#88 Sports Festival!

After my talk with Sae-chan, I returned to my room and spent the rest of the day playing with Yukina while occasionally thinking of my future moves.

Anyway, Ayanokoji did a really good job with Kushida...Should I say as expected of him? I thought, lying on my bed while looking at my phone's display.

As for this day...I already knew that Mii-chan is really weak on the athletic side but her willpower is something I never expected. She doesn't really look like a stubborn person, however, what she showed to me today was really unexpected. On the academic side, she isn't as smart as Yukimura, however, she seems to have more potential for athletics than him. If I can train with her more often and if she will keep that stubborn attitude while training...She might even become someone extremely valuable for Class D. It would also be good to help her gain more confidence, having a gentle bearing isn't a bad thing but being overly polite can be viewed as a sign of weakness by other people.

...

Monday...

I was sitting at my seat inside Class D's classroom while reading the novel I have read previously. At least, that's how it looked to other students, the truth was that I was keeping an eye on Kushida. The moment she moves, I have to be even faster...

"Anyway, that's all for today's lesson. Although the sports festival is approaching very fast, don't forget to study or some of you might regret it later on." Sae-chan ended the lesson with her few words of advice and left the classroom.

"Hey, hey, what did you do on your weekend?"

"I played this new game, it's pretty hard and despite the fact that you are dying at each step you take, it's fun."

After the teacher left, the classroom immediately turned noisy.

I kept my attention on Kushida even though it looked like I was "peacefully" reading.

5 minutes after Sae-chan left, Kushida finally made her move.

"Girls, I need to go talk to someone from the other class." Kushida said with an apologetic smile to her friends and they just nodded in understanding. It wasn't anything strange for Kushida who was a friend with almost anyone to go talk to people from other classes.

Kushida took her bag and left the classroom.

After 15 seconds she left the classroom, I stood up and slowly walked to the door while still reading my novel.

"Where are you going, Felix-kun?" Hirata called out to me with a curious expression when I was about to leave the classroom.

I turned to the side to look at him out of the corner of my eye. I also noticed that some people were slightly surprised by Hirata calling me by my 1st name but they quickly threw this matter to the side and started minding their own business.

"Restroom. Do you need anything from me?" I asked with a confused expression.

"Well, yes...There are a few things that need to be completed on the participation table before we will be able to submit it. Could you please help me with this when you come back?" Hirata said with an apologetic smile, afraid that he was annoying me too much.

"Sure, no problem" I said and left the classroom. Although I didn't know why he wanted my help specifically, I still agreed.

"Hi, sorry to bother but didn't you see where Chabashira-sensei went?" When I walked out of the classroom, I asked some students in the hallway.

They looked slightly surprised to be interrupted by me but they still pointed at the direction where she went with their fingers.

Stairs? Did she perhaps go to the roof? Either she just wants to smoke or she wants to help me by luring Kushida into the better and isolated place. One never knows when it comes to her.

I thought while slowly climbing up the stairs with my hands in my pockets.

...

When I arrived at the door leading to the roof, I already heard two people speaking.

I carefully opened the door and noticed that Kushida's back was facing me so there was no way for her to notice me unless I make any noise. On the other hand, Sae-chan immediately noticed me, however, except for a small glance she gave me, she completely ignored my presence.

I winked at her with my thumb up while showing her wide bright smile revealing all my white teeth. Seeing this, she frowned slightly.

---

'What the hell is he doing? She can turn around any second and notice him, ultimately revealing that he is planning something against her yet he is still playing around even in such a dangerous situation... I no longer know if it's confidence, arrogance or that he simply doesn't care. Sae-chan thought while trying her best to maintain her usual expression in front of Kushida.

---

"What is it, Kushida?" Sae-chan asked in a disinterested tone while taking out one cigarette.

It seems I didn't miss much...I thought and hid myself behind some boxes.

I took out my phone and started to record their conversation.

However, when I saw Sae-chan taking out the cigarette I glared at her.

She also noticed my glare and understood the meaning behind it which made the corner of her mouth twitch a bit.

"I am here to submit our class's participation table." Kushida said while taking out a few papers from her bag, she was totally clueless about the entire exchange between me and Sae-chan.

"Why wouldn't you just wait till the next class you have with me?" Sae-chan put the cigarette back into the pack, making it look like she took it out previously just out of habit but then recalled that she shouldn't smoke right in front of her student.

"Others wanted to have it done right away, maybe they were afraid that someone might shoot a photo of it. Not wanting to be bothered by such things, they nominated me to bring it to sensei." Kushida said in her usual cheerful tone.

"Alright, if that's all, you should head back." Sae-chan accepted the papers from Kushida without even taking a look at it.

"Thank you for your time, have a great day, sensei!" Kushida bowed to her and left with steady and calm steps as if she didn't do anything wrong.

...

2 minutes after Kushida left the roof.

"I think you can come out already" Sae-chan called out while standing near the railing, looking at the surroundings of the school building.

"Finally? My legs were getting sore from all this crouching behind these small boxes..." I walked out of my hiding spot and jokingly complained about the uncomfortable position I had to endure with a smile on my face.

"I am risking quite a lot for you and that's all you say?" She said with a dissatisfied tone.

I walked up to her and stopped right next to her, placing my hands onto the railing.

"What risk? Like you said before, you can't let us make any changes in the participation table once we submit it, however, you have never said that you can't accept a new participation table. You can take it but you can't change it. There is nothing wrong with what you have done right now... But- ignoring those facts, thank you for helping me, even though you are getting something from this too." I started to explain how what she has just said wasn't true and she immediately glared at me so I just stopped my explanation by saying thank you.

"Can't you just say thank you without drawn-out explanation?" She asked with an irritated tone but there was still a smile on her face.

"Nope..." I replied with a teasing smile.

"What is your intention behind doing all of this?" She frowned and asked me.

"Of course to help in Class D's unity. Do you want a more detailed explanation?" I turned my head at her and asked with a wide grin across my face.

"...That won't be necessary. I shouldn't meddle too much in student's matters." She rather refused my offer so she could avoid long-ass explanation.

"I should be going back, I told one of my classmates that I am going to restroom so I can't spend too much time here." I said and started to slowly walk to the door.

"I am looking forward to seeing what is your strategy and why you chose to participate in all contests." She said with an excited tone.

"It's nothing complicated, but you can definitely expect a good show." I said while walking towards the door and when I was in the doorway, I stopped and turned around.

"Sae-chan" I called out to her.

"Huh?" She turned around to look at me, curious about what I want. She looked slightly surprised by hearing me call her that way again but she still focused on what I was about to say.

"Thanks!" I said aloud with a smirk across my face and then left, closing the door behind me.

---

'...' Sae-chan just absentmindedly stared at the closed door. Only after a few seconds after Felix closed the door, she woke up with a genuine smile across her face.

'This boy...heh' Sae-chan shook her head with a pleased smile.

Sae-chan turned back at the scenery of school grounds below her.

'Now I really look forward to seeing what you will do...and not just at the sports festival.' Sae-chan thought with a mysterious smile across her face while observing the clear blue sky.

---

I quickly returned to my classroom and helped Hirata with what he wanted.

...

There was only 1 week left until the sports festival.

Days we were in the school were spent mostly by practicing and on Thursday, Horikita and Hirata went to submit our completed participation table. When they returned, there was no sign of anxiety or suspicion on their faces. Sae-chan can be pretty dependable when you need something from her.

...

I spent another weekend with Mii-chan by training her. During this weekend she improved a lot and it also messed up a bit with my participation table. If I knew at that time that she could improve this much then I would place her against stronger opponents but I can't change it anymore so at least her taking the 1st place is assured.

I researched a more about contest 'Shot put' and it's throwing techniques. I wouldn't want to end up taking the 1st place with only casually throwing the ball without any technique behind it. That would be too shocking for others.

....

And at last, the awaited day has finally arrived. The sports festival.

We were instructed by the school to gather at dawn so it was determined to be a long and tiring day for many students. Wearing jerseys, all students gathered with their respective class and awaited further instructions.

I noticed some spectators watching from not far away. If I had to guess, they were probably adults working here who simply decided to take a look at our "sports day".

There were also a lot of pretty big tents with tables within them. Guessing by their number, each class had their own tent but half of the tents were placed on one side of the track and another half on the other side of the track. This was probably to separate the Red team and White team, rendering any contact between each other more or less impossible.

There were also a lot of tents for teachers and probably medical staff, some of them might be also for the spectators, who knows.

I looked around more carefully and noticed a few cameras pointing at the end lines.

It seems that their preparations are certainly superb...

"Students! From this point on, I declare the start of the sports festival! I wish all of you luck and hope that there won't be any injuries during this event. Please go to your assigned tents, each class has their own tent. You are also forbidden from visiting other classes' tents, if you need any further information, contact your homeroom teacher!" Mashima-sensei said through the megaphone and after he was done with explaining basics, everyone went to their respective tents.

...

"Haha, let's do this! I even went to bed much earlier to have full strength at the dawn. I will definitely impress Kikyo-chan today!" While we were walking towards our tent, Ike who was walking right beside me was hyping himself. I had no idea if he was talking to me or if he was talking to himself...but either way, I find it creepy.

When we arrived near the tent, some people decided to remain outside since there were tables and benches outside of the tent. There were also some students who decided to at least take a look inside the tent and it was at that time...

"What the hell is this?!" I and other students who decided to wait outside of the tent were surprised by the shout that came from inside the tent.

"Let's take a look!" Hirata immediately said and run inside the tent with Horikita and me following behind him.

"What is going on?" Hirata immediately asked when he saw students standing still with shocked and slightly horrified expressions.

"This, Hirata-kun!" Shinohara angrily said while showing him a paper in her hand.

"What is this...Class D's participation table?" Hirata asked with a confused and shocked expression while taking the paper from Shinohara's hand.

His question wasn't intended for anyone because everyone who came inside the tent to take a look at what was going on had the same confused and clueless expressions. No one knew what was going on.

"Give it to me! I will go ask Chabashira-sensei!" Horikita resolutely said while stealing the paper from Hirata's slightly shaking hands. He was too shocked to even react to what Horikita has just done.

And that's how the long-awaited Sports Festival started for Class D.