Night fell, and the sound of cicadas outside the window had gradually faded with the coolness of September, replaced by the unique tranquility of an autumn night.
After several days of class deliberation, the entry list for Class D's Sports Festival must have been finalized.
"Bzzzz—"
The phone vibrated on the desk. The name displayed on the screen was "Kei."
Natsukawa picked up his phone, pressed the answer button, and casually put it on speakerphone.
"Hello, Sōsuke-kun."
Karuizawa's voice came through the receiver, carrying the excitement of someone who had completed a secret mission.
"It's done. While Hirata-kun wasn't paying attention, I secretly took a picture of the entry list. Should I send you the photo?"
"Mhm, well done." Natsukawa's voice was gentle and steady. "Thank you for your hard work."
"Hehe... It was nothing, just a small thing."
Karuizawa, having received praise, was clearly in a good mood, and her voice became cheerful.
After the important matter was concluded, as was their usual custom, it was time for their "casual chat."
"Speaking of which, Matsushita-san and the others were discussing where to go shopping for autumn clothes this weekend..."
"Kushida-san seems very busy lately..."
Natsukawa Sosuke listened patiently, occasionally responding with a word or two, acting as a competent listener.
About half an hour later, the topic inadvertently circled back to the Sports Festival.
"Oh! Sōsuke-kun, you're really amazing!"
"I knew you had good stamina, but I didn't expect you to push yourself so hard. Not only did you sign up for all the recommended events, but you even signed up for the final leg of the 1200-meter relay! You're practically a superhero from a manga!"
She sighed, her tone carrying a hint of self-deprecation: "Unlike me, who only dares to hide in the mandatory participation events..."
"...?"
Natsukawa Sosuke paused in the act of drinking his tea.
A question mark slowly appeared above his head.
"Kei, what did you just say?" His tone remained calm, but Karuizawa still sensed something was off. "You said... I signed up for all the recommended events? And the final leg of the relay?"
"Huh? Yes." Karuizawa was startled, confirming with some confusion, "That's what the entry list says. Could it be... that Natsukawa-kun didn't sign up for this himself?"
Natsukawa was silent for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh... I see."
He wasn't angry; instead, a light called 'amusement' surfaced in his deep black eyes.
"It seems our usually aloof and haughty Horikita-san also plays these little tricks of acting first and reporting later."
The only people who could access and modify the form, besides Hirata, were Horikita Suzune, who was in charge of the girls' side.
In that case, there was only one truth.
"Eh?! Sōsuke-kun didn't sign up voluntarily?!"
Karuizawa on the other end of the line was clearly more agitated than the person involved. "That's too much! How can she do that without your permission... Sōsuke-kun, what should we do now? The form hasn't been submitted yet. Should I ask Hirata-kun to change it right now? We can just say it was a mistake..."
"No need."
"Since she wants me to stand out so much, I'll grant her wish."
"But..."
"Kei." Natsukawa's voice softened slightly. "As the ancients said, 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.' Since she acted 'unjustly' toward me first, trying to force me to contribute this way, then I don't need to hold back anymore."
"Originally, I planned to hold back a bit and save face for Class D. But now... perhaps a complete failure is the best wake-up call for certain people."
"Besides, this is fine. Only when she loses completely will she understand that capable people not contributing is the smallest problem Class D faces."
Karuizawa Kei listened, half understanding, half confused. Although she didn't grasp Natsukawa's exact plan, she detected absolute confidence in his tone.
"Then... is there anything you need me to do?"
"Of course."
...The next day, during the break.
Natsukawa Sosuke walked over to Hirata Yosuke's seat.
"Hirata, may I have a moment?"
"Ah, Natsukawa-kun."
"Is there something you need?"
"Regarding the entry list, when are you planning to submit it?" Natsukawa asked casually, as if making small talk.
"Hmm... I originally planned to go at noon, but some students' events are still being slightly adjusted. So, I thought I'd wait until after school this afternoon, before going to my club activity, and hand it to Chabashira-sensei then."
After Hirata explained, he glanced at Natsukawa, a look of concern in his eyes.
"Speaking of which, Natsukawa-kun... I looked at the form, and you have a huge number of events. Your name is on almost all the recommended events, and even the final leg of the relay... Isn't that too heavy a load? If you find it difficult, I can help coordinate and drop a few..."
"No need, Hirata."
"Since everyone trusts me and has entrusted these important positions to me, I should give it my all. This small effort is nothing for the sake of the class's victory."
"Natsukawa-kun..." Hirata seemed moved. "It's truly great that Class D has you. We're counting on you!"
"Mhm, relax."
Having finished the conversation, Natsukawa Sosuke turned and walked back to his seat.
Now that the submission time was confirmed, the time for the'show' to begin was also set.
He took out his phone and switched to an anonymous online account.
[I'll be submitting the entry list after school today. —Y]
As for where to send it, it was Ryuuen Kakeru's personal email address, which he had obtained from Class C's Manabe Shiho using a little social maneuvering... The bell signaling the end of classes rang in the afternoon.
"Hey, hey, Kushida-chan~ And little Chiaki, let's go sing karaoke together!"
Karuizawa Kei, carrying her school bag, affectionately hooked her arm through Kushida Kikyo's, her face beaming with an enthusiastic smile.
"Sounds great!" Kushida Kikyo naturally wouldn't refuse a group activity like this and immediately agreed with a smile. Matsushita Chiaki and several other girls also responded enthusiastically.
The group chatted and laughed as they left the school building and headed to the karaoke parlor in the Keyaki Shopping Center.
Just as everyone had chosen their songs and was about to start, Karuizawa Kei's phone suddenly rang.
"Ah, sorry, I need to take this call."
She quickly walked out of the private room with her phone.
About five minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open again.
Karuizawa Kei hurried in, holding a brown envelope. Her expression looked anxious, perhaps even panicked.
"Everyone, I am so sorry!" She pressed her hands together, looking apologetic. "Hirata-kun just called me. He said a student came to him this afternoon wanting to change their entry order! He rewrote the entry list, but he accidentally grabbed the old version when leaving after school. He can't leave his club right now, so he asked me to deliver it..."
"So I might have to leave first! I'm really sorry!"
"Eh—"
"If it's for Hirata-kun, then it can't be helped."
Although the girls were slightly disappointed, they were understanding.
"Then I'll be going now!"
Karuizawa Kei said this and turned to leave the private room.
However, just as she stepped over the threshold of the private room door—
"Ah!"
A gasp.
Whether she was too rushed to watch her step or not, her toe violently struck the threshold, causing her to lose balance and fall heavily to the floor.
The envelope flew out with her, sliding onto the corridor floor.
"Kei!"
"Karuizawa-san!"
The girls in the private room were startled and immediately rushed over.
They saw Karuizawa Kei painfully clutching her right ankle, her entire face contorted, tears even welling up at the corners of her eyes.
"It hurts so much..."
"Are you okay? Did you twist it?" Matsushita Chiaki worriedly checked her ankle. "It looks serious... We have to go to the infirmary immediately!"
"I'll take you!" another girl quickly added.
"But..."
Karuizawa Kei bit her lip, enduring the pain, but her gaze was fixed intently on the envelope that had slid onto the floor.
"That document... the entry list... I have to give it to Chabashira-sensei immediately..."
She struggled to stand up to pick up the envelope but fell back down due to the sharp pain in her ankle.
"Why worry about the entry list when you're like this!" Matsushita Chiaki said somewhat angrily. "Your body is more important!"
"But... if I don't submit it on time, it will cause trouble for the class... and Hirata-kun asked me to do it..." Karuizawa Kei's voice was tearful, sounding incredibly helpless and anxious.
This scene made all the girls present feel awkward and conflicted.
Just then, Karuizawa Kei seemed to suddenly remember something. She looked up, and her tear-filled eyes landed precisely on Kushida Kikyo, who was standing nearby with a worried expression.
"Kikyo..."
As if grasping a lifeline, she reached out and grabbed Kushida's skirt hem.
"Could you... could I ask a favor?"
"Could you take this... and deliver it to Chabashira-sensei immediately?"
Kushida Kikyo was momentarily stunned.
She looked at Karuizawa's state, then at the envelope on the floor.
"...Alright."
Kushida Kikyo crouched down and gently patted Karuizawa's hand.
"Leave it to me, little Kei. You go to the infirmary without worry; I will make sure this document is delivered on time."
She stood up, walked over, and picked up the brown envelope.
Class D's entry list... huh?
"We'll leave it to Kushida-san then! We're taking Kei to the infirmary first!"
Matsushita Chiaki and the others helped Karuizawa up and hurriedly headed toward the elevator.
.....
Read up to 40 more chapters at patreon.com/Zeaser