#108 I'm going to cheer for my daughter, Dad becomes an insei

Month X, Day X


Finally,
the day of my eldest daughter's track meet
has arrived.


Ever since she was chosen as a competitor,
we ran together several times
on days when she didn't have mini-basketball practice.

During practice,
my second daughter joined in, of course.

Partway through, my wife also joined us on her bicycle.
It was a family-wide effort for her independent training.

And then,
the day of the district tournament arrived.

I don't know
how fast the kids from other schools are.

So, rather than her ranking,
"I just hope she can run her own race today"
is what I was thinking.

In the morning.
As for my eldest daughter...

She wasn't nervous at all.

She ate breakfast as usual,
and got ready as usual.
If anything, she was moving at a pace that would make her late.

That easygoing nature
might just be her greatest strength.

There were so many things I actually wanted to tell her.
"Stay calm"
"Don't give up until the end"
"Don't get hurt"

I swallowed those words back,
but I said just one thing:

"Well, go and have fun."

I told her.

Then,

"Yeah. Well, I'll do my best."

Even her reply was just as usual.

After seeing my eldest daughter off,
my wife and I headed to the venue.

I adjusted my work and schedule,
and somehow managed to come and cheer.

In the car,
"I wonder how it will go."

"Well, it'll be what it'll be."

We headed there while having that kind of conversation.

When we arrived at the venue,
there were many parents.

As I thought,
everyone wants to see
their own child doing their best.

Various events progressed,
and finally, it was time for the middle-distance race,
my eldest daughter's turn.

Even looking from afar,
she really didn't look
like she was nervous.

The start.

She's not the type to dash out.

She has her own pace.

But,
little by little,
she was closing the gap with those in front.

We were watching from the corner,
and every time her position improved,
we couldn't help but shout.

"Go!"

It feels like it's been a long time
since I shouted that loudly.

Whether that voice reached her
or not, I don't know.

But,
she shifted into a higher gear on the final straight,
and passed the last person.

The result was a prize-winning placement.

My wife and I looked at each other in surprise.

Our daughter is...
Maybe she's actually someone pretty amazing...

We were being completely doting parents.

But,
working steadily,

not breaking your own pace,

and never giving up until the end—

I felt like I had been taught
those important things
by my daughter once again.

After the competition ended,
I called out to my eldest daughter.

You did your best.

Well, I did my best.

Were you nervous?

Hmm, not really.

I get more nervous when I'm called on
in class at school.

She stayed consistent until the very end.

By the way,
at a later date,
she also competed in a higher-level tournament.

As expected,
she didn't place near the top there.

After all,
there is always someone better.

But,
I think being able to see that view
must have been
a great experience for my eldest daughter.

I can't afford to lose either.
Because I went to cheer her on,
my graduate school
tasks are waiting for me, slightly delayed.

Reality is not kind.

But,
now that I've seen my daughter's steady, hard work,

"I have to do it."
For a moment,
I was able to think that way.

It seems that
when I go to cheer her on,
I don't just bring back energy,
but homework as well.

Probably.

(To be continued)