Chapter 120: Sakayanagi's Plan
In the classroom, Chabashira Sae wore her usual stern expression, as if nothing could alter it.
Ike Kanji, sensing the heavy atmosphere, tried to lighten the mood. "Sensei, you didn't come early just to praise us, did you?"
Hikigaya Hachiman, listening to Ike's smug remark, couldn't help but think, This guy's teasing the Sensei now? He's begging for trouble!
But, Chabashira-sensei, that grim face of yours is a real obstacle to the class's progress. When will you realize it?
Hikigaya thought of Class A's Sensei, Hoshinomiya Chie. She wouldn't wear such a scowl, but… imagining her overly friendly demeanor made him inwardly recoil, shaking his head.
On second thought, Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei is more normal. Sure, she teases me, but at least…
At least she's human.
[In the chat group, Hoshinomiya and Chabashira, hearing Hikigaya's thoughts, had mixed reactions.]
[Chabashira remained unfazed, her expression unchanged, while Hoshinomiya was livid, hands on hips. "Well, well, Hikigaya! We're the prettiest first-year Senseis, and you describe us like this? You don't know how lucky you are!"]
[Outside their grade, and even beyond the school, their suitors were countless. Why were they still single, even considered "leftover women"? There were reasons.]
[Chabashira couldn't forget that person. As for Hoshinomiya, it wasn't a lack of men… No, wait! It was this damn job limiting her social circle, forcing her to work with the dull Sakagami and Mashima.]
[Chabashira smirked, eyeing Hikigaya. "This guy's still focused on climbing up. That's reassuring."]
[Meanwhile, Hiratsuka Shizuka was flattered. She hadn't expected to become the top Sensei in the heart of her troubled student. It was truly unbelievable for her.]
[Yukinoshita Haruno, elbowing Hiratsuka, teased, "Well, your star student's famous over there, but he still can't forget you."]
[Though seasoned, Hiratsuka blushed at Haruno's words, quickly turning away. "Why does it sound weird coming from you?"]
[Haruno, feigning innocence, tilted her head. "Shizu-chan, you're nearly 30. Time to find a boyfriend, or no one will want you."]
[Hiratsuka felt a critical hit, glaring at Haruno. "Cursing your Sensei like that?"]
[Haruno, having achieved her goal, burst into laughter. Time flew. Back when she was in high school, Shizu-chan was a fresh Sensei, young and beautiful but inexperienced. Now, years later, she was a seasoned educator, and Haruno was no longer a student. The only constant was her ability to tease her Sensei like this.]
[Their bond had long surpassed a typical Sensei-student relationship.]
Facing Ike's teasing, Chabashira's face didn't budge, leaving him awkwardly retreating to his seat.
Ike, you idiot. If someone came all this way to encourage us, it wouldn't be Chabashira-sensei.
Chabashira, holding a file, saw everyone seated and said calmly, "First, you did well. You outperformed Ryuen's class in both the uninhabited island and VIP student exams. From this semester, we're officially Class C. Cherish this hard-earned status and keep growing toward your goals."
Hikigaya knew Senseis often gave motivational speeches at the semester's start, but…
This doesn't feel like Chabashira-sensei. Is she still herself? Or does she evolve with each class rank? Will she become her ultimate form in Class A?
Should I shout, "Go, Ultimate Greymon!" for the occasion?
His internal quips were exaggerated, but Chabashira's demeanor surprised him. At the start of school, she barely spoke a word.
Whether she sensed his thoughts or not, Chabashira locked eyes with him, her gaze a warning.
'Scary. Did you learn mind-reading, Chabashira-sensei?'
She placed the file on the desk, clearly the new semester's notice, amplifying the students' sense of pressure.
"The second semester starts today. For the next month, September to October, sports classes will increase to prepare for the sports festival."
With Hirata Yosuke's help, everyone received a new announcement about the sports festival.
Chabashira: "You're holding the new schedule and sports festival details. The school's website has the same information if you need to check."
Hirata raised his hand, drawing everyone's attention, including Chabashira's. With a nod, she signaled him to speak.
"Sensei, is the sports festival part of a special exam?"
"That depends on how you view it. If it's important to you, it doesn't matter if it's an exam. But I'll tell you this, it will significantly impact the class."
"Eh?!"
The class gasped in unison. Though she didn't say it outright, they weren't fools. They understood.
Unlike other schools' casual sports festivals, here it was a special exam that could reshape class standings.
Shinohara Satsuki: "That's harsh."
Sato Maya, annoyed: "Yeah, we can't even enjoy the sports festival now."
Sakura Airi, glancing worriedly at Hikigaya: "Sports festival…"
Hasebe Haruka stayed silent, seemingly indifferent.
Chabashira: "This sports festival will be different."
She then read the rules:
Sports Festival Rules and Grouping
The festival pits the entire grade into Red and White teams.
- Red Team: Classes A and D.
- White Team: Classes B and C.
Mandatory Events (Individual Competitions) Point Allocation
- 1st: 15 points
- 2nd: 12 points
- 3rd: 10 points
- 4th: 8 points
- 5th and below: Decreasing by 1 point.
Team Events
- Winning team: 500 points.
- Recommended Events Point Allocation:
- 1st: 50 points
- 2nd: 30 points
- 3rd: 15 points
- 4th: 10 points
- 5th and below: Decreasing by 2 points.
- (Final relay event: Triple points)
Red vs. White Outcome
- Losing team's classes lose 100 class points each.
Grade-Wide Ranking Impact
- 1st: +50 class points
- 2nd: No change
- 3rd: -50 class points
- 4th: -100 class points
Individual Rewards (Usable in Next Midterm)
- 1st: 5,000 private points or 3 exam points (non-transferable).
- 2nd: 3,000 private points or 2 exam points.
- 3rd: 1,000 private points or 1 exam point.
- Last place in any event: -1,000 private points (or -1 exam point if points are insufficient).
Violations
- Follow all rules. Violations lead to disqualification, and severe cases result in expulsion and point forfeiture.
These rules affected not just class rankings but also midterm scores. Good rankings boosted exam points, while poor ones deducted them.
This was no ordinary sports festival, it was a high-stakes gamble.
Hasebe: "There are mandatory and optional events, huh?"
Hikigaya glanced at the paper, confirming her observation.
Optional events give more points than mandatory ones.
No surprise, those who choose them are likely the elite.
Hikigaya knew his limits. He'd never sign up for optional events, not a single one!
Chabashira: "Don't let your guard down. You earned good rewards in the last two exams, but this sports festival demands even more effort."
Sudo nodded confidently. After half a year, it was his time to shine. He had to lead Class C to a higher rank.
He knew this was his only way to contribute.
The festival had 9 mandatory events:
1. 100m Dash
2. Hurdle Race
3. Pole-Toppling Race (Boys Only)
4. Ball Toss (Girls Only)
5. Tug-of-War (Boys and Girls Separated)
6. Obstacle Course
7. Two-Person Three-Legged Race
8. Cavalry Battle
9. 200m Dash
And 4 optional events:
1. Scavenger Hunt
2. Four-Way Tug-of-War
3. Mixed-Gender Two-Person Three-Legged Race
4. Grade-Wide Mixed 1200m Relay
Total: 13 events. Except for the 1200m relay, all were grade-separated, minimizing broader impact.
For Hikigaya, this was fine. For Horikita, it was huge, she'd finally see her beloved brother.
Hikigaya took a deep breath. Finishing last in mandatory events meant losing points, disastrous for him and Class C, whose academic strength lagged behind the other classes.
Karuizawa and Sakura shared this worry.
Karuizawa: "I'm doomed! My exam points will be gone!"
Sakura stayed silent, her anxiety churning.
Sato: "If we lose a lot, avoiding failing the exams will be tough."
Yamauchi Haruki sighed heavily, slumping on his desk.
Everyone had their concerns. Most of the class doubted their stamina.
Worse, the festival was held in one day, demanding more endurance. Unlike other schools, there were no cheerleading or dance performances.
This is purely a test of stamina and athleticism. Who invented this brainless event?
Hikigaya was wrong, though. Chabashira's next words reshaped his view.
Chabashira: "For all events, the order of participation is decided by class discussion and must be submitted before the festival. If someone can't compete due to health issues, they can pay 100,000 private points for a substitute. Otherwise, it's considered a forfeit."
This meant the sports festival wasn't just about physical ability. The class's strategist, like a commander, held the key, knowing every move.
The pre-festival decisions might determine the outcome.
Chabashira glanced at Hikigaya, then Hirata. "Once you decide the order, fill out the participation form and submit it to me."
Hirata raised his hand, still curious. "How much can we decide ourselves?"
Chabashira smirked. "Everything."
"Every event, every group assignment, you decide it all."
"Lastly, good luck getting a high rank."
After Chabashira left, Class C buzzed, not with chaos, but awareness of the strategy's importance. Athletic stars like Sudo and Horikita understood this.
Sudo raised his hand first. "With my stamina, I can join every event. Not bragging, but… it's my way of making up for past mistakes."
Before anyone could respond, he lowered his head, ashamed. "Since the start, I've caused trouble with my bad attitude. If Hikigaya hadn't guided me, I'd still be that arrogant jerk."
Hikigaya watched, marveling at Sudo's growth while inwardly groaning, 'Are you an idiot? Don't drag me into this! I don't want to be the class's saint!'
Sudo Ken's voice echoed through the classroom: "On the uninhabited island, Ike made me realize that even troublemakers like us can contribute. I'm certain now is the time this class needs me. So… please give me this chance."
Seeing Sudo's sincere plea, everyone nodded in approval.
His transformation was undeniable. Long ago, he began shedding his abrasive personality, earning the class's goodwill.
Horikita Suzune: "It's good you have this resolve, but I can't give you a definite answer yet. I used to think letting the strong dominate all events to score high was best, but now I see differently. If we pin all our hopes on you, we risk falling into other classes' traps."
Sudo nodded, understanding.
Hikigaya Hachiman marveled again. It wasn't just Sudo growing, Horikita's progress suggested she wouldn't be far from becoming a leader.
By then, he could retreat to the background, living as an ordinary, peaceful youth.
[Chat Room…]
[Yuigahama Yui stretched, clearly intrigued by the upcoming exam. "Finally, a normal special exam! And it's something Hikki's bad at. I'm so excited!"]
[Hikigaya: "Hey, are you picking a fight? Looking forward to a sports festival is unthinkable."]
[Yuigahama, chuckling: "Hahaha, that's not what I meant! You always win in weird ways, so I want to see the normal you."]
[Hikigaya, exasperated: "You're the worst."]
[Yuigahama: "It feels weird being called that by you, Hikki."]
[Hayama Hayato: "That said, this may look like a normal sports festival, but it's not that simple."]
[Isshiki Iroha: "Why do you say that, Hayama-senpai?"]
[Hayama patiently explained: "Before the exam starts, every class faces a dilemma: protect their weaker athletes or abandon them to let the strong aim for higher ranks. Since results are calculated by class, the consequences are shared. If everyone sends their weakest to face another class's strongest, those weak links become last-place finishers, and the deducted private points aren't something most can afford."]
[Yuigahama: "This makes our usual strategies useless. Pre-event planning becomes critical."]
[Isshiki and Miura Yumiko looked enlightened, but… Yuigahama, when did you get this? No way, that's not her.]
[Hikigaya: "Anyway, since we have allies, we should see what Sakayanagi thinks."]
[Silence fell over the Service Club.]
[This guy dared mention another girl's name here.]
[Meanwhile, Sakayanagi Arisu, seeing Hikigaya's words, was intrigued as a video observer. She looked forward to their first collaboration in the video.]
[Hashimoto Masayoshi: "What's with this guy, relying on our princess so soon? Does he think we're allies?"]
[Sakayanagi, smiling faintly, ignored Hashimoto's pride. "To return to Class A, mutual support is natural. Letting him rely on us once isn't an issue."]
[Kamuro Masumi disagreed. Despite her words, would the video's Hikigaya rely on the princess so easily? It was unlikely.]
[Kito Hayato, less hostile, considered Hikigaya's words and the Service Club's talk, noting his average athletic ability. "From what they say, Hikigaya's sports skills aren't great."]
[Sakayanagi glanced at her legs, casually saying, "That can be trained. It's not an innate defect. If he was exceptional at sports too, there'd be no way to compete."]
(End of this chapter)