I had felt it several times—a sense that the entire world wanted me and Trinity to lose, but I never dreamed it would actually lead to this result.
Throughout the closing ceremony, the expressions on my face and Makoto's were so different that anyone could tell.
Compared to the celebratory mood on the Gehenna side, which was festive from the victory alone, the particularly somber atmosphere that formed on our Trinity side was likely due in large part to the influence of the Pater and Arius students.
"The winner of the 20XX Summer Festival—which, starting next year, will be known as the 2nd Annual Gehenna-Trinity Exhibition Summer Festival—is Gehenna. On their behalf, I would like to present the chairman of Pandemonium Society, Hanuma Makoto, with a word of congratulations and this year's Summer Festival championship trophy. Congratulations on your victory…!".
…Am I managing to keep my expression neutral? I don't think so.
Thank goodness our relationship is that of bitter rivals, where showing my frustration isn't a huge deal. If it weren't, this wouldn't be a pretty sight.
I had to grit my teeth just to get the word "congratulations" out. If Makoto starts gloating now, I might not be able to open my mouth at all.
Kikik.
Makoto took the trophy, which featured an angel and a demon aiming guns at each other on its two handles, and took a couple of steps forward.
Then, she slowly, very slowly, raised the trophy for all to see.
"Behold, students of Gehenna Academy! This is the undeniable proof that Gehenna stands above Trinity! From this day forward, if any fool dares to place Trinity above Gehenna, you may laugh in their face and ask them this: Who was the winner of the inaugural GTE?!".
WHOOOOAAAA!!!.
A thunderous roar erupted from the Gehenna stands in response to Makoto's voice, shaking the stadium.
As whistles and chants of "Gehenna!" filled the air, I could see Makoto's shoulders visibly puffing up.
"This is the fruit of your labor, and the labor of the one who leads you, the pinnacle of Gehenna, the great Hanuma Makoto-sama! For today, you may rejoice to your heart's content… No! You may continue to rejoice forever! We are the victors, and Trinity has been defeated! And what is the greatest privilege afforded to the victor? It is, of course, the right to look down upon the loser! Kikikikikikikit!!!".
This was my karma. I was now reaping what I had sown when, high on baseless confidence, I had made all those reckless boasts.
I had thought the outcome of my personal bet was more important than the tournament itself, but….
Makoto's words pierced my heart like daggers. Each and every word felt like it was gouging out my heart.
A molten frustration flowed from it, shimmering like a heat haze.
This frustration had nothing to do with the result of my personal bet. I had resigned myself to that loss the moment it was confirmed.
It was perhaps because, for better or for worse, Trinity had begun to feel like my own school.
"Kikikikik!!! In that spirit, let us hear the barking of the loser. Any words will do! The pathetic sound of excuses, the hopeful song of promising to do better next time! And the voice of feigned congratulations, pretending to be a good sport, would be best of all! .
Whichever it is, it will only serve to make my victory all the more valuable and sweet!".
Makoto lowered the trophy, chuckled, and turned her head toward me.
The broadcast drone approached, and my face was magnified on the jumbotron.
The thought that my every word and expression would be laid bare for all to see made my stomach churn.
What am I supposed to say in this atmosphere?
The festival is just a festival?.
Gehenna just got lucky this time, we'll win next year? .
No words could possibly lift the sunken mood of the Trinity stands.
The first thing I saw was Nagisa, looking at me with concern. I caught her eye and silently told her not to intervene as she looked ready to say something.
As I struggled to find the right words, my lips refusing to part, a small breeze blew.
Mika-senpai!.
I couldn't make out the exact words. But one thing was certain: one of my juniors in the stands, someone who knew me, had just screamed her lungs out, loud enough for me to faintly hear .
It was only then that I realized. If nothing I said could change anything, then all I had to do was speak my heart.
Regardless of Makoto's provocations, the best I could do as the leader of Trinity was to smile for all of our students who had worked so hard.
My duty was to comfort and embrace them, who must be more disappointed than anyone. Anything else would be meaningless.
"…First of all, to all the athletes who participated in this GTE and made it shine, you worked so hard, and thank you for showing us such an amazing performance. Especially to the athletes who represented our Trinity. I know how hard you worked, how much you sweated, desperately wishing for this victory. Yes. I want to thank you all first and foremost.".
Looking back, I had expected to receive without giving anything in return. I had naturally expected the students of Pater and Arius to win medals for me, and I had been unilaterally disappointed when they didn't.
I shouldn't have been like that.
I remembered Sakurako's face as she simply enjoyed the competition itself.
I remembered the face of a girl named Chiyo, who looked happier than anyone after I placed a medal around her neck.
Hifumi, too. Azusa, too. Saori, too.
The faces of the girls I had given medals to had been shining so brightly, and the thought that I, who should have been the first to notice, had been too blinded by victory to fully acknowledge them, filled me with regret.
"Did you all enjoy the festival? I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I should have. I hosted this tournament with the intention of it being a place for everyone to have fun, but….
the person who wanted that, me, got so caught up in the rivalry between our two schools, so obsessed with the illusion of my political image, that I feel I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. It's a shame.".
I laid my heart bare. At this point, there was nothing left to hide.
The moment my relationship with Hina had come to light, trying to hide my attitude toward Gehenna would only make things more awkward for me.
"How about all of you? Did you enjoy the tournament, the festival? I really hope you did. I feel so sorry, wondering if, like me, you were so blinded by victory that you couldn't enjoy the parts you should have. And my arrogant confidence in our victory, my obsession with winning and losing, surely had an effect. Yes, so if you couldn't enjoy the festival to the fullest because of that, then it's probably all my fault… So, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for placing a burden on you that you never needed to bear.".
I bowed my head, filled with remorse. And yet, the cunning adult part of me expected the words of comfort that would follow.
I hoped they would alleviate some of my guilt. For that, I felt a little disgusted with myself.
As I had expected, shouts of "It's okay!" erupted from the stands.
"Don't be sorry, President! We wanted to win, too!".
Occasionally, the voices of certain students would cut through the noise and reach me clearly.
"I love you, Mika. So don't cry.".
From somewhere, a voice that was unmistakably Azusa's rang out through a megaphone.
At her words, I unconsciously raised a hand to my eyes, but….
there were no tears to be found on my hand. It seemed our little squirrel had tricked me .
And perhaps because of that goofy sight, laughter rippled through the crowd.
…Well, if my sacrifice could bring a smile to your faces, then I suppose it was worth it.
"Ahaha… Who's crying? Thanks to you, this turned out a little strange. Hey, I'd like to take this opportunity to say one more thing to all of you. As the current Tea Party Host, I, Misono Mika—".
I decided to voice the wish I had kept hidden until now. My inclinations may have been revealed through various circumstances, but saying it myself was different.
"—wish for everyone here, regardless of their home academy, to be able to laugh, talk, and enjoy the end of this festival together. I hope the next festival, and the one after that, and all the festivals to come, will be the same. In other words, yes. Let's just take one more step forward from our current rivalry. Mmm, to a relationship where we can congratulate each other without any hard feelings after the match is over, and laugh together.".
Our school life is far too short to spend it hating each other, isn't it?
With those words, I briefly closed my eyes. I didn't expect an immediate positive response.
We had just taken the first step, and the road ahead was still so very long.
So, I intended to pave that road smoothly, so that all of us could reach its end.
The reaction was mixed. But some people applauded, and the fact that no one was openly complaining was a significant gain in itself.
"After the closing ceremony, there will be a bonfire for the after-party! With that in mind, I'd like to hold a small event. Take a picture of students from Gehenna and Trinity having fun together at the bonfire, without any distinction, and upload it to an event website I'll open later, and you'll receive a small prize. What do you think, not too bad, right?".
I can just commission Millennium for the website, and it'll be up in no time. Technology can be bought with money, and so can time.
And it's not like I can't just throw together an event on my own authority.
"Hmph! The loser's speech is getting too long. There's a limit to how much I can bear to listen! It seems it will never end if I leave you to it, so I shall cut it short with my victor's right. Kikitkitkitkit!".
…Well, I'd already said everything I wanted to say.
Then I saw Makoto turn toward me with a smirk.
It was a smile that blatantly screamed she was about to cause some trouble.
"There was, if I recall, a certain bet to be fulfilled between the great Makoto-sama and this lowly loser girl. Depending on the outcome of the tournament, the loser becomes the victor's slave for a week. Now, shall we enjoy the victor's right!".
But just then, I saw a suspicious movement behind the smirking Makoto. It was Iroha and Hina.
"Hey, loser. Kneel before me, and beg forgiveness from one as great as myself for daring to challenge me, you fool who doesn't know her pla—huh?" .
In the middle of shouting her command at me, Makoto, without any warning, began to pitch forward. Hina and Iroha caught her from the sides.
Makoto's halo flickered like a dying lightbulb and then—phut—went out.
"It seems the chairman of our Pandemonium Society has fainted from the fatigue of the match. From here on, I, the leader of the Prefect Team, will proceed with the ceremony.".
…Anyone can see you two knocked her out, you know?
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