Lunch break ended, and the assembly whistle blew over the broadcast system again.
The afternoon sun was still intense, but the atmosphere in the Class D rest area was no longer as oppressive as it had been in the morning.
Sudo Ken had returned.
At this moment, he stood obediently in front of Hirata Yosuke, his head bowed like a child who had made a mistake and been brought home by a parent.
"Um... Hirata."
Sudo scratched his red hair, his gaze shifting before finally settling on Hirata's face.
"I'm sorry I hit you."
"And..." He turned around, faced the entire class, and bowed deeply.
"Everyone, I apologize! I was too immature. I absolutely won't mess up the upcoming matches again!"
This scene stunned many people. Could the arrogant Sudo actually bow his head and admit fault?
"It's alright, Sudo-kun."
Hirata Yosuke was the first to break the silence. He held no grudge over being hit; instead, he showed a relieved smile.
"It's enough that you're back. We still need your strength for the rest of the competition."
Encouraged by Hirata, the classmates who had previously feared and shunned Sudo stopped frowning and began to try and accept him.
Seeing that the gazes of his classmates were no longer filled with disgust, a rare flush of embarrassment appeared on Sudo's fierce face.
"Don't worry! I'll win it back!"
Natsukawa Sosuke sat in the corner, watching this harmonious scene of brotherly love, twisting open his water bottle for a drink.
'The prodigal son returning is priceless? This script is really cliché and sentimental.'
Just then, a shadow fell over him.
Horikita Suzune was standing in front of him.
She seemed to have composed herself; the distress on her face had faded, and she had returned to her usual cool demeanor. However, in her eyes, there was less arrogance and more complexity.
In fact, Natsukawa had already set up a camera inside the School Infirmary when he went there earlier, so Ryuuen and Kinoshita's schemes were naturally clearly recorded by him, though this was an unexpected bonus.
His initial plan was simply a sudden malicious whim to fully record Horikita's appearance in the School Infirmary. Seeing Horikita's current cool expression, he sighed inwardly: 'Good thing this isn't a Moderator's Worldview, or else Horikita would be triggering CGs...' "Natsukawa."
Horikita's voice interrupted Natsukawa's scattered thoughts. She looked at him sitting in the chair, took a deep breath, and then—
She slightly bent at the waist.
"For what happened this time... thank you."
Her voice was low but clear.
"If it weren't for your arrangements, I might have..."
"Also, I apologize for unilaterally signing you up for the recommended event. I was too presumptuous."
This was probably the first time in this young lady's life that she had so frankly bowed her head to a peer.
Natsukawa Sosuke raised an eyebrow as he looked at the top of her bowed head.
"An apology, huh..."
He spoke slowly, his tone carrying a familiar hint of mischief.
"Since it's an apology, shouldn't there be sincerity? Like, showing..."
"!"
The moment the word "sincerity" appeared, it instantly struck a raw nerve in Horikita Suzune.
The image of Ryuuen forcing her to "show sincerity by kneeling" in the sick bay flashed through her mind, nearly triggering PTSD.
She shot upright, crossing her arms over her chest, and glared warily at Natsukawa, her eyes screaming, "What does this pervert want?"
"You better not make any outrageous demands!" she ground out. "Though I thank you, I have limits!"
"Pfft..."
Seeing her bristling reaction, Natsukawa finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
"What are you thinking? Stop looking at people through biased glasses."
He stood up and brushed the dust off his pants.
"I am a gentleman who highly values freedom and equality. Is showing a smile really that difficult for you?"
"A sm...ile?"
Horikita froze, then a blush of shame and annoyance spread across her face. This guy, he did it on purpose again!
"Alright, no more jokes."
"I'll let it slide this time. But, only this once."
He reached out a finger and tapped Horikita's forehead.
"From now on, any action you take in the class, as long as it involves me or might affect my plans, must be explained to me beforehand."
"I don't want this kind of unauthorized action to happen again. Understood?"
Horikita Suzune looked into his deep eyes and pursed her lips.
After this lesson, she had profoundly realized the gap between herself and the man before her. It wasn't just in methods, but in the control over the situation.
"...I understand." She nodded. Although her voice still held a hint of defiance, it was mostly submission. "I will keep the promise."
...The afternoon matches continued.
Although Ryuuen Kakeru's plot was exposed, Class C did not stop there.
All kinds of minor fouls and physical clashes emerged endlessly.
But this time, Class D was different.
Sudo Ken was like a changed man. When facing provocation, he no longer flew into a rage; sometimes he would even encourage his teammates and channel all his anger into motivation.
He charged across the field; without wasting energy elsewhere, he crushed his opponents with absolute strength. That almost savage fighting spirit enabled Class D to conquer one difficult challenge after another.
Inspired by him, the other students also started giving their all.
"Class D! Go!"
Shouts rose and fell, and something called "unity" finally began to quietly grow within the class.
As time passed, the Sports Festival finally reached its grand finale—the 1200-meter Mixed Relay.
Inside the Class D rest area.
Hirata Yosuke looked at the list in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
"The other legs are fine, but... Horikita-san is injured, and the second-to-last leg position is open."
He looked at Horikita, who was sitting on a chair icing her ankle, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
"According to the rules, we can substitute a replacement. But this event is very intense, and the pressure is considerable..."
Hirata scanned the girls. "Is there anyone willing to take Horikita-san's place?"
The girls exchanged glances, all looking hesitant.
This was the main event. Running well meant being a hero; running poorly meant being a culprit. Under the pressure of everyone watching, not everyone had the courage to step forward.
"Um..."
Amidst the silence, a timid voice rang out.
Everyone looked toward the sound, seeing a slender hand slowly rising at the edge of the crowd.
It was Sakura Airi.
Her head was lowered, her face flushed crimson, and her body was slightly trembling, but her hand was raised firmly.
"C-can I try?"
"Sakura-san?"
Hirata was surprised. Not just him, but the entire class showed expressions of shock.
In everyone's impression, Sakura had always been a girl with extremely low presence and poor athletic ability. At a time like this, she actually volunteered?
"Um, although I might not run fast enough... I've been practicing running every day recently!"
Sakura Airi gathered her courage and looked up, her large eyes hidden behind her glasses sparkling with an unprecedented light.
"I want... I want to do something for the class too! Even if it's just passing the baton to the next person!"
Although her words were simple, they were unexpectedly moving.
Hirata Yosuke showed a brilliant smile. He didn't look down on Sakura because of her usual performance; instead, he nodded heavily.
"Of course! Thank you, Sakura-san! That courage is truly remarkable!"
"In that case, we're counting on you!"
"Yes!" Sakura's voice trembled with excitement.
Natsukawa Sosuke, sitting in the back row, watched the scene, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
'This little hamster... actually volunteered?'
He subconsciously looked in Sakura's direction.
Coincidentally, the first thing Sakura Airi did after getting Hirata's permission was secretly turn her head, look past the crowd, and cautiously glance toward Natsukawa.
Their eyes met.
Sakura's face instantly flushed bright red, as if she had been caught doing something naughty. She nervously lowered her head, averted her gaze, and anxiously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.
But even so, Natsukawa still clearly saw the little thought in her eyes.
'Well, well.'
Natsukawa couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
'So, I was the little butterfly that flapped its wings, huh?'
"Will the final leg runners for the 1200-meter relay please gather at the starting points!"
The announcement sounded.
Natsukawa Sosuke stood up, stretched his wrists and ankles, and walked toward the track under the expectant gazes of his classmates.
The final leg.
This was usually the battlefield for each class's ace.
Natsukawa arrived at Class D's lane position and began his final warm-up.
Just as he was stretching his legs, he keenly noticed that the previously noisy sports ground seemed to have quieted down slightly, and then, countless gazes began to focus in his direction.
The reason for this phenomenon wasn't because he was making a declaration of independence in public, but because... someone had arrived.