The next day, the second homeroom period was relocated from the classroom to the main gymnasium, a massive structure echoing with the chatter of hundreds of students. The faint scent of polish and sweat hung in the air as first-, second-, and third-years gathered according to the two newly announced teams — Red and White.
The sound of shoes scraping against the polished wooden floor, the clattering of benches being dragged into place — it all built an atmosphere of tension and curiosity.
Class D filed in together, with Suzune Horikita leading, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji quietly following behind, and Soshi Miyamoto walking at the edge, his expression unreadable.
Sudō was grinning ear to ear. "Man, this is gonna be great! I'm fired up already!"
Ike yawned. "Yeah, yeah… I'll cheer from the back."
Horikita shot him a look sharp enough to silence him.
"Try to remember, Ike, that every class point we lose brings us closer to expulsion," she said.
He froze. "Y-yeah, right, totally, got it!"
Kiyotaka glanced toward the far end of the gym where the Red Team was assembling. Banners had been hastily taped up to mark sides — Red Team to the left, White Team to the right.
On the Red side stood Class A and Class D; on the White side, Class B and Class C.
Even without hearing a word, the tension between them was palpable.
At the center of the Red Team's gathering area stood a tall, broad-shouldered third-year. His presence alone seemed to command silence.
Fujimaki, a third-year from Class A — his reputation was well known even among the first-years. A veteran of multiple special exams, rumored to have once gone toe-to-toe with Nagumo himself.
He stepped forward, his voice carrying over the murmuring crowd.
"I'll be taking charge of the Red Team," Fujimaki declared, tone firm but not arrogant. "That means I'll oversee coordination between Class A and Class D across all years."
Whispers broke out immediately among the younger students.
Fujimaki raised a hand, silencing them easily. "Listen up. The Sports Festival isn't about showing off. It's about earning points, preserving your class's position, and avoiding penalties. For the first-years here — especially Class D — remember this: enthusiasm is fine, but recklessness will destroy you."
He swept his gaze over the first-years. His eyes lingered briefly on Suzune and then on Soshi.
"Train hard, but think harder," Fujimaki finished, voice echoing through the gym. "That's all."
The brief speech earned a round of applause from the upperclassmen.
Sudō muttered, "Whoa, that guy's intense…"
Horikita folded her arms. "At least we have a competent leader."
Kiyotaka's gaze flicked toward Fujimaki's face, analyzing. There was something about the way he carried authority — clean, structured, but with a hint of exhaustion. A man who'd seen too much of this system.
Once Fujimaki's announcement ended, he gestured for the first-, second-, and third-years to separate into smaller groups to discuss intra-year strategy.
The gym quickly divided into clusters.
Kōhei Katsuragi and Honami Ichinose took positions as de facto representatives of their respective classes, already discussing the White Team's potential formations.
Meanwhile, for the Red Team, Katsuragi turned toward Horikita and Hirata, offering a nod.
"I'll be coordinating on Class A's end for now," Katsuragi said. "Let's cooperate to secure Red Team's victory."
Hirata smiled warmly. "Of course. Working together will definitely strengthen both classes."
Horikita nodded curtly. "Understood."
But on the opposite side, a completely different atmosphere brewed.
Kakeru Ryūen, arms crossed, smirked as Honami Ichinose approached him.
"Ryūen-kun, if we work together as White Team, we can—"
"I'm not interested," Ryūen cut in, his tone dripping with disdain. "Class C doesn't need anyone's help. Especially not yours, Ichinose."
Gasps rippled through the nearby crowd.
Ichinose blinked but quickly composed herself. "Ryūen-kun, this isn't about pride. If we don't cooperate—"
"Then you'll lose," Ryūen said, smirking wider. "Good luck."
He turned his back, leading Class C away.
Ichinose sighed softly, her usual smile dimming.
From the Red side, Katsuragi watched, shaking his head. "He hasn't changed. Still driven by ego and chaos."
He turned to Horikita, his tone lowering. "Be careful not to underestimate Ryūen. He doesn't act without a reason. When he isolates himself, he's planning something."
Horikita's eyes hardened. "I understand. Thank you for the warning."
Nearby, Kiyotaka's expression remained unreadable — but his mind noted every nuance. Ryūen won't cooperate… which means he's already preparing an independent plan.
A murmur spread as everyone noticed a girl sitting calmly in a chair at the far side of the Red Team group — a white-haired girl with a cane resting beside her.
Arisu Sakayanagi, Class A's leader.
Despite her frail appearance, her presence filled the space like perfume — soft yet inescapable.
"Everyone," Sakayanagi began, her voice delicate but confident, "I must apologize in advance. Due to my condition, I won't be able to participate in the festival physically. Please don't let my lack of contribution burden your morale."
Some students from Class A quickly reassured her. "No, Sakayanagi-san! It's fine! You've done enough already."
She smiled faintly, eyes curving in quiet amusement. "Thank you. I'll simply watch from the sidelines and cheer for you all."
But Kiyotaka, observing from a distance, saw more than kindness behind her smile.
So the factions remain split even now, he thought. Katsuragi leads coordination, but Sakayanagi's influence grows quietly. Even from a chair, she controls hearts.
Her gaze, as if sensing his thoughts, flicked briefly toward him. Their eyes met — and she smiled knowingly.
Kiyotaka looked away first.
In another corner of the gym, I gathered my small group: Teruhiko Yukimura, Haruka Hasebe, Akito Miyake, Mei Yu Wang, Kyosuke Okitani, Wataru Ijuin, Airi Sakura, and An Maezono.
They formed a loose circle, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
I clapped my hands once. "Alright, everyone. Listen up."
The chatter died.
"I'm not gonna sugarcoat it — we've trained since the start of term, sure. Our stamina's better, our teamwork's tighter. But this doesn't mean we'll win every event. The other classes have athletes who've been preparing since before we got here."
Airi looked up, worried. "So… you mean we're still behind?"
I smiled gently. "Not behind. Just realistic. Winning isn't everything — trying your best and learning from it is part of this too. We'll aim to be smart, not reckless."
Akito nodded. "Makes sense. Overconfidence can ruin us."
Haruka smirked. "You sound like a coach now, Soshi."
I chuckled. "Maybe. But seriously — don't panic about points. Focus on your task. Whether it's tug of war or the relay, I just want everyone to give it their best shot."
The group nodded, visibly more relaxed.
In that moment, Soshi wasn't just a classmate — he was a stabilizing force.
Even Kiyotaka, from afar, noticed the subtle cohesion around Soshi's circle. He may not lead openly, but he keeps morale balanced, Kiyotaka thought. Useful in a chaotic exam like this.
By the end of the assembly, each team had begun forming their tentative agreements.
Class A and Class D of the Red Team eventually came to an understanding: cooperate without interfering. Neither side would sabotage the other, but neither would share full strategies either.
Katsuragi summarized it succinctly: "We'll support in broad terms but act independently when necessary."
Horikita agreed. "That's acceptable."
Fujimaki nodded in approval. "Good. At least one side understands unity."
As the Red Team disbanded, the White Team's chaos continued — Ichinose trying to rally morale while Ryūen's class left early, smirking.
The stage was set: cooperation on one side, chaos on the other.
As the students began leaving the gym, Kiyotaka walked beside Horikita.
"This sports festival feels different from our previous exams," she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Kiyotaka glanced at her. "Because this time, it's public. Everyone can see your performance. Physical ability, teamwork, even your willpower — all exposed."
Horikita nodded slowly. "It's more personal, in a sense."
"Exactly," he replied. "Failures here can't hide behind test scores."
She frowned. "And yet, it'll still come down to strategy. I can feel it."
Kiyotaka's lips curved faintly. "You're learning."
Horikita looked at him, suspicious. "Was that a compliment?"
"An observation."
Later that afternoon, after classes ended, the campus quieted under the golden hue of sunset. Most students had gone to the track to begin their training, while others returned to the dorms.
Kiyotaka, however, lingered alone in the classroom.
He took out his phone and played a short audio file — a recording of a muffled conversation. The voice was faint but distinct. A student talking about substitutions during the festival… and an exchange of Private Points.
Kiyotaka's expression didn't change. He closed the file. "So that's their angle," he murmured.
As he stood and began to leave, the door slid open.
Sae Chabashira was standing there, arms crossed.
"Still here, Ayanokōji?" she asked dryly.
"I was reviewing some notes," he replied.
She tilted her head slightly. "You never stop preparing, do you?"
"Preparation is survival," he said simply.
Chabashira stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Listen carefully. The Sports Festival will decide not just class points — it'll decide how the school views you. You've been hiding in the shadows long enough. It's time to produce results."
Kiyotaka met her gaze evenly. "And if I don't?"
"Then I stop protecting you."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Finally, Kiyotaka gave a small, calm nod. "Understood."
He walked past her, his footsteps echoing down the empty hall.
Behind him, Chabashira exhaled quietly — frustration and admiration mixed.
"Honestly," she murmured, "you're just like your father…"
Outside, the evening air was cool, the sky painted with streaks of violet and gold.
From the dorm balcony, a group of students running laps around the field — Sudō at the front, shouting encouragements..
Far across the field, Kiyotaka walked silently back to his dorm — mind already mapping out probabilities, betrayals, and outcomes.