Ryuuen's Strategy for the Sports Festival.

This day marked the opening of a major competition that all the students of Advanced Nurturing High School had been eagerly anticipating. As the grandest event in the middle of the first academic year, the Sports Festival filled everyone with a mix of tension and excitement.

The opening ceremony was at 8:00 a. m. Students from all twelve classes across the three grades, led by their respective class leaders, went to their assigned locations. There were large tents set up by the staff there to shield them from the hot sun and help them recover their energy.

As they watched the densely packed crowd queuing up and pouring into the largest playground in the middle of the school, Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami, as the leaders of Class A of the First Year, both had somewhat solemn expressions.

"It's about to begin, a series of matches."

Shibata stood behind Hashiba Hikaru, flexing his wrists with an excited smile on his face.

"Please do your best, everyone! I've prepared plenty of sports drinks for everyone using Class Points. They'll be placed inside the tent shortly, so feel free to help yourself."

The pink-haired girl explained to everyone with a smile that since the Sports Festival wouldn't end in just one day, in addition to drinks, she and several other girls also bought fruits like bananas to quickly replenish their energy at the class camp.

"That's right, I'm fired up! This time, I'm going to show everyone what I'm really shining about!"

Shibata brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead to the right, a bright smile on his face.

"Please keep up the good work, everyone! Remember to pay attention to the announcements and don't be absent!"

After leading everyone to the designated location, the students of Class A lined up. Hashiba Hikaru gave a final reminder, glancing around the large stadium. The loudspeakers were positioned at the top of the four corners for easy, continuous broadcasting.

After a while, all twelve classes had arrived. Although each class only had about forty students, the sheer number of students present made for a fairly large group.

Before the Sports Festival begins, an opening ceremony is held. After the school leaders finish their speeches, the boy from Class 3-A named Fujimaki, who appeared during the first assembly, stands at the top of the podium to give his final closing remarks.

"The annual sports meet is about to begin. For the honor of our class, and also for everyone's scores and points, I hope that everyone can give their best and welcome this grand event of youth!"

After the applause subsided, the students began warming up. Since the Sports Festival was divided into red and white teams for competition, the two teams were separated by a wide central track. Apart from being able to see the other team's camp in the distance, there was basically no opportunity to make contact with the other team members.

The order of the competition was already distributed at the beginning. There are a total of thirteen competitions, and the first nine are competitions that everyone must participate in. Staff members are already making various preparations on the track.

The first competition was a 100-meter race, with boys and girls competing separately. To ensure a unique result, the school placed a very professional camera next to the finish line, presumably to accurately determine who touched the finish line first, even if the difference was only a few seconds.

"This is truly an extraordinary item."

Shibata watched in amazement.

"We already deployed so much specialized equipment when we were on the Uninhabited Island, so doing this now is just normal."

Hashiba Hikaru moved his wrists and ankles. He could only use his Potential Burst three times a day, so he planned not to use it unless it was an emergency, since it would put a strain on his body.

"Indeed, Hashiba, which group are you in?"

Shibata looked at the boy beside him. The boy's handsome and elegant face seemed to be completely free of sweat, showing a completely at ease demeanor.

"Group Six."

"I'm in group eight, looks like I can't compete with you."

Shibata looked rather regretful, but his eyes held a clear smile.

"If you feel it's a shame we didn't meet, you can go for a run together tonight, and I'll show you my full strength."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled slightly, her tone very confident.

"Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of the super popular Classmate Hashiba. I'll reluctantly let you steal the spotlight this time."

"I didn't intend to do that; my goal is to get more points for the class."

Just as the boys from Class A were chatting together, the loudspeaker announced that the 100-meter race was about to begin.

The competition consists of two rounds, cycling through grades one through three, with the boys in first grade running in turn and the girls in third grade. After a halftime break, the competition switches to the next round, starting with the girls in first grade and then the boys in third grade. After both rounds, the final scores are tallied and added to the total scores of the Red and White Teams.

[Next, please have the first group of first-grade boys proceed to the starting line! I repeat, please have the first group of first-grade boys proceed to the starting line!]

After the broadcast started, the students selected for the first group from the four first-grade classes came out of their respective tents. Each group consisted of two people, and each match had eight people. The first-grade boys were divided into ten groups in total.

After the boys in the first group got ready on the track, students from all the classes looked over. After all, this was the first group in the first competition, and everyone was very interested in which class would come out on top.

"Beep!"

As soon as the whistle blew, eight figures immediately began to run forward. Regardless of their reasons, this was a pure test of physical strength and endurance, and as men, no one was willing to admit defeat!

One hundred meters isn't far, so the race was decided almost immediately. Hashiba Hikaru observed that the winner of the first group was a red-haired boy from Class C. He thought about it and realized that it must be Sudo, the one who caused the violence at the beginning of the school year. He really did have good athletic talent.

For the rest of the time, everyone was busy with their own competitions, as the announcements kept coming in. The first-grade boys continued their own competitions until the announcement for the sixth group came through.

Upon hearing this sound, everyone in Class A's tent immediately looked in one direction, eagerly anticipating Hashiba Hikaru's performance.

Ichinose Honami stared at her boyfriend's face, her small hands clenched tightly together.

"Don't be too nervous, everyone. I'll do my best."

Hashiba Hikaru Sumida Makoto, another boy in his group, to set off.

"Go for it, Classmate Hashiba!"

"Go, Hikari!"

"Sumida- kun, do your best too!"

Amidst the anticipation of the crowd, Hashiba Hikaru stood on the track, his feet lightly touching the rubber surface, his eyes gleaming with seriousness.

"Beep!"

The starting gun fired, and the boy instantly charged forward, not using his Potential Burst skill, but relying on his long-term training experience.

Feeling the wind rushing past his ears, Hikaru's early morning running habit had not let Hashiba Hikaru. He quickly reached the finish line in first place. Looking at his classmates who were panting beside him, the boy touched his chest and felt his heart pounding.

"Wow, Classmate Hashiba is amazing!"

Sumida was probably the third to arrive, and he also had a smile on his face.

"Sumida- kun runs very fast too, let's go back."

The two returned to the camp together, where they were greeted with enthusiastic cheers. Although they only won first place in their group, everyone was still very happy.

After some time, the first-grade boys' competition ended, and it was the first-grade girls' turn next.

"Is Honami confident?"

Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the pink-haired girl sitting next to her, a faint smile on her face.

"Yes, I will try my best!"

The girl tilted her head back, revealing her elegant and fair nape. Ichinose's athletic ability wasn't particularly outstanding, so she wasn't 100% confident of winning.

"It's okay if we fail, as long as we've done our best."

"But I don't want to lose, I will give it my all!"

"Okay, keep it up!"

When the broadcast announced the start of the girls' competition, the girls from each class began to head to the track in order. Before Ichinose took to the track, Hashiba Hikaru mainly looked for people she recognized, such as Sakura Airi from Class C, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyo, among others.

[Next, please have the fifth group of first-grade girls proceed to the starting line! To reiterate, please have the fifth group of first-grade girls proceed to the starting line!]

Just then, Hashiba Hikaru saw a cool, black-haired girl walk out of the opposite tent. Her delicate face was expressionless, and she exuded an aura of desire for victory.

That makes sense; given her competitive nature, she would definitely strive to get first place at this point.

The next moment, the boy saw another familiar figure emerge from the tent on the Red Team's side. The person had short, neat hair and walked straight towards the track.

Ibuki?

This is going to be interesting! Who will win?

Hashiba Hikaru kept her eyes peeled, watching her fellow Red Team member Ibuki Mio on one side and the opposing White Team Horikita Suzune on the other. These two were from Class D and Class C respectively, and as adjacent classes, neither of them would give up on this match.

"Wow, it's Horikita versus Ibuki?"

Ichinose Honami exclaimed in surprise. She knew both of them to some extent, but if she had to say who she knew better, she would say Ibuki Mio.

Who does Honami think will win?

Hashiba Hikaru smiled slightly.

"I think they both have a chance. Ibuki has excellent athletic ability. I often see her training, and her running posture is very standard."

"Then... how about we take a gamble?"

The boy watched the two girls, who were already in their starting positions, wondering who would win the race.

"Alright, I'll bet on Ibuki then."

Ichinose readily agreed.

"Then I'll choose Horikita. The loser..."

Hashiba Hikaru pondered for a moment, but couldn't think of any interesting punishment for the time being.

The loser must unconditionally grant the other party one request, regardless of its content!

The pink-haired girl suggested with a smile that she wouldn't lose anything regardless of whether she won or lost.

"Good."

"Beep!"

As the starting gun fired, two slender figures sped off from the starting line, leaving the remaining six in their group in the blink of an eye.

266

Chapter 266 Ryuen's Sports Festival Countermeasures

"Horikita!"

"Ibuki- san! You're the best!"

"Charge!!!"

Loud cheers erupted from both tents in Class C and Class D, especially after these two had completely pulled ahead of the others. Everyone stared intently at the track, eager to see who would cross the finish line first.

Hashiba Hikaru stared at the two on the track. At that moment, he saw Ibuki, who had been maintaining the Lead, glance slightly at Horikita behind her. Perhaps because she was too concerned about the distance between them, she slowed down for a moment.

"What an idiot."

The boy shook his head. Ibuki had gained Lead at the start, so she had sprinted a longer distance than Horikita, but the black-haired girl quickly caught up, and the distance between them began to shrink.

The moment Ibuki looked back, Horikita Suzune, a girl with excellent athletic ability, immediately seized the opportunity to continue sprinting forward.

As the 100-meter race came to an end, in the final stages, Hashiba Hikaru could see the two girls crossing the finish line almost simultaneously. However, after noticing Ibuki Mio's somewhat unpleasant expression, the boy knew that the outcome of the race was already decided.

"Horikita actually won?"

Ichinose Honami saw the result on the sign, while the short-haired girl kicked the grass in frustration, clearly annoyed.

"Looks like I won."

Hashiba Hikaru silently withdrew her gaze. In any case, the 100-meter race is a race where every second counts. At times like this, it is essential to maintain composure, otherwise someone will seize the opportunity to overtake you. A certain short-haired girl has already provided a real-life example with her own failure.

"Yes, you've won. So, what do you want me to grant you?"

Ichinose grinned and moved closer to Hashiba Hikaru. Even though she had lost, the girl's smile made it look like she had won.

"I haven't decided yet, I'll think about it later."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled slightly and didn't make any demands at this moment. After all, there were still many matches to play, and they could discuss it later.

The first-year girls' competition continued one group after another, and soon it was Ichinose Honami's turn. She patted her sweatpants, stood up, and got ready.

"Go for it, Honami!"

"Ichinose!!!"

The pink-haired girl nodded seriously, then turned and headed towards the track with another girl.

The students in Class A immediately focused their attention on her. In fact, during the previous training, everyone already knew that Ichinose was unlikely to get first place, but cheering for her was a must.

"Call."

After standing on the track, the girl let out a soft breath. Although she wasn't very good at sports, she still wanted to try her best to achieve a better ranking.

Whether it's romance or studies, Ichinose Honami may seem easy to talk to because of her gentle personality, but that doesn't mean she lacks competitiveness.

Facing the gaze of the crowd, she decided to run with all her might.

"Beep!"

The starting gun fired again, and the pink-haired girl dashed off instantly. Feeling her body rise and fall, she saw the girls in her group around her; some were in front, and some were behind.

"We can't lose..."

With unwavering determination and relentless effort, Ichinose Honami finished the first round of the women's 100-meter race in third place in her group.

When she returned to Class A's camp, panting, Hashiba Hikaru immediately went to greet her, holding a towel and water in his hand, his expression gentle.