Chapter 9: Sports Festival and an Ominous Shadow
On a Saturday near the end of May.
“Alright, you guys! We’re definitely winning today!”
“Yeahhhhh!!!!”
The excitement of the students, who had been eagerly awaiting the sports festival, was at its peak.
Saito’s class was no exception. They formed a circle before leaving the classroom, pumping themselves up with enthusiasm.
The boys, in particular, were fired up, determined to impress Lily and Mizuki. Their fighting spirit was so intense that victory seemed assured.
Saito, who had prepared for the sports festival more than anyone else, nodded with satisfaction at the sight. Suddenly, he felt a tug on his clothes.
Looking down, he saw his friend Kai holding an envelope.
“…Here. Sorry it’s late, but I finally got the specified number of photos.”
“…Thanks, Kai. Lily said she’d like more today if possible. Can you do it?”
“…Sure. Leave it to me.”
Saito and Kai crouched down, exchanging secrets like villainous magistrates in a period drama.
“Hey, Itocchi, Kaicchi. What are you doing? Everyone’s already leaving~”
However, this was a classroom. Crouching didn’t hide them; if anything, it made them stand out more. Shuri , who happened to pass by, called out to them.
“I have to lock up, so hurry up, you idiots!”
“Don’t forget the tea and towels. If you drink mine today, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Their secret exchange was interrupted by Minaka and Lily’s hurried words and reminders.
Saito tucked the envelope into his desk and took out a towel before leaving the classroom with Kai.
As they exited the school building, the grounds were bustling with people.
Seira High School had about 600 students, so with parents, that would be 1,800 people.
Moreover, the sports festival was open to the public. With friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and visiting middle school students, there were probably around 2,000 people.
Naturally, Saito’s old friends and club mates from middle school had come to watch.
“Hey, Saito! We came to see you!”
“You really got into Seira? I thought it was a lie.”
“I’m betting on you messing up the relay like last year, so please don’t let me down!”
“It’s been a while, guys. You’re as harsh as ever. At least throw some words of encouragement my way.”
“Oh, look! It’s that beautiful childhood friend Minazuki showed us before!”
“You’re right. I knew she was pretty, but seeing her in person really shows how high her facial features score.”
“Her boobs are huge. Life is unfair.”
“Um, could you please stop touching me with that dissatisfied look?”
Saito was happy to reunite with his old friends, while Lily, recognized as his childhood friend, was mobbed by the girls.
“Long time no see, Shuri . Have you got a boyfriend yet?”
“Come on, it’s only been two months since we started school. I can’t have one that quickly. I’ll take my time getting to know someone before dating.”
“Minaka-chan, do your best not to get injured, okay?”
“Thanks. I’ll do my best, within reason.”
“Wow, you take great photos!”
“…Thanks.”
“Indeed, these are excellent photos. The sense of presence is beyond student level. How about working for Mom’s company after you graduate?”
“That sounds great! Please contact us if you’re interested!”
“…Thanks. Wait, what? You’re Machigane-san’s mother?!”
Meanwhile, Minaka and Shuri were chatting with their middle school friends, and Kai was somehow entangled with Lily’s parents, who seemed to have a creative streak.
“Grrrr, I told you not to come! Why are you here, sis?!”
“Oh my~ Isn’t it normal to come and cheer for my cute little sister and her childhood friend? Don’t be so angry, please.”
“Then stop pushing those huge boobs against Haruki!”
“Uh, Mizuha-san?”
“I’m not pushing them. They’re just accidentally touching him. They’ve grown again recently, so I can’t quite control them. Well~ Mizuki probably wouldn’t understand.”
“I’ll kill you.”
“Mizuki, calm down! That’s not okay to say to your own sister!”
On the other hand, Haruki was caught in another awkward situation away from Saito and the others, but nobody noticed as they were too engrossed in their conversations.
After socializing with their old friends for a while, Saito and the others said goodbye and headed to their tent.
They put their water bottles and towels in separate baskets for boys and girls, then moved to the entrance gate as the assembly was called.
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“Class 3, gather here!”
“Oh, President. How are you doing?”
As students from all grades rushed to the back of the gate for the entrance ceremony,
Takumi appeared next to Saito by chance.
“…Does this look good to you?”
“Not really. Well, it takes time to break old habits, so it can’t be helped. We were talking about doing this gradually, weren’t we?”
Takumi’s face looked dejected.
He had likely failed again to open up and bridge the distance with Koyuki.
[That’s fitting for a girl like you. This is mine (I can’t have a girl carry heavy things).]
[Don’t you realize how inefficient it is to keep working in that state, you fool? Go take a shower to cool your head and stay hydrated. (We don’t want you passing out from heat exhaustion).]
After Saito persuaded Takumi, he tried to make up with Koyuki again. But each time, his tsundere side would activate, preventing reconciliation.
Takumi seemed quite disheartened about his lack of progress, appearing gloomy recently.
Saito felt a bit vexed too.
But knowing Takumi was trying hard for Koyuki’s sake, he patted his shoulder encouragingly.
“…Yeah. For now, just enjoy the Festival to the fullest. You’ve been restless for about a week now. Don’t overthink it today, go wild.”
“Got it. You work hard too, President. Well, excuse me here.”
Confirming Takumi’s gloomy face had regained a slight brightness, Saito joined his class line.
“”[We vow to act in accordance with good sportsmanship and compete fairly! May 20th, 2000 – Shunta Tanaka, Minami Hamano]””
After the opening ceremony where an upperclassman committee leader administered the pledge, the athletics festival began.
The first-year students’ first event was the Eye of the Typhoon race.
Since it came right after the second-years’ Pole Toppling event early in the program, Saito and Shuri headed back to the tent briefly before going to the entrance gate again.
“Well, I’m off.”
“Me too~”
“…Good luck.”
“Yeah, good luck Minazuki and Yayakumo-san.”
“Shuri don’t get hurt. Don’t worry about Bakazuki.”
“Saito, you absolutely can’t lose.”
“That’s right. If I lose, I’ll go berserk in the other classes.”
“Well, that’s one way to do it. But no need, I’ll definitely win, so just calmly cheer me on.”
After bidding their friends farewell with those parting words of encouragement,
Saito and Shuri set off.
“Hey hey, Itochi? You’ve been sneaking around lately, what are you up to?”
A short distance away, Shuri inquired about the earlier exchange that had piqued her curiosity.
“It’s nothing major. Just helping with a reconciliation.”
Since Lily had told him [Don’t reveal too much about what you’re doing. If it leaks, the Vice President will probably figure it out], Saito vaguely explained.
“Oh, so the President and Vice President still haven’t made up. Well, no surprise since they’re so stubborn.”
However, since he had consulted her before, she easily saw through his vague explanation.
“Don’t go blabbing about it too much. And by the way, Yakumo’s deduction was wrong.”
“For real!? I was pretty confident about it, I’m super bummed!”
Knowing Shuri is tight-lipped despite her outward appearance, Saito only lightly drove the point home.
After he corrected her misunderstanding, Shuri drooped her shoulders dejectedly.
She must have been quite confident in her guess.
Since Lily shared the same opinion, it couldn’t be helped.
No one would think their crush try deliberately make dislikes them.
It’s natural to assume there’s some reason behind it.
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