The instant the signal sounded, Sudou got off to a strong start. His
starting dash had the best time of any I’d seen thus far. He launched himself
forward with such momentum that, after his first stride, he managed to pass
eleven people.
Ike :woah Ken that was amazing.
Shibata : Yeah ,your starting dash was really good and you even overcame 11 people.
“Whoa!” the racers shouted.
“Dude, he’s so fast!”
The second-year guys and girls were left to struggle desperately for a
position, and got caught up in a chaotic free-for-all. Sudou, taking advantage
of that opening, continued to leave the others in the dust. When he finished
his leg of the relay, he’d secured an advantage of at least fifteen meters.
“It’s up to you, Hirata!”
Hirata fan girls : Kyaaa it's hirata‐kun's turn.
Class D brimmed with excitement. Sudou passed the baton to the next
runner, Hirata. As a man who excelled in both studies and sports, he was
glorious. The racers chased Hirata, one after another, but they couldn’t reduce
the gap we’d created. We maintained our lead as we transitioned to the third
runner, Onodera.
This was where problems might start. For a girl, Onodera was fast, but
the guys chasing her were starting to close in. A guy from the second-year
Class A overtook her as she ran.
New students ran one after another. One third-year Class A guy also
passed Onodera, and other third- and second-year Class A students after that.
By the time Onodera passed the baton to our fourth runner, Maezono, our
lead was almost gone.
Onodera : I am really sorry for that guys.
Maezono : Yeah, I'm sorry too.
Kei : Hey come on guys, it's no problem.
Hirata : Yeah, you girls did your best. There's no need to apologize.
However, the race was full of surprises. A girl from the third-year
Class A, who was her team’s fourth runner, took a spill and fell about fifty
meters behind the runner she was supposed to pass the baton to. Panicking,
the girl tried to get back in the race, but a Class A second year took advantage
of that opening and created a significant gap.
By the time Maezono passed the baton to Kushida, our fifth runner,
Class A had overtaken Class D, and we’d fallen to seventh place.
The first-year students just couldn’t compete at the same level as the
seniors. Only Class B’s first-year students had managed to get into third
place, and their ace, Shibata, had apparently received the role of anchor. He
was waiting his turn, just like me.
As the fourth runner from the third-year Class A tumbled, the situation
between the guys in the anchor positions changed.
“Looks like victory is ours this time, President Horikita. I would’ve
liked to run against you directly, if possible.” Nagumo laughed as the second-
year Class A’s top runner approached him.
Kiryuuin : haha, then why didn't you run against him Mr.President.
Nagumo : You should already know the answer. I already received the baton.
Kiryuuin : But horikita‐senpai waited for koihai‐kun to race against him , hahaha.
Ryueen : Kukuku, who in their right mind wanna waste their time to race with Mr.notice me.
Kiryuuin : Haha , nice one ryueen.
Nagumo glared at ryueen.
There was a thirty-meter gap
between him and the third-year Class A student in second place. “Looks like
we’re going to win in overall points, too. Guess this is the dawn of a new era,
eh?”
“Do you seriously plan to change this school?” the student council
president asked.
“You’re too traditional. And even though you’re strict, you’re weak.
Your rules are too generous, and they stop people from getting expelled. All
I’m going to do is help make this school the ultimate meritocracy,” said
Nagumo.
He walked forward as he spoke, getting in position to receive the baton
as it came his way. Not too long after Nagumo nabbed it, Shibata also
received his baton. “All right! Nice! Leave the rest to me!”
Fire blazing in his eyes, Shibata chased down Nagumo. My eyes met
Horikita’s brother’s for an instant. I could tell this man was fighting some
internal struggle.
Manabu : ' As expected, he saw through me.'
“To think that you’re the anchor,” he said.
I can see all the students and the teachers were paying attention to our conversation.
“I’m just a substitute. Originally, your sister planned to be in this
position,” I replied.
Ryueen : kuku , oh poor suzune I wonder what happened to you to withdraw from that race.
Sakayanagi : fufu, What a cruel person you are Dragon boy.
Horikita didn't say anything.
Sudou : You‐
Horikita : No , sudou‐kun. Just don't pay attention to him.
Sudou clicked his tongue and didn't say anything.
Ryueen : kukuku
“I see. I suppose she’s struggling to make it through,” he responded.
Horikita had probably dreamed of having a conversation with him, or
at least telling him what she felt.
Sudou : Oh, you really wanted to talk with your brother huh.
Ryueen : I'm pretty sure she'll just act all clumsy and just stand their looking at him without opening her mouth.
Sakayanagi : Fufu , I agree.
Class D wanted to resort but Horikita stopped them from doing so.
“I’ve observed your class,” the student council president told me. “Up
until a short while ago, I thought there was no hope for you. However, I don’t
get that impression from you at all in this relay. What happened?”
“You don’t really need to pay attention to first-year Class D, though.
Right?”
“I keep an eye on every class. No exceptions,” he replied.
“I suppose, if anything’s changed, it would be your sister.”
Class D : Yes , horikita‐san has changed a lot.
“I see.” No look of surprise. He looked as composed as always.
“What about you? I can’t feel any excitement from you.”
“I’m not interested in the sports festival. I already know the outcome.”
Housen : ' That bastard knew from the beginning how it will all end up. What a beast.'
Ryueen : kukuku. ' As expected that monster knew how it all would play out.'
The class’s feelings.
Sudou’s feelings.
Horikita’s feelings.
I had no interest in any of those.
Well after that class D became a little depressed.
Kei : ' well that's how Kiyotaka is.'
Ike : Hey dude isn't that a little rude.
Horikita : Don't worry about it that's just how he is.
All I had was a single premonition.
Kanzaki : And what is that.
“You probably won’t be around to see this, but our class will become
stronger,” I told him.
When class D heard that they became really happy and energetic.
Class D : We will
“I’m not interested in such a fanciful future,” Horikita’s older brother
replied.
Class D didn't like that comment but they didn't say anything back.
As he shifted his gaze toward his teammate, I spoke. “In that case,
would you be interested in learning exactly what kind of person I am?”
All the students were suprised to hear it.
Horikita : ' Did he seriously say that.'
Ike : Ohh so now we are going to see it.
All the students became excited as they knew what was comming next.
“What?”
“If you’d like, I’ll race against you seriously,” I added.
Kei : ' Woah , kiyotaka challenged him first. Looks like even Kiyotaka have some competitive spirit , but that can't be all.'
Ryueen : ' So the monster challenged that crafty bastard huh. To think even he wants some competition. But I'm guess that's not the full story.'
Sakayanagi : ' Well there's no one in the Whitewood that can defeat him so he raced with him as he is an outsider , but I think that he had some other motives behind it.'
“You really say some interesting things. I thought you hated standing
out or getting involved. Why change that now?” he asked.
“If you give up your chance at second place in order to race me, I’ll
accept your challenge. It’s not often that a first-year and third-year have the
opportunity to compete like this, is it?”
Ike : Wow man you actually said something like that to the former president.
Sudou : Yeah man you actually challenged him.
Horikita’s brother stood still and turned to face me. “Interesting.”
Kiryuuin : Interesting, indeed.
He didn’t seem as though he was going to move at all. His team’s fifth
runner passed him the baton, looking perplexed, but the older Horikita took it
and stood completely still. “You did well. Great work,” he said.
“Uh, thanks. Hah…” The third-year student left in a mild state of
shock.
Everyone in the audience noticed this bizarre spectacle. One after
another, other runners passed the third-year Class A, and Horikita just stood
there.
Even though most of the students saw this seen last year , they were still suprised to see it.
Hiyori : It really is exciting isn't it.
Ishizaki : Yeah it really is.
Ichinose : ' To think the former president for ayanokouji‐kun to receive his baton in order to race against him.'
Matsushita : ' Woah , the former president does considers ayanokouji‐kun in high regards.'
Kei : ' From this video Kiyotaka will surely get more attention especially from the girls. Since he is too dense I'll have to keep an eye on him. But for now I'm going enjoy watching my Kiyotaka race, ahh mouu he really is so cool.'
Finally, Kushida approached me at full speed. She’d be here in
seconds.
“I’ll say one thing to you before we race.”
Everyone became attentive to hear what I was gonna say.
“What?” Horikita’s brother asked.
As the two of us got ready, I said only, “Run as fast as you can.”
Ryueen/Sakayanagi : kuku/fufu
I got the feeling that the older Horikita, whose face was in my
peripheral vision, wore a slight smile. Finally, the baton passed to me.
“Ayanokouji-kun!” Kushida cried.
I bolted down the track at full throttle.
Housen : ' That bastard is fast.'
Nagumo : ' So fast.'
Ichika : Amazing senpai.
Nagumo : That's speed really is something.
Manabu : Seeing it like this now , it really was amazing.
Sudou : Yeah man , that speed really was something.
Shibata : Wow that's too fast.
I’d never, ever run seriously in my entire life. Until then. It was as
different as could be from all the times I’d run in that cold, sterile room. It
was still only the beginning of October, but the cold wind washed over me. I
didn’t really care about overtaking the runner in front of me. All that mattered
right now was competing against the man next to me.
We ran at full speed, almost as though we were cutting through the
wind, and closed the distance between us and the frontrunners.
“Whoa! No way!”
We passed a shocked student and left him in our dust. I could no longer
hear the cheers. Strategies and resourcefulness were irrelevant. There was
only this one-on-one battle against Horikita Manabu, who ran next to me.
Beyond the first curve, beyond the straight line that followed, and then to the
last curve.
All right. I’m going to go even faster.
Cheers that sounded like angry bellows resounded across the grounds.
Ike : Even though I have seen it before seeing it again , itreally is incredible.
Satou : Yeah, ayanokouji-kun was really fast.
Akito : Yeah, it was something that no one had expected.
Horikita : Yes I agree it was really unexpected.
Haruka : Wow kiyopon you were really fast.
Asashina : Yeah , it really was awesome ayanokouji-kun.
Kei : ' Mouu, he was so amazing in that race.'
AFC : Senpai was so cool.
Ryueen : ' That monster really was fast but I think he was still holding back. He was a lot faster in that video where he fought against that crafty bastard.'
Sakayanagi : ' there's no way that this was his best. He was definitely holding back.'
Manabu : ' Cold sterile room ? I wonder what he meant by that.'
Mashima : ' What does he mean by cold sterile room. The more I watch these videos the more question I have in my mind.'
AUTHORS NOTES
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