"Alright! Let's get first place together! If we get first in all the events, we'll pretty much secure the Overall Grade Excellence Award, so let's give it our all!"
"You're in high spirits... Well, I'm still going to give it my best shot. Let's do this, Tsugumi-kun."
Hello, this is Saito, who luckily survived because the administration tent was far from the D-Class waiting area.
Apparently, only Machida-kun saw what happened during the scavenger hunt, so as long as those three or the teachers don't leak it, my secret should be safe. I mean, my overall ability is almost at the top, so there shouldn't be any issues if I just perform as I practiced. Right? The only reason I don't want it to get out is so I can avoid psychological fluctuations. That's a no-brainer, isn't it?
"We should be careful of Ichinose-san and Shibata-kun from Class B. I remember them being pretty fast when we scouted them. In fact, Shibata-kun has gotten first place in every event except the ones he was in with you guys."
When Suzune said "you guys," she was probably referring to Kiyotaka, Sudo, and me. We were the monstrous trio who had gotten first place in everything so far except for the calvary battle.
Sudo and I were already marked, but Kiyotaka's presence was an anomaly. He had the best times in the 100m and 200m races for all grades. As a small point of pride, I'll mention that I got first place in the hurdles.
"Okay, I'm going to tie the rope. Tell me if it's too tight."
The three-minute warning was given, so we started getting ready a little early.
Other students from other classes were stretching and warming up in a different area, but we sat on the edge of the field.
"...I'm a little sentimental. I never would have imagined this back when we first started."
"Hmm, I think it's a little too early for that, don't you? You should save that for when we win."
"That's true, but what I mean is this very moment. I never would have imagined myself walking in step with someone, aiming for the same goal."
It seemed that what Suzune was talking about was not leading Class D in the sports festival, but the two-legged race itself.
"I think it's all because of your own hard work, Suzune-chan."
"No. There's no way I could have accomplished this on my own."
"I'm surprised to hear you say that."
I was surprised to hear Suzune, who was generally very confident in her abilities, deny it like that.
"Don't mock me. I think I understand what kind of person I am... I'm not that arrogant."
"Haha, sorry, sorry."
She still gets sulky so easily. It seems that even though she's grown up, she still has a little sister complex.
But then, Suzune suddenly looked up and gazed into the distance. She was looking at the D-Class students. Nearly 30 students were sitting by the finish line, waiting to cheer us on.
"I wanted to thank you here. It's not often that the two of us get to talk alone."
"Thank me?"
"Yes. I wouldn't have been able to get this far without you. When class points were at zero and I was desperately trying to get into Class A, you guided me without laughing at me. So... thank you."
She re-tied the rope around our legs, making it tighter, and softly whispered her thanks.
The sports festival was in its final stages, and the field had become quiet, losing its earlier excitement. Her words resonated deeply in my heart.
"You're welcome."
---------
I didn't reach out to her out of pure kindness.
She had an absolute ideal within her and was so single-mindedly focused on it that she was willing to throw everything away and charge forward alone. She was a lot like me in the past. That's why I couldn't leave her alone. I had similar reasons for getting involved with Arisu-chan and Kiyotaka-kun.
So, when she looked at me with those pure eyes, it made me feel a little complicated.
---------
"....So, this is my small way of repaying you. Get first place in this race and the relay and stand on the podium. The view from there is sure to be special, isn't it?"
"Haha, you're really something else."
I couldn't help but revert to my old way of speaking. Suzune often hit me with a critical hit at the most important moments.
"It's about to start. Shall we go?"
She wasn't looking at the back of her admired brother, but at her own future.
---------
For me, it was difficult to look directly into those beautiful, impossibly clear eyes.
---------
"We're going to crush them. I guess we didn't need to come cheer you on after all."
Kiyotaka said that as he looked at Horikita and Tsugumi, who had just finished running about 200 meters and still looked like they had plenty of energy left.
"I don't think that's true. I was so happy when Ayanokoji-kun came to cheer for me! Maybe that's why I didn't get last place... Just kidding."
Sakura, who had been watching the race next to me, gently refuted what I had said.
I didn't think cheering had that much power, but I was happy that she was happy, so I decided to believe her.
"The next one is the last event... It went by so fast."
"It's not over yet! I'm looking forward to it the most, so do your best!"
"You're right. I was getting ahead of myself. Thanks, Sakura."
"Yeah! I'll cheer as loud as I ever have!"
...Come to think of it, Sakura can actually be pretty loud.
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
I felt a sense of growth in myself, as I didn't tell her to "take it easy." I started to prepare for the final event, the relay.
---------
And then came the main event, the relay.
The rules were simple: it was a 1200m race with 6 runners, each running 200m. It was a joint competition for all grades. A track is 400m, so it would be a 3-lap race.
"Hey, were Tsugumi and the student council president related?"
I pointed at Tsugumi and the current student council president, Horikita's older brother, who were talking on the other side of the track.
"I don't know. I saw them once a while ago, but I haven't heard them talk since... Wait, how can you see that? I'm confident in my eyesight, but I didn't notice until you said something."
The person I was talking to was Horikita. She was the third runner in this race.
I thought both of them had a close relationship with Horikita, but she didn't seem to know about their relationship. If she did, that would be a little scary.
"That doesn't matter right now. Let's just focus on winning."
Sudo said that while stretching. For once, he was right. I decided to ask them about it after the relay.
As I stretched, I noticed that students were gathering around the track. It seemed like the race was about to start, but I wasn't nervous at all.
"I'm counting on you, Sudo."
"You don't have to tell me. I'm going to blow them away!"
Sudo, the first runner, was full of energy.
The order was Sudo, then Onodera, then Horikita, then Maezono, then me, and finally Tsugumi.
The strategy was to have Sudo get us a lead, then have the three girls hold it. The idea was to hold our position and then catch up at the end. Tsugumi came up with this plan. He said it would give us the highest chance of winning and would make it more exciting when we did.
"The 3-grade joint 1200m relay will now begin! All athletes, please take your positions!"
"UOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!"
A roar of cheers echoed with the announcement. The announcer's voice also seemed to be more excited than before, but that made sense since this was the last major event of the sports festival.
---------
"Horikita."
I tapped Horikita on the shoulder, who was waiting in front of me.
"What is it?"
It wasn't something I needed to ask, but I wanted to know.
"Are you having fun?"
"!... Yes, very much. And you?"
"I'm having a blast."
As I said that, the students around us fell silent, sensing that the competition was about to begin.
"On your mark."
The voice told us to get into position.
Then, with the sound of the starting pistol, 12 students took off at the same time.
---------
-Flashback: 10 minutes before the start-
I was waiting at the exact opposite corner from the starting line to prepare for the last event, the "3-grade joint 1200m relay."
I was a little separated from the other groups, but I didn't do it for no reason like Kiyotaka-kun.
"It's been a while. Has it been two months since we last met?"
"Hello, President Horikita. I guess you're the anchor."
The person who spoke to me was President Horikita, Suzune's older brother.
The reason I was alone was to talk to him.
"I'm a little surprised. I thought Suzune would be standing here."
"Suzune-chan stepped down so we could win. How do you think she's changed? She's pretty cool now, isn't she?"
"I'm honestly surprised. I want to know what magic you used."
President Horikita was surprisingly honest. Well, it's understandable that he would be surprised if someone he had lived with for so long changed this much in half a year.
"I've heard a lot about your performance in the uninhabited island exam, the cruise ship exam, and this sports festival. Honestly, I'm still affected by that conversation we had."
"Are you not satisfied with those two? They might not be perfect yet, but their potential is nothing compared to mine."
"You're right. From what I've heard, both Ayanokoji and Suzune are rough around the edges, but they have talent. I realized that when I saw your class. But you have something they don't."
---------
To explain "that conversation" that President Horikita was talking about, I have to go back about two months.
---------
"Excuse me. This is Saito from first-year Class D."
Right after the cruise ship trip, I was Called by a certain person. I knocked on the grand door with the "Student Council Room" sign on it.
"Come in."
I could hear him clearly through the door, so I went in.
President Horikita was sitting in a chair, looking at me. Next to him was a senior girl with a tablet.
"Sorry for called you during your vacation. It would have been fine after summer vacation, but the people around me were getting annoying."
"Well, I'm free anyway, so don't worry about it. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"W-wait a minute! I'm so awkward! Let's introduce ourselves first!"
...Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry, senpai.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Akane Tachibana from third-year Class A! I'm the student council secretary! I think we'll be working together for a long time, so I look forward to it!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Saito from first-year Class D... Wait, 'working together for a long time'?"
"Huh? Aren't you here to join the student council?"
She just spoiled everything. Was this part of your plan, President?
I glanced at President Horikita, but he just sighed and held his head in his hands... Yeah, it wasn't part of his plan.
"I was about to explain that."
"Oh! Y-you're right... I'm sorry..."
She looked so dignified when she was standing next to the president... She's a funny person.
"Well, it saved me some trouble. I'll get straight to the point. Saito, do you have any intention of joining the student council?"
"...I'll ask you this just in case. Why me? You said you could see the records of all students when we met before, so you know what I did in the past, right? I don't think I should be in a serious organization like the student council..."
"Your past isn't a problem. I'll make the decision to let you join. They won't complain."
"Oh..."
Even if I was excellent, wouldn't it be bad for a guy who was doing 'sugar baby' activities and underage gambling to be in the student council?
"You're right! I've heard a lot from the teachers, and your past misdeeds aren't that... What is this?!"
Tachibana-san, who probably hadn't seen it yet, flipped through the papers that were most likely my information.
Yeah, I knew it. That's a normal reaction.
"I-I remember now! This is the Saito-kun who gets money from his seniors and classmates to go on dates! I remember a classmate of mine introducing you to me!"
...This is too awkward. Even the president looks a little stunned!
"....If you join the student council, I'll have you stop those activities—"
"I won't do it!"
"—Then that's fine."
The atmosphere was way too loose compared to the last time we met. What did you do, Tachibana-san?
"So, what will you do? I plan on having you become the student council president and lead this school in the future."
You're dropping some really important information now.
...Well, I'm happy that my abilities are being recognized. Especially by a genius that Suzune-chan admires. But...
"I'm very happy about your offer, but I'll have to decline."
"Why?! Do you still want to get money from women to go on dates?! You enemy of women—"
"Tachibana, calm down."
"...I'm sorry."
Even when she was reprimanded, Tachibana-san was still staring at me with a sharp look. Please, just get away from me.
"Tell me your reason."
President Horikita was desperately trying to get the conversation back on track. I decided that a vague answer would be a bad idea, so I answered him honestly.
"First of all, I'm not the kind of person who leads others. At most, I can only get my class together. Also... You might have recognized my abilities, but unfortunately, I will not grow any further. Ever."
I said it with conviction. Maybe because of my emotion, I saw Tachibana-san's face harden.
"...I see. But there's no such thing as a person who doesn't grow. Why are you so sure?"
"Because I'm not looking forward. Everyone who grows is looking forward. Your sister is too."
In the past, she was looking at her brother's back, and now she's looking at mine and Kiyotaka's without ever looking away. Arisu-chan is the same way.
I don't know when they'll pass me, or maybe they already have.
"You're..."
President Horikita, who had been listening to me, hesitated to speak.
"B-but Saito-kun has such good grades! He even set a new Japanese record in physical education! And the last exam—"
"What does that matter?"
"Huh?"
I cut off Tachibana-san, who was trying to comfort me.
"What does that matter? Right now, I'm like a big tree with a rotten core. President Horikita, your sister, and the leaders of each class might be small now, but they'll keep getting bigger and bigger."
No matter how big the outside is, if the inside is rotten, it will just wither away.
As soon as I finished speaking, a sense of guilt— "I did it again"—remained in my chest, and an awkward silence filled the room.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"Don't apologize. I get it... Hey, President. I know this is a bit rich coming from the person who just turned you down, but would you be willing to make a deal with me?"
"A deal?"
President Horikita took the bait. I held up my finger and explained.
"How about you get your sister, who's in the middle of a huge growth spurt, and that guy Ayanokoji from Class D to join the student council? Those two make a great team."
To break the deadlocked atmosphere, I intentionally used a brighter tone.
"...You said it's a deal, but what do you want in return?"
"Please prevent Suzune-chan and one more person, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, from being expelled. Please do it as much as you can."
"...Tachibana. Get Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's information from the database."
"Y-yes! Understood!"
Tachibana-senpai looked up something on her tablet. She showed the screen to President Horikita, who looked at it with interest.
"So this is the Ayanokoji you were talking about."
"You know him?"
"Yeah. A student who got 50 points in every subject on the entrance exam would be memorable. I never would have thought he'd be related to you and Suzune, though."
"Then this makes things easier! Let's make Suzune-chan the student council president and Kiyotaka-kun the vice president! You wouldn't let a future vice president candidate get expelled, would you?"
I've only seen him a little, but he seems like a cold person, but he's actually kind. I could easily tell by how he was always concerned about Suzune.
However, I thought he would accept it since I was vouching for them, but it didn't seem like it was going to be that easy.
"...Even if I were to accept your proposal, I'd first have to see what kind of students they are. Especially Suzune, who's not the type of person to stand in front of people."
"Then please watch over them. My friends, whom I'm proud of."
---------
And that's how we got to the present.
---------
"Something they don't have that I do?"
"Surprised? I didn't think you were the type of person who would have trouble noticing his own strengths."
I know my strengths. I'm good-looking, athletic, can remember most things I see once, and I think I have about 300 times the communication skills of Kiyotaka-kun.
But... my personality is fatally flawed.
"How about this? If you win this relay, I'll join the student council. However, if I win, you'll grant me one small request."
"...Alright. Don't go back on your word."
The president spoke with a slight smile... That's scary, he's just like Suzune-chan.
"I didn't think a sports festival was something to be enjoyed... but now I'm motivated. I'll find out what kind of person the man that Suzune admires truly is."
With that, the president walked toward the students in his class. The pressure coming from his back felt even greater.
By the way, here's a list of the things I did during the sports festival:
Got first in the 100m race and was surrounded by girls.Got cheered on by Arisu-chan, then got too excited in the pole-pulling and was scolded by Suzune-chan.Was healed by Arisu-chan who was excited during the two-legged race.Became the Mikey of Advanced Nurturing High School and saved Kiyotaka-kun.Kissed Arisu-chan on a whim.Was moved by Suzune-chan's growth during the mixed-gender two-legged race.Declared war on President Horikita. <-- I'm here now!
"Wow..."
My personality is definitely flawed. No doubt about it.
============
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