Mid-September.
A little bit of time had passed as the seasons changed, and the summer heat had finally begun to subside—
“Fair and square!”
“With all our might!”
“We swear to fight to the end!”
“““We swear!!!”””
—The Ginkgo High School Sports Festival has begun.
Red, white, and blue day fireworks were launched, and the students’ excitement soared.
High school sports festivals really are flashy affairs.
Beside me, Ryūya was also shouting at the top of his lungs along with the other students.
“Hey, hey, hey! Events have to be like this!”
“Ryūya, you’re in high spirits, but were you okay with being separate from Neika?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, the one who enjoys it most wins! Hey, hey, hey!”
This guy is certainly positive.
Ryūya and I were on the Blue team, so we had blue headbands wrapped around our heads.
The people around us were also from the Blue team, but honestly, they were mostly people I didn’t know.
Well, there’s hardly any interaction between different classes, and by the time you’re in the second or third year, you know even fewer people. Who even is this third-year standing next to me?
The opening ceremony ended, and we returned to our seats.
Looking around, some students were moving between seats as they pleased, while the popular groups were heading to the front to watch the events.
Ah, Ryūya is there too.
“Hey, Akki-!”
“Oh?”
This sensation of someone patting my back repeatedly...
When I turned around, there was Neika wearing an oversized jersey. Hiyori was there too, with the hem of her shirt tied up, showing off her well-shaped navel. And then there was Riran, who had a red headband wrapped around her head like a hairband.
“Oh, what’s up?”
“Hiyori-n and I are about to do the footrace. Give us your support!”
“Cheer for us, Sana-tan!”
“No, we’re on different teams.”
“It’s fine, it’s not like it costs you anything!”
“Our team’s points will decrease, though.”
Seriously, these guys... Take a flick to the forehead.
“Oyo!?”
“Nya!”
“Well, do your best. I’ll cheer for you quietly.”
Strictly in secret, of course.
The two of them grinned and ran toward the assembly area with their energy levels through the roof.
“So, Riran, why are you here?”
“What, is it bad?”
“No, it’s not bad, but...”
I think it’s better to stay in your own team’s cheering section during the events.
Riran looked around, then softly leaned in close to me and pinched the hem of my shirt.
“Is—Is it not okay? Even if it’s for cheering... can’t I stay by your side?”
“Ugu.”
There’s no way I can say no when she puts it like that.
“Ah... As long as you don’t cause trouble for the people around us, I guess it’s fine?”
“Ehehe. Thank—”
“No, it is definitely not fine.”
““!?””
Ah, Yakushiji-senpai.
Yakushiji-senpai, who had appeared behind us at some point, was wearing a blue headband and had her arms crossed.
So this person is on the same team as me.
Even so, that is a magnificent precipice. Flat, flat, flat as a board.
“Did you just think of something incredibly rude?”
“It’s just your imagination.”
“Look at me, boy.”
Wait, stop with the Iron Claw, it hurts-hurts-hurts-hurts-hurts! The grip strength of the Kendo club is insane...!
Also, please don’t read people’s thoughts so naturally...!
“He—Hello, Yakushiji-senpai!”
“Hello, Kuonji-san. However, today we are enemies. I won’t be going easy on you.”
“Ye—Yes! I won’t lose either!”
The dragon and the tiger face off. It feels like I can see an aura behind them.
By the way, could you please let go of my head now?
“However, Kuonji-san. No matter how much you want to be with your boyfriend during a school event, this is a sports festival. In other words, a competition. I cannot overlook you being with an opponent from the enemy team.”
“Ugu... okay.”
“Fufu, good girl.”
Yes, yes, it helps that you’re so understanding.
Also, please let go (omitted).
“Now, go back to your spot.”
“Oka—y. Well then, Akito, let’s eat lunch together.”
“Yeah. See ya.”
Lunch is by class anyway, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
I raised my hand in response to Riran as she waved back.
Watching her walk away, Yakushiji-senpai let out a soft sigh.
“Honestly, you two... I never know what will happen when you're together, so try to avoid contact as much as possible during the competition.”
“Got it.”
“As long as you understand. Now, let’s cheer for our Blue team together!”
I get it, I get it, so please let go (omitted).
Finally released, I headed toward the front of the cheering section with Yakushiji-senpai, just as the girls’ footrace was about to begin.
It was an event where six girls per group ran 50 meters to determine their ranking.
Every group was putting up a good fight.
And then, a particularly miniature girl appeared.
“Oh? Isn’t that Jūmonji?”
“Ah, then this group will be a landslide victory for Jūmonji.”
“You never know. I believe the girl from the Blue team next to her is from the track and field club.”
Track and field, huh?
The sports festival executive committee member raised the starter pistol.
And then.
“On your marks—”
Bang!!
They started.
Six people dashed out at once from a crouching start.
But, as expected.
“O—Ohhh! She’s fast!”
“That tiny girl is incredibly quick!”
“Someone like that was in this school...!”
“Amazing!”
As predicted, it was Neika’s solo run.
She crossed the finish line in first place with room to spare.
“That girl has a time in the low 6-second range for the 50-meter dash.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, she was very nimble when I was scolding her too...”
Seriously, where does that miniature body get all that energy from?
“Hey, hey, hey! As expected of Nei! I love you—!”
“Yeah! I love you too, Ryū-ya—!”
““““Woooooo!!!!””””
Those guys have zero intention of hiding it.
“Honestly, those brats... I’ll have to give them a lecture later.”
Heaven help them.