“When you’re training your body make sure you’re consciously aware of exactly what part you’re working on right now, it’ll be more effective that way!”

“Yes, Coach Sudō!”

“I’m bad at running, what should I do?”

“First run with the image in your head of your body forming a straight line from your head to your toes, once you get used to that consciously swing your arms wide!”

Right now Class D is able to practice together in an organized way with Ken at the center of it.

Ken has a decent amount of knowledge about athletics packed into his head so he’s a pretty reliable leader.

I was honestly surprised he tried to apply the menu I used when I ‘modified’ Ken to the whole class.

That menu was difficult enough to push Ken at the time right to his limit so it would be far too harsh for Class D to do, so he’s toned it down a lot and is running a much milder version.

In the first place Class D’s overall ability stats are on the low side so it might only amount to a drop in the bucket.

Still it should at least serve as a general boost to the class as a whole.

“Got a moment Ayanokōji-kun, I want to check the strength of Class B and Class C while we still can, so let’s go scout the enemy situation together.”

“Fine by me, though the Class C guy who’s keeping tabs on me will be coming along too.”

Just like Ryūen declared, I'm still being watched by Class C.

They really do go that far.

Still there’s nothing I have that would trouble me if they see it.

“Honestly Class C is hopeless so that’s fine, it doesn’t even look like they’re practicing for the sports festival, so even if they find out we’re moving around to scout it’s not a problem, as for Class B the only one we really need to watch out for is Shibata-kun and he should be doing club activities as usual so even if they know they can’t exactly run away.”

“So you’re planning to go look at the soccer club.”

“Yes and we can also check how Hirata-kun is doing, though with Hirata-kun it’s probably not even necessary, anyway let’s go.”

“So then why are you two here as well?”

“The more strength the better right and there’s no way I’m letting you go around alone with Kiyotaka-kun.”

“I got invited by Kikyo-chan but I mean, I’m his girlfriend right, it’s fine if I’m with Kiyotaka after school.”

I don’t know how it ended up like this, but in the end, Horikita, Kei and Kikyo came along too.

I could have guessed Kikyo would tag along, but inviting Kei was unexpected.

“I don’t mind, just don’t get in the way.”

“Ahaha, I’ll be careful, with your social skills, scouting is impossible anyway, so don’t you be the one getting in the way.”

“It feels like it’s been a while since we moved around together like this, so it’s fine to have a little fun right?”

Because of the eyes on us Kikyo says the dark part under her breath and it’s hard to catch.

Still I can pretty much imagine it.

Kei is… kind of strange.

Before, if Horikita and Kikyo were linking arms with me like this she would have shoved them off.

I know she grew a bit from all the mess on the ship but it feels like she’s almost too mentally stable.

That’s not a bad thing though.

There’s no real need to worry about it.

“Oh Ayanokōji-kun, it’s rare to see you here, so that means… you’re scouting the other classes’ strength.”

As expected Hirata picks up on things quickly.

Thanks to Kikyo’s wide network it’s useful that we can look around while knowing who’s an enemy and who’s an ally including the upperclassmen.

In situations like this Kikyo really is a step above the rest.

Since I’m not that interested in other people, someone like Kikyo who holds this kind of information is valuable.

“Among the first years Shibata is the key man, his speed is about on par with Ken’s.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty confident I’m fairly fast too but I don’t think I can beat him.”

Shibata’s running ability does look like it could be a threat.

But there’s someone who stands out to me even more than that.

“Wasn’t it forbidden for the student council to double up with club activities.”

“Hm, ah you mean Nagumo-senpai, he quit the soccer club when he joined the student council, but he’s still better than everyone else, so even now he comes by like this sometimes to teach when he has time.”

Yeah.

That’s the vice president Nagumo who the president brought up just the other day.

I’m not knowledgeable about ball sports but even to an amateur it’s obvious Nagumo is good.

There might eventually be something like a ball game tournament, too.

It wouldn’t hurt to look into it now.

* * *

“…So you’re Ayanokōji, I’ve heard all sorts of rumors about you, apparently even though you publicly say you have a girlfriend called Karuizawa-chan you’ve also got multiple girls around you, looks like the rumors are true.”

“I don’t exactly want to spread those rumors, but it’s true there are a lot of girls around me so I won’t deny it, but my girlfriend is only Kei.”

Even after parting with Hirata, the scouting kept going but it seems they noticed our gaze too.

I wanted to make contact with Nagumo anyway, so it’s not bad.

Still, the rumors have spread to the upperclassmen too…

“…Huh and on top of that Horikita-senpai’s little sister and Kikyo-chan, are you fearless? I wouldn’t lay a hand on them, Kikyo-chan might still be an option though.”

“Aww, there are lots of women around you too Nagumo-senpai. I’m not trying to get close to you now, it’d be bad for other people too ‘and there’s no way I’d ever fall for someone like you.’”

He slipped in a casual flirt but Kikyo ignores it.

She probably has a lot she’s thinking about and even though it was leaking out a bit earlier, the fact she’s choosing her opponent now and not voicing it is just like her.

“That’s a shame, I’m probably the subject of plenty of rumors too but we both understand it’s just play so there’s no lingering mess and that’s good, gathering only serious ones is dangerous you know.”

What kind of warning is that?

Also whether it’s serious or just play dangerous things are dangerous either way.

“Anyway, what do you mean by fearless, there’s nothing for us to be afraid of.”

“…I see so Horikita-senpai doesn’t scare you, you really are interesting, it’s a great thing that I know there’s someone as capable as you in the lower years, it’s a great thing but there’s one thing I can’t wrap my head around.”

Nagumo cuts himself off there.

This is probably the real point.

“Why were you placed into Class D?”

Nagumo was grinning a second ago but there’s no smile in his eyes.

He’s completely probing.

Still for me that’s not a big deal.

“Who knows, I don’t know and anyway it’s only a matter of time, once you become student council president you should be able to look into it just like the current president can, from my perspective it’s not something worth hiding but I don’t see the point in telling you myself.”

You’ll find out eventually but until then you can stew over it.

“You’re cold, whatever, but at the sports festival we’re on the same Red Team so let’s get along.”

For some reason, I don’t really feel like getting along with him.

It’s not like there’s a specific reason.

* * *

“Chabashira-sensei, I’ve come to submit the participation sheet, thank you in advance.”

“Horikita, huh? You really came right up against the deadline. Was that part of your strategy too?”

“Yes, I think I did everything I could, from here all that’s left is for everyone to bring out their own strength on the day.”

Thanks to Sudō-kun ‘Kiyotaka-kun’s training plan’ we were able to raise the baseline overall too.

Even if they were all losers to begin with this should be a big result.

The only worry is Kōenji-kun.

But there’s no point thinking too hard about him.

All we can do is hope he stays out of everything.

“I see, yeah I think it’s not bad either, but Horikita this is advice as a teacher, don’t let yourself get too focused on Ayanokōji, you should pay more attention to what’s around you too.”

“…It’s true I’m focused on Ayanokōji-kun but that doesn’t mean I’m taking my eyes off the other key players, I’ll win this sports festival and prove it.”

I’m aiming for my reward even if I have to interfere with Kushida-san’s interference.

I can’t lose.

I will win no matter what.

* * *

Bonus Scene 1

I had some free time so I went to hang around the soccer club and had an unexpected encounter.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.

A first year who that Horikita-senpai apparently really likes.

Horikita-senpai didn’t tell me much in detail but it’s probably true that he’s exceptionally capable.

He turned down bringing Katsuragi and Honami into the student council but he’s acting desperate to somehow get that guy into it.

My impression after seeing him face to face is… I don’t really know.

He’s definitely a weird guy.

Actually, he’s not the only weird one.

That was a whole group of complete weirdos.

Saying she’s his girlfriend yet being totally fine with his arms being taken by girls other than his girlfriend.

The girlfriend seeing it right in front of her and leaving it alone.

The two girls hugging him in front of his girlfriend.

They’re all screwed in the head.

I mess around with women myself, but I’d never end up like that.

It was so ridiculous, I ended up giving some weird advice.

But maybe that’s fine in its own way.

It’ll be something to watch if the number grows beyond that.

Well, putting that aside.

Among the first years the rumor that he’s a ‘harem king’ is strong, but there’s also a rumor that he’s the ruler of Class D.

They say he solved the violence incident from behind the scenes.

They say he manipulated pawns on the uninhabited island and overwhelmed other classes.

They say in the shipboard exam, he deliberately settled for second place.

If it’s just rumors, I hear even more outrageous ones too.

It’s easy to dismiss rumors as nothing but rumors.

But as fact, not mere rumor, in the first-year special exams so far, Class D and Class C have been winning.

That result is not normal.

Because it’s true the school divides classes by ability ranking based on the school’s assessment.

It’s true that first-year Class A is split and not bringing out its full strength.

Even so, if you ask whether in our year’s tests up to now Class D has ever beaten Class A you’d tilt your head.

There’s almost certainly some kind of secret.

But.

‘It doesn’t look like I’ll get bored.’

Even after Horikita-senpai is gone, thinking that we’ll be shaping this school together from here on is too fun to resist.

As I let my thoughts drift to the school life ahead I headed toward the student council room.

* * *

Bonus Scene 2

I, Ibuki Mio, am watching Ayanokōji again today.

Maybe because he’s aware he’s being watched by Class C he doesn’t lead as a leader but instead moves as a single piece of fighting strength.

From the watcher’s side it’s easy to see that he’s not making any strange moves.

And it’s also obvious that if he decides to move on his own, then just that alone would lower our win rate.

So I understand in my head that if that monster won’t move from something as cheap as this surveillance then it’s a good deal.

I do understand, but…

‘Ughhh I’m gonna throw up sugar, can’t we seriously switch roles already!! Every last one of you is all lovey-dovey!!! Is this some kind of jab at me?!’

Whenever I watch him they always start getting lovey-dovey.

And it’s multiple people too.

Karuizawa and Horikita and Kushida are seriously screwed in the head aren’t they.

‘Haah… when is this surveillance going to end already and seriously I’m gonna kill Ryūen, if he thinks that guy is so dangerous then why doesn’t he watch him himself, seriously.’

At the time I didn’t know.

I still didn’t know yet that even after the sports festival I’d keep getting worked like a dog as ‘surveillance-chan.’