In front of the pink line, stop your feet first. Your hands could not reach out right away either.
When Teacher Mizuno said this, the pain on Kiyo's face looked very real. He tucked both hands into his sleeves as if afraid they would run off by themselves. Naruto stood in the middle of the group, but his eyes remained fixed on the other side of the pink line. Today, the Shared Box sat beside the line with its lid open, holding short pencils, old erasers, and little paper sleeves.
"Even if something falls over there, we can't pick it up?" Kiyo asked.
"Stop first, then look, then pick it up."
"What if it rolls farther away?"
"Then walk over after it rolls away."
Kiyo lowered his head to look at his shoes and muttered, "Why can't things be a little more considerate?"
The first round used water cups. Teacher Mizuno placed an empty cup a palm's width beyond the pink line and had them walk over, stop their feet, then bend down to pick it up. Rina did it steadily. Her cuff brushed the rim as she picked up the cup, making it wobble slightly. She stopped her hand and waited until the cup settled before lifting it. Saori moved more quickly. Her bell struck the cup with a crisp ring. She startled herself and, flushing, put the cup back.
Kiyo walked up to the line. His feet stopped, but his hand did not. His hand crossed halfway over the line, and Teacher Mizuno gave a soft cough. Kiyo immediately pulled his hand back, looking as though his own hand had betrayed him.
Morita Yu said from behind him, "You can discuss it with your hand first."
"It won't listen."
"Then that's your problem."
Naruto heard the two bickering