Sports Festival (1)
I took first place in the boys’ 100-meter dash, held right after the opening ceremony.
After cheering on my classmates for a while, I made my way to the assembly point for the next event—the boys’ 1500-meter run.
“Do your best, Shuhei-kun! Go for the double crown—short and long distance! A real dual-wielder!”
“Make sure you cheer for me too, Hasumin.”
“Of course! When you pass by the class section, make sure to wave, okay?”
“If I’ve got the energy.”
Thanks to Hasumin sending me off with such cheerful energy, my motivation was through the roof.
Once all the participants had gathered at the assembly point, the starting pistol fired without delay, signaling the beginning of the race.
And almost as soon as we started running—
[And now begins the least popular event of the day: the boys’ 1500-meter run!]
[Hey, hold on! You can’t just start off calling it the least popular event. You’re supposed to be doing commentary—no personal bias. Hype it up for everyone’s sake. You are next year’s broadcasting club president, remember?]
The banter between the two broadcasting club members—one male, one female—kicked off.
Since the boys’ 1500-meter run includes all grades at once, it’s hard to tell who’s who.
And because it’s just a long, steady run, it tends to drag on without much flash. That’s why sharp, entertaining commentary is essential to keep it engaging.
[But President, everyone knows it’s true! It’s been ranked dead last in the Sports Festival’s popularity survey for fifteen years straight!]
[That survey in the back of the school newspaper? Hardly anyone reads that. If you hadn’t brought it up, no one would’ve even known!]
[So now you’re trying to force me not to report something!? Well, let it be known—when I become president, I will never bow to such abuses of power!]
[I’m just telling you to read the room, that’s all…]
[And anyway, this event’s actually famous for being one of the fiercest battles in the whole festival. It’s the only race where all grades compete together, and every year, it turns into an intense showdown between the soccer team and the track team. For those drafted into it just to fill the numbers, it’s basically a punishment.]
[To be honest, the organizers know that too—that’s why this race gives out a huge number of points. So come on, everyone! Let’s send our runners some seriously fired-up cheers for the sake of class victory!]
[Let’s do it!]
[Wait, what the—!? Class 1-5 is already breaking away at the start! That’s the same guy who blew everyone away in the 100-meter dash, right? And he’s not even in a club—he’s a go-home club kid!]
[He’s going way too hard from the start, don’t you think? Can he really keep that pace for the full 1500 meters?]
[So it’s one of those, huh? Like in the winter marathon, where people sprint at the start just to make an impression?]
[Except we don’t have a winter marathon at this school, but yeah, I get what you’re saying. By the way, I asked the track club advisor over at the first aid tent, and apparently, at this pace, he could easily win the national Inter-High Championship.]
[How far can a first-year keep going at such an unbelievable pace!?]
[And what’s this!? Classes 3-3 and 3-4 are sticking with him!]
[That’s… let’s see, long-distance specialist Saito from the track team, and soccer captain Hojo. Two third-years and top contenders, now chasing down the runaway first-year!]
[This is the pride of the seniors! No way they’re going to let a first-year show them up! The heat is on! I love it!]
[Things are getting exciting! And still, Class 1-5’s runner hasn’t slowed down at all! Is he really not in any club!?]
[Oh, about him—I heard from one of my juniors. Apparently, in the first term he barely made an impression, but after the second term started, he suddenly changed. Took charge. Became a real leader.]
[Seriously? People can change that fast?]
[And in the second term’s midterms, he became the first student in the school’s history to score perfect marks in every subject. During the school festival, he pulled off the class project as the committee rep, and when a classmate got injured, he filled in as guitarist for the band performance.]
[What the hell!? The go-home kid from Class 1-5 is a monster!?]
[Heard a rumor he spent the summer break in the French Foreign Legion, fighting terrorists in the Middle East. Bonjour or whatever.]
[What kind of rumor is that!? But I kind of want to believe it now…]
[And listen to that crowd—especially the girls. Screams from all over the other classes too. He’s seriously popular. This is peak youth, man.]
[Damn it! Is this what it means to be a winner!? Swap with me, first-year! I’ll take your place!]
[Anyway, his performance is nothing short of phenomenal! And while we’ve been chatting, the race has entered its final stretch. Laugh or cry—it’s the last lap!]
[Will the fresh-faced first-year take the crown!? Or will the seasoned third-years dig deep and show their grit in their final Sports Festival!? Come on, third-years! Give it all you’ve got! Beat that golden-boy first-year and make him eat your dust! Please!!]
[Uh, President? You’re getting way too emotional. Keep it fair, you’re the commentator.]
[This isn’t emotion! I’m speaking for every guy in the school right now! Wait—what!? Class 1-5’s runner is breaking away from the pack!?]
[It’s a shocking final sprint from Class 1-5! He’s fast—too fast! Even after this blistering pace, he’s still got a finishing kick!? The third-years can’t keep up—they’re falling behind!]
[Hey! Saito! Hojo! What are you guys doing!? He’s just a first-year from the go-home club! Don’t you dare lose to him like this—it’s humiliating! Win and I’ll buy you all-you-can-eat yakiniku, just do it! Show some guts, run like your life depends on it! Hang on to him!!]
[Ahem… While the president here has completely lost his objectivity, Class 1-5’s Oda-kun has crossed the finish line in first place, defeating both the soccer and track club members. Congratulations.]
[Aaaargh…]