Chapter 185
But this doesn't seem to be a big deal.
To put it arrogantly, if Aragaki Shun were to get serious, who in the school wouldn't be a complete slacker in terms of physical fitness?
Whether or not Miyabi Nagumo and Manabu Horikita personally participate in the match, it will have no impact on the outcome.
"Preparation!"
As the referee's voice rang out, Aragaki Shun turned his gaze back, took his starting position on his own track, and waited for the referee's command.
Bang--!
The sound of a flare gun suddenly rang out. Sensing this information, Aragaki Shun did not stay still and deliberately try to outmaneuver others. Instead, he immediately got up and ran forward.
In a mere hundred meters, the boy almost instantly left all the students from other classes behind, sprinting to the finish line before anyone could even react.
After nodding to the referee at the finish line, Aragaki Shun, without even looking at the other runners behind him, raised his right hand high and waved it vigorously at the three first-year classes and the surrounding spectators.
"Oh!!!"
"Aragaki-kun! That's amazing!"
"Class monitor will win! Class A will win!! First grade will win!!!"
Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the three classes, the faculty, staff, and shop assistants in the stands were also swept up in the atmosphere and joined in the cheers, thus marking a perfect start to the first match of the Sports Festival.
"What a great start! No matter the occasion, Aragaki- kun always manages to attract attention."
In the Class A of the Third Year area, Tachibana Akane felt the increasingly lively sports atmosphere, her gaze falling on the figure walking off the stage, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Indeed, this junior seems like a monster; it's hard to believe he's only a freshman who's been in school for half a year."
As a student in Class A of the Third Year, Fujimaki felt a sense of pressure knowing that there was only one winning team in this Sports Festival and that they would have to face challenges from their juniors.
"Oh no, I'm actually starting to worry about losing today's match. That's really wrong of me."
Taking a deep breath, the robust boy looked at Manabu Horikita, and upon seeing the other's composed figure, he unconsciously relaxed.
Class A of the Third Year has been highly competitive for two and a half years since entering Advanced Nurturing. Not only has it never relinquished its position as the top class, but it also maintains its full enrollment of 40 students, with no one dropping out halfway through the course.
This is all thanks to their leader, the strongest Student Council President in history!
Before Xue has even said anything, how could he possibly show any signs of backing down at this point?
"Relax a bit." Manabu Horikita pushed up his glasses, his expression remaining largely unchanged despite witnessing Aragaki Shun's extraordinary physical abilities.
"A three-year battle is not a common occurrence. The strength of the first-year students is irrelevant to us graduating seniors, so there's no need to feel pressured by it."
"Just do your best in the upcoming matches. No matter the final outcome, our efforts over the past three years cannot be shaken by a single Sports Festival."
Compared to Aragaki Shun's performance on the field, Manabu Horikita is more concerned about his silly younger sister's movements.
The student transferred to Class 1-A last month, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to get along well with their new classmates.
The Student Council President subconsciously focused his gaze on a certain spot, but when he didn't see Horikita Suzune in that class's line, his expression behind his glasses changed instinctively.
It wasn't until he had looked around the camps of all 12 classes that the brother-obsessed man finally spotted the aloof figure preparing to go on stage at the front of the Class 1-D team.
Manabu Horikita: "???"
How did my foolish mistake end up back in her old class?
The moment this surprise arose in his heart, the Student Council President immediately recalled that last semester, following a notice from the school, a certain new product had been added to the Advanced Nurturing.
"I see, so it's Employment Ticket? That's a good strategy—playing to one's strengths and compensating for one's weaknesses."
Seeing his younger sister participating in the competition normally, Manabu Horikita felt relieved. Then, unfortunately, his classmate Fujimaki suddenly let out a gasp—
"Those guys in Class B and Class C, would rather get zero points themselves than not help that bastard Nagumo?"
Manabu Horikita turned his gaze to the track. The 100m Dash had already reached its seventh round, but the one in the lead was still a boy from Class 1-A. However, several older students were closely chasing him, and the group was not much different.
Now that the journey is halfway through, and just when many viewers thought the outcome was already decided, an unexpected incident occurred—
On the track, two Third Year students suddenly accelerated and "accidentally" crossed the designated track, blocking the way for the boy from Class 1-A.
The 100-meter race is already very intense, with everyone on edge, running at top speed. When an unexpected obstacle suddenly appears in front of you, the person being blocked will instinctively slow down by two steps.
Then, naturally, the students from Class 2-A, Class C, and Class D of the second grade, having anticipated this situation, took the opportunity to run to the finish line.
"Damn it, that guy Nagumo actually had this plan: to wear down the Third Year and first-year students and force them to be eliminated together?"
Tachibana Akane- senpai's face showed annoyance, and she looked like she was gritting her teeth.
The two Third Year students made such an obvious mistake that the referee couldn't possibly have missed it, not to mention that the school had specially set up high-end track and field cameras for this competition.
Therefore, whether intentional or unintentional, both Third Year students who crossed their lanes were ruled to have "interfered" and were disqualified from this round of the race.
In other words, both Class 3-B and Class 3-C received zero points in this round.
The problem is that the Sports Festival calculates the total score by grade level, and the fact that Class B and Class C deliberately committed fouls affects the overall score of the Third Year.
The first-graders were blocked by them, resulting in a lower ranking and a lower score in this round.
In this situation, the only beneficiaries are naturally the second-year students, including Miyabi Nagumo.
"President, what should we do now? Someone deliberately broke the rules. Can we ask the school to arrange for them to run it again?"
Faced with Fujimaki's somewhat bewildered question, Manabu Horikita simply shook his head with a serious expression.
"This is impossible. The school only gave us one day for the Sports Festival, and there are as many as 13 events. With such a tight schedule, it's very difficult to get a second chance in individual competitions."
"Furthermore, this is currently just a school Sports Festival organized by Advanced Nurturing group. Compared to professional sports competitions, it leans more towards entertainment, and the rules for various events are not too strict. Therefore, Nagumo's strategy is not problematic."
To be honest, most of the athletes from the 12 classes who went on the track did not have the professional qualities of professional athletes, so the school naturally would not strictly require everyone to follow the competitive rules of the official competition.
On the one hand, it is unnecessary, and on the other hand, it is impossible—aside from some sports students who join sports clubs, most Advanced Nurturing students have never specifically studied those things.
With this in mind, the rules set by the school for the Sports Festival were naturally more lenient. In a single game, a simple foul, as long as there was no injury, would at most result in disqualification and a zero score, without requiring a rematch or even deducting Class Evaluation Points.
This is clearly a good opportunity for Class 3-B and Class C in the third grade.
It's important to know that the former still hasn't given up on challenging Class A, led by Manabu Horikita, and the latter probably has similar thoughts, while also being promised other things by Nagumo.
So they thought of dragging the Third Year into the loser's bracket, which would also help them close the gap with Class A.
As for Class D, which was ranked last, Manabu Horikita went to them after learning the rules of the Sports Festival and did a lot of ideological work, so that Class A of the Third Year would not have to fight alone.
"What should we do then?" Fujimaki looked somewhat flustered. "If Class B and Class C are determined to sabotage us, there's a very high chance that we Third Year will be dragged down to the failure group. And once Class D finds out about this, they'll most likely start to shirk their responsibilities as well."
After all, if a team fails to win the group, the higher its ranking within that group, the more Class Evaluation Points.
The people in Class D might not achieve great results if they work hard, but when it comes to slacking off, they're absolutely top-notch.
"Don't rush, this is only the first competition event. Some people haven't revealed their true colors yet."
After saying this, Manabu Horikita turned his gaze toward Class 1-A.
Miyabi Nagumo openly extended his influence to the first-year students. He didn't believe that the usually assertive junior would tolerate this loss without retaliating.
This time, however, it seems unlikely that the Third Year will be in the winning group...
258. Miyabi Nagumo pops champagne at halftime; Horikita Suzune's filter shatters.
Manabu Horikita had full confidence in his abilities, but this assessment, which was conducted on a grade-by-grade basis, was really not his area of expertise.
Facing the expectant gazes of his classmates, the Student Council President sighed inwardly, yet had to admit—
Compared to his two juniors who had already consolidated their influence in the grade, he was unable to completely suppress the dissent of Class 3-B and Class C in the short time following the announcement of the Sports Festival rules, thus falling behind from the very beginning.
Fortunately, as long as they don't directly become the first in the losing group, given the advantages their class has built up in the past, even if they lose this competition, it won't significantly affect the overall situation of the Third Year classes.
In other words, Manabu Horikita's rational goal in this Sports Festival is actually the middle group.
In this way, the Class Evaluation Points lost by the first to fourth place in the Third Year would be 200, 150, 100 and 50 respectively, and the gap between Class A and Class B would be reduced by a maximum of 150 points.
This isn't a too devastating loss for their class; they can win it back by working hard in the next Special Exam.
"Don't let me down, Aragaki."
In both first and second grade, only Class B chose to betray their teachers, but in Third Year, both Class B and Class C were won over by Miyabi Nagumo.
If no other unexpected events occur in the subsequent matches, the Third Year will inevitably become the most severely affected losing group.
However, when Aragaki Shun was talking to Kiriyama Ikuto, he also indirectly expressed his opinion by having Tachibana Akane represent Class A of the Third Year, believing that the other party would make the right choice.
If the plan goes smoothly, the biggest cost of this Sports Festival will inevitably be borne by Class 2-A, led by Miyabi Nagumo.
Hmm~ It's good for the other classes in the three grades to suffer a bit.
At the same time, Miyabi Nagumo naturally had no idea what his respected president was thinking.
Because he's currently busy at halftime popping champagne and bragging to everyone in the class about his influence throughout the entire Advanced Nurturing.
"Hahaha~ The entire school only has three grades and 12 classes, half of which are under my control. I ask you, who can oppose me and stop my will!"
"Horikita-senpai, Aragaki- junior, I wonder if you were surprised by my gift?"
As the [100m Dash] progressed past the halfway point, after more than twenty rounds, half of the students in the school —from Class 1-B, second-grade Class A, Class C, Class D, and even Third Year Class B, Class C...—were following his instructions, continuously advancing the pre-established plan, and grandly demonstrating the power he had gathered to everyone at the Advanced Nurturing.
By now, those mediocre people should understand who the strongest person in this school really is!
Unrestrainedly bursting into wild laughter in public, Nagumo felt incredibly high after defeating two opponents he respected in one fell swoop. The joy he felt was even greater than winning over a girl he fancied and taking her back to his dorm for the night.
The students in Class 2-A weren't surprised by this scene, except for Mizowaki and Tonokawa, who had always been his confidants. They exchanged a glance, and the former stepped forward to remind him:
"Nagumo, perhaps we should keep an eye on Class 2-B first. Our old rival is up to no good again; he's somehow gotten involved with the first-year students."
"Hmph! That greedy, opportunistic Kiriyama has really got a death wish!"
Vice President Huang Mao turned his gaze to the track, where he could see that the situation had undergone some subtle changes.
According to his carefully prepared plan, the three second-year classes only need to rush forward and score points, followed by the Class 3-B and Class C and the Class 1-B as support, who need to "accidentally" hinder the teams under Manabu Horikita and Aragaki Shun during their run.
In this way, with their superior numbers, the second-year students were naturally able to easily win the championship in the winning group.
But he was just distracted and didn't pay attention, and Class 2-B suddenly stepped up and started to interfere with the classes he had won over.
It's clear that, under the leadership of Kiriyama Ikuto and Kiryuuin Fuuka, Class 2-B has completely sided with Aragaki Shun, even going so far as to directly break ties with him.
"Looks like I haven't taught them enough lessons!"
"It's decided. After this Sports Festival ends and I become the Student Council President, I'll immediately get rid of that Kiriyama guy and make Class 2-B remember the fear of being dominated by me once again."
Miyabi Nagumo was extremely displeased that they still dared to harbor rebellious thoughts even now.
If he's unhappy, then someone else will suffer. Kiriyama Ikuto is an ungrateful fence-sitter; it's better for him to leave Advanced Nurturing as soon as possible!
"Don't worry, everything is going according to plan."
"This victory at the Sports Festival will be mine alone!"
Even if the entire Class 2-B, where Kiriyama Ikuto is, were to defect, so what?
Aside from the three second-grade classes that needed to strive for high scores, he recruited three first- and Third Year, willingly sacrificing their own points to actively hinder Manabu Horikita and Aragaki Shun.
Even though Class 2-B canceled out one of his advantages, the remaining two classes were enough for him to completely suppress his opponents.
There are only 12 classes in the whole school. He controls half of them. Even if Aragaki Shun and Manabu Horikita join forces and can control the other half, the worst result would still be six against six.
Moreover, can they truly unite wholeheartedly?
There can only be one winning group!
Who would willingly become someone else's stepping stone?
Regardless of whether we're bullying the weak or outnumbered, the advantage in this match still lies with me!
Horikita Suzune, from Class 1-D, had just stepped off the track, and her expression wasn't very good.
With her strength, she should have easily won first place in this round of the 12-person competition, but because of the obstruction of several senior students, she was a few steps slower and was overtaken by two students from Class 2-A and Class C of the second year, and was forced to settle for third place.
How could this stubborn young girl accept it!
Clenching her fists tightly, Horikita Suzune looked up at the scoring area on the central screen. She could see that after thirty rounds of the 100m Dash, the first-year students' overall score was still far ahead.
However, this is because the initial scores are different for the three grades.
Taking into account the differences in physical fitness during the growth period, the school assigned 100 points to all four second-grade classes, except for the Third Year which started from zero, while the four first-grade classes were assigned 200 points each.
In other words, even before the Sports Festival started, the first-year students already had 400 more points than the second-year students and 800 more points than the Third Year.
The first individual competition event has only been completed for thirty rounds, and the gap between the first and second grades' total scores has already narrowed to 240, which is enough to show that the first graders are completely lagging behind the second graders in the [100m Dash].