Kotomi Izumi only began focusing once she saw the referee in the distance adjusting the starting pistol. She had originally wanted to chat with the other girls in nearby lanes to ease everyone's pre-race nerves, but—
To her surprise, all of them were staring intently straight ahead, fully concentrated. Kotomi didn't even need to open her mouth to know that even if she did try to start a conversation, hardly anyone would respond.
The race was about to begin. All the participants were from the Sports Departnt, and they regularly trained for long-distance runs. Regardless of the event, Sports Departnt students seed to have a pre-race ritual—calming themselves down, or more accurately, holding their breath.
From the mont the race was about to start, until it was over, they held that breath.
Only when the race ended would they finally exhale.
Trying to talk to them now would just disrupt that breath-holding focus. If she accidentally affected soone's performance, Kotomi wouldn't know how to apologize enough to earn their forgiveness. Even though it was just a sports et, the Sports Departnt students took their results very seriously.
So it was better not to disturb them.
Kotomi looked straight ahead, took a deep breath, and began adjusting her own mindset. Thanks to her Queen of All Females constitution, she didn't have to worry about not finishing the run. In fact, if she really wanted to, winning first place was entirely possible. But she still had to "act" the part a little—at the very least, let those around her see that she, Kotomi, had the confidence to win this race.
"Isn't that Kotomi Izumi from Class 1-F? She's so beautiful, like a heroine from a novel or manga. I can't believe she's actually participating in the sports et—and in a long-distance event, no less."
"I was lucky enough to hear her speak once. Her voice is absolutely heavenly—like an angel!"
"I always thought the school's gym uniform was super plain, but seeing Izumi-senpai wear it... I get it now. Beautiful people could wear rags and still look stunning."
"I feel so inferior. Her figure is absurdly good!"
"Eh, don't worry. Compared to 45-senpai, at least you still have so curves."
"Even as a C-cup I feel insecure in front of her. You, with your A-cup, should probably find a hole to crawl into."
"By the way, do you think Izumi-senpai can actually win against those Sports Departnt girls?"
"The chances are slim. Izumi-senpai is great at academics, but athletics... I don't think I've ever seen her in PE class. Our Class D sotis shares the field with Class 1-F, but she rarely shows up."
"She must be staying in the classroom to study. No wonder she beca first in the grade—first in all of Tokyo—twice in a row. She spends every second studying!"
"Sigh... So you're telling Izumi-senpai has no interest in anything but studying? I was thinking of confessing to her, though she probably wouldn't accept anyway."
"I heard she likes girls..."
"Yeah, rumor has it she has three girlfriends, and they all sleep in the sa bed every night!"
"Whoa, they're really that wild in private?!"
"I even heard that while the three of them seem to get along publicly, every night they argue and fight over who gets to sleep with Izumi-senpai. Things get so intense, they once even pulled out knives! In the end, Izumi-senpai had to get an enormous bed so all four of them could sleep together."
"T-Tissues! My nose is bleeding!"
"I want to be Kotomi Izumi-sama's dog."
"Even if she loses this 800-ter race, just watching her run is a treat."
"Hey girl, your drool just dripped on my hair!"
"My contacts list is full of beautiful girls!"
"Ah! The referee fired the starting gun!"
Bang!
With the sound of the starting pistol, all eight runners burst out of their lanes.
The mont the gun fired, Kotomi launched herself forward without hesitation. Her pace was every bit as fast as the girls from the Sports Departnt. Originally, she hadn't planned to go for first place—but after hearing all the whispers doubting whether she could even finish 800 ters, Kotomi's show-off spirit ignited!
I'm not just going to run—I'm going to win this thing!
"Kazumi!" Kotomi shouted in a voice low enough that only the two of them could hear.
"Big sis is on it!"
Kazumi threw off the covers, grabbed the speaker, and began playing the pre-recorded sound effects.
Queen of All Females: FIRE ALL ENGINE!
Kotomi Izumi: Transform!
Queen of All Females: DRIVE TRIDO!
It was the transformation sound effect from Kan Rider Drive's final form!
Playing the Kan Rider transformation sound didn't actually make the Queen of All Females constitution any stronger, nor did it turn Kotomi into a real Kan Rider.
Kotomi knew all that. She just wanted to blast the transformation sound while her blood was pumping—pretending she'd bought a real Bandai-licensed transformation belt and could turn into a Kan Rider too.
Kazumi understood this little wish of hers, so she was more than willing to indulge her in a bit of chuunibyou fun!
"Feel good, Kotomi?" Kazumi asked as she turned off the speaker.
"So good! Though I do regret not bringing my Kan Rider Drive belt from ho today. If I had, I would've paused at the start line, struck the transformation pose, played with the belt for a bit, then started running."
"Absolutely not. Do that, and you'd beco a certified social nace," Kazumi warned quickly.
"To pull out a Kan Rider belt under everyone's stunned, disbelieving eyes and transform with style to defeat the enemy—that's been my lifelong dream!"
"Alright, alright. I get it—you wanna be a Kan Rider. But this world is peaceful. There's no Shocker organization attacking people, so there are no belts that actually let you transform. Still, if you really want to experience it, I can project a simulated version of a transforming Kan Rider belt for you. Just don't expect to gain any actual powers. That part's impossible."
"Really? Kazumi, I love you!"
"Pfft! Just how many girls have you said 'I love you' to?! Sigh... But whatever, you're my host after all, so I'll spoil you~ Now get your head back in the race. You're about to hit the curve. Focus on showing off your lone-wolf charge to first place!"
"Okay!"
Because she'd been chatting with Kazumi, Kotomi had kept pace with the seven girls from the Sports Departnt—even while running in the outermost lane, the 8th. She never let them pull ahead. It was like a shark in pursuit of prey, never losing sight of them.
Roughly 100 ters in, they were nearing the spot where Class 2-B was gathered.
Spotting the figures of Mai Sakurajima, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and Kisara Tendo, Kotomi knew—it was ti to accelerate.
While pondering how to make her next move look the coolest, she glanced at the seven girls slightly trailing behind her. Her lips ford an adorable mua~ as she blew them a kiss:
"Bye-bye~"
Before the words had even faded, Kotomi seed to activate an invisible booster. She surged forward with a second burst of speed, leaving everyone else behind in the dust.
What had previously been a close race suddenly turned into a one-girl show. Kotomi pulled ahead with an overwhelming lead, racing far ahead of the others. Even the fastest runner among the remaining seven could barely see her back anymore.
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