Runner 1:
Kouta Hayashi, a quiet boy who doesn't stand out at all.
Except for the moment he picks up a table tennis racket.
For that is because I am a professional at table tennis.
And I am also relatively decent at most other sports as well.
I am definitely the most athletic person in class, and maybe even the whole form, of which no one can deny at this point.
Natsume has tried and failed to beat me at my game, even when he cheated by pairing me up with Kogure while receiving back up from his best friend Sakurazaki.
I won the 1v2 without breaking a sweat.
Sorry, but you're just too slow it seems.
In fact, I started to pair up with Kugore in 2v2 games ever since to handicap myself, which makes things more entertaining.
Since he's terrible at sport, I get to 1v2 everyone all the time, except for right now.
Today, the boys and girls are playing table tennis together.
Our, or maybe I should say my current opponents are Wakaba and Negishi.
These two always pair up with each other in PE lessons for some reason.
I mean, the prettiest girl and ugliest girl working together is a bit jarring.
But I suppose it also makes sense for the two loners to team up.
The first time pairs must be formed, they were the leftovers so they teamed up.
They pair up immediately nowadays as Ogi has told me.
That guy is good friends with pretty much everyone, even the girls.
So he knows a lot more about what's happening around school than anyone else.
I have also recently learnt from him that those two girls apparently wear boxers.
I am not one to judge people's choice of underwear, but there were rumours that Wakaba is taken because of that fact.
Not that anyone but her can confirm it and no one dares to ask her.
And personally, all this talk about underwear of all things I keep hearing from people lately is just beyond stupid.
Don't you all have more important things to worry about?
If you all are so bored as to talk about someone else's choice of clothing, then maybe you work on yourselves instead?
But then again, most people are pathetic and useless.
Back on topic, Wakaba puts zero effort into PE activities, leaving the heavy lifting to Negishi.
So much like me, Negishi is always 1v2ing other teams.
The most I have ever seen Wakaba do is just walking quickly, and not just during PE, she climbs up and down the stairs and walks to and from school at almost a comedic speed.
She definitely doesn't want to waste any more time than necessary getting from place to place, at least, that's the impression I have of her.
Considering how fast Wakaba is just walking, I have to wonder how fast she can actually run if she actually tries.
Such a shame she is not putting in the same effort into PE as she does with other subjects.
Though that might actually be indicative of her reliance on talent, thus failing to be anything more outside her comfort zone.
Can't say I respect that.
Anyway, since Kogure is useless and Wakaba is not playing, it's basically a 1v1.
I haven't lost a single point to Negishi yet, but she still hasn't given up.
The murderous determination in her eyes is kind of scary actually.
Though more than that, I respect her tenacity.
In the end, I achieved a perfect victory.
Negishi just glares at me, which scares me.
In fact, Kogure begins crying at that.
Seriously? You're not even the one she is mad at.
Then she glares at Wakaba, who doesn't flinch at all.
How does she remain calm despite being this close to Negishi's murderous aura?
I don't know, I'm more worried about the fact I'm stuck doing a group project with Negishi.
Still, I would say she deserves more respect than she is given despite her off-putting personality.
More than Wakaba at least, who just relies on her talent to coast along life.
Spider 5:
PE, oh how I loathe you and exercising in general.
I mean, I used to like running back in the day when I was the fastest kid among my kindergarten peers.
I was so fast they called me Skanda, and I kept that as my online username.
I also had some passing interest in baseball, but it never went anywhere beyond buying a baseball cap in elementary.
Ah, good times...And now I feel like an old hag, darn it! Nai wa!
I mean, I am pretty sure I am the oldest among my classmates, having been held back in early elementary from getting liver cancer.
Still wishing I haven't survived that.
Anyway, I just don't have the stamina to maintain my speed and was soon overtaken by everyone else.
Doesn't help that I am anaemic, my blood just doesn't carry oxygen well enough for me to handle any intense physical activities.
Found that out when I overexerted myself trying to win a race against someone riding a bike in kindergarten.
I have never been athletic at all since and never will.
Because of that, I don't like to move more than necessary.
Well, I suppose I like freestyle dancing while listening to music with my headphones.
But it's nothing fancy, just the occasional spin and small hop as I move around the house.
I am definitely a dancer at heart, just zero actual talent for it.
If I actually tried, I would no doubt embarrass myself by failing spectacularly, and getting hurt falling down too.
Same with any other sport really.
I can't have that, so how do I avoid embarrassing myself when PE is mandatory?
By making it clear that I am not trying at all of course.
You can't fail if you don't try.
That way, I can avoid exercising while protecting my pride, it's the perfect plan!
Mahaha, I smirked evilly internally the first time I thought of doing that just before high school, just like a supervillain would.
You have been defeated by my outsmarting, my sworn enemy PE, it only took me...till high school to figure out-Let's not talk about this anymore.
And before you ask, yes, I am aware that regular exercise is needed to stay healthy.
The most exercise I get is from walking up and down the stairs at school and to and from school and home.
And to think I won't be doing that once I graduate and become a proper neet.
I am so gonna die of a heart attack or something.
Inner Critic: But nobody cares, Hiiro.
Thanks, nobody.
Anyway, the other problem in PE is that students often have to form pairs.
These pairs often last for the entirety of school unless circumstances force a change.
Well, you can switch like when T.T, that's short for Table Tennis by the way, did when he switched his partner from Friend to Crybaby so he can 1v2 everyone else.
But as expected, that sure drew a lot of attention, which he seems to enjoy.
Tsk, lucky you, being normal enough not to be afraid of attention.
I am totally not poutily envying you, at all. Nai wa.
See? My face is blank as usual.
Years in middle school training this poker face did not go to waste.
No need to talk about my irrelevant feelings ever again. Ha!
As for me, not unlike what happens at lunch time, I ended up with Rihoko.
She still stares at me murderously from time to time, maybe even more so than usual when we first teamed up, but I am used to it by now.
Heck, I feel safer with her around nowadays, even though she has every reason to hate me and probably does actually.
Oh and by the way, we both are the only girls to wear boxers.
Finally, someone who understands how much better boxers are to the junk we gals get.
Eh, I am not girly enough wearing that?
Well screw you! I am a firm denier of giving fanservice!
Not that I would mind receiving some but don't tell anyone I told you...
Inner Critic: You are literally talking to thin air, Hiiro.
Today, the boys and girls are brought together to play table tennis, so T.T is having the time of his life again.
And we have the misfortune of being his opponents.
Well, it's not like I plan on even trying to win in the first place so who cares?
But apparently Rihoko does.
She always tries her best to win even when it's effectively always 1v2s since I'm not helping.
Despite always losing, she never gives up, it's 100% admirable to be honest.
Some have called her a sore loser, but at least she always tries her best instead of giving up like me who doesn't even try to begin with.
Seriously, she deserves respect from the real losers that are our other classmates.
They think they are so high and mighty because they have actual lives to live, but when push comes to shove, I seriously doubt they have what it takes to persevere against defeat like Rihoko always does.
A true test of one's resolve comes from how they handle repeated failures.
But anyway, today, she seems extra confident, probably because Crybaby is so bad at sport he's basically useless.
So this is really a 1v1, and I guess Rihoko feels like she actually has a chance at winning.
Um, my girl, this is T.T we are dealing with here, and we're playing table tennis.
You ain't taking home the W. Nai wa.
Just accept the inevitable L while you're ahead before you disappoint and hurt yourself.
You can simply be proud that you will give it your all even if you're gonna lose.
To no one's surprise, T.T wins without letting Rihoko earn a single point.
Rihoko just glares at him, clearly sending a shiver down his spine.
He's in trouble now.
I don't envy him and Friend for being stuck with Rihoko during the group project.
And Crybaby is beginning to cry again.
I would mock him, saying 'Gonna cry?' in my head, if not for the fact that Rihoko glares daggers at me too.
I am so terrified I almost faint but I manage to stay conscious somehow.
Sometimes, my ability to survive jumpscares, well, scares me.
But what did you expect?
I mean, you're going to lose to T.T even if I helped.
I'm about as useful as Crybaby over there.
I am sorry I don't have the courage to risk failure and embarrassment, okay?
And I don't know how to make it up to you.
What do you want that I can provide? Not that I can do much of anything.
Since I am a swiss army knife without any tools in it, you should be the one tempering your expectations to avoid hurting your own feelings.
That's how I managed not to go insane from all the misery this world has to throw at me with the news.
Inner Critic: You absorb the news via memes, Hiiro.
Doesn't invalidate my advice, it just means I am ignorant, not that the proposed theorem isn't logical on paper.