『』『』『』『』『』
『I'm telling you, Tachibana-senpai, this is discrimination. 』
"In what way?"
『Well, obviously, by how you treated me. What happened to the kind and respectable Tachibana-senpai who always used her free time to dote on me? 』
"That never happened!"
『Hey, hey, look at this, Manabu-kun. I don't know what happened to her, but isn't she a cruel secretary? 』
"W-what are you talking abo—"
"Enough. Stop your bickering. Also, it's 'Senpai' for you," Manabu said, or rather ordered.
At once, Kumagawa and Tachibana fell silent.
The three student council members, consisting of the president, the second vice president, and the secretary, walked through the hallway toward the field, carrying a large box for the next event of the festival.
Even though the sports festival was still ongoing, the student council's work never seemed to stop.
"I feel like I've already told you this several times. Try to show your senior a bit more respect... and put more strength into it."
Fixing his posture, Kumagawa continued walking alongside Manabu.
『Well, I can somewhat understand why you'd ask me instead of Ichinose-chan, but why would the school even consider using a metal box? Wouldn't a wooden box or even a plastic one be enough for a trivial event like a scavenger hunt? 』
Right now, Kumagawa and Manabu were carrying the metal box together for the first recommended-participant event, while Tachibana carried another box that seemed much lighter compared to the metal one. It likely contained the papers for student instructions.
"I don't know..." Manabu said, "Honestly, I already complained about this ever since last year, but for some reason, the school ignored it completely. As far as I know, there really isn't any improtance or symbolic about this, which confused me slightly."
Using metal box of all things...
Even if this is such an elite school, it also has its weird side.
For Horikita Manabu who prided himself in doing things in an efficient manner, this whole thing is honestly not to his liking. Not that he had any deepened motive or whatever, but rather than inefficient, it's more like it's cumbersome.
『But putting that aside, I have an important question. 』 he said, first glancing at Tachibana before turning to Manabu.
Noticing Kumagawa's glance, Tachibana frowned in annoyance, but said nothing. If she spoke now, she might let something slip, like a curse or an offensive remark, that would damage her image in front of Manabu.
"Go on." Manabu said.
『I can somewhat understand why Ichinose-chan isn't helping. After all, there's no way you'd ask a delicate girl like her to carry something like this dreadful metal box. But even so, I don't understand why it's me. Aren't there other student council members who could help, like Nagumo-senpai? 』
"....."
That personality... it was an attitude that bordered on either total indifference or a complete lack of social awareness. In a way, that alone was remarkable, but at the same time, it was also a problem.
Kumagawa then continued, an ambiguous smile forming on his face.
『If it isn't Tachibana-senpai, who enjoys manhandling me like I'm her property, I wouldn't answer anyone's call. 』
"Please don't say something like that while dragging my name into it..."
It seemed Tachibana had become a frequent target of his teasing, much to her displeasure. Even if Manabu told him to stop, Kumagawa would likely ignore it. That was simply the kind of person he was. In the end, Manabu could only look at Tachibana with slight pity, as he had already given up on that aspect, just like with Kushida, who was often on the receiving end of Kumagawa's harassment.
"P-president? Why are you looking at me like that?" Tachibana asked.
"It's nothing... but didn't you explain it to him? While I know it's not something that needs to be explained if one has even a sliver of social awareness... my bad. Why don't you explain it to him? Why we asked him instead of Nagumo."
『Explain? Is it something that needs to be explained?』
"...How am I supposed to tell you the reason if I don't explain it?" This time, Tachibana answered.
『Isn't it fine to just draw a conclusion? Coincidentally, I have fairly good intuition. 』
With that attitude of his, Kumagawa laughed.
With a lighthearted tone.
Tachibana wondered why he sounded so relaxed, but perhaps he was trying to keep the atmosphere from becoming too heavy, or simply annoying—in that sense, one could say his attempt was fruitless.
『Well, regardless, it seems my situation wouldn't change in the slightest, no matter how good my conclusion is. 』 He sounded somewhat disappointed. 『What a shame. I was in the middle of something interesting earlier. 』
""Interesting?""
Manabu and Tachibana exchanged glances.
By this point, they already reached the field ground, and placed the metal box near the field where soon, the school staff would bring it to the center where the event would likely thake place.
『Eh? Didn't you know, Manabu-senpai? About your sister situation, I mean. 』
"Suzune? What happened to her?"
He sounded cold for something related to him by blood. If someone didn't know their relationship, or that they shared the same surname despite their similar appearance, they might assume they weren't related at all.
But to someone like Kumagawa, the likes of Horikita Manabu was like an open book.
An incomprehensibly easy person to read.
Especially when it came to his sister.
It seemed that there were some complicated—or perhaps uncomfortably simple circumstances to that.
To Horikita Manabu and Horikita Suzune's relationship.
『You know she had an accident earlier during the obstacle course, right? 』
Manabu nodded in response.
At that time, he happened to be free from any event and was watching the one she participated in. To his displeasure, she got caught up in an accident, and from what he saw, she was injured because of it.
After that, her performance had been nothing but failure after failure.
In every event she joined, she kept losing to the other classes.
『Honestly, nobody would've guessed Horikita-chan messed with another contestant, so you could say she brought this on herself. Or rather—should I say she screwed herself over? Then again, maybe it was her opponent's doing. Who knows? Either way, her own choices are what created this mess. 』He said. 『You could even say she was pretty much screwed. 』
"....."
Manabu understood what Kumagawa meant.
Rather, it would be strange if he didn't understand what he was implying.
"If that's the case, then Suzune is far more foolish than I thought."
Manabu gave his impressions in response to the information that Kumagawa just told him.
His sister—Horikita Suzune, had flaws in both her judgment and personality. At first, he thought she would grow out of them quickly, but that wasn't the case. Rather than improving, she seemed to have stuck.
To think that she would do something like interfere with her opponent was something he, as her brother, found hard to imagine. However, if what he heard was true, then she must have somehow caused the situation herself, especially considering her role as the class leader.
『Eh? Really? 』
Kumagawa spoke as if it genuinely surprised him.
From his point of view, perhaps Horikita hadn't done that poorly as a class leader. But Manabu knew better what kind of person his sister was. Besides, it wasn't like anyone could easily guess what Kumagawa thought of others.
Actually, it didn't really matter whether Kumagawa was surprised or not. It was just as surprising that someone like him would even think about, or care about, his relationship with his sister.
『I do feel bad if that's what you think about your own sister. But not that bad. 』
"Which is it?"
『Come on, you don't need to nitpick everything I say. But shouldn't you at least visit your sister? She should still be in the infirmary right now, if you decide to go. 』
"...I think I'll do just that."
Manabu accepted his suggestion easily.
Especially when he was the type of person who acted based on his own sense of interest or curiosity.
『』『』『』『』『』
"I'm so pathetic."
Walking through the hallway, Horikita looked down at herself.
She really was.
As she approached the main building entrance, she saw two people walking inside. Normally, she would have ignored them, but this time was different.
"Big brother..." she whispered. The words barely left her lips before fading into the air.
Perhaps he heard it. Perhaps he didn't.
The student council president—her older brother, stood there. Beside him was a girl from the student council, Secretary Tachibana, the same person who had called Kumagawa earlier. Horikita didn't know much about her, but she felt a faint sense of jealousy toward that upperclassman. Even so, she didn't dwell on it.
Tachibana noticed her, her gaze carrying a hint of pity. In contrast, her brother looked at her the same way he looked at anyone else.
Like a stranger.
It hurt.
But she was already used to it. Honestly, she wanted to talk to him, but as a member of Class D, she felt she didn't have the right. Lowering her gaze, Horikita walked past him without saying a word. Even so, she could feel her brother's eyes on her, making each step feel heavier than before.
And then...
"Do you understand Class D's situation right now?"
"....."
He was speaking to her.
But, as usual, she didn't dare to meet his eyes.
"....Suzune. When you talk with people, look at them in the eyes. Don't avert your gaze, didn't I teach you that?" Manabu spoke to her in a tone that was harsh yet gentle, the very tone she had always longed to hear
Slowly.
Very slowly, she lifted her head and looked into her brother's eyes again.
They were the same as always.
Cold.
Contrary to his voice, which she had always longed to hear, his eyes remained the same—completely unchanged.
Seeing those cold eyes, she thought that he must be disappointed in her performance. Not just that, but also in her actions. Yet somewhere within that cold gaze of his, there was a hint of expectation as well.
"I'm sorry, big brother," she muttered.
"Sorry? Why are you apologizing? Do you even understand what you're apologizing for?"
"T-that's..."
"Suzune." He called her name, making her flinch. "I already heard the gist of what happened from Kumagawa. I've already half given up on you, especially now, with your current situation. It seems nothing has really changed, even after everything this school has shown you. You still haven't changed."
"Brother, I don—"
"Not only that, even though you're aware of your flaws, and understand how this school works, you still have no intention of changing."
"....."
"You really are useless."
"....."
Horikita didn't dare to say anything.
The face that had looked into her brother's eyes earlier was now lowered toward the floor.
Yes.
In the end, nothing had changed.
Even after being faced with the reality of her own incompetence, she didn't change. Even after understanding the nature of this school, she didn't change. Even after failing, she didn't change. Even after being cornered, she didn't change. Even after others pointed out her flaws, she didn't change.
Despite all of that...
Nothing had changed.
Which is why...
"I know, brother."
Slowly lifting her head once again, Horikita finally looked at her brother.
But this time, her eyes were different.
Seeing that, Manabu was slightly surprised, though he didn't show it.
"I'm starting to understand how useless I am right now. So you don't have to worry. I won't bother you, and I won't drag you into anything. At the very least, you won't have to see how pathetic I am."
She had to avoid that at all costs.
This situation was the result of her own failure, so she would deal with it herself.
To avoid making herself look even more pathetic than she already was, that was something she had to do. At the very least, she didn't want to disappoint her brother any further. Her dream of standing on equal ground with him... in truth, it had already been out of reach from the very beginning, if this was how she handled things.
Like an idiot.
Even so, she was fine with it, as long as she didn't cause trouble for her brother. Still, she hadn't expected this.
Although this wasn't the kind of conversation she had hoped to have with him, she was still grateful. Just being able to speak with him, even like this, was enough for her..
"Please excuse me," Horikita said, giving a small bow before quickly passing through the entrance.
Manabu and Tachibana watched her figure disappear into the crowd of students.
Manabu, in particular, kept his gaze on her retreating back as she ran off with everything she had, despite her injured leg. His expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts were more complicated.
"...Do you have something to say, Tachibana?"
Even without looking at her, he could feel her gaze.
"I know I shouldn't interfere in someone else's family matters, but... aren't you being a bit too harsh on her, Manabu-kun?"
Tachibana called him Manabu-kun, unlike usual, where she addressed him as "President." It wasn't that surprising. They were in the same class and had known each other for years. Even so, not many people could call him that so casually, aside from those close to him, or a few bold underclassmen.
"Is that how it looks to you?"
"Yes. You're especially harsh with her."
"...I suppose I am."
"Can I ask why?"
"Why, you ask...?"
Why indeed....
His sister.
Horikita Suzune.
That name might have once been something he was proud of, but now, instead of giving him that same sense of pride, it only brought complicated feelings.
He made it sound like something from long ago, but in truth, it wasn't that far back. It was around middle school when she started to change.
The most critical flaw she carried.
The fact that she tried to follow in his footsteps.
That was the flaw that made Horikita Suzune the way she was now.
Of course, as her brother, being imitated by his own sister was something to be proud of. Being her role model was something he took seriously, and he was even happy about it. At times, it was something he wanted to boast about.
After all, she was his sister.
But it wasn't until later that he realized the naivety of this idea.
Rather than mere mimicry for the sake of praise, it was closer to an obsession—one where she couldn't think for herself without considering, 'is this what my brother would do?' It stripped away her own judgment and made her ignore her own strengths. The problem had taken root so deeply that it wasn't a laughing matter anymore.
But earlier...
The look in her eyes had been different. It wasn't the weak, uncertain gaze he had expected, but it carried determination that was enough to suprise him.
"Speaking of which, Tachibana, does Suzune have someone she's close to?"
"Your sister? I'm not sure... but from what I've heard from Kumagawa-kun, she interacts quite a bit with that person you were interested in. I wouldn't say they're close, though."
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka?"
"Ah, right. That's his name."
As expected.
Ayanokouji was, without a doubt, the most interesting student in the first year. More than Sakayanagi from Class C, who was called a genius, or Ryuen from Class B, known for his tyrannical methods.
Among all of them, Ayanokouji should have been the one who interested him the most.
If not for the existence of Kumagawa Misogi.
Honestly, If Kumagawa hadn't been in this school, Manabu would have likely involved Ayanokouji in his plans for the future. But that didn't happen. Kumagawa was simply more suitable in his eyes, mainly because of his unpredictability and questionable personality.
Even so, despite choosing Kumagawa over him, Ayanokouji still remained in his radar as more of a backup plan, in case things goes awry.
"Oh? Is that why you're being so hard on her? Because you're worried she might get involved with the wrong person, Manabu-kun?"
"Well..."
She had completely missed the point.
What kind of protection involved calling his own sister useless? Especially if it was only out of fear that she might fall in with the wrong crowd. If that were the case, it would be nothing more than an extreme approach.
Still, it was true that his methods were extreme.
He had already tried many approaches in the past, from subtle guidance to harsher methods, yet none of them worked. That was why he chose to go this far, hoping to force a change in her mindset, but even that barely had any effect.
"Yeah... let's just say it's a brother's concern."
An extreme concern for his sister.
『』『』『』『』『』
"So, he didn't come back."
Despite her injury, Horikita returned to the field.
She had half expected Sudou to show up, but he was nowhere to be seen.
When she thought about the places she hadn't checked yet, her mind went to Keyaki Mall and the dorms. He could also be somewhere in the school building, but without any real clue, finding him felt almost impossible.
But then...
"You sound like you're out of breath," he said in his usual monotone voice.
Ayanokouji-kun appeared in front of her. It seemed he had already finished his lunch and was preparing for his recommended-participant event.
"I'm looking for Sudou-kun. He hasn't shown up, has he?"
"Nope. So, you're trying to talk to him?"
"Yes. He's a valuable asset. I can at least admit that much."
"And that means?"
From his tone and the way he looked at her, Horikita realized that Ayanokouji had noticed how poorly she was doing. Still, there was no point in telling him about Ryuen. There was nothing he could do, and she didn't want to share that embarrassment beyond Kushida, Chabashira-sensei, and herself.
Their break was almost over, yet there was still no sign of Sudou. Class D was already in a bad position, and without him, defeat felt certain.
"Do you even have any idea where Sudou might be?" Ayanokouji asked. "Time's almost up."
"No, I don't. But there are only so many places he could go. If he wanted privacy, he probably returned to his dorm, right?" Horikita replied.
Ayanokouji nodded in response, confirming her suspicion. Then his gaze shifted down to her leg.
"Is your leg alright?"
"No, but I can still run. Are you coming?"
"I'll pass. I'd just get in your way. Besides, my event is about to start."
"I see."
Without saying anything else, Horikita walked past him.
Heading toward the dorms, she endured the pain and kept moving forward.
『』『』『』『』『』
The bell rang, and the second half of the sports festival began. It was time for the recommended participants' events. Only selected students from each class would take part in the remaining four competitions.
"You're participating in the scavenger hunt, right, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"I'd rather not, if possible." There was nothing hecould do about it, though.
He had lost at rock-paper-scissors. Six people from each class were set to participate in the scavenger hunt.
"The problem is that Sudou-kun isn't here. And not only that..."
"Yeah, Kumagawa-kun is also missing..."
Not only was Sudou, who was supposed to participate in all the recommended events, absent and likely to be marked as such, but Kumagawa was also nowhere to be seen. With his unpredictable personality, it wouldn't be strange for him to change his mind at the last second without any reason, which only made things worse.
"Have you tried calling him, Hirata?" Right now, their only option was to contact him. It wasn't reliable, but it was better than nothing.
"I did, but he didn't answer... I saw him earlier with the student council president, and he looked fine, so I don't think he has any reason to be late..."
"..."
You could always count on Kumagawa to lower the morale, even for someone like Hirata.
"By the way, Ayanokouji-kun, if it's alright with you, I'd like your opinion on something. I would've asked Horikita-san too, but she's not here."
"Hirata, you don't need my opinion to make a sound decision, right?"
Right, putting Kumagawa aside, Horikita still hadn't returned to their camp. Ayanokouji had thought that, in the worst case, she would at least come back before the afternoon events started, but that didn't seem to be the case. Maybe things weren't going as expected.
"I think we should prepare a substitute. We're at the bottom in the individual events. If we want to recover, we have to win the next ones," Hirata said.
"In that case, who are you thinking of?"
"We'll need 100,000 points to make the change. I'll handle that somehow. As for the substitute, I'm thinking Ike-kun or Yamauchi-kun."
"That's because if they happen to win, they can earn points for their tests, right?"
"Exactly. We should take advantage of that."
It was a reasonable plan. In a scavenger hunt, luck played a big role in the outcome. For Sudou's spot, either Ike or Yamauchi could fill in. And in the worst case, if Kumagawa also didn't show up, both of them could be used as substitutes.
It would cost another 100,000 points, but considering the risk of expulsion in future exams, it was a risk worth taking.
"Now we just have to wait for Kumagawa-kun to show up..."
Even though Hirata tried to stay calm, it was clear he was anxious.
Class D was already on the verge of collapse. With Sudou absent, who was essentially their backbone, Kumagawa's absence would only make things worse for Class D already fragile morale.
But fortunately for them—
『Heya, Ayanokouji-kun, Hirata-kun. What's wrong with your faces? Did something good happened by any chance? 』
Kumagawa approached from the opposite direction, walking at a relaxed pace.
"Kumagawa-kun! You actually came... I thought you might not."
『Ahaha, even I wouldn't betray my friends' trust that easily. So you can relax.』
"...I'd like to believe that." Replied Hirata.
Even he couldn't take the words of this lying demon at face value.
『Now that I'm here, where's Sudou-kun? I don't see him. 』
"He's still not here," Ayanokouji answered. "If he doesn't show up before the event starts, we'll use a substitute. It's a waste of points, but we don't have much of a choice."
『I see... that's unfortunate. 』
Then, the signal marking the start of the event echoed across the field, and the participants began gathering at the center.
Unfortunately, Sudou still hadn't appeared.
Ike and Yamauchi played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would take his place. Both of them were fired up. Unlike the other events, this one relied more on luck than physical ability.
In the end, Ike won and stepped forward with confidence.
"All right! I'll do my best for Sudou!"
At the very least, his enthusiasm was there.
Once the referee confirmed that all the participants had gathered, he raised the microphone and began explaining the rules before the event started.
"Some items in the scavenger hunt are quite difficult to procure. To pick a new item, you can request a redraw, but there will be a thirty-second waiting period. You must make your redraw request to the referee when you draw your lot during the competition. The game ends when three players reach the goal. That's all."
After the explanation, everyone began preparing for the event.
The scavenger hunt was divided into several rounds to keep things organized.
Ayanokouji and Kumagawa would be in the second round.
"Hey."
Someone called out nearby. When Ayanokouji turned, he saw Ryuen.
Ayanokouji was standing close to Kumagawa, who was completely absorbed in his phone. Somehow, he had managed to bring it with him. It wasn't exactly against the rules, but it still felt out of place. Because of that, Ayanokouji assumed Ryuen was calling Kumagawa. After a brief glance, he looked away, hoping to avoid getting involved.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, lapdog."
"Huh, Me?" Ayanokouji pointed at himself.
"Who else but you."
"I thought you were calling Kumagawa. Anyway, what do you want?"
It was a little unexpected. Considering Kumagawa had caused trouble for Ryuen before, Ayanokouji thought he would be the one Ryuen approached. Instead, he was the one being addressed.
"So, that muscle-headed idiot isn't participating, huh? I figured he would. Suzune's not here either. Don't tell me they're off somewhere together."
"No idea. That has nothing to do with me."
"What a boring answer. Aren't you basically Suzune's lapdog? Don't bother lying."
"I'm not her lapdog..." Though he said that, he couldn't help but feel like one lately. It felt as if he had been worked to the bone by several people, something he couldn't really avoid. "Also, I'm not close with Horikita. We just sit next to each other in class, so I wouldn't consider us close at all."
"Heh, whatever."
Losing interest, Ryuen immedietly walked away.
It was such a random exchange that Ayanokouji wasn't sure what to make of it. Especially the part about his relationship with Horikita. Why bring that up?
Before long, the first race began. The other classes had sent out their more athletic students, so Ike quickly fell behind at the start. However, speed alone didn't decide the outcome in a scavenger hunt. What mattered most was the item you drew.
Ike picked his lot and checked its contents.
The leading students began searching in different directions, leaving the field to find their items. It wasn't chaotic, but it was lively. Compared to the other events, where competition made the atmosphere tense, this one felt more relaxed and enjoyable.
At least, for most people.
Kumagawa didn't seem interested at all. He remained focused on his phone, completely absorbed.
Was he reading manga or something?
Then, suddenly, Ayanokouji heard a loud, excited shout.
"Whooooooa!" Ike struck a victory pose before running back toward the starting point. "Ayanokouji! Lend me your left foot! Your left foot!"
"My left foot?"
"Your shoe, man! Your shoe! That's my item!"
Ike showed him the slip of paper with [Your classmate's left foot (shoe).] boldly written on it
"If I give it to you, I won't be able to run anymore."
"Geh?!"
Ike quickly turned to Kumagawa, completely ignoring the fact that he was also a participant in the scavenger hunt. But just as Ike ignored that, Kumagawa ignored him as well.
Panicking, Ike rushed back toward the camp. It seemed the other students were also struggling with their items, as no one was heading straight for the goal.
But thanks to his luck during the draw, Ike—somehow—ultimately found his way into first place.
Not long after, Class C came in second, followed by another Class C student, then Class D, and finally Class B in last place.
It wasn't a bad result. Ike had taken first place, and the other Class D student hadn't finished last either.
『It's our turn now, right, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"Yeah..."
Ayanokouji felt a slight tension as he stepped forward. At this point, all he could do was hope luck would be on his side.
Soon, the signal for the second race was given. He and Kumagawa moved to draw their lots, slightly behind the others.
Reaching into the box, Ayanokouji brushed his fingers against several slips before picking one. He unfolded it carefully.
"Now then, what do I have..."
[Ten friends.]
"You're kidding, right..." For a moment, his mind went blank. One friend would have been difficult enough, but ten? It felt like a joke. He couldn't even name five people he was close to.
"Dude, why are you spacing out? Hurry up, Ayanokouji!"
Ikesounded a little full of himself, still on a high from taking first place. But there was nothing Ayanokouji could do. Two of the few people he could rely on, Horikita and Sudou, were absent. Asking Kumagawa wasn't an option either, since he was also participating. And Ichinose and Kanzaki were effectively his opponents.
"I'd like to request a redraw."
Other students had already started running off in search of their items. According to the rules, requesting a redraw meant waiting thirty seconds.
It wasn't long.
But right now, it felt painfully slow.
Ayanokouji moved to the designated area for redraws and waited in silence.
Soon enough, another person joined him.
Unsurprisingly, it was Kumagawa.
『No good, Ayanokouji-kun—』He said.
Kumagawa then took a few light steps closer, glancing at his own slip.
『Oh, um, I don't mean that you're no good. It's just that the one I drew is no good. That's what I meant. 』
"...How would I even take that as 'no-good Ayanokouji' in this situation?"
What kind of correction was that?
"Anyway, what did you get?" Ayanokouji asked.
Kumagawa unfolded his paper and showed it.
[Someone who admires you.]
"....No good, huh." Ayanokouji said,
『Yep, it's no good. That's exactly what I thought. 』
"You're doing that on purpose, aren't you? Trying to make it sound like I'm the one who's no good."
『Oh, not even a smidge. 』Kumagawa denied with the smile of someone playing dumb.
Even so, the content itself really was no good.
In fact, it might be worse than his.
With Kumagawa's reputation, was there even anyone in this school who admired him? Compared to that, Ayanokouji's situation was at least slightly better. Even if it didn't help right now, he still had a few people he could consider acquaintances.
Soon, the thirty seconds were up.
Ayanokouji stepped forward to redraw his lot, with Kumagawa following behind.
[A person you love.]
"No, no, no..."
Ayanokouji stared at the paper, wondering if something was wrong with the slips.
What was with these choices? They were screwing with him.
"C-change, please."
Once again, he returned to the waiting area.
Ayanokouji could feel class D confusion, but there really was nothing he could do. What would anyone have done in his position? If he showed that slip to someone from the opposite sex, it would be no different from confessing a romantic feeling for them Even if he lied and asked them to play along, it would still be embarrassing. Asking for a redraw was the only option.
"Leave!"
Suddenly, a loud commotion broke out from the second-year camp near the field. Ayanokouji turned his head and saw several second-year students looked visibly annoyed.
He then sudeenly heard a commotion on the crowd of students in the second year camp near the field. It was apretty loud commotion especially since a lot of second year student has a lot of displeasure coming from their faces.
Then, for some reason, Kumagawa stepped out from that crowd and walked back toward the referee.
Without a word, he requested another redraw.
Curious, Ayanokouji glanced at his slip.
Kumagawa, without hesitation, showed it.
[A Token of Friendship from your second-year senior.]
"....."
That was...
『What do you think, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"About what...?"
『No matter how you look at it, the chances of me winning are practically zero, right? 』
"It's hard to say. Since it's based on luck, shouldn't you draw something easy eventually?" Ayanokouji replied flatly. "In that case, you should just keep re-drawing every time you get something impossible."
『Huhuhu. 』 he laughed.
Why was he laughing?
Ayanokouji couldn't help but wonder.
『Let me clarify. In all my life, I've never been blessed by luck or coincidence. I've always pushed forward without relying on miracles or fate. So thinking I'll eventually get something easier just by redrawing is a meaningless idea. 』
"Right..."
Ayanokouji couldn't grasp what was going on. Setting aside the meaning behind his words, what Kumagawa said sounded close to absurd. From a statistical point of view, it shouldn't be possible.
Even if he ignored the superstitious idea of what people call 'luck' or 'blessing,' it could still be viewed from a mathematical perspective. In the world of probability, luck could be treated as nothing more than numbers.
For example, there's a thought experiment known as the Littlewood's Law of Miracles—to put it simply, let's say a person lived with 8 hours of sleep and spent the remaining 16 hours awake, that would be around 57,600 seconds in a day. If one were to count each second as an "event," that would mean 57,600 events every day.
If extended further, a month would have 1,728,000 events, a year would have 21,024,000, and ten years would reach 210,240,000. Kumagawa, who had lived for around sixteen years, would have experienced roughly 336,384,000 events in total.
With that in mind, if one were to apply the Littlewood's Law of Miracles, then when it came to winning, it should apply to every single human being in this world. With that many events, the number of so-called "miracles" or "blessings" would naturally pile up. At that point, it would be comparable to something like the "Monkey theorem" by Émile Borel. With the sheer volume alone, the outcome would keep increasing. It would simply become inevitable for something called good luck to happen.
In other words, a person should encounter something unusual at least once in their life, unless their luck was so dirt poor that even statistics would not apply to them.
In the end, it was only a simple thought experiment. It sounded complex because of the numbers, but it simply came down to probability. Especially when it came to winning, the probability of someone winning infinitely was not necessarily zero. But for that to happen, it would mean that he had never experienced a single miracle in his life. Out of 336,384,000 events, not even one blessing.
If that were the case, then there was nothing that could be done about it.
But really, that was something Ayanokouji couldn't comprehend happening to a single human.
But then, as if to follow up—
『Well, if things come to shove, should I just take a peek at the ballot inside? Of course, that would mean I'd be disqualified, but at this point, it's better than nothing, right? Besides, I don't want to waste anyone's time because of my bad luck in this kind of event. 』Kumagawa casually informed him. So this boy was seriously considering something as foolish as peeking inside the box in an open field, where even the referee was standing right behind it, just to win.
"Please don't... you're going to make an enemy of the whole class."
『Okay! 』
And if he had expected that response from the start, Kumagawa immediately changed his mind. His expression stayed nonchalant as he slipped the paper back into his pocket for the time being.
After waiting for thirty seconds, Ayanokouji finally stepped forward for his third draw.
[A table clock]
This time, his draw gave him something he could actually obtain. However, he had to go inside the school to find a table clock. He checked the teachers' tent just in case, but found nothing. While he was doing that, the other six contestants reached the goal.
"This isn't good."
Lady Luck had turned its back on him. It wasn't a matter of holding back. He simply couldn't do anything about it. In the end, the second round left only Kumagawa and Ayanokouji on the field, and as expected, he finished last.
Or rather, second to last.
By that point, Kumagawa had already moved on to his fourth draw, and was even starting to get ready his fifth while while he's at it.
Ayanokouji found himself wondering.
How many tries would it take before he finally pulled a good one?
『』『』『』『』『』
『...No good. Hmm. 』
"How long are you going to keep this up...? There are still more rounds left."
『Well, since I can't get what the slips ask for, what other choice do I have but to keep re-drawing? Don't ask the impossible, sensei.』
"Yeah, but this is already your sixteenth time..."
At this point, Kumagawa was about to draw for the sixteenth time. He was the only one left on the field in the second round.
Class D was already frustrated. Not only had Kumagawa come in dead last, he had also wasted too much time by repeatedly asking for redraws. There were moments when he actually tried to find the items written on the slips, but in the end, it never worked out.
And so, after spending all that time redrawing again and again, he finally reached his sixteenth attempt.
"What did you get this time?" the referee asked, his voice tired.
Kumagawa showed him the slip without hesitation.
[Three second-year seniors]
"..."
There was no sound.
The referee couldn't say anything—or rather, he couldn't find the words as he was too stunned to react.
As a member of the school staff, he was aware of the incident involving Kumagawa and the second-years. He knew, at least to some extent, what kind of reputation Kumagawa had among them. It wasn't something that could be called a good relationship. If anything, it was the worst possible one.
He didn't know the exact details, only the general situation. But somehow, on the second semester, Kumagawa had managed to make enemies of the entire second year.
It was, in a way, impressive.
And at the same time, terrifying.
The referee looked back at the slip, still at a loss for words.
But putting that aside—
Even if he couldn't comment on how absurd Kumagawa's luck was, he still had to move things along. The next round had already been delayed for quite a while because of him.
So, forcing himself to speak, the referee opened his mouth.
"That's, um... for now, why don't you try to find those three second-year students? Maybe there's someone who's... willing?" Despite knowing the kind of relationship Kumagawa had with the second years, the referee still tried to encourage him to take that step forward, even if he himself wasn't convinced.
『Sensei, don't tell me you actually believe I could walk up to the second-years, ask for something, and come back unharmed, right? Even if they don't reject me violently, they could still hurt me with words, you know? Even for a sore loser like me, getting hurt emotionally is a bit embarrassing. 』
"..."
The referee couldn't laugh at the obvious sarcasm. He only frowned, unsure how to respond.
But only for a moment.
"Sigh... "Fine then. I'll let you redraw one more time. If I judge it to be possible, or even just barely possible, then I'll accept it. Even if you... stretch things a little with the person you bring."
『Hey, hey, sensei, isn't that a bit much? While I appreciate the enthusiasm, that clearly goes against the rules. 』
"Don't worry. There's no rule that says you can't convince someone to act the part, as long as it matches what's written on the slip."
Miraculously, out of the fifteen slips Kumagawa had drawn, not a single one involved an inanimate object. There should have been plenty of chances to pull one, and the was quite probability was high. Yet instead of that, every single slip was related to second-year students—the one group Kumagawa had the worst relationship with.
How was that even possible?
As soon as the referee said that, Kumagawa asked for another redraw and waited thirty seconds for his seventeenth attempt.
[Second-year who finds you interesting.]
"...."
Another second-year....
Still, the wording itself was vague, which is good news.
There was no clear definition of what "interesting" meant. Someone could find Kumagawa interesting for many reasons. His appearance, his personality, his way of thinking, even his bad habits. It could all count depending on the person. It has such a broad interpretation that anything is possible.
Even the bad one.
Even so, why did it have to be a second-year again?
"You can manage this one, right?" the referee said, looking at him doubtfully. "Bring anyone who shows even a smidge of interest in you, and I'll accept it."
At this point, the referee was willing to accept anything.
『Huhu, if that's what you want, sensei. 』
Kumagawa replied with a small grin.
With that, he walked off toward the second-year area to find someone who is interested in him
But that was easier said than done.
The moment he stepped into their camp, the atmosphere turned hostile. The looks directed at him were hostile enough to be called violent. It was the kind of pressure that would make most students turn away immediately.
『Now then, who should I bring with me...? 』He muttered to himself.
With the same tone of voice he always used, his attitude never changed. Even in the middle of those hostile gazes, it had no effect on Kumagawa. He allowed all of that malice to pass through him, as if playing dumb.
"Fufu, what are you doing here? You do realize this isn't exactly a good place for you right now, don't you?" said the mysterious voice.
It was slightly louder than the others, perhaps because it was closer. Even so, it carried an elegant tone that easily stood out and suppress the voice of others around it.
Kumagawa turned his head.
There, under the shade of a tree, sat a third-year girl. She looked relaxed, shielding herself from the sunlight. Unlike the others, who stared at him with clear hostility, she looked at him with interest.
Interest.
Interested?
Interested!
『That's it! 』
Kumagawa walked toward her, passing through the hostile gazes before stopping right in front of her.
『Now then, Kiryuuin-senpai, could you come with me? 』
"Oh? You know who I am?"
『Huhu, there's no female upperclassman I don't know. Especially someone as sensual as you, Kiryuuin Fuuka-senpai. 』
Kiryuuin Fuuka.
He had seen her name and face before while organizing student council files. There were notes about her personality as well, describing her as someone quite unique. Though to Kumagawa, it wasn't anything special.
Compared to her, Kushida was far more interesting.
"Sensual...?"
It was such a careless remark to say to a girl he had just met. Normally, it wouldn't be strange for her to get offended, or even respond with violence.
But instead—
"Hahaha, what an amusing junior we have this year."
Rather than taking offense, she laughed. Loudly, without holding back.
For most people, it should have been unsightly for a girl to laugh like that, but in her case, it didn't lower her appearance at all. If anything, it made her stand out even more. Especially her charisma, which felt almost like a magnet when she laughed so openly like that.
"But you shouldn't say things like that to your senior, you know? Especially to a sensual girl like me. What would you do if I took it the wrong way?"
『Huh? But you're not the type to get offended over something that small, right?』
"Oho? Seems like you really did your homework, Vice President Kumagawa Misogi," she said. "But still, what are you doing here? You should know your reputation among the second-years. There's hardly anyone here who doesn't dislike you. So there must be a reason."
『Yeah, right, right! Listen up, Kiryuuin-senpai, I'm very troubled. Help me! I came here because I need your help. Without you, I'm in a really serious trouble. So, could you lend me a hand. 』
"Stop talking in circles and tell me what you need, junior."
Kumagawa handed her the slip of paper.
"I see..." Kiryuuin said, understanding the situation. "So you need a second-year who finds you interesting to bring to the finish line."
『That's right! So, will you come with me, Kiryuuin-senpai? 』
"If I go with you, you'll be able to finish your race, right?"
『Of course? 』
Then, silence.
Kiryuuin looked at Kumagawa with a sharp gaze, different from her earlier relaxed attitude.
She stayed silent for a moment, then finally spoke with a strange smile.
"No good," she said. "While it's true that I find you interesting junior, being interested and cooperating are two different things, aren't they? There are some interesting people among my classmates, and sometimes I want to have a friendly conversation with someone, like what we're doing right now,"
『...I see. That's true, I suppose. You can't just follow a stranger like that, can you?』
Despite being subtly rejected, Kumagawa sounded calm and not corncern at all.
『But still, you do find me interesting, right? Then don't overthink it. Just trust me and come with me. 』
Followed by that boldness, her gaze turned much more sharp than before. Perhaps it's because of her persoanlity, which somehow offended her in someway due to Kumagawa remarks. But that's apparently not the case, since immedeitly after, her gaze turn back to normal, and was somewhat more lively.
It seemed she was done with her time acting as an intimidating senior.
"Fufu... really, what an interesting junior you are," she said. "Fine then. Here, take my hand. I'll allow it." She offered her hand.
Kumagawa naturally took her hand and pulled her along to the finish line.
His action drew murmurs from those around them, especially from the second-years who knew what kind of person she was. It wasn't wrong to call her eccentric, but it was more accurate to say that she was simply unique.
After arriving at the finish line, the referee looked at the person Kumagawa had brought.
"I see, so it's Kiryuuin, huh...?" the referee muttered.
Since he knew her personality, it wasn't impossible for her to take interest in someone as troublesome as Kumagawa. In that case, the instruction of 'a second-year who finds you interesting' could be taken literally, and counted as a pass.
"Fine then. Kumagawa Misogi, after redrawing for the sixteenth time... pass."
After the seventeenth attempt, Kumagawa Misogi finally managed to pass.
"Hahahahahahaha, to think you had to redraw sixteen times. I don't know whether to call it good luck or bad luck, but it seems that not only your personality, even your luck is interesting. As expected of my intuition."
Kiryuuin laughed loudly once again.
She seemed to be enjoying herself.
『Ahaha, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, senpai, but no matter how you look at it, my luck can only be called bad. 』
"Haha, I suppose that's true."
For something as simple as a scavenger hunt, which could usually be cleared in a single draw, or at worst five, it was hard to imagine it taking more than that. Unless someone had truly terrible luck.
Like the junior standing in front of her, who only succeeded on his seventeenth try.
『Aaah... what a shame. Even though I definitely gave it my all, it really seems impossible for me to win fairly. 』
For someone like him.
『Once again, I couldn't win. 』
For minus like him.
Luck is certainly out of the question.
『END』
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Here you go peasants, another chapter.
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]