Episode- 13

Cheers rang out.

　The entire student body had gathered in the schoolyard, surrounding the 200-meter track and watching the students running inside with rapt attention.

"What rank are we in overall now?"

"Fourth place, I guess."

"About halfway there! By the way, if I were to overtake everyone from here and take first place, would that mean I would be able to overtake everyone?"

"Maybe so? I don't know the definition of "gobo-nuki." What exactly does "gobo-nuki" mean?"

"You're basically just pulling out a burdock root!!"

"...Are burdock roots really that long?"

"We must win! We must win!"

"You're breathing heavily, Shimoda."

　The second year class is currently competing in the Eye of the Storm event.

　Eye of the storm is a very simple sport in which teams of four people hold a long pole and run around a cone and back.

　By the way, my team is made up of four people: Nishihara, Reo, and Shimoda, and because of Reo, I've been put in charge of being the anchor of our class.

　This class is so committed to the sports festival that it's too much for the captain to handle...

　As I let out a deep sigh, Shimoda pushed his glasses up.

"It'll be fine, Fujita-kun. Our team has Asahi-kun, the monster who straddles both the Heisei and Reiwa eras, and Nishihara-kun, who is so manverable you could mistake him for a moped! He's truly a force to be reckoned with! You can rest assured!"

"I'm not worried about winning or losing..."

"What, I'm on a moped?! I don't like mopeds because they have baskets!"

"Shut up, Souma."

　Meanwhile, our turn is approaching.

"We've risen one place and are now in third place. Let's make a comeback, guys."

"Shimoda is just too good at playing the role of military strategist..."

　As Reo was making his comment, it was finally our turn as anchors.

　They receive the poles from the runners in front of them and start running together as a group of four.

　The other groups were also heading into the anchor, and the competition was reaching its peak.

　In the midst of all this, a beautiful and crystal clear voice struck my eardrums.

"Fujita-kun, run!"

　Naturally, I can’t look back, so I guess what the voice is saying.

　But, judging from the sound of her voice, she was the only person I knew who would say something like that to me.

　That voice made me unconsciously smile.

"Why did you name me?"

　Muttering to ourselves, we ran in unison.

　The sports festival is getting really exciting!!!

　We cooled off in the shade provided by the tents that had been set up and looked at the score board propped up in the distance.

"We're 30 points behind the White team. Can they make a comeback?"

"I don't know! But the red team won the tug-of-war earlier, so I think it'll be a good match."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

　As I sat next to Nishihara and watched absentmindedly as the first-year class relay race took place, we heard cheers, mostly from the crowd, coming from behind us.

"Ahhh! Asahi-senpai!"

"The tug of war was so cool!"

"Please take a photo with me!"

　At the center of it all is a hulking monster - Asahi Reo.

"Isn't he just too used to dealing with that kind of thing?"

"You're actually used to it! Just the other day when you were walking with Reo, a girl from another school handed you a love letter."

"That's amazing, Reo."

"Handsome guys... I hate them! I want to be popular too, I want to be pampered!"

　As Nishihara looked at Reo and gritted his teeth, Reo himself spotted us and came into the tent.

"You're in a good position. You're a good-looking guy, and on top of that, you did really well in the sports festival... that's pretty much overkill."

"I'm just enjoying the sports festival, you know?"

"I'm having too much fun! Share it with me!!!"

"Even if I want to, I can't. I have no choice but to win this for myself. So, Souma -- do your best."

"Die you bastard!!!!!"

"Hey, hey, don't fight."

　From the owner's perspective, Nishihara tries to calm Reo down as he makes a grunting noise to intimidate him.

"But, man, I'm just a small thing. Look over there."

　When Reo said that, I looked in the direction he was pointing.

　There, an astounding sight unfolded before my eyes.

"Well, the current waiting time is twenty minutes. The current waiting time is twenty minutes!"

"The end of the line is this way! Please line up in a single line!"

"Five seconds per person! Try to finish it within five seconds!"

"Don't push! Don't run! Don't rush!!!"

　Students wearing the green executive committee armbands were shouting desperately.

"...What is that? An idol handshake event?"

"You're probably right."

　A long line formed in the student waiting area.

　Looking ahead at the people in line, I saw Tohsaka wearing gym clothes and a red headband.

　There were plenty of students dressed similarly, but Tohsaka's was in a class of her own, so picturesque it was almost scary.

　Just like at an idol handshake event, there were peelers (strong rugby players) who took photos with Tohsaka at an incredible pace.

"And this! This is some juice with lemon as a gift! If you'd like...!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Our prince doesn't accept homemade food just to be safe. So, the staff will enjoy it later."

　Next to Tohsaka, Usami, wearing black sunglasses, was standing pretending to be a manager and giving the female student a thumbs up.

"What is Usami doing?"

"What, you're taking photos with me too?! And with Kaori too?! Is that okay? Won't she be so cute that she damage your camera?"

"...What on earth is she doing?"

　Anyway, it's good to see that they both seem to be enjoying the sports festival.

"It's hard to be cool."

"I guess so."

"I don't care if it's hard, I just want to be pampered!"

　Nishihara's anguished screams were drowned out by the frenzy.

　After that, the competition went smoothly.

　Currently, Ippo Shirogumi is in the lead.

　Meanwhile, the real star finally appeared.

"Good luck Prince!"

"You can use my white horse!"

"Mow down the White Team! Use force! Or violence in their faces!"

　Tohsaka enters.

　The cheers were particularly loud, and it even felt as if Tohsaka's popularity was being expressed through her voice.

"Koko~!!!"

　In the front row of the waiting area, Usami waves a fan that reads, "Full support for Kako! Viva Youth☆."

"...What have you been doing all this time?"

"This is necessary! The cheers of the people who support her will give her strength!"

"Former X-ball?"

　After all the contestants have entered the ring, a voice comes over the speaker.

"The color-based selection event, the obstacle course race, has begun! The commentary will be provided by Tanaka from the drama club, taking over from Okachimachi from the broadcasting club."

"And now, Sato will be sending you off."

"...Ah, should I introduce myself? Should I make an impression on the commentators?"

"Eh, I don't know... but I guess it's better to do it. It applies to all sorts of things, "it's better than nothing."

"Oh, yeah. That's right. I, Tanaka, wear round glasses."

"And Sato will be wearing fake glasses."

"...What are these guys doing?"

"Why are you wearing fake glasses?"

　--Bang.

"Is this how we introduce ourselves? Did we only mention the glasses?"

“But our only distinguishing feature is our glasses… Satou himself wears fake glasses to add character to his personality – what, has it started already?”

"It has started. Good luck everyone!"

"What exactly is a live commentary?"

"That's a bold choice."

"The drama club is the pinch hitter for the broadcasting club."

　The borrowing race started smoothly.

　The points awarded in color-based selection events are higher than those awarded in grade-based events, making this a very important moment in making a comeback.

"In this competition, each participant takes a white piece of paper out of a box, borrows the item written on it, and then overcomes the obstacles. The most interesting part is probably the borrowing part."

"The key to victory will be to avoid difficult assignments."

"Suddenly serious"

"You're gifted at getting the hang of things."

　The competition continued at this pace until it reached the final stages.

　Tohsaka was the anchor for the red team in this competition, and the baton was about to be passed to her.

"Now the baton will be passed to our school's proud prince! They will start a little later than the White Team."

"Good luck!"

　As soon as the white team finished drawing their papers, Tohsaka also reached into the box.

　She took out a piece of paper and unfolded it--

"Eh, glasses?! Can someone lend me their glasses?"

"Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!!"

"Huh!?"

　A group of people wearing glasses eagerly approach Tohsaka.

　What is this? It's not the borrowing contest I know. It's a lending contest.

"Th-Thanks!"

　Tohsaka starts running with a pile of glasses she received from everyone. It must be hard to run.

"I lost my glasses and can't see the schoolyard, so I asked you to take care of it."

"Yeah, I just wear fashionable glasses. They don't affect my eyesight."

"You guys lent it to me too?"

"Please give me a live report."

　Tohsaka runs off.

　As She approached the balance beam, the White team was also in that corner and the gap was definitely closing.

　However, she seems to be having difficulty running because she is carrying so many pairs of glasses.

　One would be fine, but...I guess it's very Tohsaka-like.

"!!!"

　Even so, Tohsaka made full use of her natural athletic ability and steadily closed the distance.

　The White Team descends from the balance beam, and Tohsaka is close to the end. It feels like she could reach out and grab their backs.

"a……"

　One of the glasses she was holding slipped through Tohsaka's arm and nearly fell to the ground.

　Tohsaka quickly jumped and reached out to pick it up.

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""

　The whole audience holds their breath.

　Tohsaka's beautiful, long limbs reflected the sunlight and shone like stars.

　The graceful, supple movements flowed slowly, as if in slow motion, capturing everyone's attention.

　With impressive jumping ability and reaction speed, Tohsaka managed to grab the glasses and landed directly on the finish line of the balance beam.

"!!!"

　With that momentum, Tohsaka chases after the White Team.

　Although the glasses did make her stand out a little, to her it was just a way to liven up the atmosphere.

　--And then the finish line tape is cut.

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!""

　The school is filled with the most excitement of the day.

"The Prince overtook the White Team and finished in first place!!"

"The winners of this battle are... Team Red!!!"

　Tohsaka, with sweat dripping from her forehead and breathing heavily, received the thunderous cheers.

"Tohsaka is really amazing."

　The true feelings spill out without thinking.

　Today, as always, she was a prince, and she did not disappoint at the sports festival, which she was excited about, and was more dazzling than anyone else.

　--but.

"……yeah?"

　Looking at Tohsaka, a bad feeling runs down my cheeks, caressing my entire body.

　The sports festival is exciting with dramatic developments.

　Looking at Tohsaka standing alone in the center of it all, all I could do was hope that my premonition turned out to be just a pointless one.