Walnut-chan - Chapter 156: The Red and White Conflict, Miyabi Nagumo's Test (Combined 5k)

During homeroom, everyone went over the general schedule for the Sports Festival.

Hikaru Naruse still remembered the original novel, but he wanted to read the specific festival rules carefully. It would help him arrange his plans for what came next.

The events in this Sports Festival fell into two types: [All-Student Events] and [Recommended Events].

For the [All-Student Events], winners earned bonus points.

The group of the first-place student received 15 points, second place 12, third place 10, and fourth place 8. From fifth place down, each rank dropped one more point.

If a group won the team competition, it received 500 points in one lump sum.

The [Recommended Events] were different, since not everyone had to take part, so the point rewards for winning were larger.

For example, first place earned 50 points, second place 30, third place 15, fourth place 10, and fifth place and below kept decreasing.

In terms of results, the [Recommended Events] were worth far more. Taking first place there would bring a huge point bonus and open a big gap in the totals.

Last came the relay race. Winning it gave a triple bonus, which meant first place would earn 150 points.

With the scoring rules covered, next came the penalty for losing, which was also the crux of this Sports Festival.

At this point Tomonari Mashima, as their teacher, spoke up. He needed to stress this part, since it directly affected their class evaluation points.

"I believe you've all read through the rules by now, but I need to emphasize something here."

"In the Red-White Showdown, the losing team will have 100 class evaluation points deducted from each of its six classes."

"Besides the Red-White Showdown, your ranking within your grade is just as important."

Tomonari Mashima's gaze swept over the Class A students in the classroom as he spoke gravely.

"Although we'll be fighting side by side with first-year Class D this time, each class's total score is tallied separately, and the rankings within the grade will still be judged."

"You're all smart people. I trust you understand where the difference lies."

Hikaru Naruse glanced at the supplementary conditions under the rules about the within-grade scores. The gap wasn't huge, but at the right moment it could still decide a victory.

Each grade had four classes. The class with the top combined score earned 50 class evaluation points, second place neither gained nor lost anything, third place lost 50, and fourth place lost 100.

If one class came first and another came fourth, the gap could widen by a full 150 points.

As things stood in the class evaluation point rankings, the threat wasn't nonexistent. Class C and Class D, which were trailing, were separated by less than 100 points, for instance.

"Katsuragi-san, it looks like you have something to say."

Tomonari Mashima glanced at the class representative, signaling that he could state his position.

"Yes."

Since the Sports Festival was essentially a "Special Exam," it was only natural that he become Class A's "commander-in-chief."

Most of the time before this it had been Hikaru Naruse leading the class, but on the surface this was the stage of Kohei Katsuragi, the class representative.

The bald young man stood up and spoke in a steady voice.

"I believe that after reading the rules, everyone understands one thing."

"Although the overall bonuses and penalties of this festival aren't especially large, the competition is split into Red and White teams and also compared by grade, so we can't afford to be careless."

"After all, the maximum point gap is 250. Even if we can't take first place in everything, we can't let the classes behind us catch up too much."

"Right."

"Katsuragi-san is right. Not all of us are athletes, but our overall level is decent, isn't it?" someone chimed in.

"I was in the track club in middle school, so I'm confident about running."

"I'm not great at sports. I probably won't do well."

"Don't worry, Tanihara-kun. I think your reflexes are at least better than mine."

The people assigned to Class A weren't all "all-around superhumans." Normally there were students with excellent grades and students with average athletic ability, but nobody was badly weak in both.

When the school assigned classes, a student with even one glaring weakness wouldn't be placed in Class A.

Arisu Sakayanagi was a different matter. That girl couldn't be counted within the normal range.

Even the Class A students who weren't good at sports were basically around the passing line, so Hikaru Naruse felt quite confident.

After announcing the penalties, it was time to announce the rewards.

But the school's rewards were rather mediocre, and Tomonari Mashima knew it well, so he only glossed over them. For Class A as it stood now, those rewards truly meant nothing.

Three extra points on a written exam, or an extra 1,000 Private Points. Rewards like that wouldn't tempt a single Class A student.

The only one with any appeal was [Best of the Grade]. One person with the best performance would be chosen from the whole school and awarded 100,000 Private Points.

It was a decent reward. When it came up, everyone in Class A turned to look at Hikaru Naruse, and Asuka Shiraishi even leaned in behind him to whisper.

"Naruse-san, are you going to go for Best of the Grade?"

"You have that much faith in me, Shiraishi-san?"

"Yep."

"Then I'll give it my best."

With the rewards and penalties sorted out, they moved on to a shared understanding of the events and how to assign them.

There were thirteen event types in total this Sports Festival.

The [All-Student Events], which everyone had to enter, numbered nine: the 100-meter dash, the hurdles, pole toppling (boys only), the ball throw (girls only), the tug of war split by gender, the obstacle race, the three-legged race, cavalry battle, and the 200-meter dash.

For the [Recommended Events], participants were chosen freely, but their names had to be fixed in advance.

There were four of them: the borrowing race, the four-way tug of war, the mixed-gender three-legged race, and the all-grade joint 1,200-meter relay.

The triple reward mentioned earlier belonged to the last one, the [All-Grade Joint 1,200-Meter Relay]. Students from all three grades would compete in this key event, and a single win could swing the standings enormously.

On the other hand, since names had to be filled in for the [Recommended Events], there was room for an information war.

As class representative, Kohei Katsuragi caught on immediately and raised his hand to ask.

"Sensei, will the entry lists for the [Recommended Events] be sealed once they're submitted?"

It was an important question.

If a class could find out an opponent's lineup and order for the [Recommended Events], it could adopt tactics ahead of time, such as arranging its own troops in the manner of the Tian Ji's horse racing strategy to gain the greatest advantage.

Hearing the question, Tomonari Mashima answered calmly.

"For every event at the Sports Festival, whether [All-Student Events] or [Recommended Events], you decide the lists of participants yourselves, including who goes in what order and how many events each person enters. The teachers won't interfere."

"The deadline to submit the lists is five o'clock in the evening, one week before the Sports Festival officially begins. Late or missing submissions will be treated as void, and the school will arrange everyone in the class in random order."

After hearing this, everyone understood.

The school had designed the rules this way, so there was in fact some room to maneuver.

After all, there was plenty of time to find out the order of the other classes' entrants. Using an information war was entirely feasible, and it was only a question of whether the opponents would fall for it.

Once he finished explaining all the rules, Tomonari Mashima announced one more thing.

"For the rest of the time, you can digest the Sports Festival rules. Then at ten-thirty we'll gather at the main gymnasium. We need to meet up with the other Red Team classes."

"Katsuragi-san will organize things again then. I can leave it to you, right?"

"Leave it to me."

The bald young man nodded firmly, then glanced at Hikaru Naruse and received a confirming look from him.

"Naruse-san, which events do you want to enter?"

Asuka Shiraishi leaned closer, and the familiar fragrance flooded Hikaru Naruse's nose. Since they sat one behind the other, he often caught the scent of the girl's perfume.

"I'm fine with anything."

"The [Recommended Events] have the borrowing race and the mixed-gender three-legged race. I'm interested in both."

Asuka Shiraishi said with a smile, her pretty violet eyes shining with interest.

"The mixed-gender three-legged race, huh… Maybe I could give it a try too."

"Really?"

Asuka Shiraishi nodded, then suddenly added:

"But you're so popular, Naruse-san. If you're going to enter, I think you'd better reserve your partner early."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm just saying it casually. It doesn't mean anything." Asuka Shiraishi smiled innocently.

"If you're entering, I can team up with you." Hikaru Naruse didn't mind either way, and his tone was casual.

"Then it's settled!"

"Isn't that a bit hasty? Let me think about it."

Hikaru Naruse wanted to tease her, so he deliberately changed course.

"Naruse-san… you're mean."

The girl laughed and punched his shoulder lightly.

"Is that so?"

*

Inside the gymnasium.

Following the Red and White groupings, the twelve classes stood apart in separate areas, the divisions clearly marked.

In the first-year Class D line, many people were watching the Class A side.

After all, Class A and Class D were both on the Red Team and would fight side by side from now on, so naturally they were curious about the other side.

Of course, the main object of their curiosity was Hikaru Naruse.

At that moment Hikaru Naruse was chatting with Ai Morishita and Miki Yamamura, and even so, he drew every eye.

After a while, Manabu Horikita and a few other third-year boys walked over toward First-year Class A.

When Manabu Horikita drew near, he captured the attention of nearly everyone in the gymnasium. He was the Student Council President, and even first-years had heard of his reputation.

Faced with everyone's attention, Manabu Horikita didn't seem to care in the least. In that respect he was a lot like Suzune Horikita.

After a moment, his gaze passed over Kohei Katsuragi, who stood at the very front of Class A, and locked directly onto the spot where Hikaru Naruse stood.

Then he stopped in front of Hikaru Naruse.

"Manabu Horikita, good morning."

"Naruse-kun, good morning."

"This is Fujimaki-kun, a classmate of mine. He's the commander of the Red Team this time."

Manabu Horikita introduced a black-haired boy to Hikaru Naruse. The boy was a little taller than Manabu Horikita, and his presence seemed commanding.

"Nice to meet you, Junior Naruse. Your name is legendary among the third-years."

"You flatter me, Senior Fujimaki."

Hikaru Naruse nodded with a smile.

They were just chatting, yet they held the attention of everyone on the Red Team. People had heard rumors that Hikaru Naruse was Manabu Horikita's "favorite," but seeing it with their own eyes was still hard to believe.

Why… why was he on such good terms with the upperclassmen?

And he was treating them as equals, without a trace of nervousness or the humble posture of a first-year.

"It seems the rumors were true. Manabu Horikita and Naruse-san really are close."

"Yeah, and the way they talk… they look very familiar with each other."

"I heard the Student Council will hold its changeover after the Sports Festival. By then…"

Scattered exclamations and speculation drifted out of the crowd, and some of it reached Kohei Katsuragi's ears.

He felt not the slightest sense of having his thunder stolen by Hikaru Naruse. If anything, he was pleased.

Kohei Katsuragi's goal was what was best for Class A. The more outstanding Hikaru Naruse was and the wider his connections, the more it benefited Class A, with no downside at all.

While everyone was watching this side, Hikaru Naruse smiled and asked:

"Where's Senior Nagumo? Isn't he on the Red Team too?"

No sooner had he said it than, after a few seconds, speak of the devil.

A golden-haired man walked out of the Red Team crowd. His stride was as unhurried and flamboyant as ever, and a confident smile still lingered on his face.

Miyabi Nagumo.

Several Second-year Class A students followed behind him, and they looked quite imposing.

Miyabi Nagumo's gaze swept over everyone present, then settled on Hikaru Naruse.

"Junior Naruse, this time we're allies."

His tone was gentle, but Hikaru Naruse could still sense the probing in it. This guy always loved his little tricks.

"If our Red Team is going to win, you first-years will have to work hard. I trust your leadership. Surely you can lead your class and first-year Class D to better results, can't you?"

"I have a lot of faith in you, Naruse-kun. I'm sure you won't let us seniors down, right?"

Miyabi Nagumo's intent was simple. He opened with praise, then neatly put Hikaru Naruse on a pedestal.

If Hikaru Naruse shrank back, it would only prove he had no regard for the bigger picture, let alone any sense of collective honor.

For the Japanese sense of "group harmony," that was a troublesome thing.

But Hikaru Naruse had never cared about that. He simply smiled and nodded, then said deliberately:

"It's such an important Sports Festival, so of course I'll give it everything. We first-years have only been here one term, but we have plenty of explosive power."

"I don't think we'll disappoint the seniors in that regard."

"However…"

Hikaru Naruse changed tack. He looked Miyabi Nagumo up and down on purpose, then bared his teeth in a cold smile.

"Speaking of ourselves, are you second-year seniors really all right? I heard you lost a lot of points in the Rectification Campaign last time."

"And it was over a scandal like fighting, too."

"What if your bad relations affect your performance at the Sports Festival? I'm honestly a little worried. We're all part of the Red Team, after all."

Hikaru Naruse brought up old business outright, rubbing salt straight into Miyabi Nagumo's wound.

At those words, the elegant poise Miyabi Nagumo prided himself on cracked at once, and his expression darkened.

But with so many people around, he quickly suppressed the emotion and went on smiling.

"There's no need for you to worry, junior. You'd better take care of your own first-year matters."

"Mm-hm, I'll do my best."

Both of them wore smiles, but nearly everyone standing close could feel the tension crackling between them.

Even the first-year Class D students on the outskirts felt it. They realized that Hikaru Naruse apparently didn't get along with the Student Council's vice president.

"Are Naruse-san and the vice president in a contest of wills?"

"Don't tell me I guessed right?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's a rumor that if the Student Council holds a changeover election, the top contenders will be the vice president and Naruse-san."

"Really?"

"There's inside information like that? Tell us!"

The people around them whispered with laughter. Miyabi Nagumo naturally caught a few of the voices, but he hadn't come over today merely to put Hikaru Naruse on the spot. He was probing Manabu Horikita.

The moment he saw Manabu Horikita approach, he had settled on his intention.

Manabu Horikita's stance last time had actually been ambiguous. Nagumo couldn't be sure that Manabu Horikita truly wouldn't favor Hikaru Naruse, so he had come over to "provoke" Hikaru Naruse in order to draw a reaction from Manabu Horikita.

But at this moment…

Miyabi Nagumo turned his head to look at Manabu Horikita standing beside him. The man's reaction was perfectly calm, as if he didn't care at all about the standoff in front of him.

After a while, it was Fujimaki, standing next to Manabu Horikita, who spoke up instead.

"Nagumo, you're the senior here. You should be more magnanimous and not take it out on Junior Naruse."

Fujimaki was from Third-year Class A. Although he held no post on the Student Council, he was Manabu Horikita's right-hand man, so Miyabi Nagumo naturally dared not underestimate him.

"I understand, Senior Fujimaki. Why would I take it out on a first-year junior?" Miyabi Nagumo smiled again.

"That's right, Senior Fujimaki. I'm sure Senior Nagumo isn't that kind of person."

A playful smile tugged at the corner of Hikaru Naruse's mouth.

"Don't worry, Senior Nagumo. There's a lot I want to do at this Sports Festival."

"I hope we can fight side by side this time and seize the final victory together."

"…"

Before Miyabi Nagumo could say a word, Fujimaki laughed.

"Is that so? It seems Junior Naruse is very confident."

"Yes. I'll be counting on your guidance at the Sports Festival, Senior Fujimaki."

"Not at all, not at all."

Miyabi Nagumo glanced at Manabu Horikita again and found he still showed no reaction. But he watched Fujimaki chatting happily with Hikaru Naruse.

Suddenly he realized something.

"Don't tell me…"