.......
Basketball
Required Participants: 5 Persons
Allotted Time: 20 Minutes (Two 10-Minute Halves)
Rules: Standard basketball rules apply.
Commander: The commander can switch out one player at any point in the game.
......
It was a five-on-five sporting event, which class C had selected.
In total, seven events were to be competed on, and each class had selected 5 events according to their own expertise and practice.
The 7 events were to be randomly selected, which means either of the classes would have an advantage if the number of their events selected is more.
For instance, if 4 events from class C and 3 from class A are selected, then it's definitely an advantage for class C, because the events they put in are the ones in which they have confidence that they can win.
In other words, class C has to win this event at all cost.
"Sakagami-sensei, are students permitted to speak freely with one another?" asked Sakayanagi.
"There aren't any rules specifically forbidding it. Please feel free."
At this point, Hoshinomiya would have made her remark, perhaps by pitying on Yamauchi, but she has witnessed him making a contract with Sakayanagi herself.
Hence, all she did was observe the conversation for the time being.
Moreover, the teachers were not allowed to converse too, it seemed.
The commander's role was crucial in this special exam, for which, they have to remain mentally stable and sharp, the whole time to make better decisions.
Sakayanagi understood it well, and started her verbal attack on Yamauchi.
"Well, it seems Class C has chosen to compete in a fair number of sporting events, just as expected. Considering that you have few academically skilled students, I suppose that's understandable. And I'm sure Sudou-kun is your key player for basketball, hm? He is one of the best basketball players at this school. I have a feeling we won't stand a chance of winning, with our inferior team."
"Well, I suppose so." replied Yamauchi.
"I was not sure before, but from your reply and reaction, it seems like I am correct about your plan of action."
"I don't think it's that hard to deduce though. Everyone knows about Sudo and his basketball proficiency. "
"Oh, no. It seems like you haven't realized it at all, Yamauchi-kun. There are many athletic players in your class, unlike us. So, you can make any kind of plan to through us off in this event. However, from your confirmation, I can rest assured that you are following the pattern we expected the most, and practiced for it."
"....What if I don't follow that plan, and make a very unexpected draft right now? You shouldn't have revealed your intention right from the start, you know."
"Fu fu. I never said that, it was the only pattern we practiced against though."
"!!!!"
"However, I am sure that you would choose him as the ace player and the other athletic students in your class for this event."
".....And why's that?"
"Yamauchi-kun, you know the reason very well. Hoshinomiya-sensei here, is also aware of the reason, as to why you would go according to the pre-determined plan."
At this somewhat sarcastic remark, Yamauchi remained silent.
His expression had already turned a little serious just from this conversation.
"The clock is ticking. While I did tell you that you're free to speak, please do not neglect the task at hand," he stated.
Sakagami reminded both of them of the current task at hand.
Once the commanders were both done making their team selections, the students who would be playing basketball from both classes were displayed on the screen at the same time.
Class A chose Machida Kouji, Toba Shigeru, Kamuro Masumi, Shimizu Naoki, and Kitou Hayato as their five players.
While, there was no mention about the gender proportion in this event, it was fairly reasonable to lineup an athletic girl over some random unathletic boy.
Hence, class A had Kamuro Masumi, a pretty athletic girl, and the right hand of Sakayanagi, in this event.
On the other hand, class C's players were Sudo Ken, the ace player of their lineup; Minami Setsuya; Ike Kanji; Makida Susume; and Onodera Kayano.
They also had an athletic girl, Onodera, in the event.
While, Onodera specialized in swimming, it wasn't any stretch to say that she can perform well in any sports event.
Moreover, almost everyone in class C's team was pretty good in sports, which showed their desperation to win this event at all costs, as Sakayanagi had predicted.
Upon seeing the lineup, Sakayanagi chuckled a little. while Hoshinomiya heaved a long sigh.
"Well, it seems like class C has this event in their bag. Howsoever we practice, it's not like we can hope to win against the best basketball player in our grade."
Sakayanagi seemed to be taunting Yamauchi, but he remained silent.
"No reply, hm?"
Yamauchi still remained silent, staring seriously into his monitor.
"By the way, I heard that class C had a small dispute just the other day. Is that true, Yamauchi-kun?"
Upon hearing this, Yamauchi finally raised his head in astonishment.
The rechecking incident of class C was confidential, and was revealed to a few trusted teachers only.
Hence, there was no way of knowing about it, for students of other classes, unless, someone from class C leaked this piece of information.
Hoshinomiya also wanted to know about it, but looking at Sakagami's glaring, she refrained from asking.
"Oh, I was right on the spot then. Fu fu ~ , it seems like class C was having quite a bit of fun. Anyway, good luck, Yamauchi-kun. I hope Sudo-kun returns with flying colours."
On the other side of the monitor, preparations were quickly underway.
The game would be starting before long.
In the meantime, all the commanders could do was stand by and watch things unfold.
The only thing they could do in this event was see how things were going and substitute one player.
That one decision, however, could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Once the whistle sounded, the nerve-wracking 10-minute first half of the game began.
Class C had gone through a phase of destruction before this special exam.
Horikita had tried to mend things somehow, but the situation didn't get any better.
So, apart from individual practice, there was almost few to none combined practice matches, done by the assigned players of class C, prior to the exam.
Hence, just by looking at the initial half of the match, it was clear that there was no coordination among class C's players.
On the other hand, class A's players were surely inexperienced, but their coordination was good.
However, Sudo Ken, was not the best basketball player in their grade for nothing.
He crushed class A singlehandedly, in the initial stages of first half, getting a large lead of 12-5.
Kitou was class A's ace player, and it seemed like he was trying to keep up with Sudo's fluid movements.
But, Sudo was just too good in his own right, for which it seemed like all of Kitou's attempts to flank their defense failed.
At the end of first half, class C had a lead of 16-6.
It was mostly possible because of Sudo.
The other inexperienced players of class C weren't contributing much.
In fact, Ike made a few mistakes too, getting in Sudo's way.
But, overcoming each and every odds stacked against them, class C won the first half of the event.
However, the smirk-like smile on Sakayanagi's face hadn't faded yet.
Surely, it seemed like this event was pretty much class C's win, because of their monstrous lead in the first half itself.
And this was an event class C picked, so they had to win this.
But, Sakayanagi saw an opportunity in their desperation.
And she would surely exploit it thoroughly.
"Seeing this up close, Sudo-kun is really a good basketball player." remarked Sakayanagi.
"Welp, that's how it is. You should just focus on the next event.", replied Yamauchi with a smirk on his face as well.
"Fu fu~ Why the rush, Yamauchi-kun? The match is still not over yet."
"What do you mean?"
"You will see in a few minutes. I don't want to spoil the fun for you."
And hence, the whistle blowed again, starting the second half.
None of the commanders switched any player in between.
So the original players of the first half got in their position.
Sudo kept on pushing from the start.
They already had a huge lead, which made him feel confident.
Perhaps overly confident.
By the momentum, he was scoring one after another, it was evident that he would solely, take class C towards victory.
However, things always don't go the way you hope them to.
It was obvious from the start that Sakayanagi had some kind of trick.
The match became more and more intense by each second.
Mistakes were piling up one after another, and spectators became more and more focused on this nerve wrecking match.
Sudo along with Makida and Onodera kept up the offensive.
Despite Ike making mistakes, they tried their best to keep up their momentum of scoring goals.
And the result was in front of everyone, at last.
Class A won the basketball event, with the score 26-30, by the end of second half.