The cheers of the crowd rolled across the campus like waves — a bright, unending tide of sound that contrasted sharply with the heavy emotions simmering beneath the surface of Class D. The latter half of the sports festival was about to begin, and though the sun shone brilliantly over the field, the atmosphere among the students of the Red Team was anything but bright.
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji stood quietly at the edge of Class D's tent, hands in his pockets, observing the bustle of activity before him. Class A, B, and C were already warming up. The Recommended Only Participation events were next — a phase reserved for the elite, where the strongest and most reliable of each class would compete head-to-head.
Yet, one name was missing.
Ken Sudō — Class D's ace, its most athletic member — had vanished.
The Scavenger Hunt
The first event on the roster was the Scavenger Hunt, a race that combined speed, wit, and luck. Competitors were to draw random instruction cards at the start, then race to find the item or person described and return to the finish line before the others.
Hirata Yōsuke, Class D's steady pillar, stood at the starting line — only to be distracted by the conspicuous absence of Sudō's red hair. His gentle expression dimmed with concern.
"Sudō still hasn't come back," he murmured.
Kiyotaka, standing beside him, responded evenly. "No. And we can't afford to wait any longer."
Hirata exhaled deeply and called over two of his classmates — Kanji Ike and Haruki Yamauchi. "We'll need a substitute. One of you take Sudō's spot."
The two exchanged glances before settling it with the oldest of school traditions: rock-paper-scissors.
Ike threw out scissors against Yamauchi's paper and let out a loud cheer. "Yes! Leave it to me, Hirata! I'll show everyone that I can be useful for once!"
He rushed toward the lineup, a grin plastered across his face, though sweat already dotted his forehead.
"Good luck, Ike," Hirata said with a tired smile.
The whistle blew. Ike ran with all his might, weaving between competitors and nearly tripping twice. When his instruction card told him to bring 'a friend who always helps you,' he immediately sprinted toward Yamauchi, grabbed him by the arm, and hauled him back across the finish line.
Against all odds, he finished first in his group.
Class D erupted in cheers — a fleeting moment of hope.
Next was Kiyotaka's turn.
He stepped forward calmly, drawing his first card. His eyes skimmed the words:
"Bring ten friends."
He blinked. "Ten?"
The announcer's voice echoed: "Contestant Ayanokōji from Class D requests a redraw!"
According to the rules, he had to wait thirty seconds before drawing again. He did.
The second card read:
"Bring the person you love."
Kiyotaka exhaled quietly through his nose, unreadable as ever. That's… impossible.
A second redraw. Another thirty seconds passed. The crowd was restless.
On the third attempt, the card finally read:
"Find a table clock."
Kiyotaka nodded slightly. Simple enough. He began his search, but none of the nearby classrooms had one. Time ticked away. By the time he returned, others had already crossed the finish line.
He accepted his last-place finish without complaint, returning to the tent as Class D's morale wavered again.
While the events unfolded on the field, Suzune Horikita was nowhere to be seen.
She had finally reached the dormitory lobby, her breathing steady despite her sprained leg.
There — sitting on one of the benches, slouched forward with his elbows on his knees — was Ken Sudō. His red hair caught the afternoon light, but his eyes were shadowed, dull.
When he noticed her approach, his brows furrowed. "Horikita? What the hell are you doing here?"
Suzune stopped a few steps away. "I came to bring you back."
He scoffed and looked away. "Why bother? You should just give up. You're wasting your time."
"I acknowledge your talent," she said evenly. "You've been carrying this class in the sports events. But talent means nothing if you abandon everyone when things go wrong."
"Spare me the lecture," Sudō growled, standing abruptly. "You think I don't know that? They all look at me like some violent idiot! I'm sick of it!"
Suzune didn't flinch. "Then hit me if you're angry. If that's what it takes to make you feel better — do it."
That stopped him cold.
He stared at her in disbelief, fists trembling. "You're crazy."
"Maybe," Suzune replied calmly. "But you're running away because you can't stand that others can't keep up with you. You thought being leader meant you'd just win every game yourself."
He bit his lip, eyes glistening with frustration. "That's not—!"
"Isn't it?"
Silence fell. Then, slowly, his shoulders slumped. "… I thought if I showed everyone how strong I was, they'd finally respect me. That I'd matter."
Suzune's eyes softened.
"So you wanted recognition," she said. "To be respected. To be seen."
He nodded weakly. "Yeah. But I screwed it up. I yelled at everyone, acted like I didn't need them. And now… look at me."
"You're not alone in that," Suzune said. "I used to think the same way. I wanted to prove myself to my brother — to show him that I could reach his level on my own. But all I did was push people away."
Sudō blinked. "You… and me?"
"We're more alike than you think," she said. "Both of us wanted acknowledgment. Both of us thought we could do it alone. But this festival… it's not about one person. It's about all of us."
He looked down at his hands. "You're saying I should just… go back? After all that?"
"Yes," Suzune said firmly. "You don't get to quit halfway. You started this as our leader — finish it as one."
Sudō turned toward the elevator. "Forget it. It's already too late."
"Then I'll wait," Suzune said simply.
He froze. "What?"
"I'll wait here," she said, sitting down on the bench he'd just vacated. "Even if it takes forever. I'm not leaving until you come back."
Sudō stared at her for several seconds, speechless, before retreating into the elevator.
The doors closed.
Suzune sat there, the hum of the air conditioner her only company. She folded her hands in her lap and waited.
The Tug of War and New Partnerships
Back at the sports field, the festival pressed on relentlessly.
The Four-Way Tug of War was a disaster for Class D. Without Sudō or Suzune, they had to field substitutes hastily. The Red Team was easily overpowered by Class B's superior coordination.
Hirata was running himself ragged, dipping deep into his own Private Points to cover substitutions.
Kiyotaka approached him quietly. "Are you sure you should keep spending your points like this?"
Hirata smiled faintly, though his exhaustion showed. "It's necessary. We can't give up now. Everyone's trying their best."
Kushida chimed in, her voice warm and pleasant. "If it helps, I'll use my points to enter the Mixed-Gender Three-Legged Race. We need all the help we can get!"
Kiyotaka looked at her. "Then I'll replace Sudō."
She smiled sweetly. "Oh? You and me, then? How romantic."
He ignored the teasing tone and began preparing the ropes for their legs. As he tied the knot, however, his hands paused.
"Kushida," he said quietly. "Why did you take a picture of our participation table the day before the festival?"
Her hands froze mid-motion.
She looked up, her expression still cheerful — but her eyes were sharp. "Are you saying you think I'm the one who leaked it to Ryūen?"
"I'm not thinking," Kiyotaka said evenly. "I'm certain."
She tilted her head, her smile never wavering. "That's quite an accusation. If I really did that, don't you think Class C would be winning everything flawlessly?"
"They already are," he replied. "And if I'd put countermeasures in place, it would've been pointless. After all, the traitor is within Class D."
A beat of silence. Then, Kushida's facade cracked — not into fear, but amusement.
"Wow," she said, laughing softly. "You really don't miss a thing, do you, Ayanokōji-kun?"
He watched her in silence.
"Alright then," she continued. "Let's say I did it. What are you going to do about it? Go crying to Chabashira-sensei?"
"I could," Kiyotaka said. "Or I could simply ask whether anyone accessed the list after submission. That alone would expose you."
Kushida's laughter rang out again, louder this time. "You're clever, but I'm confident you won't do that. Because even if you expose me, I'll take you down too."
He tilted his head. "Why go this far?"
Her smile darkened. "Because I hate Suzune Horikita. I want her expelled. Simple as that."
Kiyotaka's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that all?"
"She's everything I despise — cold, calculating, perfect. I'll destroy her, and then everyone will love me. That's the kind of class I want."
She stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "You and Horikita — both of you are my enemies now. I'll crush you both."
"Then you're gambling with Ryūen's silence," Kiyotaka said.
"It's my gamble to make," she replied with a smirk.
They finished tying the rope. The race began moments later — and though the conversation left the air thick with tension, they ran in perfect synchronization, crossing the finish line in third place.
An hour passed.
Back at the dorm lobby, Suzune was still sitting in the same spot. The rhythmic tick of the wall clock was her only companion.
Then — ding.
The elevator doors opened.
Sudō stepped out, his hair slightly disheveled, his expression conflicted. "You're still here…"
"I said I'd wait," she replied simply.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "You're an idiot, you know that? It's already over. The class is screwed. What's the point?"
"There's always a point," Suzune said. "You haven't lost yet."
He stared at her, torn between frustration and guilt. "I just came down to see if you were really that stubborn."
"And now that you have?"
He sighed. "You really don't give up, do you?"
"No," she said softly. "Because I finally understand. We are alike. I spent so long pretending to be perfect — to hide the fact that I'm pathetic. You wanted respect. I wanted acknowledgment. We're both just… human."
Her words hung in the air.
Something in Sudō's expression cracked.
"… You really mean that?"
"I do," she said. "That's why I'm asking — lend me your strength. Just this once. Let's go back together."
Silence stretched between them for a long moment.
Then, slowly, Sudō exhaled and gave a crooked grin. "You're impossible."
He reached out a hand. "Fine. Let's go kick some ass."
Suzune smiled — a small, genuine smile that surprised even herself. "Welcome back, Sudō."
As they walked toward the exit together, the weight of their pride and isolation felt just a little lighter.
For the first time, Suzune Horikita didn't feel alone.
She had found a comrade — one who understood her heart better than anyone else.