The grand finals of the water skiing competition.
Thanks to my companions, we'd managed to secure seats at the very top of the neutral spectator section. While I wasn't exactly thrilled to be broadcasting my position, wedged perfectly between Nagisa and Haruna, to all of Kivotos, the situation was satisfactory enough.
Looking at the members who had made it to the finals representing their respective academies, I felt my blood pressure might just skyrocket if Trinity didn't take home the gold.
From Trinity, we had Ichika and Tsurugi of the Justice Task Force.
And Sakurako of the Sisterhood with Mine of the Remedial Knights.
From Gehenna, there was Makoto and Satsuki of Pandemonium Society.
And finally, Kasumi of the Hot Springs Development Club with Iori of the Prefect Team.
There was an unexpectedly well-formed team, a team that made me wonder how they even got here, and a team that I'd consider a success if they just managed not to kill each other.
To be honest, if Trinity couldn't secure at least a gold or silver in this event, we were doomed. It was clear that Makoto's and Iori's teams had some skill to have made it this far, but looking at their members, I couldn't help but imagine an ending where they just fought amongst themselves and self-destructed.
More than anything, I couldn't help but have high hopes for Ichika and Tsurugi. As someone who had personally witnessed their training, it was difficult to picture any other team winning.
[Before the race begins, let's hear a word from each team…]
…Wait a minute. The voice of today's host and commentator sounded familiar.
It was Iroha. There was no mistaking that voice, dripping with exhaustion.
Surely Makoto didn't throw a tantrum and insist that since she was competing, Iroha had to be the one to commentate, did he?
This was just sad. It was getting to the point where I felt I really should have tried harder to poach Iroha from Gehenna. She goes through so much.
[Well… is there really a need for a long speech? We're going to win, period.]
[…]
The contrast between Ichika's confident declaration and Tsurugi's adorable attempt to hide from the camera was priceless. My dear Ichika, who promised me she'd win the gold medal even if the sky fell today and Kivotos was destroyed tomorrow—I'm counting on you.
…What's that? She never said that? If I say she did, then she did.
[Regardless of the outcome, I hope this will be a race that everyone can enjoy. Peace, peace.]
[The main star is, and always will be, Sister Sakurako. I am merely here to clear the path for her.]
Sakurako, making a V-sign with both hands in her school swimsuit, was far cuter than I expected. For once, it seemed she'd heard some relatively normal advice.
"How did that combination even happen…? I know they're acquainted, but it's still a bit of a surprise."
"…Why is it that you, the person who proposed this entire competition, seem less interested in Trinity's representatives than I am? Mine-san's wings were getting in the way, so she switched from being a skier to a driver. Sakurako-san heard the news and approached her first. According to Mine-san, Sakurako-san just walked up to her one day and said something like, 'You, become my comrade.'"
…Yep, that sounded like Sakurako. Just when I thought she was acting normal for once, I hear a backstory like that.
[Kikitkitkit—!! There is only one victor. We appreciate you all providing us with some entertainment, but in the end, you are nothing more than a sideshow.]
[Fufu, Makoto-chan, really. Speaking the truth so bluntly can be a form of violence, you know. More importantly, as the president, you must maintain your dignity, or you might lose support from your voters.]
[Hmph, such things are trivial. Besides, showing everyone how I crush Trinity in this competition is sure to make my approval ratings soar, is it not? Kikit.]
Looking at the Pandemonium team, I felt a complete lack of concern. It was strange to feel this way about a team skilled enough to make it to the finals.
On another note, Makoto with her sunglasses pushed down looked quite cool… If she could just keep her mouth shut, she'd be the most handsome person around, but it was a shame her very nature seemed to be one where her mouth would grow thorns if she didn't run it, and the content of her speech was always so regrettable.
Hmm, and that girl Satsuki has quite the presence. Not quite on Hasumi's level, but still impressive. Other than that, based on what she said, she seemed surprisingly normal for someone under Makoto.
Actually, considering Iroha, that might be the norm. If the president is a guy like that, her subordinates have to be competent just for Pandemonium Society to function.
[Hm? What, is it my turn already? Time is money, so let's make this quick. Today, I'm going to present you all with the most fantastic show. You can look forward to it!]
[…That 'fantastic show' had better be about the race itself. It would be in your best interest.]
[Wahahahat! Hey, Ms. Prefect. We're a team today, you know? It's not good to be so hostile right off the bat, is it? Hmm?]
[D-Don't cling to me! Get off! Ah, why did I have to be teamed up with someone like this…!]
Hmm, this team was just chaotic. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that Hina was behind most of the strange happenings on the Gehenna side for this festival, but this was just… something else.
Did she want to see me lose that badly, or did she want to see Gehenna win that badly?
No matter how much you want to win, putting those two together seemed like a bit of a stretch.
…More importantly, that talk of a "fantastic show," coming from the notoriously destructive Kinugawa Kasumi of the Hot Springs Development Club, was deeply unsettling. The fact that Iori felt the need to comment on it confirmed that the Hot Springs Development Club was still up to its usual antics.
The fact that she was on the phone with someone right up until her turn also made me feel like she was plotting something.
I decided to send a message to both Hasumi and Hina, requesting that they increase the alert level for the Justice Task Force and Prefect Team members in charge of security at the festival.
Hina replied that she had already given orders to secure the site immediately upon spotting any heavy machinery from the Hot Springs Development Club. It was as if she'd fully expected Kasumi to cause trouble, even as she brought her into the competition.
After a moment's thought, I decided to give Yukino a heads-up as well. It wasn't a matter that necessarily required the FOX Squad's intervention, but it was better to prevent an incident before it happened than to clean up the mess afterward.
"…By the way, Haruna-chan. You and Akari-chan must have made some kind of deal with Hina-chan to participate in this competition, right?"
"Fufu, who can say? I'm afraid I can't give you a definite answer on that. Perhaps you could just assume that we simply wanted Gehenna to win?"
"So there was a deal. Haruna-chan, you're the type to be more concerned with what delicacies you'll be enjoying tomorrow or the day after than with winning a competition like this. For you to personally participate must mean you have some other objective."
"Mika-san, you know that for popular restaurants, reservations are practically essential, right? Some of the most popular places are booked up for weeks in advance."
"And…?"
"Fufu, I think I've said too much already. Let's leave the rest for you to ponder on your own, Mika-san."
Hey, you can't just cut off the story like that. Honestly, leaving people hanging like that should be illegal.
"Interesting. Must this competition be held exclusively between Gehenna and Trinity? While it might be difficult for other academies to participate officially, what if we allowed students from other schools to be hired as mercenaries? That could be fun…"
"Hmm. Officially, this festival is a competition between our two academies, but in reality, it's a venue for reconciliation, meant to improve our relationship. I'm sure you've figured that much out, right, Noah-chan?"
"Yes. It became clear when you and Haruna-san visited Millennium the other day, but even before that, Seminar had been analyzing the situation and predicted a major shift in the relationship between your two schools. It was a topic that not only us, but other academies as well, couldn't help but be interested in."
"That makes things easier. Bringing other schools into this festival lacks both justification and practical feasibility. Hiring mercenaries from other schools could also be problematic. I understand your desire for a festival everyone can enjoy, Noah-chan☆ But… yes, that's something that will require a lot of thought."
I also thought it would be more fun if this festival became a summer version of the Halos Festival, but since it was designed from the planning stages to be a foundation for improving Trinity-Gehenna relations, bringing in other schools at this late stage would be difficult. Still, the idea was good, so maybe the mercenary system was worth considering.
[It appears all the athletes are ready. Having warmed up, they are now at the starting line, awaiting the signal.]
In any case, the long-awaited water skiing finals were about to begin.
Unlike my one-on-one event match with Hina, this was a four-team race, so I expected the dynamics to be infinitely more chaotic. Not only did they have to avoid getting their tow lines tangled, but with four boats on the water, I couldn't even imagine what kind of madness would unfold in the corner sections.
More importantly, with these eight people, anything could happen.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
As the signal sounded, everyone tensed up. There was Ichika with her charming smile; Sakurako with an expression like she was just out for a stroll; Makoto, exuding an arrogance that declared she was the best at this competition; and Iori, seemingly filled with the determination to avenge her previous failure to win a gold medal.
Diiiing—
Four boats cut through the water, and the athletes' feet began to dance across the surface.