The long and turbulent sumr vacation finally ca to an end, and the second sester arrived at Advanced Nurturing High School.
September 1st.
Even though the lingering sumr heat was still intense, the first-year students chatted in their classrooms before horoom, sharing stories about their sumr vacations.
The classroom itself hadn't changed at all since the first sester.
The desks and chairs were the sa familiar ones we had always used.
But the atmosphere surrounding us was completely different now—filled with absolute confidence and pride.
After achieving total victory in both the deserted island exam and the cruise ship exam, we had successfully seized the top spot of the year.
Everyone in this room was now, without question, a mber of Class A.
(…Excellent. My seat is still right beside Hiyori's, and the atmosphere in class is perfect. I'd like to spend the second sester peacefully and quietly like this too.)
As I nodded inwardly to myself, the horoom bell rang, and our horoom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya-sensei, hurried into the classroom.
"Alriiight everyone, take your seats~! Let's have another great sester together, my adorable Class A students!"
Standing at the podium with a huge smile, Hoshinomiya-sensei clapped her hands.
"Thanks to all your hard work, teacher's paycheck is looking pretty healthy too~! But this school isn't that forgiving, okay? So right away, I'll announce the next special event— the Sports Festival!"
The mont she said "Sports Festival," excited cheers erupted throughout the classroom.
"Ooooh!"
"It's finally here!"
The athletic club students like Shibata lit up with excitent, while those bad at sports exchanged nervous looks.
"Okay then, I'll put the rules on the board, so make sure to read them carefully~"
Hoshinomiya-sensei operated her tablet, and detailed rules appeared on the monitor.
---
[Sports Festival – Basic Rules]
All school years will be divided into two teams: Red Team and White Team.
Classes A and D will form the Red Team.
Classes B and C will form the White Team.
Participants for each event and round must be registered in advance.
Individual points will be awarded based on event results.
[Rewards & Penalties]
The single highest-scoring student across all years (Overall MVP) receives:
100,000 Private Points
The highest-scoring student in each year level receives:
10,000 Private Points
The bottom 10 students overall receive:
-10 points on all subjects in the midterm exam
Class rankings within each year will affect Class Points:
1st Place: 50 Class Points
2nd Place: No change
3rd Place: -50 Class Points
4th Place: -100 Class Points
Total victory between Red Team and White Team:
Winning side: No penalty
Losing side: All classes receive -100 Class Points
[Event Categories & Individual Rewards]
Events are divided into:
Mandatory participation
Recomnded participation
Individual competitions
Team competitions
For individual competitions:
1st Place:
5,000 Private Points OR 3 exam points
2nd Place:
3,000 Private Points OR 2 exam points
3rd Place:
1,000 Private Points OR 1 exam point
Last Place:
-1,000 Private Points
If unable to pay: -1 exam point penalty
If a student registered for a recomnded event cannot participate:
Replacent costs 100,000 Private Points
[Event List]
100m Sprint (Mandatory / Individual)
Hurdles (Mandatory / Individual)
Pole Toppling (Boys Only / Team)
Ball Toss (Girls Only / Team)
Tug-of-War (Boys & Girls / Team)
Obstacle Race (Mandatory / Individual)
Three-Legged Race (Mandatory / Team)
Cavalry Battle (Mandatory / Team)
200m Sprint (Mandatory / Individual)
Borrowed Item Race (Recomnded / Individual)
Four-Way Tug-of-War (Recomnded / Team)
Mixed-Gender Three-Legged Race (Recomnded / Individual)
Three-Year Combined 1200m Relay (Recomnded / Team)
---
(…I see. So these are the rules this ti.)
Crossing my arms, I quietly analyzed the situation.
The class ranking point differences mattered, but the heaviest issue was the penalty from the team result.
If your team lost, every class on that side automatically lost 100 Class Points.
(And we, Class A, are paired with Class D—Kiyotaka's class—as the Red Team. anwhile the White Team is Class B led by Sakayanagi and Class C led by Ryūen…)
(Those two troubleso classes joining forces will definitely create an ugly battlefield.)
I broke into a slight cold sweat internally.
Sakayanagi's overwhelming intelligence and Ryūen's ruthless brutality.
If those two united as the White Team, they would absolutely beco a nightmare to deal with.
"Those are the rules! Everyone, make sure not to get hurt and prepare properly~!"
As Hoshinomiya-sensei cheerfully ended horoom, the classroom instantly exploded into Sports Festival discussions.
---
That sa day after school.
At Ichinose's request, Class A remained in the classroom to hold a strategy eting for the Sports Festival.
"Thanks for staying, everyone!"
Standing at the podium, Honami Ichinose wrote key points on the blackboard while addressing the class.
"For this Sports Festival, the biggest things we need to avoid are:
Red Team losing and getting the -100 Class Point penalty,
Students ending up last place in individual events or in the overall bottom ten and receiving exam penalties."
She looked directly at everyone.
"I want to propose a strategy for event registration."
"In the mandatory individual events, I think we should intentionally place both fast runners and slow runners into the sa races."
"Huh? Fast and slow people together?" Shibata tilted his head.
"Yeah. For example, if fast people like Shibata-kun and Aizen-kun enter the sa race, even if one gets first place, the other will only get second or third. From the class perspective, that ans our own classmates are stealing points from each other. It's inefficient."
"Ah… I get it!"
"So instead, we spread the fast runners across separate races so each can reliably get first place. Then we place the students who aren't good at sports into the remaining slots of those races."
Kanzaki nodded.
"I see. Extrely rational."
(…Excellent. This setup prevents allies from competing against each other and maximizes point gains against other classes.)
"But," Ichinose continued, "if students bad at sports get matched against other classes' fast runners, there's a high chance they'll finish last and get the -1,000 Private Point penalty."
"Y-Yeah… I'm definitely getting last if that happens…"
One of the more bookish boys nervously shrugged.
"So here's the second part of the proposal."
Ichinose smiled gently.
"For this strategy to work, I have one request."
"A request?"
"Right. Since students can earn or lose Private Points individually… I want all rewards earned by top perforrs to go into a shared 'class fund.'"
"Eh? All of it?"
"Yes. And in exchange, if soone ends up last place because they cooperated with the strategy, the penalty will be paid using the class fund everyone contributed to."
She looked around the classroom warmly.
"Finishing last wouldn't be that student's personal fault—it would be the result of cooperating with a strategy for the class's victory. And students who place highly only do so because others accepted different races."
"So instead of one person bearing rewards or penalties alone, the entire class shares them together."
"…This way, students who aren't good at sports can participate without fear, and athletic students can also feel the arrangent is fair."
"Ooooh…! That makes feel way safer!"
"Yeah! I'm really slow, so this helps a lot!"
"We're running for the class anyway. Nobody planned to hog the rewards!"
Relief spread among the less athletic students, while the athletic ones agreed enthusiastically.
It was the radiance of an absolute leader who abandoned no one and led everyone together toward victory.
Naturally, the proposal passed unanimously.
"Thank you, everyone! Also… about the recomnded-participation events later on."
Ichinose pointed at the latter half of the event list.
Borrowed Item Race.
Four-Way Tug-of-War.
Mixed Three-Legged Race.
And the final relay.
"For these, I want our strongest athletes to participate as much as possible."
"…Shibata-kun. And Aizen-kun. Could I ask you two?"
"Of course! I'll show everyone what an ace can do!"
Shibata pounded his chest proudly.
Then everyone's expectant gaze turned toward in the back of the classroom.
(, huh. Well, with these overwhelmingly superior physical abilities, there's no reason not to participate. Ti for to beco the pillar of Class A and deliver overwhelming results.)
Slowly rising from my seat, I stylishly brushed back my bangs.
"—A blade does not choose its battlefield. If there exists a wall standing before the king… then I shall simply shatter it into dust."
(Translation: Leave it to ! I'll give it everything I've got in the recomnded events!)
The sheer intensity of my poem made my classmates flinch slightly.
"O-Oh… Aizen's really fired up…"
But then the pure white angel seated beside gently stood up with a smile.
"'I understand the request regarding the recomnded events. For the sake of the class's victory, I intend to crush every rival class standing in our way and give my all in the competitions,' is what Sōsuke-kun said."
"Ooooh! As expected of Aizen!"
"With Aizen-kun there, we're safe in the recomnded events!"
Thanks to Hiyori's perfect translation, the classroom atmosphere instantly transford into passionate unity.
Ichinose smiled happily.
"Fufu, thank you, both of you!"
"Then tomorrow after school, I'd like us to do physical evaluations on the field so we can decide detailed assignnts and race orders. Sound good?"
"I'm in!"
"Alright! Ti to get serious tomorrow!"
And so, Class A's battle toward the Sports Festival began amid blazing enthusiasm.
* * *
The next day. After school. On the athletic field.
Under the still blazing sunlight, our Class A students gathered in gym clothes and began asuring physical abilities by event.
"Alright, Aizen's next! 50-ter sprint!"
"—Very well."
I stepped onto the starting line.
In the lane beside stood Shibata, the fastest runner in class.
"Aizen, you had crazy physical ability on the island too, but in a straight sprint I'm not losing!"
"—Fufu. …Do not blink. You'll be left behind."
"On your marks… set… GO!"
At Kanzaki's signal, I kicked off the ground.
At that instant, the overwhelming physical power granted by my "Aizen Specs" was fully unleashed.
DOOOOOOM!!
A sound utterly inhuman echoed across the field.
Without even sweating or pumping my arms desperately, I sprinted forward with perfect elegance—like gliding through the sky itself.
"GOAL!!"
"…Huh?"
I crossed the finish line.
A mont later, Shibata dove across after .
The stopwatch in Kanzaki's hand displayed an unbelievable number.
"W-What kind of ti is this…!? Aizen, you… ran 50 ters in the mid-5-second range!?"
"""EEEEEEEEHHHHH!?"""
The entire class exploded in disbelief.
Shibata bent over with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
"No way… you looked like you completely disappeared…"
(Oops. I may have used a little too much power. But with the physical ability of the Aizen Specs, even jogging lightly gets close to Japanese records.)
And after that, my overwhelming domination continued.
In grip strength testing, I casually broke the ter's limits without even trying.
"Is the machine broken!?"
In the long jump, I gracefully soared through the air and landed absurdly far into the sandpit, causing a cloud of sand that made Kanzaki cough.
In every single category, I utterly overwheld even second-place Shibata and secured an undisputed first place.
"T-That's incredible, Aizen-kun…! You're like an Olympic athlete!"
Ichinose stared at the results sheet with wide eyes.
"At this rate, we can leave all the recomnded events to Aizen-kun!"
"Indeed. With Aizen here, no matter what sches Ryūen or Sakayanagi devise, we can crush them through sheer power."
Kanzaki firmly patted my shoulder.
My classmates surrounded with praise.
"Amazing!"
"We've already won the Sports Festival!"
(…Fufufu. This feels good. Everyone's relying on so much.)
(Alright. Ti to raise class morale to its absolute peak with an overwhelmingly stylish poem.)
At the center of the class, I slowly crossed my arms and gazed toward the sky, radiating the aura of an absolute demon king.
"—There is no need to fear overwhelming power. It rely ans that the weight of the heavens has descended to force those crawling upon the earth into submission."
(Translation: Everyone, don't worry! I'll absolutely take first place and earn us points!)
"—You need only stand behind and watch from the finest seats as the foolish enemies are trampled and ground into dust."
(Translation: We're absolutely not losing to the other classes, so just relax and do your best in your own events!)
Silence.
The atmosphere on the field froze instantly.
"""…Hiiih!"""
My horrifying poem declaring that other classes would be "ground into dust" sounded like the threat of an actual mass murderer—especially after seeing my absurd physical abilities.
"A-Aizen's actually going to kill students from the other classes…"
"'Ground into dust'!? Hiiih…"
Everyone started backing away in genuine fear.
(Ah, crap!! Right after showing off my physical abilities, that poem sounds completely psychotic!! Everyone's terrified!! Hiyori, save !!)
As I internally panicked, a pure, gentle voice like ringing bells echoed beside .
"'There's no need to be frightened by my abilities. I'll do everything I can to dominate the rankings and bring points to the class, so please don't fear the results and simply enjoy your own events with peace of mind,' is what Sōsuke-kun ans."
Hiyori's compassionate divine translation spread across the field.
The frozen expressions of my classmates instantly brightened.
"O-Oh! That's what you ant!"
"Aizen, your wording is terrifying!"
"Geez, you scared ! But if you're that serious, then this is really reassuring!"
Shibata laughed while smacking my back repeatedly, while Amikura and Shiranami sighed in relief.
Even Ichinose smiled brightly.
"Fufu, Aizen-kun's enthusiasm is really dependable!"
(Fuuuuh… saved. Without Hiyori, I'd have beco the class's 'mad destroyer god' before the Sports Festival even began…! As expected of my best friend. Her translation accuracy is divine!)
Internally, I prostrated myself before Hiyori in gratitude while outwardly maintaining a cool face.
"—Fufu. Naturally."
I brushed the sand from my gym clothes.
"Fufu. Sōsuke-kun, I'm really looking forward to the Sports Festival."
Hiyori stood beside with a happy smile.
"I'll cheer for you with all my strength when you run."
"—Indeed. Victory tastes finest when shared alongside your smile."
(Translation: Thanks, Hiyori! If you're cheering for , I'll definitely win!)
And so, after completing the physical evaluations and demonstrating my overwhelming strength, Class A's strategy planning and race assignnts proceeded extrely smoothly.
Arisu Sakayanagi's sches.
Ryūen Kakeru's revenge.
And lurking in the background, the White Room's masterpiece—Kiyotaka Ayanokōji.
On the battlefield known as the Sports Festival, the first great trial of the second sester where powerful enemies gathered…
I, Aizen Sōsuke, would proudly step onto that stage with my cheat-level abilities in order to protect the smiles of my beloved classmates and my dearest best friend.
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