"Doctor, we need help over here!"
The school's medical team rushed over to check the injury.
"There's no significant swelling in the calf, but there's slight pain when moving the foot up and down. We recommend ice and conservative treatment."
Nagami was carried on a stretcher toward the Infirmary. It looked like his Sports Festival was over.
Meanwhile, an accident happened during the girls' ball-throwing competition.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? You deliberately knocked Kinoshita down. That's a foul!"
Kinoshita had collided with Horikita.
"You're the one who ran into me out of nowhere! What was that for? It hurt!"
Kinoshita from Class C protested her innocence.
"Tweet! The competition is paused. We have an injured participant!" The referee blew the whistle.
The competition resumed afterward.
"Everything's going just as planned. Nagami and Horikita are both out of commission for this event. Sudo's next. Class D is finished now."
Ryuen smiled faintly.
"Kikyo, what are you doing here? Did you watch Class C's performance in the ball-throwing competition?"
Nagami spotted Kushida visiting him in the Infirmary.
"Yeah. Just like Kagami predicted, there was a bit of a mishap. I heard you strained your calf, so I came to check on you."
"I'm fine. I just need to rest for a few days."
Nagami assured her that it wasn't serious.
"Mm, Kagami, you looked so cool today. I bet your shoe locker will be overflowing with love letters after the Sports Festival."
Kushida spoke with a hint of envy.
"Seriously? Being too popular can be a burden. You know what that's like, don't you, Kikyo?"
Nagami sounded as if he was asking Kushida for advice.
"That's true. But I envy you, Kagami. You're so carefree, athletic, and smart."
"I could never be like that. No matter how hard I studied, I couldn't get near the top of my class in middle school, and my athletic ability was only average. The only thing I'm good at is getting along with people. It almost feels like cheating."
"Kagami... have you ever been in love?"
Kushida pressed her index finger to her lips and looked at Nagami curiously.
"Love? Maybe. I've had an online relationship or two."
"Hey, big brother, can you play games with your little sister?"—that sort of thing.
Nagami mimicked the voice of an online girlfriend.
"Uh, that really ruins the mood."
"If it were you, Kikyo, I wouldn't be opposed."
Nagami suddenly came right out and said it.
"Oh, really? Wait, what did you just say, Kagami?"
Kushida's face turned flustered, and she waved her hands around.
"Ha, you didn't actually believe me, did you? I'm joking, I'm joking."
Seeing his prank work, Nagami couldn't help laughing.
"Kagami, you're such a tease."
Kushida pouted and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"That's too bad, Nagami."
Ryuen interrupted their conversation and had his lackeys carry Kinoshita into the room on a stretcher.
"Now neither Horikita nor you can fight. Class D's defeat is all but certain. You put up a good fight this morning, though."
"Don't be so sure. Class D has plenty of athletic students. Don't get cocky, Ryuen, or you might end up eating your words."
"Is Kinoshita your little old lady to knock over again this time?"
At that, Kinoshita suddenly froze, her expression darkening.
"Horikita's foul caused this. The doctor took Kinoshita for an X-ray, and there's a three-centimeter crack in the bone."
Ryuen looked at the fruits of his scheme and nodded with satisfaction.
"Listen, Ryuen, bumps and bruises are normal at the Sports Festival. It's not like anyone hit her with an iron bar. Do you think the school will take your side? At most, they'll treat it as an accident and give you a few points in compensation."
"Every year, there are plenty of news stories about people dying during the 1,000-meter fitness test. Does that mean they cancel the event? If whoever gets hurt worse is automatically in the right, then they might as well stop holding the Sports Festival and just spend all their time figuring out how to fake a fall."
Nagami dismantled Ryuen's scheme point by point, making him look like a clown.
"Hmph! All talk!"
Ryuen had been hit where it hurt. He left immediately after speaking.
"Boss, Nagami kind of has a point."
"Enough. I know."
After Ryuen was gone, Kushida's smile returned.
"Kagami, you're amazing. It's like Class A is waving at us."
"Sure, if that's how you want to see it."
Nagami replied.
"It's not your fault, Kinoshita. I really understand how you feel."
"Uh, arigato."
The Sports Festival continued, and it was time for the boys' cavalry battle.
Albert charged around like a black wolf loose among a flock of sheep. The two-man horses couldn't withstand his attacks.
Watching Albert rampage, the students of Class D felt utterly hopeless. The Class D team, which had originally been favored to win, fell into disarray.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ryuen led his team in a counterattack. They rushed toward the opposing side and, with unexpected coordination, swiftly snatched Hirata's headband.
Class C's morale soared, and they pressed their advantage.
Amid a chorus of cheers, Class C weathered Albert's charge and seized the upper hand. Class D had been toyed with like a puppet, and this victory officially sounded the call for a counterattack.
"Damn it!"
"That bastard Ryuen is so underhanded! He put lubricant in his hair. It was so slippery, I couldn't grab him."
Miyake explained.
"Damn it! If Nagami were here, even Albert wouldn't stand a chance!"
Sudo was so furious at Class C that he started praising Nagami.
"Everyone, calm down. We'll win the next event for sure."
Hirata tried to encourage everyone.
"Horikita, is your injury all right? Shouldn't you let a substitute take your place?"
Hirata asked.
"I'm fine. I can compete."
Horikita forced herself to stand on her injured calf and insisted on competing.
But things didn't go as they'd hoped. The girls in Class D were generally lacking in athletic ability.
In the end, they lost in a sorry state.
"Bang! Damn you, Ryuen!"
Sudo slammed his fist into the wall. Ryuen kept pulling one dirty trick after another, and Sudo had taken a beating in the cavalry battle, too. His anger had reached its limit.
"Did any of you even try? Why am I always the only one getting beaten up?"
Sudo took his anger out on the students around him.
The students stared at the furious Sudo with fear in their eyes.
Who wouldn't be afraid of a lunatic?
"Maybe you should calm down, Sudo."
With one leg held up and leaning on a crutch, Nagami returned to the tent with Kushida to watch the competition.
Sudo was still unhappy, but seeing Nagami's condition made him feel a little better.
The bandages ran from his right calf down to his right foot, covering the whole area. It didn't look good.
Seeing how badly injured Nagami was, the others felt sorry for him. They gathered around, offering one consoling remark after another.
"Next up is the three-legged race for boys and girls, right? Good luck, Kushida."
"Yeah, I'll do my best to come in first. Let's go, Ayanokoji."
She's not going to get first. Even finishing in the top four would be impressive, given her height.
"Go for it! Go for it!"
Even though he couldn't run, he could still help as part of the cheering section.
"If Class D comes in last this time, they'll be left with only 107 points. What a pitiful bunch."
"Sudo's good at infighting, while Horikita and Nagami are injured. The Sports Festival is going exactly as planned."
Ryuen sat in the main camp, mocking them.
"Kushida, I haven't seen you going after Horikita lately. Did something happen?"
Ayanokoji asked.
"No. I just suddenly realized there's no need to get along with everyone. It's exhausting."
"Horikita doesn't like me, so I've given up on trying to be friends with her."
Kushida explained bluntly.
"Kushida, you've changed unexpectedly. Is Nagami responsible?"
Ayanokoji analyzed what might have caused the change in Kushida.
"Hehe, Ayanokoji, you're not as ordinary as you look. But don't ask too much about Nagami and me. It's a secret between us."
"Hehe!"
Kushida giggled.
"Attention, everyone! On your marks! Bang!"
Before you continue