Hirakawa Takuto collapsed onto the scorching track, completely ignoring the dust and gravel scraping his knees and shins.
When he was eight, his father taught him the Olympic motto: "Faster, Higher, Stronger." From that day onward, he swore to become a professional athlete.
Through the years of sweat, tears, triumphs, and failures, Hirakawa believed nothing could defeat him. Every setback only made him stronger.
Until...
"Why is there a cat here?!"
He pointed a trembling finger at the white creature that had effortlessly leapt over the high jump bar and rolled gracefully onto the mat.
"Referee! Where's the referee?!"
"This is cheating!"
"How can the sports festival allow such nonsense? What are the staff doing?!"
The students of 2-A, stunned at first, joined Hirakawa in a furious uproar, shouting toward the school officials.
"Apologies, but Kitagawa Hotaru of Class 1-B is officially registered as a student and has completed all proper entry procedures. Thus, the result stands."
The school staff answered firmly, with no room for protest. Seeing the discontent still brewing, the staff quickly added:
"All aspects of this festival were pre-approved by the school administration."
In other words, he was just an employee doing his job—take it up with management.
Just as Hirakawa opened his mouth to protest further, Nagumo Miyabi's voice came through the earpiece:
"We lost this one. Conserve your energy. Withdraw."
Though he tried to sound calm, Hirakawa could hear the simmering rage beneath Nagumo's voice. After all, losing like this in a full-school event was a major blow to Nagumo, the soon-to-be student council president.
A month ago, he had mocked Kitagawa Ryo for spending 20 million points to register a cat as a student. Now, that very cat had handed them their first humiliating defeat.
"Understood," Hirakawa replied bitterly. There was no point resisting. Even if he jumped higher than 2.2 meters... well, that was just impossible.
With Hirakawa's withdrawal, the loudspeaker updated the current standings:
[Class 1-B has defeated Class 2-A in the High Jump. Score: 1-0.]
[Next Event: Freestyle Fighting.]
[Both Commanders, please confirm your participants.]
[Confirmed.]
[Participants, please proceed to the designated area.]
[Class 1-B participant Ishizaki Daichi is in position.]
[Class 2-A! Please have your participant report to the arena immediately!]
Nagumo's expression darkened. Hirakawa, sweating nervously, realized he had failed to pass the earpiece to their next participant, Ogayama Satoru.
"Has anyone seen him?!" Hirakawa asked, panicking.
"Call him!" Nagumo commanded.
"I tried! No answer!"
Hirakawa showed his phone, which only gave a robotic "no response" tone. They had completely lost contact with their own classmate.
"Send someone to find him!" Nagumo barked.
This was bad. Individual events didn't allow emergency substitutions. That was a rule Nagumo had insisted on to prevent other classes from swapping in ringers last minute. Ironically, 2-A was now the first victim of this rule.
"What, are all of 2-A a bunch of cowards?" Ishizaki jeered loudly. "Too scared to fight me?"
The remaining 2-A students flushed red with embarrassment as 1-B's delinquents laughed and shouted mockery.
"Yo, are you gonna forfeit or what?" Ishizaki taunted again.
Although his tone was cocky, even he was a little unsure.
Kitagawa Ryo had never intended to win all seven matches. This event was meant to be a sacrifice. Ishizaki's only job was to try and disrupt the opponent.
If they could force 2-A to waste one of their strong contenders, that would pave the way for 1-B's broader plan.
But now... even 1-B students were puzzled.
Where was the opponent?
Leaks go both ways. In the past week, 2-A had gotten a steady stream of information from Ryuuen Kakeru—a supposed traitor. Everything from selected events to potential participants, even possible strategies.
One detail in particular: Ishizaki always trained solo late at night at a secluded part of campus.
Naturally, 2-A investigated.
And Ogayama Satoru, the 2-A powerhouse, was chosen to face him.
But Ryuuen had laid a trap.
He learned Ogayama's daily routines—including how he always bought the same bento after morning runs.
So on the day of the festival, Ryuuen bought every single one... except for the tampered one he prepared in advance.
Now, Ryuuen watched as Ogayama lay unconscious in a sack at his feet.
He dragged him to a nearby public restroom, having scouted the location thoroughly.
He'd even blacked out the only camera on the route with paint, then preemptively reported himself to the student council. The fine? A mere 8,000 points for "cleaning."
After dozens of test runs at the start of the school year, Ryuuen had perfected a low-risk plan.
Camera angle, duration, intentional vs. accidental sabotage, self-reporting vs. being caught—he'd thought of it all.
He kicked the sack casually.
He didn't need to solve problems.
He just needed to eliminate those who caused them.
[Class 2-A participant failed to arrive. Class 1-B wins Freestyle Fighting. Score: 2-0.]
Nagumo's heart sank deeper with every second. Two losses in a row. They were at the edge of a cliff.
[Next Event: Girls' 2000m Obstacle Course.]
"Asahina. You're up."
Nagumo finally deviated from his original plan. Realizing Ryuuen had betrayed him, he needed to adjust fast.
And so, he turned to his childhood friend, Asahina Nazuna.
"Leave it to me, Miyabi."
Dressed in her sports uniform, Nazuna warmed up. Though she often found Nagumo annoying, she wasn't about to let her old friend down.
[Confirmed. Participants please proceed.]
[Class 1-B: Ibuki Mio]
[Class 2-A: Asahina Nazuna]
"Yo, didn't think your class would choose this weird event."
Though she had just confidently accepted the mission, Asahina was stunned as she saw the setup.
The 2,000-meter course was filled with strange obstacles.
At the 1,000m mark was a "borrowed item" section: pick a paper slip, retrieve the specified item from outside the course, then run 500 meters with it.
At 1,800m hung a bread roll—the classic "bite-the-bread" segment.
Nazuna had hoped they wouldn't draw this one.
"What's wrong? Scared?" Ibuki teased, looking sharp in her athletic gear.
She was no sacrificial pawn—Ibuki was Class 1-B's ace among the girls.
"We'll win this."
Nazuna, though surprised, quickly recovered and retorted with determination.
The referee soon signaled the start.
Asahina quickly pulled ahead, opening a 10-meter lead.
Cheers erupted from Class 2-A. Even Nagumo grinned.
See? Physical ability would triumph. This time, they'd win.
Nazuna reached the 1,000m box and began drawing slips.
But after several picks, her face twisted.
"What is she doing?!" Nagumo barked into his mic.
"Miyabi, I drew: 'Class's most beloved girl', 'Most hated boy', and 'Most admired student'."
Nazuna sounded exasperated.
"Even if I knew who to pick, I can't carry a whole student 500 meters! I'll try again."
Meanwhile, Ibuki had caught up. She grabbed a slip and dashed off toward her class's section.
"Don't hesitate! Student council vetted this event. Both classes have identical slips!"
Nagumo slammed his desk.
"Damn it, we were tricked!"
"What?"
Nazuna kept drawing—all the slips were related to classmates.
"This event was tailor-made for them!"
She watched, dumbfounded, as Ibuki returned with a white cat in her arms.
"Borrowed: 'Most intimate student'," she declared.
"Meow?"
Hotaru blinked adorably.
The judge nodded.
Ibuki winked at Nazuna.
"Do your best!"
Nazuna nearly wanted to take a picture.
But Ibuki vanished with lightning speed.
"Miyabi... should we forfeit?" Nazuna asked reluctantly.
"..."
Nagumo ground his teeth. He had registered that damn cat into the school system himself.
He never imagined it would be their deadliest weapon.
"Go, Ibuki! Go!"
Ibuki leaped, biting down the bread in one smooth motion and sprinted toward the finish line.
Watching this, Nagumo finally realized why the bread event existed: it wasn't necessary.
It was for one final humiliation.
As Ibuki celebrated, Hotaru hopped into the stands with the bread in her mouth.
A silver-haired girl gently tore it into small pieces.
They used it to feed the cat.
Nagumo felt a humiliation deeper than any before.
[Class 1-B wins the Girls' Obstacle Course. Score: 3-0.]
Another gut punch.
"We have to intervene! One more loss and we're finished!"
While Nagumo raged, Kitagawa Ryo calmly prepared the next move.
[Next Event: Wrestling.]
[Confirm participants.]
[Confirmed. Proceed to the arena.]
[Class 1-B: Yamada Albert is in position.]
A two-meter-tall mixed-race behemoth with rippling muscles stepped onto the stage.
He looked toward Class 2-A and crooked his finger:
"Who is the next lucky boy?"
Nagumo glanced at his own height, weight, and wrestling skills...
Maybe... he wouldn't interfere after all.
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