Anzu had not expected the strain of 2,000 meters to be far greater than that of Short Distance. After crossing the finish line, aside from hearing that she had won, everything else felt hazy and unreal.
When her mind finally cleared, she looked around in confusion and realized she was lying on a bed, staring up at a stark white ceiling.
This was... the school Infirmary?
The moment she recognized where she was, she heard a worried voice that sounded almost like a shout from beside her.
"Little Anzu! H-how are you feeling...? Do your feet hurt badly? You have to tell me..."
Recognizing Kitasan Black's voice at once, Anzu froze for a moment before turning to look at her with delight.
"Senpai, I... won, right?" Her tone was calm when she spoke, and she truly was unsure whether she had won that earlier race.
"Mm-hm! I was watching the whole time! You won beautifully! That final sprint... even I couldn't do that!"
Standing beside Anzu's bed, Kitasan Black excitedly confirmed and praised her, then looked down at Anzu's feet with concern.
"So, Little Anzu, how are you really feeling...?"
How was she feeling? Her feet...
Remembering the earlier question, Anzu unconsciously followed Kitasan Black's gaze and noticed that the shoes and socks she had worn during the race had already been removed.
Her pale little feet were exposed to the air, and at the thought, her round, delicate toes curled in the air a few times.
Nothing was wrong... huh?
Just as she was about to answer, she suddenly noticed bandages stuck to the inner sides of both feet.
She bent down and touched the bandages, feeling a faint sting beneath them, then looked at the person beside her in confusion.
Just as she was about to ask, she