Taimu's Story: 77
Taimu has finally started crossing the suspension bridge, and Karen is watching over him, but...
Well then, here you go!!
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He tested it gently with his toes, then slowly lowered his heel.
The first step was tentative.
The planks of the suspension bridge were firmer and more solid than Taimu had expected.
He shifted his weight firmly onto his extended foot.
Although there was a slight feeling of sinking downward and a swaying from side to side, he felt like he could walk on it if it was only this much.
(Oh... whoa!
It's okay, but it sure does sway a lot.
Hmm, I see. So this is what a suspension bridge is...)
To be honest, Taimu was not good with this kind of unstable feeling, because he had once almost collapsed from dizziness during an all-school assembly.
It happened when he was moving from the classroom to the gymnasium with his classmates, joking around as usual, lining up as usual, and listening to the principal and vice-principal's speeches, which were always incredibly long and boring.
Even though he was supposed to be standing straight, he felt as if the soles of his feet were sliding sideways.
He instinctively spread his legs wide to steady himself, thinking he would fall otherwise, but from there, his vision gradually began to darken.
He thought it was probably dizziness.
It was the first time Taimu had ever felt that way, and having seen a girl in his class feel faint and crouch down during a P.E. class before, Taimu thought he was in trouble. He raised his hand, stepped out of line, asked one of the teachers standing in a row next to the students for permission in a weak voice, and stumbled into the restroom just outside the gymnasium.
He didn't remember much after that, but he did remember breaking into a cold sweat inside the restroom stall.
A while later, his homeroom teacher, Obajii, came by, and by then Taimu had fully recovered, so he walked out of the restroom as if nothing had happened. Ever since that incident, Taimu had become a bit more cautious whenever his footing became unstable, just like it was in the gymnasium.
Taking another step or two, Taimu gradually got the hang of it and proceeded about a fifth of the way across the suspension bridge. He turned around and waved his hand, which was holding a small twig, at Karen, who was still standing at the cliff's edge watching him.
"Hey, Karen-chan, you're still there!
If you're going to be so slow,
I'm going to finish crossing it all first!"
Seeing Taimu like that, Karen covered her mouth and giggled.
Taimu was waving his hand energetically, but his footing was still clearly shaky.
It was very clear that he was trying his best, but just like when he slipped on the slope in front of his grandmother's house earlier, his bottom was still sticking out a bit.
If he knew the magnitude and speed of the suspension bridge's swaying, he would be able to walk normally without having to crouch down and test his footing fearfully like Taimu was doing. He could even run across it—though there was actually a rule against running on suspension bridges, so he would get scolded by adults if he were caught—if he wanted to.
(But, it can't be helped.
After all, it's Taimu-kun's first time.
I have to keep a close eye on him...)
Karen thought this while watching Taimu, who was ahead of her, for a while, but then her eyes narrowed sharply.
Taimu, who had reached about the middle of the suspension bridge, suddenly stuck his bottom out toward her.
It wasn't something that "just happened" because he was wobbling on the bridge like before; he was clearly doing it toward Karen—and, of all things, he even vulgarly slapped it.
(............)
He pulled his face back, stuck out his tongue, pulled on both his ears to make a funny face, and then laughed to himself, wondering what was so funny.
"...I see.
So that's the kind of thing Taimu-kun does.
In that case, I'll..."
She adjusted the tote bag she was carrying firmly onto her shoulder so it wouldn't fall, and started running across the suspension bridge with her legs spread wide.
Karen's slender legs stepped firmly on each of the planks, which had gaps between them, and she propelled her body forward.
"Eh...?
━━Ehh!"
It was Taimu who was surprised.
He was already halfway there, so he thought he would definitely finish crossing first. With that feeling of confidence and the pride of crossing a suspension bridge for the first time, he had thought he would tease Karen, who was still at the foot of the bridge, just a little bit...
"W-wait a second, Karen-chan!
━━S-sorry!
I didn't think you'd get that mad!"
Karen ran across the bridge, spinning her arms and legs like a windmill, as if she were measuring her 50-meter dash time for a P.E. sports test.
Every time her leading foot landed on a plank, it sank deeply, and when she lifted it, it sprang back up.
(This is bad...!
Seriously bad, this is really bad!)
As Karen ran and approached the middle, the suspension bridge began to undulate wildly.
The swaying shook Taimu's body violently, and he stumbled, hurriedly clinging to the wire rope on the side.
Karen, on the other hand, was used to it, and she used that undulation to leap forward, accelerating more and more as if she were truly flying.
As the rhythm bounced, Karen's spirits rose, and a smile naturally appeared on her face.
The straw hat Karen was wearing as she ran toward Taimu was blown strongly by the wind from the river, fluttering widely.
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If you tease people lightly, you will receive an unexpected payback...
Well then, look forward to the next time!
Rui Kobayashi