The Legendary Master of Staged Accidents, Ryuen Kakeru

"Doctor, we need help over here!"

The school medical team rushed over immediately to assess the injury.

"There's no obvious edema in the lower leg, but there is slight pain when moving the foot up and down. I suggest conservative treatment with an ice pack."

Nagami lay on the stretcher as the medical team carried him toward the infirmary; it seemed his Sports Festival was coming to a premature end.

On the other side, an accident occurred during the girls' ball toss competition.

"Hey, what is wrong with you! You intentionally bumped into Kinoshita and committed a foul."

Kinoshita had collided with Horikita.

"I should be the one asking that! Why did you suddenly run into me? It hurts!"

Kinoshita from Class C feigned innocence.

"Tweet! The match is paused. Medical team, we have an injured student here." The referee blew the whistle.

The competition resumed shortly after.

"Everything is going according to plan. Nagami and Horikita are out of commission for this event, and Sudo is next. Class D is completely finished."

Ryuen smiled faintly.

"Kikyo, what brings you here? Did you get a good look at Class C's performance in the ball toss?"

Nagami saw Kushida come to visit him in the infirmary.

"Mm, just as Kagami expected, it seems there was a little incident. I heard you pulled a muscle in your lower leg, so I came to check on you."

"I'm fine, just need a few days of rest."

Nagami indicated that he wasn't seriously hurt.

"Hmm~ Kagami, you were so cool today. I have a feeling your locker will be overflowing with love letters after this Sports Festival."

Kushida said with a hint of bitterness.

"Really? Being too popular is a bit of a nuisance, isn't it? I'm sure you understand, Kikyo."

Nagami asked Kushida for her perspective.

"Indeed. But someone like you, Kagami, who lives so freely, is perfect at sports and smart to boot—it's truly enviable."

"I could never do it. No matter how hard I studied in middle school, I could never rank at the top, and my athletic ability was just barely passing. The only thing I'm good at is communicating with people; it feels a bit like cheating, in a way."

"Kagami... have you ever been in a relationship before?"

Kushida pressed her index finger to her lips and looked at Nagami with curiosity.

"A relationship? I suppose so, something like an online romance."

"Onii-chan, can you play games with your little sister? That sort of thing."

Nagami mimicked an online "little sister" in a high-pitched voice.

"Ugh, that really ruins the mood."

"If it were you, Kikyo, it wouldn't be out of the question."

Nagami suddenly threw a direct pitch.

"Is that so? Whoa, Kagami, what did you just say?"

Kushida looked flustered, her hands waving about in a panic.

"Ha, you didn't actually believe that, did you? Just kidding, just kidding."

Seeing his prank succeed, Nagami couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Kagami, you're so mean."

Kushida pouted, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"How truly pathetic, Nagami."

Ryuen interrupted the conversation, bringing his lackeys to carry Kinoshita onto a bed on a stretcher.

"Now that both you and Horikita are out of the fight, Class D's defeat is a foregone conclusion. You've certainly worked hard this morning."

"Don't speak too soon. There are still plenty of people in Class D with athletic talent. Don't end up tripping over your own feet, Ryuen."

"Did Kinoshita serve as your 'frail old lady' for this scam again?"

Kinoshita froze upon hearing this, her expression darkening.

"As for the result of Horikita's 'malicious foul,' the X-ray from the doctor shows a 3cm crack in the bone."

Ryuen looked at the results of his scheme and nodded with satisfaction.

"Let me tell you something, Ryuen. Bumps and bruises are normal at a Sports Festival; it's not like she was hit with an iron bar. Do you really think the school will back you up? At most, they'll treat it as an accident and deduct a few points."

"There are plenty of news reports about students dying of sudden cardiac arrest during 1,000-meter tests every year, but does that stop the activities? If whoever is most injured is automatically in the right, then there would be no point in holding a Sports Festival—we'd all just be studying how to fake a fall."

Nagami's analysis completely dismantled Ryuen's scheme, making him look like nothing more than a clown.

"Hmph! Sharp-tongued brat!"

Ryuen had been poked in a sore spot, so he left immediately after speaking.

"Boss, Nagami seems to have a point."

"Don't nag, I know."

After watching Ryuen walk away, Kushida resumed her smile.

"Kagami, you really are amazing. I feel like I can see Class A waving at us."

"Ah, if you want to think that way, then go ahead."

Nagami replied.

"It's not your fault, Kinoshita. I can really understand how you feel."

"Uh, arigato."

The Sports Festival continued, and it was time for the boys' cavalry battle.

Albert charged through like a black wolf wandering into a flock of sheep; the two-person horses were completely unable to withstand the impact.

The students of Class D watched Albert's charge with hearts full of despair, and the side of Class D that had originally been favored fell into complete disarray.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ryuen led his team to launch a counterattack. They rushed toward the opposing camp, and with an unexpected level of coordination, immediately tore off Hirata's headband.

The students of Class C were greatly encouraged and pressed their advantage.

In the end, amidst a chorus of cheers, Class C successfully broke through thanks to Albert's charge and gained the upper hand. Class D was being played like a fiddle, and this victory officially sounded the horn for a counteroffensive.

"Damn it!"

"That despicable villain Ryuen actually put lubricant in his hair. It's so slippery I can't even grab it,"

Miyake explained.

"Dammit, if only Nagami were here! Albert wouldn't be a problem at all."

Sudo was so angered by Class C that he started praising Nagami.

"Everyone, calm down. We'll definitely win the next round."

Hirata tried to boost everyone's morale.

"Horikita, is your injury okay? Have you considered a substitute?"

Hirata asked.

"I'm fine, I can compete."

Horikita forced herself to stand on her injured calf, insisting on participating.

However, things did not go as wished, as the girls of Class D generally lacked athletic ability.

In the end, they still lost in a sorry state.

"Bang! Damn Ryuen!"

Sudo slammed his fist against the wall. Despicable tactic after despicable tactic, and having taken so many hits in the previous cavalry battle, the anger in his heart reached its peak.

"Did you guys even put in any effort? Why am I always the only one getting beaten up?"

Sudo vented his rage on the surrounding students.

The students looked at the furious Sudo with fearful eyes.

Who wouldn't be afraid of a madman?

"It's better to calm down, Sudo."

Nagami hooked his foot and, leaning on crutches with Kushida accompanying him, returned to the tent to watch the competition.

Sudo was very unconvinced, but seeing Nagami's condition, he felt a sense of balance in his heart.

The bandages wrapped from his right calf to his right foot covered his entire skin, and his condition looked very grim.

Everyone looked at the severely injured Nagami, and a lot of sympathy welled up in their hearts, with words of comfort coming one after another.

"Next is the boys and girls three-legged race, right? Good luck, Kushida."

"Mm, I'll definitely strive for first place. Let's go, Ayanokoji."

First place is impossible; if we can get top four, that would be pretty good, after all, the height difference is right there.

"Ganbatte! Ganbatte!"

Even though he couldn't run, being part of the cheering squad was not bad either.

"This time, if Class D finishes last, they'll only have 107 points left. What a pitiful bunch of people."

"Sudo, who is only good at internal strife, and the injured Horikita and Nagami. Everything in this Sports Festival is going according to plan."

Ryuen sat at the base camp and mocked them.

"Kushida, I haven't seen you looking for Horikita lately. Did something happen?"

Ayanokoji asked.

"Not really, I just suddenly felt that there's no need to get along well with everyone. That's just too exhausting."

"Horikita-san doesn't like me, so I have no choice but to give up on the idea of being good friends with her."

Kushida stated the reason bluntly.

"Kushida, you've had an unexpected change. Is it thanks to Nagami-kun?"

Ayanokoji was analyzing the reason for Kushida's change.

"Hehe, Ayanokoji-kun, you're not as ordinary as you look. But you'd better stop prying into things between Nagami-kun and me; that's a secret between the two of us."

"Hehe!"

Kushida let out a series of silly giggles.

Attention everyone, ready! Bang!

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