The Victor Behind the Scenes

The final Sports Festival standings rolled across the big screen.

Class D, fourth place.

It was not an outstanding result.

But with the terrifying first-place bonus from the final relay, their class points saw a long-overdue surge!

Their phones chimed.

[Notification: Class points increased by 150.]

"Holy crap! We gained that many points?!"

"We're rich! We won't have to live off rice balls this month!"

Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, those two living comedians, practically jumped up while clutching their phones, their expressions more exaggerated than if they had won the lottery.

Sudo Ken, the unruly red-haired boy, even cracked a rare smile. Though he was still stubbornly talking big. "Tch, wasn't it me who turned the tide?"

Yet anyone could see the excitement in his eyes.

The entire Class D camp had completely transformed into a sea of celebration.

They had been suppressed for far too long.

Ever since entering school, they had been branded as "defective products," receiving the fewest class points every month, living the most impoverished lives, and enduring the mockery and contempt of every other class.

But today, they had finally held their heads high!

In stark contrast to Class D's revelry were Class C's stands.

It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Ryuen Kakeru's dictatorship had been built upon his invincible violence and precise calculations.

But today, both had been crushed to pieces by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka alone.

His entire plan had fallen through, and instead of gaining points, they had lost them.

The Class C students who had once feared Ryuen now looked at the lost figure kneeling on the track, and for the first time, doubt and suspicion appeared in their eyes.

Ryuen Kakeru's authority was collapsing at a visible rate.

The infirmary.

The smell of disinfectant was somewhat pungent.

Horikita Suzune sat on a hospital bed, a scrape on her fair arm left over from the earlier competition.

The school nurse was treating her wound.

The door opened.

A tall figure walked in, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Horikita Manabu.

He glanced at his sister's injury, his gaze utterly unmoved.

"You rely too much on others."

His voice was as cold as the disinfectant.

In the past, Horikita Suzune would have immediately argued back. She would have defended herself and proven her abilities.

But this time, she merely fell silent and lowered her head.

A face surfaced uncontrollably in her mind.

That face always carried a hint of laziness and indifference, seeing through everything while remaining detached from it all.

Was the "other person" her brother meant really Ayanokoji?

Or was it that... Natsume Yu, who had told her from the very beginning, "You will lose," and had predicted all of this so precisely?

Horikita Suzune's heart was in turmoil.

Class D's celebration continued.

Natsume Yu leaned against a railing in the corner, his fingertips lightly gliding across his phone screen.

Looking at the additional class points in his account, the corner of his mouth lifted in satisfaction.

Perfect.

Everything was proceeding according to the script.

Class D's strength had received a hidden boost, and their morale had soared.

Ryuen Kakeru had been suppressed, and Class C was on the verge of internal conflict.

By helping Ichinose Honami, he had directly maxed out Class B's goodwill.

That "monster," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, had successfully been pushed into the spotlight, becoming the perfect shield.

And Horikita Suzune, that proud woman, had finally begun reflecting on her own naivety.

One stone, five birds.

He had leveraged the greatest gains at the smallest cost.

The feeling of holding everyone in the palm of his hand was truly delightful.

"Um... Yu-kun..."

A timid voice sounded beside him.

Natsume Yu looked up to see Sakura Airi lowering her head, both hands nervously holding a delicate lunchbox, her cheeks so red they seemed ready to drip blood.

To avoid drawing attention, she had deliberately worn a pair of plain glasses today. Yet her delicate aura still made her stand out in the crowd.

She had summoned tremendous courage, squeezed through the classmates celebrating around them, and come before him.

"You... you must be tired too. This... if you don't mind..."

Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.

The surrounding students noticed the commotion and cast curious, teasing looks their way.

"Ohoho, is our idol Airi giving someone a loving meal?"

"When did Natsume manage to win over our class beauty?"

Good-natured laughter erupted.

Sakura Airi lowered her head even further, nearly shrinking into her collar.

Seeing her fingers trembling with nerves, Natsume Yu naturally reached out and accepted the lunchbox.

"Thank you."

He opened it. Inside were rabbit-shaped rice balls and octopus-shaped sausages, so adorable it was almost absurd.

He picked up a rice ball and placed it in his mouth in front of everyone.

"It's delicious. Thank you, Airi."

His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Boom!

Sakura Airi's face instantly flushed scarlet. Heat rushed straight to her head, and her mind nearly crashed from happiness.

The laughter around them grew louder, filled with cheerful energy.

Just then, Natsume Yu's phone vibrated.

It was a message from Kushida Kikyo.

[Yu-kun, I just received some news. Ichinose is at Class B's stands, and she's been praising our Class D the whole time. She said we're loyal and resilient, and that she hopes we'll have more opportunities to work together in the future~ (cute smiling face)]

Natsume Yu looked at the words on the screen, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Cooperation?

No.

Annexation.

Just as he was about to reply, he suddenly sensed the atmosphere around him changing.

At some point, the noisy celebration had gradually quieted down.

Everyone's gaze passed over him and turned toward his back.

Natsume Yu turned around.

Class B's leader, Ichinose Honami, stood there with several Class B representatives, smiling.

She had not gone to seek out Horikita Suzune, the nominal leader.

Nor had she gone to find Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had just shone brilliantly on the field.

Dressed in sportswear and radiating sunshine and warmth, she walked straight toward Natsume Yu, who was surrounded by the crowd.

The Class D students were all stunned.

What was going on?

Why had Class B's leader come all this way to find Natsume Yu, the "invisible man" of their class?

Under everyone's shocked, baffled, questioning gazes,

Ichinose Honami gave Natsume Yu a deep bow.

She raised her head with a sincere smile, wisdom and curiosity gleaming in her bright eyes.

"Natsume, I don't know why, but I feel that all of this is connected to you."

"On behalf of Class B, I formally thank you and Class D for your help."

The entire venue fell silent.

Every gaze focused on Natsume Yu's excessively calm face.

Could he continue hiding?