'...': Writing
'...': Sign language
"...": Text to speech
I tapped Mei-Yu's shoulder, and she seemed slightly startled, "Eep!" She turned around and looked at me.
"Oh, Kagurazaka-kun, do you need something?" Mei-Yu asked.
'I'm here to give you your points."
"Eh? I already received my points," she said.
'I'm talking about helping me during the cruise ship exam.'
She panicked and started blushing, "W-Wait, I'm fine with the points I have! I'm glad I could help you..." She looked away.
'You did much more work than most of our classmates,' I retorted.
"You won't take no for an answer, will you?" She asked.
She sighed, but a faint smile appeared, "Alright."
Kagurazaka's private points: 1,834,669-305,000=1,529,669
~Timeskip~
Until the sports festival, other than deciding the participants of the contests, there is a mountain load of other things that need to be done. Preparations that need to be done to ensure the sports festival goes smoothly account for the majority of them—Marches as well as practicing from the moment of admission into the competitions to its end. Most physical education classes were declared free periods, and students were each permitted to tackle any practice they desired.
"I've borrowed it," Hirata applied to the school and obtained the grip strength measuring instrument.
"Let's do it in order. Let's measure the grip strength of our dominant arms, shall we? If you tell me the results, then I'll record them. I've borrowed two so we can measure more efficiently and save time."
He handed one to Hondou and another to Yukimura, who stood beside him. He wanted to measure in both directions, clockwise and anticlockwise. However, Sudou wasn't interested and decided to grab the instrument forcefully and take it away.
"Let's start with me, Hirata. Because by starting with me, it'll be possible to set high standards."
If Koenji were to participate in the sports festival, he would set the standards high for fun.
"Umm... then let's have the other one start with Sotomura-kun besides Sudou-kun," Hirata said.
The starting point had to be adjusted again after the order forcibly changed.
"Keep looking, Ayanokouji. This is the strength of the man who will be carrying this class," Sudou confidently laughs and shows off his ability as the one who forcibly became the first one up.
Filled with fighting spirit, Sudou's shoulder shook as he gripped the instrument in his right hand.
The digital values quickly increased, surpassing 50 and reaching 60 before climbing to 70. Finally, the value displayed digitally was 82.4 kg, causing a brief commotion among those present.
"You're way too freakishly strong!"
"Heh. It's because I've always been training. This is natural. Hey, you do it too, Koenji."
Almost as though it were a provocation, he showed the value to Koenji while handing over the instrument.
"I am not interested. You may ignore me," Polishing his fingernails, Kouenji then blew on his fingertips.
"Are you scared of losing to me? Well, it's understandable after seeing a value like this."
He made such a cheap provocation, but Koenji did not intend to respond as he did not turn to look at him.
"Tch... hey, Ayanokouji."
"No, I can do it later."
"Huh? You too? Don't fuck around. Do it in order".
"Hey, Sudou. About how much would be the average for a high school student?"
"Huh? I don't know. Shouldn't it be around 60?"
No, 45 or 50 kg is the average.
"60, huh...?"
"I can't; I can't move it any further."
"I got 60.6."
I uninterestedly reported it like that.
"Heh... you're pretty strong, Ayanokouji-kun."
"Ehh? No, that's about average, right? Was it such a remarkable value?"
"I think the average is lower than that, though. I'd say about 45 or around 50?"
"Hirata. I got 42.6. Give me a little bonus and make it 50," Ike said.
Ike comes over to report. It was a request for a not-so-little bonus. Even as he smiles bitterly, Hirata writes down 42.6 in the notebook.
Sotomura got 41, and Miyamoto, who came afterward, got 48; indeed, there were a lot of results under 50.
"I see... so 60 was high..."
"Your turn, Kagurazaka-kun," Hirata said, passing the gripping measuring instrument to me.
I could outshine Sudou. But he seemed pumped about the sports festival and was ready to prove his worth to the class.
The digital values quickly increased, surpassing 50 and reaching 60 before climbing to 70. Finally, the value displayed digitally was 79.9 kg, causing a brief commotion among those present.
Can you please not cause an uproar? It isn't a big deal.
As a result, leaving aside Kouenji, I ended up in 2nd place in the class.
Next up, 3rd place is Ayanokouji with 60.6 kg.
On the other hand, Sudou, who intends on carrying the entire class to the sports festival, did not hide his disappointment at the results of his classmates.
"How unreliable, my class that is.....except for me, everyone else is like trash. It might as well be over after Ayanokouji."
Even if it's a fact, that he can say that with the people in question beside him is one of the fantastic things about Sudou.
After the boys finished measuring, they handed the measuring instrument to the girls. I suppose it's evident since there are mixed competitions where strength will be required of them just as it is of the boys.
Currently, Hirata is filling in the total measured results into the Recommended Only Participation events frame and putting them together in the notebook.
"Tug of war and omnidirectional tug of war can simply be in the order of grip strength. Sudou-kun, Ayanokouji-kun, Kagurazaka-kun, and Miyake-kun."
Alright, I'm leaving.
~Timeskip~
Workout center
Manabu's POV
It was four in the morning when I arrived at the gym. I was preparing myself for the sports festival to keep myself in shape.
Walking over to the workout equipment, I saw I wasn't the only one there.
This is the first time I've seen Kagurazaka here. He must be preparing for the sports festival. He was looking at the slip bag that was meant for dodging.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a black fabric. He put it over his eyes and tied it around his head.
I've seen videos of people doing this, but I have never seen someone do it in real life.
Kagurazaka began his workout, bobbing, weaving, and dodging gracefully. He would hit the bag before going back to maneuvering around the bag.
He continued to do this for a little longer before he stopped. I think I can talk with him before I work out.
"Kagurazaka-kun," I called out.
Kagurazaka took the blindfold off and looked at me, 'Oh, Student Council President.'
"You seemed to be proficient with dodging. Do you know any martial arts or fighting styles?" I asked.
He nodded and stared at me.
It looks like he won't elaborate any further. That's fine. I have another question to ask.
"I heard about your encounter with Nagumo-san," I stared at him with a severe expression.
'He targeted me first.'
"Was it necessary to hit him in the face with a volleyball and flip him off?" I asked.
Kagurazaka nodded.
I should be worried, but I feel Kagurazaka can handle himself.
"I could use a spotter while I work out. How about it?" I ask.
'Okay.'
~Timeskip~
Kagurazaka's POV
I heard something strange went on at the public baths. I didn't want to know what was happening and was glad I didn't go.
The sports festival was in a week, and we had to finalize our participation list and decide who would participate in each event. Hirata was on the platform while Kushida organized everything on the blackboard with chalk.
"Then, from now on, I'd like to decide on the final pairings for all events and contests."
He referred to the daily class records, discussed the best pairings, and incorporated the winning strategy to determine the roles and order for everyone in the contests. Each person memorized their part and placed it in the order.
There wasn't a single student who objected to this outcome that was based on their feats up until now. They all proceeded without bickering.
"For the 1200 meter relay at the end, the anchor will be Sudou-kun then."
"Sounds reasonable."
In all likelihood, a more ideal combination could not be thought up by the other students. However, the dweller in the seat next to mine stared unconvincedly at the blackboard.
Right after the discussion ended smoothly, Horikita stood up from her seat. As I wondered where exactly she was headed off to, it turned out to be in front of Sudou's seat.
I became curious and eavesdropped.
"What's the matter?"
"There's something I want to discuss. Can you come with me?".
"S-Sure"
Sudou, having been called out like that, hurriedly stands up.
"Also, Hirata-kun, may I have some of your time too?"
For some reason, Horikita, who started walking off right afterward, also called out to Hirata and called him towards the rear of the classroom. Sudou, who must have been surprised for a moment there, quickly became disappointed.
"I have one thing to discuss regarding the participation table we decided on earlier. It's about the 1200-meter relay that will take place at the end of the sports festival. I'd like you to hand over the anchor position to me".
Sudou showed momentary confusion in response to that unexpected assertion.
"No, but... The anchor is usually handled by the fastest one. Or are you uneasy with having me as the anchor?"
"No, that's not it. From practice, I understand well your abilities."
"Then it's fine if it's me. If it's the 5th runner, then..."
"It's not like I don't have a reason. You're good with the starting dash, too, Sudou-kun. In that case, having you be the 1st runner and cast aside our opponents would be a viable strategy.
In other words, Horikita wants to set Sudou as the 1st runner for an outrun strategy.
"But..."
"The anchor is usually left to the guy who's fastest in the team, right?"
"This is a meritocratic school. It's no good to decide based on assumptions and preconceptions. The other classes should also be thinking of various strategies."
"I will produce better results than in practice."
Ultimately, Horikita brought forth a gut feeling without any basis and made her request.
"I can't agree. It's unlike you, Horikita-san," Sudou cut into the conversation.
"Umm...can I say something?"
Perhaps she got curious about the discussion, and Kushida reservedly joined in.
"Ahh, sorry. I overheard a bit. And that's why I thought maybe there's some other reason why Horikita-san wants to be the anchor."
"That is..."
"If that's the case, then would you mind telling us? I don't think neither I nor Sudou-kun are rejecting it meaninglessly. But if we're changing the order everyone in the class decided on, I'd like to hear a proper reason."
"I agree with Hirata. Please give us a proper reason."
Horikita made a complicated face. But perhaps she thought the only way to obtain the anchor position was to speak the truth; she began talking about her reason.
"Because I think my brother... is the anchor..."
"Your brother, that's... the student council president..."
"Yes, he's my brother."
It's the student council president whose existence everyone is aware of, but not everyone made the connection from the surname Horikita.
All three of them showed surprised expressions at that fact.
"You want to become the anchor alongside your brother, is that it?".
Kushida heard her reason, but just by that alone, it didn't seem like she understood. However, Horikita did not speak any further about her personal affairs. Ayanokouji decided to extend a bit of a helping hand to her.
"A lot of things happened, and they're currently estranged. She probably wants an opportunity to reconcile with him."
Horikita glared at Ayanokouji for cutting into the conversation.
"I was wondering what's the matter all of a sudden, but that's how it is then... As for me, I still want to be the anchor even now, but if that's the case, then I don't mind handing it over to you."
"I think it's also fine. If Sudou-kun's satisfied, I'm sure everyone in the class will be fine with it too, won't they?"
"That's right. I got it; I'll submit it after swapping Horikita-san and Sudou-kun. Will that be fine?"
"Thank you..."
It feels like I've been getting ignored by Horikita and Ayanokouji. I wonder if I did something to upset them...
*******