A Class's rankings were being confirmed, and the closing ceremony would be held about 10 minutes after the final event ended. After diverting everyone's attention to Kiyotaka, I was resting alone in the shade on the side of the field.
"Ah, there you are."
As I leaned my back against the cool concrete wall, lost in thought, a cheerful voice broke the quiet. I looked toward the sound and saw Karuizawa-san holding a sports drink in her right hand.
"Here. This is on me, so be grateful and drink it."
"Oh, thanks."
I took the bottle and opened the cap. Wait…
"Is this open?"
"Yeah. I was thirsty too, so I just took one sip. I don't mind, so go ahead and drink it."
"Oh, okay."
I held the bottle with condensation on it and drank about half. The cold sensation soothed my overheated body, and I let out a sigh.
"Ahhh, that's good. Thanks, Karuizawa-san."
"Yeah, that's fine, but… you should mind a little."
Karuizawa-san stared at me with narrowed eyes, even though she told me it was okay and to drink it. I've dated various types of girls, but it seems it's still impossible for me to fully understand a woman's feelings at this age.
"You said you didn't mind, so I thought it would be weird to hold back…"
"You're just a little off, Saitou-kun."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I couldn't help but smile at Karuizawa-san's cute huff of annoyance. The constant tension I had felt since before summer vacation was gone. There was no doubt that this had a positive effect on the sports festival.
"Well… good job. And… you were cool."
"Oh, really? Thanks."
It feels a little guilty, or maybe perverse, to hear that from a girl with a boyfriend. I wonder if this feeling is why people get hooked on cheating.
"…You're thinking of something rude, aren't you?"
"No, not at all? Anyway, good job to you too, Karuizawa-san. I saw how hard you were working."
"You're trying to change the subject… It was nothing out of the ordinary."
I wasn't trying to change the subject, but my timing was off. It's a shame.
"No, it was a big deal to me. You were helping to bring the class together and supporting the students who aren't good at sports, weren't you?"
The Karuizawa-san of the past would never have done that. From the outside, it might look the same, but if you look closely, the meaning is the complete opposite. The fact that she was moving for a different reason than just to avoid being bullied made her look very attractive to me.
"Hmm. You don't understand a girl's feelings, but you notice things like that. Well, whatever."
"Haha…"
"Give it back. I'm thirsty too."
Karuizawa-san took the bottle back without waiting for a reply. She opened the cap and I thought she would drink it right away, but she just looked at the mouthpiece and swallowed… Ah, I see. So that's what it was.
"If you hesitate, you'll look like a pervert. …You're surprisingly pure, Karuizawa-san."
"Shut up!"
"Whoa!"
I only teased her a little, but Karuizawa-san threw the bottle at me and walked away in a huff.
---
"Hey, where did Tsugumi go? The results are about to be announced."
"Hmm, I wonder? I thought he was here when we came back."
I asked Hirata, who was next to me, but he didn't seem to have seen him. That's unusual. He usually shows up at these kinds of lively events. Well, he did all the events back-to-back. It's not surprising he's exhausted.
"I can't believe it! He's the worst!"
Karuizawa walked over, looking furious. I thought her personality had become more approachable recently, so what happened?
"What's wrong?"
"…Nothing."
Karuizawa stood next to Hirata. We really have a lot of emotional girls in our class. We've had some contact since before summer vacation, but it's clearly a hassle, so I'll leave it to Hirata.
『We will now announce the results of this year's sports festival.』
An announcement came on just as Karuizawa returned. The numbers on the electronic scoreboard for the Red Team and White Team started counting, and the numbers began to increase. The total points for all 13 events. The winning team was… The words "Red Team Victory" appeared along with the score.
"A surprisingly overwhelming victory."
"I think I can guess why."
Horikita, who had appeared next to me, muttered this. She seemed quite calm for someone who had won.
"That's not the real issue, is it? …Well, I can pretty much guess the results anyway."
『Next, we will announce the overall class rankings.』
The display was divided into three sections for all 12 classes, and each class's score was shown. We don't care about the breakdown of the second and third years. What matters is what place Class D got. The following rankings were announced on the electronic scoreboard.
1st place: 1st Year Class D
2nd place: 1st Year Class C
3rd place: 1st Year Class B
4th place: 1st Year Class A
"Oh, we won. Honestly, I'm not that surprised."
"…Right. I'm more curious about Class C's ranking."
Sudou and the girls nearby were cheering, but I'm not the type to get excited, so my reaction was subdued.
"I didn't think they would pass Class B. I guess it can't be helped that Class A's ranking dropped because Sakayanagi couldn't participate."
『Finally, we will announce the MVP.』
And then came the main event, the MVP. But this was a given.
────Overall MVP: 1st Year Class D, Saitou Tsugumi
"…If only it wasn't for that scavenger hunt."
"Oh? I thought you seemed quite happy that everyone came along… Should I not have done that next time?"
"That's a different story!"
…Well, honestly, it's not even comparable to 100,000 private points.
"Then just be happy. I'm glad you're the MVP, Tsugumi-kun."
"…Yeah."
────And in the end, with the Red Team's victory, Class C and Class B lost -100 CP. With the points from the rankings, Class D gained 50, Class C lost -100, Class B lost -150, and Class A lost -100. As a result, each class's points were as follows.
Class A: 919 CPt
Class B: 703 CPt
Class C: 392 CPt
Class D: 540 CPt
"…I didn't think the gap would close so quickly. ────This means we'll be moving up to Class C next month."
"The sports festival was a great success. As expected, Horikita."
I gave a word of praise to Horikita, who was holding a notebook and pen in her hand.
"This is where the real challenge begins… is what I'd like to say, but honestly, I'm a little relieved."
Hearing that, Horikita sat down on the grass, letting out a sigh as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"You and someone else who isn't here always tell me not to overdo it. Maybe I'll go shopping with the points I got from the sports festival."
"Horikita going shopping? What are you going to buy?"
I was a little surprised and asked her. I thought she would say she'd save the money for a rainy day. It was a casual question, but Horikita froze in surprise and then spoke in a small, embarrassed voice.
"…Clothes, cosmetics, things like that. I've already researched them."
"Heh… I see, I forgot about that."
I was extremely surprised by her purchases, but I understood the reason and burst out laughing. Horikita stared at me with those narrowed eyes I've seen countless times. If I said anything else, she would probably stab me with the pen in her hand.
"…What? If you have something to complain about, just say it."
"No. You're right. Because Horikita is a girl in lo… Ow!"
"I recommend you apologize before my hand comes out."
"That's what you're supposed to say before you hit me!"
In the end, I couldn't hold back and teased her.
"Ayanokouji-kun, your days of being carefree are numbered. You were getting as much attention as Tsugumi-kun at this sports festival."
"What's wrong with that? It's a good thing to be popular, isn't it?"
"If more students start to flirt with you, and they find out your lack of experience with women, they'll just be disappointed."
Horikita taunted me with an expression that was either deadpan or a smug grin. How did you learn to make that face? In my memory, you only had a deadpan, narrowed-eye, angry, and embarrassed face…
"…You'll never know unless you try."
"True. Everything is a challenge, Ayanokouji-kun. Then don't you have something to say to me?"
"I'm sorry."
It's not good to laugh at someone's challenge. I'm sorry, Horikita.
---
One week had passed since the sports festival. The excitement was gradually fading. In fact, the topic of that dreamlike time had become less and less frequent, and gym class had returned to its normal form. Seeing that, I felt a complex mix of relief and loneliness. On a Friday after school, Horikita and I were Called by 'a certain student.'
"Hey. Are we going to get scolded?"
I sighed and asked Horikita, who had lost her usual dignified composure and seemed a little tense.
"…Of course not. Don't tease me until my hand comes out."
"Terrifying."
I hadn't said that specifically, but because of our long acquaintance, she must have understood my intent. However, I wanted to make sure I said this to her.
"It's true that I was joking a little, but what are you doing looking like that? You're not confident in what you've done so far?"
"…You're right. Thank you, Ayanokouji-kun."
I only said a few words, but Horikita thanked me and returned to her usual self. This quick change in attitude is one of the things Horikita has improved on since she entered the school. We walked to the door of the room where we were Called, and Horikita knocked on the door four times.
"Excuse me. This is Horikita and Ayanokouji of 1st Year Class D."
"Come in."
Horikita opened the door labeled 'Student Council Room' and entered. I followed, and inside, I saw a student I had only seen from a distance: Horikita Manabu.
"This will take a while. Please have a seat."
"Excuse me."
We were led to the reception sofa, and I sat next to Horikita. Horikita's brother sat across the table.
"First, I apologize for the sudden Called. I thought it would be better for both of us to get this over with quickly."
"No… So, what is your business with us?"
I don't know if it was because I was there or for another reason, but she didn't break her stance as a student in front of her brother. I don't know what her brother thought of her, but he seemed to ponder for a moment before looking at us with the same straight eyes as his sister.
"I'll get straight to the point. I want both of you to join the student council."
If you only heard this, you would think it was just a simple invitation, but when it came to the student council of this school, things were different. This was because Horikita's brother had not accepted Ichinose, who was a bundle of leadership, or Katsuragi, who had led Class A alongside Sakayanagi, into the student council, even though anyone would say they were qualified.
"The student council…?"
"Yes. And in the future, I want you two to take over the positions of student council president and vice president."
His brother replied without hesitation to Horikita, who asked in a stunned voice. …So, that would mean Horikita would become the president and I would become the vice president.
"What… is your reason for this?"
Horikita's brother, who disliked beating around the bush, got straight to the point, and Horikita, confused, asked for the reason.
"I have been watching your daily activities and… "Let's not beat around the bush. I don't want to waste any more time."…You have a very poor way of speaking."
"Ayanokouji-kun, wait."
Horikita glared at me to admonish me. However, that's not what I wanted to ask.
"This conversation won't move forward until you tell me your true intentions. What did Tsugumi tell you?"
I brought up my friend's name, who was not supposed to be involved here, but Horikita's brother's reaction was the best one I could have hoped for.
"Oh? You understand well… As expected of the person Saitou calls a genius."
"What do you mean? Why did his name come up?"
Horikita seemed confused, but if you thought about it for a moment, it made sense.
"I saw you and Tsugumi talking during the sports festival. And in just one week after that, you want me, a student with average grades and no outstanding achievements, to join the student council, which is led by the president who is said to be the greatest in the school's history. Isn't it only natural to suspect a connection?"
Besides, I don't have any other friends who would recommend me. Unfortunately.
"You really are an interesting student, Ayanokouji… Yes. The reason I brought this up to you is because Saitou Tsugumi said you two were qualified."
"So, it was a recommendation."
That's what it was. Tsugumi would do something like that. However, judging from Horikita's brother's reaction, I didn't think the conversation would end here. I also wanted to ask about the true meaning of his words, "get this over with quickly."
"Yes. At the recent sports festival, I made a bet with Saitou. If I won, Saitou would join the student council, and if Saitou won, I would invite Horikita Suzune and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to join the student council."
This part was understandable. It was probably a bet based on the trust that Horikita and I would be fine in the student council. It was a little frustrating that our intentions weren't a factor, but being trusted didn't feel bad. However, Horikita's brother took a breath as if to say this was the main topic, and continued.
"At that time, if Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was about to be forced into a forced expulsion, I would prevent it. And I would grant one of his wishes. The 'real reason' I Called you is because of this wish from Saitou Tsugumi. It is…"
Horikita's brother spoke with a hidden meaning. It reminded me of my friend who had taken care of my problems in the past, almost as if he was handling the aftermath of my actions.
He had laid the groundwork for Horikita's dream of reaching Class A and also solved the problems with Sudou and Karuizawa, who would have been obstacles.
He had helped Sakayanagi take control of her class almost free of charge, doing so without caring if his reputation would be tarnished.
And now, Horikita's brother had said it. He was probably making a condition to protect me from my father. If I joined the student council, which had overwhelming authority compared to a normal school, and had their backing, even my father couldn't recklessly interfere.
It was true that behind his bright and cheerful demeanor, there were times when I saw a somewhat decadent nature. His impulsive, almost fleeting words were not non-existent… but I had just thought it was my imagination. I had a different set of values, judgments, and common sense than the average person. I thought that's why he appeared that way. Unconsciously, I might have understood it all along. ────But when I actually heard those words, my mind went blank.
"To remove any obstacles to his own expulsion────Saitou Tsugumi intends to drop out by the end of the year."
"Huh…?"
I couldn't even tell if it was Horikita or me who had uttered those words.
============
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