The sounds of the festival still echoed faintly in the distance — the whistle of the referees, the thundering footsteps of competitors sprinting across the track, and the cheers that swelled like waves whenever a class won a race. But for Suzune Horikita, it all felt distant. Muffled.
As she made her way down the shaded corridor toward the infirmary, her thoughts replayed Kiyotaka Ayanokōji's cutting words.
"You're useless right now. If you can't bring Sudō back, then Class D doesn't need you."
They weren't said with malice, yet they stung worse than any insult. He'd spoken with the cold precision of a blade — one that cut through all her defenses.
She hated to admit it, but he was right.
She had spent so much time trying to prove herself to her brother, Manabu Horikita, that she had lost sight of the team before her. While she had been busy trying to play "leader," others had quietly borne the burden she should have carried.
Suzune clenched her fists as she entered the infirmary.
"Horikita-san?" The school nurse looked up from a clipboard. "You were in the girls' three-legged race earlier, correct? You seemed to have taken quite a fall."
Suzune nodded curtly, sitting down on the examination bed. "It's nothing serious. I just need to get back to the field as soon as possible."
The nurse smiled faintly — a smile that told Suzune she'd heard that line far too many times before.
"You've got a mild sprain," she said after examining the leg. "You shouldn't push yourself too hard today. Ice it regularly, and it should recover in a few days."
Suzune barely listened. Her mind was already on Sudō and the chaos Class D was descending into without him.
"Can I still participate if I substitute someone and pay with my own Private Points?" Suzune asked sharply.
The nurse hesitated. "Technically… yes. But you should rest."
"Then that's what I'll do," Suzune said, standing up, determination burning in her eyes.
Just as she exited the infirmary, Kikyou Kushida's cheerful voice called out, "Ah, Horikita-san! There you are!"
Suzune turned, already wary. "What is it?"
"It's about Kinoshita from Class C. She's in the infirmary now… and she's crying."
Suzune frowned. "Crying?"
"She says she was injured badly during your race. I thought you should know," Kushida said, her usual sweet smile tinged with something unreadable.
Suzune's heartbeat quickened. "Let's go."
They entered the infirmary again — and this time, Kinoshita was lying on a bed, tears streaking her cheeks. Chabashira-sensei stood nearby with crossed arms, her expression grim.
"Horikita," she said, beckoning her over. "We need to talk."
Kinoshita whimpered softly, clutching her knee. Suzune recognized the injury immediately — a nasty scrape and swelling consistent with a fall, but… too unnatural.
"Horikita, Kinoshita says you caused her fall intentionally," Chabashira said. "That you looked back multiple times during the race, distracted her, and elbowed her just before the finish."
Suzune's eyes widened. "That's absurd! I only looked back because she kept calling my name!"
"She says she never did," Chabashira replied quietly.
Suzune's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel Kushida's eyes watching her intently, as if savoring the chaos that was about to unfold.
Then, the door opened again.
A familiar, mocking laugh echoed through the infirmary.
"Well, well, what a touching scene we have here."
Ryūen Kakeru strode in, hands in his pockets, his confident smirk never leaving his face.
"Ryūen," Chabashira said warningly. "You're not supposed to be here."
"Just checking up on one of my dear classmates," he said smoothly, brushing her off. His eyes flicked to Suzune. "And to offer a little… clarity."
Suzune's jaw tightened. "You planned this, didn't you?"
Ryūen chuckled. "You flatter me. But tell me, Horikita, who's the one everyone's going to believe — my crying classmate, or you, the so-called 'ice queen' who keeps picking fights with everyone?"
"You injured your own classmate just to frame me?" Suzune demanded.
"'Sacrifice' is such a strong word," he said with mock sympathy. "Let's call it strategy. After all, Kinoshita's injury conveniently ensures we gain points from a substitution — and I get to watch you squirm."
He leaned closer, voice lowering. "But… maybe I'm feeling generous today."
Ryūen's smirk widened into a grin. "Tell you what — you kowtow to me and pay one million Private Points, and I'll make sure this little… misunderstanding disappears before the school hears about it."
Chabashira's eyes flicked toward Suzune, but she said nothing.
Suzune could barely contain her rage. "And if I refuse?"
"Then the school will investigate, and you'll be the one expelled for violent conduct. Oh, and I'm sure your dear brother will love hearing that his little sister brought shame to his name."
Suzune's blood ran cold.
He was right — an accusation like this would draw Manabu Horikita's attention immediately.
Ryūen grinned and gave her a lazy salute. "You've got until the end of the festival to decide. Don't take too long."
Then he left with Kinoshita, who limped beside him, her crocodile tears replaced by a smug smirk once her face was turned away.
The room was silent except for Suzune's steady breathing.
Chabashira finally spoke. "I'll report this incident to the school administration. But whether or not they take it seriously depends on Kinoshita's statement."
Suzune nodded stiffly. "Understood."
As she exited the infirmary again, she clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her palm.
Ryūen had cornered her completely.
The Search for Sudō
She limped down the corridor, ignoring the dull ache in her leg. Focus. She had to find Ken Sudō. Without him, Class D would crumble entirely in the second half of the festival.
"You're useless right now."
Kiyotaka's words echoed again.
"Useless…" she muttered under her breath. "Not anymore."
She moved faster, heading toward the stands and rest areas where students might have gone to cool off. No sign of him.
She turned a corner — and froze.
Standing before her were Manabu Horikita and his ever-present aide, Akane Tachibana.
"Manabu," she said quickly, bowing slightly.
He studied her silently. "You're injured."
"It's a minor sprain," she said. "I'll manage."
He crossed his arms. "Class D is in disarray. Sudō has left, and rumors of an injury incident are already spreading. Do you understand the situation you're in?"
"I do," Suzune replied, meeting his gaze. "And I'll fix it."
Manabu's sharp eyes softened for just a moment. "See that you do."
Then he walked past her without another word. Tachibana followed, but not before giving Suzune a look of faint pity.
Suzune exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his expectations settle heavier on her shoulders than ever before.
By the time she reached the tent where Class D was gathered, the afternoon sun had dipped slightly, casting longer shadows across the field. Most of her classmates looked disheartened, but they brightened slightly when they saw her approach.
However, Sudō was still nowhere in sight.
Instead, Kiyotaka stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"You're back," he said quietly.
She nodded. "He hasn't returned?"
"No."
Suzune hesitated. For a brief moment, she considered telling him about Ryūen's extortion — but she swallowed it down. No. I can handle this myself.
"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?" she asked.
Kiyotaka thought for a moment. "If I were him, I'd go somewhere quiet. Somewhere away from everyone else."
"The dorms?"
He nodded. "That would be my guess."
"Will you come with me?" she asked, surprising even herself with the question.
Kiyotaka's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he shook his head. "No. If you want to fix this, it has to be you. I'd only get in the way."
His words carried no reproach this time — only trust.
Suzune nodded once, determination returning to her eyes. "Understood."
She turned and began walking toward the dorms, each step steady despite her injury.
Behind her, Kiyotaka watched silently, his expression faintly approving.
The path to the dormitory was quieter than the festival grounds. The laughter and cheering had faded into distant noise, replaced by the gentle rustle of wind through the trees.
For the first time since this entire ordeal began, Suzune allowed herself to breathe.
She reflected on everything — Ryūen's manipulation, Sudō's temper, her own arrogance. She had believed that leadership meant strength alone — but strength without understanding was hollow.
She thought of how Sudō, despite his flaws, had trusted her during the earlier events. How he'd believed she could lead them.
And she'd failed him.
"If you can't bring Sudō back, then Class D doesn't need you."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"I'll bring him back," she whispered. "Even if I have to drag him there myself."
The dorm building loomed in the distance, tall and silent — a place where most students now rested between events. Somewhere inside, Ken Sudō was nursing both his pride and his anger.
And Suzune Horikita was about to face him — not as the cold, distant girl she had been, but as a leader determined to carry the weight of her class.
She straightened her back, ignoring the pain in her leg.
The afternoon light spilled across the pavement, and with each step, her shadow stretched longer behind her — a symbol of the burden she had finally decided to bear.