No matter how slow the pace seemed on the ground, as long as they had a clear goal, they would eventually reach the finish line.
Holding onto this simple truth, the ordinary girl summoned a rare burst of enthusiasm, pumping her short, slender legs as hard as she could to keep up with Hanazono-san's pace.
She was quite different from someone who always came in last during P.E. class runs.
As a key member of the kendo club, Hanazono-san's athletic prowess far surpassed that of the average person, a stark contrast to her petite frame.
Yet, thanks to their prior training sessions, the two managed to maintain a steady rhythm, neither one completely holding the other back.
Shortly after the race began, at the very first corner, a strange pulling force suddenly manifested. The leading group, caught off guard during their turn, tumbled to the ground in a heap.
Seizing the opportunity, a team with a psychokinetic strolled past their fallen opponents, then shot a wary glance back at the Tokiwadai pair following at a leisurely pace.
Rumor had it that Tokiwadai's Natsume Sonoko was a terrifying figure with a vicious streak for revenge, and she even had the alleged feat of defeating the #1 Level 5. But this was a competition.
Within the bounds of the rules, defeating an esper wasn't impossible.
Before they could even attempt to target the Tokiwadai team, they realized the two who had just fallen were already back in the race.
Meanwhile, the ground beneath their feet became difficult to traverse; their sneakers were now stuck fast to the pavement by some unseen force, their movement grinding to a halt.
"How fortunate their target wasn't us," Hanazono-san let out a sigh of relief after they safely navigated the corner.
She wasn't exactly worried about a confrontation, but she did fear being targeted by everyone from the start. It seemed Natsume-san's reputation carried some weight.
The girl beside her with the bun-hair, however, was clearly starting to enjoy herself. A faint blush of excitement coloured her cheeks, and she seemed to be getting into the spirit of things.
Truly, causing a bit of sanctioned chaos was different. Aside from being a bit tiring and hectic, the Daihasei Festival was actually pretty fun.
On the high-definition feed from a flying camera, the pale arm of a certain 'filtered' girl lifted slightly, her hands curled into claws, radiating a distinctly aggressive intent.
Simultaneously, a girl from Suzuki Middle School three meters away faltered, her glasses lenses suddenly frosting over with a thick layer of ice, obscuring her view of the path ahead.
The sudden change threw the bespectacled girl into a panic. Following two sharp yelps, she and her partner tripped, tumbling together onto a soft, cushiony patch of air.
"Ouch? Wait... that's soft."
The pain never came. Confused, the Suzuki Middle School girl clutching her head scrambled up, curiously poking at the cushion of air that had broken their fall.
She then discovered the band binding their ankles had come loose during the commotion, disqualifying them. Her face fell as she accepted their elimination.
"Hmph. A splendid exit for you both," the passing bun-girl murmured under her breath, her expression one of clear satisfaction.
Hanazono-san beside her widened her eyes oddly, as if realizing for the first time that her partner might have a chuunibyou streak.
Though, given her age and her fondness for manga, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
"Hanazono-san, let's take care of Kibou Gakuen next in one go!"
Fully immersed now, Natsume-san was embracing her love for stirring up excitement, blinking as she scanned for their next target.
Not long after the three-legged race began, three teams had already been disqualified.
Even the high school pair from Kibou Academy had been eliminated, thanks in no small part to Natsume-san's efforts.
However, as the number of participants dwindled, the clashes between various abilities intensified, and the team featuring Natsume-san found themselves under increasing scrutiny.
The presence of a Level 5 was undeniable. Even without prior discussion, the remaining teams instinctively turned their attention towards Tokiwadai Middle School.
One, two, one. Left, right, left. She mentally chanted the stepping sequence.
Finally, two breathless girls emerged from the last corner before the finish line.
Not far behind them, two other teams were in hot pursuit, their gym uniforms looking disheveled, a clear sign the competition between them had reached a fever pitch.
"Was that too much? Won't we get penalized?" Hanazono-san asked, worriedly controlling her pace to ensure her less-athletic partner didn't fall behind.
Seeing the other two teams pull ahead by over ten meters, the bun-girl decided to play her trump card. She conjured a powerful gale—strong enough to qualify as a Force 8 wind—right on the track, allowing them to narrowly overtake all their opponents.
"It's fine. Interference is allowed in the three-legged race," Natsume Sonoko declared with an air of righteousness.
"Besides, I controlled the range and intensity perfectly. Anyone weighing over forty kilograms wouldn't be blown away, and two people together must be at least eighty."
She nodded firmly. She'd studied the rules thoroughly and had even casually gathered some data on their opponents' weights.
Not only would it not harm anyone, but the wind was also tightly confined to the track, ensuring the surrounding spectators remained unaffected.
Truthfully, no matter the restrictions, making an esper like Natsume-san lose in such an event was a pretty difficult task.
"Watch out! Mind your footing!" Hanazono-san's voice called out.
Her usually placid eyes flickered with understanding as Natsume-san quickly grasped her partner's meaning.
She barely managed to manipulate the surrounding air, causing a thick wall of ice to erupt beneath their feet, instantly breaking the suction force trying to bind them.
But before they could regain their balance, another wave of attacks assailed them.
The ice underfoot suddenly collapsed, its water molecules agitated into a liquid state. This liquid immediately surged upwards, attempting to coil around their ankles—likely the work of a hydrokinetic.
However, this barely hindered Natsume Sonoko and her partner. With a mere thought, she dispersed the gathering water, stepping onto a cushion of air and darting to a safer spot.
The path ahead became smoother after that. Once they created distance from the other ability users, the threats diminished sharply. Natsume-san's competitors evidently lacked the necessary firepower.
"Natsume-san, we've won!"
"We finally finished!"
Though their words differed, the meaning was the same.
Breaking through the red finish line tape a full thirty meters ahead of the second-place team, the Tokiwadai representatives had secured a crushing victory.
A swarm of flying cameras immediately converged above Natsume Sonoko and her partner.
Just as expected, a series of close-up shots focusing on their faces—now digitally blurred like mosaic tiles—appeared on the feeds, creating a rather bizarre spectacle.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.