Suzune Horikita Doesn't Care / Arisu Sakayanagi Is Looking Forward to It

She also placed a bet on this project, specifically on the pairing of Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune.

Even so, Karuizawa Kei turned and left without a second thought.

She didn't plan to watch the three-legged race.

Karuizawa Kei had already calculated that if they won, she could ultimately earn around 400,000 yen.

One-fiftieth of twenty million.

So, keep it up!

The more coordinated and faster they run, the more they contribute to her plan.

Piece by piece, until it became a road.

That's the path that leads to her being able to stand there with Kitagawa Ryo at next year's Sports Festival, preparing for the three-legged race.

Please take one day off.

I have something urgent to attend to and need to take a day off. Sorry.

Chapter 304: Horikita Suzune Doesn't Care

Just like a former school Chairman had been hiding in the stands since the start of the Sports Festival, recording his beloved daughter's every moment on the field with his camera, Horikita Manabu, who is about to become the former Student Council President, is also very concerned about his younger sister Horikita Suzune's journey to the Sports Festival.

After all, by this time next year, he will have already graduated from this school.

However, as the Leader of Class 3-A, he really didn't have much free time, and could only glance at the final results of the previous matches.

However, for the current mixed-gender three-legged race, Horikita Manabu still managed to squeeze out a moment from a host of unexpected events to personally come to the nearest spectator seats. His solemn expression and arms crossed gave him the air of a supervising officer.

In fact, because Horikita Suzune had a habit of exercising on her own since childhood, she had already shown athletic ability beyond the level of her peers in elementary school. She was also arranged by her class teacher to participate in various Sports Festival, including events such as the three-legged race.

But the result was a complete mess. He still remembers how Horikita Suzune managed to anger all the girls in her class to the point that they refused to team up with her anymore, and in the end, they had no choice but to give up on the project.

Horikita Manabu even remembers the confident and self-righteous tone her younger sister used when her parents questioned her:

"Why should I cooperate with them? I'm only not allowed to compromise if I want to achieve my best time, is that not allowed? Three-legged races are different from regular running. Even if one person is slower, theoretically they should be able to cooperate with the other to some extent."

"So, Suzune means she's not going to back down?"

"Yes, I have no intention of cooperating with slow people."

"But if that happens, won't nobody want to practice with you or team up with you?"

"So I can't understand why, even if I'm going to make concessions, it has to be after the other party has tried their best. I can't cooperate with someone who gives up from the very beginning."

While Kitagawa Ryo would probably shout, "That's the feeling of Suzune! The old village is back!" if he were to hear this conversation from the past, Horikita Manabu Horikita Suzune is particularly amazed by Suzune's current transformation because he personally experienced her period of obsessive and irrational thinking.

Unfortunately, he had been staying at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School for the past two years, so he had no way of knowing the specifics of Horikita Suzune's growth process, even though he clearly remembered that his sister was still that stubborn girl when he enrolled.

However, just over six months later, around November, when he attended the Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School Cultural Festival for the first time, the other person had already undergone a tremendous change. It was as if he had lived another life in a place unknown to him. Both their way of thinking and their style of doing things had become visibly more mature.

Thinking of this, Horikita Manabu also shifted his gaze to Kitagawa Ryo, who was standing next to Horikita Suzune at the starting line.

However, there was one thing he was certain of.

That is, all the changes in his sister really started after she met this boy, but Horikita Manabu couldn't simply attribute it to the effect of love.

In Horikita Manabu's eyes, the way these two people, or rather Horikita Suzune and Kitagawa Ryo interacted, was filled with a subtle sense of incongruity yet harmony. He himself found it hard to imagine that the awkwardness of first love between teenagers, the cautious tentativeness, and the amazing harmony of a couple who seemed to have been in a relationship for many years and were so familiar with each other that they seemed to be inseparable, could both appear in a high school couple who had known each other for less than three years.

"Bang--"

Just as Horikita Manabu was somewhat puzzled and began to recount the couple's relationship from his brother-in-law's perspective, the three-legged race officially began with the referee's starting gun.

Generally speaking, three-legged races are a process of starting slowly and then speeding up, especially at the start, you need to pay attention to that, otherwise it is easy to lose your rhythm at the beginning.

The Kanzaki Ryuji & Shibata Sō duo from Class A and the Morishita Ai & Kamuro Masumi from Class D both employed this steady approach. Moreover, they had just participated in the exhausting Cavalry Battle event, so their starting speed wasn't very fast, and they were quickly overtaken by the teams from the other two classes next to them.

Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune had practiced and prepared countless times over the past month. Although they often ended up going on dates and chatting while running, in a sense, they had developed a strong rapport with each other. As soon as they started running, they entered a synchronized breathing and running rhythm. Their uniform movements and rapid speed drew gasps from the surrounding audience.

What happened to the supposedly designated breakup activity for couples?

You didn't lure everyone in here just to feed us single people with lovey-dovey displays, did you?

Unlike Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune, who relied on their tacit understanding to accelerate their progress, Class C's Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya Yogo's method of leaving the other two classes behind can be described as simple and brutal. The rhythm was completely controlled by one person. Ishizaki Daichi simply held Komiya Yogo by the waist with one hand, barely keeping him from falling, and then ran forward like crazy. It can be considered a different approach.

After witnessing the running style of the Class C students, Kitagawa Ryo subconsciously glanced at Horikita Suzune beside him, recalling the Sports Festival during Megumi's mock event, where it seemed that this very girl was dragging Megumi along with her using the same running style.

Seemingly noticing Kitagawa Ryo's gaze, Horikita Suzune tilted her head slightly in confusion. However, since it wasn't appropriate to speak while running and disrupt her already steady and gradually accelerating pace, she simply blinked. The hand that was holding hers between them moved slightly, her little finger bending slightly and hooking her palm.

Kitagawa Ryo simply shook his head slightly to indicate that there was no problem, then gathered his scattered thoughts and focused his attention back on the match in front of him.

Behind them, as the Class A and Class D duo gradually caught up and their own stamina waned, the Class C duo, who were originally in second place, were slowly being overtaken.

In this situation, Komiya Yogo, who was being carried by Ishizaki Daichi and was almost dangling on one leg as they sped along, suddenly had a sudden glint in his eye and shouted loudly:

"Two, eight, two, five, six! Two, eight, two, five, seven!"

As soon as he spoke, the two groups behind him who were counting "one, two, three, one, two, three" in unison to maintain rhythm choked on their words, their steps faltering instantly, and they began to readjust their pace with twitching lips.

Since Komiya Yogo deliberately raised his voice, theoretically, the Class B group, which was running a little ahead of them, should also have been affected.

But while the groups from Class A and Class D were simultaneously losing their rhythm, Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune seemed completely unaffected. Or rather, the two of them never intended to assist each other with chants like "one, two, three, one, two, three." Instead, with their amazing teamwork, they sped up, leaving the other three groups far behind and crossing the finish line in awe, taking first place in their group.

"We won!"

Just after crossing the finish line, Kitagawa Ryo turned to the side and gave Horikita Suzune a big hug, amidst the resentful gazes of all the Private Points but also been fed a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).

He had originally planned to lift Suzune up high, just like he had Sakayanagi Arisu, but after grabbing the girl's slender waist and exerting a little upward force, he realized that their feet were still tied together, making it impossible to lift her up.

"It should definitely be number one."

Horikita Suzune was also quite satisfied with the result, but she still maintained a deliberately calm tone with a touch of arrogance. However, the way she unconsciously raised the hand that was holding theirs high betrayed her less-than-calm heart.

As someone who was out of the loop, Horikita Suzune didn't actually place many bets on this Sports Festival prediction, and the three-legged race she participated in with Kitagawa Ryo was one of them.

However, Horikita Suzune did not choose to bet on her and Ryo's team to win, but instead placed small Private Points on the other three teams.

For Horikita Suzune, this was less of a guessing game and more of a ritual to pray for good luck.

If she and Ryo lose, they'll receive a consolation prize of Private Points, which they can use to buy an ice cream machine and a yogurt machine that are currently on sale at the appliance store in Keyaki Mall.

And if she and Ryo win--

Horikita Suzune wouldn't care about those Private Points.

After the three-legged races for all three grades were completed, the morning session of the Sports Festival finally came to an end, and the athletes, who had worked hard all morning, were given a short break of about an hour.

Students from each class can choose to have lunch in the Student Cafeteria as usual, or at a designated area on the playground. During the Sports Festival, where a strong sense of teamwork is felt, most students choose to have lunch with their classmates on the playground.

As mentioned earlier, all school facilities are closed on the day of the Sports Festival, since even the staff are there to watch the games. Therefore, the lunch prepared for the students consists of high-end bento boxes specially ordered from outside, piled up like mountains, and students from each class need to send someone to pick them up.

Although there was only one type, because it was free and there was no other option, most students, except those who had prepared their own bento boxes in advance, each took one.

Once the students gathered together, their discussions naturally revolved around the various competitions that morning and the results of their predictions. Everywhere, one could hear exclamations of "how much I've bet so far" and "regret not betting more."

It must be said that although the school's prediction strategy was flawed in some aspects, it also effectively increased students' awareness and participation, making the Sports Festival -related topics, which were initially somewhat uninteresting due to the low rewards and punishments, popular from a month ago until now.

Amidst the enthusiastic discussions, the most frequently mentioned popular events were the top scorers from each grade and the school, which had the largest total prize pool and were bet on by almost everyone. Some people even started calculating the specific scores of the top contenders based on the morning's scores.

" In the First Year, Kitagawa Ryo is in the lead."

"Miyabi Nagumo is in first place among the second-year students, but Kiryuin is very close to him in second place. You guys didn't see the second-year team events this morning. The students in Class B were practically putting on an act, otherwise Kiryuin would have overtaken them long ago."

"In the third grade, Horikita Manabu is still the same as always, but Class 3-A is acting strangely this time. After the competition this morning, their total score was only second."

"Huh? What happened? I spent all this morning checking on the First Year and second grades. What happened to the third grade?"

"It seems like classes B, C, and D in the latter part of the year teamed up to mess with Class A. But some say it's because Class A's competition clashed with Class B's first pick. Sigh, I've been watching the First Year all morning, since the betting is all about their events. I've only heard this from others."

Although he could definitely hear the discussions of other students not far away, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had no interest in them at the moment. He had quickly entered legendary observer mode, biting his chopsticks and watching the chaotic scene suddenly set off by Class B without blinking.

"Doesn't Hui eat lunch with the other students in her class?"

Just as Karuizawa Kei casually approached Class B with her lunchbox, Ichinose Honami tilted her head, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Hmm? It seems the school doesn't have a rule that only students from the same class can eat together, right? And isn't Hiyori here too?"

Seemingly anticipating Ichinose Honami's attitude, Karuizawa Kei pointed to Shiina Hiyori was already sitting next to Kitagawa Ryo and continuing to freeload, until the latter belatedly looked up:

"Ah, I'm being kept in the cold right now."

Although the atmosphere on the field became a little awkward because of Shiina Hiyori's words, Ichinose Honami still tried her best to smooth things over:

"After all Hiyori is an ally of ours, belonging to the White Team."

"Then I'm still Liang's girlfriend."

Not wanting to get into Ichinose Honami, Karuizawa Kei simply sat cross-legged in the seat that Sakura Airi by herself.

"If you like competing so much, then we'll be in the same group for the first borrowing contest this afternoon, right? Let's have a good competition then. I'm still a little upset about losing to you in the name tag ripping game on the Uninhabited Island last time."

"Okay, I'll come."

Watching the two people who had suddenly become confrontational and then calmed down in an instant, Kitagawa Ryo was silently pondering another question.

If, during the afternoon's borrowing contest, Ichinose Honami and Karuizawa Kei draw slips of paper with names like "person you like," "lover," or "boyfriend," his situation would suddenly become quite precarious.

But...

It can't be such a coincidence, can it?

Chapter 305: Sakayanagi Arisu is waiting (4k5)

After enjoying his lunch while reading about the interactions happening around him in a certain romance textbook from Class B, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka casually greeted Katsuragi Kohei, then made an excuse to slip out of the playground and head towards the infirmary of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School.

Although the school also set up emergency medical tents near the playground due to the Sports Festival, these were only for emergency treatment of students' injuries. After receiving simple first aid in the tents in the morning, students who were injured were usually transferred to the quieter and better-equipped infirmary.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's Class 1-D also had students who were injured during the morning's competition. However, since it was just a simple ankle sprain, and the student's desire to stay on the playground to cheer on the other students was too strong (or perhaps he wanted to see the prediction results with his own eyes), he was not transferred to the infirmary to rest, but stayed on the playground.

However, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's purpose in coming here was not to visit anyone from his class. He concealed himself with a blank expression and had just reached the vicinity of the infirmary when he could clearly see two distinct groups of people confronting each other. They seemed to be third-year students, but he did not see Horikita Manabu, the Leader Class A, or Ishikura, the Leader of Class B.

Faced with this situation, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly took out his phone from his pocket, checked a message he had received from someone a few minutes earlier, then turned around and cautiously took another route to a grove of trees near the infirmary, where he found several familiar faces.

Although the situation was quite dire, Horikita Manabu maintained the same calm demeanor he had displayed an hour earlier while watching Horikita Suzune and her companion's three-legged race from the stands. He quietly exhaled and addressed his junior:

"Actually, for a long time before the Sports Festival started, I really thought you would compete fairly with me in the last event."

Faced with Horikita Manabu's somewhat disappointed tone, Miyabi Nagumo did not respond with his usual smile, but instead responded sarcastically and sophistry:

"How can it not be a fair fight? After all, I had no intention of harming you, Horikita Manabu. In fact, if you were lying in the infirmary with those Class A students, I wouldn't be able to compete against you in the final mixed relay race. So, they were the only ones chosen."

During the morning's competition, while most of the spectators were fully engaged and excitedly cheering for certain events for the First Year and second year students, the third-year students' Sports Festival was plagued with mishaps. As a result, one student from each of the Class 3-B, Class C, and Class D traded one student for one with a student from the Class A, and they are now receiving treatment together in the infirmary.

The three injured students from Class 3-A were all top athletes in the class and were scheduled to represent Class 3-A in the final relay race alongside Horikita Manabu.

But before Class 3-A could react, the other three classes preemptively accused them. In addition, enthusiastic students from other grades who happened to be present at the scene acted as witnesses. Not only the third graders, but also some students from the second and First Year formed a net to surround Class 3-A.

If you insist on pursuing the matter to the end and refuse to close the case as an accident, you will gain nothing in the long run and will most likely be falsely accused.

"Besides, this matter has nothing to do with me. I'm only here as the incoming Student Council President to check for any shortcomings in this Sports Festival so that we can avoid these problems as much as possible in next year's Sports Festival."

As if to say that this was just out of a sense of responsibility, and as if to remind the other party that the Student Council President would be in his hands after this Sports Festival, Miyabi Nagumo smiled provocatively, which made Horikita Manabu frown a little.

"Although we have different beliefs and approaches, I used to trust you a lot. Now it seems I was wrong."

Even when faced with Horikita Manabu speaking such honest words, Nagumo showed no sign of shame.

A gambler is most confident, determined, and invincible only in the instant he places his bet. Afterwards, no matter how high the theoretical odds of winning are, he will always fall into belated regret and fear. Miyabi Nagumo was no exception.

Perhaps he initially genuinely wanted to have a fair and square competition with Horikita Manabu, but when he staked his massive Private Points on events like the second-year top scorer, the grade-wide mixed 1600-meter relay, and the overall grade-wide top scorer, the fear of potential defeat quickly overwhelmed Miyabi Nagumo.

The more you want to win, the more afraid you are of losing.

If he loses this time, he will lose not only the reputation he has accumulated, but also the tens of millions of Private Points that he can truly rely on to lead the entire second year.

Although Miyabi Nagumo was well aware that his actions would give others grounds for criticism, and even the Student Council President he was about to take over would be the subject of gossip, Nagumo didn't really care after being thoroughly educated by the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro, in a mature manner, both physically and psychologically.

Since the sun is setting and the journey is long, let's just go against the tide and do the opposite.

Therefore, he responded to Horikita Manabu with a cold smile:

"Trust is like experience points; it accumulates and deepens over time. I think the ultimate form is family. If you suddenly encounter a stranger on the street at night, you'd be very wary, but if it's family, you'd completely let your guard down."

"While I don't think I've built up that level of trust with you, Horikita Manabu, over the past two years, I should at least have gained some. Because even though our values differ, I've always kept my word. Before this Sports Festival, I've never made such an obvious sneak attack."

At this point, Miyabi Nagumo also laughed:

"I know you must have doubts about me too, but given your personality and way of doing things, there's absolutely no way you would betray me first."

Faced with this, Miyabi Nagumo Horikita Manabu simply took a deep breath, then shook his head with regret and said:

"For the sake of a single victory, you have lost all the trust you have built with me in the past. A lost opportunity cannot be regained, even by Jupiter (the supreme god in Roman mythology)." This is a grave mistake, Nagumo.