Vol. 5 Chp. 3: Rules Of Nature

'...': Writing

'...': Sign language

"...": Text to speech

The dawn of the sports festival is shaping to be a long day. The entire student body marched in as one, wearing jerseys, just as rehearsed.

"I'll show off my good side to Kikyou-chan!" I heard Ike yell excitedly.

During the opening ceremony, the opening declaration was delivered by Fujimaki from Class A of their third year. On the outskirts of the school grounds, I noticed some scattered spectators, likely to be working adults on campus. The school doesn't seem to have imposed any restrictions on them, and I occasionally saw them smiling and waving their hands.

The students were closely monitored by the teachers, who didn't show any signs of amusement. Medical personnel were also present on site. A cottage, which could accommodate around 20 people, was set up and provided with a cooler and water dispenser. The preparations were impeccable, similar to those made for an uninhabited island. The Red Team and White Team, competing against each other, were given tents on opposite sides of the track as if sandwiching it between them.

"First years, Group 1, 100m boys dash. Please take your positions on the track. I repeat..."

It seems that they want to get started right away.

I patted Sudou on the back for good luck.

He made his way over to the track, standing right behind his lane, and started to do some light stretching before getting ready.

The race was about to begin...

The gun fired.

Sudoy lunged forward with incredible speed and timing, and from that moment, he won the race. Completely blowing past his competition, no one stood any chance of coming close to him as he quickly grabbed first place.

~Timeskip~

"First years, Group 4, 100m boys dash. Please take your positions on the track. I repeat..."

It's my turn to race.

I made my way to the track.

"Go, Kagu-kun!" I heard Ichihashi cheered.

"You can do this!"

"You better not lose!" Sudou yelled.

"Don't get caught up in the moment. I'll still beat you," Ike sprinted past me to get into his lane.

Well, at least he's optimistic...

I did some light stretching before stepping onto the track.

"So, you're the guy that princess talked about," a blonde-haired man said, smirking.

I don't know anyone by the name of Princess, but I'm going to ignore this young man.

"Not much of a talker," he said, "I don't know what she sees in you."

I don't have my notepad on me, and I don't know if he's sign language, so this conversation is useless to me.

I lowered myself as I waited for the sound of the gun.

Bang

I pushed myself forward, leaving all my opponents in the dust.

I quickly got first place.

"You're lucky I wasn't trying, Kagurazaka-kun. You want me taking all your fame," Ike said as he passed me.

Didn't you get last place?

"Way to go, Kagurazaka-kun," Sudou gave my back a massive slap.

A couple of races went by when it was Hirata's and Ayanokouji's turn to run.

Hirata finished in first place, while Ayanokouji finished in fifth place.

I couldn't help but notice something odd about Ayanokouji. It seemed like he wasn't trying to win. His eyes kept moving, studying his opponents and their actions to determine the right moment to pick up speed or slow down.

Too many things are piling up, and it's becoming suspicious. Average test scores, running ability, and grip strength.

If anyone were to be keeping track of his record, they'd be suspicious, too.

Being average, all the isn't strictly average. There's more to you, and you're trying to keep it hidden.

You're holding back.

"What's wrong with you, Koenji!" I heard Sudou roar.

I have a bad feeling about this...

I went over and noticed that Ayanokouji seemed to be checking it out. Koenji was looking into his handheld mirror while fiddling with his hair.

'Koenji-kun, are you feeling unwell?'

Koenji grinned, "It looks like Silent-kun understands what's wrong with me."

"It seems my body doesn't want to cooperate with me today," Koenji said, "I am sorry about the trouble I caused, but one cannot deny what their body is telling them."

It's the island exam all over again...

I led Sudou away from Koenji before an argument broke out, "That's bullshit! He seems perfectly fine!"

'You're letting Koenji-kun get inside your head. You need to focus on your performance.'

Sudou hastened his pace, walking away from me as he returned to Class D's tent.

"First years, Group 1, 100m girls dash. Please take your positions on the track. I repeat..."

~Timeskip~

Not many of the girl's races favored Class D. Except for Onodera, Nishimura, Maezono, and Kushida.

"First years, Group 10, 100m girls dash. Please take your positions on the track. I repeat..."

It looks like Horikita is up.

I look toward the track to see Horikita minding her business while doing a few stretches. Right beside her was Ibuki.

That woman still owes me 100,000 points.

It's the lone wolf versus the ice queen.

"Do you know if Ibuki's athletic?" Sudou asked.

I nodded.

"It doesn't matter. Horikita-san has it in the bag. You'll need to be better than average to beat her," Sudou proudly declared.

Hmm, it looks like Fukuyama is in the race. I wonder how well the drowsy will do.

With the sound of the pistol, all the girls shot forward. From where I was standing, there was no clear indication of who was the faster individual between Horikita and Ibuki.

I watched them run until the end, where Horikita managed first while Ibuki got second place.

Fukuyama got third place.

The 100m dash for the second year started almost immediately after the girl's races.

It seemed Nagumo was in the first group and finished with an overwhelming victory.

Kiryuuin was in the fourth group for the girls' 100m dash. She also had an overwhelming victory.

Once she crossed the finish line, another second-year girl who had already competed pounced on her with a big hug.

The girl placed second in the first group. She had chocolate-brown hair adorned by a hairpin in a sunflower shape on the right side, along with two ordinary hair clips on the same side and purple eyes. She also had generous proportions.

Kiryuuin is broken free from the girl's grasp as her eyes land on me. She grinned and shot me a wink.

I continued watching the event until the third year turned. Manabu was part of the second group and naturally took first place.

The total count began as all the school years finished with their 100-meter dash.

Before the next contest begins, the first points for the Red Team and the White Team will be announced.

Red Team: 2011 points. White Team: 1891 points.

The contests had just begun, but the Red Team was slightly dominant.

~Timeskip~

The next event is the hurdle contest. It's somewhat similar to the 100-meter dash as it requires speed, but it's not solely about that. It's crucial to approach it with confidence without being too hasty. Two rules apply to this contest.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Sudou was "motivating" our classmates to perform well during this well. He tried encouraging them but threatened to slap them if they got last.[

I took my position in my lane, and beside me was Shibata Sho, "Kagurazaka-kun! I know this will be a tough race now, but I won't go easy on you!" He replied with his cheerful attitude.

I took a deep breath before getting into a crouch position and waited for the signal to sound.

Bang

The pistol sounded, and I shot up and raced toward the first hurdle, clearing it with relative ease. I focused on the limitations before me while being aware of my surroundings.

After clearing the last hurdle, I dashed toward the finish line, "K-Kagurazaka-kun, you were amazing! I tried keeping up, but you're too fast," Shibata said, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Shibata gave me a congratulatory slap on the back, "I can see why Ichinose-san likes you," Shibata quickly raced off toward his tent after saying that.

I wasn't given any time to process what he said because I was congratulated by Sudou, " Look at you go, Kagurazaka! You even beat that Class B guy!" Sudou showered me with praise while we made our way back.

"That's the new standard!" Sudou yelled at everyone, "That's how we should all perform!"

"I didn't know you were fast," Mori said.

"Are you trying to impress the women?" Ichihashi asked, wiggling her eyebrows, "You've impressed me."

Mori facepalmed.

I shook my head and sighed.

~Timeskip~

During the hurdles event, I noticed something strange in Horikita's group. She was paired up with two students from Class C who are part of the track and field club, Yajima and Kinoshita. Ryuuen must have a plan to deal with Horikita. It makes me wonder if he also has a plan to deal with me because I was a nuisance.

The next contest up is 'capture-the-flag.' It's a simple yet rough and slightly dangerous team competition.

"We're winning, you guys. Since that idiot Kouenji isn't here, we've got to be that much more fired up!" Sudou shouts.

He encourages all the boys from Class D and Class A to assemble before him.

On the other hand, Sudou's group will face the boys of Class B, led by Kanzaki and Shibata, and the boys of Class C, led by Ryuuen. In particular, there are students in Class C who, while unknown, appear to be strong.

Class B seemed to start the game by defending their flag, while Class C attacked first.

Class A would be defending, while our class would be attacking.

With the crack of the pistol. Class D's offensive attack was led by a charging and yelling Sudo. The more proactive members, such as myself, Ayanokouji, Hirata, and Miyake, followed quickly behind, while our other classmates gave a half-hearted effort following our advancement.

"Keep your eyes on Sudou-kun!" A Class B student yelled.

They don't see me as a threat... I feel disappointed.

I watched as Sudou charged straight into their defense, crashing right into Class B and trying to outmuscle all the bodies in his way, "Come on, you lazy asses! I'm making a path!"

3rd POV

Almost all of Class B's defense was focused on Sudou, while a few others were concentrated on Hirata, Ayanokouji, and Miyake. It seemed like they completely forgot about Kagurazaka until he was faced with a young man with purple hair.

"Hey, Kagurazaka-kun. It's been a while," Kanzaki greeted him.

Kagurazaka strayed to his right, hoping to shake Kanzaki off of him, but he kept up with the young, staying within arm's length.

Kagurazaka took a few steps outside the pile while Kazaki followed him, "You're pretty slow, Kagurazaka-kun. Did all those races tire you out?" Kanzaki taunted.

Kagurazaka narrowed his eyes before striding to the right again, with Kanzaki following. With a head jerk, the young man threw the purple-haired guy for a loop. He overstepped slightly, tripping over his feet, giving Kagurazaka the advantage and quickly getting past him.

'I got outmaneuvered,' Kanzaki thought in a state of shock.

Kagurazaka managed to shake off Kanzaki, giving himself enough time to cut below Class B's defense and make it to the flag pole, "Someone's breaking through!" A Class B guy said as Kagurazaka ran past him.

Kagurazaka wrapped his upper body around the flagpole's base, causing it to wobble in his direction. It made Class B's defense focus on the young man.

"I've got it!" Sudou yelled, coming to Kagurazaka's side.

It was two Class D students up against eight Class B students. It was a hard-fought battle as the pole started to shake more," Come on, we got this!" Sudou yelled.

A loud whistle screech met everyone's ears, signaling the round to stop.

Kagurazaka's POV

On the other side of the field, Class C, with a triumphant-looking Ryuuen, stood over all the members of Class A as they managed to pull down the flag before us.

It was our loss for the round.

As we switched sides, Sudou yelled Class A.

If there's one thing Class D lacks, it's unity and motivation.

"I expect all of you to die while protecting this flag!" Sudou yelled, "Kagurazaka, you helped me last time. You're second in the class, so don't let the flag fall even if you're dying!"

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Sudou.

The pistol went off, signaling the next round. Class C came charging forward at us in the shape of an arrow, with Albert leading the charge and Ryuuen in the back.

They attacked us like an advancing wall without rushing it.

Screams rose from the Class D students all over the place. The defending students making up the outer wall are slowly diminishing in numbers.

"Stand up! Grab their legs and pull them down!" The angry bellows of our opponents drowned out Sudou's unreasonable words of encouragement.

Class C repeatedly used elbow strikes that almost wandered into foul play territory, and in no time, they broke through to the inner wall. Katsuragi and the others from Class A have also advanced to almost touch the flag, but I wonder if they'll make it in time.

As I stood beside Sudou, who had just been holding the flag, I could hear his pained voice. The other player, Yamada, had approached him and now stood much taller than Sudou. Unfortunately, the flag we were trying to protect had become slightly tilted.

"Who the hell punched me in my stomach?!"

More students began dropping like flies or cowards away and opened a direct path to our flag.

I signed to Hirata, 'Let the flag fall. We are going to lose.'

Hirata's expression turned seriously before nodding. We stopped protecting the pole and let it fall. This would be our loss, but our classmates' well-being is more important than a single win.

~Timeskip~

The first-year boys were immediately preparing for the next competition, tug-of-war, with no time to rest. Meanwhile, the first-year girls were steadily engaged in the ball-toss game. The team competitions were tiring and seemed to go on endlessly. Although I didn't pay much attention to it initially, it became evident that this was a challenging sequence of events.

Sudou fidgeted while watching the girls' match, "It'll be good if the girls can win at least..."

"54 in total, the Red Team wins."

The boys' capture-the-flag match's disappointing results were canceled thanks to the girls.

"Kagurazaka, I don't blame you for using foul play. You saved my ass from getting injured more," Sudou patted me on the back.

I don't think that's how the other guys see it.

The relief we felt at that announcement was transient as the referee called out and explained tug-of-war to us.

"Alright, let's go!"

"Is your back alright, Ken?"

"My body's tougher than others, after all. Besides, there's nothing I can do even if it hurts anyway," they were worried about him, but Sudou stood up with vigor.

"If we can make a comeback in tug-of-war, then we can overturn the team competitions. Besides, if it's tug-of-war, there'll be no contact during the match, so the other side will be forced to compete using their strength alone. It shouldn't turn into an absurd fight," Hirata said.

Sudou nodded in response, "That's why we can't lose."

It's purely strength vs. strength. Wits vs. wits. Now, then, which side will prove superior? As the four classes in the middle of the ground split into two, they were divided between the left and the right camps. As Katsuragi came over to Hirata, he quietly whispered to him.

"Just like we discussed, we'll use our strategy to beat them in a single stroke. Got it?"

"Yeah. I understand. Everyone gets in position."

Under their leadership, the DA coalition strategized like in capture-the-flag. Hirata instructed Class D to scatter and take positions.

The straightforward strategy consists of 'lining up based on our heights.' Doing so allows us to uniformly and orderly apply our strength properly to the rope.

It is worth noting that the opposing team may also take note of our strategy. However, even if the BC coalition tried to copy us, they could not organize themselves according to height as quickly. Nevertheless, the DA coalition encountered a problem before this could happen. Unlike Class D, who attempted to follow suit, almost half of the boys in Class A did not try to line up.

"Hey, Katsuragi-kun. I'd rather you not arrogantly take charge forever," Hashimoto said.

"What do you mean, Hashimoto-kun?" Katsuragi asked.

"It's exactly what it sounds like. Isn't it your fault that Class A is currently stalling? Can you confidently say that this strategy will allow us to win?"

A student has appeared to oppose the leader, Katsuragi, directly.

While our allies focused on Katsuragi and Hashimoto, I looked back toward our camp and searched for Sakayanagi.

Sakayanagi had been watching us from the start as visitors, wearing a small smile of enjoyment. Even from a distance, she could see the boys quarreling. She spotted me, and she waved at me.

"So what's it going to be, Katsuragi-kun? Can we win with this strategy?"

"We're agitating even the students from Class D. We should proceed with the contest calmly," Katsuragi answered.

"That's not an answer," Katsuragi tried to calm them down, but about half of the students following Hashimoto's lead did not obey.

I grabbed the rope, walked toward the Sakayanagi faction, and forcibly handed the rope to one of the guys. Arguing was going to get us nowhere.

With the sound of a whistle, the match had begun.

Sudou shouts that out, and along with the signal that heralds the match's start, we each pull on the rope, "Heave-ho! Heave-ho!".

The coalition, consisting of the AD group, worked together to pull the rope with strength. Initially, there was a balance between the two sides, but then the momentum shifted in our favor suddenly.

Before long, along with the signal, the DA coalition's victory was conveyed.

"Alright! Did you see that!? Serves them right!".

Sudou repeatedly roars. As a result of the outcome, Class B confronts Class C with blatant discontent.

"Hey, it'll be real bad if we don't cooperate, you know? Those guys are solid," Shibata calls out to Ryuuen.

"Alright, you lot, it's time to rearrange. Line up starting with the smallest one in front," Ryuuen ordered the chaotic Class C to line up, starting with the shortest student at the front and gradually increasing in height, forming the shape of a bow.

Shibata shook his head in exasperation at their disregard for Class B's opinion, but he still encouraged his comrades and grasped the rope.

"This one's in the bag. With an arrangement like that, they can't possibly win."

"We can't say that for sure. Everyone, don't let your guard down. The next round won't go as it did before," Katsuragi advises the other students, including Sudou.

"Why, though? It was easy. It's not like they're lining up to decrease their height like we are."

Ike grips the rope even as he frivolously makes light of the situation. Katsuragi tried to continue speaking, but the interval ended, and preparations were underway to resume the match.

And so, the second round began.

It didn't start like last time, with Class BC relentlessly winning this match. It didn't take long before they took the victory for this round.

"Why the hell is it different from before!? Is someone holding back?"

They tried to look for the offender among each other. Seeing the situation, Katsuragi immediately followed up.

"Let's take a moment to calm down. Our loss may have been due to the other team's better formation, but we must also acknowledge that some of our students may have underestimated the competition. It's important to realize that even if the other team's teamwork is lacking, they can still put up a fight. We must focus, regroup, and ensure everyone is in their correct positions. Don't forget to pull the rope at an angle for maximum effectiveness."

Katsuragi has realigned everyone once more by providing accurate advice and reprimands. He is doing his best with the limited time available. On the other hand, the opposing team failed to achieve cooperation between the two classes, but each course was united on its own. Class B focuses on the tug-of-war while Class C stands behind them. However, if Ryuuen gives his order, those students will undoubtedly be roused.

When both sides were ready, the third and final match commenced.

Just like the second round, the result wasn't decided right away. The white flag swayed at the center line without moving.

I quickly noticed that the rope on our side seemed lighter, with almost no resistance. Letting go of the rope, I stepped to the side and watched my teammates topple down, falling to the ground.

"What the hell happened?!" Yahiko yelled.

It looked like Class C voluntarily let go of the rope, "What the hell are you doing? Are you fucking around?" Sudou roared.

I don't think Class B expected it because a few of their students had fallen. Everyone's attention was directed at the class that didn't fall.

"I decided to rest it since I thought we couldn't win," Ryuuen smirked, "Good for you, picking up such a trashy win. It was quite fun seeing you all groveling."

Ryuuen made eye contact with me, "Almost all of you," he narrowed his eyes.

"You bastard!" Sudou yelled, attempting to charge at them, but Katsuragi stopped him.

It looks like Ryuuen is getting inside of your head, Sudou... This is going to be a problem if this continues.

~Timeskip~

I watched the girls' obstacle race, and Horikita was up against Kinoshita and Yajima again.

At the beginning of the match, Kinoshita quickly sprinted towards the balance beam and managed to get there before anyone else. She created a considerable distance between herself and the other competitors following behind. Yajima is currently in second place, with Horikita close back. Unlike races that solely test speed and endurance, such as the 100-meter dash or hurdle race, this event includes obstacles that introduce some unknowns. As a result, the gap between Kinoshita and her competitors did not widen as much as expected. After passing the balance beam, the gap had reduced to the point where the competitors were almost in line.

"Looks like there's a chance for her this time," I could hear Sudou's cheering.

Horikita and Kinoshita fell to the ground.

As they were getting up from a fall, the others quickly passed by them one after another. In their effort to stand up, they struggled amidst dust clouds. Despite the mishap, they pushed through with the contest, but it significantly impacted the outcome. Horikita ended up placing 7th, which was surprising. Unfortunately, Kinoshita couldn't continue due to the pain in her leg and ended up putting her last.

I walked to the finish line to check on Horikita, 'Are you okay?'

"I'm fine. I'll be better soon," she replied calmly.

A deadpan expression appeared as I grabbed her injured ankle and applied light pressure. Her response was immediate as she winced in pain and slapped my hand away.

"Why would you do that? I didn't ask you to touch me," Horikita glared at me.

'I didn't ask for you to lie to me. I think you should sit out of the sports festival.'

"You don't decide whether or not I'm allowed to participate. I'll have to bear with it," she argued.

She attempted to get up but almost stumbled and fell to the ground. Helping her up to her feet, I wrapped her arm around my shoulder, leading her to the class tent.

"I don't need your help," Horikita mumbled.

'Horikita, you'll be a liability if you continue. No one will blame you if you stop competing.'

Horikita's POV

It feels wrong to be called a liability by him. I was getting agitated, but he seemed genuinely worried about me. My mind was in scrambles while my ankle throbbed in pain, but I couldn't give up.

~Timeskip~

Ayanokouji's POV

After the short break, the first-year girls gathered at the center of the grounds for the cavalry event. I was interested in how this event would transpire, especially with Horikita's injury.

I wasn't surprised when four cavalry units made from Class C targeted Horikita. She tried to fend them off, but Horikita's team was defeated swiftly.

Not many Class D participants succeeded in stealing heads, except for Ichihashi's and Kei's cavalry, who were ultimately defeated.

"Me, Kagurazaka, Hirata, and Ayanokouji should team up to make the strongest horse!" Sudou barked.

"I don't mind," I said, shrugging.

"Let's do our best," Hirata replied.

Kagurazaka nodded, 'I have a plan that might work.'

~Timeskip~

It's insanity what Kagurazaka proposed for a strategy, but I feel it would work.

Sudou scoffed, "This plan is ridiculous."

"If this plan doesn't work, I'm kicking your ass, Kagurazaka," Sudou said.

I couldn't see Sudou's face, but knew he was smirking.

Kagurazaka did manage to convince Sudou that he would Ryuuen for last.

When the starting signal rang, we were the only ones not part of the massive cluster that formed.

3rd POV

All the Class D girls looked at each other with confused expressions, not understanding what Hirata's cavalry was planning.

With Manabu

Manabu adjusts his glasses, "I think we will be witnessing something interesting."

With Sakayanagi

"Fufufu, this is quite interesting," a faint smile appeared on Sakayanagi.

An annoyed look appears on Kamuro's face, "What are you talking about?"

"Do you know what I see, Kamuro-san?" Kamuro shrugs her shoulders.

"That's no fun. I think you're going to find something special about Kagurazaka-kun."

With Kiryuuin

A grin appeared on the platinum-haired girl's face, "Hey, Asahina-san, I think you're going to find this kouhai interesting."

Asahina rubbed her chin, "Isn't he the same guy that Nagumo has a problem with?"

"Yes, he is."

Back to the field

A Class B horseman spotted them and charged straight toward them, "We have a group coming for us," Sudou said.

A crow landed before Kagurazaka. Crouching down, Kagurazaka gestured something to the crow.

Caw caw

Kagurazaka tossed off his jacket, and clinging to his shirt were squirrels. Jumping off of Kagurazaka, the squirrels charged toward the Class B horseman.

Ayanokouji's POV

"Sudou-kun!" Hirata yelled.

"I'm way ahead of you!" Sudou roared, dashing forward with all his strength.

The enemy was forced to stop when the squirrels attacked them.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Get it off of me!"

Before Sudou slammed into the enemy horseman's body, the squirrels scattered.

The enemy, whose physique is inferior to Sudou's, could do nothing but collapse.

In front of us, two horsemen from Class C begin their attack.

The whistle could be heard, causing almost everyone to pause.

Katsuragi's POV

I already lost three horse riders because of Kanzaki and Shibata. It looked like it was to my horseman to beat those two.

The sound of the whistle reached my ears.

"What's going on?" Kanzaki asked as Shibata shrugged.

Caw caw

I glanced back to see a flock of pigeons heading in our direction. The birds soared past us and collided, attacking Kanzaki's and Shibata's horse riders.

What am I witnessing right now?

Ayanokouji's POV

Two Class C horsemen were beaten by Sudou, showing an overwhelming difference in power.

Katsuragi's horseman managed to join up with us, turning it into a two versus one.

From the fact that he could steal away a headband, I could guess Ryuuen's horse's strength to a certain extent, but even so, he would still be overwhelmed by our numerical superiority.

However, Ryuuen did not panic. He wasn't perturbed. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying this desperate situation.

I didn't notice any negligence, and he didn't seem defeated. That's the impression I got. If Hirata and Katsuragi attack Ryuuen simultaneously, even if one falls, the other can still grab the headband.

Then, our victory will be assured.

It's precisely because the situation is like this that Ryuuen can pierce through the chink in his enemies' hearts.

"I've remembered your name, Sudou. I stepped on you earlier. It seemed painful."

"Keep saying that. I will be beating you down now."

"You sound quite high and mighty for a mere horse leg. It feels pretty good looking down on a horse."

"Hah. Just because you're riding a horse doesn't mean you're all that".

"Heh.....then this is all meaningless unless we go at it one-on-one."

"Ahh?"

"No, if you're saying you can't beat me unless it's two vs. one, it can't be helped. But 'winning' basically only holds meaning if you win one-on-one. Or will you put on airs after beating me with a pincer attack? Better yet, are you going use animals like a fairy-tale princess?"

"What the hell...!"

"Don't, Sudou-kun. It's a bad idea to rise to his provocations. Let's cooperate with Katsuragi-kun."

"You don't get it..."

"Sudou, it seems that you are not understanding the situation clearly. While I acknowledge that you have dealt with these individuals in the past, I suspect that you may have relied on less-than-honorable tactics. The individuals I associate with would never succumb to a straightforward assault."

Some of those supporting Ryuuen's body also happen to be basketball club members who got into trouble with Sudou.

"Don't fuck around. Those guys are trash who can't fight well".

"You're acting rather bullish even though you have no proof. If you're saying that's not true, then face me one-on-one. And if you can beat me, then I'll do anything, even if it's prostrating before you".

"Got it. Don't forget those words, Ryuuen! You heard him, Katsuragi. Don't stick your nose in this!"

I could hear Kagurazaka sigh.

"What are you talking about? It's sheer folly to let this chance go. We should use a pincer attack to ensure he goes down."

"If you stick your nose in this, I'll destroy your horse."

He fell for Ryuuen's trap and is now fixated on a one-on-one fight. He's aware of Sudou's aggressive behavior.

"So you're determined to do it one-on-one no matter what, then, Sudou-kun? If we're doing it, let's win," Hirata already knows Sudou's personality and behavior well. Once he flips his switch, it won't be turned back off that easily.

Perhaps he had judged that continuing to try and persuade him otherwise carelessly would not be beneficial, as he agreed to the one-on-one.

"Naturally. Hirata, make sure your headband doesn't get stolen!"

As Sudou gives a strong signal, the horse moves ahead. Katsuragi watches the battle unfold, not wanting to risk being attacked by Sudou even if he is an ally.

Sudou rushed forward and executed a body slam, but the opposing horseman remained unperturbed. Their strength was evenly matched. At the heart of Ryuuen's protective horse formation was Yamada, the rumored half. His impressive strength was evident, as he proved to be robustly powerful. Sudou clicks his tongue. I wonder if that's his frustration at being unable to overcome them.

Of course, Kagurazaka and I, who supported Hirata from his flanks, could not use as much horsepower as Sudou is using. If Sudou's horsepower is a 10, we would be a 5.

On the other hand, part of Ryuuen's horse, Yamada, would be a nine or a ten. The rest of them are formidable enemies consisting of sevens and eights.

"Interesting. Hey, bring it on. Or are you going to lose to our Albert in strength?"

Ryuuen provoked Hirata and called us over without setting any traps beforehand. Ryuuen has been quite fortunate in his matches, winning first place in all individual contests due to his athleticism.

After dodging Hirata's extended hand, he observed us. As I supported Hirata, I noticed we were evenly matched, and either side could win. Ryuuen was only aggressive in words and did not attack us without reason. He was later conserving energy for his battle against Katsuragi and the others standing by. Ryuuen was confident he would not lose, so we needed to find an opening and repeatedly attack to create an opportunity for Hirata.

"Not yet, Hirata..." Sudou said that in a pained voice while receiving most attacks from the enemy horseman alone.

"Just a little bit more!"

He incorporated a deceptive move into his motion as he extended his arm. His arm then curved and eventually managed to grab Ryuuen's headband. However, he only managed to grip a few centimeters of the end. He tried hard to pull it further into his grasp. Although Hirata could get hold of the headband, he was unsuccessful in removing it as it slipped out of his hands.

"What are you doing, Hirata!? Take it! I'm using up quite a bit of strength here!"

"Sorry... My hand's a bit slippery!"

While breathing heavily, Sudou once again aims to attack. And Ryuuen fearlessly awaits it.

Compared to Ryuuen, who has yet to launch an offensive resembling an attack, Hirata's only been on the offense so far, and he's beginning to breathe heavily.

"What's the matter? Is that it?"

"Sorry, Sudou-kun, fall back for now!"

He incorporated a deceptive move into his motion as he extended his arm. His arm then curved and eventually managed to grab Ryuuen's headband.

However, he only managed to grip a few centimeters of the end. He tried hard to pull it further into his grasp. Although Hirata could get hold of the headband, he was unsuccessful in removing it as it slipped out of his hands.

"Make the next one....the last, Hirata. Make sure you steal it!".

"I understand. I'll try doing it".

Hirata also calms his breathing and concentrates only on stealing Ryuuen's headband.

"Give them hell!"

Mustering up the last strength, he performed a body slam on them, but the horse did not collapse. Once again, a fight between the jockeys broke out. However, Hirata assumed they would not initiate an attack and defenselessly extended his arm. The results that came of it would be well worth the risk taken.

"Got it!"

Straightforwardly and boldly, he reached out. Hirata once again succeeded in grabbing ahold of the headband.

However, once again, the headband slipped out of his hands.

"What?!"

Ryuuen did not overlook that upset, and his hands reached out to grasp Hirata's headband while still defenseless. A crow struck Ryuuen's hand out of nowhere, "What the hell?!"

Ryuuen's eyes landed on Kagurazaka, "Stop acting like a fairy-tale princess!" Ryuuen shouted.

"Shit!"

Squirrels latched onto Ryuuen's cavalry while being attacked by pigeons, "Hirata, take advantage of the distraction!" Sudou roared.

Hirata reached out, firmly grasped the headband on Ryuuen's headband, and ripped it off. The sound of the whistle went off.

********