Chapter 43: Rejected by Four Girls in a Row; Ayanokouji, You Finally Have This Day!
Hirata handed the phone back to Ike Kanji and stood in the middle of the tent, remaining silent for a long time.
His expression retained its usual gentleness, but his brow was slightly furrowed. He was thinking that now that Sudo had withdrawn from the competition, Class D's score would be even lower.
In other words, they were already at the bottom, and now things had gone from bad to worse.
Meanwhile, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stood at the edge of the tent, hands in his pockets, watching the scene unfold.
His expression didn't change at all, but his mind was calculating rapidly. Sudo's withdrawal was something he had long expected. Being publicly humiliated by Ryuen in the pole-toppling competition, being besieged by Ryuen's men during the cavalry battle, plus Miyake's voice recorder and Sudo's own line of "I wasn't bullied"—Sudo's self-esteem had been completely shattered. He needed time to digest all of this, rather than continuing to stand here like a monkey for people to watch. Therefore, his departure was inevitable.
However, Ayanokouji also realized that while Sudo's withdrawal was bad for Class D, it wasn't necessarily bad for himself. The more desperate Class D became, the greater his value would be. Without Sudo, Class D had lost a physical powerhouse, and the hopes for others to score points in the recommended events were even slimmer. When the time came for him to step forward and sweep all the recommended events alone, taking a massive wave of points by himself—everyone would be grateful to him and think, "Thank goodness Ayanokouji is here."
And that... was his chance for a comeback.
Hirata walked back from the center of the tent and stood before the members of Class D.
"Sudo-kun won't be coming back for the time being," Hirata said, trying his best to maintain stability. "But the sports festival isn't over yet. We still have many events where we can score points. The recommended events—the Scavenger Hunt, the Mixed Two-Legged Race, and the All-Grade 1200m Relay—these are the keys to the afternoon."
But at this moment, no one spoke.
Some nodded, some remained expressionless, and some continued to look down at their phones.
"Regarding the candidates for the recommended events," Hirata's gaze swept over everyone present, "I suggest letting Ayanokouji-kun compete. Everyone saw his strength this morning. Although he didn't give his all in some events, his physical stamina is indeed very good. If he can perform at his true level in the recommended events—"
"Wait a minute." Ike Kanji's voice came from the back of the crowd, carrying clear dissatisfaction. "In the Scavenger Hunt, each class can arrange for four students to compete. If you let Ayanokouji go alone, what about us? I also signed up for the Scavenger Hunt."
Yamauchi Haruki chimed in. "Exactly, I signed up too. If you hog everything yourself, what points are we going to get? If we don't get points, we'll be in the bottom ten of the grade, and we'll get ten points deducted from every subject in every written exam. Do you want us all to get expelled? No way, Hirata, you can't just not protect us!"
Aside from Yamauchi and Ike, several other boys also spoke up. Some complained, some were dissatisfied, and some calculated which events they could still participate in.
Ayanokouji sweeping the recommended events meant fewer opportunities for them to participate. If they didn't get points, they might become one of the bottom ten students in the grade. This was a matter of their own survival; no one was willing to compromise.
"I suggest letting Ayanokouji-kun go twice for the Scavenger Hunt, and let the previously registered students take the remaining two turns," Hirata's voice carried a hint of exhaustion. "As for the Mixed Two-Legged Race, let Ayanokouji take all four opportunities. Because the other classes will definitely arrange elite players for this event; only Ayanokouji-kun's strength can counter them."
Ike Kanji thought about it and didn't argue. The Mixed Two-Legged Race was a team event anyway; he wouldn't get a good ranking on his own, so letting Ayanokouji go was fine.
Furthermore, no girl in the class was willing to pair up with him.
"What about the 1200m relay?" someone asked at that moment.
"Let Ayanokouji-kun run the final leg," Hirata said. "The other legs will follow the original arrangement."
No one opposed it further. It wasn't because everyone agreed, but because no one wanted to continue arguing. After arguing all through the lunch break, everyone was very tired.
Hirata withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath.
"I'll go talk to Sudo-kun," he said. "The rest of you, rest well and prepare for the afternoon matches."
He turned and walked out of the tent. Ayanokouji watched his retreating back, thinking silently—Hirata would not succeed. A person like Sudo has self-esteem higher than the sky; he won't come back easily after being publicly humiliated.
Ayanokouji withdrew his gaze and scanned the tent.
Because he was thinking about one thing—he needed a partner.
The Mixed Two-Legged Race had four slots; he couldn't run them alone; he needed girls to pair up with him. As for the girls of Class D... Ayanokouji's gaze swept over several of them.
Kushida Kikyo was sitting on a folding chair in the corner of the tent, looking at something on her phone. Her expression was calm, and there was even a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. Ayanokouji walked over and stopped in front of her.
"Kushida-san," Ayanokouji spoke.
Kushida looked up at him. In those burgundy eyes, there seemed to be no usual smile, only coldness.
Regarding this, Ayanokouji was aware. Right now, he was the traitor of the whole class, while Kushida was the class's little angel. Although she would treat everyone equally, she was exceptionally cold toward him.
"What is it?" Kushida asked.
"The Mixed Two-Legged Race," Ayanokouji's voice was flat, "are you interested in pairing up with me?"
Kushida stared at him for two seconds, seemingly almost laughing out of anger, but her upbringing made her shake her head.
"I'm sorry, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm not feeling very well; I might not be able to run this afternoon."
As she said this, she even rubbed her calves, her expression carrying a perfectly measured sense of apology.
Ayanokouji's brow twitched slightly. Not feeling well? When Kushida ran the 100m this morning, her condition was excellent.
Clearly, she wasn't unwell; she just didn't want to pair with him.
"I see." Ayanokouji didn't say much more and turned to walk away.
Watching his back, the smile on Kushida's lips vanished instantly. Then, she withdrew her gaze and continued looking at her phone.
Ayanokouji walked a bit further in the tent and arrived at the "gyaru" group's area.
Matsushita Chiaki was sitting on a folding chair, a water bottle in her hand, talking to Sato Maya. Seeing Ayanokouji approach, Matsushita looked up.
"Matsushita-san," Ayanokouji said, "the Mixed Two-Legged Race, are you interested?"
Matsushita was stunned for a moment. She clearly hadn't expected Ayanokouji to come looking for her. She thought about it and then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ayanokouji-kun. My physical strength has already hit rock bottom, and I still have to participate in the 1200m relay this afternoon. I have to save my energy for that."
Ayanokouji looked at her, silent for a second, then added, "The 1200m relay is the final event. The Mixed Two-Legged Race is before it."
"I know," Matsushita smiled—a smile that was polite but very distant—"but I still want to save my strength. After all, the points for the 1200m relay are three times that of other events."
"..." Ayanokouji.
And so, this was another rejection.
Ayanokouji didn't respond further. He turned around, scanned the tent, and his gaze landed on Horikita Suzune.
Horikita was sitting in her spot, flipping through a reference book. She had no intention of participating in the discussion, nor any intention of sparing him a glance. Ayanokouji knew she wouldn't pair with him. Not because she hated him—though she might—but because she wouldn't participate in the Mixed Two-Legged Race at all. Although her physical ability was good, she had never said she wanted to sign up for this event.
Furthermore, if he used the excuse of "for the sake of Class D," she wouldn't agree either, since he had just attacked her.
Thus, Ayanokouji looked away.
He noticed that Koenji Rokusuke had returned to the tent at some point. The man with long blonde hair was sitting in the corner with his legs crossed, holding a small mirror and checking his hairstyle. He didn't look like someone who had just participated in a competition at all; he looked more like he had just stepped out of a beauty salon.
Ayanokouji withdrew his gaze and walked to the other side of the tent.
He saw Wang Mei-Yu standing there with a water bottle, talking to Kushida. She was wearing red sportswear and had her hair in twin tails; she looked small and gentle.
Ayanokouji walked up to her.
"Wang Mei-Yu-san," Ayanokouji said.
Wang Mei-Yu looked up at him. Her eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask "What is it?" but felt that asking that way was a bit impolite.
However, there was an unmistakable hint of fear in her eyes.
After all, Ayanokouji's reputation was completely stinking.
Although everyone didn't target him directly, their evaluation of him had become very poor.
"The Mixed Two-Legged Race," Ayanokouji said, "are you interested in pairing up with me?"
Wang Mei-Yu was stunned. Her cheeks turned slightly red—not from shyness, but from panic. She hadn't expected Ayanokouji to come looking for her, let alone invite her to a pair. She hurriedly shook her head.
"I-I'm not very good physically," her voice was a bit tight, "I'll definitely hold you back. So... I think I'll pass."
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head, not daring to look at Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji looked at her and remained silent for two seconds.
"I see," he said.
He turned around and walked out of the tent.
Outside the tent, the sunlight was bright. The track on the playground was heated to a sizzle, and the red rubber shimmered slightly under the light. There were still some people in the distant stands, but far fewer than in the morning. Ayanokouji stood outside the tent, hands in his pockets, looking into the distance.
But his mind was spinning rapidly.
Kushida rejected him, Matsushita rejected him, Horikita wouldn't participate, and Wang Mei-Yu rejected him. However, there was still one target—Onodera. He remembered the girl who had promised to pair with him before the sports festival started. He turned back into the tent, searching through the crowd. Then he saw Onodera.
She was sitting in the corner of the tent, her left foot wrapped in a white bandage from the ankle to the calf. The bandage was thick and didn't look like it was wrapped casually. Her expression wasn't good; her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she were wearing a "mask of pain."
Ayanokouji walked over and stopped in front of her.
"Onodera-san," he said.
Onodera looked up at him. Her eyes were a bit red; it was unclear if she had cried or hadn't slept well.
"Your foot..." Ayanokouji looked down at the bandage on her foot.
"It's injured," Onodera's voice was somewhat raspy. "I sprained it. I can't participate in any of the afternoon matches. It's a pity, I can't pair with you anymore."
Ayanokouji looked at the bandage on her foot and was silent for a few seconds. A sprain. She was fine this morning, but sprained it at noon. Was it a real sprain, or did she say she sprained it because she didn't want to pair with him?
He didn't know. But he didn't press further.
"I see," Ayanokouji said. "Rest well."
He turned and walked out of the tent.
Ayanokouji stood outside the tent as the sunlight beamed straight down from overhead, casting his shadow on the ground—black and short. He lowered his head, looking at that shadow.
No one was willing to pair with him.
Each class could arrange for four pairs for the Mixed Two-Legged Race, and his stamina was sufficient to participate in all of them.
However.
For these four opportunities to participate, he hadn't found a single partner. It wasn't because his strength was insufficient; it was because his reputation was too foul. The girls were afraid of being associated with him, afraid of others saying, "Look, that girl actually paired up with Ayanokouji," and afraid of being labeled as traitors themselves. He could use points to bribe someone, but points were limited. He could threaten someone, but threats would only make his reputation worse.
At least for now... it wouldn't work.
He stood in place, closed his eyes for a moment, and opened them again.
The sound of footsteps came from behind.
Ayanokouji didn't look back. But he knew who it was.
Blonde hair was exceptionally dazzling in the sunlight, and the white sportswear made the person look like he had stepped off a magazine cover. Koenji Rokusuke walked out of the Class D tent, his pace unhurried. He didn't look at Ayanokouji; he simply walked past him, stopping after a few steps.
"Ayanokouji-boy."
Ayanokouji turned his head.
Koenji turned his head slightly, those burgundy eyes carrying a hint of playful light.
"Standing here all by yourself, who are you waiting for?" Koenji asked.
Ayanokouji looked at him and didn't speak.
He wasn't waiting for anyone. It was just that no one was standing with him.
However, he was indeed waiting for Koenji—the person who had forfeited the 100m, the person who didn't care about anything, and the person Sudo had scolded, saying, "Having strength and not using it is a waste."
Seeing that Koenji had indeed come over, a thought suddenly flashed through Ayanokouji's mind—if Koenji were willing to participate in the Mixed Two-Legged Race, then Class D still had a chance for a comeback in this sports festival. But Koenji wouldn't agree. He was too lazy to even run the 100m, so how could he be willing to participate in the Mixed Two-Legged
Race? That was an event requiring two people to coordinate, an event requiring trust and rapport. Koenji Rokusuke would not trust anyone.
And. Koenji wouldn't be willing to work hard for the sake of Class D.
However. The fact that Koenji appeared here right now already said something.
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