Chapter 168: New Mission, Honami Ichinose's Resolve (Two-in-One 5k) (Patreon)

The second week of September was drawing to a close.

After some time to adjust, the first-years had gradually gotten used to the new PE classes, and everyone was working hard for the coming Sports Festival.

That afternoon's PE class wasn't a joint class. It was Class A's regular internal session, so today's training focused on the [Recommended Events], which were critical for the Sports Festival.

There were four [Recommended Events]: the Item Fetch Race, the Four-Way Tug-of-War, the Mixed Three-Legged Race, and finally the 1,200-meter All-Grade Joint Relay.

Unlike the [Mandatory Events], not everyone had to take part in these four. Students could sign up voluntarily, and one person could enter several.

Hikaru Naruse had already told Kohei Katsuragi that he'd enter all four.

But the [Recommended Events] weren't one-off races, so today he also needed to pick out the other participants.

It wasn't just about scoring. The running order for each event had to be settled too. Class A naturally intended to win both the first-year class rankings and everything else.

Katsuragi was holding a scoreboard today. With him, watching everyone train, were two boys who were his loyal followers: Yahiko Totsuka and Shigeru Takemoto.

The Sports Festival's scoring system was fairly complicated. Individual event scores and team event scores all had to be folded in before the final totals and rankings were decided.

Katsuragi had been leading the class for more than a term already, so everyone cooperated well and started discussing who should enter the [Recommended Events].

Naruse had no interest in joining the discussion. He was standing beside the track, tying his ankle to Ai Morishita's.

They were entering the Mixed Three-Legged Race together and planned to practice today.

The rules of the three-legged race were simple enough. What mattered was how well the two partners worked together.

A red strap bound their adjacent legs together, Naruse's left to Morishita's right, held fast. Their bodies were pressed close.

Morishita stood about 158 centimeters, nearly 1.6 meters, so she was a touch taller than Kei Karuizawa, though still only around Naruse's shoulder.

Standing so close, Naruse could smell the faint fragrance on her.

"What's wrong?"

"Naruse, do you think we can take first place?"

"Of course we can."

Morishita trusted Naruse's ability, but she was still a little worried she'd drag him down.

Of course, she'd never show it.

Miki Yamamura stood beside them, a black electronic stopwatch in her hand. She was there to help with today's training and time their runs.

"Naruse-san, are you ready?"

"More or less."

The three-legged race came in two forms at the Sports Festival.

One was the same-sex version, boys with boys and girls with girls. It was part of the [Mandatory Events], and it was easier to train for.

Height and weight differences between same-sex partners were relatively small, so coordinating came more naturally.

The Mixed Three-Legged Race, on the other hand, was a [Recommended Event]. It demanded real chemistry, and any gap in height or coordination would affect the result.

Just then, Morishita spoke up again.

"Naruse, are you going to run really fast later?"

"What's this? Are you worried you'll slow me down?"

Naruse knew Morishita well. She didn't care about most things, but now and then she got a little hesitant.

Even a free spirit like her was only human. Her personality was rather cute.

"I beat my rival to earn the right to race with you, Naruse, so you have to trust me," Morishita said, nodding earnestly.

She had beaten Asuka Shiraishi last time, so she wanted all the more to win the real race.

"Don't worry. I've already thought of a way to guarantee our time."

Knowing what she was worried about, Naruse answered gently.

"Morishita, have some faith in me."

"Wait… Naruse, you're not planning to…"

In that PE class before, Naruse had shown off formidable physical ability. He ran so fast that Morishita jumped straight to one possibility.

"You're going to carry me while you run?"

"Exactly."

Naruse smiled and nodded. That was precisely the best method he'd come up with.

The reason the three-legged race demanded coordination was that if one partner was fast and the other slow, both could lose their balance.

And to keep things fair, the rules forbade any blatant dragging or pulling between the two runners.

So to secure the win, Naruse couldn't simply haul Morishita forward. But he could support her body directly, so she wouldn't need to exert any strength at all.

That way, he wouldn't break the rules, and he could use his own physical ability to win.

"The two of us can stand even closer, and I'll handle our balance."

"Morishita, lean on me. I'll wrap my arm around you and lift you up."

"Just let me carry your leg. Set it down and lift it again, step by step. You don't need to use any strength."

"That way, we'll definitely be first across the line."

"Sounds good. Let's try it."

Hearing this, Morishita felt a sudden surge of anticipation.

Her eyes sparkled, and she came out with one of her familiar out-of-this-world lines.

"So, Naruse, you can make me fly?"

"You want to fly?"

"Can I?"

"I'll do my best."

Naruse smiled faintly and went on.

"Once I've got my arm around you, don't worry when you're off the ground. I'll definitely catch you."

"Just keep one foot on the ground. Let the other go limp and let me carry you along."

"Okay."

"Let's give it a try."

Once the two were set, Yamamura even crouched down to check whether the strap between their legs was tight enough. Then she looked up at them.

"Ready to start?"

"Yeah. Yamamura-san, you can start timing."

"Okay."

When the start was called, Naruse reached out and slipped his arm around Morishita's slender waist.

With his left leg tied to her right, once his right arm circled her, Morishita cooperated fully and pressed herself tightly against him.

"Make sure you stay close to me."

"Don't worry, Naruse. I promise you won't be able to shake me off."

"That works too."

Yamamura glanced at the stopwatch and began the countdown.

"Three… two… one!"

"Go!"

The instant the last word left her mouth, Naruse put his wrist into it and hoisted Morishita clean off the ground.

This "lift" was no ordinary steadying. With his arm strength and core power far beyond the ordinary, he took the girl's entire weight into his own hands.

"Wow! I'm really off the ground!"

Morishita felt as though Naruse had scooped her up with one arm.

The foot strapped to his moved forward under his control, while her other foot left the ground entirely. She bobbed up and down in his arms like an oversized doll.

"Remember not to miss the ground, or you'll sprain your ankle."

Naruse was moving at full power, but he still reminded the girl in his arms.

Her other foot, the one in the air, still had to touch down now and then. She couldn't just ignore it completely.

"Got it!"

Morishita laughed and squealed in his arms.

"Naruse, you're so strong!"

"Hmph hmph, you're only noticing now?"

Naruse poured on more strength and carried the girl at high speed toward the finish line ahead.

Through the whole run, Morishita's right foot was simply carried along by him, and each time her left foot touched down, Naruse lifted it again.

She felt like she was riding a carousel, rising and falling in his arms.

She hadn't exerted herself at all, yet she felt Naruse had brought her to the finish.

The Mixed Three-Legged Race course was fifty meters, and they covered it in just over fifty seconds.

"Time!"

Yamamura stared at the result in her hand, stunned.

But on second thought, it was absurd, yes, but if it was Naruse-san, then it wasn't really absurd.

"Congratulations. That's an impressive time."

"Hmph hmph, it's because I coordinated so well."

"Yes, yes."

Naruse glanced at the time and felt confident.

Normally, an ordinary high schooler needed at least a minute and a half for a fifty-meter three-legged race. They'd blasted it down to fifty seconds. It was a total sweep.

Yamamura had barely finished congratulating them when Morishita suddenly set her sights on her.

"Squad Member Yamamura, do you want to fly?"

"Huh?"

Yamamura froze for a moment, then heard Morishita carry on by herself.

"I just got a taste of how amazing Naruse is, and I think you should try it too."

"Um… I wasn't planning to enter any [Recommended Events]."

Since her relationship with Naruse had been exposed last time, whenever she played with Morishita she'd managed to steer around the subject.

"Don't we still have the [Mandatory Events]?"

Morishita said it with perfect confidence.

"When it's time for the [Mandatory Events], we can team up. Go and experience it first, and then we'll train together."

"Shouldn't you ask my opinion first?" Naruse raised an eyebrow.

"Naruse has no say right now. Just wait for me to decide."

"I'm the captain, you know."

"How dare you!"

Naruse caught her face and pinched it.

*

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Class B had no PE class that day. The afternoon period was a math self-study session.

Of course, everyone had an important matter to discuss today, so they'd turned the period into an unofficial class meeting of their own.

At the front of the room, Honami Ichinose looked out at everyone and brought up what had happened at the girls' gathering the other day.

"Do you all really think this is a good idea?"

In the seats below, the Class B students looked back at her. A few of the main leaders stepped up to speak, effectively giving closing arguments.

Ryuji Kanzaki and So Shibata were there, along with Sayo Ando, Yuki Himeno, Mako Amikura, and a few other core members of Class B. They intended to win over Honami Ichinose today.

"I think so."

Kanzaki's reasoning was clear, and he laid it out calmly.

"Ichinose, we settled on this plan only after discussing it thoroughly."

"One crucial premise is that we've all seen how outstanding Naruse-san is."

"Because of that, the most we can manage at this stage is to hold second place. Rising to Class A through class evaluation points is almost impossible."

"We're not trying to talk ourselves down. That's just the reality."

"That's right."

Shibata felt the same way. He glanced at the room, then spoke to Ichinose.

"Class A is now led by Naruse-san and Katsuragi-san, and they gained more than 800 points in a single term."

"If this goes on, the gap between us and them will only keep growing."

Shibata's tone was grave. If the goal was Class B's good, then holding second place permanently was indeed the best outcome.

"And we have Class C watching us hungrily from behind. If we build a deep partnership with Class A, we can make strategy together from now on."

"Isn't that a perfectly reasonable plan?"

"Yes, Ichinose. This is what everyone thinks."

"Even if we pool our points to send you to Class A, you're not sacrificing yourself. It just makes the whole thing even more advantageous for Class B."

If Ichinose transferred to Class A, she could keep directing Class B, and Class A would become a shield for Class B.

It was somewhat like becoming a "subordinate class" of Class A. But because the Class B students were so good-natured, they were actually willing to accept playing second fiddle like that.

In Class C or Class D, such a thing could never have been pushed through.

"If Ichinose agrees, we can spend these two terms saving up points and reach an understanding with Class A ahead of time."

"With someone as outstanding as Ichinose, Class A will surely be willing to accept this kind of cooperation."

Yes, this was a plan that took both sides into account.

Cooperation benefited both parties. It was the optimal solution for Class B at this stage, because if they kept waiting for the axe to fall, Class C could very well overtake them.

"Is this what everyone thinks?"

Ichinose was wavering a little.

But the next moment, a single line from Ando shut off her last way out.

"Ichinose, our shared goal from the start was to graduate together, with no one left behind."

"If you go to Class A, we're not cutting ties. That doesn't break our promise."

"We've thought about it too. This way, when Class C and Class D attack, you can still talk it over with Naruse-san."

"Doesn't that give us the best of both worlds?"

The rest of Class B chimed in, and their support gave Ichinose strength to make her choice.

In the end, Ichinose was persuaded. But she didn't agree outright. She decided to speak with Naruse first.

Facing everyone's expectant eyes, the girl answered slowly, her expression gentle.

"Since all of you feel this way, let me think it over."

"I'll give you an answer you'll be happy with."

*

Before PE class ended.

Naruse stood at the edge of the field drinking water. He'd just taken Yamamura through the Mixed Three-Legged Race too. She weighed about the same as Morishita.

When they reached the finish, the girl had worn a faint smile.

Morishita's reaction, though, was rather odd. She was the one who'd suggested it, yet in the end she didn't seem very happy.

"Well… these are all small things."

Just as he was muttering to himself, the system panel in front of his eyes flickered.

"?"

The change startled Naruse, since no task had appeared in a long time.

The next moment, he opened the text on the system panel.

[Honami Ichinose's love for you is pure.]

[The development of your relationship holds salvation and rebirth, along with a desperate gamble and a brave decision.]

[One day, as you reminisce about how you became seatmates in your school days, she tells you that those years are the most precious treasure deep in her heart.]

[Honami Ichinose grips your hand and says that even if she could do it a hundred times over, she would make the same decision.]

[When you advanced to second year, she came to your side and became your seatmate. It was an important choice she made.]

[You, too, are deeply moved.]

[Emotional Comeback Task issued: Support one of Honami Ichinose's important decisions and move the girl to tears.]

[Task reward: Basic Constitution Elixir ×3]

"What does that mean?"

After reading the text on the system panel, Naruse couldn't help feeling puzzled.

"We become seatmates in second year?"

The question had actually crossed his mind back when he first enrolled, but he'd never pursued it.

After all, he was a Class A student and Honami Ichinose was in Class B.

No matter how he looked at it, the two of them shouldn't have been able to become seatmates.

Now the system panel had given a clear time. When they advanced to second year?

Why?

"Why would she become my seatmate in second year?"

Naruse stared at the task panel, lost in thought.