5 Chapter 5.7: Raising the Curtains (7)

We didn't even have time to rest as we had to prepare for the three-legged race. On the other hand, the obstacle course race for the girls had turned stormy from the very first round.

Horikita had endeavored earlier to compensate for the results as she separated herself from the Class C duo right away from the start.

"I've seen this earlier before".

"Looks like she's in the same group as Yajima-san and Kinoshita-san again".

Horikita possesses high potential for not just sports but also in her studies and various assorted things. However, it's no easy task to beat someone who specializes in something.

As the match started, Kinoshita darted forward. She made it to the balance beam before anyone else and forcibly created distance between herself and those following behind.

Yajima's in second place. And Horikita following them is how the match started out. Unlike the 100 meter dash or the hurdle race which purely tests only one's speed and stamina, there are various unknowns involved in the form of obstacles and so the gap did not widen as much as you'd think.

After passing the balance beam, the gap had shrunk to the point they were almost lined up beside one another.

"Looks like there's a chance for her, this time".

Nearby, Sudou's also cheering Horikita on and he grips his hands tight as he watches over her. By the time they had crossed through the net, Horikita had taken the lead at last.

However, Kinoshita is also a fast runner. Taking advantage of the distance between obstacles she closes in and shortens the gap. Then she takes second place back for herself.

Yajima's position as first place probably won't be threatened. Horikita sprints at her best to try and steal second place away. Horikita closes in on Kinoshita the moment she lost her balance slightly upon reaching the sacks.

Then, the moment she passed her, she began sprinting with all her might and shook her off.

The difference between them was 1 or 2 seconds it seems. Horikita runs at full speed for the remaining 50 meters. By the way, perhaps she was worried about Kinoshita closing in on her from behind, as she flickers her gaze back and forth repeatedly.

That might have caused her to stall as once again, Horikita and Kinoshita lined up beside one another. In the very next moment, both Horikita, who had been attempting to outrun Kinoshita, and Kinoshita who was in pursuit, ran into each other and mutually collapsed.

"Woah!? Hey, something big's happened!".

I couldn't tell from afar which one ran into the other but it looks as though it happened as a result of their struggle.

While the two of them were getting back up, the others passed them by one after another and in one stroke, they fell to the bottom. Perhaps they weren't able to stand back up immediately, since they were both desperately tried to get back on their feet admist the clouds of dust. Although they were somehow able to continue with the contest, that incident had a resounding effect to the very end and Horikita came in at a surprising 7th place. The other one who fell, Kinoshita, ended up placing bottom due to the pain in her leg preventing her from continuing with the contest.

She must have her regrets since she ended up like this after going in expecting to place 1st.

And with this it's 1st place, 3rd place and 7th place huh? As far as this match is concerned, there's no other choice but to write it off as an unfortunate incident but.......

".........".

"What's wrong, Ayanokouji-kun?".

"If this 'coincidence' were to occur again, then I may no longer be able to write it off as a mere 'coincidence'".

I brought up the subject I didn't broach earlier on with Hirata.

"As I thought, you think so too? I think the other students are also beginning to gradually realize it too. But for this to happen means---that things are moving in a bad direction, right?".

Unfortunately, his assessment is spot on.

"If there are any students that have caught onto this, can I leave you to care for them?".

"Of course. That's my role after all. But isn't there something we can do.......?".

"It'd be great if there is".

I felt relief seeing Hirata accept the task without a hint of discontent and so I headed over to the girl who seemed dissatisfied.

Horikita had a gloomy expression on her face coming back after her obstacle course race. The situation was clear as day if you look at her walk and posture that conveyed a sense of unease.

"Does it hurt?".

".....just a bit. But not to the extent of affecting the contests. If I rest up a bit I'll be fine".

She put on a tough act like that but from just her sitting down, it looked as though she's having a difficult time. Steeling myself against incurring her wrath, I tried touching the part where I believe the injury lies.

"!?".

"This isn't going to have any effect, you say?".

"Don't touch me. And also, don't mind me. I'll just have to bear with it".

To be in a position where winning is a duty can be painful at times like this. More so for people like Horikita, who pride themselves on being able to produce results.

"Well I guess if you retire then you won't even be getting any points so I do understand your desire to hang in there".

I had thought she would have glared at me for causing her pain but Horikita began to talk about something entirely different.

"More importantly, what concerns me is that girl. It's almost like that contact was done out of malice".

".....and this means?".

"While she was running behind me, that girl called out my name many times over".

So that's why she turned back to look occasionally during the match.

"Of course I thought it was strange. But soon after I turned back to look, we collided with each other and rest went exactly as you saw it. I would have objected but if this were an ordinary collision then she shouldn't have been calling out my name".

Certainly, there's a high likelihood that this was a surprise attack.

"Honestly, I can't keep up with it.....to think we're still in the middle of all this.....".

Taking the entire school into account, Horikita would be the third person to be injured.

There was a 2nd year who fell during their race and had to withdraw due to their leg injury but in their case, there's nothing in particular to worry about since it was an isolated incident.

"Rather than worry about me, you should be more worried about yourself. Your results are worse than mine right?".

Horikita, who took 1st place, 3rd place and then 7th place now due to the collision, currently stands at 30 points. I'm standing at 27 points. Close as it may be, there's no changing the fact that I'm still losing out.

"I'll do my best. But, don't push yourself too, ok?".

"I intend on participating in the contests even if I have to crawl to do it".

Leaving behind Horikita, who said such words, I made a move to prepare for the next contest: the three-legged race.

"How's Horikita-san doing?".

Hirata, having ascertained the situation from a distance, worriedly called out to me.

"It's pretty serious. It looks like it'll affect the subsequent contests".

"That's a severe turn of events".

While we tied the string, we exchanged such little interactions.

Not too long after, the three-legged race began for the 1st year boys. They started one after another. This sports festival is thoroughly being regulated by the school and the contests progressed without any waste. It was a brilliant performance almost on par with scheduled broadcasts.

Since a three-legged race inevitably means that two people end up forming one team, the number of teams that can run at once are a measly four. Sudou, who's in the group starting ahead of us, bottled up his anger and started.

Sudou's partner is Ike.

Normally, that would be considered backassward and highly risky but through a certain method, that combination makes a turn towards victory.

"Dowaaa!".

Screams came pouring out of Ike in the middle of the match. Apparently from the very first step, Sudou's technique burst forth explosively. In a sense, this is the ultimate three-legged race, a surefire way of winning. Sudou, stuck halfway with having to raise Ike up, roared with all his might. In a way, it's close to foul play but just from a glance, it still passes as a three-legged race. He succeeded in securing 1st place while forcibly supporting Ike so as to not let him collapse.

"For how difficult the situation is, Sudou-kun sure is very reliable".

I feel sorry for him that Ike was chosen as his partner but he should be satisfied from having taken 1st place.

"Certainly he's reliable. But if we're talking about winning, then Sudou alone is insufficient".

If I cannot control him, he might as well be a double-edged blade that could end up hurting us.

"Let's follow Sudou-kun".

Along with those words, Hirata started. Fortunately, there were no notable people running in the same group as us.

Since we were compatible as partners as well, similarly to Sudou, we ended up with the ultimate result of 1st place. Now no one should be complaining.

"Kyaa---! Hirata-kun's so cool---!".

However, the cheers from the girls directed at Hirata are painful to listen to.....

Then the girls' three-legged race began and in the second round up, the Horikita/Kushida pair began preparing. The pair consisting of Horikita, who's learned to compromise a bit and Kushida, who's all too willing to compromise. The relationship between them is abysmal but since their interests are aligned towards winning there should be no problem.

Now's the time to demonstrate the results of their practice.

They appeared to be making preparations without so much as initiating conversation with each other. From my perspective, knowing their internal affairs, it's truly a bizarre pair but from Class D's perspective, they're a relieving, safe and capable pair.

They had a promising start as 2nd place. Not a bad start and cheers began to rise up.

"Go, Suzune!".

Sudou, who had secured 1st place, let it get to his head and in violation of their promise, called her by her first name but his voice didn't necessarily reach Horikita, he's probably safe.

However, they immediately stalled right after and their ranking fell.

Before I realized, the ones running in 1st place were girls from Class A. It was a pair led by a girl who vaguely possesses the same aura as Horikita. At that moment, the Class C pair with Yajima in it that were in 2nd place, began their pursuit.

"Something's strange".

"Ahh? What is it?".

Sudou, who's busy cheering, didn't so much as look at me before cutting in like that.

"No...I thought Horikita's movements were rigid".

"...now that you mention it, that's right".

Horikita had always pulled her partner along by force during practice but in the actual event, it appeared as though Kushida is taking the lead. As I suspected, the pain in her leg is affecting her.

I had considered that it's because she's paired up with Kushida but it appears she's received a considerable amount of damage from her fall during the obstacle course race.

She seemed as though she were pushing herself to up her pace but her body's simply not capable of keeping up, that's my impression. Rather than shrink, the gap between 1st place and 2nd place began to widen gradually and Class B that's running in last place began to creep up on them. The two of them appeared to have decided to outrun the others by shifting courses. Their aim is to take up positions in front of Class B to obstruct their path forward.

Class B also tried to undauntedly give them the slip but since their speeds were almost equal to one another, it didn't go well.

Shrill cheers also rose up as the intense struggle over 3rd place occurred. By being too focused on obstructing their path, Horikita and Kushida gave an opening for a moment which allowed Class B to turn the situation around.

"Uwoooooo, that's disappointing!".

They ran the best they could but they came in at last place. The victory we had expected has now grown distant.