The mid-September sunlight still held the lingering warmth of summer, yet the afternoon breeze was beginning to carry the crisp freshness of autumn. Above the sandy athletic field, the temperature felt boiling from the evaporation of sweat and the roar of heavy breathing. Only a short amount of time remained out of the total one-month preparation period granted before the execution day of the Sports Festival in early October. What was unfolding on the field of Advanced Nurturing High School that afternoon was proof that Seiji's unconventional methods were beginning to yield results that defied common sense.
Class 1-B and Class 1-C were conducting a joint training session as fellow members of the White Team. However, rather than looking like training together, this session looked more like a one-sided display of absolute dominance.
Under the shade of a white canopy tent on the edge of the field, Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her folding chair, her legs elegantly crossed while resting her chin atop her cane. Her sharp purple eyes never left the track.
Around the tent, the students of Class 1-C—a class famous for its strict discipline—looked utterly exhausted. Kamuro Masumi stood bent over with her hands resting on her knees, panting heavily after completing a hurdle race simulation. Meanwhile, Hashimoto Masayoshi lay flat on his back on the grass, letting his shirtsleeves soak with sweat.
However, what made Sakayanagi curl her lips into a highly intrigued smile was not her own class, but Class 1-B.
On that exact same track, Sudou Ken and Akito Miyake were still sprinting with near-perfect posture. Sweat certainly soaked their uniforms, but there were absolutely no signs of chronic fatigue. In the grassy area, Hirata Yosuke and Karuizawa Kei's group were pulling a giant truck tire with a rhythm so synchronized they looked like a machine. Even the students with below-average stamina, like Sotomura and Ike, were no longer whining; they moved transferring tennis balls with an efficiency of movement that minimized caloric waste.
"They are... monsters," Kamuro muttered between ragged breaths, staring at Sudou, who had just broken his 100-meter dash time record yet again. "How much stamina do they possess? This is the third hour."
"It's not that their stamina is infinite, Masumi-san," Sakayanagi replied gently, her smile widening further. "But rather, their tolerance for pain and exhaustion has been forcefully dismantled and reassembled."
Sakayanagi's gaze shifted to the center of the field, looking at the tall young man standing there holding a stopwatch. Koroizumi Seiji looked entirely relaxed, dispensing instructions with a friendly tone that somehow reflexively caused every single student in Class 1-B to move faster.
Sakayanagi knew his secret. Over the past two weeks, she had heard the rumors regarding the "Bounty Tag" and the "Hell's Green Herbal Drink" that Seiji had implemented. The young man wasn't just training his class physically; he had hacked their psychology. By balancing the absolute terror of punishment and a massive monetary reward, Seiji had shattered Class 1-B's mental limits. They had evolved from a gathering of defective cast-offs into a troop of fearless soldiers.
You truly are a terrifying artist, Koroizumi-kun, Sakayanagi thought to herself. Cooperating with you on the White Team is practically an unfair advantage.
Dusk began to fall when Class 1-B finally returned to their classroom for a final evaluation. The air inside the room felt warm from body heat, yet their morale was at an absolute high point. There were no longer any complaints; there were only eyes hungry for victory.
Horikita Suzune stood in front of the podium, tapping the whiteboard to demand attention. Beside her, Hirata held a stack of finalized registration documents. Seiji himself was already sitting comfortably at his desk, returning to his role as a passive observer while drinking a carton of apple juice.
"Your hard work over these past two weeks has been absolutely outstanding," Suzune began, her tone firm yet radiating genuine appreciation. "There is one week remaining, and based on the biometric data calibrations we have been adjusting every single day, Koroizumi-kun and I have finalized the participation roster for the thirteen events."
Suzune taped a large chart onto the whiteboard. The chart contained the names of all forty students of Class 1-B, neatly divided into three operational strata without any overlap.
Class 1-B Stratification Formation
The Vanguard (Front Line - 10 Students): The elite force of absolute physique and agility. They are tasked with sweeping the points in the grueling events. Sudou Ken, Hirata Yosuke, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, Miyake Akito, Onodera Kayano, Matsushita Chiaki, Kushida Kikyo, Koroizumi Seiji, Kouenji Rokusuke.
The Shadow (6 Students): Students with extreme physical limitations. Reserved specifically for non-physical events to prevent stamina penalties. Sakura Airi, Hasebe Haruka, Sotomura Hideo, Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, Yukimura Teruhiko.
The Shield (24 Students): The backbone of the defense with average stamina. The balancers of group formations. Azuma Sana, Endou Yuta, Fujii Takahiro, Hondo Ryoutarou, Ichihashi Ruri, Ijyuuin Wataru, Inogashira Kokoro, Ishikura, Ishikura Kayoko, Karuizawa Kei, Kikuchi, Maezono, Minami Setsuya, Mori Nene, Nakamura, Nishimura Ryuko, Nishino Takeko, Nomura, Okitani Kyousuke, Sano Kouta, Satou Maya, Shinohara Satsuki, Sonoda Chiyo, Wang Mei-Yu.
Seeing his name inserted into the ranks of the Vanguard, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could only let out a long sigh within the silence of his own mind. His grip strength blunder had sealed his fate. On the other hand, Matsushita Chiaki, whose secret genius had been exposed by Seiji during the Island Exam, merely smiled in resignation, accepting her position on the front lines.
However, there was one name that made the entire class, including Ike and Yamauchi, widen their eyes in disbelief.
"Hold on a second," Ike interrupted, pointing at the whiteboard. "Kouenji? You mean that Kouenji Rokusuke?! How the hell did you guys make that narcissist willing to sweat it out in the Vanguard? He didn't even participate in the 'Bounty Tag' training at all!"
All eyes instantly shifted to Kouenji's desk. The blonde young man was currently admiring his own reflection in a small hand mirror, combing his hair with the elegance of a nobleman. He did not deny his name being written on the front-line roster.
Suzune massaged her temples slowly, glancing toward Seiji. "Perhaps our director can explain it directly himself. Considering that negotiation occurred entirely outside the realm of normal human logic."
Seiji chuckled softly. He stood up, stretching his shoulders.
Three days ago, Seiji reminisced. When the entire class was lying incapacitated after drinking the hellish herbal concoction, Kouenji had intended to go home early. Seiji intercepted him in the corridor. Instead of threatening or begging, Seiji utilized his Koro-sensei instincts, excelling in the art of pampering a student's ego.
In the blink of an eye—with a speed barely perceivable by Kouenji's retinas—Seiji's hands had moved, massaging the acupressure points on Kouenji's shoulders, neck, and back, releasing muscle tension that even Kouenji himself hadn't realized he possessed. He didn't stop there; Seiji produced a silk handkerchief and polished Kouenji's shoes to a perfect shine, all occurring within a matter of three seconds.
"What in the world are those movements of yours, Boy?" Kouenji had asked at the time, astounded to feel his muscles become as light as cotton.
"A human who considers himself a god simply requires the proper stage, Kouenji-kun," Seiji whispered back then, brushing invisible dust off Kouenji's collar. "If you hide yourself in the minor events, you will be considered an equal to these mediocre masses. But imagine... if you step onto the track for the 200-Meter Dash and the 1200-Meter Relay, and then blaze past Class A and Class D without a single drop of sweat ruining your handsome features. You will prove that your existence is an untouchable, absolute beauty."
Kouenji fell silent.
"Furthermore," Seiji continued with a teasing tone, "If you manage to secure first place in every single one of your events, I will personally provide this master-level relaxation massage service every single week for the rest of this semester. Your skin and muscles will thank me."
Kouenji had laughed uproariously that day, a booming laugh of pure arrogance. "Hahaha! You truly understand the art of caring for a masterpiece, Teacher Boy! Very well! I shall show this school the true meaning of physical perfection!"
Returning to the present, Seiji merely offered a mysterious smile in response to Ike's question. "Let's just say... Kouenji-kun and I reached a mutually beneficial, artistic agreement. Is that correct, Kouenji-kun?"
"Naturally," Kouenji replied casually without looking away from his mirror. "That running track will become a red carpet for me."
Suzune cleared her throat, returning the class's focus. "Alright. Based on the allocations of these three groups, here are the details of your placements across the thirteen events."
Suzune picked up a marker and began writing out the blueprint of their execution. This distribution wasn't mere guesswork; it was a highly calculated mathematical balance between rest periods and muscle load.
Class 1-B Sports Festival Event Allocation
Individual Category (Front Line & Maximum Deployment):
100-Meter Dash: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Sudou Ken, Onodera Kayano, Miyake Akito. (Relying on the high explosive power of The Vanguard).
Hurdle Race: Hirata Yosuke, Matsushita Chiaki, Horikita Suzune. (Requires rhythm and flexibility, eliminating crude runners).
Capture the Flag (Male): Sudou Ken (Main Attacker), Miyake Akito, Koroizumi Seiji, Hirata Yosuke, supported by the strongest physiques from The Shield (Hondo, Sano, Ijyuuin, Ishikura).
Ball Toss / Tamaire (Female): Kushida Kikyo, Karuizawa Kei, Mori Nene, Shinohara Satsuki, Inogashira Kokoro. (Led by Kushida for accuracy and Kei for formation command).
Tug of War: Kouenji Rokusuke (Male Anchor), Koroizumi Seiji, Sudou Ken, alongside 15 male students from The Shield. For the females, Suzune leads the remaining female students of The Shield.
Obstacle Course Race: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Matsushita Chiaki, Kushida Kikyo. (Above-average agility and adaptability).
Three-Legged Race: Hirata Yosuke & Miyake Akito; Horikita Suzune & Onodera Kayano.
Cavalry Battle (Main Squad): Koroizumi Seiji (Rider), with the support horses Sudou Ken, Miyake Akito, and Hirata Yosuke. (A combination of Seiji's invisible evasion maneuvers with Sudou's horsepower).
200-Meter Dash: Kouenji Rokusuke, Sudou Ken, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Group Category & Stamina Management:
Scavenger Hunt: All members of The Shadow (Sakura, Hasebe, Sotomura, Ike, Yamauchi, Yukimura). (Keeping them away from heavy running, relying on their social networks).
Four-Way Tug of War: A combined formation of The Shield and The Vanguard.
Three-Legged Race (Mixed Gender): Ayanokouji Kiyotaka & Kushida Kikyo; Hirata Yosuke & Onodera Kayano.
Joint 1200-Meter Relay (Pinnacle Event): Onodera Kayano ➔ Matsushita Chiaki ➔ Horikita Suzune ➔ Sudou Ken ➔ Kouenji Rokusuke ➔ Koroizumi Seiji.
Sotomura stared at the whiteboard with eyes welling up with tears of sheer joy. "We... we from the Shadow group are truly only focused on finding random items? Oh, Kami-sama, Koroizumi-dono is truly the savior of mankind!"
"Do not let your guard down, Sotomura-kun," Suzune warned firmly. "If you fail to secure the passive points from the Scavenger Hunt, the burden on our class will increase in the physical events. Do your jobs, and let those of us on the front lines crush our opponents."
The formation was flawless. The fatigue management was impeccably arranged. By delegating tasks based on the pyramid, there would be no excessive buildup of lactic acid in Sudou's muscles or any of the other Vanguard representatives, ensuring they were in prime condition for the Joint 1200-Meter Relay at the very end of the event.
That night, the wind on the roof of the school dormitory felt considerably colder.
Koroizumi Seiji stood leaning his elbows on the roof's guardrail, staring at the twinkling lights of the main school building in the distance. Shortly after, the creaking sound of the roof door opening broke the silence. Kushida Kikyo stepped out, wearing her casual jacket, hiding her angelic facade and allowing her true, cynical aura to permeate the air.
"It's freezing out here," Kushida grumbled as she stepped closer and stood beside Seiji. "You owe me for this, Koroizumi. Ordering me to spy on two classes simultaneously in the middle of this insane training schedule was not an easy task."
"But you executed it flawlessly, didn't you?" Seiji smiled without turning his head, the aura of the shadow teacher radiating faintly under the moonlight. "So, what did your spider's web catch?"
Kushida scoffed, then held out a small black notebook. A cynical smile, full of anticipation, was etched on her lips.
"Here is the complete intelligence report. Ichinose Honami's movements in Class A, and of course... the plans Ryuen Kakeru in Class D is hiding to sabotage this festival."
Seiji turned around, leaning his back against the guardrail. His obsidian-dark eyes stared at the notebook with the sharp glint of a predator ready to dissect its prey.
"Excellent work, Kushida-san," Seiji said, his voice flowing calmly yet laden with an authority that dictated the night air. "Now, let us hear what kind of strategies the rulers of the Red Team are playing..."
The autumn wind blew across the roof once more, ruffling Seiji's hair. Only seven days remained. The stage had been set, and the chess pieces of Class 1-B had been perfectly calibrated at the starting line.
"...before we begin devising counter-strategies to deal with all of them."
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