The cicadas outside droned relentlessly, marking the end of summer vacation. Inside Pallet Café, the air-conditioning was a blessing. Four students sat around a table:
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, who stirred his iced coffee without expression.
Suzune Horikita, sitting upright, scanning the menu even though she'd already ordered.
Yōsuke Hirata, smiling faintly, trying to keep the mood light.
Kei Karuizawa, sipping her soda with one hand propping up her cheek, eyes flicking toward Kiyotaka when she thought no one noticed.
They had agreed to meet here, away from the noise of the dorms, to decompress after the summer exams.
Hirata was the first to speak. "The zodiac special exam… Honestly, I'm still processing it. We did better than expected, but Ryūen's class gained a lot too."
Karuizawa twirled her straw. "Tch. That Ryūen guy is so annoying. Acting like he owns the place."
Suzune's eyes narrowed. "We gained ground. That's what matters. If we stay on track, Class D will rise. The problem is cohesion. Too many are still thinking as individuals, not as a class."
Hirata nodded. "That's exactly what I wanted to bring up. If we're going to keep competing against A, B, and C, we need unity. We can't have people holding grudges or acting selfishly."
His words carried weight — Hirata had been the "class leader" in name, even if Kiyotaka pulled strings behind the scenes.
Kiyotaka listened quietly. Unity was valuable, but artificial unity could also crumble. He already knew this conversation was more about easing Hirata's conscience than shaping strategy. Still, he let them talk.
Karuizawa flipped her hair, speaking with unusual boldness. "Well, as long as Hirata-kun and I handle the class mood, it'll be fine. Right?"
Suzune frowned but didn't argue. She knew Karuizawa's influence over the girls had grown since the cruise ship incident.
Kiyotaka set down his glass. "Unity will come naturally. With the right pressure."
They all looked at him — his voice, calm and certain, made it sound like a statement of fact. Karuizawa bit her lip, glancing down at her drink.
That afternoon, Class 1-D gathered in their usual classroom. The buzz of post-vacation chatter filled the air until Sae Chabashira entered. Her gaze swept across them with the usual mix of boredom and sharpness.
"Alright, quiet down."
Her announcement was delivered in that monotone that always managed to deflate the room.
"The first month of the second semester — September — will increase physical education classes. The reason is simple: preparation for the upcoming Sports Festival."
The room erupted instantly.
"Yes! Finally, something I'm good at!" Sudō practically leapt from his chair, fist pumping.
Others groaned. Ike muttered, "Ugh, sports? Seriously? I'm dead."
Chabashira ignored both extremes. She tapped a folder against the desk. "Listen carefully. The Sports Festival is not just some recreational event. It's another special exam, with high stakes. Let me explain."
What followed was a meticulous breakdown of the rules. She spoke, but many students' eyes glazed until the scoring was mentioned.
Rules of the Sports Festival (Chabashira's Explanation)
Team Division Across Years:
Red Team → Class A + Class D.
White Team → Class B + Class C.
Competition Categories:
Universal Participation – every student must compete in these.
Recommended Only Participation – classes select who represents them.
Events Under "Recommended Only":
Scavenger Hunt
Mixed-Gender Three-Legged Race
1200-Meter Relay
Scoring:
Individual Competitions:
1st → 15 pts
2nd → 12 pts
3rd → 10 pts
4th → 8 pts
5th or lower → -1 pt each
Team Competitions:
Winning team → +500 pts
Recommended Only Competitions:
1st → 50 pts
2nd → 30 pts
3rd → 15 pts
4th → 10 pts
Lower → -2 pts each
Relay Race (Final Event): worth 3x points.
Red vs White Outcome:
Losing team → every class in that team loses 100 class points.
Class Placements:
1st place class → +50 CP
2nd → no change
3rd → -50 CP
4th → -100 CP
Individual Rewards:
1st place → 5000 PP or +3 exam marks.
2nd → 3000 PP or +2 marks.
3rd → 1000 PP or +1 mark.
Last place → -1000 PP (or -1 mark if broke).
Best Performer:
Overall → 100,000 PP.
Top 3 in each year → 10,000 PP each.
Penalties:
Bottom 10 in each year → -10 marks on next written exam.
Events List:
Individual:
100m Dash
Hurdles
Capture the Flag (boys)
Tamaire (girls)
Tug of War (gender-divided)
Obstacle Course
Three-Legged Race
Cavalry Battle
200m Dash
Team:
Scavenger Hunt
Four-Way Tug of War
Mixed Three-Legged Race
1200m Relay
Participation Tables:Each class decides within a week who competes in what. Submissions to be given to Chabashira. Substitutions cost 100,000 PP.
When she finished, the classroom erupted again.
"Holy crap, this is intense!" Ike groaned. "We're screwed."
"Shut up, Ike!" Sudō barked. "This is perfect for me! I'll crush everyone!"
He slammed his desk with such force that Karuizawa flinched.
Suzune pinched the bridge of her nose. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
"Embarrass?! I'll take first in everything! Recommended-only? Put me in all of them!" Sudō roared.
Some students actually cheered him on. Others looked skeptical.
Chabashira smirked faintly. "Dream big, Sudō. Just don't forget: failure in this exam punishes the whole class. If you take on too much and crash, you drag everyone with you."
Sudō scowled but puffed his chest anyway.
Kiyotaka observed in silence. Sports Festival… physical tests. A battlefield where talent was more visible than strategy — but strategy could still control outcomes. His gaze flicked briefly to Suzune, who sat rigid, already calculating.
With 20 minutes left, Chabashira excused herself, leaving the students to self-organize.
Immediately, chaos broke out. Groups formed around desks, debating who should run, who should fight, who should avoid embarrassment.
Sudō banged his fist on a desk. "I'm joining every recommended competition, got it? Relay, three-legged, scavenger hunt — everything!"
"Wait, wait, that's insane!" Hirata tried to calm him. "You'll burn out. We need to balance stamina."
"Balance? Screw balance!" Sudō grinned. "I'll win everything myself. That's the fastest way!"
Suzune exhaled sharply. "You'd only destroy our chances. We need distribution."
Karuizawa raised a hesitant hand. "Um… I'm really not good at sports, so can I just… do the bare minimum? I don't wanna drag anyone down…"
A few girls echoed her sentiment.
Hasebe muttered, "This is gonna be a disaster."
Yamauchi whispered loudly, "I just don't wanna be last. -1000 points? That's brutal."
Kiyotaka finally spoke. "Focus on efficiency. Use people where they can shine. Avoid putting weak students where they'll become liabilities."
The class quieted at his calm tone. Even if most of them didn't consciously recognize it, when Kiyotaka spoke, they listened.
Suzune added firmly, "We'll sort participation systematically. Everyone will contribute, but strategically. No exceptions."
Sudō growled but folded his arms, grudgingly accepting.
As voices overlapped, Kiyotaka leaned back in his chair, watching.
The Sports Festival was not just about running or throwing. It was about manipulation, stamina, and foresight. Class A would never play fair. Class C would cheat. Class B would use teamwork.
And Class D?
They still argued like children.
But that was fine.
In the cracks of disorder, he could plant seeds. The festival would be another stage — one where he could measure abilities, steer outcomes, and prepare for whatever Nagumo and the student council president had planned next.
He allowed himself a rare thought, almost amusement:
Perhaps this won't be so boring after all.