"My youth is completely different from yours!"
With lifeless eyes and a slightly hunched back, a boy sighed as he walked down the school corridor.
Students rushed past him without sparing a glance. Down on the playground, it was a completely different world. Cheers echoed nonstop, especially the shrill excitement of the girls.
"Hurry up, hurry up, Fujiwara-sama has arrived at our school!"
"Wow, is it really that Fujiwara-sama? He actually came to a high school in Chiba Prefecture."
"I heard it was a senpai who already graduated, named Haruno. She was the one who invited Fujiwara-sama."
"Yukinoshita Haruno? What's her relationship with Yukino?"
"They're sisters, sisters!"
"No wonder the person in charge this time is Yukino. So she used connections! That's so unfair. I wanted to be in charge too, just to get close to Fujiwara-sama!"
The girl shouted in jealousy as she ran past Hachiman Hikigaya.
A faint fragrance drifted by, but it had nothing to do with him.
"Hey, where are you looking? Can't you watch where you're going, this… senpai?"
Hachiman, who had been walking absentmindedly, was bumped into, followed immediately by an annoyed voice.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I wasn't watching the road."
Hachiman clasped his hands together and apologized repeatedly, even though it was not really his fault.
"Iroha, hurry up! There are so many people outside. If you're any slower, you won't see Fujiwara-sama!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Iroha shouted back, then clicked her tongue.
"…Fine, I'll accept your apology!"
Watching the cute-looking kohai run off happily, Hachiman shook his head.
"What a sin. Kohai these days can even scold senpai like this."
"How exaggerated. Even an idol concert isn't this crazy."
He walked over to the corridor window and looked down at the sea of people outside, clicking his tongue in amazement.
His gaze landed on the group getting out of the car, especially one man among them. Even from this distance, his presence stood out unmistakably.
The moment that person appeared, the cheers surged again.
"Really enviable. No, no. Hachiman, this is the path you chose yourself. You have to stick with it."
Hachiman encouraged himself. Even though he did not want to get involved, he still slowly headed downstairs.
There was no helping it. As a student, no matter how little presence he had, he still had to participate in some events.
On the other side, a similar school bus was heading toward Sobu High School.
Inside the bus, a group of young men and women sat in various postures, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Everyone, this time we are representing Advanced Nurturing High School," Arisu said calmly as she stood up, leaning on her cane at the front of the bus.
"Although, due to certain special reasons, the school's teaching approach has changed."
"However, the basic principles remain the same. Regardless of competition or grudges within the school."
"When facing outsiders, I hope we can stand united."
"Sakayanagi, this is a sports festival," a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shaved head said from beside her, looking more like a middle-aged man than a high school student. "With your leg, you won't be able to participate, right?"
"Katsuragi, what exactly are you trying to say?" Arisu narrowed her eyes.
She looked at the bald man who was always at odds with her, constantly trying to defeat her and seize her position as class leader.
She admitted he had some ability, but that was all. He was never truly important in her eyes.
Kohei Katsuragi sneered. "Since this is a sports event, and you lack the ability in this area, why are you the leader? The leader position should be competed for by everyone present."
"This is the principle of Advanced Nurturing High School."
"Sorry, that decision was made by the Teacher. It was not my personal choice," Arisu replied calmly.
"Heh. Sakayanagi, you've fallen pretty far. Using the Teacher as an excuse now? If that's the case, then of course I can't beat you. After all, your father is the chairman of our school board."
His tone was full of mockery.
Arisu remained composed, showing no reaction, though a cold glint flashed briefly in her eyes.
As the bus approached Sobu High School, the cheers from within the campus were already audible.
A man with long hair, slouching in his seat with his legs propped up on the chair in front and his hands behind his head, laughed.
"Yo, it's really lively. Looks like that Fujiwara has already arrived."
Arisu smiled faintly. "Ryuen, I heard you rely on violence to keep your classmates in line. Do you want to try your luck against him?"
"Ha," Ryuen scoffed. "Do you take me for an idiot? Save your lousy provocation, Sakayanagi. You want me to use force against that monster? Even ten lives wouldn't be enough."
Ryuen Kakeru appeared rough and reckless, but he was not foolish. He knew better than to challenge someone who could take down ten armed thugs alone.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, sitting in the back row, quietly shook his head.
They had not even arrived yet, and they were already at each other's throats.
Should he step in and find a way to unite them?
The thought surfaced for only a moment before he dismissed it.
There was no need. Now that the school's teaching philosophy had changed, he did not have to aim for Class A anymore.
That was a good thing.
It allowed him to quietly live out his high school life as an ordinary person.
But that man, the one who controlled everything about him, would he really allow such a peaceful life?
Ayanokoji's heart grew heavy.
Horikita Suzune paid no attention to the open and hidden conflicts around her. She simply stared out the window, her expression complicated.
Soon, she might meet the man who had slapped her.
Toward that man, she felt anger, yet mixed with an inexplicable hint of anticipation.
…
"Thank you all for coming so far to participate in the sports festival of such an ordinary school," the principal of Sobu High said as he personally came out to greet the guests from Tokyo University.
"How can you call the school I graduated from ordinary, Principal?" Haruno replied with a smile.
"Haha, Haruno, you're still the same as back then. I still remember all the trouble you caused for the school."
"Principal, I didn't come here to listen to stories about my high school days."
"Yes, yes. Future elites of Japan, your presence alone already brings great honor to our school."
The principal addressed everyone in the meeting room.
"Although we are grateful just for your arrival, we still hope you can participate more deeply."
"For that reason, we've made a decision. Everyone will cooperate with our students. Group events are fine, and pair events as well. Why not choose partners and compete for the championship? It will also let these children experience the excellence of Tokyo University students."
This subtle provocation was extremely effective on the confident students from Tokyo University, and everyone readily agreed.
Toru was naturally among them. When he noticed Yukino standing quietly to the side, he subtly moved closer.
Yukino immediately looked at him warily.
"Why such a strong reaction, Yukino?"
"Sorry. I'm just not used to someone being this close."
They were nearly pressed together now. Yukino could even catch the faint, refreshing scent coming from him.
"So cold. You're not still angry about what happened in Kyoto, are you? Throwing a childish tantrum because you couldn't talk me down?"
"I'm not angry!"
"Not angry? Then why are you so sharp?"
"Sorry. This is just how I usually speak. If I've made you uncomfortable, you can stay farther away."
Watching her cold expression, Toru chuckled inwardly. Suddenly, he reached out and took her hand.
Yukino was startled and instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, and she could not move at all.
Her face flushed slightly as she said urgently, "What are you doing?"
"Shh. Keep your voice down, and don't move too much. Don't let anyone see."
As he spoke softly, Toru pulled her hand behind them and lightly played with her slender, pale fingers.
"…If your sister saw this, it would be hard to explain."
Yukino allowed him to hold her hand out of sight, but she quickly reacted and said angrily, "So what if my sister sees?"
"Then she might think we're arguing. You don't want to make your sister uncomfortable, right?"
"Whether she's uncomfortable or not has nothing to do with me."
Even as she said that, Yukino silently endured his teasing.
Somehow, she really did not want her sister to see this scene.
It was not because she was worried about making her uncomfortable, but for other reasons.
"Did you hear what your principal said?" Toru asked. "He wants us to find students from your school to compete together."
"So who are you going to pick?"
"Isn't it obvious? You, Yukino. You're the only one here I actually know."
"I don't want to be familiar with you!"
Yukino replied with a sulky tone.
She felt an inexplicable sense of frustration, as if she had been forced to accompany an exchange student as part of some assignment.
Still, if she had to choose someone from this group, aside from her sister, he was the best option.
"What sports are you good at?" Toru asked.
"My stamina isn't great. Anything that doesn't require endurance."
"So you're good at sprints, but not long-distance?"
"…Mm."
"For a pair event, how about tennis? I saw you have tennis matches here."
"…Okay."
Yukino replied softly.
Tennis was fine. She was quite good at it.
If she partnered with him, getting first place should not be a problem.
She gave off a cold impression, but in reality, Yukino was also a competitive woman.
(To be continued.)
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