(That bastard… this time, he’s leaving it all to Asahina, isn’t he?)
Kurotsuki and Kurashiki exchanged an uneasy glance.
Coincidentally, their imaginations were in sync, further amplifying their foreboding.
But along with the bad premonition, they also had a sense of anticipation.
“If I can predict and understand everything, I will never lose,”
Asahina Kasumi declared firmly.
Even the battle-hardened Dojima was visibly disturbed by her stance.
Magara seemed to find it amusing, and the two also gave a wry smile.
The Amamori Yuto they know is a terrifying monster. They can’t imagine him actively opposing them.
However, they’ve also been feeling an intense pressure from the recent Asahina.
They don’t dare to claim who would win in this situation. And they’re unsure whether Asahina’s transformation is a good thing. But if this change could be directed in a positive direction–.
They just can’t imagine Asahina Kasumi losing to anyone.
(Well, if you want to test it, feel free to do so, Amamori-san.)
Kurotsuki thought. He’d like to see that person’s assumptions challenged at least once.
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Time flies by, and the day of the school sports festival arrives.
“Alright, let’s do thiiiis!”
Nishikimachi yelled, as loudly as always, making everyone wince and cover their ears.
Sakuma then whacked Nishikimachi’s head with a slipper.
“Oww!?”
The location is on the school grounds.
Around the running track, nine blue tarps have been laid out,
each with a class from 1st year A to 3rd year C gathered on them. We are standing on the tarp for Class C.
After putting his slipper back on, Sakuma glanced at the dramatically clutching Nishikimachi.
“Your voice is too loud. …But just for today, I’ll let it slide, Nishikimachi. After all, this is the day we get to take down both Netsuhara and Shinzaki at the same time!”
Sakuma made an exaggeratedly villainous face.
But it’s understandable why he’s fired up. Sakuma is the kind of guy who cares about his friends.
Sakuma and I got beaten by Netsuhara, and I got beaten by Shinzaki.
…Wait, have I been getting beaten up a lot? But I’ll stay quiet about that.
“Sakuma, you’re really fired up, huh. Well, I’m pretty pumped up too, you know!”
“You just want to impress the girls.”
“Whaat? How could you think that about me!”
Karasuma made a suave gesture, but it was clear his true nature was shining through, and he was quickly shot down.
Even though Nishikimachi is the established class clown, apparently even the second-highest in the class hierarchy can fall to the level of class joke. This class hierarchy is truly a strange and unforgiving place.
“Anyway, you guys, you’ve been practicing your events, right?”
As Sakuma asked everyone, everyone except me nodded.
–It’s the Academy sports festival.
A grand, all-day event featuring ten different events.
While there are some standard events like relays and ball tosses, the majority are downright crazy competitions.
And I’ve been assigned to participate in one of those events.
“Winning a single event gets you 300,000 points. Divide that up among everyone, and that’s 10,000 per person. If we sweep all the events, we’re talking a 100,000 windfall for each of us!”
Sakuma’s words got the class buzzing.
In each event, the first place winner gets 3 million, the second place winner gets 2 million, and the third place winner gets 1 million. After that, there are no points. In other words, if you don’t place in the top three classes, even including third-years, you won’t get a single point. It’s an absurd system.
Glancing around, it’s clear that most of the classes are motivated.
But the one that stands out is… Class 1-A.
Nagashi Netsuhara is leading the group, while the other students all have their heads bowed.
There’s not a hint of motivation… or rather, there doesn’t seem to be any emotion at all.
When I glance at Kasumi Asahina, she’s frowning at the state of Class A.
Personally, I’ve been fidgeting, or rather, taking various countermeasures, thinking she might make a move around the athletic festival. But it seems those efforts didn’t really mean much.
Apparently, she’s just enjoying watching the conflict between Class C and Class B.
So if the battle with Class B is resolved, it’s going to get really dangerous… Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I hope that after her fight with Shinzaki, Kasumi will grow beyond my imagination. As I’m thinking about that, I suddenly hear the sound of footsteps of the goddess.
“Ah, Amamori-kun…”
Turning back, I see the goddess standing there with a nervous expression.
She’s like a fairy reigning over the lakeside.
Like the nurturing mother earth embracing everything gently.
It would be a shame to put her existence into words.
So the only thing I can say is this:
Seeing Hoshina-san in her gym clothes, she’s cuter than ever.
“What should I do… I’m so nervous.”
“It’s destiny, me too.”
I’m also nervous in front of Hoshina-san in her gym clothes.
Sensing this, Higarashi-san puts her arm around my shoulder. Hey, girls shouldn’t be all over guys like that! They might get the wrong idea!
“Haha. President Hoshina, leave Amamori alone. He’s already head over heels for you. Seeing you in your gym clothes would be enough to knock him out cold.”
“That’s right.”
“…Huh? Y-You’re joking, right…? Haha…”
It’s a confession! She’s received my desperate affirmation with a bright red face.
No, wait, has she really accepted it?
My faint feelings don’t seem to have reached her. How unfortunate.
Hoshina-san is fanning her reddened face with her hands, occasionally glancing in my direction. Her bashful expression is also endearing.
“…Amamori, you should show a bit more expression. Your confession is starting to sound like a joke.”
“That’s a problem.”
As I’m talking with Higarashi-san, Hoshina-san chuckles. Did it still sound like a joke? Well, if it helped ease her nervousness, then the confession was worth it.
“Thank you very much. Now I’m a little less nervous.”
“No problem at all. Well, Hoshina-san, you don’t need to be so nervous. Amamori here is expected to win the whole class, no doubt about it.”
Higarashi-san laughs, and Hoshina-san joins in.
As I discreetly distance myself from the two of them, I happen to see Kurotsuki’s figure in the background.
…Or maybe he deliberately positioned himself there.
A telepathic message comes from him at a calculated timing.
(Amamori-san. The athletic festival is finally here… Is that alright? Kurashiki and I have done our best as the Vigilante Squad. But the Yaen hasn’t made a single move.)
(…Didn’t you realize? This time, I’ve entrusted everything to Asahina.)
Kurotsuki. I thought you and Kurashiki would have figured it out.
As I respond, he seems to have anticipated the answer and replies calmly.
(I see… But is that really okay? Shinzaki Yasuhito is strong. If we end up with two consecutive losses, following Netsuhara, I’m sure Asahina-san will–)
Without letting him finish, I turn around.
Looking into my eyes, Kurotsuki trembles.
(If her heart breaks, then that’s the end of it. I’m willing to discard Kasumi Asahina here.)
(…!?)
I’ve been patient even with this. Failing to discipline Kirido, and getting provoked into self-destruction against Netsuhara.
Two consecutive failures. With a normal opponent, I would have cut them off here. But I’m giving her a third chance.
If she can’t meet my expectations this time… Then switching sides is the only option.
There is no room for attachment or pity.
I’ll simply use and discard Kasumi Asahina in a businesslike manner.
(…Then, Kurotsuki, can I ask you to replace Asahina Kasumi?)
(Th-That’s…)
I won’t let him say he can’t. Because you’re the one I’ve pinned my hopes on.
If he dares to claim he can’t, then he too will be betraying my expectations. And at that time, I’ll have to [eliminate] him, since he knows the inner workings of the Yaen. …Do you understand what I’m saying?
(…I see. We really are most afraid of you.)
(Okay. I’ll take it as a compliment, then.)
He surely understands that elimination means something far worse than just expulsion.
I felt no emotion in response to that.
I have always known that emotions are unnecessary for Yūto Amamori.
[Alright, the venue is getting pumped up! Now, let’s go check out the opening ceremony!]
A lively voice rang out from somewhere.
It seems it’s time for the opening ceremony.
A loud explosion from the center of the field scatters the contents of the firecrackers around.
And so, the curtain rises on the third annual sports festival.
The unseen second and third-year students, and Yasuhito Shinzaki from Class B trying to crush us.
Class A aiming for objectivity, and then there’s us, Class C.
This sports festival, where all of us gather, will be the first and last.
Next year, with the third-years gone, the situation will surely change greatly.
So for now, I plan to fully enjoy this year’s sports festival.
“Well then, let’s take a look at what’s in store, shall we?”
Those words were not directed at anyone in particular.
But the expression on Kurotsuki’s face was unusually tense.
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