Chapter 276: Asahina Nazuna: "Shimizu-kouhai is so cute" / Stealing Shimizu Akira from her again!
The structure of the Sports Festival was clear: general participation in the morning, and representative events in the afternoon. After the 200m sprint, the midday break finally arrived. The 45-minute interval was enough for resting and eating.
The school did something special today; the cafeteria was closed, and lunch boxes were ordered from outside. Every student received one for free. Some went to the cafeteria to eat, while others stayed on the field. The school provided blue picnic mats for those staying outside, and Shimizu Akira chose the latter.
The bento was impressive—appetizers, sushi, tamagoyaki, and shrimp tempura were neatly arranged with rice and soup.
"Shimizu, help me eat this sausage... I don't really like it," Karuizawa Kei said, sitting on the blue mat with her cheeks slightly puffed out, pouting playfully.
Shimizu looked down at the sausage, which clearly had a tiny bite mark on it.
"Wait, haven't you already bitten into this?"
"Kei, you shouldn't be a picky eater," Matsushita Chiaki chimed in with a smile.
"...Fine," Kei muttered, giving her best friend a secret side-eye. She had been looking forward to some one-on-one time with Shimizu, but Matsushita had appeared out of nowhere and kept interrupting.
Shimizu glanced at the scoreboard while eating.
Red Team: 14,580 White Team: 12,420
The gap was widening. Many in his class had already resigned themselves to losing 100 Class Points.
"What's our class score currently?" Shimizu asked.
"2,100 points!" Matsushita checked her phone immediately. "For the rankings: Class 1-A is first (2360), Class 1-D is second (2240), and Class 1-B is third (2210)."
She explained that team event points are divided by two when added to class totals. Matsushita was a reliable helper; she often anticipated what Shimizu wanted to know before he even finished asking.
'Class 1-A is in the lead?' Sakayanagi Arisu was clearly going all out. Class 1-C was in last place because Shimizu, Ayanokouji, and Koenji hadn't really exerted themselves yet, leaving only Sudo Ken to carry the weight.
Furthermore, the White Team's lag was largely due to the upperclassmen. Since the 2nd-year B and C classes were under Nagumo Miyabi's control, they were clearly throwing their matches.
"The individual rankings are also public!" Matsushita continued.
"President Horikita Manabu and Vice President Nagumo Miyabi are tied for first with 75 points. You only have 15 points from the three-legged race, Shimizu-kun. But don't worry! The afternoon events—the Scavenger Hunt, Mixed Three-Legged Race, and the 10km Run—have higher base points. If you take first in all three, you'll rocket to the top!"
"Thanks for the info and the encouragement, Matsushita," Shimizu said.
Matsushita acted cool, but she was secretly thrilled.
'He actually said thank you.'
Seeing their interaction, Kei felt a sense of loss. She quickly picked up a piece of sushi she hadn't touched and held it to Shimizu's lips.
"Shimizu, let me feed you! Open up~ I haven't touched this one, and I know you like sushi!"
Shimizu ate it naturally, and Kei relaxed, a faint blush creeping onto her face as she shot a triumphant look at Matsushita.
Matsushita sighed internally.
'Feeding him a bite of rice is nothing to brag about, Kei. Haruka and Airi have already invited him to go swimming... you're moving way too slow.'
"Excuse me... could I borrow a moment of your lunch break?" a gentle female voice asked from behind.
They turned to see a senior with a cute sunflower hair clip and a beaming smile. It was Asahina Nazuna from the Student Council.
"Can I borrow Shimizu-kouhai for ten minutes? Just a short while~" Asahina winked.
Shimizu stood up.
"I'll go. Don't tease them, Senpai."
They walked toward the wisteria trellis near the school building. Once alone, Asahina turned around, her playful energy overflowing.
"Shimizu-kouhai, you really have a lot of luck with girls. Last time it was Horikita-kouhai, now you have two more. Are you a light novel protagonist?"
Shimizu's mouth twitched.
"What is it you need, Asahina-senpai?"
She laughed.
"Can't I just want to chat with a cute junior? Anyway, look at Miyabi."
She gestured toward Nagumo, who was being fed by two girls.
"We're childhood friends, but we aren't dating. I don't have any romantic feelings for him at all. Feel relieved? Thinking 'Oh, she's single, I have a chance'?"
"Not at all," Shimizu retorted. He had enough on his plate with the first-years. He noticed Nagumo's eyes darting toward them despite being pampered.
Asahina's expression turned serious.
"I'm here because of Miyabi. He plans to coordinate Class 2-A and two 1st-year classes to target you during the 10km run. Be careful."
"I know. Thank you for the warning," Shimizu said calmly.
Asahina blinked.
"That's it? No surprise? You knew?"
"Another student warned me," Shimizu replied truthfully. "But I appreciate the gesture. I'll remember this favor."
He then looked at her. "By the way, Senpai, you usually wear an amulet, right? Be careful during the 10km run. It would be a problem if it fell and got stepped on."
"Eh?" Asahina's eyes widened.
"How do you know I wear an amulet? Have you been secretly watching me? Are you really interested in me—?"
"It's just a kind warning!" Shimizu interrupted, checking his watch.
"I have to go. See you, Senpai."
Asahina giggled as he hurried away. She finally understood why Nagumo liked teasing the Student Council President; seeing a serious, composed person get flustered was indeed "delicious."
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The Scavenger Hunt
The afternoon events began. Shimizu was in the first heat of the Scavenger Hunt. Next to him were Ibuki Mio, Yamamura Miki, and Shiranami Chihiro.
"I heard you taught Ryuen a lesson," Ibuki grunted. "Don't hold back against me!"
The race started. Shimizu reached the box first and drew a slip. Remembering the intel about the Chairman's "special slips," he opened it and immediately ran toward the spectator tents.
He found Sakayanagi Arisu and Shiina Hiyori sitting together, sipping coffee.
"Shimizu-kun? Not participating in the race?" Arisu smiled.
"Did you get a difficult item?" Hiyori asked.
Before he could answer, Ibuki and Yamamura arrived, panting. All three showed their slips:
Shimizu: "Bring a female student you consider to be the smartest." Ibuki: "Bring a beret." Yamamura: "Bring a cane."
Every single slip pointed toward Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Sakayanagi-san," Hiyori giggled.
"The slips for this race seem a bit... targeted."
Arisu looked embarrassed. Her father, the Chairman, had clearly "rigged" the box to give her more "participation" in the festival. It was humiliating.
Ibuki shouted, "Hey! Mine is easiest! Just lend me the beret!"
"The cane is right here..." Yamamura whispered.
Arisu looked at Shimizu with a smirk.
"Shimizu-kun, you think I am the smartest female student? I suppose that deserves a reward..."
"Wait! Sakayanagi-san, you've misunderstood!" Shimizu interrupted.
"I'm here for Shiina Hiyori, not you. My answer was always her; you just happen to be sitting next to her."
Arisu's smug composure froze.
"Eh? Not me?"
Ibuki and Yamamura lowered their heads, shoulders shaking as they tried not to laugh.
"Shimizu-kun... you think I'm the smartest?" Hiyori asked, eyes blinking in surprise and delight.
"Yes," Shimizu nodded. "In the VIP exam, you figured out the pattern with only three people. Arisu used five. You're the winner in my book. So, may I 'borrow' you?"
"Yes, of course!" Hiyori stood up immediately.
"Sorry, Sakayanagi-san, I'm going with Shimizu-kun. I'll chat with you later!"
Arisu watched as her friend was "kidnapped" by Shimizu right in front of her. For the first time, she understood the term "plastic friendship."
'It hurts... it really hurts.'
"Hey! Sakayanagi! Don't just stare! Give me your hat!" Ibuki yelled. "And... the cane..." Yamamura added timidly.
Arisu huffed and handed her cane to Yamamura. She had a bet with Class B, so she had to prioritize class interests.
As for Ibuki? She ignored her completely.
'Borrowing my hat after such a shock? No way! Class D people are truly the worst!'
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