Chapter 5 Part II

The second contest up is a hurdle. It's basically an event that's the same as the 100 meter dash in the sense that it rests purely on one's speed. But then again, that's not all there is to it. It's because it'll be a severe mistake if we don't overcome it with certainty yet without rushing it. In regards to this contest, there are two rules attached. 

'Knock down the hurdle'. 'Touch the hurdle'. These two time penalties are added onto it as well. 

It's 0.5 seconds if the hurdle is knocked down. It's 0.3 seconds if the hurdle is touched. That time will be added for us. 

Due to this, just quickly skipping over everything isn't enough to win. One must leap over them with certainty. 

But since it also means you obviously won't be able to win if you take too long either, the important thing here is just how much you've grasped the hang of it during the practice period. There are 10 hurdles in total placed at intervals of 10 meters. In the case that you're able to knock them all down then that means a total of 5 seconds would be added to your time. It's pretty much a despairing order. 

In this event, it's been decided that Sudou will be participating as part of the last group. 

"If you guys are dead last then I'll slap you".

The unathletic students trembled at the intense pressure coming from Sudou, who was watching them with arms crossed. 

"What kind of tyranny is this!?".

"Ehh, is Sotomura-kun present? In case of absence, he'll be disqualified".

I could hear those words coming from the referee at the starting line. 

"I-I have a stomach ache.....would it be fine if I were to be absent?".

The Professor, who could only barely overcome the hurdles back during practice, tried to escape as though frightened. 

"Huh? It's fine if you knock down all the hurdles so show some backbone and stay your course".

"Kopu!? I-I-I have it!".

At a distance where their faces were almost touching, he glared at the Professor who then went onto the course. There's a great difference between coming in dead last and being disqualified. Since in the case of disqualification you won't even be able to acquire a point, participation is essential. 

"Damn, he's useless. He does whatever he wants as a habit that's why he's fat".

But as expected, the Professor could not overcome the hurdles and ultimately, he ended up knocking them over by hand and came in at last place. 

"Even so, that Shibata guy's pretty good".

In ascertaining the abilities of the other classes, Sudou said that as though advising caution. It's still only the second event but even in the hurdle race he still took 1st place without difficulty. 

Right now, he'd be Sudou's rival. Furthermore, like Ichinose, he appears to possess leadership qualities that let him rally his surroundings. 

"If we meet directly face-to-face, I'll win".

If this keeps up, then Sudou's goal of being 1st across the entire school year will only grow ever distant. Especially since there's no telling what the outcome will be for the team competitions. 

It's cause for anxiety. 

"Next up is the fourth group, please prepare yourselves".

Having been called out by the referee, I entered the same course from before. On the second course I could see the figure of Kanzaki. 

"We're up against each other right away it seems".

".....go easy on me".

"I've heard that you're quite fast from Ichinose".

I don't know where Ichinose got that idea from.....but looking back I can think of one instance. I suppose she saw me running back when Sakura got caught up in that incident. It's not like I was running at my top speed but from my form and such, it's very likely that she guessed my physical ability as well. Besides that, back when I entertained myself by playing with Ichinose at the pool she had been observing me. It can't be helped that she'd mark me during all the exams and incidents up until now. 

"That's misinformation. Didn't you see my rank in the 100 meter dash earlier? It's 5th place, you know".

"That is indeed the result, but it didn't seem to me like you were taking it seriously".

"There's no advantage in holding back one's ability at this sports festival, right? You'd only lose out that way".

"The probability of it is low but it's not like doing so is completely meaningless from a strategic point of view".

It looks like Ichinose and Class B have conducted reconnaissance, observed and then made their guess. For an existence like mine, even if I took first place it's not only my rank but the process leading up to it that they'd take into account. 

"Besides, even amongst the same school year, you're a pretty calm man. That type of person is scary after all".

"Well, please think of it as you wish".

We were still in the middle of our conversation but since a boy from Class C got between us, our conversation was cut short. Except for Kanzaki, it doesn't seem like there are any prominent faces in the fourth group. 

It'll be an error if my rank rises by even a bit. 

At the same time as the starting signal, I started running at about the same pace as before.

As expected, Kanzaki overtook a person but since there's only that one student running in front of me, I ultimately ended up with a good result of 3rd place.

There are combinations to consider too but for better or for worse, it seems like I can maintain this inconspicuous position. 

"...haa, good grief.....I can't keep up".

As I returned to our camp after having finished with the race, Yukimura was whispering to himself with a downcast expression. From the looks of it, after having finished with the second contest, he wasn't able to get good results. 

"Was it bad?".

"Ayanokouji, huh?....I want to curse this combination. Seventh group and 7th place....".

So this is what they call a booby prize. He's been driven into considerably bitter circumstances. 

"It depends on your mindset. If it's Yukimura, even if you fall to the lower ranks, there won't be any trouble for you on the tests right?".

"I won't get a failing grade. But there's still no change to the fact that my scores will plummet. Besides, this result will be a liability for the class and the team too....".

It seems the man aiming for Class A more than anyone else, also bears responsibility more than anyone else too. It's probably because he disparages students of low academic ability like Sudou and the others with a strong tone usually that he doesn't want to show any weakness now. 

It'll be uncouth for me to say anything more and so I slightly took my distance from him. 

I focused on the girls' competition. The opening is with Horikita and Sakura, two people I know well. Horikita, who was expecting to win, felt no pressure as she stood at the starting line. 

On the other hand, although it sounds bad when I put it into words, Sakura, whose expectation is zero, appeared nervous. 

"Horikita-san, it seems like this pairing isn't too good".

"Is that so?".

Hirata, who knew the other classes well, said so after seeing the pairing. The contest will begin soon after. 

"In Class C, the ones said to be the fastest are Yajima-san and Kinoshita-san from the track and field club and they're here".

"I see...".

Horikita, in the first 100 meter dash, had been able to dominate the fierce battle against Ibuki but her trials continue on. 

"Certainly, it looks like winning's going to be tough".

Horikita snapped forth and sprinted and leaped but the two of Class C went ahead of her. 

Then, left without any chances, Horikita finished the contest in 3rd place as a result. 

Hirata received that result and turned to face me. It's not an eye contact made in response to Horikita's defeat. It's because he felt a strange sense of unease with the pairings in this race.