At ten that night, in the Class D dormitory.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had just finished showering when he received a message from Sakayanagi.
Meeting again? What trick does she have up her sleeve this time?
He replied, "Sure. But I hope this time it's a real 'exchange of information,' not another test."
Sakayanagi replied almost at once: "I promise it'll be useful. After all, if the opponent is too weak, the game isn't much fun, is it?"
Ayanokoji put down his phone and opened the System Interface.
[Tactical Deduction (Intermediate)] activated. Simulating what might happen tomorrow.
Scenario One: Sakayanagi sets a verbal trap during the meeting, trying to get information out of him. Probability: 70%.
Scenario Two: The meeting is a pretext, and the real goal is to lure him away so she can target other Class D students. Probability: 40%.
Scenario Three: She really does share some information, but mixes truth with lies. Probability: 65%.
Whatever happened, he had to go.
[Situation Insight (Beginner)] automatically analyzing the current movements of each class:
Class A (Sakayanagi Arisu): Strategy shifting to "testing and observation." Interest in the host continues to increase.
Class C (Ryuen Kakeru): Clear intent to retaliate; likely to resort to physical sabotage.
Class B (Honami Ichinose): Alliance remains stable, but faces pressure from Class A to join them. Signs of internal wavering detected (some students have been meeting privately with Class A).
Within Class D: Kushida Kikyo's recent behavior has been unusual. She has been in frequent contact with students from Classes A and C (high priority for observation).
Kushida Kikyo...
She had always been a potential liability. After Karuizawa mentioned that Kushida had met with Sakayanagi, Ayanokoji had kept an eye on her. Now, it seemed she really might be working behind the scenes.
How should he handle it?
Confronting her directly might alert her. But leaving her alone could cause problems.
Perhaps... he could use her.
A plan began to take shape in Ayanokoji's mind.
He picked up his phone and messaged Karuizawa: "During training tomorrow, find a chance to 'accidentally' let Kushida see our fake relay order."
A few minutes later, Karuizawa replied: "Fake relay order? Since when do we have a fake one?"
"Make one now. Put Sudo in the first leg and me in the last. Arrange everyone else however you like. Keep it discreet, but make sure Kushida can 'happen' to find it."
"...Got it. Who do you want her to pass it to?"
"Anyone who wants to know." Ayanokoji replied, "The fun is in mixing truth with lies."
After dealing with that, Ayanokoji climbed into bed.
Tomorrow would be another day full of schemes.
He closed his eyes.
[ Ding! The host has taken the initiative to devise a plan. Skill "Strategy" experience increased.]
[Current Strategy level: Beginner (45/100)]
The system notification flashed by.
Ayanokoji ignored it and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, at three in the afternoon, in the Chess Area at the Sports Festival venue.
The area was tucked away in a side hall off the main venue. It had only a few tables and chessboards, and hardly anyone had signed up. Apart from Ayanokoji and Sakayanagi, there were only two students who looked like they'd entered just to make up the numbers.
Sakayanagi Arisu had already arrived. Seated in her wheelchair, she had a chessboard set up in front of her.
"Right on time," she said with a smile. "Shall we play a game? The preliminary round starts in twenty minutes."
"Sure." Ayanokoji sat across from her.
"Shall we draw lots?"
"You can play red," Ayanokoji said.
Sakayanagi didn't argue. She moved her cannon. "So, about the new loophole you found in the rules..."
"Is this what you meant by 'sharing'?" Ayanokoji moved his horse to block the cannon's path.
"Of course." Sakayanagi moved her other cannon. "I found something quite interesting. There's a note in the scoring rules for team events: 'If a competition is interrupted due to force majeure, the completed portion will be scored proportionally.'"
She looked up. "But what counts as 'force majeure'? If someone deliberately creates a disturbance, does that count?"
"Such as?"
"Perhaps... a sudden fire alarm." Sakayanagi smiled as she captured one of Ayanokoji's pawns. "Or equipment failure. Or a student suddenly falling ill."
Ayanokoji moved his chariot. "You're planning to cause a disturbance during a competition and interrupt it?"
"Not me." Sakayanagi shook her head. "But I think someone might. And the target is likely to be your Class D."
"Ryuen."
"Clever." Sakayanagi nodded. "So I suggest you check your track, the exchange zone, and your team's equipment before the Relay Race. Especially... your running shoes."
Running shoes?
Ayanokoji felt a chill.
If someone tampered with the shoes—loosening the laces, smearing oil on the soles, or even damaging the spikes—it could easily cause an accident at full speed.
"Why tell me this?" Ayanokoji asked. "Helping an opponent prevent danger isn't like you."
"Because I want an exciting game, not a boring rout," Sakayanagi answered seriously. "If your runners have to withdraw because of such a low-level trick, that would be no fun at all."
She moved her chariot and put his king in check.
"Besides," she added, "this is a test, too. I want to see how you respond when you know there's danger. Will you become so wary that it affects your performance? Or will you stay calm and deal with the crisis?"
Ayanokoji moved his guard to block the attack.
"I'll be careful. Thanks for the warning."
"You're welcome." Sakayanagi smiled. "Shall we continue?"
They continued their game. Twenty minutes later, the preliminary round began—which was really just a match between the two of them, since the other two students had withdrawn early.
In the end, Sakayanagi Arisu won. Her playing style was subtle yet sharp, and every move concealed another plan.
"Well played." She nodded slightly.
"You outplayed me." Ayanokoji stood up. "Then I'll see you at the Sports Festival tomorrow."
"I look forward to seeing how you do."
After leaving the Chess Area, Ayanokoji immediately messaged Hirata: "Check all the Relay Race team's equipment, especially their running shoes. Inspect everything inside and out. Don't miss a single detail."
Then he messaged Ibuki: "Come by my dorm after training today. We need to talk."
At seven that evening, in Ayanokoji's dorm room.
Mio Ibuki arrived on time. She looked wary. "What couldn't you say in the classroom?"
"It's about safety tomorrow." Ayanokoji closed the door. "Sakayanagi Arisu warned me that someone might tamper with our running shoes. You used to be in Class C. What methods are they most likely to use?"
Ibuki thought for a moment. "If it's Ryuen... he likes simple, direct methods. For example, cutting halfway through the stitching on the laces. You wouldn't notice it normally, but they'd snap as soon as you put weight on them. Or slipping small stones under the insoles. They wouldn't cause trouble during a short practice, but on a long run they'd rub blisters."
"What else?"
"And..." Ibuki hesitated. "Shiho Manabe is good at fine handiwork. If it's her, she might put a clear adhesive in the grooves of the soles. They'd have normal traction at first, but would become slippery when exposed to sweat or water."
Ayanokoji committed all of it to memory.
"Also," Ibuki continued, "if Ryuen wants to create a disturbance and interrupt the competition, he's most likely to use smoke bombs or smoke canisters. There are plenty of fire exits around the Sports Festival venue. Setting one off in any corner would cause a panic."
"Can you prevent it?"
"I can make a round of the venue tonight and check the hidden corners," Ibuki said. "But I can't guarantee I'll find anything. If Ryuen has someone bring something in tomorrow, there's no way to guard against it."
"Just do your best," Ayanokoji said. "Also, during tomorrow's events, keep an eye on the audience. Especially the areas where Class C students are gathered. If anyone acts suspiciously, tell me immediately."
"Got it."
After Ibuki left, Ayanokoji opened the System Interface again.
[Tactical Deduction (Intermediate)] running at full capacity. Simulating every possible mishap tomorrow.
Scenario One: Running shoes are tampered with, causing a runner to fall and get hurt. Probability: 50%.
Scenario Two: A smoke bomb causes a disturbance and interrupts the competition. Probability: 30%.
Scenario Three: The substitute rule is abused, and Class A suddenly puts in a hidden ace. Probability: 80%.
Scenario Four: The false information passed along by Kushida Kikyo takes effect, causing the opponent to make a tactical mistake. Probability: 60%.
Scenario Five: ...Unknown factor. Probability: 15%.
There was still an unknown factor.
What could it be?
Ayanokoji frowned. He felt as if he'd overlooked something.
Just then, his phone vibrated. A message from Honami Ichinose:
"Ayanokoji, there's something I should tell you. Tetsuya Hamaguchi from our class was asked to meet by Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class A today. Afterward, she seemed a little... unsure about our alliance strategy for tomorrow."
Tetsuya Hamaguchi, a girl from Class B with decent athletic ability, had signed up for the Team Obstacle Race.
Hashimoto Masayoshi, a troublemaker from Class A, was impulsive and liked using violence.
"What did they talk about?"
"I don't know. Hamaguchi won't say." Ichinose replied. "But I think Class A might be trying to poach someone from us. Be careful on your end, too. They may have persuaded someone in Class B to defect."
An internal problem within the alliance.
That might be the "unknown factor."
"I understand. Thanks for the warning."
After ending the exchange, Ayanokoji leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
The Sports Festival hadn't even started, yet the hidden conflict was already so fierce.
Ryuen's threat of violence, Sakayanagi's psychological games, Class B's internal wavering, and Class D's own potential liabilities...
Tomorrow, when the events officially began, all these undercurrents would rise to the surface.
And he had to make sure Class D held its ground in the storm.
[ Ding! The host is facing multiple crises. Emergency mission triggered: Helmsman in the Storm.]
[Mission requirements: During the Sports Festival, successfully foil at least three malicious actions targeting Class D (physical sabotage, Rule Traps, psychological warfare, etc.).]
[Mission rewards: Depending on the number of actions foiled and their outcomes, receive "Crisis Management" ability and a large number of points.]
[Failure penalty: Class D's Sports Festival ranking will fall, and alliance relations will suffer.]
A new mission had appeared, and it was a difficult one.
But Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't back down.
He opened his eyes, his gaze calm and resolute.
Come on.
Let this storm get even fiercer.
Tomorrow, they'd settle things on the field.
Before you continue