During the sports festival, there was an electronic scoreboard on the athletic field, so we could always keep an eye on how every class was doing. Ryuuen-kun’s class started the competition at the top of our grade, but shortly after, our Class B took over first place and maintained that position. In second place was Class D, third place Class C, and fourth place Class A. It was the ideal ranking for us. Now, if only things would stay this way till the end.

I had some time left till my next competition, so I moved to the cheering seats to kill time.

“Good work out there, Horikita-senpai.”

Yagami-kun, from Class 1-B, came over, calling out to me as he did.

“Your class seems to be doing well, too. You’re a close second place.”

“You too, senpai. Aren’t you guys in first place? It’s difficult to imagine this is the same class that started as Class D last year!”

“Was that a compliment? Or was some sarcasm thrown in there too?”

“Not at all! I genuinely respect you, although not as much as Student Council President Nagumo.”

I followed his gaze to find Student Council President Nagumo running through the ribbon at a finish line.

“Some upperclassmen in the third year were talking about it just now. Apparently, this is his fifth consecutive win.”

Girls cheered the Student Council President as the guests turned their attention to him. However, President Nagumo looked expressionless as he left the place. He brushed off the girls that called out to him, telling them he wanted to be alone as he distanced himself.

“He would usually at least pay lip service to them, but he doesn’t look the least bit happy,” I said.

“He is almost guaranteed to graduate in Class A, regardless of whether he wins or loses. So, maybe he can’t get fired up for this?”

Indeed. The Student Council President was in a rock-solid position, and so for him, the rankings of the sports festival would have no meaning. I guess the only reason he is aiming for first place is because he doesn’t want to hold back in front of the guests and the other students.

“I’ll go have a chat with the Student Council President,” I said.

“Is that so? Well, I have my next competition, so I’ll excuse myself.”

After a casual conversation with Yagami-kun, I approached the Student Council President. Alongside him was a third-year girl who was speaking to him. Kiryuuin-senpai, from Class 3-B. From time to time when I’d interact with third-year students, I’d hear a few things about her. I was also aware that she had excellent scores on the OAA.

I couldn’t interrupt them, so I simply bowed and waited.

“Congrats on the 5 wins in a row, Nagumo!”

“Why are you here?”

“You don’t have to be so cold-hearted, you know? I’m just concerned that you don’t look all that happy despite winning. Seems like there are more than one or two people cheering for you.”

“Don’t make me laugh. As if winning a competition of that level would mean anything to me.”

“Knowing you, you could’ve just gathered all the weaklings and have them compete against you for an easy first place. Though looking at the lineup for that race, it sure doesn’t look like you did that.” Kiryuuin-senpai pointed out the fact that he wasn’t trying to take the easy way. “Word around the block is that Ayanokouji is absent today. Is that why you look so upset?”

Ayanokouji. Once again, his name came up even in a place like this. President Nagumo didn’t turn to face Kiryuin-senpai even once. He sighed quietly.

“I thought at least he would finally quench my thirst, but it seems I had the wrong idea.”

“Poor little thing, how about I take you on?”

Her provocative taunt made President Nagumo glance at Kiryuin-senpai from the corner of his eye for the first time. However, after seeing her defiant smile, he turned away once again.

“What a pointless lie. Even if I wanted to, I can’t even imagine you seriously offering me a fight. Am I wrong?”

“Fufufu. You got me, huh?” Kiryuuin-senpai confessed, shrugging as she drew closer to President Nagumo’s side. “I’ll be done with my minimum requirements after the next event. I’m planning to relax and watch the matches after that.”

“Of course you are.”

“You should stop giving these underclassmen the time of day. You’ve already dominated our grade and are fixed at Class A. On top of that, you’ve achieved a lot as the student council president. That should be enough. I recommend you graduate quietly.”

Almost as if she was advising him on what to do, Kiryuin-senpai admonished him.

“You’re giving me advice? What’s this change of heart? I think we’ve spoken more times in the six months since you’ve gotten involved with Ayanokouji than we did in the two years prior.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Don’t worry, Kiryuuin. You don’t need to tell me; I’m not going to play around with Ayanokouji anymore. He chose not to fight me, and there’s no point in thinking about it too deeply.”

“If he lost a direct confrontation against the Student Council President, he wouldn’t be able to move on as if nothing had happened. Try to understand why he ran away. He has such a cute side to him, doesn’t he?”

Fight against Student Council President Nagumo? Ayanokoji-kun was going to? Is that why I was asked to call him to the student council room—so President Nagumo could tell him that? It fits with the message he asked me to pass on, too.

Kiryuuin-senpai glanced at me, but she walked away without saying anything.

“I kept you waiting, Suzune. Did you need anything from me?”

“No, um, I was going to ask the same thing that Kiryuuin-senpai did. I watched you take first place, but you didn’t look happy about it at all, so. And, well… Ayanokouji-kun had promised to fight you at the sports festival, I see.”

“In the end, it didn’t happen. He is absent, and it ended with that.”

Ayanokoji-kun had said that he was not absent because of illness but rather as a strategy to keep Sakayanagi-san from participating. President Nagumo seemed unaware of that fact, and it was probably better not to reveal that carelessly.

“Come with me for a bit during lunch break. We’ll meet at--”

He invited me without any concern about whether I wanted to, so I had no choice but to accept.

Sometime later, when it was time for lunch, I found myself looking at the boxed lunches provided on the athletic field. One could take whatever they wanted from a diverse lineup, from light meals like sandwiches to stamina and power-boosting katsudon and other meals. I was impressed and astonished at how well prepared and thorough this school was.

Moreover, one could take as much as one wanted, with the only condition being that they had to finish all of it. Most students simply picked one lunch and left, but while I watched a few male students took several. Among them, there was one student with a particularly large figure happily holding three or four lunches to his chest. If I recall correctly, I think he was a first-year student… if he thought he could eat all that and still compete in the afternoon competitions, he was either underestimating this school or actually a really big shot.

“I kept you waiting.”

As I was reaching for one of the lighter meals, President Nagumo called out to me.

“What is it you wanted to talk about? I have a meeting soon, so I’d appreciate it if we keep it brief.”

“Yeah. I want to know about Ayanokoji. He seems unwell. Did he fall ill out of nowhere?”

He didn’t point it out earlier, but it seemed like President Nagumo still doubted him.

“Yes. This morning, he apologized and informed me he was sitting out. One student sitting out would mean losing ten points, but it’s not like I could force him if he’s sick.”

I was the only one who knew he was absent for a different reason. So, obviously, I answered the way I did.

“It’d be fine if he really was unwell.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I don’t think my attitude gave it away. Did the Student Council President have some reason to think otherwise?

“You heard my conversation with Kiryuuin, right? Maybe he didn’t want to embarrass himself, so he shut himself in.”

“That’s right. It would be difficult to be sure that that’s not the case.”

I gave out a safe answer to not provoke him.

“This might cause some trouble for your grade.”

“What does that mean?”

“I have no choice but to make someone else pay the price for him bailing out on me, isn’t that right?”

He didn’t answer my question and simply mumbled to himself instead. Then he raised his hand to indicate he was leaving and walked away without even picking up a lunch box.

“Price…? Cause trouble for my grade? What was that about…? Even so—”

Everyone, everywhere seemed to have a really high opinion of him. Once again, I was impressed by him at today’s sports festival. When he said he’d be absent, I was worried about how it would turn out. Still, when it actually came to pass Sakayanagi-san was also absent.

Without a doubt, Ayanokouji-kun had done something to hold Sakayanagi-san back. And the result was obvious when you looked at Class A’s current standings and scores. Because their commander suddenly couldn’t come, it was no surprise that they couldn’t coordinate so well. I felt a little bad for them, but this was a serious competition. Whenever there’s a chance to win, I’d like to take it.