looked at Lilly and knew she was trying to close. That’s fine, he could go faster too.

He increased his pace, and the two tore across the track, quickly finishing the second lap. Even with his increase, Emi passed him, laughing wildly to herself as she did. She looked like she was having the time of her life, her face cocked with a grin and large green eyes filled with determination. She looked so different to the bitter person he’d just spoken to, she looked, for the first time today, actually happy.

Hisao pumped his arms, letting her overtake him slightly, but just slightly. She called back to him, telling him to keep up, and he did. He could go faster, he knew he could go faster, but that relied on her not knowing that. They finished the third lap, Emi laughing gleefully, and entered the final. The sprinted through the first turn and into the straightaway on the other side. Hisao expected to hear her team cheering for her, as the field kids all settled in, but they said nothing. They seemed to not even notice, instead all talking with one another whilst Hisao’s team screamed and cheered him on.

‘They don’t even like her…’ Hisao realized. He pumped his arms, feeling his body starting to unconsciously go full out as they entered the final turn, and saw Emi’s posture relax just ahead of him as he began to overtake her. They entered the straightaway, there was the finish line! Emi threw her arms out to the side and… crossed it. Hisao crossed it about a second later, slowing down from his sprint into a jog.

He watched as Emi leapt into the air on her bladed legs, shouting out cheers and joy for her victory. She was the only one who did. 

“See?” She said. “You’ve gotten pretty good, but nobody beats the master!” Emi said. She hugged herself, giggling and laughing happily. 

“Yea,” Hisao said with measured ease, “you’re still really good. That was a good race.”

He extended his hand and for a moment Emi reached out and took it, shaking it happily with both her hands and a childish grin plastered on her face… until she apparently realized what she was doing and threw his arm down. “Hey!” she said, her face returning to the angry smirk. “I beat you even with Mr. Vlad trying to cheat! You couldn’t beat me even with that, no matter what you do, Nakai, I will always be better than you.”

Hisao laughed, not taking the bait. He had seen that, somewhere in there, the real Emi still existed. The Emi he ran track with, the Emi he ate lunch on the roof with Lilly and Hanako and Rin. He didn’t know what had happened to make her this way, frankly he didn’t care, but to know that deep down that competitive little ball of energy and joy still existed made him feel better… Even if it was buried behind this ugly jerk. He rolled his eyes and smiled at her, which made her scowl but with a blush to it that seemed to hint she knew that he knew.

“Come on.” She said after a moment. “I need my legs back and to apply lotion to these.” She spun and headed towards the group standing by the blanket. Pika and Lilly were seemed to be exchanging a few words, which made Hisao a bit confused with how Lilly was whispering to her back. Lilly didn’t often whisper to anyone that wasn’t himself… unless she was up to something.

Emi hopped the fence and Pika walked right up to her. “Good race!” She said, holding up her hand. Emi looked at it for a moment, then at the chubby blue haired girl with a very happy looking smile. “Yea, it was.” She said, and slapped the girls hand hard. She walked past, Hisao hopping the fence behind her as Pika shook her pained hand, blowing on it. She walked right up to Lilly, who stood with a pleasant smile on her face, both hands wrapped around the top of her cane. The pleasantness made Hisao nervous as Emi clacked up towards her.

“Wonderful job, both of you.” Lilly said. She stuck her hand out and held it up. Hisao had never seen the woman go for a high five, she probably didn’t even really understand it, and the warning bells went off. He looked over to Pika, who looked giddy.

“One of us did better than the other.” Emi said with a smirk, launching her hand up towards Lilly’s and slamming into it. The taller woman gasped as stepped backwards, tripped, and fell heavily.

Right onto Emi’s gym bag.

“Lilly!” Hisao exclaimed, rushing forward as his wife sat with her large behind on Emi’s bag.

“Oh my gosh are you okay??” Emi said. She stepped forward, but suddenly Rai and Pika were in between her.

“What the hell is your problem!?” Pika shouted. 

“I didn’t mean-”

A whistle blew, and a referee came forward from leading the cross-country teams back to the track.

“Ibarazaki! I gave you a warning, and now have assaulted a supporter! I am here-by barring you from participating in any events for the rest of the season!” The ref declared, harshly. 

Emi cried out that she didn’t mean to, and Hisao saw Lilly wince. “Are you okay?” He asked, helping her to her feet.

“Yea… I’m fine.”

“I do not care, you have repeatedly been warned and this is the final straw! Pick up your bag, and get out of here.” The referee said, and stalked off. Emi stamped her blade into the grass, her assistant coming up. 

“What was that about?” The woman asked.

“I’ve just been… Ohhhh, nooo…” Emi moaned when she saw her flattened bag. Hisao and Lilly moved as Emi crouched next to it, unzipping it and pulled out its contents. Not only were her plastic legs crushed at the ankles, the entire legs were covered in some sweet smelling sticky white substance. “Look at what you did to my legs, fuuuuuck. Nurse is going to kill me… It’ll take weeks for me to get these replaced.” she said. Hisao didn’t point out that it wasn’t exactly possible for Lilly to do so. It seemed in… bad taste.

“Whelp, it looks like you’ll need to find a ride home.” Her assistant said. “I’ll have to break it to the kids, and to the school, that you won’t be coming in for a while. They’ll be heart broken, but hey at least you’ll be getting Paid Time Off. Have a nice vacation!” Her assistant said, and she appeared to jollily skip off into the distance.

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t go home and face her like this…” Emi groaned. “And my apartment won’t do… Ahhhhhh!” She shouted into the empty air.

“You’ll be staying with us.” Lilly said assuredly.

Emi looked over at her, glaring. “You? Why the hell would I want to stay with you, blubber butt?” 

“It doesn’t sound as if you have much choice. Can you wear your current legs for now? You can place any needed calls from our home. Hisao will make up the couch for you, it is a pull out and is actually rather comfortable.”

“Yea, come on Emi. At least for tonight. Let us make you dinner.” Hisao said. Lilly’s face lite up at that, and she beamed a happy smile

Emi said nothing, before she sighed hanging her head. “I can’t walk with these.” She said. “My legs have filled out from muscle, and nurse said if I wear them for too long without applying lotion I may rip the skin and need a wheel chair… Though it sounds like I’ll need one anyways now. Does your apartment have an elevator?”

Hisao nodded. “What are we going to do for dinner?” Hisao heard Pika ask Rai, who was mid shrug when Lilly clapped her hands.

“You two will be joining us of course! I can cook all of us a nice feast.” Lilly declared. 

“I’ll call for a wheel chair from Nurse… But I might need… I might sort of need you to… to…” Emi sighed. “Can you please carry me?” she asked Hisao. 

He laughed. “Sure, go on, take them off.” She did so, and he put them and the ruined legs into the bag, handing it to Lilly as he hefted Emi onto his shoulders in a piggy-back style.

“Damn, you used to be so lanky.” She observed, squeezing his muscles.

“Yea, I’ve grown a lot.” He said, daring her to make a joke at his wife when he could drop her. The group started on their way, with Rai and Pika saying they had to stop at the store on their way over. Lilly asked them to pick up a few items, which ended up being more of a grocery list than a “few things” and they separated. Emi’s group ran by them, and a few shouted jeers at their coach who buried her face into Hisao’s back in humiliation.

“Ugh… I hate this…” she said.

“To be fair, you did cause it.” Hisao replied, hefting her. She was light, but he wasn’t used to carrying someone. Lilly smirked to herself as they tapped along, and Hisao reminded himself that he may need to have a talk with her tonight about ‘assisting’ in the incident.

Right now though, he just was excited for dinner.