The cold wind of October blew up to caress my sweat-slicked skin as I kept pace with Akako, my breath hard but even. Just a year ago I'd never have been able to keep up with the athletic catgirl, but now here I was beside her. My left hand rose to flick the heavy sweat from my brow as she turned the corner of the track, and my gaze fell upon my friend as she cut the inner lane beside me.
Akako hadn't changed much over the years, I thought—her personality was still rough and rebellious, the same exact catgirl who broke the nose of the schoolhouse bully who pushed me off the curly slide when we both were seven. She still wore her hair the same way too, short and just a bit too far on the side of untidy to ever be considered respectable. Her adorable catlike ears that swiveled with her mood were just as inviting as ever. I knew how much she loved having them touched, how the sweet side of her crept out with a soft purr as she hugged me close. It was a dream that...
My gaze flashed downward to Akako's green eyes, narrowed mirthfully as one of her characteristic smug smiles spread across her face. I opened my mouth to say something, but she spoke first:
"Beat ya to the finish line, cunt!"
And just like that she was off. I was caught off guard for just a second, Akako's laughter echoing in my ears as her long tail swiped my side while she broke into a dead sprint. With a deep breath and rush of adrenaline, I was after her, too late. In an even race now—for the first time in my life—I might've been able to beat her, but Akako had too much of a lead, and it was all I could do to watch her soar ahead of me.
Not that I minded being able to watch. Akako's body was a lithe image of perfection, a sleek musculature underneath her black sports bra and shorts tensing in the most hypnotic way. My eyes traveled up her well-muscled legs, taking in every inch of her thighs as they flexed with each stride. Her bright red tail fluttered behind her like a pennant, drawing the eyes to her incredibly well-formed butt that bounced every so slightly with each footfall. Above it all the muscles in Akako's back flexed as she pumped her arms, her ears pricked up and swiveled directly forward as she stayed focused on her goal.
Unsurprisingly, Akako crossed the track's starting line well before I did, quickly swiveling on her heel to face in my direction even as she gave an excited hop and whoop of victory. I watched her as I ran it in, my mind miles away from the track and in a dream where Akako gave that same whoop after seeing me come home for the day. A dream of holding her close in my arms at night, and of letting that wonderful soft purr lull me to sleep.
A dream that couldn't be.
"Eat shit, motherfucker! Kicked your ass!" Akako yelled playfully as she greeted me with a middle finger in my face, her tail swishing happily.
"Yeah, whatever, would've fuckin' smoked you if you hadn't cheated," I panted as a bent over next to her to catch my breath.
"No chance, man. I'll run with you all you want, but if we ever race, all you're gonna be seeing is my ass," Akako said mockingly as she leaned her face near mine.
"Maybe I like seeing your ass," I responded as I reached up to grab her ears, which Akako deflected with a swift wave of her arm.
"Don't joke about that," Akako responded sullenly, not knowing it was far from a joke. "Besides, if you really want to get your hands on me, why don't we make a little bet?" Akako asked, her confidence reappearing just as quickly as it had left.
"What'd you have in mind?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level. Was that a flush of red I saw on Akako's cheeks, or was it just from the run?
"You think you can beat me in a race? Put your money where your mouth is and prove it," Akako said as she smiled and crossed her arms, "Two laps around the track. Winner has to give the loser a massage in the gym's wellness center."
"Isn't the wellness center closed after five?" I asked.
"Yep. But not if you've got the key—benefit of working part time here, you know," Akako said.
"I can't imagine your boss being OK with that."
"I can't imagine myself giving a shit."
I gave a hearty laugh, Akako joining me as the two of us cackled like the idiots we were together on the side of the track.
"You're on, Akako," I said, crossing my arms across my chest.
"Then you better get your fingers ready, because—NYAA!" Akako gasped as my hands popped out and gently grasped her ears. She had leaned in closer to trash talk me, leaving her soft auricles at the mercy of my caresses.
"Fuck off," Akako muttered with no fire in her voice. She had already begun to purr, pushing her head up against my hands as her tail quivered happily behind her.
"Sorry, what was that?" I teased her, making her let out an angry grunt that was soon replaced by her purrs. "Who's a good girl?"
"I'm not a dog girl, fuck off," Akako said softly, her tail wrapping itself around my leg.
"I won't stop until you say it," I whispered tauntingly. "Come on, who's a good girl?"
"I am," Akako whispered, her eyes closed in bliss.
"Yes, you are," I responded, letting go of her ears and narrowly avoiding her punch. "What?! You said get your fingers ready, how was I supposed to know what you meant!" I laughed.
"Eat shit. If you think that'd distract me, you're wrong," Akako said as she rubbed the fur on her ears back in place. "Besides, you're going to have plenty of time to pet my ears after I kick your ass," Akako bantered as she stepped back onto the track.
"Not this time, Akako," I said confidently as I took my spot on the line next to her. "Today is when the student surpasses the master." My heartbeat quickened, but I wasn't sure if it was nerves about the race or the fact that—win or lose—I'd soon be closer to Akako than I'd ever been, feeling her skin on mine.
"Not a chance, dude," Akako said, her own face flushed, "Not a chance."
We both tensed our legs at the line, waiting for the go as if a starting gun was suddenly going to pierce the cold October air. Then, as if by some telepathic agreement, we were both off like a flash.