On the second day of the new semester, right after the student council finalized the specific rules for this year's sports festival, all morning classes across every grade were changed to homeroom meetings.
This unusual atmosphere made the students of Class 1-B a bit anxious, but seeing Kitagawa Ryo and Shiina Hiyori chatting and laughing across the desks quickly settled their nerves. As long as Kitagawa Ryo—the unshakable pillar who had led Class C to its rise to Class B—was still around, they didn't have to worry about anything. All they needed to do was follow his lead.
As the chime rang to signal the start of homeroom, their homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, walked in with a file folder tucked under his arm.
"I'm sure you've all guessed by now. For students, the phrase 'golden October' naturally means the sports festival—just like the cafeteria and yakisoba bread are inseparable."
He cracked a small joke, and the class offered polite laughter, easing the slightly tense atmosphere.
After the joke, Sakagami Kazuma straightened up and continued seriously:
"This year's sports festival is different from any previous one. Everyone in this class needs to treat it seriously."
"No worries, Sensei! When it comes to sports, no one in Class B's going to lose!" Ishizaki Daichi shouted confidently. After all, Class B was primarily made up of delinquents, whose physical abilities naturally surpassed that of regular students. Moreover, they had Kitagawa Ryo, Ryuuen Kakeru, and Yamada Albert—students whose physical capabilities were among the top in the grade.
"It's good to have determination, but preparation is equally important," Sakagami said with a chuckle before diving into the specifics.
"This year's sports festival follows the principles of 'inter-grade free-for-all' and 'event diversification.' Unlike the past, where students were divided into Red and White teams, this year each class will fight independently. In other words, on the day of the festival, you can challenge any class from any grade."
"To help explain this clearly, I'll be using ten white cards and a set of yellow cards matching your class size."
Sakagami pulled a stack of cards from the folder. He arranged the blank white cards first and began pinning them to the board. Each card was about the size of a playing card. The ten white cards were blank, while each yellow card had a student's name. One black card stood out in the center of the yellow ones.
With ten cards per row, it was easy to count a total of fifty cards.
"First, let me explain the use of these ten white cards. You'll discuss among yourselves and decide on ten 'events' to write on these cards."
"These events must be athletic competitions that can be fairly held within the school's facilities, such as the 100-meter dash or obstacle courses."
"Running, long jump, high jump, swimming—just write down whatever you think you can win."
"Although the choice is yours, there are rules. For example, if you choose an obscure event that no one knows how to play, only the proposer has an advantage. The rules must also be fair and easy to understand. Once submitted, the school will evaluate whether the event is valid."
Seeing confused expressions, Sakagami pointed at Ishizaki Daichi in the front row and said:
"Let's do a live demonstration. Ishizaki, what athletic event are you good at?"
"Uh… what I'm good at?" Ishizaki scratched his head, unsure. Finally, he said, "Fighting count? I used to be really good at that."
The class burst into laughter, recalling how Ishizaki had been easily pinned down by Ryuuen on the first day of school.
But Sakagami seriously accepted the answer and wrote "Free Combat" on one of the white cards.
"Then let's assume 'Free Combat' is one of the events."
Everyone froze.
"What are the rules?"
"Um… we usually go until the other guy can't stand up."
Sakagami wrote under the card: "Until the opponent can no longer fight back."
"I-It actually got accepted?" Ishizaki gulped.
"It's a well-known event with simple and clear rules. As long as accidents are avoided, there's no reason to reject it."
Even if the idea was spontaneous, it posed no problem for the school. Staff would serve as referees anyway.
"Repeat this nine more times, and you'll have your ten events."
"Keep in mind: Seven must be individual events, and three must be team events."
"On the day of the festival, the school will randomly select five individual and two team events from both classes' proposed lists to determine the matchups."
This ensures a decisive outcome—victory is declared once one side wins four of the seven events.
"Even if a team already clinches victory before all seven events are played, the remaining matches will continue to affect class points. That means even if you lose overall, you fight until the end."
Sakagami scanned the classroom, paying particular attention to Kitagawa Ryo, who was yawning lazily. He'd stayed up late talking to Hiyori on the phone. If not for the lecture, he'd be napping already.
"Each win in an event earns 20 class points. A loss deducts 20. Winning the overall match grants an additional 100 points."
"Events and participants must be finalized one week before the festival. Late submissions won't be accepted."
"These explanations are hard to digest verbally. The school has prepared a detailed handout you can duplicate as needed."
Realizing this might be too much for some students, Sakagami pulled out a sheet.
"Kitagawa, come grab this."
"Ryuuen?"
Kitagawa, unwilling to move, waved toward Ryuuen Kakeru, who scowled but still walked up to collect the sheet.
"There's one more critical aspect. You must designate one student as your 'Commander Tower.' This person can't participate in any events."
Sakagami pointed to the lone black card.
Though a strange term, Class B had seen worse—like the 'Leader' in the island exam or the 'Privilege Student' in the last special exam.
"The Commander Tower must adapt on the fly and act as the team's lifeline—making substitutions, solving issues, and more. Most importantly, they are allowed to intervene in one event."
This meant the commander wasn't just a symbolic figure but more like a team coach.
Sakagami grew serious again:
"If the class wins, the commander earns personal points. If the class loses, the commander will be expelled after the festival."
The room fell silent. Most had assumed Kitagawa would naturally lead them again. But expulsion was too steep a price.
Especially since Kitagawa had already spent the 20 million points he won in the Werewolf exam—on a cat.
"Without a commander, the exam won't start. If no one's submitted by the deadline, one will be randomly chosen."
After finishing his explanation, Sakagami left the room, assuming Kitagawa would take over as usual.
But to his surprise, Kitagawa didn't follow. Instead, he immediately slammed his head down on the desk and began napping.
Sakagami returned and knocked on his desk:
"Kitagawa? Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Huh…? Should I?"
"Something like, 'I'll be the Commander Tower'?"
Sakagami rubbed his hands expectantly—after all, it was a fierce inter-grade war. Without Kitagawa, Class 1-B would struggle.
"Sensei, I volunteer to be the Commander Tower."
Ryuuen Kakeru suddenly stood up and spoke.
"Ryuuen?"
Sakagami blinked, surprised that the usual number two in the class would step up before Kitagawa.
"Well… that's not impossible…"
He hesitated. Ryuuen was certainly capable.
"You want to take this too?" Kitagawa stretched and propped his chin on his hand, eyeing Ryuuen. "I haven't said a word yet. Planning to get yourself expelled, huh?"
Ryuuen, though initially confident, sat down with clenched teeth and silent frustration.
A few students exchanged glances, sensing a deep rift between the two.
"Sensei, I'll take the Commander Tower role this time too."
Kitagawa looked up and addressed Sakagami.
Relieved, Sakagami nodded enthusiastically:
"Good, I feel more at ease leaving it to you."
Ryuuen's face darkened further, a shadow hanging over his brow.
Given all the rumors since the start of the school year, it was now obvious—his conflict with Kitagawa could no longer be hidden.
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"I think we should focus our attacks on Class A of our grade, while also being wary of assaults from the upperclassmen."
At the same time in Class 1-D, right after homeroom teacher Chabashira Sae finished reading out all the rules, Karuizawa Kei promptly raised her hand and proposed her strategy.
Facing the inquisitive stares of her classmates, Kei, who had obtained the information half a day earlier, calmly reiterated the thoughts she had organized the night before.
At this moment, when most people were still digesting the complex rules, the first to speak naturally held great influence—especially since Kei was already the de facto leader of Class D.
"Because this special exam mainly tests physical capabilities, it's difficult for us to win against upperclassmen even if we have the privilege of selecting events. So our optimal targets are the other classes in our year."
"Among the three other classes—A, B, and C—Class B likely has the strongest overall foundation, considering they're mostly delinquents used to fighting."
"Class A, in contrast with Class C, has just resolved its internal faction conflicts. Their cohesion hasn't fully formed yet, at least not to the extent of Class C. At the very least, Katsuragi Kouhei and Totsuka Yahiko probably won't be fully committed in group events. This was evident from their unauthorized participation in the werewolf game last time."
"Moreover, although Class A does have students with decent physical abilities, the majority are just barely average. For this sports festival, the five individual events are particularly crucial. And in terms of top athletes, Class D isn't inferior."
All eyes turned toward Sudou Ken.
The athlete who had once faced complete isolation, then self-salvation, self-abandonment, and was finally rescued by Kei with private points, had grown much more composed since then. He nodded and spoke up:
"I can register for all individual events. That way, no matter which one is selected, I can participate and secure the win."
This was a deliberate loophole in the rules—although each student was only allowed to participate in one event, they could sign up for multiple and then choose the actual event after the final draw.
"As for team events, I can sign up for basketball. I'm really confident in that."
Being chosen as an official member of the basketball club as a first-year was a point of pride for Sudou.
"Kouenji-kun, every student in class is required to participate in this sports festival."
Kei turned her gaze toward Kouenji Rokusuke, who as usual had his legs casually propped up on his desk.
"Just throw me into any random group event. Of course, if it gets picked, I still won't participate, hahaha."
"You guys can spend the 100,000 points to find a substitute."
As expected, Kouenji was dead set on skipping.
It gave Kei a bit of a headache, but she had no one to teach her how to handle this. She would have to bite the bullet and negotiate with him privately.
After all, if Kouenji agreed to cooperate, their chances of winning would rise significantly.
But Kei knew very well—everything she said just now was a lie.
Because the real target… wasn't Class 1-A.
It was Class 2-A.
Even if they lost, she had to secure key intel for Kitagawa Ryo—such as their chosen events.
Moreover…
Kei glanced at the innocent-looking Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, the nonchalant Kouenji, the fired-up Sudou, and others like Hirata Yosuke, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyou.
She clenched her teeth and fiercely told herself:
The outcome—whether victory or defeat—is far from certain.
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