IT WAS A sunny morning as I, Suzune Horikita, watched from the faculty side as all the students were gathered on the field. On the stage set up for the event, Miyabi Nagumo-senpai was giving the opening address. The guests invited from outside the school gazed at the students. There weren't that many, just a few dozen.
Even so, the students seemed uncomfortable at the sight of these unfamiliar outsiders. Everyone is about to give their best in this sports festival, and they're all ready to go.
The student council had told us in advance that guests had been invited, but the number of guests was more than I had imagined. They are from the political and other circles that are involved in the establishment of this school. There were no politicians that I had seen on TV, but I was sure that these people were closely related.
Everyone is dressed in suits and watching with hardened expressions on their faces. It was as if they were monitoring prisoners. Even in the midst of all this, Student Council President Nagumo continued to speak his words with dignity, unperturbed. He was elegantly fulfilling his role as well as the image of the student body, as well as my brother once had.
After Nagumo-senpai's speech was over and the students applauded, the baton passed over the teachers, who were once again informed of the precautions that would be taken at the sports festival.
Finally, the opening time arrived.
From this point on, the students were free to do as they pleased. As long as they abide by the rules, they may participate in the events they are currently entered in, or, although they need to earn points, if they see their opponents and judge them to be at a disadvantage, they are allowed to abstain and compete in another event on short notice.
Also, it's important to remember that students who have completed all the competitions or if they are not planning to participate are obligated to cheer in the designated area. If you are caught chatting, resting, or skipping around in unrelated areas, you will be disqualified from participation and stripped of your points.
In the team competition, students who are able to win are selected from each other's classes, and the number of students in the team competition is equalized.
The maximum number of students who could participate in a group competition was predetermined, no matter how good the students were. This was done in order not to prevent an advantage to outstanding talents such as Sudō-kun and Yamada-kun, who were contracted to lend a hand in up to three events per person in the team competitions. The above arrangement is limited to "events that can be entered in advance" and is also included in the contract.
It would be nonsense to have a dispute on the day of the sports festival, asking for cooperation in this or that. We don't have a rule that prevents us from working with other students, such as Ichinose-san or Sakayanagi-san's class. If there is a competition that needs teamwork to gain each party points, we are able to team up according to the situation.
Fortunately, I had already worked out a plan with Katsuragi-kun beforehand, and went over it many times to make sure it would not be a problem.
Although I am less worried about the opening of the competition because of the large number of participants in the competitions I have reserved, I need to remember to have a meeting with my classmates every hour to check for any problems that may arise, and make minor adjustments accordingly.
The first event I'll participate in is the 100-meter run. The start time is 15 minutes after the opening of the race, so there is no need to rush, but I wanted to arrive early to check on the participants.
"Hey hey, Horikita! It's game time!"
Immediately after the assembly was disbanded and were free to go, it was Ibuki-san who came running up to me at full speed.
She was breathless and glaring at me, as usual.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Huh! What is this all of a sudden? Are you afraid you're gonna lose? Is that what you mean?"
"No..." I immediately denied it so she would stop freaking out unnecessarily. "What is the competition you are going to do now? Catch your breath and then answer."
"The 100-meter run, of course. I made a deal with you, and I won't forget it."
"Yes, the 100 meter run. We both entered in the first race. That was the deal. That means I'll be running right after this. If you know we're going to race, why would you use up your energy now? Shouldn't you wait in the line for me to come?"
"Oh shit..." I guess she understood the stupidity in her actions. "Whatever, it's game time, let's go!"
"Rest assured. You don't need to tell me to go."
Ibuki-san is not an easy opponent. Last year, she won the 100-meter run by a narrow margin. If it were possible, I would avoid competing with her, but I am greatly indebted to her. If not for Ibuki-san's help, Kushida-san might not have come to school yet. Even then, I can't lose to her. I know she doesn't want that either, so I'm going to compete with her and win fair and square.
Ibuki-san didn't seem to like walking side by side with me, so we put some distance between us and headed for the first entry together. A pleasant sense of tension is building up.
First up was the battle for the second-year girls only. Not much had changed from the prior reservations, and the only potential rival was Ibuki-san. But it would be shallow to consider that lucky. If I have an easy fight, it means that there are classmates who will have to fight stronger opponents in different competitions.