Shirakawa High Gym: The Backflip Challenge

The After-School Gym

The after-school gym at Shirakawa High had its own heartbeat. It echoed with sneakers on polished floors, the metallic clink of the horizontal bar, and occasional bursts of laughter that floated through the building.

Usually, the gym was empty by 5 p.m. Today, two students were still there long after everyone else left.

Aira, short and athletic, tightened the wrappings on her palms. Beside her stood Miyu, tall and elegant, the kind of girl who turned heads without trying. Miyu adjusted her ribbon for the third time in an attempt to hide how nervous she was.

"Are you sure about this?" Miyu asked while staring warily at the horizontal bar.

Aira smirked. "We promised we would try a backflip together before graduation. That was your idea, remember?"

Miyu blushed lightly. "I didn't think you would take it seriously."

"I take everything you say seriously."

Miyu looked away. "Do not say it like that. Someone might misunderstand."

"There is no one here," Aira replied casually. "Unless you want someone to misunderstand."

Miyu ignored that, though her ears turned pink.

First Attempts

They both grabbed the bar. The metal felt cold and unfriendly. Aira kicked off the ground, swung once, twice, then let go.

She flipped.

She did not land.

Instead, she hit the mat with a soft thud.

"Ouch. Okay, I definitely rotated too slowly," Aira groaned.

Miyu tried not to laugh, but a tiny snort slipped out. Aira sat up and stared at her.

"Oh no. Sorry," Miyu said quickly.

"You totally laughed."

"No. I only… your face… you looked so shocked." She mimicked Aira’s wide-eyed expression mid-flip.

Aira laughed loudly. "All right. Your turn then."

Miyu froze. "Me?"

"Yes. You. If you make fun of me, you must try it too. That is the sacred rule of gym friendship."

"That is not a real rule," Miyu said.

"It is now."

Miyu stood under the horizontal bar like she was about to face her destiny.

"Just swing your legs up," Aira instructed from the mat. "Do not overthink it."

"That is easy for you to say." Miyu grabbed the bar. "You are a gymnast. I am just… Miyu."

"You are not just anything," Aira said softly.

Miyu swung her legs upward and immediately slipped off.

She collapsed onto the mat in the most ungraceful position possible.

Aira gasped. "Are you okay?"

"I think I bruised my soul," Miyu muttered.

Aira burst into laughter. Miyu picked up a towel and tossed it at her.

"Hey!" Aira caught it. "Do not take your failure out on innocent towels."

"If I die from embarrassment," Miyu groaned, "please delete my browser history."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It is mostly cat videos."

Aira offered her hand. "Come on. Try again."

"You really will not let me go home until I do a backflip, will you?" Miyu sighed.

"Nope. We are in this together."

Miyu took her hand. Aira’s grip was steady and warm.

For a moment, Miyu forgot about everything else.

Practice, Laughter, and Determination

They practiced for an hour.

Swinging.
Tucking.
Rotating.

They failed at least twenty times.
They laughed at least twenty times more.

At one point, Aira attempted a flip again and landed flat on her back with a loud oof.

Miyu rushed to her. "Are you sure you are okay?"

Aira stared at the ceiling. "My pride is gone, but the rest of me is fine."

Miyu tried not to laugh, but her shoulders shook. Aira pointed at her.

"You are awful."

"You looked like a confused turtle."

"That is it. We are breaking up."

Miyu froze. "What?"

Aira widened her eyes. "I mean friendship breakup. Not a real breakup. Because we are not… unless…"

Miyu giggled gently. "You should think before you speak sometimes."

"Let me die," Aira said dramatically.

"No." Miyu leaned closer. "You are too cute to die."

Aira’s heart skipped a beat.

The First Successful Rotation

By 6 p.m., the sky outside had darkened. The gym lights gave the room a warm and nostalgic atmosphere.

Miyu stood at the bar again. This time, she was determined.

"I can do this," she whispered.

Aira walked behind her. "I will hold your waist on the first attempt. I will not let you fall."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Miyu grabbed the bar and swung her legs. Aira guided her movement with gentle pressure.

Miyu tucked.
Rotated.
And landed on her knees.

Not perfect, but a real rotation.

"You did it!" Aira cried. "That was amazing."

Miyu blinked in surprise. "I did?"

"You did. All you."

"I want to try again."

Aira smiled. "That is my Miyu."

Miyu’s cheeks turned warm. "I like how that sounds."

Perfect Landing and Confession

Finally, Miyu landed a backflip perfectly. A little shaky, but on her feet.

Aira screamed with excitement and hugged her. Miyu stiffened, then relaxed and leaned into the hug.

"See," Aira whispered, "I knew you could do it."

Miyu’s voice trembled. "Only because you helped me."

Aira loosened the hug. Their faces were close. Too close.

"Aira," Miyu whispered.

"Yeah?"

Miyu hesitated and looked briefly at Aira’s lips.

"I think I know why I wanted to do this with you," Miyu said.

"Why?" Aira asked softly.

"Because I wanted to make one last memory before graduation. Before we go separate ways."

Aira blinked. "Who said we are going separate ways?"

"You are going to Osaka. I am staying here. We will not see each other every day anymore."

"So?" Aira said gently. "That does not mean we will stop being us."

Miyu smiled sadly. "You are optimistic."

Aira lifted her chin with one finger.

"No. I am in love."

Miyu froze.

"Aira," she whispered. "Do not say that as a joke."

"I am not joking," Aira said. "I have liked you since first year. Since you lent me your umbrella. Since you defended me from those older students. Since… forever."

Miyu’s hands trembled.

"I thought I was the only one."

"You were not."

Miyu stepped closer and grabbed Aira’s shirt softly.

"Then can I do something?"

"Anything."

Miyu leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"Why the forehead?" Aira asked, shocked.

Miyu blushed. "Because our first real kiss should be after we both land the perfect backflip."

Aira laughed. "That is cheesy."

"You like cheesy."

"Maybe."

"Then let us keep practicing," Miyu whispered.

The Perfect Flip and Kiss

It was almost 7 p.m. The janitor would come soon.

"One last flip each," Aira said. "Then we go home."

"Deal," Miyu replied.

Aira went first. She swung, flipped, and landed perfectly.

"Show off," Miyu said.

"You love it."

"Maybe."

Then Miyu took her turn. She breathed in. Then out. She grabbed the bar, kicked off, swung, tucked, rotated, and landed perfectly.

Aira stared at her in awe. "Miyu, you did it."

Miyu looked at her with bright eyes. "Does that mean…?"

Aira walked toward her slowly. Miyu stepped forward too.

"Aira," Miyu whispered.

"Miyu."

They met in the middle.

Under the warm gym lights, with chalk on their hands and sweat on their brows, they kissed.

Soft.
Warm.
Careful.
Real.

Aira pulled back first. "We finally did a perfect flip."

"And a perfect kiss," Miyu added with a smile.

Aira laughed quietly. "After graduation, I will visit every weekend. Or you can come to Osaka. Or we can meet halfway. I do not care. Just do not disappear."

"I will not," Miyu said. "I do not want to."

They held hands as the lights buzzed softly overhead.

Epilogue: Flying Together

"Aira?"

"Yes?"

"Next time, let us try a double backflip."

Miyu groaned. "Aira, no."

"Too late. It is decided."

"If I die, bury me with dignity."

Aira kissed her cheek. "You are not going anywhere."

They walked home side by side. Their shadows stretched behind them like a pair of wings.

"Today was perfect," Miyu said.

"It will be even better tomorrow," Aira replied.

"Why?"

"Because tomorrow, I get to brag that I kissed the cutest girl in school."

"Aira!" Miyu covered her face. "Do not say things like that."

"But it is true."

Miyu bit her lip, trying not to smile. "Then I guess I get to brag too."

"Oh?"

"The girl I like taught me how to fly."

Aira slipped her hand into Miyu’s. "Then let us keep flying together."

"Yes," Miyu whispered.