Suzune Horikita: I Must Be Going Crazy.
"Classmate Hashiba- kun!!!"
"Go for it!!!"
Amidst the surging cheers and shouts of encouragement, Hashiba Hikaru and Kanzaki Ryuji lived up to everyone's trust and successfully crossed the finish line as the first in their group.
"Phew, at least I didn't embarrass myself."
The boy wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Kanzaki Ryuji beside him. "How are you?"
"No problem, I'm savoring the taste of victory."
"Hahaha."
After the boys' matches concluded one after another, the girls' three-legged race was about to begin.
Hashiba Hikaru, who was resting in his seat, took a couple of sips of water, but his attention was immediately drawn to the two people on the field.
That was the first group of girls' three-legged race, with Class C's representatives being Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo.
"Wait, why are these two teaming up...? Are they really okay?"
Hashiba Hikaru touched her chin. The boy, who knew them both well, knew that the two had an extremely complicated relationship. It was quite an unusual group to have them participate in a three-legged race together.
On the field, Horikita Suzune was looking down at the rope on her leg, while Kushida Kikyo, who was slightly shorter than her, was smiling broadly and talking to her.
"Horikita is really serious. No wonder Classmate Hashiba chose to cooperate with you."
What are you trying to say?
The black-haired girl spoke in a cold and hard tone. She chose to cooperate with Kushida because he was physically fit and they could work together better; otherwise, she would never have agreed to such a thing.
"I didn't mean to say anything, we were just having a simple chat."
Are you and Classmate Hashiba very familiar with each other?
After checking the rope, Horikita Suzune decided to try fishing, so she asked, "Are you a friend?"
"Hmm... I'd say we're good friends. I get along quite well with Classmate Hashiba."
Kushida Kikyo smiled, and she couldn't help but recall that kiss with the boy, her heart rippling with emotion.
"So you're unhappy that I'm collaborating with Classmate Hashiba?"
Horikita Suzune's next words were like a thunderclap, causing Kushida Kikyo's expression to change instantly.
However, she didn't lose her composure and continued with a smile, saying, "How could that be? My dream is to become good friends with everyone. I'm also very happy that Horikita- san and Classmate Hashiba are good friends."
"Really?"
Horikita Suzune stared into her eyes and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Doesn't Kushida feel uncomfortable?"
"Really? I'm not lying to you."
"... That's good."
"Hehe, let's get ready for the match."
Kushida Kikyo changed the subject, but in her heart she had already cursed the black-haired girl in front of her over and over again.
"Can."
277
Chapter 277 Horikita Suzune: I must be crazy.
As we all know, in a three-legged race, teamwork and rhythm are crucial. Only by ensuring perfect teamwork can the two players move forward at the fastest speed. If the coordination between the two players is not dense enough, they are likely to trip up along the way.
Meanwhile, in the women's three-legged race, which had already begun, Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo were running hard, but the result was not ideal.
Among the contestants in this group, the two girls from Class B have consistently maintained the Lead, followed by Yajima and his Class D teammates, who were not injured in the previous round. Horikita and Kushida's group is currently competing with the two girls from Class A for third place.
"... So there really is still a problem?"
Hashiba Hikaru carefully observed the situation on the field. Because Kushida was in good health, it was obvious that the black-haired girl had some problems with her legs and couldn't exert her best speed when compared to Kushida.
"Damn it, so what just happened really had an effect?"
Hirata had been keeping a close eye on the competition. He remembered that when they first started training for the three-legged race, Horikita Suzune took the initiative to pull Kushida into the training. At the time, he thought that he could definitely perform at his best and win first place, but he did not expect that the consequences of the accidental injury he had just suffered would immediately become apparent.
Horikita's leg is definitely injured; if she forces herself to compete like this, the result certainly won't be good.
"It seems there's no hope of a turnaround."
Hashiba Hikaru took a sip of water. Although Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo both showed a desire to win, they couldn't get fast because they had to maintain their teamwork. After a period of competition, the two girls from Class A finally managed to overtake them.
The first group of girls finished their three-legged race, and Class C ultimately finished last.
After finishing the match, Horikita Suzune frowned and began to untie the rope around her ankle. Despite her injury, the girl had no intention of giving up.
"Horikita, are you alright?"
Kushida Kikyo asked with concern.
"It's alright, I'll take care of it."
Horikita Suzune shook her calf slightly. As the piercing pain intensified, she took a deep breath and decided to go to the infirmary for treatment.
Do you need me to come with you?
"No need."
After decisively uttering those words, Horikita Suzune headed towards the school's infirmary.
Hashiba Hikaru naturally noticed this scene as well. After the women's three-legged race was over, there would be a break for the students before the rest of the competition began.
The boy sat in his seat watching Horikita Suzune's lonely figure. Because of her leg discomfort, she couldn't move quickly and could only limp forward.
"Honestly, this idiot really loves to get stuck on things."
Hashiba Hikaru understood that this guy had probably declined his classmates' help and was planning to solve the problem on his own.
So he took out his phone and texted the girl.
Chat interface.
Hashiba Hikaru: Do you need help, Horikita- kun?
Horikita Suzune: Not needed for now.
Hashiba Hikaru: Really not necessary? You should have noticed what I just said, right? If you want to discuss this with someone, now is a good opportunity.
Upon seeing the message, Horikita Suzune unconsciously gripped her phone tighter. She felt a familiar gaze coming from behind her and realized that Hashima Hashiba Hikaru was probably watching her.
Horikita Suzune: We should be rivals now, right? Aren't you afraid of harming the class's interests?
Hashiba Hikaru: The reward we received from Horikita-senpai was more than enough; that was the core way to help the class. What I'm doing now is nothing compared to that.
Hashiba Hikaru: What are your thoughts?
"..."
Horikita Suzune remained silent for a moment before finally replying in text.
Horikita Suzune: Then come with me to the infirmary, I have something to tell you.
Hashiba Hikaru: That's more like it. I believe we will gradually evolve from partners into companions.
The young man smiled slightly. Horikita Suzune's stock price had already risen to 50 points. Building a relationship of trust with her and supporting her progress was a good way to boost the stock price, so he couldn't let go of such a good opportunity.
"Um, I'll be back in a bit, I'll be back before the next match starts."
Hashiba Hikaru stood up and greeted the students in the class. As the core decision-maker of Class A, no one else would take the initiative to inquire about his personal activities; this was a long-standing rule.
Ichinose, however, was focused entirely on the women's three-legged race and didn't notice anything amiss.
However, just as the boy left the tent, this scene was witnessed by someone with a keen eye. The girl with neat short hair had been tracking Hashiba Hikaru's movement until she saw him meet up with Horikita Suzune as she walked out of the playground.
"..."
Kushida Kikyo clenched her hand tightly over the mineral water bottle, making a crackling sound. Her face was gloomy, and she didn't look away until the two figures were completely out of sight.
After throwing the bottle into the trash can, she took out her phone and sent a text message to an unknown number.
When exactly are you planning to completely destroy Horikita? I can't wait any longer!
[No need to rush, there are still many matches to come.]
[I just want to see her fail with my own eyes. Can't you be a little more efficient?]
[Hehe, just look forward to it.]
After putting down her phone, Kushida Kikyo let out a long sigh of relief, but her expression still wasn't very good.
"That disgusting woman... she really makes me sick!"
--
On the other side, Hashiba Hikaru had already extended her right hand for the black-haired girl beside her to support her. She looked straight ahead and smiled slightly, "It seems your condition is more serious than I thought."
"It's just a slight twist, I can manage."
Horikita Suzune placed her hand on the boy's arm, trying to maintain her balance while keeping a distance of about a foot from Hashiba Hikaru.
The girl was unwilling to be so intimate with a boy, even though she was already quite familiar with him; her sense of reserve was still at play.
"That's not the point. You should already realize that someone is deliberately targeting you, right?"
"Yes, my match order may have been leaked."
"That's an interesting situation. Given how things are in your class, how can traitors still emerge?"
Hashiba Hikaru stroked her chin and said in a tone of amusement, "Do you have someone in mind?"
"I have some ideas, but I can't be 100% sure."
"So what do you plan to do?"
Hashiba Hikaru moved slowly in sync with Horikita Suzune's pace, without showing the slightest impatience on her face.
"I haven't decided yet. I plan to make a decision after all the competitions are over."
Horikita Suzune stepped onto the stairs; the infirmary was on the second floor, and she would be there soon.
"Staying calm is indeed a good approach; that's the only way to catch that person without leaving a trace."
Hashiba Hikaru thought for a moment, then added, "However, we still need to be more careful in the upcoming matches."
"I see."
After the two entered the infirmary, the young female doctor immediately came to greet them.
Hello everyone, who is feeling unwell?
It's me.
Horikita Suzune took her small hand off Hashiba Hikaru's arm and looked at the doctor, saying, "I twisted my leg during the match. Could you get me some bandages and ice packs...?"
"It would be better to let the doctor take a look."
Hashiba Hikaru interrupted Horikita Suzune, looked up at the female doctor, and said, "Please take a look at her first. If it's not serious, just give her some simple treatment. After all, there's not much time left during the break."
"I..."
"What's wrong? Weren't you planning to continue the competition? Don't you understand whether it's better to handle it yourself or have the doctor handle it?"
Hashiba Hikaru raised an eyebrow, meeting the girl's somewhat angry gaze.
"..."
"Well... thank you for your help."
Horikita Suzune didn't continue arguing because Hashiba Hikaru across from her waved her phone, indicating that time was limited.
"Alright, you can lie down for now."
Although the female doctor had not yet figured out the relationship between the two people, as a health care worker hired by the school, she naturally had to do her best to take care of the students' health.
Horikita Suzune lay down as instructed, then raised her swollen and painful leg.
Just as the female doctor lifted the girl's sweatpants, revealing her fair ankles, Hashiba Hikaru had already turned around and walked towards the health information board standing next to her.
"Hehe, this boy is quite sensible."
As the female doctor carefully examined Horikita Suzune's ankles and calves, she asked softly, "Is he pursuing you?"
"?"