Chương 27: SS: Horikita – The Truth in the Dark
"The greatest enemy you will face in life is yourself." — Anonymous
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The sports festival had begun, and with it, Horikita Suzune, leader of Class C, entered the arena with a mix of anxiety and hope. Each step, each breath, was laden with the pressure to prove that her class could compete at the highest level. They had devised meticulous strategies to maximize their chances, placing all their hopes on their brightest stars. Among them was Sudo Ken, a young man whose athletic prowess was unmatched. His height, strength, and agility, honed through years of basketball, gave him an imposing presence. Now, as a prominent member of the school's basketball club, Sudo stood as the bulwark of his class.
However, Horikita knew that no matter how brilliant Sudo was, they could not afford to be complacent. Every rival class also had their own talents. A shadow of doubt loomed over her: had she done enough? Over the past month, Horikita and her classmates had worked with fierce determination, but uncertainty lingered. Would their effort be enough to surpass the other classes?
In the weeks leading up to the festival, Horikita dedicated herself to observing her competitors, studying their movements and evaluating their top students. She encountered the formidable Ryuuen Class and the influential Sakayanagi Class, each filled with outstanding students. But the most shocking revelation was the Class A, under the leadership of Kayden Osawa.
What she saw in Class A's training left Horikita breathless. It was not just the students' physical skills that impressed her but the brutal intensity of their training. Many finished exhausted, pushed to the limit of their strength. The level of demand that Kayden imposed on his class was relentless, a level of commitment that seemed unattainable compared to her own. It was a spectacle she could not ignore, and she felt envy and a desire to improve intertwining in her chest.
Horikita understood that the rigorous training of Class A was not only due to a fervent desire to win but also to an unshakable faith in Kayden Osawa. He had managed to cement his position and the loyalty of his peers, who followed his orders without question. His leadership was absolute, and the results spoke for themselves. At that moment, Horikita questioned with painful clarity: Could she inspire a similar faith in her own class? Could she forge a bond so strong with her peers that they would accept equally rigorous training? The bitter truth was that she could not, at least not at present. She knew her control over Class C was imperfect, and the trust she wished to have was still out of reach.
Horikita longed to lead with the same authority and respect as Kayden, where every student dedicated themselves with the same devotion. But she understood that, for now, that dream was far from realization. The vision of a united and determined class, willing to follow her unreservedly, was a goal she still needed to achieve. Despite the distance between her reality and her aspiration, Horikita was determined to work tirelessly to change that reality. Her desire for personal growth and improvement was the driving force that propelled her, and she would not let difficulties stop her.
...
The sports festival was advancing with relentless speed, dragging along the hopes and fears of the students. The results of Class C were decent but not enough to stand out. Sudo Ken had secured a few first places, being the only one to do so, and although that provided some relief, Horikita Suzune knew it was not enough. The performance of the other classes surpassed hers, and that reality tormented her.
But what troubled her the most was not the victories of Classes A or B, but the constant humiliation at the hands of Ryuuen's Class D. Every time her classmates competed, Class D effortlessly outpaced them. No matter the event; if it wasn't Sudo or Hirata competing, Class D always stayed ahead. At first glance, it might seem like Horikita simply couldn't tolerate defeat, but her concern went beyond that.
She had begun to notice a disturbing pattern. In every competition her class participated in, Class D aligned its best competitors precisely in the events where Horikita expected Class C to shine. She couldn't deny that Class D had impressive athletes, but she also had her own standouts. So why did Class D always seem to be one step ahead? The feeling that something was amiss enveloped her, as if the information about the order of the competitions had somehow leaked, allowing Class D to strategically position its top members.
Horikita had personally delivered the participation forms, and the process had been carried out with the utmost confidentiality. She couldn't understand how Class D knew every detail of the competitions in which her students would participate.
...
As the festival progressed, Horikita's frustration grew. Every time she competed, two familiar figures from Class D, Ibuki Mio and Kinoshita Minori, were present. No matter the event; they always competed against her. Ibuki, with whom she had had a one-on-one confrontation during the exam on the island, was on par with Horikita in physical abilities. Kinoshita, on the other hand, was known for her prowess in athletics, and her outstanding performance was no surprise.
The feeling of discomfort and distrust became an oppressive cloud over her. Something was off, and the unease wrapped around her like an unyielding shadow.
Finally, the 100-meter sprint event arrived. Horikita knew she had to give her best to secure vital points for her class. Aware of the importance of this race, she concentrated fully. However, as she ran with all her might, alongside Ibuki, and with Kinoshita just behind, something extraordinary happened.
Kinoshita began calling her name, repeating it over and over. At first, Horikita thought it was a distraction, but the insistence became disturbing. Despite her efforts to ignore it, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Then, as she turned her head to face Kinoshita, she saw the truth. Kinoshita was heading towards her with a clear intent, as if she wanted to tackle her.
The collision was brutal and inevitable. Horikita fell to the ground, her mind stunned by betrayal and confusion. Why had Kinoshita done that? The question echoed in her head as pain seized her ankle, which had been injured in the fall. Although her body was flooded with sharp pain, Horikita's determination did not waver. She knew she couldn't afford to give up. Every step she took was torture, but the thought of the need to finish the race gave her strength to keep going.
Her chances of winning faded with each painful stride, but Horikita couldn't afford to stop. The struggle was not only against her competitors but against the pain, disappointment, and hopelessness. The sports festival had become a personal battlefield, and Horikita was determined to fight until the end, no matter how arduous the path.
...
With each step she took, the pain in her ankle intensified. Horikita Suzune advanced towards where she saw Sudo arguing with several of his classmates. She could barely walk properly, but she knew she couldn't afford to leave things as they were. As she got closer, she heard what was happening. Sudo, full of rage, was yelling that Ryuuen's Class had cheated in one of the events. His anger had led him to only one conclusion: to take revenge in the same way.
Horikita felt a wave of frustration as she saw that, in his outburst, Sudo first confronted Koenji, who had done absolutely nothing during the festival. Then, his anger turned to Hirata, who was trying to calm him down. But Sudo, blinded by rage, wouldn't listen to him. Without warning, he punched Hirata in the face, his fist full of fury. The sound of the impact echoed, and everyone around them fell silent, watching in disbelief.
Hirata's face showed pain, but more than that, there was disappointment in his eyes. Sudo, realizing what he had done and seeing the disapproving looks from his classmates, simply announced that he was withdrawing from the festival. "It's not worth it," he said bitterly, turning to leave.
Horikita, despite the sharp pain in her ankle, tried to stop him. She approached as best she could, with urgent words in her throat. But no matter what she said, her attempts to reason with him were in vain. Sudo had already made up his mind. There was no way to convince him. As she watched him walk away, Horikita felt helplessness wash over her. Her ace, her best card in the festival, had just abandoned her.
With her spirits crushed and her ankle increasingly swollen, Horikita retreated to the cooling area, seeking a moment of respite. Everything she had planned, all the effort she had put into leading her class, seemed to be crumbling before her eyes. The feeling of failure began to settle in her chest, like an unbearable weight.
Upon arriving, she found Ayanokouji, the only person she could trust, if only minimally. He observed her for a moment before approaching to help her with her ankle. Although the usual coldness on his face didn't change, the gesture was enough for Horikita to feel a little more at ease, even if only for a moment.
As Ayanokouji applied the bandage to her ankle, Horikita took the opportunity to tell him what had happened on the field and about the issue with Sudo. Frustration poured from her words. "I don't know what to do," she finally confessed, something that was hard for her to admit. She expected some kind of comfort, a comment that would help her get out of the rut she was in.
But what she received was the opposite.
"Then you're useless," Ayanokouji said with cutting coldness.
Horikita looked at him, unable to process what she had just heard. "What... what did you say?" she asked, shocked and hurt.
"I called you useless." Ayanokouji didn't retract or show any emotion as he said it. His words were direct, as if it were a simple fact he accepted without question.
Horikita felt anger and offense rising in her chest. She, one of the top students of her year, who had achieved exceptional results in exams—how dare he call her useless? It was humiliation. A direct blow to her pride.
"You've been one of the best students in academic and physical tests, that's true," Ayanokouji continued, his tone unshaken. "But now, with your injury, you can't compete anymore. You can't be useful in the sports festival. And your best resource, Sudo, has decided to withdraw, and you didn't stop him. As a leader, it's your job to keep control, and you haven't. So yes, at this moment, you are useless."
Every word from Ayanokouji was like a dagger piercing her pride. Horikita felt small, almost insignificant under his critical gaze. It wasn't just the physical pain in her ankle that was weakening her, but the emotional pain his words inflicted. She hadn't expected him to say that, much less in that way. She had trusted that Ayanokouji would encourage her, that he would offer some advice or support, but instead, he had destroyed her with a truth she wasn't prepared to hear.
When he stood up and left, Horikita was left alone, motionless, consumed by her thoughts. The silence surrounding her was oppressive. Her mind kept replaying Ayanokouji's words: "you're useless." She knew he wasn't lying, though it hurt to admit it. She had failed to stop Sudo. She had allowed chaos to take over her class. And worst of all, she hadn't even seen the betrayal within her group coming.
The pain in her ankle paled compared to the agony of realizing that, despite her efforts, she had failed. She had believed she was in control, that she was leading properly. But now, faced with the harsh reality, all she could do was wonder how useless she had been until now.
...
Horikita was lost in a sea of uncertainty and pain when Kushida Kikyou pulled her from the abyss of despair. The kind and altruistic Kushida, known for her generous behavior, had come looking for her, claiming someone urgently needed her presence. Horikita, though wary of Kushida's motives due to a past incident in middle school that had left a mark on her, decided to follow her. Her ankle, relieved by the ice and bandages, allowed her to move with difficulty towards where Kushida was leading her.
Horikita's heart pounded as she entered the infirmary, only to find Ryuuen Kakeru waiting for her. The shock hit her like a slap; what could Ryuuen want from her now? The doubts about what was happening immediately cleared up when she saw Kinoshita Minori, a student from Ryuuen's Class, lying on a cot, groaning in pain. The scene was charged with palpable tension.
Ryuuen wasted no time explaining the reason for his summons. Kinoshita had been injured due to a fall during an encounter with Horikita. The accusation, which claimed Horikita had caused the injuries intentionally, left her stunned. In her mind, the pieces of the puzzle didn't fit; she had been the victim in the incident, not the cause.
When Horikita tried to defend herself, Ryuuen wouldn't let her speak. His words were like sharp knives cutting through any attempt at justification. "Kinoshita won't be able to participate anymore because of your actions. It's your responsibility to compensate for this," he said with a chill that made her tremble. The magnitude of Ryuuen's request became clearer by the second: one million private points.
Horikita was paralyzed by the absurd demand. How could she be responsible for something she clearly hadn't caused? Shock and indignation surrounded her, but her thoughts were interrupted when Ryuuen revealed his alternative plan. If she refused to pay, he would report the incident to the student council president. The mention of her older brother, whom she deeply admired, paralyzed her with horror. The idea of him finding out about this situation, and about her apparent failure as a leader, was unbearable.
With a knot in her stomach and growing desperation, Horikita realized she couldn't let her brother discover this side of her. The weight of that possibility crushed her, and the idea of having to pay the million points was the lesser of her worries compared to the humiliation of her brother seeing the truth.
Desperate and out of options, she accepted Ryuuen's demand. However, Ryuuen's cruelty knew no bounds. In addition to the million points, he demanded that she kneel and apologize. Horikita felt the ground crumble beneath her feet. Indignation and wounded pride mixed with resignation. She couldn't bear the idea of kneeling before Ryuuen, but the threat of exposing her failure to her brother forced her to comply.
The pressure of the situation made her feel as if she were trapped between two relentless walls. The pain in her ankle seemed like a minor inconvenience compared to the emotional pain she felt at being forced to humiliate herself. Horikita's pride was crumbling, and the reality of her situation was becoming clearer and more painful than ever.
Finally, with a defeated expression, she agreed to Ryuuen's conditions. Her voice trembled as she said she would comply with both demands. The malicious smile on Ryuuen's face only served to increase the sense of hopelessness that consumed her. "We'll meet behind the infirmary at the end of the sports festival," Ryuuen said with satisfaction, ensuring the deal would be sealed.
Horikita was left alone, facing the weight of her own defeat and the humiliation that awaited her. Her thoughts were in chaos, struggling to accept the reality of her situation and the sacrifice she was about to make. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, and the internal torment she felt only intensified with the knowledge that all this was the result of Ryuuen's cruel maneuver.
....
Horikita was at her lowest point. The injury had sidelined her, relegating her to the role of a spectator in a competition that, although it seemed already lost for her class, was still unfolding. While her classmates fought and gave their all, she could do nothing but watch from a distance, with a growing sense of uselessness.
Time passed, and Horikita watched her classmates give everything they had, even though defeat was already evident. They continued to battle, not just for victory, but to prove their worth. So, what was she doing, sitting idly? The answer was painful: absolutely nothing. As a leader, it was her duty to be at the center of the action, guiding and supporting her team, but instead, she felt like a rag doll, immobile and lifeless.
She knew she couldn't afford to fail any further. Losing even more would mean falling into an abyss from which she wouldn't be able to escape. To prevent that, she needed to bring Sudo back, no matter how or where she would find him. Her determination was firm: she would do whatever it took to get her teammate back.
After a while of searching, Horikita finally found Sudo. She tried to talk to him, but he remained unmoved. Desperate, Horikita began to open up to him, showing her vulnerability and frustration at not being able to do anything while her team suffered. She expressed her anguish, doubts about her leadership ability, and the burden of not being able to save her class. Sudo listened, but still, he didn't relent. He told her to leave, that he wasn't coming back. Horikita, however, refused to move, standing there like a pillar of stubbornness.
Time passed, and Horikita stayed put, regardless of how long it took. She looked at the clock and the place where Sudo had left, feeling hope fade away. She began to think that maybe he would never return. But then, to her surprise, Sudo came back.
He couldn't believe that she had waited so long. To him, the situation was surreal; he had never seen someone need him so much or expect so much from him.
Sudo, though immature and temperamental, was touched by Horikita's determination. The passion and commitment she had shown were undeniable, and he realized that he had to return. He couldn't let someone truly need him and then disappear. So, he agreed to come back to participate in the remaining events.
Reuniting with his classmates, Sudo apologized, and in a moment of anger, struck Hirata. Despite the blow, Hirata, with his usual kindness, forgave him. Together, they joined the final events. Although Class D had already lost, there was a new opportunity to rise again. Perhaps this failure would be the catalyst for Class D to rebirth as something better.
....
The sports festival was reaching its final event: the 1200-meter relay race. Horikita had planned to participate and longed to be the anchor, as it would allow her to face her brother, something she had always wanted. However, due to her injury, that dream could not become a reality.
As the race progressed, Horikita watched her classmates run with all their might, but it seemed it wasn't enough. With each leg, her class fell further behind. Then, her eyes were drawn to Kayden Osawa, who was leading with almost superhuman speed. Horikita wondered who Kayden really was. How could he excel at everything? His presence was a constant enigma. But what really surprised her was seeing Ayanokouji running alongside her brother. She knew her brother was no slouch, but now Ayanokouji was demonstrating speed comparable to Kayden's. To Horikita, Ayanokouji was like an incomplete puzzle; every time she talked to him, a new piece emerged, and now, with this demonstration, another piece was revealed, giving her a clearer view of him.
The race concluded with Class A's victory, thanks to Kayden. Horikita let out a dry laugh as she saw Class A winning once again. How much difference was there between Class A and the others? No student from Class A had finished in fourth place in any competition. They seemed invincible. How could her class even compete against them? How could she compare to Kayden? The idea of graduating in Class A now seemed farther and more unrealistic than ever.
But that didn't matter. Horikita was determined to give her best to get a little closer to her dream. If she didn't fight for her goals, who would?
....
As she had agreed with Ryuuen, Horikita headed to the back of the infirmary. Upon arrival, she saw Ryuuen sitting and waiting for her, but she didn't expect to find Kushida by his side.
Horikita wondered what Kushida was doing there. She shouldn't be there. However, her doubts quickly dissipated when Kushida's sweet facade crumbled, revealing a completely different personality. Ryuuen laughed at the transformation; he couldn't believe that someone would betray their own class just out of past resentments.
Betrayal? Horikita thought. It was now clear: the traitor in the class was Kushida Kikyo, who had shared with Ryuuen the Class C participation table.
Horikita wondered why Kushida had betrayed her, as far as she knew, nothing significant had happened between them. When she asked Kushida for the reason, Kushida responded without hesitation. The reason was simple: she hated her, she hated her deeply. It was evident in the tone of her voice, but Horikita couldn't understand how someone could hate someone so much whom they had almost never spoken to.
Kushida simply hated her for knowing about the incident that had occurred in middle school and couldn't stand sharing the same space with her.
Ryuuen enjoyed the drama between the two, but was eager to conclude what he had agreed upon and see Horikita kneeling, which was what he most wanted at that moment.
Horikita was prepared for the humiliation, accepting that it was a small price compared to facing her brother's gaze. Just as she was about to do it, Ryuuen's phone vibrated. He was momentarily surprised before checking the message. Upon listening to the audio it contained, he was frozen for a moment.
Soon after, he began to laugh uncontrollably. Horikita and Kushida, not knowing what was happening, asked Ryuuen what was so funny.
Ryuuen looked at Horikita and told her that she was a very lucky person, and then proceeded to play the audio aloud. The audio revealed a conversation where Ryuuen had instructed Kinoshita to intentionally face Horikita, with the promise that they would then ask Horikita for points to pay for it.
Horikita and Kushida were astonished upon hearing the information. This meant that Horikita didn't have to submit to anything.
Ryuuen was excited because he now had a lead on the person behind Class C's successes. Although he didn't get what he initially wanted, he wasn't dissatisfied. This discovery could bring him closer to that person.
Kushida and Ryuuen left the place, as there was nothing more to be done, leaving Horikita alone.
...
Horikita was left alone in the back of the infirmary, with the echo of Ryuuen's laughter and Kushida's footsteps still resonating in her mind. Kushida's betrayal had taken her by surprise, intensifying her frustration and disillusionment. While she was already aware that Ayanokouji was behind many events, Ryuuen's revelation of Kinoshita's plan only confirmed a truth that was still confusing to her. The lack of clarity about how Ayanokouji managed everything bewildered her, leaving her to question how much more she would rely on him to find her own path.
What perplexed her was not the discovery itself, but the way Ayanokouji had used her as just another piece in his game. She had been aware of his intrigues and manipulations, but now, seeing the disdain with which others treated him and how he continued to pull the strings from the shadows, the weight of her own powerlessness became even heavier.
She sat in a chair, her mind overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. She felt the need to challenge Ayanokouji's control, to not be just a pawn in his game. Although she hadn't uncovered anything new, the mere awareness of his manipulation offered her a new perspective. Horikita understood that, to move forward, she had to confront not only her rivals in the competition but also the invisible forces that kept her in a position of weakness.
With a deep breath, Horikita stood up, determined. She couldn't let the current situation dictate her future. Class A might be formidable, but her determination and will to fight for her own destiny were even stronger. She knew she had to find a way to use the information she had to her own advantage and not just be a tool in Ayanokouji's game.
As she headed toward the exit, Horikita felt renewed. Although the road ahead was filled with uncertainties, her resolve was clear. She would not be defeated by manipulations and intrigues. From now on, she would fight for her own dreams, not as a piece on Ayanokouji's board, but as a competitor on equal terms.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Tyche_wise
Tyche_wise I think I got a bit carried away with this chapter by diving too deep into the narrative. I apologize for the length. For Honami's segment, I will keep it shorter.
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