13 THE SPORTS FESTIVAL! UNLEASHED!
After the head counts, all the junior students joined their respective canopy gazebo tents, divided according to their teams.
Some of the children scanned the audience area, searching for their parents among the crowd. The audience area was adorned with plenty of refreshments and large trees, providing cool shade and comfort under the sun.
While others engaged in a conversation.
"Come to think of it, our class was very noisy a while back when Yamamoto-sensei was explaining the events. Or should I say, those people after hearing about Towa's party are rather energetic," a classmate said reflecting on the lively atmosphere of the school.
"Well, the bribe made everyone fired up to win. I mean, who wouldn't be interested in an after-party at school with everyone?" Akihisa remarked, acknowledging the effectiveness of Towa's incentive.
"Well, that was a good plan, but there is something more concerning," Yuuji interjected.
"What?"
"There are a lot of athletic students in the opposing white team. The opening event failure could be a blow to the whole team's morale."
"Not only a lot of players are good athletes on their side, we are the ones actually going up first race. If we lose and the score goes in favor of the white team, our seniors will lose their spirit and not do their best. They may as well pin the blame on us." Muttsurini-kun added, expressing his concern.
"Then who is up running in the first race against us?" Akihisa asked.
"Probably Bara class's Hayama Hayato," Yuuji answered.
"What! Isn't that guy famous for joining a football academy and even at our age for playing in games."
"It's impossible nya~. The opponent seems to be a damn elite sports guy, you know."
Everyone started to sigh and lose hope. They were unenergetic because of how things turned out.
Yuuji, seeing everyone completely sprawled on the floor, started looking for someone who could turn this around. Spotting Towa nearby, he called out to him.
"Hey, Towa-cchi!"
Towa turned to Yuuji, his expression curious. "What's wrong with everyone? Why is everyone so tired before the first match has even begun?" Towa asked as he approached the group from his sister Kirino's class tent.
"Towa, who's stronger, you or Hayama's white team?"As if he was trying to confirm it, Sakamoto Yuuji asked.
Towa turned around.
All of his friends were looking at him silently.
"Well, if I face him alone, who has the title of the fastest runner amongst the grade, it might cause a problem."
"But would you lose?" Yuuji asked, a grin spreading across his face.
Towa closed one eye.
[Equipped Emblem of Prestige]
"Nah, I'd win." Towa replied confidently, matching Yuuji's smile. "If we all work together we'll win for sure." Just him saying this everyone's last glimmer of hope was back.
"Okay, just now, everyone was complaining about how they had no motivation as there seemed to be no chance of winning… But let me ask you again, are you sure that you don't want to win?" Towa's voice carried a newfound determination, inspiring those around him.
"Yes, we have people like Subaru and Muttsurini-kun who are good at sports, and Yuuji-kun is good at making strategies, and with our mascot Towa-kun, whose leadership is second to none, I don't think we are lacking," Akihisa added, echoing Towa's sentiment.
"Yeah, we can make this work!" "If it's Towa, we can do it!" "YEAH!" The group erupted into cheers and applause, their spirits lifted by Towa's confidence and Akihisa's reassurance.
"Yeah, this is a team battle, so results could change if psychological tactics are used. I have to talk to Momo Class about this," Yuuji added, his mind already formulating a plan. With renewed determination and a solid strategy in place, the group felt ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
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The sports festival commenced amidst the resounding cheers of the white and red teams.
On the white team's side, students donned tennis uniforms as their thematic attire. Boys and girls alike waved pom-poms enthusiastically, adding to the vibrant atmosphere and boosting the morale of their players with every spirited movement.
Meanwhile, the red team embraced the theme of the Rising Sun. Both male and female students sported gakuran attire, a style typically reserved for middle school boys but boldly adopted by these elementary schoolers. The boys proudly carried the flag adorned with the symbol of the rising sun, symbolizing strength and authority, while the girls wielded traditional ōgi (folding fans) emblazoned with the kanji for red.
In terms of impact, it was the red team that left a lasting impression. The color red, deeply associated with authority, strength, sacrifice, joy, and happiness, resonated strongly with the spectators, imbuing the event with a sense of vigor and passion.
The music club's sensei took center stage, wielding the mighty o-daiko, its booming resonance filling the air with anticipation. With a powerful rhythm, they set the tempo for the dance of both the white and red teams.
Amidst of pulsating beats, the announcer and host stationed in the event tent began to converse
"Hey isn't the chance of being popular we've always dreamt of?"
"Sure is."
"Why it that we're are not participating there and just looking at boys and girls locking hands together?"
"Well, that's probably because we're not relevant to the story here."
[AN: (;¬_¬)]
"I get it! We have nothing to do with it!"
The announcer and host as ever were in a joking mood.
[ AN: Hahaha—, It's not like I was too lazy to write more about background characters...┐('～`;)┌ ]
"Well with this the first event of the sports festival starts now!!"
Junior Division 100m dash
In this race, two participants from each grade's team would run simultaneously, with four runners from both the red and white teams competing side by side. However, the race winner would not be determined solely by individual performance, but rather by the combined efforts of the top three runners from each grade.
Soon on the track as athletes gathered at the starting line, their anticipation palpable in the air.
Towa was in the middle of the track wearing his red headband with Subaru by his side. Many cheers started, most of them being from the fan club for Towa and the newspaper club who are trying to capture every scoop for their school magazine.
"Looks like spring has come for me Towako! Look so many of them are cheering for me." Subaru was elated to see so many fangirls looking at him and started waving his hands facing them.
"That's right..." Well as long he is happy Towa decided it was better not to break the dreams of Subaru.
"As usual, Towa-san is popular with everyone." A boy with medium-length blonde hair and pale blue eyes called up to Towa.
"You say it like you are not..." There were many posters held up by students of Hayama's Class Bara cheering for him.
"Compared to you, it's just right."
"Hmm, you are quite a modest one as usual. Well, it's the second time we can face each other once again. As promised, let's enjoy this race."
"Yes. I have already lost at what I tried to do before but you already accomplished it," Hayama looked at Yukino who was beside her friends Kawasaki Saki and Kirishima Shouko holding small flags for their team. "But this time will be different. I will give my best and win." Hayama had a new face of determination.
"I won't let you." Towa had a smirk on his face. He was happy that Hayato had found his path.
On the track waiting Yanagi-sensei stood at the finish line, her megaphone ready. She called out, "Okay, kiddos! On your marks!
Ready…
And GO!!"
*Bang*
At the sound of the starter's pistol, the children burst into action. Their tiny legs churned the ground beneath them as they dashed forward propelling them forward with explosive speed.
Arms swung wildly, and sneakers pounded against the track, each step bringing them closer to the finish line. As they raced down the straightaway, the cheers of the spectators echoed around them, spurring them on to greater speeds.
Breaths came in ragged gasps as the runners tore down the straightaway, their faces contorted in grimaces of effort. Every stride was a battle against the clock, against their opponents, against the limits of their endurance.
In a final burst of speed, one runner surged ahead, crossing the line with arms outstretched and a triumphant roar. It was none other than Natsuki Subaru, his victory met with thunderous applause from the spectators.
Behind him, Towa and Hayato raced neck and neck, as they fought for second place. In a surprising turn of events, they crossed the finish line in a tie.
Meanwhile, the students of class Momo rallied together, forming a protective barrier around the remaining runners from the opposing team. With unwavering determination, they ensured that their teammates finished the race with dignity and pride.
As the dust settled and the excitement subsided, the announcer declared the results with a flourish. "And the winner is... the Red team!" he proclaimed, igniting another round of cheers and applause from the crowd.
"Your legs are fast, even though Towa-san is younger," Hayama panted out between heavy breaths, his voice strained from the exertion of the race.
"You're not bad yourself," Towa replied, also catching his breath. "But for me, I'm used to running with my Onee-chan."
Similarly, for grades 2 and 3 including girls, the result was 3 losses and 2 wins for the red team, resulting in an overall tie.
The final score was 300-300 for red and white teams. granting 100 points for every win.
"Next event is Tossing-Ball."
For this event, a lot of selected participants from different years were scattered around the field. White and red teams surrounded the two posts, each of them trying to give each other's team a hard time to get points.
At the signal of the whistle, the participants sprang into action, tossing the ball aiming to score points for their teams. The air buzzed with excitement as players dodged, caught, and threw the ball.
In the midst of the game, as some players scrambled to retrieve missed balls, their hands accidentally brushed against each other on the ground.
"Sorry, Komine-kun." Miyano apologized, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Oh… it's okay Miyano." As they gazed into each other's eyes, the world around them seemed to fade away, replaced by a soft rosy hue. It was as if they had forgotten where they were.
"What the hell are these guys doing?" Yuuji with deadpan points out the seniors of 5-2 not taking the event seriously.
"Leave them alone, Yuuji. Yoisho!" Towa exclaimed as he threw the ball, his eyes scanning over the boy in front of him. He detected a large amount of spiritual power, not enough to pose a threat, but it seemed as if the boy was possessed by a ghost.
Certain individuals possessed energy or a special connection to the supernatural, like the senior in front of him, Fuumitaro Komine. If Towa focused on his Pure Eyes, he could see the energy taking the form of an adult man's spirit, who resembled Komine. Most probably, he was a regressor, which explained how his academic and athletic performance had skyrocketed just a month ago, now making him the top student in his grade.
Towa had been informed about such individuals by Kon. Most of them had vague memories or had them erased about events that might change the flow of events, leaving their core memory of what they wanted or were tasked with by a deity.
This man's only goal was to make the girl Miyano smile forever. So, he was just a guy with the mind of an adult and the heart of a kid.
Truly a protagonist template.
'But even if he was, can he just icha-icha later on! My snack(gacha) money was at stake damn it!!'
'If this goes on, we will lose points even if it's a small amount.'
Towa and Yuuji sighed in resignation. Even in this competitive event, some students were more focused on scoring each other's hearts than scoring points for their teams.
The ball-tossing event ended with 711 points for the white team and 698 points for the red team. Despite their efforts, the red team fell short of victory in this round.
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