Suzune limped slowly down the corridor, the sound of cheering from the sports field fading behind her. Each step made her leg throb, but the sharper pain was in her chest — the sting of Kiyotaka's words.
"If you can't even bring back one angry classmate, then you're useless as a leader."
She replayed that sentence over and over, trying to find an excuse, a defense — anything to disprove him. But deep down, she knew she couldn't.
He was right.
Her leadership so far had been nothing but command and calculation. She hadn't led anyone — she'd just instructed them. And people didn't follow orders; they followed trust.
She clenched her fists. "I'll prove him wrong," she muttered to herself. "But first… this leg."
The pain in her ankle worsened, forcing her to quicken her pace toward the infirmary.
Inside, the scent of antiseptic filled the air. The nurse examined her ankle carefully, prodding around the swollen area.
"It's not broken," the nurse said at last, "but you've got a pretty bad sprain. You shouldn't be running anymore today."
Suzune frowned. "That's not possible. I still have events to compete in."
"Then you'll make it worse," the nurse replied firmly. "You're better off finding substitutes. It's still within the rules — though the cost will come from your Private Points."
Suzune hesitated only for a second. "I'll pay for it myself if I have to. Thank you."
The nurse wrapped her ankle tightly and warned her to rest for at least ten minutes. But Suzune's mind was already elsewhere — she needed to move.
She had just stepped out when a familiar, cheerful voice called after her.
"Suzune-chan!"
It was Kushida, jogging up with a concerned expression. "I just heard — Kinoshita from Class C got hurt pretty bad in that three-legged race. They're saying it might've been… you."
Suzune froze. "What?"
Kushida's smile faltered a little. "She's in the infirmary right now, crying her eyes out. I thought you should know."
Without another word, Suzune turned and went back inside.
Kinoshita lay on the bed, tears streaking her face. Beside her stood Chabashira-sensei, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
When she saw Suzune, Chabashira gestured her over. "Horikita. We need to talk."
Suzune approached warily.
"During the girls' race, Kinoshita sustained an injury severe enough to disqualify her from further participation," the teacher began. "She's saying you caused it — that you tripped her on purpose."
Suzune's eyes widened. "That's absurd! I never—"
"She also claims," Chabashira continued, "that you kept looking back at her repeatedly before the collision — as if you were waiting for the right moment."
"That's not true!" Suzune snapped. "I only looked back because she kept calling my name!"
Chabashira exhaled slowly. "I'm inclined to believe you, but the injuries look… deliberate. The impact point, the angle — it's possible it could have been intentional."
Suzune's stomach twisted. "So what happens now?"
"For now, she's filing a report. If the school decides to investigate and finds intent, the penalty could be severe — possibly even expulsion."
Suzune's breath caught. Expulsion. The word hit harder than any physical pain.
She looked over at Kinoshita, who refused to meet her gaze.
"I want to talk to her," Suzune said finally.
Chabashira considered, then nodded. "Fine. But keep it civil."
Before Suzune could step closer, the infirmary door slid open.
"Well, well," came a familiar drawl. "What a messy little scene."
Ryūen Kakeru strode in, hands in his pockets, that lazy grin plastered across his face.
"Ryūen," Suzune said coldly. "I should've known you'd show up."
He glanced at Kinoshita. "How're you holding up, Kinoshita? That leg looks nasty."
She sniffled. "It… hurts."
He turned to Suzune, grin widening. "You really went and did it, huh? Guess you're not as composed as everyone thinks."
Suzune's eyes narrowed. "You planned this."
"Now, now," he said, shrugging. "Accidents happen. But it's interesting, isn't it? My classmate gets hurt — and the one responsible just happens to be the sister of the student council president. That's a scandal waiting to happen."
He stepped closer, voice lowering. "You should've seen her face when she fell. Painful to watch."
Suzune's fists tightened. "You sacrificed her, didn't you? Just to corner me."
Ryūen chuckled. "Maybe. But the question is — what will you do about it?"
He waved a hand casually. "Here's the deal, Horikita. I'll tell Kinoshita not to report this to the school. You keep your record clean, your brother stays happy… and all it'll cost you is one million Private Points."
Suzune glared. "You're extorting me."
"And a kowtow," he added, smirking. "Right here, before me. Simple apology, forehead to the floor. You've got till the end of the festival to decide."
He turned, patting Kinoshita's shoulder. "Let's go, Kinoshita. We've caused enough of a scene."
As the two left, Suzune stood rooted in place, fury and humiliation boiling together inside her.
She stepped out of the infirmary moments later, the cheers of the festival a cruel contrast to the storm inside her.
"One million points… and a kowtow…"
Ryūen's smirk replayed in her mind. He wasn't doing this for money — this was about domination. About breaking her.
She started limping again, determined. "No. I won't let him win."
But there was still something else she needed to do first.
Find Sudō.
A Chance Encounter
Halfway across campus, she spotted two familiar figures — her brother Manabu Horikita, flanked by Akane Tachibana.
He looked down at her calmly. "You're injured."
"It's just a sprain," she replied quickly.
"And yet you're still wandering around. Do you understand the situation your class is in?"
"I do," she said quietly. "I'm figuring it out."
Manabu studied her for a moment. "See that you do. I don't want to hear that you've caused any more trouble for the school — or for me."
She bowed her head slightly. "I understand, brother."
As he walked past, Tachibana offered a sympathetic nod. Suzune straightened her back, swallowing the frustration that welled up again.
There was no time to dwell on his words. She had a class to save — and a student to find.
Searching for Sudō
By the time she reached Class D's tent, the sky had shifted to afternoon gold. Her classmates were scattered about, some resting, others chatting about upcoming events. But Sudō was nowhere to be seen.
She spotted Kiyotaka, sitting under the shade of a tent pole, drinking water.
"He's not back?" she asked.
Kiyotaka looked up. "No. I doubt he will be anytime soon."
"Do you know where he might've gone?"
"My guess? The dorms," he said simply.
Suzune hesitated. "Will you come with me?"
He shook his head. "No. You'll do better without me. He's angry — and I'm the last person he wants to see. This is your responsibility."
His tone wasn't cold, but final. Suzune exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Understood."
She turned and began walking again, determination returning to her step.
Meanwhile, under the large camphor tree near the edge of the grounds, I sat across from Ibuki, the now-empty bento box resting between us.
The gentle breeze played with her hair, carrying the distant cheers of another event. I leaned back on my hands and smiled.
"That was seriously the best bento I've ever had," I said.
Ibuki snorted. "You're lying again."
"I'm not! I'm telling you, even the rice balls had… character."
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the faint hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
I leaned forward slightly, voice dropping. "Hey, Ibuki. Tell me honestly — did Ryūen know our participation list for today's events?"
Her smile faded. She hesitated before answering. "…Yeah. He knew. Don't ask how."
"So he really planned all of this," I murmured, resting my elbows on my knees.
"Probably. That's how he is — always a step ahead. But…" She trailed off. "He doesn't tell us everything either."
I looked at her for a long moment. There was something in her eyes — doubt, maybe even guilt.
Before I could say more, I sighed and lay back on the bench, resting my head on her lap.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Just resting," I said with a grin, closing my eyes. "After all, it's been a long day."
She froze, blushing furiously. "You idiot… People will see!"
"Then let them," I murmured. "This is my victory prize for surviving your bento."
She raised a fist as if to hit me — but didn't. Instead, she sighed and muttered under her breath, "You're impossible."
Her hand hovered for a moment, then rested lightly on my forehead.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The noise of the festival faded into a comfortable silence.