'...': Writing
'...': Sign language
"...": Text to speech
Silence...
Nobody said a word after what transpired on the field. There was no cheering, crying out in frustration, or the wind blowing after the strange event everyone witnessed.
"W-What was that...?" Mori was the brave person to ask the question.
Everyone's undivided attention was on a mute guy with a crow on his shoulder. The pigeons and squirrels scattered and ran away.
What he displayed broke all common sense.
Cheers broke out at the spectacle that Kagurazaka displayed on the field.
Kagurazaka's POV
A sigh escaped my lips. The attention was a bit much.
Sudou punched my shoulder, "Damn... I thought you were joking about bonding with animals."
I do enjoy my walks.
"I'm feeling fired up after watching Ryuuen getting attacked like that!" Sudou roared.
"I don't want to dampen the mood," Hirata said, "Ryuuen had something in his hair."
Hirata showed us his hand, and there was a clear and sticky fluid. Ayanokouji touched his fingertips, "Hair gel?" Ayanokouji pondered.
"That bastard...!" I thought Sudou would turn on his heels and confront Ryuuen, but he sighed, tired of all the bullshit.
Kanzaki's POV
That Kagurazaka guy is an enigma. I wasn't expecting to get ambushed by a bunch of pigeons.
"That was embarrassing..." A sheepish smile formed on Shibata's face.
"Yes, but the unorthodox and unique," I said, "There are no rules about animals."
Shibata laughed, "That's true! He thought outside of the box."
"Are you guys okay?!" Ichinose called out to us.
"We are fine," I told her.
"Speak for yourself," Hamaguchi groaned, "Squirrels didn't bombard you."
"Well, one thing is for certain... If there's ever an exam with animals, I think I know who will be our toughest competition," I said.
We looked at Kagurazaka, who was ignoring his classmates, not trying to pay them attention.
Manabe's POV
I should be rooting for our class, but I felt some satisfaction watching Ryuuen getting attacked by animals.
"Did you guys see that?" Saki asked with her infinite amount of energy.
"For the fifth time... Yes!" I was getting annoyed.
I could hear Nanami and Rika giggling.
"It was like he had a superpower to command animals. Do you think I could do that?!" Saki asked.
"No."
Saki clutched her chest, "Your denial hurts..." She pretended to faint.
"B-but I think it's cute... He can bond with wild animals..." A blush appeared on Rika's face.
Don't tell me she has a crush on that annoying bastard... There's nothing good about him!
"Shiho-san, your face is turning red," Nanami wiggled her eyebrows.
"It's the sun!" I argued.
Like I said, there's nothing good about him...
Sakayanagi's POV
Fufufu, I was thoroughly entertained by the chaos that ensued before my eyes. I hoped for Katsuragi's downfall, but you can't win some.
"What do you think, Kamuro-san?" I asked my assistant.
"About what?" Kamuro asked.
"I'm talking about Kagurazaka-kun. What do you think about him?" I ask.
Kamuro scoffed, "A problem."
"Fufufu, interesting," I laughed, "Fukuyama-san."
The sleepy girl perked her head up, looking at me tiredly, "Yes?" A yawn escaped her lips.
"What do you think about him?" I ask.
A tired smile appeared, "He's unique... nice and strong..."
Kamuro rolled her eyes, "All he did was protect a volleyball from hitting you."
"Fufufu," I laughed, "She's a sleepy fair maiden that found her knight in shining armor."
Kamuro groaned, causing me to giggle.
~Timeskip~
3rd POV
The morning half of the sports festival ended as it was lunch break—a tall, beautiful woman with long platinum blonde hair stopped before Class D's tent.
She was searching for someone. The students were wondering what she was doing.
"Umm," Kushida tried to get a word in, but Kiryuuin spoke.
"I'm looking for someone, and I found him," Kiryuuin walked into the tent as she owned it.
Kiryuuin walked over to Kagurazaka, who was feeding the squirrels peanuts.
Everyone looked confused or shocked by this.
She leaned in close, "We are eating lunch together," she declared.
Kagurazaka stopped what he was doing and slowly turned his head to look at Kiryuuin.
"Let's go," she grabbed Kagurazaka's wrist, dragging him out of the tent.
'Someone save me! I'm getting kidnapped!' Kagurazaka signed.
"What did I witness?" Ike addressing the situation.
"A kidnapping," Ayanokouji answered.
Kagurazaka's POV
Do I not get a say in this? I could feel the other students staring at me while I was getting dragged by Kiryuuin.
"Yoo-hoo, Kiryuuin-san!" A girl called out to her.
It seemed Ichinose was with her.
"Oh, I'm Asahina Nazuna. It's nice to meet you, Kagurazaka-kun," the girl introduced herself.
I'm glad I didn't need to introduce myself.
There's a problem with me being with three beautiful girls. It was a disaster when I could feel others staring at me.
It was mostly the guys glaring at me. I understand why they're doing it, but I don't believe it's my fault.
~Timeskip~
So, this is making a more significant impact than I was expecting. People were paying attention to us while eating luxury bento boxes ordered outside the school's grounds.
"You amazed me, kouhai," Kiryuuin said, grinning.
'Me?'
"Yeah, how did you do it?" Asahina added, "Get the animals to listen to you."
"Secret."
"Boo," Asahina gave me a thumbs-down before giggling.
"Fufufu, I hope you don't mind us joining," a voice said.
I whipped my head to see Sakayanagi with a smug smile, Kamuro looking annoyed, while Fukuyama looked sleepy as usual with a blanket wrapped around her.
"I have no problem with it," Ichinose smiled brightly.
"Join us," Asahina smiled sweetly.
Kiryuuin grinned, shrugging.
They looked at me for my answer. What I said didn't matter because I was outvoted, so I stayed silent.
"It's a yes from our kouhai," Kiryuuin's grin widened.
You would say that.
"I'm glad we can eat lunch with you, senpais," Sakayanagi said.
Another problem arises...
Fukuyama sat beside me, wrapping her blanket around us, and rested her head on my shoulder.
She fell asleep...
Sakayanagi giggles, "Aren't you special? You get to share a blanket and become Fukuyama-san's pillow."
"Looks like kouhai is making a harem," Kiryuuin grinned.
That's something Ichihashi would say.
Kamuro was looking at me with disgust.
"I'm more comfortable with girls than guys."
"Oh? Why is that?" Asahina tilted her head.
"I didn't have friends, so I spent most of my time with my aunt or stepmother."
"What about your father?" Ichinose asked.
"I spend time with him, too."
"How long are you going to stare at me, Kiryuuin-senpai?"
"There's nothing wrong with looking at kouhai's handsome face," Kiryuuin shamelessly said.
"You know... I would have to agree with you, Kiryuuin-san," Asahina giggled, "What do you think, Ichinose-san?"
A blush appeared on Ichinose's face as she tried to stammer an answer, "Well... Umm... Yes..." She looked down as her face turned beet red.
Kiryuuin burst out laughing while Sakayanagi was giggling.
"You precious thing," Asahina cooed, hugging Ichinose.
So, I'm hanging out with a significant sister figure, a narcissist, a smug girl, a sweet and social butterfly, a tired woman, and an annoyed woman... This isn't bad.
Horikita's POV
Nurse's office
I went to the nurse's office by myself. I was feeling battered and bruised through everything I'd been through.
"Sensei, what's my condition?" I asked.
"Participating in any more events will be quite difficult, considering the severity of your injury."
That's what I was afraid of... If I took part in any event, I'd never win, no matter how hard I tried. Kagurazaka's words echoed in my head...
A liability, huh?
"Do you plan on participating in the Recommended Only Participation events?"
"Yes. That was the plan. But I think I'll be bidding farewell to any participation. I'll only be liable for my class because I can see if I participate with my leg in this condition."
"That is a wise decision."
I am fortunate to have accumulated many points from previous exams. Even if I cannot participate in all three planned contests, I can compensate for my absence. Preparing a substitute for each match comes to 300,000 points, which is quite expensive.
However, if it increases the chance of our class winning, I will decide to proceed. Although, sadly, I won't be able to run alongside my brother, it is not essential now. Who I can trust to take on the substitute role matters now.
After receiving treatment at the infirmary, I expressed my gratitude and left. As I made my way towards the main entrance, I caught a glimpse of myself in the window glass. Seeing myself limping and feeling pathetic, I tightened my lips. Although I suspect Kinoshita-san for calling out my name, I know I have no one to blame but myself for falling and getting injured. There's no denying that fact.
Despite my discomfort, I maintained a calm demeanor and continued walking. As I was about to exit through the main entrance, Kushida-san came running towards me in a state of panic.
"I'm glad I could find you, Horikita-san. Umm, there's something I'd like to talk about," she said.
"Can this wait?" I asked.
"Umm... sorry, but this isn't a good place. Would you please hear me out? It looks like it's going to be problematic."
"Can you please explain here? I'll decide after hearing what this problem is," I replied, annoyed.
After looking around, Kushida-san whispered to me, "Umm, you see, Kinoshita-san, who ran into you and collapsed, suffered a serious injury. Right now, it looks bad enough that she can't even get up, that's why... Kinoshita-san is saying she'd like you to go see her".
Hearing those words, I couldn't conceal my surprise. Indeed, she did seem injured, but to think such a thing happened.
"I'll talk to her."
~Timeskip~
When I returned, once again, to the infirmary, Chabashira-sensei was there inside the room. The teacher in charge of the infirmary opened her mouth, "That's a relief; I was just about to say I barely missed Horikita-san."
Standing beside me, Kushida listened in on the teachers' conversation with a slightly uneasy look.
"What is this about?"
As I was lying in bed, I heard the sound of someone crying. Chabashira-sensei opened the curtain to reveal Kinoshita-san from Class C lying on the bed. After swiftly closing the curtain, I was called out into the hallway.
"Kinoshita-san ran into you during the morning's obstacle course race and fell. Do you recall that?"
"Of course. She ran into me and fell after all."
That incident ended up throwing a wrench into my sports festival.
"It's about that... Kinoshita is saying that you, Horikita, deliberately caused her to fall."
For an instant, I couldn't comprehend what she was saying.
"I'm sorry, but it wasn't intentional."
"If it wasn't?"
"No... it's just a coincidence".
"Although I want to believe you are innocent, the situation seems unfavorable. Kinoshita stated that you frequently looked back at her during the race. After reviewing the video footage, we confirmed that you did check Kinoshita's position twice," Chabashira-sensei explained.
"That is because she's the one who repeatedly called out my name. That's why I looked back," I replied.
"Oh, I understand that she called out your name. But there is a severe issue at hand. She has accused you of forcefully kicking her in the shin. As a result, she was absent from all the following competitions. Furthermore, a teacher examined her injury, which seemed quite severe. It appears that the injury was intentionally inflicted."
"It's also just as groundless if I claim the severe injuries were inflicted accidentally when we fell. I didn't do anything."
"Of course, I believe in your innocence," Chabashira-sensei said, "But if we have no proof, we must consider the matter. The teachers already know about this; if it continues to drag on, the Student Council will hear of it. Just like Sudou's case earlier this year."
If this situation persists, my brother will eventually find out about it. He will most likely think I am being immature by causing trouble. However, since I know I am innocent, I have no choice but to keep fighting. Even if Ryuuen-kun is behind this or if it is just a coincidence, I cannot risk telling lies.
If you're calling to confirm the truth, I've already stated it. I didn't do anything wrong. I have urgent business to attend to; may I be excused?"
I wanted to get out of here, but I didn't have a choice because of what Chabashira-sensei said next.
"Considering the recent circumstances, it may be more comforting to assume that Kinoshita's absence from recent competitions is intentional rather than a coincidence. It appears that she hasn't been able to participate in any subsequent events after the obstacle course race. Probably, she won't be able to participate in future Recommended Only Participation events, especially given the state of her injured leg. It's worth noting that Kinoshita is a talented athlete, and her speed may even rival or exceed yours. It's challenging to believe that her injuries were purely coincidental."
Even if she says something like that, I'm still innocent, so it can't be helped. It's easy to say I'm naive, but the clock's ticking. Right now, I cannot afford to waste time on something like this.
"I've decided to withdraw from the Recommended Only Participation events, regardless of my performance in the obstacle course race. While my ranking may not be up to par, I'm okay with being marked absent like Kinoshita-san. I want to clarify that I did not intentionally cause her fall or injury."
"Would it be okay if I were to speak to her alone?" I ask.
"I don't think it's the best idea..."
"Kukuku, it's become quite a big problem."
"Ryuuen-kun..."
Why is he here right now? Shaking away my confusion, I feigned calmness. But as though he had seen through it, he laughed sneeringly and stopped before us.
"I came here after Kinoshita asked for me. To think someone would have deliberately caused that injury of hers."
Without any verbal communication, he passed by us and entered the infirmary. We quickly followed and found Ryuuen ignoring the teacher's efforts to intervene. He pulled back the curtain that was concealing Kinoshita-san's bed.
"Hey, Kinoshita. Are you okay? Looks like you've been through some tough times."
Seeing Ryuuen-kun, Kinoshita-san openly trembled in fear.
"I hear you've injured your leg. Show me," he said before he pulled Kinoshita-san's leg out from beneath the sheets.
"This is bad. Not half bad, all things considered..." Under Ryuuen's hand was Kinoshita's painful-looking leg wrapped up in bandages, "You did this on purpose, didn't you?" Ryuuen asked me.
"Stop joking around. Do you believe that I would do something like this?"
"It's impossible to predict someone's actions. Plus, let's consider the facts. Kinoshita, more skilled than you in sports, sustained severe injuries and had to withdraw from the competitions. Additionally, she planned to participate in all the Recommended Only Participation events later. On the other hand, you kept participating in the contests even though you were injured. It's difficult for me not to be suspicious of that."
His speech made me more aware of him.
I can't help but wonder if Kinoshita-san colliding with me was intentional, perhaps to throw off suspicion due to her superior athleticism. However, this could only lead to further doubt. What possible gain could be from having her collide with me when she is far more likely to earn points?
Additionally, if she plans to participate in all the Recommended Participation Only events, Class C will lose up to 400,000 points. Is this all to crush me and revel in victory? It seems unlikely that someone would injure their classmate, pay the price for it, and lower their chances of winning for that sole purpose. I can't seem to find any meaning in such an inefficient act based on my life experience so far.
"What are you thinking about so quietly?" Ryuuen asked.
"Well, even if we have our little back-and-forth, it won't do us any good. Right, Kinoshita-san?"
In the middle of it, Ryuuen-kun forcefully urges Kinoshita-san to speak.
"Horikita-san, you told me after I fell I definitely won't win,"
"I said no such thing. Are you even aware that you're spouting lies?" I fired back, "Do you have no shame?" Or was this some elaborate plan by Ryuuen-kun? I can't help but find it strange he coincidentally showed up when all of us were meeting."
"Wow, you're doing this now," Ryuuen said, "You're blaming me because I'm worried about a classmate."
"Umm... Kinoshita-san, Ryuuen-kun. I think it's unfortunate that things turned out like this, but I don't think Horikita-san is the type to injure her opponent like this deliberately," Kushida said.
"I'm sorry, but I'm short on time and can't continue this conversation at a relaxed pace. After the lunch break, I have a Recommended Participation Only event to attend, so I'd like to end things here. It's best to let the higher-ups make the final decision."
He looked at us, "Unless you want to strike a quick and easy deal."
"A deal?" I asked.
"I'm talking about you shouldering any losses incurred by Kinoshita and Class C."
"If you're telling a joke, then I'm not laughing," I glared at him.
"Then we're done. You won't strike a deal, but you're telling us not to report this to the bigwigs. That's too selfish of you, Suzune. This won't fly."
"Wait. What exactly should we do?" Kushida listens to Ryuuen's proposal.
"It seems like you have a good understanding of the situation. One potential solution is offering 1 million points to persuade Kinoshita to withdraw her complaint. Then, we can arrange a substitute for the Recommended Only Participation events and provide Kinoshita with my special income. Would this be a straightforward solution?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I haven't done anything. I don't need to hand a single point over," I was standing my ground.
"Then go ahead and prove it, Suzune. Let's make a clear distinction between black and white. We're going to prove that we aren't lying. Let's have the Student Council President-sama deliver his judgment".
I believe Ryuuen-kun suspects something between me and the student council president. His tone implies that he wants to provoke me. However, I can't do anything that would cause trouble for my brother. If rumors about the student council president's sister's disruptive behavior and injuries spread, it could harm my brother. Unfortunately, there seems to be no escape from this trap.
Sudou-kun pretended to be a victim in the past, but Ryuuen-kun made the entire student body witness and played the victim, giving him an advantage. Moreover, Kinoshita-san is as athletic as I am, and video footage of me turning around looks suspicious. Additionally, Kinoshita-san planned to participate in all the Recommended Only Participation events and sustained severe injuries, leaving me no room to recover. The timing of the trip was perfect, making it seem more truthful.
I now realize this is an encircling net meant to be used against me, and the situation has crossed the point of no return. Carelessly approaching this sports festival was a mistake, and I still have several unknowns to consider.
"Umm... Would it be no good with just my points alone, Ryuuen-kun? I don't think Horikita-san would do something like this on purpose. So, I don't want to make a big deal out of it. But I don't think Kinoshita-san would lie either. Maybe it's just a coincidence. That's why I'm unsure what to think," Kushida said.
"As a member of Class C, I find Suzune's treatment of Kinoshita worrisome and possibly malicious. To restore justice, I think Suzune should offer compensation. However, I won't stop you if you also want to contribute. We should prioritize maintaining a fair and respectful friendship."
If a solution isn't found soon, the situation will only worsen. However, I can't give up just yet. Ryuuen-kun is ordering Kinoshita around, trying to snap her out of her daze. Despite her pained expression, Kinoshita manages to sit up.
Now, I'm left with a decision: confront Ryuuen and seek the truth or settle for a compromise. Although I'd prefer the former, it may prove impossible to uncover the truth, and pursuing it would only be a waste of time and trust. In that case, perhaps striking a deal with Ryuuen-kun is the best option.
I desperately call out to them, pleading for them to stay, "Wait..."
That word reached Ryuuen. They stopped walking.
"What is it, Suzune? You have no intention of responding to a discussion, right?".
"If I pay, then you'll make it so that this never happened, right?"
"So you're admitting you committed foul play to win?".
"I won't admit that because I'm not lying."
"Then this is strange. What exactly will you be paying for then?"
"This time, I lost to your strategy. That's why I'll be paying for that, is what I mean," it's humiliating, but I couldn't say anything except that.
"Did you hear that, Kinoshita? She doesn't think she's done anything wrong at all. Can you forgive her?"
"I won't forgive her," Kinoshita muttered.
"Hear that? Unless you acknowledge your fault sincerely, we have no intention of responding."
"It's possible that you have your reasons for not wanting to speak up, maybe because of pride or concern about how others may perceive you. Nonetheless, I am happy to help however I can, as I believe in fairness and helpfulness. It's uncertain if Kinoshita will accept my perspective."
He manipulated the situation with a devilish smile, toying with my emotions. I need to escape this situation quickly.
"If I pay a million points, you'll make it so that nothing happened; that's what you said. There are no other conditions, right?"
"Certainly. But that was only the case a while ago. You declined once, right? The same conditions won't apply now. If this is to be the second round of negotiations, the conditions will naturally change."
How far does Ryuuen-kun intend to attack while provoking me?
"That's right. Try kneeling and begging right here. Maybe Kinoshita's feelings and my own might change."
"Wait, Ryuuen. This is too much," Chabashira-sensei said.
In response to Ryuuen-kun, who requested I kowtow, Chabashira-sensei, who had been a spectator, opened her mouth.
"Teachers shouldn't butt into this. This is a problem between us students," Ryuuen, who showed no fear even against teachers, said as a follow-up, "Well, I won't force you to make a decision right away. A teacher's eye is also on us. That's why I'll hear your answer once the sports festival ends. Will you end this with a million points and a kowtow, or will you revive this matter and have the school deliberate on it? Which one will you choose?".
He continued, "Don't think this problem will be over just because the sports festival ends, okay? I'll dig this matter back up thoroughly, no matter what, and fight against you. After school, you bring Suzune to me," Ryuuen said to Kushida.
Ryuuen and Kinoshita both left the infirmary. Having been left behind, I stood while feeling a sense of loss.
~Timeskip~
"I'm pathetic," I muttered.
I made a mistake. I was self-centered when I chose to participate in the sports festival. I didn't know that Ryuuen could access our participation list and was plotting something to make me fail. I was taken aback and had no idea what to do. My emotions got the best of me, and I couldn't find a way out. I feel lost and confused, and my steps feel heavier than ever.
I saw a familiar face, and I would've commonly ignored or cowered away from them, but this time, it was different, "Big brother..." I whispered.
I whispered my words, unsure if he heard me, as they faded into silence. The student council president, who happens to be my older brother, was present, along with Secretary Tachibana, a fellow student council member.
Although she noticed me, my brother didn't even acknowledge my presence, which wasn't surprising as I'm used to being ignored by him. Even though I wanted to talk to him, I knew I didn't have the right or qualification to do so while I was still in Class D. I kept my head down and endured the situation, knowing my brother wouldn't stop for me anyway. However, something unexpected happened...
"Do you understand exactly what sort of situation Class D is in right now in this exam?"
"I am currently realizing it."
Honestly, I made a mistake. I didn't anticipate the list of participants being leaked, so I wasted my time. In addition, Class C outsmarted me with the details of the individual contests.
"But please do not worry---I won't be troubling you."
I need to avoid such actions. The incident was entirely my fault, and fortunately, he offered to settle it with a million points and a kowtow. Chabashira-sensei witnessed it so it wouldn't become a disaster. This may be for the best, as it won't cause any trouble for my brother.
However, I regret not having a proper conversation with him. My dream of doing so during the final relay disappeared due to a leg injury. Even if he sees me in this condition, my brother won't sympathize with me. Nonetheless, I'm trying to stay positive as I have nothing to lose after being defeated severely. I still have some capability to perform in this sports festival.
"Please excuse me."
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