Kisaragi’s great leap forward has greatly boosted the morale of our class. The boost in morale is meaningless, as it doesn’t affect anyone except those who will be competing in the future, but how long we can maintain this kind of atmosphere will have a great impact on our future victories. And whether or not it can be maintained depends entirely on Kisaragi. It’s no exaggeration to say that the winner will be determined by who she plays with in the final match and how.
“Kisaragi, you were amazing !:
“No, it wasn’t just me, it was the whole team. Thanks, guys.”
“Ugh, I fell down. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It made me come out of my shell and gave me some confidence. I don’t feel like anyone can beat me now !”
“That’s great. We could really win this thing !”
“Yeah, we’re going to win !”
「「「「「Alright ! ! 」」」」」
The class was having a lot of fun. The only ones who were cool about it were me, Yukihana, and a few other gloomy people. Yukihana looked as if she didn’t care about the obstacle race anymore. My hunch is that she’s not interested in the events in which her brother is not competing. On the other hand, when her brother competes in an event, she leaves the class and cheers for him.
(Well, in a sense, it’s an act of betrayal to the class?)
Perhaps she’s cheering for her brother away from the class because she’s concerned about his classmates. Or perhaps it was to prevent trouble. Either way, she’s still a person who hates troublesome things.
“So, how confident are you about making it to the finals?”
“Of course I’m sure of it. I don’t want to lose to anyone !”
With these words, we, the 2nd year class 1 watched the third game that followed. The third match had just begun, and it seemed that most of the classes were very competitive, with no one individual excelling greatly. At first, the students seemed to be rejoicing because there was no class that could be their enemy, but the atmosphere began to change a little when a certain student appeared on the scene, and the atmosphere became buzzing.
“That blond girl is so cute, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, that’s the one who’s rumored to be a model or something.”
“Hee, I’m going to hit on her later……huh, so fast !?”
“Hey, hey, impossible, she passed three people in an instant !”
“N-no way, did she cross the balancing area in about three steps?”
“Maybe she’s faster than Kisaragi.”
“H-hey, she’s already crossed the finish line !”
The blonde girl, with her proudly fluttering hair, overwhelmed the others and crossed the finish line with a big smile on her face. She wasn’t out of breath at all, and began cheering for her classmates who were running next, saying, [Do your best– ! !]. The entire venue was filled with the same atmosphere as when Yukihana’s younger brother had just made his grand entrance.
The girl, Nanase Natsume, was the dark horse in the obstacle race. Many of the students were stunned and their mouths were hanging open, while Yukihana, who was watching next to her, had a complicated look on her face
[With that, I would appreciate your support. I’m going to participate in the obstacle race and the relay, and I’m sure I’ll take first place in either one.]
(Apparently, she was serious.)
Nanase’s words from earlier when we were having lunch replayed in my mind. Perhaps she intends to get serious in this event. Her physical ability is outstanding among the female students.
My guess is that Nanase was born with a natural talent for sports. And then, by making some kind of effort, the monstrous athletic ability that she has now has descended. In a way, I envy her, and in a way, I’m horrified.
“……”
Kisaragi gulped at the sight of Nanase. Kisaragi, who’s working hard in the track and field club, must have felt Nanase’s high potential. Kisaragi is probably frantically running simulations in her brain right now. Wondering if she can beat that unordinary junior.
“…….”
Then, Kisaragi looked at that person with clenched lips and clenched her fist tightly. It was evidence that she had reached a conclusion in her mind, and it also told what kind of result she had achieved.
[In the third match, the winner is the 1st year class 2 ! The dark horse in this school ! !]
「「「「「Whoa ! ! 」」」」」
So the winner of the third match was decided, and preparations were immediately made for the finals. Kisaragi and the rest of the obstacle race team immediately began moving and gathering at the assembly point. As for me, I can kind of see the ending, but will Kisaragi really…..
“……What a mess.”
I muttered to myself after confirming that none of my teammates were there. I knew that there was a girl among the juniors who was popular as a model, but I didn’t think she was that good at sports. She could easily steal a regular spot from an upperclassman in most sports teams, let alone the track team. I was fighting with someone who was such a gem in the world of sports.
“Hey, Kisaragi san, do you think we can win?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Are you sure?”
“F-fufufu…..”
“Kisaragi san?”
My body trembles unintentionally. Is this fear or a warrior’s tremor? I think it’s the latter. I’m happy to be able to fight with such a girl in sports. I can’t help but look forward to it. When I witnessed the amazingness of the girl called Nanase Natsume, I felt a similar feeling to Sakura.
In other words, I wanted to win. Such was my desire to win.
(Let’s do it……I will definitely win !)
With these thoughts in my mind, I inspired everyone !
“Everyone, it’s true that we’re up against a formidable foe. But our bond is strong enough not to lose. I’ll deal with that blonde girl. So, until then, I’m going to ask you all to do your best. So, let’s all win and show our dignity as seniors !”
「「「「「Okay ! 」」」」」
With that said, I laid hands with everyone and pledged victory, and we moved to the waiting area. There we were with the 1st year class 2, who had just finished a game but still had a lot of energy left in them, and the 3rd year class, who had won the first game. All the classes were in high spirits.
[The final round of the obstacle race is about to begin! ! All participating classes, please move to your positions.]
The announcement to start the competition rang out in the hall. Incidentally, the obstacles in the finals were slightly different from those in the previous games. New elements have been added, such as jumping forward with both feet in a burlap sack and using an outdoor basketball to run over a certain distance. For me, I’m looking forward to it.
“This will be my fifth run. It’s her fifth run, too, so we’ll start almost exactly the same.”
I had a quick look at the other girls, and they were all about the same level of ability. Even earlier, if it wasn’t for Nanase san, I think that class would have definitely lost. In this match, I must surpass Class 1-2 in terms of overall strength as well.
[Are you ready? Referee students and teachers, please give the signal.]
The first three runners from each class were already standing at the starting line. The venue is relatively quiet, and the tension is immeasurable. But the time moves mercilessly foreward, and at last the starting pistol is pointed up into the sky.
[The final round is now on ! Get in position, ready…….]
–Bang !
At the sound of the pistol, the three runners started to run. They all got off to a strong start and gradually increased their speed. At first, they were all running side by side, but as they approached the corner, the gap gradually widened. Then, the one who jumped into the lead was……
“We did it, we’re winning !”
It was us, the 2nd year class 1. We had succeeded in making a gap at the corner, though only a little, and gradually pushed that distance away. The girl running now was a girl from the volleyball team, and she was second fastest in our class. It was the right decision to put her at the front of the line. She cleared the obstacles without difficulty and is now running toward us, dribbling with the ball in her hand.
Before the game began, I had a message for all my teammates.
[Guys, we have a scavenger hunt and a relay coming up, but we can’t worry about that anymore. Luckily, not even half of the people in the obstacle race are going to be competing in the next two events, so let’s just run as fast as we can without holding back. If we do that, we won’t lose.]
There were signs that the other classes were saving their strength for the competition that was to follow. But this Nanase girl was definitely going to give it her all in this race. If you don’t give it your all and just snatch the win, there’s nothing you can do, but if you give up, the game ends there. Therefore, I will go into this race with the mindset of betting everything I’ve got.
Either way, it would be impossible for us to win the Sports festival if we didn’t win. Furthermore, if they allow the 1st year class 2 to win the championship, their victory will be decided. I had to avoid that at all costs.
“Please !”
“Leave it to me !”
So the first runner reached the goal, and the second runner started right away. And thanks to her efforts, we were more than 3 seconds ahead of the other class, and the next runner started running after her. How far this gap would widen would make the difference between light and dark in the class.
“Thanks, I’m going to win for sure !”
“Haa, haa…..I’m counting on you, Yuu.”
“Leave it to me.”
I then lent a shoulder to the person who had finished running and waited for my turn. Suddenly, I looked at the team next to me and saw that Nanase san was calm as if nothing had happened, in fact, she even looked relaxed. Perhaps she was doing something meditative to calm her mind.
(I promised everyone I would win. I’m not going to let them beat me !)
And so, after watching my three teammates do their thing, the runner in front of me finally started running. I watched her start and moved to the starting position. A short time later, Nanase san also came this way. It seemed that the fourth runner in her class had also started running, albeit late.
“Mmmm, hmmm.”
She was doing something like stretching by raising her arms and moving her shoulders in a carefree manner. By the way, my body is more than sufficiently relaxed from the light preparatory exercise I did earlier. Furthermore, the feeling is also binging because of the fierce dead heat with Sakura back then.
–Peek
When I suddenly looked next to me, I thought I saw Nanase san smiling at me. I don’t know what the intention was, but I wonder if she was trying to provoke me.
(……Bring it on !)
Finally, the fourth runner was approaching the finish line. I quickly switched my attention to the goal and positioned myself so that I would be ready to start at any moment. Then Nanase san looked at me and……
“……I’m looking forward to it !”
She muttered to herself, and at the same time, I instantly started running when I saw my teammate reach the finish line. Normally, I would save for the relay, but there was no point in thinking about the rest against her. Suddenly, at top speed, I was heading for the obstacle.
(The first one is a stable hurdle.)
The only obstacles that haven’t changed in the second obstacle race are the hurdles and the balancing platform. The other obstacles were mostly new, so I didn’t want to lose time on the ones I had just done.
“Okay, uryah !”
I take as few steps as possible to get over the obstacles. I probably jumped over the obstacles the fastest of all the runners so far. Then, I quickly ran to the next obstacle. But then,
“Okay, here I go !”
Nanase san finally started. She kicks the ground with a small explosion and starts running with wind-like speed. She’s definitely faster than me, who has a career in track and field.
(Tsk, faster ! !)
But I, too, was not to be outdone, so I overcame the second obstacle and headed for the next one. The next one was to zigzag around a cone with a basketball in my hand. And just as I picked up the basketball, Nanase san reached the second obstacle.
(Y-you’ve already finished the hurdle !?)
I thought it was indeed too soon, but the rumbling cheers around me told the truth. Anyway, I couldn’t lose, so I desperately knocked the ball to the ground and alternately passed through the cones. Just as I was about to pass through the cones, I saw Nanase san holding a basketball in her hand. If I didn’t do something, she would catch up to me.
“Basketball, huh. I’m not very good at this.”
Said Nanase san, but she was still moving nimbly. But I too stepped onto the fourth obstacle. The next obstacle was a burlap sack in which we had to jump with both feet. While I continue to jump with my feet inside the burlap sack, here
“Okay, I think I can catch up.”
In this area, Nanase san finally caught up with me. But once I got over this point, all that remained was a short 50-meter run straight ahead. Then I have a good chance to win. The gap between Nanase and the rest of the field was closing to 8 meters…..5 meters……3 meters. But finally, this is where the burlap sack area ends.
(Okay, all I have to do now is run straight !)
I ran. Maybe I was faster than I had been in the track and field events I had participated in. That’s how much I wanted to bring victory to my class. This was a team competition, so it wouldn’t matter if I won alone, but winning by a margin over Nanase san would certainly bring me closer to victory. But.
“Wow, the real deal have a beautiful form after all.”
I thought I heard such a murmur from right beside me, and then a gust of wind blew by me. Nanase san appeared in front of me as if by instantaneous movement and overtook me. And then……
“Yessssss ! I beat the track and field girl !”
Nanase san reached the goal a few seconds ahead of me. I was astonished at the fact that I lost by more than a few seconds, even though she should have had a big gap from the start. I had no idea there was a super freshman like that.
(……We should recruit her for the track team later)
I fooled myself by saying that, but I lost. But this is a team competition. I don’t know what will happen yet. So, I try my best to hold back my tears and cheer for my teammates. Maybe they’re still……
But my prayers were in vain, and our class lost in the obstacle race. We were overtaken by a team of third-year students, and ended up as the last place. Apparently, the third graders had a secret plan to concentrate the fastest students in the second half of the race.
[The winners of the obstacle race were the 1st year class 2 !]
With Nanase san and her classmates announced as the winners, we returned to the waiting area where all the classmates were waiting for us.
