The competition continued.
In the girls' division, Kamuro performance grew increasingly dominant, overshadowing everyone else.
After all, she had two stacked buff effects—she only grew stronger the longer she fought.
Kaoru silently watched as Horikita Suzune took the stage.
Though she was highly motivated and more physically capable than the average student, that didn't mean she could sweep the entire competition.
Soon, the results of the obstacle race were announced—Horikita Suzune took second place.
Although it was a pretty good result, a hint of unwillingness flashed across her face.
Kaoru didn't watch any longer—the boys' three-legged race was about to begin.
His teammate was Hashimoto Masayoshi, and their physical abilities were fairly evenly matched.
From Class C, their opponents were Ryuuen Kakeru and Ishizaki Daichi.
The two sides met again on the track.
"Mitoma, you better start running for your life later!" Ryuuen said to him.
"Pray that your teamwork is better and your speed faster than mine, or you'll regret it immediately."
"Wait, I'm innocent here," Hashimoto Masayoshi raised his hands, signaling he wouldn't get involved in their fight.
"Don't be stupid. We're tied together now," Kaoru replied before asking, "Did you take the money?"
Ryuuen shot him a sidelong glance.
"Trying to turn me against them?"
"No, I just want to know if we can split it. Then I'll cooperate with you—we can make money together." Kaoru thought his expression must have looked sincere.
Ryuuen was momentarily speechless before raising an eyebrow.
"You'd betray your class for Personal Points?"
"I'd have to see how much you're offering to compensate me." Kaoru didn't even flinch as he said this right in front of Hashimoto.
Hashimoto stared at his teammate with a deadpan expression.
Why were these guys getting more and more unreliable?
"Cunning bastard," Ryuuen muttered, shifting his focus back to preparing for the starting position.
Before the race began, Kaoru subtly whispered to Hashimoto,
"No matter what happens later, don't panic. Just do exactly as I say."
Hashimoto froze for a moment, but then the starting whistle blew.
With no time to think, he sprinted forward alongside Kaoru.
Not long after they started running, Ryuuen quickly closed in.
The distance between them was so tight they could hear each other's heavy breathing.
Hashimoto frowned.
Even though the three-legged race naturally made movement awkward, this was way too close—it almost felt intentional.
Then, he suddenly noticed a smirk forming on Ryuuen's lips.
"Brake," Kaoru said abruptly.
Luckily, Hashimoto reacted fast—otherwise, he might not have kept up with Kaoru's sudden slowdown, causing them to trip over each other.
Whoosh!
Two figures flashed right past Hashimoto, missing them by mere centimeters.
It was like a boulder had suddenly appeared on the track, vanishing just as quickly.
His heart pounded violently in delayed shock.
"Too bad. I thought catching you off guard might work, but I guess I overestimated you," Ryuuen chuckled at the two behind him.
Deliberately bumping into opponents mid-race was undeniably bold.
"Hey, that's going too far! Aren't you afraid I'll report you?" Hashimoto rarely got angry, but this time, he couldn't help it.
If they had collided, both sides could've been injured.
"But we didn't crash, did we?" Ryuuen shrugged. "Still, this works too—someone's already nearing the finish line."
Because of their sudden braking, students from Class B and Class D overtook them and were about to cross the finish line.
"Feel free to do as you please. You'll regret it one day." Kaoru's expression remained unchanged.
"It's no big deal—I can play along with you."
"Heh, what a coincidence. I'm more than happy to keep playing with you too." Ryuuen showed no signs of panic, instead grinning even wider.
In the end, Class C secured third place, while Class A came in fourth.
Upon returning to Class A's area, Kamuro Masumi had barely approached Kaoru when he spoke first:
"Be careful in the next event. No matter what happens, just keep running. Don't let anyone catch up to you."
Kamuro blinked, then frowned. "You noticed Class C is targeting us too?"
It wasn't just her—students from both Class A and Class D were gradually realizing the same thing.
"Not sure, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious."
"Right."
Kaoru then dismissed Karuizawa and Kushida, who had come over, before observing the second-years.
The atmosphere there was oddly tense.
Nagumo stood with a cold expression, silent, while the students of Class 2-A around him remained equally quiet.
In contrast, Class 2-B seemed fired up with competitive spirit.
Meanwhile, Class 2-C and Class 2-D had grown strangely ambiguous—no longer working as diligently for Nagumo as before, occasionally even flashing peculiar smiles.
While the second-years were restrained, the third-years were outright brazen.
Many pointed and laughed openly at Class 2-A, their jeering never letting up.
In comparison, the first-years, largely unaware of student council affairs or upperclassmen dynamics, remained unfazed.
After all, aside from Nagumo, a few other students had also fallen during the race.
Soon after, the girls' three-legged race began.
True to form, Class C's girls targeted Kamuro, attempting to replicate Ryuuen's earlier tactics.
Unfortunately for them, they failed miserably, tumbling to the ground in a clumsy heap.
Kamuro easily secured first place.
Next was the piggyback fight, starting with the girls' division.
Just like in the previous event, Class C's girls completely ignored other teams, relentlessly attacking Kamuro's group.
Had the referees not been watching, they might have even resorted to outright physical violence.
Kamuro wasn't exactly skilled in group brawls.
Sacrificing herself, she managed—with her teammates' help—to take down three of Class C's teams.
With Kamuro out of the picture, Class A only managed second place, while Class B took first.
Though not one for underhanded tactics, Ichinose, as team leader, seized the opportunity during the chaos between Classes A and C to eliminate both A and D.
With the girls' events concluded, it was time for the boys' piggyback fight.
The moment Kaoru entered the fray, Ryuuen flashed him a grin.
Sure enough, with a wave of Ryuuen's hand, all of Class C's "horses" charged straight at Kaoru.
"Target Mitoma from Class A!" someone shouted.
"Take down their leader in single combat!"
Hearing this, Kaoru quietly maneuvered his "horse" into the midst of Class A and D's formations, standing firm like an unshakable mountain.
"Damn it! We've got our own target—Ryuuen from Class C!" Sudou yelled, then patted Ayanokoji, who was carrying him, urging him to charge into enemy lines.
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