The second day of the Sports Festival, 6:30 a.m.
The atmosphere in the main stadium was even more tense than yesterday. After the fierce competition and various unexpected incidents on the first day, relations among the four classes had reached a breaking point.
In the Class A section, Kohei Katsuragi was addressing the students, who wore serious expressions. Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her wheelchair with a hardcover book open on her lap, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around her. Every so often, though, her gaze drifted toward Class D.
In the Class C section, a small group had gathered around Ryuen Kakeru as he quietly assigned them something. Albert rolled his shoulders, glaring viciously at Class D's Ken Sudō. Although Sudō had injured his ankle, Ryuen's anger had clearly shifted to all of Class D—and especially Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
The atmosphere in the Class B section was somewhat complicated. Honami Ichinose tried to maintain her usual gentle smile, but the shadow left by the Tetsuya Hamaguchi incident was obvious. A few girls, including Mitsuki Shibata (note: this refers to the Class B girl Mitsuki Shibata, not Shibata Hitomi, mistakenly used in the previous chapter), huddled together and whispered, glancing at Classes A and D from time to time.
In the Class D section, Yosuke Hirata was giving his final words of encouragement. "Today's individual events are our key to earning points! Everyone, do your best, but safety comes first. Understand?"
"Understood!"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood at the edge of the group, looking over the schedule in his hands. Today's main events included:
Morning:
Men's 1,500-meter race (Yukimura, Hondo)
Women's 800-meter race (Karuizawa, Sakura)
Martial arts exhibition match (Ayanokoji vs. Albert)—this event had only been added to the schedule yesterday
Afternoon:
High jump (Horikita)
Swimming relay (Sudō was out due to injury, so the team would need to adjust)
Closing ceremony and awards
The martial arts exhibition match... Ayanokoji's gaze lingered on it. This was obviously Ryuen's doing. His goal was to "teach him a lesson" in front of everyone.
"Ayanokoji, that Albert..." Hirata approached, looking concerned. "He's a karate black belt, and he's incredibly strong. Be careful."
"I know," Ayanokoji said calmly. The night before, he had already used [Tactical Deduction (Intermediate)] to simulate a fight against Albert. His estimated chance of winning was around 75 percent. But that was only a theoretical figure; the actual fight could take an unexpected turn.
At exactly seven, Horikita Manabu announced the start of the second day's events.
The first event of the morning was the men's 1,500-meter race.
As Yukimura and Hondo took their places at the starting line, the Class C runners gave them taunting smiles. When the gun fired, the two Class C students immediately adopted a tactical approach. They weren't trying to win; instead, they stayed close to Yukimura and Hondo throughout the race, constantly jostling and blocking them, even secretly tugging at them.
"That's so obvious!" someone shouted from the stands.
But from the judges' vantage point, those little tricks were difficult to see. Yukimura tried to speed up and shake them off, but the other runner clung to him. During the final 300-meter sprint, one of the Class C students "accidentally" kicked off Yukimura's shoe.
Yukimura stumbled and nearly fell, ultimately finishing in fourth place. Hondo came in fifth.
When they returned to the Class D section, Yukimura was white with anger. "They did it on purpose!"
"Calm down." Ayanokoji put a hand on his shoulder. "They want to provoke us and make us lose control in the events ahead."
"And we're just going to let them get away with it?"
"Of course not." Ayanokoji looked toward Ryuen in the distance. "But we have to choose the right time to strike back."
Next came the women's 800-meter race, in which Kei Karuizawa and Airi Sakura competed. Class C had no female runners in this event, but Class A did.
When the race began, Karuizawa ran near the front, with Sakura close behind. But on the bend during the final 100 meters, a Class A girl suddenly sped up. As she overtook Sakura, her elbow "accidentally" struck Sakura's shoulder.
Sakura cried out and lost her balance, falling to the ground. She had scraped large patches of skin off her knees and elbows, and blood immediately began to seep out.
"Sakura!" Karuizawa turned around, saw what had happened, and immediately ran back.
The judge blew the whistle and stopped the race. The medical team rushed onto the track.
"I... I'm fine..." Sakura said, fighting back tears, but she couldn't stand.
By the time Ayanokoji and Hirata reached them, Sakura had already been placed on a stretcher.
"How is she?" Hirata asked the doctor.
"She has severe scrapes on her knees and needs them disinfected and bandaged. Her elbows are scraped too. She can't compete in any more events today." The doctor shook his head.
Karuizawa helped Sakura to the infirmary. Before leaving, she glanced at Ayanokoji, her eyes full of anger.
This was already Class D's third injured competitor.
"Ryuen... and Class A..." Hirata clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
Ayanokoji said nothing. He looked toward the platform, where Horikita Manabu was speaking with several teachers, his expression stern. The string of "accidents" had clearly drawn the school's attention.
But the competition had to continue.
At 9:30 a.m., in the center of the main stadium.
"The martial arts exhibition match is about to begin!" the announcer called. "Competitors—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of Class D and Albert Yeel of Class C—please come to the ring!"
Everyone's attention shifted to them.
The martial arts exhibition match was a new event added to this year's Sports Festival. It followed simplified mixed martial arts rules: attacks to vital areas were prohibited, while throws, joint locks, and pins were allowed. The match ended when someone tapped out or the referee declared a winner.
The ring was temporary, with padded flooring. Albert was already standing in one corner. Wearing only athletic shorts, he showed off his powerful build as he finished stretching. Nearly two meters tall and weighing over a hundred kilograms, he looked like a ferocious beast in human form.
Ayanokoji entered the ring from the opposite side. He wore ordinary athletic clothes and looked slight by comparison.
"The difference in height and weight is ridiculous..."
"How is he supposed to fight him?"
"Class C is obviously out for revenge..."
The spectators murmured among themselves.
After briefly explaining the rules, the referee signaled for them to touch gloves.
Albert looked down at Ayanokoji and spoke in broken Japanese. "Ryuen told me... to break one of your arms."
He was blunt and made no effort to hide it.
"You can try," Ayanokoji replied calmly.
The instant their fists touched, Albert suddenly surged forward, his massive fist flying straight at Ayanokoji's face!
A sucker punch right at the start!
"How despicable!" the spectators cried.
But Ayanokoji reacted even faster. [Insight (Beginner)] had already picked up on the slight contraction in Albert's muscles, and [Combat Mastery (Master)] let his body respond instinctively.
A sidestep, a duck, a step forward—all in one fluid motion.
Albert's fist grazed Ayanokoji's hair. At the same time, Ayanokoji slipped inside Albert's reach and slammed his right palm into Albert's ribs.
"Thump!"
A dull impact echoed. Albert grunted and staggered half a step back.
Ayanokoji had won the first exchange.
"Oh?" Sakayanagi Arisu leaned forward slightly in her wheelchair, a spark of interest in her eyes.
Ryuen Kakeru's expression darkened.
In the ring, Albert rubbed his ribs, his gaze turning serious. No longer underestimating his opponent, he adopted a proper fighting stance and slowly closed in.
The two began to circle each other. Albert probed for openings while Ayanokoji kept his distance, studying his opponent's habits.
Thirty seconds later, Albert suddenly swept low, aiming for Ayanokoji's supporting leg. It was a vicious move; if the kick landed, it could injure Ayanokoji's knee.
Ayanokoji didn't try to take the blow. He hopped lightly and kicked at Albert's shin at the same time.
"Smack!"
A precise hit. Albert winced in pain, and his attack slowed.
But that was exactly what Albert had wanted! The instant Ayanokoji landed, Albert suddenly lunged forward, arms spread wide, trying to pin him down with his weight.
A "bear hug" from jiu-jitsu—once caught, it would be difficult to escape the difference in strength.
Rather than retreating, Ayanokoji advanced. Just before Albert could grab him, Ayanokoji suddenly lowered his body and executed a textbook judo [Osoto Gari]!
Turning his opponent's strength against him!
Albert's huge body was lifted by the force of his own momentum and flung through the air, crashing heavily onto the padded floor.
"Boom!"
The crowd erupted.
"Beautiful!"
"Incredible!"
"That Ayanokoji... he's actually this strong?!"
Albert struggled to get up, but Ayanokoji was already on him. He caught Albert's wrist with his right hand and pinned his shoulder with his left leg—a textbook [Juji Gatame]!
If the hold were fully locked in, Albert's arm could be dislocated.
"Do you give up?" Ayanokoji asked.
Albert gritted his teeth and tried to break free, but with his joint locked, he couldn't put his strength to use.
The referee began counting. "One, two..."
Just as everyone thought the match was decided, a crazed glint suddenly flashed in Albert's eyes. Ignoring the risk of injuring his arm, he threw all his strength into a sudden roll!
"Crack!"
The sound of a joint popping out of place made everyone wince.
Albert forcibly escaped the armbar, but at the cost of dislocating his right elbow. He seemed not to feel the pain at all as he swung his left fist at Ayanokoji's head!
Ayanokoji rolled out of the way, the punch grazing his cheek.
The two pulled apart again. Albert stood upright, his right arm hanging unnaturally at his side, but he didn't seem to care.
"He's crazy... that guy's insane..." someone muttered from the stands.
Ryuen Kakeru smiled, his grin twisted and savage. This was exactly the outcome he wanted: either Ayanokoji would be seriously injured, or Albert would show everyone how "crazy" Class C could be and intimidate them all.
In the ring, Ayanokoji's expression changed for the first time. It wasn't fear, but cold appraisal.
[System, analyze the opponent's condition.]
[Analyzing... The target's adrenaline is surging, temporarily suppressing his pain. However, his right arm is unusable. His attacks will rely more on his left hand and legs. Weaknesses: impaired balance and an open right side.]
Understood.
Ayanokoji took a deep breath and resumed his stance.
Albert charged again, this time with a left jab followed by a right low kick. Even with his right arm unusable, he was still attacking with his right leg.
Ayanokoji neither dodged nor flinched. Just as the fist was about to hit his face, he suddenly ducked, slipping past the punch and driving straight into Albert's chest.
Close-range strikes!
"Thud, thud, thud, thud!"
A rapid series of blows. Ayanokoji's fists, elbows, and knees rained down on Albert's abdomen, ribs, and thighs.
Albert tried to grab Ayanokoji with his left hand, but Ayanokoji smoothly deflected him each time. He tried to pin Ayanokoji down with his weight, but Ayanokoji slipped around like an eel.
Twenty seconds, thirty seconds...
Albert's breathing grew ragged. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain was coming back. His dislocated right arm throbbed, and his left hand was growing slower with every attack.
Finally, a knee strike landed on his abdomen, and Albert bent over, his movement faltering for an instant.
Now!
Ayanokoji circled to Albert's right, raised his right leg high, and brought it down in a precise axe kick to the back of Albert's neck!
It wasn't an attack on a vital area, but it was enough to briefly deprive his brain of oxygen.
Albert's vision went black. His massive frame swayed, then crashed to the ground.
The referee rushed over and counted. "One, two, three... ten!"
"Match over! The winner is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of Class D!"
After a brief silence, thunderous applause broke out.
Ayanokoji stood in the ring, breathing slightly hard, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, but his gaze remained calm. He looked down at Ryuen.
Ryuen Kakeru was looking back at him. Their gazes collided.
Neither said a word, but the meaning was clear:
You lost.
At lunchtime, in the infirmary.
Ayanokoji went to check on Airi Sakura. Her knee had been bandaged, but blood was still seeping through.
"I'm sorry..." Sakura said, her eyes red. "I couldn't earn any points..."
"It wasn't your fault," Ayanokoji said. "Someone from Class A deliberately knocked into you. The judge has already disqualified her."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Ayanokoji nodded. "President Horikita handled it personally. That girl has been barred from competing in any more events."
It was a small measure of justice.
Kei Karuizawa was also in the infirmary with Sakura. When she saw Ayanokoji, she came over and spoke quietly. "I found out something."
"About what?"
"Sakayanagi Arisu," Karuizawa said. "She isn't competing in any individual events this afternoon, but... she applied to be a 'special referee' for the swimming relay."
A special referee? The swimming relay?
Ayanokoji frowned. The swimming relay was the final event of the afternoon, and it was worth a lot of points. Sakayanagi had to have a reason for applying to be a referee.
"Anything else?"
"About Class B..." Karuizawa hesitated. "Tetsuya Hamaguchi withdrew from the competition. Ichinose said he was 'feeling unwell,' but I heard he received an anonymous letter with... more detailed photos of his younger brother."
Ayanokoji's gaze turned cold.
Class A was resorting to anything and everything. First, they had used underhanded tactics to make Hamaguchi "mess up" during the tug-of-war. Now they were pressuring him again, forcing him to withdraw completely and weakening Class B.
"Also..." Karuizawa lowered her voice further. "I noticed Kushida Kikyo spending a lot of time with Shiho Manabe from Class C this morning. They went to the restroom together twice, and each time they were gone for quite a while."
Kushida Kikyo and Shiho Manabe? How had those two ended up together?
Ayanokoji remembered that Manabe was the girl who had tried to poison someone on the Uninhabited Island. Ryuen had humiliated her in public, so she must have held a grudge. And Kushida... had always been hostile toward Ayanokoji.
What might the two of them do if they teamed up?
"Keep an eye on them," Ayanokoji said. "But don't get too close. Be careful not to let them notice you."
"Got it."
After leaving the infirmary, Ayanokoji ran into Suzune Horikita in the hallway.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"How are you feeling about the high jump this afternoon?"
"If I perform normally, I should be able to place in the top three." Horikita paused. "But I heard Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class A signed up for the high jump too. He might try something underhanded."
Hashimoto Masayoshi, a troublesome Class A student with an impulsive personality who liked using violence. The Class A girl who had knocked Sakura down that morning had acted on his orders.
"Be careful," Ayanokoji said. "If he does anything suspicious, give up the event rather than risk getting hurt."
"I know."
They walked in silence for a while. Then Horikita suddenly asked, "About this morning's match... why do you know how to fight?"
"I've learned a little."
"Just 'a little'?" Horikita looked at him. "You can't reach that level by casually picking it up."
Ayanokoji didn't answer. There were things he couldn't talk about.
Horikita didn't press him. Instead, she changed the subject. "My brother asked me to tell you that the Student Council will be keeping a closer eye on this afternoon's matches. But some 'accidents' are hard to prove were deliberate, even when you know they were."
"I understand."
"So the best defense is to make their methods useless." Horikita stopped walking. "You have to win—and win so decisively that they have nothing to say."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Ayanokoji watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.
Before you continue