The outcome was settled

During the second homeroom period, the entire school gathered in the gym.

Over four hundred students sat on the floor in two large camps, divided into red and white teams.

Takahashi Ren glanced around. Students from different years were mixed together, and the atmosphere was more subdued than he had expected.

Up front, several students stepped onto the stage. Leading them was a tall, solidly built boy, who surveyed the entire room once he reached the front.

"I'm Fujimaki from Class 3-A, the red team's overall commander."

He did not use a microphone, but his voice still carried clearly to the back rows. Takahashi Ren had expected the Student Council president to preside, but apparently not.

"First, a word of advice for the first-years."

Fujimaki paused. "The sports festival matters. Remember that first. The experience you gain at the sports festival will definitely come in useful later. In future exams, you'll encounter plenty of things that look like games. But every single one will affect whether you can stay at this school."

Fujimaki's words all but spelled out that this sports festival was another form of special exam.

"You might not feel that yet, and you might not be motivated," Fujimaki added. "But if you're taking part, go in intending to win. Keep that in mind as something we all agree on."

Takahashi Ren tilted his head and saw several first-years in the front rows straighten their backs, as though something had pressed against the backs of their necks.

Fujimaki continued, "The only event involving multiple years is the final 1,200-meter relay. All the others are competitions within each year. Now separate by year and discuss your own plans."

As soon as Fujimaki finished, Katsuragi brought Class A over to gather around.

The Class D students seemed somewhat timid, looking a little nervous in front of Class A.

Takahashi Ren spotted a student with light brown hair among Class D. It was Ayanokoji.

So he was in Class D too, just like Kushida.

"We'll be fighting together in a rather unusual format, but I look forward to working with you." Katsuragi spoke first, his tone calm. "If possible, I'd like us to avoid disputes and cooperate where we can."

A gentle-looking boy stepped forward from Class D.

"I feel the same way, Katsuragi. We're the ones who should be asking for your cooperation."

The speaker was Yosuke Hirata. He was one of Class D's central figures, with a gentle personality and a very good reputation.

Hirata and Katsuragi stood facing each other and exchanged nods, establishing their mutual willingness to cooperate.

Takahashi Ren stood at the back, listening to their pleasantries.

Class A had little to gain from teaming up with last-place Class D, but it was better than undermining each other. Rather than trust, this was an unspoken understanding reached to avoid trouble.

"While I imagine each class has its own plans-"

Katsuragi had barely begun when a commotion suddenly broke out on the other side of the gym.

"Aren't you going to discuss anything?"

A clear female voice carried through the crowd. Everyone turned. It was Ichinose Honami from Class B. She was staring at several people who had already turned their backs-Ryuen Kakeru among them.

Ryuuen looked back, his hands still in his pockets, a hint of mockery at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm leaving for your own good," he said. "Even if I sat down and talked about cooperating, you wouldn't believe me. We'd just end up probing each other, wouldn't we? A waste of time."

"Really?" Ichinose's tone was light, but the way she drew out the last word carried plenty of meaning. "So you're saving us the trouble."

"Exactly. Remember to thank me."

Ryuuen smiled and, without giving her another chance to speak, turned and left with Class C.

"You're certainly confident," Ichinose said. "You can win without cooperating?"

"Who knows?"

Ryuuen left her with those words without looking back. Class C followed him out of the gym like an ebbing tide.

Ryuuen had left far too decisively. So decisively that it was impossible to tell whether he did not need cooperation or simply did not want to trust anyone.

Either way, it was bad news for Class B, who were on his team.

"Class C and Class B got paired together. Class B's really got it rough," someone nearby muttered.

Katsuragi drew his gaze back, turned toward Class D, and said:

"Class D is our partner this time, so there's something I want to say up front. Don't underestimate Ryuuen. He'll approach you with a smile, then strike without warning. Let your guard down, and you'll pay dearly."

"Thank you for the warning," Horikita replied. "But judging by your tone, are you speaking from experience?"

Katsuragi did not answer directly, only saying, "In any case, I've warned you."

With that, he returned to his original position and said no more.

Elsewhere, a figure drew the attention of the vast majority of Class D.

A girl sat alone on a chair, her back straight, her hands resting lightly on her cane and her gaze lowered. Anyone could see that she had some difficulty walking.

"Her name is Sakayanagi Arisu," Katsuragi explained. "For health reasons, she needs to sit on a chair. I hope you'll understand."

"So that's Sakayanagi..."

A few quiet murmurs rose from Class D.

"Isn't she super cute?"

Takahashi Ren could guess what expressions the Class D boys were wearing without even looking.

Sakayanagi's appearance really was far too deceptive. Petite and fair-skinned, with silver hair, she sat there quietly like a doll displayed in a shop window.

Anyone seeing her for the first time would easily feel a little protective of her.

Yet the boys could not fool around as usual and go up to talk to her.

She had done nothing at all, merely sitting there quietly, yet she gave them a vague sense that something bad would happen if they approached her carelessly.

Takahashi Ren knew that feeling. He had already experienced it at the shopping center.

Noticing the attention on her, Sakayanagi smiled gently.

"Unfortunately, I won't be able to contribute as a competitor. I'll be forfeiting every event."

She lowered her eyes slightly. "I'm sure I've caused trouble for both my own class and Class D. Please allow me to apologize for that at the outset."

"I don't think you need to apologize. No one will hold that against you," Hirata said gently.

"The school really is heartless. If she has a physical disability, why not just exempt her from the exam?" someone in Class D complained quietly.

"Exactly. Don't let it bother you."

Sakayanagi responded with a smile. "Thank you for your concern."

Her manner was polite and well-behaved, almost entirely unlike the highly aggressive image described in the rumors. But Takahashi Ren knew that was merely the side she was willing to show people.

All it took was a little attention to where Class A stood to see the dividing line.

Yahiko and a few others still stayed beside Katsuragi, but those few were all he had left. Almost everyone else clustered around Sakayanagi.

Last term, the two sides had still barely been able to hold their own against each other. Now Katsuragi's weakness was plain to see.

Takahashi Ren stood among the Sakayanagi Faction.

Katsuragi could not hold on much longer. Sakayanagi's rise was only a matter of time. Staying neutral would only make him stand out more.

And Sakayanagi merely sat there quietly, as though boasting without a word-look, the outcome is settled.

Sakayanagi only apologized for being unable to help, then did not interrupt again. She appeared to be merely observing Katsuragi and Hirata's actions.

Perhaps she was only behaving herself because she knew she would be of no use at the sports festival.

Katsuragi seemed not to notice her gaze and continued confirming their respective plans with Hirata.

Takahashi Ren stopped dwelling on it and returned his attention to their conversation.

"As for how we cooperate, I think simply not interfering with each other will be enough. Is that acceptable?" Katsuragi said.

"In other words, we won't discuss our arrangements for individual events in detail?" Hirata confirmed.

"Right. Laying too much out could instead become a spark for conflict. If information leaked to Class C or Class B, Class D would be our first suspect, and our cooperation would definitely run into problems."

"Besides, spending time analyzing the capabilities of Class D, who are supposed to be our partners, would only create more trouble. We should help each other as equals and compete as equals. That's the safest approach."

Hirata did not answer immediately. He seemed to turn Katsuragi's words over in his head before nodding. "Perhaps you're right. I'm well aware that trust isn't so easily built at this school."

He looked at Katsuragi, his tone as gentle as ever. "Although we're partners as a team, ultimately, we're still competitors."

Katsuragi gave a grunt of agreement and did not deny it.

Hirata turned back and quietly checked a few things with the Class D students beside him. No one objected. Horikita simply stood to one side without interrupting, either.

Neither side could possibly trust the other immediately, much less reveal every card they held. In that case, maintaining a suitable distance was actually the easiest choice.

"However," Hirata spoke again, "there are some things in the team events that do need to be discussed beforehand. It should be all right to arrange another discussion about those later, shouldn't it?"

"That would be best," Katsuragi said. "We'll discuss them within our class first, too."

"Sorry for the trouble."

The two exchanged no further pleasantries. Their conversation was brisk and to the point.