Sports Festival, Begin!

"Good morning, everyone! Today is our school's most important annual event—the Sports Festival!"

The News Department host spoke in a vibrant, energetic voice.

He paused for a moment, anticipating the applause and cheers from the audience.

"Gathered here today are the competing athletes, the spectators here to cheer them on, and the teachers and leaders who have provided immense support for this Sports Festival. Thank you all for participating and allowing this Sports Festival to kick off in such a grand fashion."

"Next, the opening ceremony officially begins. First, let us invite the Principal to deliver a speech."

One thousand words omitted.

The long, tedious speech finally concluded, and the first team event, the Pole Toppling Competition, was about to begin.

First-year Red Team (AD) vs. White Team (BC).

Pole Toppling Competition Overview:

The Pole Toppling Competition is one of the most intense team sports in high school sports festivals, testing a team's coordination and strategy. The match is usually divided into a Red Team and a White Team (or other colors), with both sides engaging in a fierce struggle over their respective targets—a tall, upright bamboo pole or flagpole.

The rules of the competition are simple and clear:

Objective: Each team must find a way to pull, push, or tilt the opponent's pole to a specified angle (usually touching the ground) to claim victory.

Division of Labor: The team is divided into offensive and defensive groups. The defensive group huddles tightly around their own pole to form a protective circle, while the offensive group attempts to break through the defensive line via raids, climbing, or pushing to pull down the opponent's pole.

Match Duration: The match usually has a set time limit. If no winner is decided by the time it ends, the winning team is determined based on the angle of the pole or their offensive and defensive performance.

(This is the most common and popular traditional sport in high schools. It is an essential team battle for any sports festival.)

"This pole doesn't look like a pole; it's more like a giant club. It's so thick."

"With Nagami, known as the Bloodthirsty Tiger of Class D, on our side, we're guaranteed to win this time."

Hashimoto Masayoshi said.

"Yosh, Class A will just stay on defense. We'll take those 500 points."

Katsuragi sat in the rear as the commander, while Sakayanagi naturally had to forfeit due to her physical condition.

"Hashimoto, who came up with that nickname! It's so cringey."

Nagami retorted.

The members of Class B were mainly gathered around the pole to guard it. In his memory, the students of Class B were all very normal, average students; none of them left a deep impression.

The personnel from Class C were preparing to attack in the midfield, and Albert's broad physique was particularly eye-catching.

Nagami imagined the optimal route for breaking through the crowd in his mind.

(The big pole needs four people to hold it, nine to defend, and eight to attack. Ah, with nine people, my hairstyle won't survive.)

"Even though we're friends, I won't go easy on you when you're the enemy."

Kanzaki of Class B said loudly.

"Ganbatte!" "Ganbatte!"

The students cheered each other on before the match, and the girls who couldn't participate acted as cheerleaders, shouting slogans.

(That legendary master of framing others, Ryuen, hasn't made a move lately. Is he planning something big during the match? Like a fake fall?)

(Doesn't matter. Just get it done. Trying to frame me? Bring it on. When you're out on the streets, you need backing and you need strength. The referee and the Student Council President are my people; what do you have to fight me with?)

The referee blew the whistle, and in Nagami's mind, Shake And Sway rang out, unilaterally declaring the start of the first-ever Advanced Nurturing High School No-Holds-Barred Fighting Tournament.

"Sudo takes the lead, but he's immediately surrounded."

Four or five boys wearing baggy uniforms surrounded him, mocking smiles plastered on their faces.

Nagami followed closely behind, weaving around the crowd.

However, three people immediately moved to mark him.

He executed a classic low-level dive, grabbed their calves, and slammed Kanzaki—who had lost his balance—hard onto the grass, before someone grabbed his shoulder in an attempt to control Nagami.

He followed up with a shoulder throw, protecting his head by dissipating the force, and managed to come out unscathed.

With a short-range sprint, he put his shoulder into it and unleashed an Iron Mountain Lean; Kaneda was sent flying after taking the violent impact.

In less than 5 seconds, three team members were incapacitated.

"Albert, you go deal with Nagami."

The disadvantage in numbers quickly became apparent. Seeing the situation go south, Ryuen immediately ordered Albert to fall back and defend.

Albert grabbed at Nagami with both hands, their fingers locking in a brief stalemate.

"Good strength, but what about technique?"

Albert felt his body spin, and when he finally reacted, all he could see was the blue sky and white clouds.

"Now's the time! If we pin Albert down, we win."

Nagami called for backup from his teammates.

The students from Class D stepped forward to pin down the arms of the fallen Albert; it is very difficult for a human body to get up once the arms are immobilized.

"The human body, it's quite fascinating, isn't it?"

Nagami accelerated once more, charging back toward the pole. As the guards gripped their fists, a thin layer of sweat seeped into their palms from the tension.

He knew he wouldn't be able to walk away unscathed today, but he absolutely refused to show any weakness.

Meeting a sky-piercing elbow strike head-on, the force of the impact sent the guard into a state of brief unconsciousness.

The other guards were suppressed by Nagami's momentum, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward.

"Morada!"

Thud! The pole hit the ground with a loud sound.

With that, the outcome was decided.

The referee blew the whistle; the Red Team had won the pole-toppling competition.

"So fast! Did it really end in two minutes?"

"Five hundred points just like that, so easily."

"How weak, White Team."

"As expected of Nagami, known as the Bloodthirsty Tiger."

"Nagami-kun is so cool!"

"Nagami! Nagami! Nagami..."

The girls' cheerleading squad on the sidelines began to clamor.

"Tch, not bad, I guess."

Sudo muttered a begrudging compliment. Winning without having to do anything left him feeling no sense of accomplishment; he would have preferred to be the one pulling off a desperate comeback to save the class.

Ryuen stared at Nagami with a venomous gaze, plotting something.

"Hey, Kaneda, you alright? Stop lying on the ground and get up. I need to tell you something."

Immersed in the joy of victory, Nagami failed to notice the conspiracy hidden behind Ryuen's malicious glare.

"The next event is about to begin: the individual 100m sprint. Will all participants please prepare."

At that moment, a voice came over the broadcast. Hearing this, Nagami headed toward the track; he was participating in this event as well.

At the starting line, Nagami spotted a stranger standing next to Ryuen, the man's eyes cold and sinister.

During the preparation phase, he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary.

The starting gun fired, and Nagami surged forward right on the mark as expected. But halfway through his first step, his foot suddenly slipped, and he lost his balance, lunging forward. It turned out someone had tampered with his starting block; the base shifted the moment it took his weight.

The tight schedule hadn't allowed anyone a practice run, a gap Ryuen had exploited perfectly.

Nagami stumbled, nearly falling, and a gasp rippled through the crowd. The runners in the surrounding lanes quickly surged past him.

But Nagami wouldn't give up. Enduring the discomfort in his muscles, he chased after them with all his might.

Giving it his one hundred percent, he rapidly overtook one runner after another, and in the end, Nagami was the first to cross the finish line.

"10.6 seconds, a new Sports Festival record."

The referee announced excitedly.

The audience erupted into thunderous cheers. Standing at the finish line, Nagami looked toward the distance at a gnashing Ryuen and flashed a confident smile.

"Damn you, Ryuen. You must be the reincarnation of the King of Lilliput. You almost made me crash and burn today."

"Nagami, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself when you stumbled?"

Hirata walked over to ask.

"Looks like a bit of a muscle strain. I'll head to the infirmary to check it out; I'll withdraw from the 200m."

"It's a good thing each class can register two people for individual events this time; there's no penalty for withdrawing."

(Good luck with the rest of the events, Kana~.)