Final Exam Of First Year [3]

And the result was in front of everyone, at last.

Class A won the basketball event, with the score 26-30, by the end of second half.

Class A had pulled off an incredible comeback in the second half, leaving both the spectators and Class C players stunned.

Sudo, who had carried the team on his back in the first half, looked exhausted and visibly frustrated.

His sharp movements had slowed down as the game went on, and he started making more mistakes under pressure.

The absence of coordination among Class C's players only worsened the situation, with Minami and Ike continuing to fumble passes and get outplayed in key moments.

As the final buzzer echoed through the gymnasium, an eerie silence fell over the spectators from Class C.

The disbelief on their faces mirrored the frustration etched into Sudo's expression as he stood, hands on his knees, catching his breath.

Even though Yamauchi could have substituted someone before things got worse, he didn't and his indecisiveness caused the advantage of class C to fall apart.

On the other side of the court, Class A erupted in cheers, their players embracing one another as they celebrated their improbable comeback.

Kitou, their ace player, was apparently holding back in the first half to gauge out the exact capabilities of Sudo and the weaknesses of his team.

Hence, he covered and only focused on Sudo in the second half, which made the others to pass him nearly impossible.

And, as class A continued scoring one after another, his hot headedness came to surface.

"Oh my, Yamauchi-kun. Whatever happened to this event? I am quite shocked by the results as well. I didn't expect we would actually win this. Of course, my trump card here was Kitou-kun, a former experienced basketball player. And he did a good job, it seems."

The frustrated Yamauchi raised his head and glared at Sakayanagi intently.

"What's the meaning of this, Sakayanagi? This was not in our deal. Have you forgotten that I am the commander here, and I can switch Ayanokouji with anyone for 'that' event?"

Upon that remark filled with anguish, Hoshinomiya looked at Yamauchi and sighed again, but didn't utter a single word.

She was not aware that the student with whom Yamauchi arranged a match for Sakayanagi, was actually Ayanokouji.

So, hearing his name here had confused her too.

But, the reason she sighed was because of the desperation Yamauchi showed.

From the starting, Hoshinomiya knew that Sakayanagi would never keep her promise, because of no penalty upon breaching the contract.

And, it seemed to her that Yamauchi also realized that he has been screwed over just now.

"Yamauchi-kun, I admire your bravery for coming to this special exam, even though, you bear the risk of expulsion. You had a chance to run away, but you didn't. However, you failed to assess that, I can have my match with him anytime later, when you are expelled that is. And the most important thing is you can never win against me."

Her devilish smile sent a chill down Hoshinomiya's spine.

Yamauchi's face also became paler than ever before.

He had a face like he just realized that Sakayanagi has officially broken their contract.

The gymnasium, once filled with the sound of cheers from Class A's victory, now seemed unbearably quiet

The echo of Sakayanagi's mocking voice lingered in his ears, her words digging deeper into his fragile confidence.

His face, once filled with pride, was now pale and expressionless.

Hoshinomiya, observing the exchange, understood the gravity of the situation.

She had been skeptical of Yamauchi's position from the start, sensing that he was out of his depth.

But now, seeing the stark contrast between his panicked expression and Sakayanagi's composed, victorious smile, she knew that the game was over—both on and off the court.

Hoshinomiya, sensing the tension and wanting to diffuse the situation, finally spoke up. "Now, now, let's not get too emotional here. The exam isn't over yet, Yamauchi-kun. There are still other events. Maybe you can pull off a surprise victory in the next one."

Her words, though intended to offer some comfort, felt hollow to Yamauchi.

He knew as well as anyone that the damage had already been done. His class had been shattered by this loss, and worse, his own confidence had been destroyed.

The students from Class C, still reeling from the defeat on the court, looked to Yamauchi with disappointment and confusion.

They had followed his lead, trusting in his decisions as their commander, and now they were left with nothing but a bitter loss and the weight of impending failure.

Moreover, Horikita was no where t be seen. 

She might have lost all hope too, after this crushing defeat.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei is right Yamauchi-kun. Don't lose hope."

Then the next event that was to be competed on, displayed on their screen.

"The game has just begun after all."

..........................................

English Test

Required Participants: 8 Persons

Allotted Time: 50 Minutes

Rules: Students will answer a set of questions within the scope of what they would find in the first-year curriculum. The winner will be decided based on total points. 

Commander: The commander can answer one single question on behalf of a participant.

...........................................

The second event was a written test, chosen by class A.

Indeed, their specialty was academics, for which most of their events relied upon academic abilities of students.

This test was one of them.

Just recently, class C had lost an event in which they specialized in, and now, it's an event their opponents chose.

Hoshinomiya sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "Well, this is quite the uphill battle for you, Yamauchi-kun. Maybe you should've planned better."

Yamauchi gritted his teeth.

He could feel the weight of everyone's expectations—or rather, the lack thereof—pressing down on him.

He wasn't stupid; he knew how people saw him.

Even now, the disappointment in the eyes of his classmates stung more than the loss itself.

This was his test, his chance to prove himself, and it was slipping away with each passing moment.

Sakayanagi, standing across from him with that ever-present smile, gave a light chuckle.

"Oh dear, Yamauchi-kun, you look quite pale. Is the prospect of an academic challenge too daunting for you and your class? Don't worry. I'm sure you'll think of something. You still have your 'commander power,' after all."

Her voice was a mix of mockery and pity, and Yamauchi hated every second of it.

"Well then, good luck again, Yamauchi-kun."

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Author's Notes : 

I have started an original web novel series - The Last War : Celestial Rebellion.

You can find it on my profile page. 

Please support it and add to your library, if you find interesting.

The next chapter of this fanfic is coming soon too.

Thank You.

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