It wasn't long before it was ti for the Boxing Club to begin its activities. However, this ti, Captain Sato made a point to gather everyone together.
"Before we start, I have an announcent to make."
Sato stood on the ring, his gaze first sweeping over Karuizawa Kei. Her heart tightened instantly; she felt an inexplicable dread that the bad news she feared was about to be realized.
But before she could overthink it, Sato's eyes moved quickly away from her and instinctively landed on Shimizu Akira and Yamada Albert.
"You freshn have been performing very well! Especially you two, Shimizu and Yamada—you'll be able to get in the ring for sparring this month, and maybe even fight in an exhibition match next month. Keep up the good work! When the ti cos, students from other classes will co to watch your matches!
Of course! As I said when I invited you to join, boxing isn't just about working for nothing! The club will give you a portion of the appearance fees based on the number of tickets sold to other students. In short, if the other freshn perform well, they'll also have a chance to get in the ring. Speaking of which, this is also a great chance to find a girlfriend! I t my current girlfriend while boxing!
Finally, Karuizawa, Shimizu—you two co with for a mont. I have sothing to say to you!"
When Karuizawa Kei heard her na, her body stiffened abruptly, and the heart she had just begun to settle was suspended once more. However, hearing Shimizu Akira's na called alongside hers made her feel strangely more grounded.
The two exchanged a glance. Karuizawa's fingers, which had been clutching the hem of her gym uniform, loosened as she took the lead following Sato toward the breakroom. Shimizu Akira trailed half a step behind; he could see her shoulders were still tense, as if she were carrying a weight that hadn't yet been set down.
As soon as the breakroom door closed, Sato pulled a can of sports drink from a locker and slamd it onto the table with a thwack. He pulled the tab, took a swig, and the sound of his Adam's apple moving was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
"Karuizawa, you took so many days off suddenly last week. Originally, I planned to fire you today."
Karuizawa Kei snapped her head up, her eyes wide with shock, but upon hearing the word "originally," a faint, hidden spark of hope flickered in her heart.
"But you went out of your way to find on Saturday to apologize, crying your eyes out—it's clear you truly realized you were wrong." Sato's tone shifted, softening.
"You also ca in on Sunday to help out, and you were early today. So, I'll act as if this never happened. Don't let it happen again."
He paused, his voice becoming more sincere: "To be honest, joining a sports club is hard work; there's much more to do than in other clubs. The most I can offer freshn is a small point subsidy, but there is one thing we can guarantee—we will look after our own. If we can't even protect the manager of our own club, this Boxing Club might as well disband and we can all drop out together. I can't afford to lose face like that."
"Mm... that's more than enough. Thank you, Captain." Karuizawa Kei nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with the relief of a released burden, her eyes quietly reddening.
The stone that had been hanging over her head for so long finally dropped. This ant she had successfully remained in the Boxing Club. And Shimizu Akira would continue to protect her, just as they had agreed.
"Karuizawa, you head back first. I have so private business to discuss with Shimizu," Sato said after a few seconds of silence.
"Okay... I'll head out then," she replied, her footsteps much lighter as she turned to leave, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted.
"Was it you?" Captain Sato asked suddenly, watching her retreating figure.
Shimizu Akira t the Captain's gaze and shook his head. "I didn't do anything. I just watched an ani and made a few offhand comnts about it."
He truly hadn't actively interfered with Karuizawa Kei's decision; whether she stayed in the Boxing Club or chose to defend herself, those were her own choices.
"...Ani?" Sato frowned, clearly unable to follow the jump in the conversation.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Kid, you're a man—why are you so indirect?"
He shifted gears, his tone becoming more solemn. "Anyway, I asked you to stay because I wanted to ask sothing. The President told that the idea for the 'test papers' ca from you?"
"It did," Shimizu Akira nodded.
Speaking of which, during the break after the second period this afternoon, the President had ssaged him saying that Sato—the leader from their class—had specifically asked about it. Since Captain Sato had always looked out for him and there was nothing to hide, he had told the President it was fine to tell the truth.
"I owe you another favor for this! I knew that idea didn't sound like sothing the President would co up with—after all, I've personally found Nagumo Miyabi an eyesore for a long ti." Sato patted him on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I won't breathe a word of this to anyone else."
"By the way, Senpai," Shimizu Akira suddenly asked out of curiosity, "is the business with the 'test papers' really going that smoothly?"
"Naturally," Sato said with certainty. "The other classes have disliked Nagumo Miyabi for a long ti and have always respected the President. Why wouldn't they cooperate? Furthermore, they actually lost their chance to compete with Class A long ago."
"What do you an?"
"Literally. In terms of Class Points, as early as the second half of the first year, Class A had already pulled far ahead of Class D and Class C. By the second year, after a few Special Exams, even Class B has been left in the dust."
"How big is the gap?"
"I'll show you, and you'll see."
Sato opened a screenshot on his phone and handed it over. Shimizu Akira scanned it and was instantly stunned. The disparity was much larger than the points between the current first-year classes—so large that even he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"Wait, with such a massive gap, didn't the subsequent Special Exams offer..." Before he could finish, Sato interrupted him.
"The points gained from Special Exams are limited. Besides, have you forgotten that Horikita from our class is the Student Council President? The President has a certain level of authority in so Special Exams."
Shimizu Akira was montarily speechless.
'So that's how it is.'
Their own class was already Class A, and with the President's status allowing him to intervene in Special Exams—it made perfect sense that the other classes had given up on the idea of reaching Class A.
But another possibility swirled in Shimizu's mind—if Nagumo Miyabi gave up on collective cooperation and instead targeted individuals, would he still have a chance to buy the test papers?
"Shimizu, you seem to underestimate the President too much, and you underestimate the upperclassn as well." Sato glanced at him, guessing what he was thinking. "I can tell you clearly: no matter what Nagumo Miyabi plans, he won't easily buy test papers from the third-years—unless, of course, he uses those low, despicable thods. But if he actually dares to do that, he won't be worthy of being the President's rival anymore."
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