Dispersal

Shiraishi and Nishikawa stood behind the tent, some distance from the crowd.

"Looks like things went pretty smoothly," Nishikawa said quietly.

"Yes." Shiraishi wiped the dust off her palms with a wet wipe, a faint smile on her lips.

Over the past few days, Takahashi Ren had stopped instinctively stepping back whenever she approached, as he had at first.

Tying their legs together, steadying his shoulder, handing him water-little by little, he had slowly accepted it all and grown used to her presence.

"Was Yoshida's reaction just now part of your plan too?" Nishikawa asked.

"I couldn't guarantee he would react that way," Shiraishi said. "I just took advantage of the situation."

"That scene he made actually helped you," Nishikawa said. "You stood up for him in front of all those people. No matter how distant Takahashi is, he ought to remember what you did for him."

"He isn't distant. He just keeps boundaries with people he doesn't know well," Shiraishi said. "But this alone isn't enough."

"Not enough?" Nishikawa sounded a little surprised. "Any ordinary boy would definitely have fallen for you after everything you've done."

Shiraishi shook her head gently.

"He isn't that kind of person."

There was a measure of certainty in her voice. "That's why I need to spend a little more time. Picking the fruit will be more enjoyable once it's truly ripe."

Takahashi Ren walked through the school building. The students were all out on the field, leaving the building quiet, with only his own footsteps sounding in the corridor.

He thought about the series of events just now.

Shiraishi's fall had surprised him a little.

Aside from that first time during practice, she had never fallen again.

Besides, Shiraishi had been a little different from usual today-before the race, she had suddenly said she wanted to win for once, then fallen just because another pair overtook them when she had been running perfectly well.

He couldn't put his finger on it. Something simply felt off.

Without evidence, he couldn't draw a conclusion on a feeling alone. But it couldn't hurt to stay alert.

With that thought, he entered the restroom.

"Did you come to laugh at me?" Yoshida asked hoarsely from beside the sinks, his eyes still red.

"I don't have that much time on my hands," Takahashi Ren said.

Yoshida stared at him, then turned his face away.

"I... shouldn't have said those things."

"Looks like you've calmed down."

Yoshida sniffed and raised a hand to rub his eyes hard.

"I don't actually hate you. I just have some resentment toward you."

"I know," Takahashi Ren said. "You like Shiraishi, so you can't stand me. It's understandable."

Yoshida froze completely.

He opened his mouth but made no sound. Only after a while did he force a few words out of his throat. "You... you knew all along?"

"It was obvious."

"Then why did you stay silent the whole time?" Yoshida asked.

"Since you didn't want people to know, there was no need for me to expose it in front of everyone."

"You were still looking out for me then?"

"Bringing that up in public would only have made things worse. This way, people will just think we have a personal grudge."

Takahashi Ren said, "Besides, we're in the same class. We see each other every day. There's no need to burn bridges."

"Compared to you, I really am..." Yoshida trailed off, forcing a smile. "Ashamed of myself."

"You did show some restraint today," Takahashi Ren said. "You didn't completely lose control in front of everyone, so you managed to leave yourself a little dignity."

"But who you like is your own business."

Takahashi Ren looked at him, his gaze cold and sharp. "Don't take your feelings out on me again. There won't be a next time."

"It won't happen again." Yoshida smiled self-mockingly. "She doesn't like me. It was one-sided from start to finish."

By the time Takahashi Ren washed his hands, Yoshida had already left.

Yoshida wasn't a bad person. He had simply been carried away by his emotions. If he was willing to move on now, that was enough.

He walked out of the school building and spotted Ai Morishita beside a nearby landscaped strip.

"Morishita, what are you doing here?"

"Admiring the grass."

Takahashi Ren followed her gaze. Aside from neatly trimmed shrubs, the landscaped strip held only a few clumps of weeds he couldn't name.

"I've heard of admiring flowers, the moon, and autumn beauties, but never grass," he said.

"How shallow. You only look at pretty things, without realizing that grass is far more interesting than flowers."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"However beautiful flowers and the moon are, their beauty is fleeting. Grass is different. No matter the wind or sun, it keeps standing tall. As trailblazers of a new era, we shouldn't focus only on beautiful appearances. We should learn from the resilience and tenacity of grass..."

After listening, Takahashi Ren nodded. "Thank you for the lesson, Professor Morishita."

Ai Morishita gave a satisfied hum and assumed a teacher's air. "Good. You're a promising pupil."

"Then is there anything else you'd like to teach me, Professor?" Takahashi Ren played along.

"That's enough for today. This lesson was rather profound. I'm afraid you might not be able to digest it all." She clasped her hands behind her back. "Come on. Let's go back to the field."

"Yes, Professor," Takahashi Ren said.

The two walked back side by side.

Ai Morishita suddenly spoke. "Did you run into Yoshida Kenta just now?"

"Yes," Takahashi Ren said.

"Is he all right?" she asked.

"I talked to him for a while. He's calmed down now. We cleared up the misunderstanding too."

"Oh."

Ai Morishita asked no more.

"Thanks," Takahashi Ren said without looking at her.

"What are you thanking me for?" Ai Morishita tilted her head, as though she genuinely didn't know.

"Nothing." He paused, then smiled. "Just teasing."

"How boring," Ai Morishita said.

He was still in the mood to joke. It seemed she had worried for nothing.

When they returned to the field, the last event had just ended. The Sports Festival was drawing to a close.

At the closing ceremony, every student looked toward the enormous electronic noticeboard. The Red and White Teams' total scores began to roll, the numbers climbing steadily.

"We will now announce the results of this year's Sports Festival-"

The final scores stopped. The Red Team had won.

A wave of sighs and applause rose across the field. Yet although the Red Team had won on total points, the gains and losses for individuals and classes were more tangible.

The noticeboard then listed the class rankings for each year. Takahashi Ren looked straight at the first-year section.

First place: Class 1-B

Second place: Class 1-C

Third place: Class 1-A

Fourth place: Class 1-D

The first-year Most Outstanding Athlete award went to Shibata Hayate of Class B.

Looking at the second and third years, Class A had taken an overwhelming first place in both, while Class D had placed second and third. The hierarchy within those years was frighteningly stable.

By contrast, among the first years, although the Red Team had won, Class A had ranked only third overall and lost fifty points. Class D had finished last and lost a hundred points.

Class C had lost along with the White Team and also lost a hundred points. Class B had ranked first overall, but with the White Team's defeat, its gains and deductions left it with only fifty points.

Not a single first-year class had truly won this Sports Festival.

The closing ceremony ended after the results were announced. The students were told to disperse where they stood, and half had already begun heading toward the school building in twos and threes.

The Sports Festival had taken up the entire day, and most people walked with heavy steps.

Takahashi Ren followed the crowd slowly toward the classroom. The cheers on the field had faded away, leaving only the teachers putting away equipment.

There would be no club activities today. Once they returned to the dorms, probably no one would want to go anywhere else.