The sun sets in the west, dyeing the entire Sports Field red.
It seemed to be the final footnote to this long and intense day.
At this time, the runway became the focus of everyone's attention.
"Next up... is the all-school-year mixed 1200m relay!"
Different from the previous sub-Grade Confrontation, this is a real brawl.
All three grades and all classes will have a final fight on this circular track.
In the preparation area of First Year Class A, the atmosphere was slightly... relaxed.
"Hello, Morishita."
Kazehara Tetsu was lowering his head to sort out his number plate, but out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of the girl squatting on the ground with a look of despair, as if trying to reduce her sense of existence to dust.
"Stop pretending to be mushrooms. If you dare to be lazy later, I will throw you away."
"... what a devil."
Morishita Ai made a somewhat muffled complaint and raised his head reluctantly.
"... How can something like this be done first and later? Whether it's filling out a form or signing up, I have no idea at all."
She puffed up her cheeks and said a little indignantly, "I originally planned to find a shady place and enjoy my afternoon tea while watching everyone sweat. Why do I have to run this life-and-death relay?"
"Anyway, you are idle when you are idle."
Kazehara Tetsu shrugged matter-of-factly, stretched out his hand to lift her up from the ground, "I saw you were quite energetic when I was carrying you and running. Since you have excess energy, you should contribute to the class."
"That's forced abundance... that's two different things."
"Oh my, it seems that Kagihara really loves Morishita."
A female voice with a somewhat teasing smile interrupted from the side.
Nishikawa Ryoko.
A girl from Class A who looks quite eye-catching.
At this moment, she was holding her arms across her chest, her eyes moving back and forth between Kazehara Tetsu and Morishita Ai, and the corners of her mouth raised a meaningful arc.
"Stop being so weird, Nishikawa."
Kazehara Tetsu glanced at her and did not refute, "You are the third one. If that lazy guy Morishita runs slow, you will be responsible for kicking her butt from behind to make her speed up."
"As commanded..."
Nishikawa Ryoko saluted playfully.
Morishita Ai rolled his eyes and silently moved a step to the side, as if he felt that these people were in danger.
The tactical board is not a complicated configuration.
The first one is Kitou Hayato.
That tall young man who is silent all day long.
During the chaotic stage of the start, when body collisions and lane jockeying are most likely to occur, his physique ensures that he can occupy the inner lane and not be squeezed away.
Next are the three girls Kamuro, Morishita, and Nishikawa.
The fifth team, Hashimoto Masayoshi, is responsible for starting to speed up in the second half of the race and catching the first echelon.
And the last one.
Naturally it is Kazehara Tetsu.
"Okay, let's take our places."
Following the inspector's urging, the six people began to disperse and headed to their respective relay areas.
At this time, the starting point of the track and each relay area were already full of people.
All eyes, all cheers, are converging here.
When Kazehara Tetsu slowly walked to the waiting area of the sixth club, it was already full of people.
His eyes swept over Full Court.
Not far away, a figure looked particularly abrupt.
Horikita Suzune.
She stood there, not doing any intense warm-up like the others, she just stood quietly.
And not far in front of her.
Standing there was a man with a tall and straight posture.
Horikita Manabu.
He stared at the track ahead, as if the hustle and bustle around him had nothing to do with him.
Until...
The limping figure slowly moved to the edge of his vision.
Horikita Manabu turned his head slightly.
His eyes fell on his sister.
There was no surprise, not even the slightest emotion, just like looking at a strange passerby.
"... Do you still want to come to participate?"
His voice was so calm that it was a bit cruel.
He didn't ask about his injuries or try to dissuade him.
This sentence is simply stating a fact...
In your current state, standing here is a mistake in itself.
"Brother..."
Her voice was a little dry, "I have something... I want to tell my brother."
"Words?"
Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
"On the track, only strength is the language. If you want to show the so-called 'perseverance', then you don't have to. It will only make me feel... you still haven't grown up."
"Yo, President."
In the midst of this suffocating brother-sister confrontation, a slightly frivolous voice broke in.
Miyabi Nagumo.
The current Student Council Vice President is also the absolute candidate for the next president.
He had short blond hair, a smile on his face that seemed to be at ease at all times, and his hands in his pockets.
"Don't be so heartless."
Miyabi Nagumo looked at Horikita Manabu with a smile, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"My sister is injured like this, and she still insists on standing here and competing with you. It would be too unkind to reject her so coldly, right?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Horikita Suzune and showed an encouraging smile that looked quite gentlemanly.
"I appreciate your courage, sister Horikita Manabu. You dare to challenge your perfect brother under such circumstances. This courage alone is worthy of praise."
Horikita Manabu ignored Miyabi Nagumo's provocation.
He just withdrew his gaze and looked at the end of the runway again, as if everything just now was just an insignificant episode.
"Then let the results speak for themselves."
He left these last words and said no more.
"Bang!"
With the gunshot of Referee, the 1200-meter mixed relay race, which concerns the ultimate fate of Four Classes, officially kicked off.
There was a burst of friction at the starting line.
Kitou Hayato's tall body showed an amazing sense of oppression the moment he started running.
In the crowded first corner, he squeezed out a bloody road.
Although the movement was not considered light, it did seize Initiative for First Year Class A.
Hand over the baton.
Third place.
Just behind Third Year Class A and Second Year Class A.
For a first grader, this is already a good start.
Next is Kamuro Masumi.
She didn't make any extra moves, she just waved her arms desperately.
Although she couldn't compete with the boys physically, she was so fierce that she bit the taillight of Competitor in front of her, without letting the gap widen too much.
At the time of Nishikawa Ryoko and Morishita Ai, the situation began to inevitably decline.
"Ah... so tired..."
"Hurry up! Morishita! Stop walking like an old lady!"
A shout of Nishikawa Ryoko came from behind.
Morishita Ai rolled his eyes, but still had to squeeze out his last strength.
When she finally staggered into the relay area and put the stick into Hashimoto Masayoshi's hands, she almost collapsed to the ground.
Ranking, dropped to fifth place.