Axel's Point of View

A CROWD OF HUNDRED PEOPLE, including instructors and students, gathered together in the gymnasium during our second homeroom period. I am just standing here beside Kiyo who is also roaming around the venue. I looked at Horikita.

I raised my brows. She seemed restless as she looked around at her surroundings. She is probably looking for her brother, Horikita Manabu, who serves as this school's student council president. However, with this many people around, she wouldn't be able to spot him easily.

When we sat down on the floor, several students came forward. Everyone focused their attention on them.

"I'm Fujimaki, from the third-year Class A. It's been decided that I will assume command of the Red Team." Apparently it doesn't seem like Horikita's brother is taking charge here.

I had thought he would be taking charge of everything since he is the student council president but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"I'd like to give the first-year students one piece of advice. The sports festival is extremely important. Your experiences here will most certainly be applicable to real life. In fact, many of your future exams may look like games at first glance. However, each and every one of them is a crucial battle in which you stake your survival at this school. You may not feel motivated right now, but we're going to try and win this thing. I want you to hold on to that feeling."

From the senior students such ambiguous yet appreciated words of advice came.

"The only event in which all the school years will be participating in is the 1200 meter relay at the end. Other than that, all the other events will have the school years divided up. After this, please assemble according to your school years and discuss your strategy going forward."

Following Fujimaki's words, Class A led by Katsuragi began to assemble in droves. The first-year Class D students, on the other hand, appeared to flounder. They felt nervous in the company of such elites.

"It seems we'll be forming a united front in a bizarre manner but let's get along. If possible, I'm thinking we could join forces without any quarrels amongst teammates." Katsuragi said.

"I feel the same way too, Katsuragi-kun. Let's get along." Hirata said with a smile. Standing at a close distance to one another, Katsuragi and Hirata both declare their intention to cooperate. However, that seemed impossible to happen.

"Hey, check out that girl." Ike whispered, standing beside me. But it's not like I don't understand his urge to whisper that. A single student from Class A felt out of place here.

My thought was immediately interrupted as there was a commotion in the gymnasium. It turned out that both the leaders of Class B and Class C, followed by their respective classmates approached us. The leader of Class B, Ichinose Honami spoke out.

"Speaking of which. Ryuuen-kun. You really think you can win without cooperating?"

In response to Ichinose's question, the leader of Class C, Ryuuen Kakeru, simply laughed.

"Kuku. I wonder."

Laughing slightly, the entire student body of Class C began leaving under his command. Class D did nothing but watch that from afar, but just for a moment, Karuizawa's expression turned gloomy.

During the special exam on the cruise ship, she'd gotten in a scrap with Manabe and some other girls from Class C, which led Kiyo and me to discover her history as a victim of bullying. For just a moment, Manabe looked back at Karuizawa. Then she immediately averted her eyes, as if nothing had happened, and followed Ryuuen out.

It was also a scene that once again served as a reminder that Ryuen held his entire class's right to decide in his hands. Looking at that, Katsuragi gives Horikita some advice.

"Since we're allies, I should warn you. Don't underestimate Ryuen. He'll laugh while he attacks you in the same instant. Don't let your guard down." Katsuragi warned.

"I'm grateful for your warning, but from the way you said it I wonder if it comes from your personal experience." Horikita responded.

"I've warned you." Katsuragi said and after that he left it at that and returned to the topic of the festival.

"I wonder if that means he's made a move this early".

It was the girl I'd been curious about a little earlier. She was petite, and sat all by herself, her eyes downcast. She held a thin cane. It was clear that she had trouble walking.

"That's Sakayanagi Arisu. She's disabled. Please be sensitive about that." Katsuragi said.

Kiyo glanced at the girl. I also looked at her.

'Sakayanagi Arisu? Wait? That name sounds familiar..but I cannot remember it...'

So, this girl was Class A's other rumored leader, who had supposedly split the students into two distinct factions between herself and Katsuragi. Although everyone around her was staring, the girl paid no attention to them. She had short, silver hair, a particularly eye-catching feature.

I wasn't sure whether or not she dyed it. Her skin was pale.

"Dude, she's super cute!"

It couldn't be helped even if the boys of Class D caused an uproar like that. A cuteness different from Kushida's and Sakura's, a different kind of beauty. That ephemeral figure of hers invokes feelings of wanting to protect her.

Sakayanagi smiled at us, aware of the stir she'd created.

"Unfortunately, I won't be very useful in this competition. I'm afraid I'll be consistently absent. Please accept my humblest apologies."

"You have nothing to apologize for. No one's going to give you a hard time over that." Hirata said to her.

"The school is also being harsh. From the start, if her body cannot handle it they should have overlooked it."

"That's right, don't mind it."

"Your kindness overwhelms me." Sakayanagi said.

Contrary to what we'd expected, Sakayanagi seemed extremely polite, mature, and gentle. She gave no hint of aggression. However, Katsuragi watched her quietly.

From my perspective, it was clear that the students of Class A were clearly sitting as though there was a demarcation line between Katsuragi and Sakayanagi.

The class definitely had two factions. The Katsuragi faction, at first, appeared equal if not superior to the other faction, but now not even a glimpse of that could be seen. It was because a few boys and girls, including Yahiko, stood by Katsuragi while almost every other student was in Sakayanagi's faction. It made me think she was deliberately causing this scenario so as to show off her own power.

After apologizing for her shortcomings, Sakayanagi showed no sign of wanting to speak further. Instead, she quietly observed Katsuragi, Hirata, and the others. Then, she landed her gaze on me and Kiyotaka and after that she smiled.

Again her gaze landed on me again. What the hell? She slowly approached us.

"Axel Arison... isn't it?" She is clearly talking to me. I glanced at Kiyo who beside me was glaring at Sakayanagi! Wait, do they know each other?

Wait, should I know her?

"Yes?" Even when I was standing a few feet from her, I could still feel her overwhelming aura. She adopted a queen-like demeanor.

"Fufufu. We met at last. And you too Ayanokouji."

"I'm sorry?" sorry I'm not quite following you miss. You just talked to us as if you know us? Noh?

"I've been interested in you two since the beginning of the first year semester. BUt mostly my attention is only to you." As she looked at me again.

Heck wait a minute, don't tell me you like m–that absurd please I don't want a girlfriend!

"Um... what?" Wait. She couldn't possibly throw that out in the public. That will mislead other people!

She smiled at Kiyo and me then she said, "I'm looking forward to your performance."

I gulped as I felt many sharp glances at my back. Damn I don't want to look at them, they are probably thinking that I'm stealing her from them! No no! Please take her!

"Do you know her?" I was startled when Kiyotaka whispered to me. I looked at him. I shook my head in response.

"I see." Kiyotaka said as he made a 'tsk' sound. I chuckle and pat his head multiple times. I sighed and looked around again.

I realize that Katsuragi ignored Sakayanagi, continued to talk with Hirata. After that, he looked to the rest of our classmates for the final decision. No one voiced objections. Even Horikita didn't say anything, so she must've been convinced, too.

"At any rate, we'll need to meet sometime soon to discuss the group competitions. Is that alright with you two?" Horikita asks Katsuragi.

"Yes, that should be fine. I'll consult with everyone else.'' he replied.

"Thanks. I'm counting on you."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

Third Person's Point of View

HORIKITA TURNS HER HEAD TO THE TWO BOYS from his Class.

"Ayanokouji-kun and Arison-kun. What kind of methods do you think are there if we want to win in this special exam?" Horikita asked the two.

"This time is the sports festival. The school is trying to see the presence or absence of athletic abilities, don't you think so?" Axel replied to her question earning a nod from her.

"In theory of course that's correct. I'm interpreting it as a competition ordered according to ability. If there's a factor other than athleticism affecting the results then wouldn't that just be luck?"

"Luck, huh?" Kiyotaka spoke up.

"Unlike studies, the opponents we will be competing against are chosen randomly after all. As a factor, it plays a huge role. But what I'm seeking isn't something uncertain like that. I want something certain. Using athleticism as a basis, a method that doesn't purely rely on luck. There were infinite possibilities during the uninhabited island and shipboard special exams......I feel that way now. But this time too, surely–" Horikita said with closed eyes, but she didnt finish her sentence as Kiyotaka spoke again.

"Horikita, What do you think the big difference is this time compared to the exams on the uninhabited island and the ship?" he asked, making Horikita blinked her eyes multiple times.

"Difference? I think it's the same kind of special exam."

"Indeed I won't deny it's similar. However, the school side absolutely won't acknowledge it as being the same." Kiyotaka said bluntly.

"I don't understand what you're saying. Because there's the cooperative relationship this time with Class A? But even on the ship groups were formed with different classes and an inexplicable team battle happened too..."

"That's not it. In the first place, the basic premise is different."

"In regards to this sports festival, the school side has never once said it was a 'special exam'. We 1st years have been one-sidedly calling it such but including Chabashira-sensei too, the other teachers have all only referred to it as the sports festival. Fujimaki is in his 3rd year too. Even the printouts we were handed, the words 'special exam' weren't written." Horikita informs the two boys nod their heads.

"Even so, what's the matter with that? The mechanism behind it as well as the increase and decrease in points are all pretty much identical to a special exam." Kiyotaka pointed out.

"Certainly."

"I get it now. The essence of this sports festival is to properly make preparations before the actual event. And, to leave behind results during the actual event, that is all there is to it." Axel said as he crossed his arms.

Horikita sighed and spoke up again. "What I want to say is that preparation before the event. I want Class D to definitely win."

"Wrong." Kiyotaka said. Horikita glared at him but Kiyotaka didn't mind that as he continued talking.

"What you're trying to do isn't preparation. You're trying to conquer it and looking for loopholes."

"The difference between those, I don't understand."

"Preparation is, for instance, who will be participating in the contests in which order, or which ones in the other classes are athletic or unathletic, figuring that out. Showing good judgment on which order they will be going in. And, to make sure information about us doesn't leak." Axel explains to Horikita, Kiyotaka nods at his statement as he pat his head.

"You understand me well, Axel."

"Uhmm Of course." Horikita just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, she coughing getting their attention. Kiyotaka looked at her.

"Ahem. That sort of thing. To try and conquer it and looking for loopholes is to force someone into being absent prior to the competition or forcing them to retire halfway through it, that sort of thing. In other words, you're just saying you want a strong hand to play, right?"

"At best, you're saying that it's necessary to fight openly and win?" Horikita asks to confirm.

"Hmm..Well. But let me ask you something, Horikita." Axel said as he leaned on Horikita.

"What is it?"

"What do you think is the advantage Class D holds right now?" he asked Horikita.

"It seems like the quarrel between Class B and Class C will carry some advantages for us, perhaps." she said as she put her hands on her chin.

Kiyotaka turns to Suzune. "You're trying to broaden your insight in order to win but isn't your outlook still narrow?"

Horikita looks at Kiyotaka and raises her brows. "Are you talking about me having ignored Ryuuen-kun who refused cooperation with Class B? Since he rejected such a connection I think that's unmistakably something positive though."

'Do you really think that?' Axel's thought, he smirked while looking at Horikita.

"After this Ryuuen-kun and Ichinose-san will reconcile and cooperate, that is also a possibility. It's not like Ichinose-san particularly likes Ryuuen-kun either but if it's for the sake of victory, she may throw aside her own feelings and cooperate. But, is it wrong to celebrate at this stage? Just judging it to be a positive is not such a bad thing, right?" she added on her statement.

"That's what I mean by narrow outlook though..." Kiyotaka sighed clearly unimpressed by Horikita. Also Axel, he had a lot of expectations on Horikita but...

'Is this all you got Horikita?' The two boys looked at Horikita.

"That's an annoying way to put it. Then, what do you see?"

"About Ryuen, He won't stop thinking about winning. Even as he speaks casually, he'll always be taking action in order to build strategies to win. But why did he suddenly reject cooperation with Class B at this point? Do you think he truly abandoned cooperation without any thought?" Axel pointed out Horikita.

Horikita, on the other hand, looked rather confused. "Reason for rejection? Are you saying Class B and Class C are already connected behind the scenes, perhaps?"

Kiyotaka sighed.

"What we should be thinking of right now is not about his relationship with Class B. It's the fact that there is a high chance he's already thought of a strategy to win. If not, there are no advantages in throwing away dialogue. The possibility that he lied here to have a discussion with Class B should have more yield."

"That–I think the possibility of that is low." Horikita sounded hesitant.

"If the possibility of an earthquake or a fire breaking out is low, are you saying there's no need to prepare just in case?" Axel but in.

"That.." Horikita didn't know what to say.

"At the very least, I think currently Ryuen has more than one strategy to win." Kiyotaka guess.

"But if that's the case then it's abnormal. We've just learned about the sports festival. To win or anything."

"That is why it's necessary to understand that abnormality. What does a frontal attack mean, what does a loophole mean, can we think about those? And also, are there any ways we can take 'precautions' against it? Why don't we desperately try to squeeze one out? To rise up to Class A, such things are necessary, right?" Kiyotaka said, making Axel smirk beside him. Horikita just nodded her head.

"Well, it'll be fine if we try various things. Let's prepare so that at the very least we'll be able to avoid failure."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

Kiyotaka's Point of View

6 years ago

"WHAT SO FUNNY?" I ask him, while Axel just laughing at me he holds his stomach while his other hand holds his mouth.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA you're so sucks expressing your emotion. Pfft HAHAHHA." I just look at him with a deadpan expression.

As you can see, he just pranked me like putting some ice on my back. But my expression remains the same. But the fun part for him is that my whole body just trembles.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA your face is still the same but your whole body is trembling because of the cold HAHAHA." I rolled my eyes. I just sighed. Well can't be helped.

I looked at him, he still laughing but eventually stop when he notice that I was staring at him

"Is there something on my face?"

Oh!

Should I prank him too? Hmm. What prank should I do?

"Yes." I told him. He put his hands on his face and tried to get that....well there's not really on his face.

"Where!?"

"Ha..Let me."

I lean over to him and slowly pinch his cheeks and whisper in his ears. "I'm just kidding." I said and slowly I moved away to see his face..

Eh? His face is red. His ears, and also neck are red. Is it because he is embarrassed about what I did? Well. Should I say sorry?

But... Why does he look so cute– ahem. I..Well I'm just telling the truth. He didn't even yell at me or what he was just getting red like tomatoes.

I lean again and put my hand on his forehead.

"Are you sick?" I ask him. He quickly shook his head and looked directly into my eyes. His Red eyes almost sparkle with the glitter of jewels. It has been almost 3 years since he brought him.

We become close I think.

He always shared some things with me. I was also interested in that so I didn't mind. I thought being alone is better.

But..he made me realise that being someone...is much better.