Just then, another loud cheer erupted.
Looking over, I saw a girl in a particularly eye-catching outfit at the footrace.
A gyaru-style beauty with loose, fluffy pink hair tied in twin-tails, and her shirt hem tied up to expose her belly button.
It was Tsuchimikado Hiyori.
“Who is that girl? She’s so cute!”
“There are way too many cute girls among the first-years this year!”
“Go for it!”
“We’re rooting for you!”
“Hiyori-n!”
“Fight!”
Oh, as expected of Hiyori. She’s incredibly popular across all grades.
Hiyori gave everyone a bright smile and waved, then flashed a beaming grin when she saw me.
“Sana-tan! Watch me!”
“O-Oh...”
Stop that, everyone’s looking this way. It’s embarrassing...!
As I looked down to avoid the gaze of those around us, Yakushiji-senpai tilted her head.
“Hmm, is she a friend of yours, Sanada-kun?”
“Ah... well, something like that.”
“What a non-committal attitude. It’s not some relationship you can’t tell people about, is it?”
“You have a wild imagination. It’s nothing like that.”
But if asked what kind of relationship it was, I couldn't explain it in one word.
Well, calling her a friend shouldn't be a problem.
“Even so, she has quite a flashy appearance. Her hair is dyed, too...”
“Please go easy on her. Hiyori is Hiyori because of that look.”
“...Well, I suppose so. The pink hair and natural makeup suit her very well.”
O-Oh...? That’s unexpected. I had an image of someone like her being a stickler for school rules.
When I glanced at Yakushiji-senpai, she glanced back at me.
“Is it surprising?”
“Yes. To be honest, I thought you were more of a rigid person.”
“You really are honest, aren't you? ...I believe that in the coming era, it will be important to see how much we can value individuality. No makeup, no dyed hair, no ponytails... I have no use for such outdated, sh*tty school rules.”
“Oh, you’re quite the talker.”
Certainly, the world will progress at a tremendous speed within the next few decades.
Despite that, arguing about school rules seems meaningless.
“But is it okay for you, the Student Council President, to say that? Won’t you be targeted by the teachers, Yakushiji-senpai...?”
“It should be fine. I have a powerful ally on my side.”
A powerful ally?
Just as I was about to ask about that, the starter pistol went off and Hiyori and the others began to run.
Whoa. She’s fast, just as they say about her physical ability being equal to Neika’s!
She picked up speed just like that and crossed the finish line with a gap of more than a second over the others.
Hiyori is fast enough that she probably wouldn't lose even if she ran against guys.
“Yaaaay! I am number one!”
The audience grew excited as Hiyori held up the first-place flag and waved it.
It felt like they were getting hyped regardless of being on a different team.
“Fufu, that was a good run. The track and field club will likely come to recruit her. Protect her as a friend.”
“Eh, that’s a pain.”
“Hahaha! You really are honest!”
Yakushiji-senpai laughed boisterously and returned to her own class area.
Since no one else I knew was running in this event, I decided to sit back down in my chair.
I returned to my seat and hydrated.
Then, Ryūya, who had been toward the front, also came back.
“Man, as expected of Nei and Tsuchimikado! Did you see that? That speed!”
“Yeah. It’s almost a shame they're on the other team.”
“Maybe I should have entered the footrace too.”
“By the way, what are you entering, Ryūya? You quit the three-legged race, right?”
“Yeah! I’m in the selected tug-of-war coming up next, and I’m the lead horse for the cavalry battle in the afternoon!”
“Whoa, that’s cheating.”
In our class, besides Ryūya, there are two others over 180 centimeters tall.
Having those guys as the lead horse is beyond unfair.
“Hey, hey, Akito! Using what you’ve got is how you win! Nei and Tsuchimikado are strong over there. We gotta do what we gotta do too!”
“...That makes sense.”
“Right!?”
But I still think cheating is cheating.
“Well, it’s about time. Let’s go, Akito.”
“Huh? Why?”
“What do you mean 'why'? Because you're also a member of the selected tug-of-war.”
“...I didn't volunteer for that.”
“I put you in! ☆”
“D*A*M*N*Y*O*U.”