On the rubber track.
Ichinose crouched her delicate body, tying their legs together with a red band before standing up and putting her arm around Hikigaya for support.
"Alright."
"The race is about to start."
"Hikigaya-kun, hurry up and put your hand on my shoulder."
Looking at the opponents around them who were already prepared, Ichinose urged him with a smile.
"Oh."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched slightly.
He naturally reached out his right hand and held Ichinose's fragrant shoulder.
With the training during this period, he had long grown accustomed to skin contact with Ichinose.
Women!
Once you get used to it, it's no big deal.
Furthermore, it was just for a race; there was no room for misunderstanding.
It was only the beginning of autumn, and the weather was still a bit hot.
However, Ichinose's body felt cool and comfortable.
Feeling the soft touch under his palm and the faint fragrance from Ichinose, as well as the soul-piercing stares of the surrounding audience...
Hikigaya's face turned red.
No, no, this is still too embarrassing.
He felt like he was going to be killed by the audience's laser-like stares.
"Hikigaya-kun is really gentle."
"It's already the official race, so it's okay to use a bit more strength."
Ichinose looked forward, her tone soft.
She could clearly feel that Hikigaya was just resting his hand on her shoulder, looking like he wanted to pull it away immediately.
"No need."
"It's just a race; this is enough."
Hikigaya quickly concentrated his attention. At that moment, Chabashira Sae held the signal gun high with her right hand and covered her ear with her left as she pulled the trigger.
"Bang."
Following the sound of the signal gun.
Hikigaya and Ichinose acted as if they had practiced countless times.
The two lifted their feet at the same time and bolted forward. Hikigaya paid attention to Ichinose's rhythm, and she was likely specifically looking out for his pace as well.
Even though it was a two-legged race, the two moved as one body.
Their speed was almost no different from running solo.
Very soon.
The surrounding figures were left behind, and the two crossed the finish line with overwhelming advantage.
"Whew."
"Great, Hikigaya-kun, we are the champions!"
Ichinose held Hikigaya's waist, panting slightly with her chest heaving, smiling as she raised her hand for a high-five celebration.
"Oh..."
Hikigaya withdrew his hand from her shoulder, feeling a bit awkward as he shifted his gaze, awkwardly high-fiving her snowy-white hand.
"Hehe."
Ichinose showed a satisfied smile, crouching down to untie the band:
"The gap between the White Team and Red Team this time is too large; we probably won't win overall. But for the school-year ranking, I feel there's some hope."
Thanks to Class A's infighting, Ryuen's underhanded tactics, and Class B's unity, the White Team had gained an overwhelming advantage in the first year.
But in the higher years.
Class B and C were basically being crushed by Commander Horikita Manabu and that blond kid Nagumo Miyabi. The gap was huge.
It wasn't just hard to win; they were almost certain to lose.
"So, for the rest of the Sports Festival, Hikigaya-kun should come along too."
Ichinose untied the band, stood up, and invited him with a smile.
"No, I won't go."
"No, I've already made up my mind. Even if you just sit there and eat, the whole class has to attend the victory party..."
Ichinose smiled at Hikigaya.
Even if he had nothing to do at the party, just attending would give him a chance to interact with others, which would definitely be good for him.
"I didn't expect you to be so unexpectedly forceful, Ichinose..."
Hikigaya felt helpless.
It seemed that as Ichinose said, no matter how he refused, she would continue this special care.
"Yes."
Ichinose didn't deny it: "I wouldn't be like this with others, but for Hikigaya-kun, I think it's necessary to use some forceful measures; it'll actually be more effective."
Although it was somewhat unreasonable.
Since Ichinose had admitted she would push this unreasonableness to the end, there wasn't much more to say.
"No."
This time, he had a legitimate reason. Hikigaya raised his hand in refusal:
"I really have something to do after school today, so I can't attend."
"What is it?"
"Well... private business."
Hikigaya was a bit hesitant.
After all, this matter had nothing to do with Class B, so he shouldn't need to explain to Ichinose.
"Hmm..."
Sizing up Hikigaya, Ichinose thought for a moment. Having gradually figured out Hikigaya's behavioral patterns, she asked:
"This matter is unrelated to Class B?"
"Yeah."
"Then is this matter very important? More important than being with everyone in the class?"
"Should be... probably... maybe... I guess so?"
Hikigaya wasn't entirely sure.
After all, it involved 150,000 private points. That's pretty important, right?
"I see..."
Ichinose's pink lips curled into a smile of success:
"Then it can't be said to be unrelated to Class B. I want to see what kind of thing could make Hikigaya-kun feel it's more important than his classmates. I'll go with you after school!"
"Eh, aren't you being a bit too forceful?"
Hikigaya felt uncomfortable.
Though it wasn't something shameful—just doing something for Horikita Manabu during his private time.
He didn't hate Ichinose's way of doing things, but being specially cared for by a beautiful girl like Ichinose still made him feel uneasy.
"Yes."
Ichinose nodded frankly:
"Hikigaya-kun doesn't have any particularly close friends, so it shouldn't be anything hard to talk about, right?"
"True..."
Hikigaya had to compromise: "I took 150,000 private points from the Pre... President Horikita. He wants me to keep an eye on his sister after school today to make sure she isn't bullied by anyone."
"Hmm?"
Ichinose froze for a moment, feeling a bit bitter:
"President Horikita's sister should be Horikita Suzune-san. Hikigaya-kun is really amazing."
"It's nothing, right? Just having me run an errand to keep watch and contact him anytime."
"Can you tell me more about it?"
"Sure."
Hikigaya thought about it; there was indeed nothing he couldn't say.
While taking private jobs on the side was technically wrong of him, a kind leader like Ichinose probably wouldn't be so strict.
Class B is a very democratic "company"!
Excluding the love-hate drama between Horikita Manabu and Horikita Suzune, Hikigaya repeated his conversation with Manabu in full.
Although he often spoke ill of people behind their backs, when it came to other people's privacy, Hikigaya decided not to gossip.
"I see..."
Hearing this, Ichinose nodded:
"Although I don't think Ryuen would do anything too excessive, as an older brother, President Horikita is indeed very worried about his sister."
"How about this."
After a moment of thought, Ichinose smiled: "Then the victory party will be moved to tomorrow. Hikigaya-kun should be free tomorrow, right?"
"Eh? Why did it turn out like this?"
Hikigaya was stunned.
"I said it before, didn't I?"
Ichinose pointed her jade-like finger at Hikigaya and laughed: "I won't leave you alone. We are all the best partners in the class. Everyone must attend future victory parties!"
"Ugh..."
Hikigaya still felt a bit awkward.
"If Hikigaya-kun doesn't come, the victory party won't start. Do you think that's okay?"
"Alright, alright, I got it."
Hikigaya said helplessly: "I'll go, okay? But don't blame me if the atmosphere turns bad."
"It won't! Everyone will be very happy if Hikigaya-kun comes!"
Ichinose smiled indifferently.
Although he seemed like a misfit, Hikigaya was actually a good person at heart.
The two walked side by side back to the Class B camp.
The next event was the 1,200-meter relay, which didn't require two "sports noobs" like them to participate.
"Welcome back~"
"Honami-chan, Hikigaya-kun, good work."
Shirami Chihiro handed Ichinose a bottle of mineral water. Incidentally, Hikigaya got one too.
Looking at the water in his hand, Hikigaya couldn't help but be moved.
To think someone would hand him water.
Back in middle school, this would have been unimaginable.
Class B is really a good class... no, Shirami Chihiro is also a kind child.
However.
This was probably bought with class funds.
Suddenly, Hikigaya felt a bit conflicted. Should he just give his private points to Ichinose to manage?
Always using class funds like this made him feel a bit guilty.
But then he thought about it.
Hikigaya decided against it.
Though it might be an inappropriate analogy, a scam always starts by gaining the victim's trust.
Money should still be kept in his own hands.
"Thanks~"
Hikigaya nodded softly and turned to leave with the water.
"Hikigaya-kun."
Ichinose suddenly grabbed his wrist: "It's almost time for Shibata and the others' relay race. Let's cheer for them together!"
"No, I'll just..."
"Everyone cheered for us just now, too."
Before Hikigaya could finish, he was defeated by Ichinose's sound logic.
Since others cheered for him, he should naturally cheer for them. It was only normal.
Hikigaya returned to Ichinose's side, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Yeah."
Shirami Chihiro stood on Ichinose's other side and said excitedly: "You two were so amazing just now, it was like you were one person."
"I think so too."
Ichinose also nodded with a smile: "My compatibility with Hikigaya-kun is really good. But that might be because Hikigaya-kun was constantly paying attention to my rhythm."
"That wasn't the case."
Hikigaya, being praised, felt embarrassed: "It's only because Ichinose knew how to coordinate with me that we could run so fast."
And.
Stop using words like "compatibility" (相性 - aishou) that are easily misunderstood.
It's really too embarrassing.
"I think..."
Chihiro's face turned slightly red as she hesitated:
"You two don't need to be modest. Honami-chan and Hikigaya-kun are both very gentle people who always pay attention to others. That's why your coordination was so perfect, right? Isn't that what 'good compatibility' means?"
"That makes sense."
Ichinose's beautiful eyes crinkled with a smile: "Everyone in Class B is very good. As long as you know them for a long time, anyone will notice the other's gentle side."
Hikigaya's face turned even redder.
If the other party weren't Ichinose and Shirami Chihiro, he might have proudly admitted that he was indeed a gentle person.
But.
Leaving aside the innocent Chihiro, it felt like Ichinose was implying something. Ichinose was indeed gentle.
But him?
A loner is just careful not to cause trouble for others.
It has nothing to do with being gentle.
To shift his attention, Hikigaya awkwardly focused on the field.
Class B's ace player, Shibata, was the anchor (final runner), but his opponents were Commander Horikita Manabu and the blond kid Nagumo Miyabi.
It was bound to be a tough battle.
Soon, Hikigaya discovered that "fish-head" weirdo Ayanokouji. Was that guy also strong?
He's actually running the anchor leg?
"Class D seems to have swapped someone in. Is that Ayanokouji-kun?"
Ichinose also looked at the anchor leg with doubt.
"Is that guy good at running?"
Hikigaya was slightly confused.
The anchor of the relay race was undoubtedly the ace of each class's elite.
But other than being a weirdo, he didn't have any deep impression of Ayanokouji.
He remembered seeing him occasionally during the competitions.
He recalled Ayanokouji's grades were only mediocre.
Furthermore, who watches boys during a sports meet? Most of the attention was on the girls' athletic figures.
"I don't know, I'm not very sure."
Ichinose thought for a moment and shook her head. Although she knew Ayanokouji, she didn't know him well.
But the results in the sports festival were there for all to see; Ayanokouji's strength was not at all sufficient to serve as Class D's ace.
"Hmm..."
Hikigaya watched Ayanokouji's figure and said after a moment's hesitation:
"During the Pole-Toppling competition earlier, I felt Ayanokouji was a bit... how should I put it? Strangely uncoordinated? He gives off a very disgusting feeling. It's better to be wary of that guy."
He found it hard to explain this feeling.
But at the very least, Ayanokouji wasn't a "qualified" loner; he was an anomaly purposefully pretending to be a loner.
Probably only anti-social existences like him or Onizuka could understand that peculiar sense of uncoordination Ayanokouji had.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"It's not good to speak ill of others behind their backs! Don't worry, I'll be more wary of them during exams."
Ichinose responded somewhat seriously.
As expected. For some reason, Hikigaya wasn't at all surprised Ichinose would respond this way.
Although Ichinose said she would be wary, Hikigaya also believed she would pay more attention during exams.
However, he felt that Ichinose wouldn't actually change.
When the other party needed help, Ichinose would still provide it without hesitation.
Whether that was good or bad, he didn't know.
Mainly.
Hikigaya truly didn't understand.
Why did Ayanokouji insist on pretending to be a loner?
"Yes..."
Hikigaya shifted his attention to the field.
As the signal gun went off, Sudo of Class D took the lead, quickly leaving the others behind.
However.
By the second leg, they were quickly overtaken by the people from 2nd Year Class A and 3rd Year Class A.
High school is when the body grows the most.
Faced with a two-year gap, the lower-year students were at an overwhelming disadvantage.
First and second place were directly taken by the students of 2nd Year Class A and 3rd Year Class A; Class B fell to third place.
Nagumo Miyabi, the anchor leg, took off quickly. However, Horikita Manabu, who received the baton, stopped in place and was subsequently overtaken by Shibata.
"Eh, what's going on?"
Shirami Chihiro and the others were suddenly confused.
Ichinose and the others were equally puzzled. The race on the track gradually turned into a one-on-one duel between Horikita Manabu and Ayanokouji, which was clearly even more bizarre.
As Ayanokouji received the baton, the two bolted forward almost simultaneously.
Although it was clearly impossible to catch up to first or second place.
The two were like arrows released from a bow; their speed easily surpassed everyone else's.
"Hey, you've got to be kidding me."
Even Hikigaya was stunned.
He felt like these two were running like Usain Bolt—this time it wasn't just a resemblance; they were simply no slower than Bolt.
Is this really the strength a high school student can possess?
Just then, an upperclassman tripped and fell on the track. Ayanokouji was forced to slow down and crossed the finish line right behind Horikita Manabu.
Although they didn't achieve a high ranking.
The speed of both was enough to leave everyone speechless.
"So amazing!"
"Ayanokouji is actually that fast."
The Class D camp erupted in a burst of cheers.
Hikigaya stared at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's figure with his dead-fish eyes.
It was indeed cool.
But since he had already gone to the trouble of pretending to be a loner, why did he choose this moment to act and deliberately attract attention?
Disgusting.
Hikigaya could guarantee it.
This guy must be doing bad things secretly behind the scenes.
Perhaps...
The Class D traitor is him!
But then again, shouldn't a traitor try to hide themselves? Hikigaya felt something was off again.
Whatever, if he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it.
In any case, Class D's business had nothing to do with him; it was just that he'd better keep his distance from this Ayanokouji person.
He wasn't as kind as Ichinose.