Chapter 19: Arrangements Underway, and the People Training!
Time quickly moved to the next day.
After the Sports Festival opening ceremony concluded, the atmosphere of the entire school grade shifted. Students stretching their wrists and ankles could be seen everywhere in the hallways. The tracks on the playground were divided into different testing zones, and PE teachers bustled about clutching scoreboards.
For Class 1-A, today's PE class was no ordinary lesson—it was a physical fitness test.
"The Sports Festival has many events, but fundamentally, they all rely on physical fitness," the PE teacher stood at the front of the line, holding a stack of forms. "So today, we'll first measure several basic metrics: the 50-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and grip strength. Other items will be scheduled later. This is the most I can do for you."
Hachiman stood in the boys' line, not wearing his black thin-rimmed glasses today. He had tucked them into his pocket. Yesterday, Ichinose said they "suit you quite well," and Chabashira-sensei said they "suit you quite well," but he himself still wasn't used to them. After putting on the glasses, he always felt like the eyes behind the lenses weren't his own. They were too spirited, too reliable—too much like the kind of person he wanted to avoid being.
"Hikigaya-kun," Kanzaki Ryuji stood next to him, writing something in a notebook. "That pair of glasses you wore yesterday—why aren't you wearing them today?"
Hachiman glanced at him. "Not used to it."
Kanzaki nodded and didn't press further. He looked down and continued writing. Hachiman caught a glimpse and saw rows of meticulously recorded data—reference times for the 50-meter dash, stamina distribution for the 200-meter, and average grip strength values. Kanzaki was serious about everything he did. Even for a fitness test, he had to prepare in advance. Hachiman felt that as long as Kanzaki didn't fear Ayanokouji like he did in the original story, he could indeed be groomed in the direction of someone like Katsuragi.
"First group, 50-meter dash: Shibata, Kanzaki, Hikigaya, Hamaguchi, Beppu." The PE teacher quickly read out the names.
The five men walked to the starting line.
Shibata Souta stood on the innermost lane, rotating his ankles with an expression of relaxed, confident ease. Kanzaki Ryuji stood beside him, his expression steady. Hachiman stood in the third lane. Tetsuya Hamaguchi and Ryota Beppu were on the outermost lanes, both looking somewhat tense.
"Ready—Go!"
The moment the starting signal sounded, Shibata shot out like an arrow. His stride frequency was high, every step hitting the rhythm perfectly, arms swinging powerfully; he looked fluid
and natural. Kanzaki followed closely, his speed not much slower, but his posture was more reserved, as if he were controlling something. Hachiman was in third place, his pace stable—neither fast nor slow.
The finish line was 50 meters away, a single white stripe standing out sharply against the red track.
Shibata crossed first. Kanzaki second. Hachiman third. Hamaguchi and Beppu arrived almost simultaneously, half a step behind.
"Not bad," Shibata turned around and looked at Hachiman with a hint of surprise. "Hikigaya-kun, you're actually pretty fast."
Hachiman took a breath, resting his hands on his knees. "I'm alright."
Kanzaki walked over and stood beside him. "Hikigaya-kun, I think your speed can still be improved. You can run faster."
Hachiman looked up at him.
Kanzaki continued, "I observed you. Your problem isn't poor fitness, it's more like—you haven't had serious training. The timing of your start, the control of your stride, your breathing rhythm—there's a lot of room for improvement. But the foundation is there."
Hachiman straightened up, removing his hands from his knees. "I used to slack off a bit. But when it comes to sports, I'm actually not that weak. So there's no need for you to worry, Kanzaki." Sensing that was a bit too brief, Hachiman added, "After all, I'm a man who can play baseball alone."
The playground went silent for a moment.
Kanzaki was stunned.
Then...
"Playing baseball... alone?"
Hachiman nodded. "Pitching, batting, running the bases—I can do it all by myself."
Kanzaki stared at him for two seconds, a subtle expression appearing on his steady face. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but eventually just sighed softly.
"Hikigaya-kun, you really are difficult to understand sometimes."
Hachiman didn't reply.
He knew, of course, that playing baseball alone sounded weird.
Back at Sobu High, he had said the same thing to Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. At the time, Yukinoshita's reaction was cold as usual, while Yuigahama tilted her head, thought for a long
time, and then said, "Hikki, that's amazing." Thinking back, those conversations were long gone, and not everyone could accept him the way they did.
Hachiman thought to himself.
"Next group, grip strength test!" the PE teacher's voice came from a distance.
The boys moved to the grip strength testing area.
Hachiman saw a dynamometer sitting on a table. Shibata was the first to step forward. He gripped the handle, took a deep breath, and squeezed hard. The numbers flickered and stopped at a staggering figure.
"75.3 kg," the teacher called out the number and made a note on the scoreboard.
Shibata released the handle and shook his hand, a satisfied smile on his face. "Not bad. I practiced a bit last night, so I improved a little."
Hachiman stood nearby, watching the number without much internal fluctuation. 75.3 kg was indeed a very good score for a high schooler. But he knew that in this school, there were even more terrifying existences.
"Hikigaya-kun, it's your turn."
Hachiman stepped forward and gripped the handle. The metal felt cold and hard. He adjusted his grip, took a deep breath, and squeezed. The numbers jumped and settled at 55.2 kg.
"55.2 kg," the teacher called out.
Hachiman let go and shook his hand. This score wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either; it was above average for boys. He wasn't a power-type person to begin with, so this number was within his expectations.
Kanzaki stepped up, gripped the handle, and squeezed. The number jumped to 68.7 kg.
"68.7 kg," the teacher nodded.
Shibata stood nearby, looking at Kanzaki's number and then Hachiman's. Suddenly remembering something, he lowered his voice. "By the way, I saw the Class D students testing their grip strength last night."
Hachiman and Kanzaki looked at him simultaneously.
"Koenji from Class D," Shibata's voice dropped even lower. "His grip strength was 82.4 kg."
Hachiman's eyebrow twitched slightly. 82.4 kg. That number, for a high schooler, was already at a monster level.
However, since the monster in question was Koenji, there was no need for surprise.
Because Koenji was the only true "natural genius" in the original work—physicality, academics, observation—every category was monster-tier. 82.4 kg might not even be his full strength.
"And Ayanokouji," Shibata continued with a hint of complex emotion. "His grip strength was 60.6 kg."
Hachiman and Kanzaki exchanged a look.
60.6 kg.
This number was above average for boys—not prominent, but not bad. But when applied to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, this number was clearly abnormal.
"He's holding back," Kanzaki said quickly.
Hachiman nodded. "Definitely."
Shibata looked at Hachiman, then at Kanzaki, his expression changing from confusion to realization. "Are you saying Ayanokouji intentionally didn't use his strength?"
"It's not that he didn't use strength," Hachiman said. "He didn't use all his strength. 60.6 kg is a number that sits exactly at the 'good but not outstanding' threshold. He did it on purpose."
Shibata's brow furrowed. "Then what is his real grip strength?"
"Probably around the same as Koenji," Kanzaki said. "Or even stronger."
Shibata's mouth opened slightly and then closed. He thought of Koenji's 82.4 kg and the shock of seeing that number jump on the meter. If Ayanokouji was even stronger—didn't that mean over 90 kg? He didn't dare think further.
If that was the case, he might not be the ace who could carry Class A. He would be defeated by Ayanokouji; he might cause Class A to lose points... something like that... he didn't want that.
Meanwhile, Hachiman was thinking about something else. Ayanokouji still wanted to hide his strength. He had clearly exposed quite a bit already, yet he was still hiding. Why?
Or rather, because the timing wasn't right. Because he didn't want everyone to know his true level yet.
But the Sports Festival—a school-wide exam—would be the time he could no longer hide. So, this current "ostrich-style" behavior of hiding his head in the sand...
"He's likely really going to show his strength in the recommended events," Hachiman said softly.
Kanzaki looked at him but didn't press. Shibata scratched his head, not quite understanding the meaning of those words.
On the playground, the fitness tests continued. The girls' 50-meter dash had finished, and they were now doing the grip strength test. Amikura Mako stood before the dynamometer, took a deep breath, and squeezed hard. The numbers jumped and stopped at—a burst of cheers came from the girls' side, but Hachiman couldn't hear the specific number.
As a class representative, he needed to think about counter-strategies. The plan for the large groups was already set. Regarding the intra-grade competitions, he had already spoken with Ichinose; he had arranged for Horikita from Class D to take action. Now, all that was left was to get Ayanokouji to take the bait.
'So, don't let me down, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.'
Thinking this, Hachiman suddenly realized his thought process had a slight problem. He seemed to be drifting toward Sakayanagi Arisu's style, always favoring "match-ups."
It was all Arisu's fault.
It was definitely because he ate with her that he was being influenced by her.
Regardless, he had to be prepared.
"Hikigaya-kun," Kanzaki's voice came from the side.
Hachiman turned.
"Your fitness actually isn't bad," Kanzaki said. "You just haven't had systematic training. If you're willing, I can help you create a training plan."
Hachiman looked at him, remained silent for a second, then nodded. "Okay. Thanks."
Shibata, standing nearby, looked at Hachiman and then Kanzaki before suddenly speaking up. "I want one too! Kanzaki, make one for me too!"
Kanzaki glanced at him. "You don't need one."
"Why?"
"Your fitness is already very good. Practicing more won't yield much improvement."
Shibata opened his mouth to argue, but realized he really had no rebuttal. He scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile. "Alright. Then I'll practice on my own."
In reality, he felt pressured. If Ayanokouji was that powerful, he couldn't afford to be left behind too far. He hoped he could earn points for the class.
'Good luck, Shibata!' Shibata cheered himself on in his heart.
On the other side of the playground, the girls' fitness tests continued.
Ichinose Honami stood by the grip strength meter. As Hachiman's assistant, she was currently handling the recording work. Ichinose wore a serious expression as her pen moved quickly across the paper, recording everyone's scores.
"Amikura-san, grip strength—45.6 kg," Ichinose read out the number and wrote a line in her notebook.
Amikura Mako shook her hand with a smug smile. "Not bad, right? Since I'm in the tennis club, I have a bit of a foundation for grip strength."
Ichinose smiled and looked at the next person. Himeno Yuki stepped forward, gripped the handle, and squeezed. The numbers jumped and stopped—Ichinose glanced at it, wrote the number in her notebook, then looked up at Himeno Yuki.
"Himeno-san, your 50-meter dash was third. That's very good among us girls," Ichinose's tone was gentle, carrying a sense of sincere validation. "Regarding the upcoming recommended events, I have some thoughts I'd like to discuss with you."
Himeno Yuki stood before her. Her short black hair was slightly messy from the wind, and her expression was calm, betraying no emotion. She looked at Ichinose without speaking.
Ichinose opened the notebook and pointed to the list. "There are five recommended events in total—Scavenger Hunt, Four-Way Tug-of-War, Mixed-Gender Three-Legged Race, and the Grade-Wide Mixed 1200m Relay. Among them, the Scavenger Hunt requires high speed and luck. The 1200m Relay needs runners with good endurance. I think you are very suitable."
She paused and drew a circle next to "1200m Relay."
"If you're willing, we can arrange for you to compete. If there's still room, the Mixed Three-Legged Race could also be an option."
Himeno Yuki's gaze fell on the notebook. She paused for two seconds before speaking. "Forget about the Mixed Three-Legged Race."
Her tone was flat, but her rejection was very blunt.
Ichinose wasn't angry. She smiled and wrote a line in the notebook. "Okay. Then the 1200m Relay."
Himeno Yuki watched her. In truth, she had a slight issue with Ichinose.
First of all, Ichinose Honami—this girl never got angry no matter what happened. No matter what others said, she could respond with a smile. That kindness wasn't faked; it seeped from her bones, carrying a type of goodwill that was impossible to refuse.
But Himeno Yuki wasn't used to this kind of goodwill.
She used to be a delinquent. In her old school, she dyed her hair, skipped classes, and was the kind of person no one wanted to approach. After coming to this school, she wanted to change, to start over. But Class A—the class Hikigaya Hachiman had led to the top of the grade—was full of "little angels." Amikura Mako was warm and cheerful, Shibata Souta was bright and generous, and Ichinose Honami was gentle and considerate. Even someone like Kanzaki Ryuji, who looked cold, was actually just bad with words.
She felt like she didn't fit in.
It wasn't that others excluded her; she just didn't know how to respond. She was used to protecting herself with indifference and was accustomed to not trusting anyone. When a group of "little angels" surrounded her, she instinctively wanted to run away.
Ichinose was still writing, her pen making a scratching sound on the paper.
Watching her, Himeno Yuki suddenly remembered something. She thought back to the end of last semester, on the ship, at the stern. She thought about being there with Hachiman at that time. At that time, Hachiman felt she was alone and told her that if she felt frustrated, she could shout it out.
Actually, she had always felt that Hikigaya Hachiman was a different-gender version of herself. He wasn't very good at dealing with enthusiastic classmates, wasn't accustomed to unreserved goodwill, and wasn't great at expressing his emotions. They were the same kind of person.
And now...
Himeno Yuki withdrew her thoughts and looked at Ichinose, who was still seriously recording. A thought suddenly popped into her mind.
"Ichinose-san," she suddenly spoke.
Ichinose looked up at her.
"Actually, I'm not completely against the Mixed Three-Legged Race," Himeno Yuki's tone was intentionally suppressed and flat, but the corner of her mouth quirked up slightly. "However, the partner has to be someone I don't hate. For example—"
She paused and looked into the distance. On the other side of the playground, Hachiman was standing by the grip strength meter, talking to Kanzaki. His short black hair was a bit messy, the cowlick on his forehead was sticking up, and the top button of his shirt was undone.
"—with Hikigaya-kun. What do you think?"
Ichinose's fingers paused slightly.
Her expression didn't change at all, and that gentle smile remained on her lips. But the tip of her pen stopped on the paper for an instant, leaving a tiny ink blot.
"If Hikigaya-kun agrees, I naturally have no objection," Ichinose said quickly and calmly.
But as Himeno Yuki watched her, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Ichinose-san," her tone carried a hint of probing, "You're a bit strange. Don't you ever get angry?"
Ichinose was stunned. "Angry? Why?"
Himeno Yuki stared at her for two seconds. "I just said I wanted to participate in the Mixed Three-Legged Race with Hikigaya-kun. You know, the kind where our legs are tied together, and we have to put our hands on each other to coordinate our movements quickly. That's a very intimate performance."
However, as Ichinose looked at Himeno Yuki, there was no panic or nervousness in those bright eyes—only a calm composure, as if she had already thought about this problem long ago.
"Hikigaya-kun actually has someone he likes," she said. "And that person isn't me."
Himeno Yuki was stunned.
Her mouth opened and closed, then opened again. Various thoughts raced through her mind—Hachiman has someone he likes? It's not Ichinose? Then who is it? She remembered the two people she occasionally saw—Hikigaya-kun and Karuizawa-san from Class D. She had stumbled upon scenes of them dining together.
And the two of them actually had a subtle atmosphere.
But she had assumed it was a working relationship—familiarity between colleagues. They just went to work at the Student Council together and then ate together after work.
But thinking about it now, it didn't seem to be just work.
So, is this person Ichinose mentioned that Hikigaya-kun likes Karuizawa-san?
Wait.
"Wait," Himeno Yuki thought of something, "So Hikigaya-kun is actually already dating Karuizawa from Class D?"
"Don't ask those kinds of questions," Ichinose said, looking down and continuing her work in the notebook. Her pen moved across the paper, making a scratching sound, steady and composed.
Ichinose didn't say whether the person dating Hikigaya-kun was Karuizawa or not.
But...
Himeno Yuki stood there, looking at Ichinose's profile, a wave of bewilderment suddenly surging in her heart. She didn't know who that girl was; it could be Karuizawa, or it might not be. But Ichinose knew. Ichinose knew. And Ichinose was keeping that person's secret.
She withdrew her gaze and looked into the distance. On the other side of the playground, Hachiman was no longer by the grip strength meter.
But...
Himeno Yuki suddenly felt a bit curious.
That girl... who was she?
-
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In Class B's PE class, the atmosphere was much more tense than in Class A.
There were no fitness tests or warm-ups; they went straight into event training.
The western side of the playground was mostly occupied by Class B. Some were practicing relays, some were practicing tug-of-war, and several groups were on the track practicing the three-legged race over and over. The steady Katsuragi Kohei stood on the sidelines holding a scoreboard, his gaze scanning back and forth between the training spots, occasionally looking down to write.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat on a folding chair by the field, her cane leaning beside her. A few strands of her straight silver hair were blown by the wind. She couldn't participate in the events; that had been decided long ago. Due to her physical condition, the school forbade her from any strenuous exercise. So, she just sat there quietly, watching her classmates train with a calm expression and a faint smile on her lips.
But suddenly, she sneezed.
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