Chapter 047: Huh? Me, the Last Leg?
Sakayanagi lifted her teacup, then set it back down. She looked at Kamuro, her lips moving slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, the words remained unsaid. Kamuro noticed her expression, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Do you want to see them?" Kamuro asked.
Sakayanagi turned her head away. "Not interested."
Kamuro looked at her profile. "Then I'll just delete the photos. After all, Hikigaya didn't request me to take a specific number of photos anyway. What he needed was just to participate in the sports festival and then leave behind a memento of it."
Sakayanagi's fingers tightened slightly around her cane. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke, her voice a bit lower than before. "...Since you've already taken them, don't delete them."
Kamuro stared at her, the arc of her smile deepening. "Didn't you say you weren't interested?"
Sakayanagi did not answer. She lifted the cup of black tea, which had already gone half-cold, took a gentle sip, and cast her gaze outside the tent. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tent, casting long, narrow spots of light onto the ground. And as Kamuro looked at her profile, she sighed in her heart.
This person clearly cared to death, yet she absolutely insisted on saying "not interested." She clearly wanted to see him, yet she made all kinds of excuses not to go. She clearly wanted to look at the photos, yet she wouldn't open her mouth until someone else said "delete them." This was exactly why she called her a useless Sakayanagi.
"Sakayanagi," Kamuro spoke up.
"Mm."
"If you really care about him, take the initiative a little."
Sakayanagi's fingers froze on her teacup. She didn't speak, nor did she look at Kamuro. It took several seconds before she slowly opened her mouth. "He is in Class A, and I am in Class B. He is in the student council, while I am nothing. Besides, he is bound to leave sooner or later, so what am I supposed to take the initiative for?"
Kamuro looked at her, falling silent for a second. Kamuro also knew about the matter of Hikigaya being a traverser. And based on her experience reading light novels, traversers were bound to cross back sooner or later, and could return at any moment.
"Furthermore, he already has his girlfriend," Sakayanagi added.
Uh. Mm. Eh. This.
Kamuro looked at her in some bewilderment.
"You sure are well-informed."
The reason Kamuro knew about this was because she frequently stalked Hikigaya.
She had noticed that the way Hikigaya and Karuizawa interacted was a bit unusual, and the time they spent together even seemed to exceed his time with Kushida and Ichinose. Only then did she begin to deduce it. That was why today, she had deliberately asked Hikigaya why his partner for the mixed three-legged race wasn't Karuizawa. But she was merely speculating.
As it turned out, Sakayanagi already knew.
"I have always been very clear about it," Sakayanagi set down her teacup and leaned against the back of her chair. "
Hikigaya-kun and Karuizawa-san are dating. I knew about this matter earlier than most people."
Kamuro didn't say anything. She looked at Sakayanagi's profile; there was no expression on that delicate face, but something was flickering subtly within those eyes.
"However, that is just for the sake of gaining experience," Sakayanagi added. "A guy like Hikigaya has always wanted a rich woman to appear and support him, and Karuizawa obviously cannot satisfy that condition."
Evidently, she did not view Karuizawa as a romantic rival. So to speak, when Hikigaya dates her, it's just to gain experience. After all, if you want a rich woman to provide for you, then you also have to win over a rich woman. That requires experience.
"Are you going to look at the photos or not?" Kamuro changed the subject.
Sakayanagi fell silent for a second. "Yes."
Kamuro handed the camera over. Sakayanagi took the camera and looked down at the screen. The first one was a photo of Hachiman and Himeno Yuki with their legs tied together. The two were standing before the starting line; Hachiman had his head lowered, adjusting the tightness of the cloth strap. Himeno Yuki stood beside him with a serious expression, her gaze fixed on the track ahead.
Sakayanagi looked at it for two seconds before flipping to the next one. The second photo was of Hachiman alone, standing at the edge of the track with both hands in his pockets, his gaze resting in the distance. The sunlight fell over him, rendering his profile exceptionally clear.
Sakayanagi stared at that photo for several seconds, then flipped to the next one. The third, the fourth, the fifth... she looked at every single one very carefully.
"How are the shots?" Kamuro asked.
Sakayanagi handed the camera back to her.
"They're fine."
"Just fine?" Kamuro took the camera back, speaking with some dissatisfaction. "That means they're very good."
Sakayanagi didn't refute her.
Kamuro packed the camera away and leaned against the back of her chair. The tent became quiet for a while. From the distance came the sound of scores being broadcasted over the PA system, mixing intermittently with the cheers from the spectator stands.
"Sakayanagi," Kamuro suddenly spoke up.
"Mm?"
"Have you ever thought about it—if you weren't in Class B, if you weren't the Chairman's daughter, if you were just an ordinary student—what would you do?"
Sakayanagi was silent for a few seconds.
"There are no 'ifs'," Sakayanagi said. "I am in Class B, I am the Chairman's daughter, and I am an ordinary student. None of these identities are things I could choose. But Hikigaya-kun's opinion of me does not depend on them."
Kamuro looked at her and didn't ask further. Even though she felt Sakayanagi was useless, sometimes, she still acknowledged Sakayanagi.
Right at this moment, outside the tent, Katsuragi Kohei walked inside. His bald head gleamed slightly under the sunlight, he held a score sheet in his hand, and the expression on his face wasn't very good. His pace was fast as he walked into the center of the tent and stopped.
"The mixed three-legged race has concluded," Katsuragi's voice wasn't loud, but everyone inside the tent heard it. "The scores are out."
Several Class B students gathered around. Sakayanagi straightened up from her folding chair, and Kamuro also set down her camera. Katsuragi unfolded the score sheet and held it up in front of everyone.
On it were the current total scores for the four classes:
First-Year Class A (Hachiman's Class): 844 points
First-Year Class B (Katsuragi's Class): 778 points
First-Year Class C (Ryuen's Class): 701 points
First-Year Class D (Horikita's Class): 560 points
The tent fell silent for a brief moment.
"The gap hasn't widened completely," Katsuragi's voice was very steady. "Class A is leading us by 66 points, and we are leading Class C by 77 points. Class D is at the bottom, but they are only 141 points away from Class C."
Sakayanagi looked at those rows of numbers and did a quick calculation in her head.
After the mixed three-legged race, only the final event remained—the all-school-year 1200-meter relay. Moreover, the points for this event were triple that of other events: 150 points for first place, 90 points for second place, 60 points for third place, and 30 points for fourth place. And a gap of 150 points was enough to overturn the rankings of all four classes.
If Class B took first place, they could overtake Class A. If Class C took first place, they could overtake Class B. If Class D took first place—Sakayanagi's gaze fell upon the line that read "560 points."
If Class D could secure 150 points, their total score would be 710 points, surpassing Class C and closing in on Class B.
Though they wouldn't take first place, they could at least escape the fate of being at the very bottom. After all, the results regarding punishments and rewards were very obvious.
The winning side of the Red and White face-off would receive 200 class points, and the losers would have 200 class points deducted—that went without saying.
However.
There were also rankings within the school year itself. The class with the highest total score would gain 200 class points. The class in second place would gain 0 points. The class in third place would have 100 points deducted. The class in fourth place would have 200 points deducted. Therefore, this was an occasion where one could score more points by going up a rank or minimize point deductions. Naturally, it was extremely critical.
Sure enough. "The 1200-meter relay," Katsuragi's voice continued to ring out, "is the true key that will decide victory or defeat."
Several Class B students huddled together, discussing in low voices. Some were nervous, some were excited, and others had already begun calculating how many seconds they could run in the relay.
Sakayanagi leaned back against her chair again, her fingers gently tapping the handle of her cane. Her gaze drifted outside the tent, falling onto those students who were currently warming up on the playground. But she wasn't actually watching them; she was thinking about one thing.
She had seen Hachiman Hikigaya's physical data. In the physical fitness report she had obtained, his 50-meter dash was 7.2 seconds, his 200-meter dash was 26.8 seconds, and his grip strength was just over 50. Every single metric was upper-middle—not bad, but not particularly outstanding either. Yet in Class A, there were at least five people who were faster
than him. Shibata Souta, Kanzaki Ryuji, Watanabe Norihito, Beppu Ryota, Hamaguchi Tetsuya—all of these people possessed physical abilities superior to his.
And for the 1200-meter relay, each class put forward six students—three boys and three girls, with each person running 200 meters. Furthermore, there were no requirements for the running order. Thus, the sequence could be arranged arbitrarily as they pleased. And Sakayanagi knew this very well because of Class B's participation sheet.
If it were before, she would have suggested placing the physically strongest Kito-kun on the final leg. After all, this was the most popular and highly anticipated stage, so it was likely that the other classes would also place their strongest students on the final leg.
Then what kind of arrangement would Class A make? First of all, Sakayanagi was basically certain that Hachiman would not participate on the track. Based on her understanding of him, he would place the right people in the right positions, rather than going out to steal the spotlight himself.
"What's wrong?" Kamuro noticed her expression and turned her head to ask.
"Nothing." Sakayanagi retracted her gaze. "Just thinking about who Class A's final leg will be."
Kamuro looked at her, remaining silent for a second. "It won't be Hikigaya."
Sakayanagi glanced at her. "You know too?"
"Of course, his physical abilities aren't fast enough," Kamuro's reply was very blunt. "There are several people in Class A faster than him. There's no need for him to go on the field. He isn't the type of person who would disregard the class just to show off himself."
Oh. Is that so. So to speak, your evaluation of him is indeed quite high.
The corners of Sakayanagi's mouth curved up slightly.
Kamuro was right. However, considering Class A's situation. Sakayanagi looked toward Shiraishi-kun in the corner. Mm. Then, she also took into consideration Ayanokouji from Class D.
"I think Hikigaya-kun might arrange for a girl to be placed on the final leg."
Eh? Kamuro was somewhat surprised. At the same time, Kamuro's brow furrowed. "A girl? Why?"
And Sakayanagi suddenly explained. "Because Class D's final leg will definitely be Ayanokouji," Sakayanagi's tone was very calm. "Judging from Class D's score, Ayanokouji didn't perform well today. He only took third place in the scavenger hunt, and he didn't participate in the mixed three-legged race at all. The only chance he has left to turn the tables now is the 1200-meter relay. He will definitely run the final leg, and he will run it with everything he's got. After all, if he doesn't perform or display himself at this time, then not a single shred of his strength will be made visible."
Kamuro thought about it and nodded. "So?"
"So for Class A's final leg, if a boy is arranged, he will go directly up against Ayanokouji," Sakayanagi looked at Kamuro. "Among the boys of Class A, whose physical ability do you think can outrun Ayanokouji?"
Kamuro fell silent for a second. She had witnessed Ayanokouji's explosive power at the start of the scavenger hunt. That kind of speed—let alone Class A—probably couldn't find a second match in the entire first-year group.
"No one," Kamuro said honestly.
"Exactly," the corners of Sakayanagi's mouth curved up slightly. "Therefore, Hikigaya-kun won't arrange for a boy to go and seek his own doom. He will arrange a girl."
Kamuro's brow furrowed even tighter.
"Can a girl outrun Ayanokouji? Naturally, it's impossible. Girls are slower than boys; that is a physiological gap. No matter how fast Ayanokouji runs, it makes no difference to a girl—they're slower than him anyway. But if a boy runs the final leg, if the opponent is too fast, he will be affected. His mindset will collapse, and his rhythm will fall into disarray," Sakayanagi continued to explain.
"So you are considering the psychological aspect," Kamuro began to understand somewhat.
"More than that," Sakayanagi's fingers tapped gently on her cane. "Ayanokouji is trying so hard to display himself, wanting to salvage his reputation at the final moment. If he runs the final leg only to find that his opponents are all girls—what do you think will happen to him?"
Kamuro stared at her for two seconds. "...Your wicked hobby is acting up again."
Sakayanagi did not deny it. Her lips carried a trace of a mischievous smile. "I'm just thinking, when a person most desires to prove himself, only to find that his opponents don't need to prove anything at all. That kind of psychological drop is far more agonizing than losing to a strong person," Sakayanagi said.
"His father screwed over my father like that, so it shouldn't be too much for me to disgust him just a little bit," Sakayanagi added.
Mm. That was indeed true. Kamuro still remembered the secrets she had overheard. And Kamuro looked at her, falling silent for a few seconds. She didn't really want to admit that Sakayanagi's words made sense, but she truly couldn't find a reason to refute them.
"Then what about Class B?" Kamuro changed the subject. "What should we do about our class's final leg? Everything you've talked about concerns Class A, but we are people of Class B."
"Go and speak with Katsuragi-kun," Sakayanagi said. "Convey my thoughts just now to him. Have him place Kito-kun on the first leg, and move you to the final leg."
Kamuro froze for a moment. "Me? The last leg?"
"Mm," Sakayanagi looked at her. "You are the fastest runner among the girls in our class. If you run the final leg, though you will be weaker than the boys, you are a girl. Ayanokouji won't treat you as a rival. Furthermore, for you, the speed of other boys is basically faster than yours anyway, so there won't be much of a psychological gap inside your heart."
Kamuro opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she merely sighed. Because she could not deny that Sakayanagi's words actually made an awful lot of sense.
"Are you sure you aren't playing a prank on me?" Kamuro asked.
Sakayanagi laughed softly. "I am merely making the arrangement that is most advantageous to Class B."
Kamuro stared at her for two seconds, then stood up.
"Fine. I'll go look for Katsuragi." Thus, she walked over to Katsuragi, whose mood wasn't very good.
Katsuragi noticed Kamuro and immediately looked over. He knew that, in many instances, it was Sakayanagi who had ideas. Sure enough.
"Regarding the selection for the final leg," Kamuro said, "Sakayanagi suggests moving Kito-kun to the first leg, and moving me to the final leg."
Katsuragi's brow furrowed even tighter. "Why?"
Kamuro relayed Sakayanagi's analysis exactly as it was.
The final leg of Class D was Ayanokouji, who was extremely fast. Class A wouldn't arrange for a boy to go and seek his own doom, so there was a high probability they would arrange a girl. If Class B arranged a boy to run the final leg against Ayanokouji, his mindset would be affected. It would be better to arrange a girl to run the final leg to evade direct psychological pressure. Kito-kun possessed the fastest speed, so placing him on the first leg could secure a strong opening.
Katsuragi fell silent for a long time. He did not refuse. After all, he was a cautious and steady person, and he indeed knew that Ayanokouji's speed was terrifyingly fast.
"I understand," Katsuragi said. "I'll go ask Kito." He turned around and walked into the tent. Hayato Kitou was sitting on a folding chair in the corner, his tall physique resembling a wall. His head was lowered as he held a water bottle, not saying a word.
"Kito," Katsuragi walked over. "For the 1200-meter relay, if you were the final leg, could you outrun Ayanokouji?"
Kitou raised his head and glanced at him. There was no expression on that fierce face, but his reply was very direct. "Can't outrun him. I saw it during the scavenger hunt; his speed is faster than mine."
Katsuragi was silent for a second. "Understood." He turned around and walked back in front of Kamuro.
"Change your name to the final leg. Kito will be the first leg," Katsuragi's voice was very steady. "Go to the registration desk in a moment to alter the sequence."
Kamuro nodded. She turned around and walked toward the registration desk. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped.
"Katsuragi-kun."
"Mm?"
"If I lose the race, don't blame me."
Katsuragi looked at her, remained silent for a second, and then said, "Just do your best. The class belongs to all of us; doing your best is enough."
Kamuro retracted her gaze and continued to walk forward. Her pace was a bit slower than when she came—not out of hesitation, but because she was thinking about things.
She recalled those words Sakayanagi had just said—"Ayanokouji is trying so hard to display himself, only to find that his opponents are all girls, what do you think will happen to him?"
She didn't know what would happen to Ayanokouji, but she knew what she was feeling right now.
Pressure. It didn't come from Ayanokouji; it came from herself. She was the final leg of Class B. If she ran well, Class B would have a chance to overtake Class A. If she ran poorly, Class B might not even be able to secure second place.
No. How did all the pressure actually end up on her!
Kamuro took a deep breath and quickened her pace. The registration desk was right on the other side of the playground. She walked over and handed over her number plate. "Change the sequence," Kamuro said. "Sixth leg, Masumi Kamuro."
The staff member looked down, made a few marks on the form. "All set," the staff member said.
Kamuro packed away her number plate and turned around to walk back to the track. In the center of the playground, the starting line for the 1200-meter relay had already been drawn. On the red track, the white lines were exceptionally conspicuous under the sunlight. However, there were already runners warming up at their respective starting positions; some were jogging, some were stretching, and others were talking in low voices.
Kamuro looked toward the position of the final leg up ahead, and she spotted a girl from Class B. And that girl, of course, she knew. It was the girl who had taken photos while doing the mixed three-legged race together with Hikigaya earlier. Himeno Yuki.
Which meant. Sakayanagi had guessed right. Hikigaya had indeed arranged for a girl to be on the final leg.
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