After the hurdles, it was the "Pole Tipping" (Tug-of-War variant/Pole Toppling) competition for all first-year boys.
To put it simply: push down the flagpoles in the opposing camp. The first to take down two poles is the winner.
Hikigaya had never participated in this kind of team competition; he basically skipped these team events during middle school sports festivals.
However, the rules were relatively simple. It felt like it wouldn't matter even if one person was missing.
Hikigaya followed behind Kanzaki and Shibata to join up with Ryuen and his group from Class C.
"Our Class C will attack. You Class B guys can do whatever you want."
Leaving behind these words, Ryuen led a group of lackeys to the very front of the White Team's camp, showing absolutely no intention of cooperating.
"That guy Ryuen really has no spirit of cooperation at all."
"It feels like he doesn't take our Class B seriously at all, does he?"
Looking at the retreating backs of Class C, several athletic boys from Class B immediately expressed dissatisfaction.
The Sports Festival was undoubtedly a feast for students who were good at sports; it was their chance to perform well.
The fairest way would undoubtedly be to rotate between offense and defense.
By doing what Ryuen did, even if they won, Class B would have no chance to show off.
It would likely affect their individual scores.
However, Hikigaya felt that while other classes might be trying to show off, these Class B guys probably just wanted an opportunity to realize their own value.
The difference between the two was huge.
The former focused more on their own performance, while Class B was more team-oriented.
Therefore, even though they were dissatisfied with Ryuen's approach, they didn't say it in public, only complaining a bit after Ryuen left.
"Everyone, there's no need for this. Ryuen must have some kind of tactic," the pure-hearted Shibata said with a bright smile. "Besides, Class C indeed has more students with superior physiques than we do. With Class C in charge of the offense, our win rate might be higher."
"Are we just going to stand here then?" Watanabe asked in confusion.
"That really isn't great; we can't leave everything to Class C." Shibata thought for a moment and nodded, looking at Kanzaki beside him.
"Let's do this." Kanzaki looked around and said calmly: "Shibata, Hikigaya, Watanabe, Hamaguchi, Beppu, Moriyama, Nakanishi, and I will play it by ear. If there's an opportunity, we'll attack; if not, we'll be responsible for defense. Everyone else stays behind to focus on guarding the flagpole."
"Yeah, that sounds better. Does anyone else have other suggestions?"
"Then it's decided! Shibata, you must take first place in the individual competition!" someone encouraged.
Hikigaya, trailing behind the others, looked at his surroundings helplessly.
Although he didn't know them well, he felt that the people Kanzaki named were all relatively sharp individuals.
They had the ability to act according to the situation.
Whether to defend or attack would be their own judgment.
In the end, he had no choice in the matter at all.
The first round.
It seemed that Class D was in charge of the opposing attack.
The red-haired Sudo was rampaging through the field; even three or four people were no match for him.
To his shame, Hikigaya felt he was absolutely no match for him.
If he were hit, he'd likely be sent flying; moreover, his individual strength was truly limited.
The important thing was to see if Class C could push down the opponent's flagpole first.
Fortunately, Class C had a large Black student who was also very fierce. His physique was even more muscular than Sudo's, though he might have been better at strength than pure athletics.
Hikigaya only then realized that there were actually foreigners in this school.
Forget it. None of that matters.
What mattered was that it seemed he wasn't really needed.
Hikigaya stood in the White Team's formation feeling a bit awkward; he decided to find someone to just go through the motions with.
Loners are attracted to other loners.
Soon, Hikigaya found his target.
It's you! The "fishtail-haired" weirdo, Ayanokouji-kun.
With a slight smile, Hikigaya blocked Ayanokouji's path.
This was a tacit understanding between loners!
Leave the spotlight to the capable people; loners just need to slack off and blend in.
Without much thought, Hikigaya reached out his hands and slowly pushed against the other party. Ayanokouji also raised his hands to meet his palms, then gave a slight push.
"You..."
Feeling the strength coming from the other's arms, Hikigaya stumbled back a couple of steps, instantly stunned.
Although the other person's strength didn't feel massive, and he only stumbled because he wasn't careful, something felt wrong.
This clearly wasn't the style of a loner.
Had his eyes deceived him before?
Was this fishtail-haired Ayanokouji not actually a loner?
Dammit. He actually played with my feelings.
Hikigaya cursed inwardly and wanted to change opponents. This fake loner Ayanokouji clearly had no intention of going easy on him. How detestable.
"What's wrong?" Ayanokouji frowned.
He had only used an average level of strength; why did the guy opposite him have such a big reaction?
Hikigaya raised his hands helplessly.
Since he had already chosen an opponent, it would be hard to change now. He could only prepare to block this detestable liar.
Fortunately, the sound of a flagpole hitting the ground rang out just then. Ryuen had secured the victory.
The second round.
Hikigaya couldn't help but suspect something.
He wondered if his "loner radar" had failed him. Ayanokouji, whom he previously thought was a loner, was clearly not quite normal.
This time, he definitely couldn't pick him again.
Loners are attracted to each other.
Soon, Hikigaya found another target: a guy with dull eyes and thick dark circles.
Even though he was standing in the middle of the crowd, no one was talking to him.
A loner for sure! And a master among loners!
Even in a group, he seemed non-existent; he was almost on par with himself.
If his prediction was correct, this guy was the number one on the "Gloomy List," Onizuka-kun from Class D!
Hikigaya used his "stealth skill" to sneak up in front of him.
The two looked each other in the eye.
Hikigaya politely reached out his hands and gave a gentle push; the other party took a step back as if facing a great enemy.
They shared a meaningful glance.
This is it! This is a real loner!
Hikigaya was a bit excited; his loner radar hadn't failed after all—it was just that Ayanokouji who was abnormal.
Next, the other person reached out, and Hikigaya also took a step back.
"A big watermelon." "Cut it in half."
The two looked at each other with mutual understanding. Hikigaya and the other party pushed hands back and forth; the battle was intense, but neither of them spoke.
"Hello." After hesitating for a moment, Hikigaya asked while pushing: "What's the deal with that Ayanokouji in your class?"
"Why are you asking about him?"
He received the expected response.
Using overly formal honorifics perfectly expressed the distance between the two.
"Oh," Hikigaya said while pushing calmly. "I thought he was a loner too. I went to find him just now, but that guy pushed me away instantly without any politeness at all."
"Oh." A look of disdain appeared on Onizuka's face: "That guy is no loner. He's definitely faking it. When he talks to girls, he doesn't even stutter, and he doesn't use honorifics. Can you believe it?"
"What? I didn't notice that at all."
Hikigaya suddenly felt a sense of loss.
Even though he had seen him several times, he hadn't noticed such details, whereas Onizuka had already discovered them.
His "gloominess" was superior to his own!
The "Gloomy List" ranking was well-deserved; this guy was truly worthy of being number one.
"And let me tell you," Onizuka said, opening up a bit, sounding indignant: "That guy is definitely pretending to hide his strength to attract girls' attention! No matter what exam it is, he doesn't even flinch. He just sits there waiting until the end. He's definitely faking! He has defiled the Way of the Loner!"
No expression meant that those exams—no matter how hard—couldn't cause any emotional change in Ayanokouji.
It's all over.
This guy's powers of observation are not to be underestimated.
As expected of the number one on the Gloomy List, he observes the people around him at all times. This made Hikigaya feel a sense of loss again, sensing the gap in their abilities.
Someone else has traveled further on the Way of the Loner!
I am not alone on this path!
"Is he really that bad? They are in the same class, after all. At least he shouldn't cause trouble for the class, right?" Hikigaya said bluntly, bad-mouthing Ayanokouji.
Cough, cough.
Just then, Onizuka coughed violently as if he'd been choked. A cloud of yellow dust kicked up on the playground.
Hikigaya turned to look.
Several boys from Class C were repeatedly kicking the ground, stirring up dust to block the view of those around them.
But the distance wasn't far.
While others might still be struggling with their opponents, Hikigaya narrowed his eyes to focus his field of vision.
He discovered that Ryuen and the others seemed to be taking the opportunity to beat up Sudo; a group of people was frantically stomping Sudo into the ground.
"Whoa..." Hikigaya couldn't help but exclaim.
This was a serious violation; if caught, they could be disqualified from the exam.
These people had used this method to block the view of the surveillance equipment.
So this was how Ryuen used violence to dominate the class.
How terrifying.
However, as long as Sudo appealed to the school, the injuries on his body couldn't be faked.
Even if Ryuen could easily find an excuse, like accidentally stepping on him, it would still lower his evaluation by the school.
Evaluations might seem useless in normal times, but they were very important.
Just like loners like them who had been labeled—it was almost impossible to integrate into the class once that happened.
The same applied to a bad reputation.
When a bad reputation accumulates to a certain point, even if Ryuen did nothing, most people would still think he did it.
Is this guy not afraid at all?
How scary.
Anyway, it had nothing to do with him. Hikigaya planned to keep his distance.
"Hey," Hikigaya said, glancing over there. "Your classmate seems to be getting beaten up. What are you going to do? Are you going to help?"
"Oh." Onizuka also took a look and quickly retracted his gaze. He secretly waved his hand outward: "Let's go, let's go. Let's change spots. I'm choking to death."
"Oh."
The two continued their "hand-pushing battle" as they moved to the edge of the field.
Hikigaya glanced at Ayanokouji from time to time.
That Ayanokouji was definitely not a loner; there was definitely something wrong with him.
But he seemed different from the "Gloomy Master" standing in front of him too.