"Hah!? Is that true!?"
"Yeah. I heard it from Rio at the gym."
"............"
She looked stunned. Well, that was to be expected.
During dinner, when I told Riran what I had heard from Rio, I got exactly the reaction I anticipated.
Even I was surprised. I never thought something like this would happen just two weeks before the Sports Festival.
No, but surely...
"I never even imagined they would split the teams by gender for each class."
The boys of classes 1 and 2 are Red. The girls are White.
The boys of classes 3 and 4 are White. The girls are Blue.
The boys of classes 5 and 6 are Blue. The girls are Red.
In other words, Ryūya and I are on the Blue team. Riran, Neika, Hiyori, Rio, and Suwabe-san are on the Red team.
At this decision, Riran, looking irritated for the first time in a while, slammed the table repeatedly.
"I mean, thinking about it common-sensically, isn't that impossible!? Why did it turn out like that!?"
"Apparently, since it's known that we're connected by the Red Thread, they said it wouldn't be fair if we were on the same team because of the 'fated effect'."
"It's a high school event, so they could at least let that much slide!"
Riran scratched her head in frustration. Yeah, yeah, exactly. She was so right that I couldn't even offer a rebuttal.
But it's true that if Riran and I, who are connected by the Dark Scarlet Thread, were on the same team, some invisible giant force might make the competition one-sided.
Plus, in our class, it's not just us—Ryūya and Neika are also connected by the Red Thread.
I guess it can't be helped that it turned out this way.
Riran slumped her shoulders and lowered her eyebrows sadly.
"Ugh. I was looking forward to enjoying it on the same team as Akito..."
"Now, now. You can still enjoy it even on different teams, right?"
"I wanted to do the Sports Festival on the same team!"
It was rare to see Riran grumbling this much.
Seeing her want to be with me that badly made me feel purely happy.
While I was secretly rejoicing inside, Riran suddenly stood up.
"I'll just tell Rio! If it hasn't been announced to the class yet, maybe she can act like it never happened!"
"No, no. Don't go causing trouble for Rio."
"Hmph..."
She was cute, but she shouldn't sulk like that.
Of course, I also feel like I'd rather be on the same team if possible.
But once it's decided, there's nothing you can do.
"Even if we're on rival teams, let's compete fair and square."
"...Fine. Come to think of it, this will be our first proper competition against each other, won't it? I'm going to crush you!"
"Oh? Don't come complaining if you end up crying."
"If I cry, dinner that night will be sesame!"
"Can you stop trying to make me eat sesame every time something happens?"
◆
The next day. When Rio and Sanzenin-sensei announced the team split, there was, as expected, some pushback.
However, once they explained that having Riran and me on the same team would create unfairness, everyone became incredibly convinced. I don't get it.
And then, lunch break.
"I'm somehow not satisfied with this."
"Me neither~"
"About what?"
Ryūya and Neika were complaining while eating their lunch, seemingly still dissatisfied.
"I mean, come on, we're finally connected by the Red Thread and yet the event puts us on different teams?"
"The school is being so stingy~"
"Apparently, the logic is that it's not good to rely on the power of fate while you're young. That's what the Student Council President reportedly said."
"The Student Council President... that Iron Lady?"
"Ugh. I'm not good with that person."
The two of them seemed to have some acquaintance with the Student Council President.
Come to think of it, I don't know the Student Council President at all.
"What kind of person is the Student Council President?"
"Super serious and super punctilious. Apparently, she's been the captain of the girls' kendo club since the summer tournament ended."
"She always has her hair in a ponytail. Sharp eyes and tall. Her nickname is the Iron Lady."
So, like an upgraded version of Riran from before her Red Thread appeared?
Ugh. That's my least favorite type.
"What's this? Are you talking about Yakushiji-senpai?"
"Hmm? Oh, Riran."
Looking over, Riran and Rio had arrived with their lunch boxes.
"May we eat with you?"
"Yeah. Sure."
We pushed the nearby desks together, forming a circle of five.
It felt like we had become a large group.
"I'm sorry, Kurashiki-kun, Neika-chan. I talked to the President too, but she wouldn't listen."
"Nah, it's not Ryūgūin's fault. The one to blame is that demon."
"Stupid, stupid. The Iron Lady is an idiot~"
These guys were really saying whatever they wanted.
"Do you know the Student Council President too, Riran?"
"Of course I do, she's a super celebrity. Yakushiji Miori. Flawless and perfectly composed in every move. She's the person I admire."
"Even though you're full of openings?"
"Eh? Are you picking a fight?"
My bad.
"In any case, why don't you know her, Akito?"
"Even if you ask why... If you just live a normal life without joining a club, you don't really get chances to know the upperclassmen."
"The student council election was a huge deal, you know."
"I was sleeping."
"You really are..."
I just wasn't interested in the student council or the elections.
Though, if everyone is saying this much, she must be a pretty amazing person.
"Well, it's a story that has nothing to do with me. I probably won't ever have anything to do with a person like that—"
"Excuse me. Are you Sanada Akito-kun?"
Eh?
I turned toward the voice. Standing there was a person I had never seen before.
Tall. Slanted, sharp eyes. A long, black ponytail.
Her lips were set in a firm line, and a piercing gaze looked right at me.
Could this person be...
"Ya... Yakushiji Miori...!?"