Chapter 26 - Final Lap Triumph: The Relay Race Decider

Time was passing quickly, and with it had come the final event of the sports festival: the 1200-meter relay race, where students from all years would compete. Each class had to select four students—two girls and two boys—to participate. The order of the runners would be decided by themselves.For Kayden's class, the chosen runners were Kayden, Honami, Shibata, and Minamikata, all of whom had shown the best athletic performance. As the teams lined up, Kayden took his place as the anchor, the final position. With his almost superhuman speed, it was obvious he would close the race. Shibata would start the relay to gain the initial advantage, followed by Minamikata and then Honami. Finally, Kayden would close the relay. That was the order for Class A.As the students stretched and prepared for the start of the event, Kayden noticed some familiar faces who would also be in the anchor position."Look who it is," Kayden said, looking towards Horikita Manabu. "The student council president.""Osawa," Horikita replied, addressing Kayden. "I see you'll also be the anchor. It was to be expected.""Just like you," Kayden responded with a smile. "It seems you've also led your class well. Your victory seems assured."The third-year Class A had shown overwhelming superiority over the other classes, thanks to Horikita's impeccable leadership."I could say the same about you," Horikita replied calmly. "Your class probably has the victory secured, and I'm not just referring to the sports festival."Kayden understood Horikita's reference, alluding to the class point difference between them."In this world, nothing is set in stone," Kayden shrugged. "Who knows? My class might fall due to some surprise.""I don't see that as possible," Horikita said, her tone as serious as always. "Overcoming a point difference of more than a thousand is unrealistic. But you're right about one thing: surprises can always occur."Horikita's gaze briefly shifted to a student from Kayden's year, another anchor in the race. That subtle look did not escape Kayden, who watched with interest.But that interest was abruptly interrupted as the race was about to begin. Kayden diverted his gaze, focusing once again on the start of the event. The initial runners lined up in their positions, tense and focused.The first leg of the relay race was about to start, and the tension in the air was palpable. The teams were formed by four runners each, and the first to run were Shibata from Class A, Sudo from Class C, Hashimoto from Class B, and Ibuki from Class D.Shibata, with a firm and concentrated posture, aligned at the starting line. Sudo, with an energetic attitude, was ready to make the initial push. Hashimoto, with calm focus, watched attentively, while Ibuki, with a determined stance, prepared for the challenge.At the sound of the whistle, the runners burst off the start. Sudo shot out with a great burst of speed, quickly taking the lead. Shibata, more methodical in his approach, kept pace and worked to close the gap.Ibuki, with rapid strides, followed closely, while Hashimoto stayed in the rear but maintained his rhythm. The first lap unfolded with Sudo in the lead, followed by Shibata, who was closing in.As they reached the exchange point, Sudo completed his leg and handed the baton to his teammate. Shibata handed the baton to Minamikata, who was ready to continue the effort. In Class B, Hashimoto passed the baton to his teammate, accelerating to close the distances. Ibuki from Class D was also in action, moving with determination as she passed the baton to her teammate.The second round saw a fierce competition. Minamikata maintained the lead for Class A, while the runner from Class B made a notable effort to close the gap. The race became increasingly exciting as the runners fought to position themselves better.At the next exchange point, Minamikata handed the baton to Honami, who was ready to take on the final challenge. The runner from Class B also made her exchange, trying to catch up with the leaders. Classes C and D made their final exchanges, with their runners demonstrating great determination on the track.The final lap of the relay race was underway. Honami, with a steady pace, maintained a solid lead as she approached the final exchange moment. The tension mounted as she prepared to hand the baton to Kayden, the last runner from Class A, who was ready to take on the final challenge....Kayden watched attentively as the competition began, following the runners' rhythm and evaluating their movements. However, a nearby conversation pulled him out of his focus."Are you serious? Aren't you the type who always wants to remain unnoticed?" Horikita asked with an inquisitive expression."Yes, that's what I want, but you wanted to see what I'm capable of, right?" Ayanokouji replied, unperturbed."Interesting. You know that if you stand out, you'll attract attention, right?" Horikita commented, her voice tinged with curiosity."Yes, I'm aware. So, are you interested in doing it?" Ayanokouji inquired with a calculating look."Of course," Horikita replied, a slight smile forming.Kayden found the conversation quite intriguing. It seemed that the president held high regard for Ayanokouji, which he found curious given Ayanokouji's reserved nature. However, the prospect of competing against the president seemed like a good opportunity to test his skills in a real challenge.Despite this, seeing Honami approaching with impressive speed, Kayden realized he might not have the chance to face Horikita this time. Honami's ability to close gaps quickly was evident, and Kayden preferred not to delay the end of the race, given his desire to finish as quickly as possible.When Kayden took the baton and dashed onto the track, his speed was astounding. He moved with a fluidity and quickness that seemed almost superhuman, leaving a trail of admiration among the spectators. Each stride seemed perfectly synchronized, as if he were dancing to the rhythm of the race.As he approached Nagumo, who had started a few seconds earlier and held the first place, Kayden overtook him with a challenging confidence. As he passed by, he threw a "Slow" with an arrogant smile. Nagumo's face immediately tightened; his eyes widened with surprise and contained fury. His jaw clenched, and a flash of indignation crossed his features as he watched Kayden pull away at an apparently unreachable speed.The wind seemed to yield to Kayden's presence, enveloping him in a gust that accentuated his impressive pace even further. The spectators were left in awe, watching as his figure became a blur on the track. Although Horikita and Ayanokouji also began to run with tremendous speed, trying to catch up with the others, Kayden had already taken the lead and could not be overtaken. As he crossed the finish line, the victory for his team was assured, and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.Kayden, with a slight smile on his face, enjoyed the triumph and the recognition, leaving an indelible mark on everyone present with his skill and audacious performance in the race....The festival had come to an end, and the final results were announced with great anticipation. The tension in the air was palpable as students gathered to learn the outcome of the events.The red group, formed by the union of Classes A and D from all years, had dominated the festival with remarkable ease, surpassing the white group with a clear and decisive advantage. The victory in the relay race was the culmination of an exceptional performance throughout the competition.Regarding the class positions, the results reflected the impact of each team's performance. Class A, with its impressive showing, secured the first place, earning the 50 class points assigned to the top spot. Class D, equally outstanding, maintained its second place position, with no change in its points. Class B, although it put up a good fight, ended in third place, suffering a deduction of 50 points. Finally, Class C finished in the last position, with a reduction of 100 points that left its members disheartened.As the results were disclosed, the atmosphere on the field clearly reflected the participants' emotions. Class A celebrated with enthusiasm, enjoying their victory and the recognition for their outstanding performance. Their faces shone with joy and pride as they received congratulations and savored their well-deserved success.On the other hand, the other classes, especially Class C, watched from a distance, their faces reflecting frustration and disappointment over the results. Classes B and D also showed signs of disappointment, though Class D, at least, had the consolation of having surpassed Class B in the final ranking.The sports festival had concluded, marking a high-tension and exciting end for the winners. With the event winding down, the next chapter of school life and new challenges loomed on the horizon, promising more surprises and challenges to keep everyone on edge.