The enthusiastic atmosphere of the opening ceremony had not yet dissipated when the various sports day competitions began in quick succession.
On the red synthetic track, the crisp sound of the starting gun echoed one after another; on the green lawn, the long jump pit stirred up fine sand; by the basketball court, cheers surged higher and higher, and the entire campus was immersed in the passion of competition and the vitality of youth.
The first event to start was the 100-meter preliminary race. Okabara Kyogumichi stood at the starting line, feeling the friction between his shoes and the track. His opponents beside him were all eager, their eyes full of fighting spirit. He took a deep breath, adjusted his starting posture, and focused intensely.
With a crisp 'bang' from the starting gun, Kyogumichi shot out from the starting line like an arrow released from a bow. He deliberately controlled his acceleration rhythm, not sprinting at full power from the start, but maintaining a steady stride. Midway through the race, he gradually accelerated, his legs rapidly alternating like wheels, and the wind whistled past his ears. Nearing the finish line, he exerted a little more force, crossing the finish line with a slight advantage to take first place in the preliminary race—this was controlling his score.
"Okabara-san is amazing!" Yui Yuigahama ran over, holding a cheering stick, her face beaming with an excited smile. "You must do your best in the finals!" Yukino Yukinoshita stood beside her, and although she didn't speak, the approval in her eyes was unmistakable.
At ten in the morning, the men's 100-meter final officially began. After the starting gun, he sprang out like a leopard, integrating the explosive techniques of basic body arts into his running movements, his strides even and powerful. At the last ten meters, he relied on his stronger explosive power to be the first to cross the finish line, the timer stopping at a respectable time.
"First place! Our class got first place!" Kitagawa Marin jumped up excitedly, almost throwing the cheering sign in her hand.
Kyogumichi walked off the track after steadying his breathing, and Shiina Mahiru immediately handed him a towel and water: "You ran wonderfully, quickly wipe your sweat." Under the sunlight, the light in the girl's eyes was even more dazzling than a gold medal.
Next was the long jump final. Kyogumichi stood at the run-up line, his gaze fixed on the far end of the sandpit. He took a deep breath and began his run-up, his speed increasing rapidly. Just before the take-off line, he powerfully pushed off the ground, his body tracing a smooth arc through the air. Upon landing, he landed steadily in the center of the sandpit, kicking up a cloud of fine sand. After measuring, the referee raised the white flag: the result far surpassed the other competitors, securing him first place without any suspense.
Natsume Takashi applauded vigorously in the stands, and Nyanko-sensei, uncharacteristically, sat up straight, its tail gently swaying.
"It seems your athletic ability is indeed quite good." Yukino Yukinoshita walked up to Kyogumichi, her tone still carrying a hint of tsundere. "But don't get complacent, there's still the relay race later."
"Same to you." Kyogumichi responded with a smile, his gaze turning to the track where the women's 800-meter final was underway.
Shiina Mahiru was in the leading group, her breathing even, her steps steady, showing no sign of panic. In the last lap, she gradually accelerated, overtaking the player in front, and ultimately finished third. The moment she crossed the finish line, Shiina Mahiru felt a bit exhausted, and Kyogumichi quickly went to support her. The girl's cheeks were flushed, her forehead covered in sweat, but she wore a satisfied smile: "I reached my goal, that's great." She had said before that she would be happy as long as she could finish in the top three.
On the high jump field on the other side, Chitanda Eru was making her final attempt. She ran up, took off, and cleared the bar, her movements fluid and seamless, her body gliding over the crossbar like a nimble swallow. When the crossbar rested steadily at a new personal best height, the entire venue erupted in warm applause. Although she ultimately only finished fourth, this result had already set a new personal best for her.
"Chitanda-san is amazing!" Kyogumichi walked over to congratulate her. Chitanda Eru's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she said excitedly: "I did it! I never thought I could jump this high before, thank you for your advice." She was referring to the take-off technique Kyogumichi had taught her.
On the basketball court, the women's shooting competition was underway. Saki Kawasaki stood outside the three-point line, her eyes focused, and with a gentle flick of her wrist, the basketball arced gracefully through the air, accurately falling into the hoop. She ultimately won second place. Although her expression remained calm during the award ceremony, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.
The most pleasant surprise was Hitori Bocchi. She signed up for the fun event, "Three-Legged Race," and formed a team with Nijika and Kitagawa Marin. Initially, she made frequent mistakes due to nervousness, almost causing the team to fall. But with the encouragement of her teammates, she gradually relaxed, and their teamwork became more and more synchronized, ultimately even earning them third place.
"We did it!" Hitori Bocchi was so excited she was incoherent, her cheeks flushed, but she held up her medal high, her eyes sparkling with unprecedented confidence. Kyogumichi looked at her and was genuinely happy for her.
Natsume Takashi participated in the men's 3000-meter long-distance run. He did not pursue speed but maintained a steady pace. In the last lap, he suddenly accelerated, overtaking the previous runners, and ultimately finished fifth. After crossing the finish line, although he was drenched in sweat from exhaustion, he showed a gentle smile: "I improved from last time, I'm happy."
The women's relay race was the highlight of the afternoon. The relay team, consisting of Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama, Kitagawa Marin, and Shiina Mahiru, overcame all challenges and made it to the finals. Yukino Yukinoshita's swift start, Yui Yuigahama's steady handoff, Kitagawa Marin's mid-race acceleration, and Shiina Mahiru's perfect sprint ultimately earned them second place.
During the award ceremony, the four girls, each with a distinct personality, stood together, their faces beaming with radiant smiles. Although Yukino Yukinoshita said, "It was just luck," she carefully put her medal into her pocket; Yui Yuigahama excitedly hugged her teammates and spun around; Kitagawa Marin showed off her medal everywhere; and Shiina Mahiru gently helped everyone tidy their somewhat messy hair.
As the sun set, all the sports day competitions finally concluded. Students from each class gathered together, sharing the joy of winning and comforting their unsuccessful companions. Kyogumichi looked at his friends around him; some were excitedly showing off their medals, some were taking photos together, some were discussing tomorrow's Live Action Strategy Battle, and everyone's face was full of youthful vigor. He himself had also gained a lot, with two heavy gold medals for the 100-meter and long jump hanging around his neck.
"Tomorrow is the Live Action Strategy Battle, everyone do your best!" Kitagawa Marin shouted, waving her medal, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Let's plan our tactics first." Yukino Yukinoshita took out her notebook and said seriously, "Okabara-san, your speed is fast, suitable for an assault player; Natsume-kun has strong observation skills, he can be a scout; the girls will be responsible for..."
The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of everyone on the sports field.