"Good morning, everyone! Today is our school's annual Sports Festival, one of the most important events of the year!"
The News Department's host spoke in an energetic voice.
He paused to let the audience respond with applause and cheers.
"Gathered here today are the competitors, the spectators here to cheer them on, and the teachers and administrators who've worked hard to support the Sports Festival. Thank you all for taking part and helping us kick off this grand event."
"And now, the opening ceremony will begin. First, please welcome our principal to deliver a speech."
A thousand words omitted.
At long last, the tedious speech ended. The first team event, the Pole Toppling Competition, was about to begin.
First-year Red Team (A and D) vs. White Team (B and C).
Pole Toppling Competition Overview:
Pole Toppling is one of the most exciting team events at high school Sports Festivals. It tests a team's cooperation and strategy. The competition usually divides participants into a Red Team and a White Team (or teams of other colors), each fighting fiercely over its own target—a tall bamboo pole or flagpole.
The rules are simple:
Objective: Each team tries to pull down or push over the opposing team's pole. The first to tilt it to the required angle—usually until it touches the ground—wins.
Roles: Each team splits into offense and defense. The defensive group circles tightly around its own pole to protect it, while the offensive group tries to break through the defensive line and topple the other team's pole by charging, climbing, or shoving.
Time limit: Matches usually have a time limit. If neither team wins before time runs out, the winner is decided based on how far each pole has tilted or how well each team performed on offense and defense.
(The most common and widely played traditional event at high schools. A classic team battle that no Sports Festival would be complete without.)
"That pole doesn't look like a pole. It looks like a giant club. And it's so thick."
"With Nagami, the Bloodthirsty Tiger of Class D, on our side, we've got this in the bag."
Hashimoto Masayoshi said.
"Yoshi! Class A, just defend your pole. We'll take those 500 points."
Katsuragi was stationed at the back as the commander. Because of her health, Sakayanagi would naturally have to forfeit again.
"Hashimoto, who came up with that nickname? It's so cringe."
Nagami grumbled.
The members of Class B had mostly gathered around their pole to defend it. As far as he could remember, they were all pretty ordinary students. No one really stood out.
Class C's members were preparing to attack from the middle of the field. Albert's broad build caught the eye.
Nagami imagined the best route through the crowd.
Four people need to hold up the giant club, nine to defend, and eight to attack. Ah, if there are nine of them, my hair's not gonna survive.
"We're friends, but I won't go easy on you when you're the enemy."
Kanzaki of Class B shouted.
"Do your best!" "Do your best!"
The students cheered each other on before the match. The girls who couldn't compete stood to the side as cheerleaders, chanting slogans.
Ryuen, the legendary master of fake injuries, hasn't made a move lately. Is he saving something big for the competition? Maybe he'll try a fake fall or something.
Whatever. I'll just fight. Fake injuries? Bring it on. If you're going to throw your weight around, you need connections and strength. The referee and the Student Council President are both on my side. What are you gonna do about it?
The referee blew the whistle. In Nagami's mind, Shake And Sway announced the official start of the first Unlimited Fighting Tournament at Advanced Nurturing High School.
"Sudo Kazuma charges ahead, but he's immediately surrounded."
Four or five boys in loose-fitting uniforms surrounded him, smirks of mockery on their faces.
Nagami followed close behind, circling around the crowd.
But three people quickly moved in to guard against him at once.
He started with a classic low takedown, grabbed Kanzaki's leg, and slammed her off-balance body hard onto the grass. Someone then grabbed his shoulder, trying to restrain Nagami.
He threw the person over his shoulder. They managed to protect their head by going limp, barely avoiding injury.
He sprinted a short distance, then drove his shoulder into Kaneda with an Iron Mountain Lean. The impact sent Kaneda flying.
In less than five seconds, three opponents were out of the fight.
"Albert, go deal with Nagami."
Their numerical disadvantage soon became clear. Seeing things going badly, Ryuen immediately ordered Albert to fall back and defend.
Albert grabbed Nagami with both hands, their fingers straining as they briefly locked in a contest of strength.
"Not bad. But what about technique?"
Albert felt his body spin. By the time he realized what had happened, all he could see was the blue sky and white clouds.
"Now's our chance! If we pin Albert down, we win."
Nagami called for backup.
The students from Class D rushed forward and held Albert's arms down as he lay on the ground. Without being able to push himself up with his arms, it was hard for anyone to get back to their feet.
"The human body is pretty amazing, isn't it?"
Nagami took off again, charging toward the pole. The defenders clenched their fists, their palms damp with nervous sweat.
He knew he wouldn't get through the day unscathed, but he couldn't afford to show weakness.
A devastating elbow strike struck him head-on, knocking him unconscious for a moment from the force of the blow.
The other defenders were cowed by Nagami's momentum. For a moment, none of them dared to approach.
"Morada!"
Thud! The pole crashed to the ground.
That settled it.
The referee blew the whistle. Red Team had won the Pole Toppling Competition.
"That was fast! It was over in two minutes?"
"We got 500 points just like that."
"White Team was so weak."
"No wonder they call Nagami the Bloodthirsty Tiger."
"Nagami, you were so cool!"
"Nagami! Nagami! Nagami..."
The girls cheering from the sidelines whooped and hollered.
"Tch. Not bad."
Sudo grudgingly offered a word of praise. They'd won without him doing anything, and he didn't feel any sense of accomplishment. He would've much rather saved the class with a desperate comeback.
Ryuen watched Nagami with a venomous look, plotting something.
"Hey, Kaneda, you okay? Don't just lie there—get up. I need to tell you something."
Caught up in the joy of victory, Nagami didn't notice the scheme hidden behind Ryuen's hostile gaze.
"Next up is the individual 100-meter sprint. All competitors, please get ready."
The announcement came over the speakers. When Nagami heard it, he headed for the track. He'd signed up for the event too.
At the starting line, Nagami spotted an unfamiliar face beside Ryuen. The boy's gaze was sinister.
During the preparations, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The starting gun fired, and Nagami shot off as expected. But halfway through his stride, his foot suddenly slipped, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. Someone had tampered with his starting block: as soon as it took weight, the base slipped out of place.
The tight schedule hadn't allowed anyone to test the equipment beforehand, and Ryuen had taken perfect advantage of that opportunity.
Nagami stumbled at the start and nearly fell. Gasps rang out across the field as the runners in the lanes around him quickly pulled ahead.
But Nagami refused to give up. He gritted his teeth through the discomfort in his muscles and chased after them.
He pushed himself to the absolute limit, quickly overtaking one competitor after another. In the end, Nagami crossed the finish line first.
"Ten point six seconds! A new Sports Festival record!"
The referee announced it excitedly.
The crowd erupted in cheers. At the finish line, Nagami looked over at Ryuen, who was gritting his teeth in the distance, and smiled confidently.
"Damn Ryuen. You must be the reincarnation of the king of the land of petty people. I almost wiped out back there."
"Nagami, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"
Hirata came over to ask.
"I think I pulled a muscle. I'll go check it out at the Infirmary. I'm withdrawing from the 200-meter."
"Good thing each class can enter two people in each individual event this time. There's no penalty for withdrawing."
Good luck with the rest of the events, Kana~.
Before you continue