Third Person's Point of View

Morning

Knock!

Knock!

Knock!

"I'm still sleeping for god sake.." Axel said while he sat up on his bed, he stood up and didn't care about his clothes.

"H-Hai!" He ran up to the door and saw Hirata Yosuke outside of his room, with his wide eyes and flushed ears and cheeks.

"A-A-Arison?"

"Mhmm Good Morning, Yosuke." Axel said while yawning, his eyes are still closed and he is rubbing it using his right hand while his left hand is on the door knob.

"C-Can you please..change your c-clothes. Ta-Take your time." Hirata said and slowly closed the door. Axel looked confused but he decided to change his clothes.

He again opens the door and sees Hirata with a happy expression.

"Come in, Yosuke."

"Pardon me." Hirata slowly goes inside of Axel's room.

'This room smells like Arison-kun.. Wait! What am I? Pervert!?' He immediately shook his head and looked around. He was amazed by the organized bookshelf and clean room.

Well what do you expect from our Clean freak Arison Axel!

"Do you want tea, Yosuke?"

"Oh no no, our conversation will just take a minute."

"Oh kayyy, what do you want to talk about?" Axel kindly asked Hirata. Hirata pinched his thigh and looked directly at Axel.

"Can you help again in this Sports Festival? If something happens on that Day, can you help the class? I know this sounds crazy but I think something will happen on that day." Hirata said.

"Okay."

"I expect that you will no–eh?" Hirata stopped and looked at Axel who was sipping on his milk.

"Yes, I'll help. But if something happens, just go with the flow and act natural. We are not really going to have points in this sports festival." When Axel said that Hirata stood up and clenched his fist and his face looked didn't believe what Axel was saying.

"W-What do you mean? We are not going to have points in the sports festival?"

"Yeah, In fact we're going to lose points." Axel said, making Hirata sit back again. He didn't really believe this but Axel said this. Maybe he is telling the truth.

"Not just Class D, all Classes A, B, C and D we will lose points. But that is just my presumption and analysis for this Festival. But don't worry." Axel smiled and stood up and crossed his arm.

"There's a person who will grow on this Festival."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

TWO WEEKS LATER, IN MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, Class D continued their daily practice sessions.

Sudo makes a good coach as he helps his classmates improve. Hirata holds regular meetings with Katsuragi to discuss how to best approach each event.

But Horikita is still having problems with the three-legged race.

"I think it'd do you some good to compromise a little more." Kiyotaka suggested to Horikita who looked about to decline.

"Many people have told me that. I won't compromise, because I'm trying to get the best time. Isn't that a good thing? And I don't intend to accommodate someone else's slowness."

"Then no one will want to practice with you." Axel sighed while shaking his head.

"If I'm expected to yield, my partner must put in the effort first. I can't work with someone who refuses to even try to improve."

"Horikita please, Stick your foot out." Axel ordered Horikita confused but she just did what Axel said.

"You will be partnered by Kiyo for the three-legged race."

"Why should I?"

"Just followed my order." Axel glared at Horikita, Horikita shut her mouth off, this is her first time seeing Axel like this. He looked serius and–

"Done! Now now go go run run!" Axel said while clapping his hands. Horikita deadpanned and shook her head and sighed.

Nevermind.

"Don't drag me down." She said to Kiyotaka.

"According to your theory, my speed isn't the issue, only my effort." Kiyotaka said.

"Fine. I'll tie us together." Horikita knelt and tied the cord around their legs, as if telling him not to touch her.

"Goodluck to you two!" Axel waved his hand while the two person who is currently tied together start running,

At the beginning of the race, Kiyotaka mirrored Horikita. However, he soon started going at his own pace.

"H–Hey!"

Horikita started to panic, but Kiyotaka mercilessly went faster. She did everything she could to keep up with him, but her stamina and strength couldn't match his.

Axel, on the other hand, looked at the scene. He grinned and put his two hands on the back of his head.

Kiyotaka turned to Horikita who is currently panting.

"You said that keeping up with your partner isn't difficult, right?"

"That's..I know."

Axel decided to jog to go on their direction

"This wasn't about fast or slow. Your practices went wrong because you didn't look at your partner." Kiyotaka explained.

"Kiyo is correct, you know the important thing is to work with your partner. How about letting them take the lead?"

"I–"

"Think about it." Kiyotaka cut her off.

'Kushida Kikyou is the second problem. She is something of a supporting character, working backstage, but never taking the spotlight.' Axel's thoughts.

'However, we know about the darkness within her. It was a fact that Kushida hated Horikita. But both Horikita and Kushida are important to Class D's improvement and progress.'

'Therefore, the only way to resolve the issue is to have them confront one another.' Axel's thought as he smirked and started talking to Horikita.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

ALL THE CLASSES CONTINUE DOING reconnaissance on each other, although it is the participation tables that hold the most vital information, so each class is careful not to leak the contents of those tables.

"Let's go, Horikita."

"N–"

"Yes, so let's go." Axel cut her off and started to drag her. Horikita just signed.

"Kushida-san, do you have a moment?" Kiyotaka asked Kushida.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Ayanokoji-kun, Arison-kun?" Kushida slightly flinched when she saw Axel but Axel just smiled at her.

Kushida also turned to look for a moment at Horikita.

"Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?" Kiyotaka asked Kushida.

"No, not that I remember anything else to do other than cleaning my room." Kushida said while shaking her head.

"If you're fine with it, can we borrow some of your time for the morning only?"

"Sure thing. But how unusual for Ayanokouji-kun and Arison-kun to invite me out."

Kiyotaka nods and Axel just smiles. The two boys turned to Horikita and Axel started to speak.

By the way, Horikita will also be coming along." Axel said, Horikita's eyes became wide.

"Hey–"

Axel immediately put his hands on her mouth and smiled at Kushida, Kushida on the other hand started to sweat.

"S–Sure, I don't mind that at all, but what do you mean by the morning only?"

"Including Kushida wanting to once again conduct reconnaissance on the enemy is what we thought. We were invited to do so by Horikita but there are many things I don't know."

"I might be the most suitable one for that. Yeah, roger. What time would be good? The earlier it is, the better, right?" Kushida said with a smile.

Axel then removes his hand from Horikita's mouth, Horikita glared at him. Axel just laughed and started saying sorry.

"That's right. If possible, something like around 10 o'clock? Is that fine?" Kiyotaka asked.

"Completely fine. Then tomorrow we'll meet up in the dorm's lobby?" Kushida had promised to go back with her friends as she left.

"What is this all about huh?" Horikita looked at the two boys.

"Of course, because we never told you about it. But reconnaissance isn't such a bad thing, right?" Kiyotaka suggested.

Horikita just crossed her arms.

"If it's reconnaissance, then you two and Kushida-san should have been more than enough?"

"Hell nah." Axel said with a gross expression.

"And Horikita we've figured out Ryuuen's strategy." When Kiyotaka said that, Horikita then looked surprised.

"Already?"

"Mhmm but not just us it seems. There is one other person greatly involved in the outcome of that exam."

"Tell me, how?" Horikita asked.

"You and Hirata never revealed to anyone the fact that Kushida is the VIP, right?" Kiyotaka asked.

"Naturally."

"But what about Kushida herself? If she intentionally revealed herself? It is Impossible, right? Something like that, there are no benefits in it for Kushida-san."

"You can't say with certainty that there are no benefits, right? For instance, how about something like making a backroom deal to reveal that she's the VIP, in exchange for private points from another class. Something like that." Kiyotaka explained.

"Even if that's true, it's an act that disadvantages Class D. In the first place, if someone turns traitor then it's all over, it's a gamble far too dangerous." Horikita hesitantly said.

"You see, there are many ways to build trust." Axel said.

"Are you saying she'd betray her allies to gain points temporarily?"

"Dunno, that may be so and that may not be so. The reason is something only Kushida knows." Axel stated/

"So you brought me and Kushida-san together, to ascertain the truth?" Horikita confirmed.

"Something like that, but It's because you and Kushida seem to share something extraordinary like fate after all. If there's something worth more than private points to turn traitor over, it would no longer be strange." Axel said with a smile.

As they looked at her to check, Horikita awkwardly averted her eyes.

"There's nothing like 'that' between me and Kushida-san."

"If so, can you say with 100% certainty that she won't betray the class over you?" Kiyotaka asked.

"That is–"

Axel sighed as he looked at her.

"If there's something you're thinking about, we should confirm it. No, if we don't confirm it it'll be over, you know? You can imagine it too, right? No matter what kind of exam it may be, as soon as a traitor appears from within your allies then the class no longer has any chance of winning."