49 As Expected, He and She Should Never Participate (End)

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[Hikigaya Hachiman's POV]

The upcoming event was the obstacle course. I would be the one representing the red team as I was the captain of the team, so I would be racing against Hayama. I felt slightly bad for the guy—not really—as he had to compete against a monstrosity like me. I shouldn't have participated in the event. I had held back as much as I could, even going as far as sealing my power, but still stronger than normal humans. Moreover, I sweated a lot because I had to hold back, wearing off the sunscreen protecting my skin. The sunlight was prickling my skin.

"Hikigaya-san, it's time!" one student called me.

Nodding my head, I immediately went to the track. Hayama greeted me with a smile, but I could see some strain in it. He must be tired of dealing with me. He should have just asked someone to replace him. He didn't have to feel responsible for winning the event. I guess he has a reputation to maintain. For everyone's sake, right? I scoffed inwardly.

"Hikki-kun, go!"

"Hacchan, you got this!"

"Onii-chan, don't mess this up!"

"Go, Haa-chan, go!"

My ears were assaulted by the cheers of my supporters. I turned my head to the right and looked at the people enthusiastically waving at me. I smiled lightly and waved back. I could understand Kei-chan and my family but didn't know why Sayu-san (Gahamama) was cheering at me. Support your daughter, oy. Also, why can't you just call me correctly?

Yukino's mother was also there. She smiled at me but didn't make much noise. Her presence was quite surprising but not unexpected. Two days before the sports festival, I attended a dinner hosted by a Japanese construction company that had recently gone international. I met the Yukinoshita couple there. We ate at the same table. During the dinner, the Yukinoshita matriarch mentioned that she would like to spend some time to know me better. I didn't point out the oddity of her sentence and merely told her to attend the sports festival.

Yukino was flustered but not uncomfortable. That girl still thought that she needed her mother's approval to be considered capable. Her mother rarely looked at her, so she thought her mother didn't approve of her. Yukinoshita Himeno was a cold and calculative woman but also a caring one. She couldn't express herself well, but I was certain she loved her daughters. I just wanted to let Yukino know that.

Therefore, Yukinoshita Himeno-san, pay attention more to your daughter, not me!

I sighed and turned my gaze back to the track. The referee fired the signal and Hayama ran first. While the audience was wondering why I was rooted to the spot, I was thinking about how absurd I should make the race be. Everything had always been a breeze for me. Even if I didn't try, I would still look inhuman. I had accepted that bitter truth and was fully intent on making my performance look the least absurd.

Kicking the ground, I ran to the first obstacle and jumped past it easily. I had spent around three seconds thinking, but Hayama wasn't as far ahead as I wanted. As expected, he was already tired. I was quickly catching up to him which startled him greatly and excited the audience. The audience screamed encouragement at Hayama, but I could also hear them shouting my name. I was aware that I was quite well-known but didn't expect there would be so many people chanting my name.

I didn't believe in Nakama power but decided to entertain them. I increased my speed and outran Hayama. I jumped past the last obstacle and won the race. Hayama caught up a second late with a bitter smile on his face. He soon brightened up the moment he looked at me. Extending his hand, he flashed me a smile.

"That was a good race. I can't believe how fast you are."

"Take a rest. You need it."

Hayama smiled wryly as I grasped his hand. The guy was a people pleaser. He kept pushing himself even if he was tired for the sake of the people around him. He believed that it was the best way to protect the 'peace' in his life and I didn't want to correct him. That was the conclusion he had reached, so I just had to respect it.

Did I respect Hayama Hayato as an individual? No; I just respected his decision.

We let go of each other's hands and went back to our team. The girls also won thanks to Shinobu, so the atmosphere in the red team was quite good. Meguri-san jumped around as she saw me, exclaiming that Shinobu and I were the stars of the team. I waved my hand dismissively and said that it was thanks to everyone's effort. I was a realist, but there was no need to dismiss other's efforts.

Before long, the Chibasen event was held. Our team was led by Shinobu, Yukino, Yui, and Meguri-san. They were now discussing who was going to be the soldier. Shinobu was too big for them to carry, so she was out of the question. She looked like she wanted to do it, so I was glad she couldn't. God knows what she would do to those poor girls from the other team. In the end, they decided to make Yukino the soldier, Shinobu the horse, and Meguri-san and Yui the supporters.

The signal was fired and the event started. Shinobu immediately ran toward the weakest team, startling the girls. Yukino yelped and held Shinobu's head tightly. She looked like she wanted to kill someone. Yukino is scared of heights. I noted mentally. As soon as they reached the other team, Shinobu urged Yukino to snatch the other team's band. Her lithe hand swiftly moved in the air and snatched the band easily.

With one team eliminated, they went for another team. It didn't take long until the red team won the event. Meguri-san and Yui cheered in excitement while on the other hand, Yukino was busy lecturing Shinobu. She was still mad that Shinobu had moved like a wild horse. Unfortunately, Shinobu couldn't hear that at all.

"Yo, Hachiman! 'Tis time for us to shine! Are you ready?" Yoshiteru exclaimed, posing like the certified Chuuni he was. "I can smell your disdain but shall pretend I can't, for you are my partner!"

"You are the biggest after me in the team. Guard our pole well, Zaimokuza," I replied blankly.

"Gah! You called me by my name just fine yesterday!"

"Do your job well and I will reconsider."

"Hmph! To think that—"

I tuned Yoshiteru out in favor of brainstorming my strategy for our team. The strategy was simple. I would be the sole attacker and everyone had to focus on defense. I would keep the other team's guards busy, so they could focus on holding Hayama off. It was a battle of who could topple the pole faster.

We got into position and waited for the signal to be fired. As soon as the signal was fired, Hayama aggressively rushed forward. As expected, he had come to the same conclusion. I heard Miura cheering for Hayama despite being on our team but paid her no mind. Hayama needed it after all the storms he had to go through because of me. Unfortunately for Miura, her encouragement was not different from one of the many.

I kicked the ground and rushed at the enemy's rank. I saw some students flinch and wondered if I had accidentally gazed at them murderously. I soon discarded the thought as I dodged one of the students who tried to snatch the band around my arm. I couldn't lose it since it would eliminate me from the game.

My eyebrow quirked when I noticed some students merely passed by me, following Hayama. He had decided to bring some people with him. It was a good idea, but he left his base's defense weakened. Everyone was trying their best to snatch my band, but it was futile. They either fell on their butts or were swept aside. I was too slimy to catch. Before long, I was before the pole. I could hear the footsteps of the desperate students behind me. Sporting a smirk, I knocked the pole down.

Thud!

"The red team wins!"

"Uwoh! Let's go!"

"We won! Yoohoo!"

I turned around and walked back to my team, ignoring the dejected look the losing team sported. Everyone on my team was waiting for me with an excited look. It made me reluctant to approach them. They looked like they were going to throw me into the air like I had just made our country win World War III. I was about to run away to the first aid tent when I noticed an angry third-year stomping his way toward me.

I stopped in my tracks and quirked an eyebrow at the senpai. The two people on his side were trying to placate him to no avail. Once he stopped before me, he immediately grabbed my collar. Everyone's cheer stopped and silence engulfed the field. Forced to deal with a sore loser, I was not pleased.

"You are on drugs, aren't you? How could you pull off all of those feats? Facing the entire team by yourself—how is that possible? You must be using one!" he screamed to my face.

"Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't either," I replied loud enough for everyone to hear. "Also, do you think I will be willing to use drugs and ruin my future just for a sports festival?"

"Are you saying you are a superhuman or something?"

"You are just weak," I spat coldly. "Now, fuck off before I cave your face in."

I grabbed his hand off my collar and slightly pushed him. He fell on his butt and looked up at me in horror. I shouldn't have assaulted him with my killing intent since I might traumatize him, but the sun was getting to me. He shouldn't have said something so stupid and pissed me off. Well, maybe I shouldn't have participated at all in the festival.

Thankfully, the matter didn't escalate and the closing ceremony proceeded smoothly. No one talked about what happened, but I felt like the students were revering me.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Bowzr

Venerable Immortal JayJonnaJamison

Venerable Immortal Keksimus Rex