I knew exactly what I had done.
I had handed our class's participation table to that infamous guy, Ryūen.
It guaranteed defeat in the sports festival—an insult to the classmates still pouring their effort into every event.
The results were already rolling in, and Class D sat dead last among the first-years.
Pointless.
Class D was going to lose the sports festival. Targeted by Class C, we'd suffer a crushing, one-sided defeat.
I had orchestrated it that way. I had exploited the entire event for my own goals.
Struggling when the outcome was already decided was meaningless, wasteful. Just watching it made me sick.
That was why I despised the girl beside me, the one with those dazzling eyes that burned like an eternal light of hope, refusing to fade.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and tie the rope."
She noticed the venom in my glare, yet this girl—this perfect little honor student, Suzune Horikita—urged me on as if it didn't bother her at all.
Her arrogant posture only stoked my malice further.
It irritated me that she knew my past, yes.
But more than that, it was her unbreakable spirit, her flawless appearance, the way she threw herself fully into everything—she was infuriating in every way.
"...Yeah, got it."
I had to keep up appearances, so I smoothed my voice and answered politely.
I crouched down and started tying the rope around our legs.
"Horikita-san, is your leg really okay? ...I saw you take that hard fall earlier."
"No problem."
I asked while suppressing a laugh.
I remembered her pathetic tumble clearly.
It had been a gamble, but arranging things with Ryūen had paid off.
This way, my goal had a high chance of success.
"...Tch!"
When I finished tying the rope, her face twisted with a stifled grunt.
She clenched her molars, desperately trying not to show weakness.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
I let my voice tremble slightly as I pressed the question.
I was testing whether I could steer things toward forcing her to sit out.
"I already told you it's fine. And stop pretending to care when you don't."
Horikita stood up and glared at me.
With our legs bound together, those sharp eyes were only centimeters away.
"I'm being nice enough to worry—you could at least be a little grateful."
I snorted, then tossed the words out lightly.
"I know your real personality. I don't even need to figure out if you're lying."
"It really pisses me off when you flatly declare I'm the one lying."
Tit for tat. She annoyed me, and she knew my true nature. Against someone like that, I spewed venom without hesitation.
"Well, tough luck. With that leg, you won't be racking up points in the rest of the events."
Of course, the injury was deliberate—no accident at all.
It was the inevitable result of my and Ryūen's aligned interests.
"The results aren't final yet. You're jumping to conclusions."
"...You're seriously annoying. Don't you ever learn when to give up?"
"I don't give up. Not until we get results in this sports festival. So you'll give your all in this three-legged race too."
Her resolve not to surrender was far stronger than before. I wanted nothing more than to untie the rope right then and get away from her.
"Also, Kushida-san, calling it 'tough luck' isn't quite right."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I'm saying it wasn't an accident."
Her gaze pierced like it had already uncovered the truth.
We were the same height, so we glared straight into each other's eyes.
"It was you, wasn't it? The one who leaked the participation table to Class C."
"What are you talking about? That's a pretty lame joke."
"Did you think I wouldn't be on guard against you? I know you might have made a deal with Class C during the cruise ship exam.
That's why I had a few people watching you this time."
The cruise ship exam. Unpleasant memories flooded back, cracking the mask I was wearing.
"That scary look on your face... It seems things didn't all go perfectly."
That hadn't been anything worth calling a deal.
That's why I'd switched my negotiation partner to Ryūen. He was plenty unhinged himself, but still better than the other guy.
I pulled my focus back to the present and glared at the mistaken Horikita.
"...So Karuizawa and the others hovering around me during the festival were acting on your orders?"
I had snapped a photo to send Ryūen the participation table data.
The class had banned that, obviously—who knew where the information might spread.
I'd been spotted once. A failure.
I'd thought it would be fine if no one noticed. I'd been careful, yet by pure chance Karuizawa was nearby and I slipped up.
But apparently, they were her plants.
"Yes. That's why you failed the first time you tried to photograph the participation table.
You covered it up on the spot, but I became certain—you were going to betray us in this sports festival."
Horikita had no way to communicate directly with Karuizawa.
She must have used Hirata.
She'd almost certainly dangled the possibility of my contact with Class C during the cruise ship exam to move him.
"...But I failed that time. I haven't done anything since."
"Liar. You took the photo again later. Without anyone noticing.
I have an eyewitness account from someone reliable."
"As if you have anyone reliable."
"Believe whatever you want."
I sneered, but reset my thinking for a moment.
Because there was a ring of truth to what Horikita was saying.
The Horikita I knew was the middle-school version—loner, did everything herself, total brocon.
But she was different now. She'd started changing since entering this school.
I hated admitting it, but it was true. She might not have anyone fully trustworthy, but there were people she could rely on to a degree.
And if I considered the student who'd spent the most time with her, the eyewitness was probably someone like Ayanokōji.
It was too risky to dismiss it outright as a lie.
"Still, even after considering a traitor that seriously, the outcome's a disaster. You let it happen."
I looked away and scanned the surroundings.
The three-legged race would start soon. We needed to move into position.
"Yes, I let it happen. On purpose."
"...Oh? On purpose, huh~"
The words carried heavy implication, delivered in a firm tone.
Horikita wasn't joking.
"I would have preferred to persuade you, but unfortunately I couldn't manage it yet.
So this is the result. I knew Ryūen-kun might play dirty, but I didn't expect it to be this blatant."
"Even if I am the traitor, you could have changed the participation table at the last second to prevent the leak.
Then you wouldn't have ended up this injured."
"If it's checked after submission, it's pointless.
Plus, your position in the class is strong. Even secret discussions about the table would eventually reach you. You'd just take a new photo—it was inevitable."
She was right.
My information network was vast. Important secret talks would reach me quickly.
And the participation table had to be shared with the class at least once. The final details would get to me too.
Even if she tried deceiving me with a last-minute switch, I could ask Chabashira-sensei to see the submitted version and photograph it.
In short, this whole exchange had been overwhelmingly to my advantage—nearly impossible to overturn.
"So I let it happen. This time, to expose the traitor and secure evidence to stop it from happening again."
"Heh, what a noble plan. Traitor or no traitor, you still can't beat Class C."
"How long are you going to act so composed, traitor-san?"
"I'm not the traitor. Maybe stop suspecting your own classmates?"
"Then let's ask Chabashira-sensei. Whether any student came specifically to check the table after submission."
We both fell silent.
Confirmation from the teacher would expose everything. It was only a matter of time.
Yet I had acted knowing that.
"Even if it was me, I could cry and insist otherwise.
It's obvious who the class trusts more—you or me."
Brute force, maybe, but I had trust and lies on my side.
And in the worst case, I had the means to destroy this class entirely.
No matter how much it grew, it could never overcome that despair.
In that case, it would be kinder to end the class with my own hands before true despair swallowed it whole.
"What about you? If Karuizawa-san and Hirata-kun backed me—not just me alone—everything you've built in this class would mean nothing."
We kept talking without meeting each other's eyes.
Facing completely opposite directions, as if to illustrate the difference in what we were aiming for—and the endings we foresaw.
Then, amid all that, our turn in the three-legged race arrived.
"...I want your cooperation. So please, don't betray us again."
I felt her gaze. Ah, so annoying.
...Truly, utterly irritating.
...
The three-legged race ended, and we moved into a ten-minute break.
The next event was the cavalry battle, with the girls' division going first, so there was still some time to spare.
Not that I had anything in particular to do. I just wandered aimlessly, planning to head to the waiting area once enough time had passed.
"You look bored."
The sharp clack of a cane against the ground. That crisp sound only sharpened the impression given by the girl standing in front of me.
As I walked without any real destination, I ran into Sakayanagi.
This was supposed to be the area for Classes B and C.
Unless she had business here, there was no reason for someone from Class A to show up.
"I'm here because I wanted to see you."
She answered the question I hadn't even asked.
If she were an ordinary student, she might have said those words with a bright smile that would set anyone's heart racing.
Kamuro was probably busy preparing for her own events, which meant Sakayanagi was walking alone right now, without her usual bodyguard.
It wasn't especially unusual, but it still felt strange to see her venture into enemy territory by herself.
"I really did come just to see you."
"Is there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Yes. Something very important."
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke in a soft, glossy voice.
"It's a little too public here. Shall we move?"
I nodded and fell into step beside her.
We walked a short distance until we reached the back of the cottages. No one else was around—the perfect spot for a private conversation.
She began to speak, the atmosphere around her almost like the prelude to a confession.
"…I had intended to wait until the lunch break, but I simply couldn't hold back any longer.
Watching that pole toppling event—my heart was pounding with anticipation and joy."
"Pole toppling?"
I watched her enjoy herself as I tried to anticipate what she would ask.
The most memorable thing about the pole toppling had to be Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's performance.
Nothing else particularly stood out.
"Izuru-kun, what did you think of him… of Ayanokōji Kiyotaka-kun?"
His name finally left her lips.
I had expected it, yet hearing it spoken aloud still caught me slightly off guard.
"What do you mean by that? His abilities? Or his personality—his character?"
"Both."
She answered with a gentle smile.
I thought back to him as I replied.
"His abilities are exceptional. The mere fact that he could stand against me proves more than any credential ever could."
"And his personality?"
"Interesting. He's a type of person I've never encountered before.
Most humans live burdened by contradictions, but his are in a class of their own."
"I see… If I may, what sort of contradictions?"
"The conflict between his desire to win and his wish not to stand out—in other words, the feeling that his own existence isn't even necessary.
It's frankly broken. That contradiction is probably tied to his true goal. Though, as long as he refuses to step into the light, I can't speculate any further."
"…Your analytical skills really are remarkable."
The air around Sakayanagi shifted slightly.
She didn't seem dissatisfied with my assessment, yet a faint sadness colored her expression.
"Are you acquainted with him?"
"Yes. The closest description would be childhood friends, I suppose."
Childhood friends with Sakayanagi.
I had never heard anything about that from her before, so their reunion at this school must have been pure coincidence.
A fateful encounter, one might say.
"So you came all this way just to ask me about him?"
"Yes. Part of it was wanting to share this excitement with someone, but more than that—I wanted to hear your evaluation of him.
I wanted to know how he appears through the eyes of a genius greater than myself."
"And what would be the point of that?"
Sakayanagi paused for a moment before giving a faint smile.
"I would answer any question you asked me, but anything beyond this would touch on Ayanokōji-kun's privacy.
So I must apologize. I can't answer that one."
She dipped her head slightly in a polite bow.
I had developed a mild curiosity about his life before coming to this school, but if it was a matter of privacy, there was nothing to be done.
"I'm sorry for taking up your valuable break time like this."
She glanced at the time as she spoke.
"It's fine."
I turned my back to her.
The break was ending; the girls' cavalry battle would begin soon.
"Izuru-kun."
Just as I was about to step out from the shadow behind the cottages, she called my name.
I turned back to face her once more.
"This is only my personal theory, but I believe that the moment a person is born—the instant they receive life—their potential, their talent, is already decided.
No matter how ideal the environment, if the person lacks the talent to make use of it, it means nothing. No one can exceed the limits carved into their DNA."
She spoke with complete confidence.
This was her view of herself—an answer that Arisu Sakayanagi had arrived at through everything she had experienced in her life.
"I am a genius born of parents with superior genes, raised in an environment that allowed me to become exactly what I was meant to be.
Izuru-kun—you, too, after whatever path you walked, became the genius you were meant to be, didn't you?"
The words caught in my throat.
The answer to that question was not yes.
And "whatever path" was far too mild—grueling would have been closer to the truth.
"That is why, if one wished to create a genius artificially, the only way would be to build a human from the DNA up.
Izuru-kun——"
——Do you believe this view of mine is wrong?
"…Your view is not wrong.
As you say, the only way to artificially create a genius would be to construct a human from DNA."
I concealed my true thoughts, suppressed them, and affirmed her words.
Sakayanagi smiled with unbridled joy.
Her theory had been validated by someone she recognized—someone she would call a "true" genius.
"——However, a true genius cannot be created that way."
"…Eh?"
Sakayanagi's face went blank.
Her sharp mind should already have grasped the meaning.
"Even with the best environment and the best DNA—even if the person can fully utilize them—they still cannot become what you would call a 'true' genius."
"Then how… no, how is it that you possess that talent…?"
She quickly understood the implication and threw the question back at me.
Perhaps because my words were so unlike me, she looked at me with something almost like pity.
"Arisu Sakayanagi. You are brilliant. There is no doubt you are a genius.
But—an excessively large curiosity may lead you to unreasonable truths you never wished to know."
I turned and left quickly.
As I emerged from behind the cottages, the girls' cavalry battle was just about to begin.
I headed toward the waiting area for the boys' division.
...
Girls' Cavalry Battle.
The first match began.
My role was atop the horse, snatching the enemy's headbands.
"Counting on you, Ibuki-san."
I nodded back to Shiina's encouragement from below.
This event felt close to a brawl, and personally, it got my blood pumping—I wanted them to leave it to me.
"Just don't go overboard."
"That depends on the opponent."
I answered with a light laugh.
The rules for cavalry battle were the same for both boys and girls: a timed format. Over three minutes, points were awarded based on the number of enemy cavalry toppled and allied cavalry remaining.
Each class fielded four cavalry units, making it an 8-on-8 battle. A regular cavalry was worth 50 points, while the commander's cavalry was worth 100, so a decisive victory could swing the point totals dramatically.
This event demanded both holding ground and defending it, making it as close to real combat as it got—strategy was everything.
And yet it still let you pit raw strength against raw strength. A truly outstanding event.
"Everyone, go!"
At Ichinose's rallying cry—a voice that tightened both body and spirit—Class B's attack line charged straight for the enemy commander.
Class C followed as the second wave.
Some cavalry advanced using Class B as decoys, others moved to provide support.
A few shot forward first, eager to crush the weaker enemy units one by one.
To an outsider, Class C might look disorganized.
But even if their actions were scattered, their shared goal was victory.
Each of them was taking what they judged the optimal action to carry out Ryūen's orders and win.
"Form up! They're coming!"
The clear, ringing voice belonged to Horikita. Even as a fellow girl, I could feel how beautifully transparent yet powerfully commanding it was.
Though she wasn't the commander cavalry for the A-D alliance, she was directing them like a first-rate strategist.
Amid the chaos, several clashes broke out, and the cavalry battle truly began.
The crowd's excitement surged; the guys' voices grew louder.
I ignored the rowdy noise and analyzed the field.
The A-D alliance prioritized defense while shifting to offense the moment they spotted an opening.
The B-C alliance threw defense aside, pressing forward with relentless, fire-like aggression.
It was a contest to see whether spear or shield would prove stronger.
"…Everyone, go."
Yajima issued the order in a low voice.
The complete opposite of Ichinose's rallying cry.
It wasn't the kind of voice that boosted morale, yet every Class C cavalry understood their objective and began moving.
All units except Manabe's started advancing at once.
I followed Yajima's cavalry, charging straight toward a chosen enemy unit.
Manabe's group handled the small fry.
Roles assigned, we carried out the king's command.
"…Following that guy's orders really pisses me off, but if we're doing this, I'd have preferred a straight one-on-one."
Muttering to myself, we surrounded Horikita Suzune.
"No you don't!"
Other Class D cavalry, realizing she was being targeted one-sidedly, moved to interfere.
But the difference in training between Class C and Class D was overwhelming.
Yajima's cavalry met the obstructing Class D unit head-on.
The direct collision ended with Class C dominating by a wide margin.
A single test of strength left the Class D cavalry on the verge of collapse.
After that, taking their headband was simple work.
"…No hard feelings, but this is competition. Don't hold it against me."
"You already think you've won, Ibuki-san? Even three against one, I won't give up."
Surrounded by three cavalry and in an utterly hopeless position, Horikita's eyes still burned with life.
"Heh, you've got guts."
I answered with the ferocious grin people sometimes called savage, then attacked without mercy.
The other cavalry joined in immediately.
Frankly, I was confident I wouldn't lose even one-on-one.
Thanks to Kamukura, Class C's overall physical abilities had improved dramatically.
In a pure contest of strength, the fruits of our training made the opposition no match.
Still, I held nothing back.
"…Kgh!"
She let out a strained grunt yet desperately dodged and deflected the multiple hands reaching for her, buying time until rescue arrived.
It was a stalling tactic reliant on support, but it was her best option.
Yet no matter how good Horikita's athletic reflexes were, against us—with our boosted abilities—she lasted maybe ten seconds.
I exploited a tiny opening and snatched her headband.
Then, to carry out Ryūen's instructions, Yajima blocked the referee's line of sight while another Class C cavalry collided with Horikita's unit.
The formation crumbled, and Horikita was thrown spectacularly to the ground.
"…This really doesn't feel good."
My true feelings slipped out in a low voice.
My classmates flinched slightly at the sound.
Yajima and the others clearly had mixed feelings about going this far.
But no one could defy Ryūen.
Even if it wasn't strictly necessary, the fact that no one opposed crushing the enemy commander was part of why we did it.
I could never play the victim here. The awareness of being the perpetrator welled up inside me.
"…Let's quickly finish off the rest."
Class C had no intention of cooperating with Class B for the remaining time.
Everyone moved purely for victory.
While we were thoroughly dismantling Horikita, Manabe's unit had already claimed two headbands.
With the time left, we built numerical superiority and picked off the rest one by one, securing a complete victory.
***
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