With the training menus completed yesterday, we were set to begin joint practice.

And today, we are practicing cavalry battle, but...

Kiyotaka: "Your head's too high."

Class C Boys: "Guaah!"

Ken: "As expected of Kiyotaka! Pulling off an ankle break even as a horse in cavalry battle is insane!"

Kanzaki: "Why do you possess the Emperor Eye?"

Kiyotaka: "I don't have anything like that. I just read the opponent's psychology, predict which foot they'll step forward with, and move in the opposite direction."

Kanzaki: "Then try it on me. Experiencing the technique firsthand will deepen my understanding."

Kiyotaka: "Leave it to me. Your head's too high."

Kanzaki: "Guh... One more time."

For some reason, it turned into me endlessly executing ankle breaks. But since making the opponent fall leads to victory, I'm not doing anything wrong. Still, there should be something more to it.

Kiyotaka: "Just me repeatedly doing ankle breaks won't get us anywhere. So let's think of a formation that maximizes this."

Kanzaki: "Do you have an idea?"

Kiyotaka: "I have one. For example, my cavalry unit deliberately moves forward, making opponents fall while drawing their attention. Meanwhile, the remaining cavalry units encircle them from outside their awareness."

Hirata: "That might actually work."

Kiyotaka: "But it will increase the burden on you, Hirata."

Hirata: "I knew that from the moment it was decided I'd be teaming up with you and Sudou-kun."

Kanzaki: "Then use us as test subjects. If it seems effective, we'll adopt it for the real thing."

Kiyotaka: "In the actual event, I'd like Class C's general cavalry unit to stay in the rear. It's unlikely, but if we're taken out, we'll need someone to survive."

Kanzaki: "Understood. Let's try it right away."

As a result, this strategy was a great success. My ankle break isn't perfect due to the difficulty of moving while part of a cavalry unit, but it still functions as a disruption. If the opponent's core strength is weak, they'll collapse. If they concentrate their attacks to stop me, they'll be vulnerable and crumble against the cavalry unit with Shiro as the rider.

Kanzaki: "We were completely led around by your strategy."

Kiyotaka: "Knowing what's coming but being unable to stop it is the strongest position."

Hirata: "I was surprised when you said you wouldn't be a rider, but with a technique like that, it really would be a waste for you to be one."

Ken: "But hey, what if the opponent ignores us and targets the others?"

'Ken really has a good eye for these things.'

Kiyotaka: "I have a secret plan for that. I don't want to reveal our hand any more than necessary, so look forward to the actual event."

Ken: "Got it."

After that, cavalry battle practice ended. The Class C boys who had been repeatedly knocked down savored the joy of liberation.

I also watched the girls' practice, and it was quite a feast for the eyes... ahem, I was impressed. With the ace Yuki added to their ranks, she was placed as the rider of the general's cavalry unit and ran wild. Compared to the boys, it will likely be a closer fight, but I anticipate we can win through sheer difference in strength.

* * *

The next day, we practiced both the single-gender and mixed-gender three-legged races. However, I found myself being glared at by both the boys and the girls (my girlfriends) around me. When I practiced with another guy, there were no issues, but the moment we switched to mixed-gender, this happened. Incidentally, my partner was Yuki.

The other candidate for partner was Suzune, but Yuki's recorded times were better, so it was decided that way. Suzune's partner is Shiro, so I can rest easy leaving her with him.

On another day, we also practiced the pole toppling event. Unlike during cavalry battle, I leisurely ankle-broke the attacking forces, buying time with the minimum necessary number of defenders, while Shiro toppled the pole in the meantime. In the real event, Albert will be on the opposing side, but if I handle defense along with the entire Class C, and the Class B boys other than myself handle offense, there's not a one-in-a-million chance we'll lose.

On yet another day, we practiced both the four-way tug-of-war and the standard tug-of-war. In the four-way tug-of-war, if we align the direction of our pulling force with Class C, we shouldn't lose to the other side, especially with the uncooperative Ryuuen present. Even if they manage to coordinate, there's also the simple difference in combat strength (me, Shiro, Ken). As for the standard tug-of-war, Ryuuen will likely let go and let us win, so I just taught everyone the tricks to pulling the rope effectively.

What proved difficult to practice was the obstacle course race. Simply put, setting it up is a hassle, and the turnover rate is poor. Left with no choice, we had everyone run through it once initially to identify their weak zones. During the middle part of practice time, they focused on practicing those weak zones, and toward the end, we conducted practice in a simulated race format.

Another thing we struggled with was hurdles. This is where the difference between those with high and low athletic ability becomes most apparent. The reason is that those with low athletic ability develop fear or a sense of weakness when clearing hurdles. Anticipating this, I had incorporated flexibility exercises into the training menu, but flexibility isn't something acquired overnight; it's merely a temporary comfort. However, I accepted that other classes are likely in the same boat and treated it as a sacrificial event, keeping instruction and practice to a minimum.

We rotated through these practices daily, steadily growing stronger. And then, I gave some advice to Class C regarding a certain matter, and before we knew it, the sports festival was just around the corner.

* * *

The morning before the sports festival, I met with Manabu.

Manabu: "How are things progressing?"

Kiyotaka: "Which matter are you referring to?"

Manabu: "Let's discuss the sports festival first, then."

Kiyotaka: "Among the first-years, we have a 100% chance of not losing. However, the White Team will lose."

Manabu: "Do you not trust the White Team members from other years?"

Kiyotaka: "Nagumo will likely fix matches to drop Class C just to give me a loss, and he'll thoroughly crush Class B, led by Kiriyama. At this point, the margin he creates will exceed the difference I can make among the first-years. And you, among the third-years, won't lose either."

Manabu: "True. As dull as it is, that's probably how it will play out."

Kiyotaka: "So if the outcome is to be decided clearly, it will come down to the relay. But honestly, I don't feel like we'll lose. The core members of our class surpass those of the upper years. The only one who could compete with or beat us is probably you."

Manabu: "Is that so? I'm looking forward to it."

When Manabu says things like "I'm looking forward to it" or "I have high expectations," it usually means the conversation or topic is about to end. So I should probably bring up the election.

Kiyotaka: "Regarding the election, as you know, I'm diligently carrying out morning greeting campaigns every day, striving to minimize any sense of incongruity when I win."

Manabu: "If people think you won through bribery, it would damage the authority of the student council president."

Kiyotaka: "Just to be sure, are there any in Class 3-A who seem likely to be swayed by Nagumo? I imagine you either prevented such people from existing from the start or noticed and suppressed them quickly."

Manabu: "I assume he knew they were voting for you. He contacted my classmates once but immediately backed off and moved on to the other third-year classes."

Kiyotaka: "I see. It would be a disgrace to lose now."

Manabu: "Indeed. But discussing impossible scenarios is unnecessary."

I had broached the topic meaning "if I were to lose despite having your backing," but it seems he's convinced I will win.

Kiyotaka: "I've also heard that Nagumo approached the leaders of each first-year class about buying votes, but once they told him they'd already committed to me, he backed down."

Manabu: "It's safe to assume he's written off Class 3-A and the first-years from the start."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. He probably thought that if I had been careless, he could sway them. If not, it served as a progress check."

Manabu: "I imagine you've already gathered this information, but I'll share it just in case. Class 3-B has promised all their votes to Nagumo."

Kiyotaka: "I never targeted Class 3-B from the beginning. It was clear they would demand a large sum of points in order to try and defeat Class A. I judged it a waste to participate in a money game with Nagumo over them, so I decided to concede them."

Manabu: "But couldn't you have forced negotiations by, say, seizing on a weakness?"

I answered his question with a look that said, ‘You know the answer, don't you?’

Kiyotaka: "I could do any number of things like that. But then dark rumors would cling to me as well. In my negotiations with the first-years, I sometimes appealed to honor. If a person like that has dark rumors, the voters would feel betrayed by me. That's why I adopted a policy of never using threats or disadvantages, instead winning people over by appealing to advantages and honor."

'Ryuuen was half-threatened, but since we ended up cooperating to damage Class A, it's probably fine. As for Class A's weakness, it was Kamuro's shoplifting. But I didn't want to deprive Arisu of her pawn.'

Manabu: "If you understand that distinction, then I can entrust this to you with peace of mind. However, that means you engaged in a money game with Nagumo over Class 3-C or Class 3-D. How much did it cost?"

Kiyotaka: "I kept it to a minimum. You'll definitely understand how when the votes are revealed."

Manabu: "Then let us wait for that moment of reckoning. First, defeat Nagumo in tomorrow's relay and demonstrate the power of the new student council president."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Losing to him would be irritating, after all."

We parted ways there and headed to our respective classes. The final adjustments after school were also completed, and at last, the sports festival was upon us.