Episode 79: Sports Festival Part 4

「Now, Satsukawa-san’s appearance is drawing near, but the crowd in the cheering area at the starting point has increased, hasn’t it?」

A crowd is indeed forming.

However, what is concerning is that there are many guys with similar appearances.

Could that be the fan club?

「Um… by any chance, is that crowd Sara-senpai’s fan club?」

「I can’t say for certain, but it’s probably them, isn’t it?」

So that is them.

It’s the first time I’ve ever seen them gathered together, but they really were here.

I can see even from here that Sara-senpai is making an annoyed face.

…Ah, I was speaking into the mic normally.

Maybe that expression was because she heard me…

「Takanashi-kun has the role of Vice President assistant in the student council, but how is Satsukawa-san?」

For some reason, the President asked something unrelated to the competition.

Is he plotting something again? Is it just a topic of conversation?

But I couldn’t just ignore it, so I decided to answer within a harmless range.

「Um… let’s see. Basically, she’s serious and has a stoic feel toward her work, but she listens carefully to what I have to say and takes my opinions into account properly. If there’s something I don’t understand, she teaches me kindly…」

「…That’s only for Takanashi-kun.」

「…I get scolded to study on my own before she’ll teach me…」

「…Ignorance is bliss, I guess.」

Before I knew it, the executive members had gathered behind us and were whispering to each other.

「I see, so that’s how the usual Satsukawa-san is. As she is the Vice President…」

This… he might have been thinking about a follow-up for Sara-senpai, who easily makes enemies.

Certainly, there are almost no chances like this to let the whole school hear us talk in a free-talk style, so it might be one of the few chances to give a good impression.

By the way, Sara-senpai is smiling happily and giving me a small wave.

「But Takanashi-kun, you’re watching her closely. As expected, you’re always…」

「Now, it’s finally the match of the hour! Since I’m doing the commentary and can’t go to cheer, I’ll cheer from right here!」

I can’t let my guard down.

What was this man intending to say just now…

I forcefully cut in while giving the President a slight glare.

「Sorry for the wait, I’m back!」

Fukasawa-senpai returned at the perfect time.

「Whoa, Fukasawa-san is back. I’ll hand the mic back, so Takanashi will be leaving. Thank you very much.」

I quickly finished my greetings, stood up, and left the spot.

It’s because I felt like he’d say something unnecessary if I hung around.

I might just barely make it in time…

I head toward the cheering area, going to a spot far away from those guys.

Sara-senpai seemed to have noticed me and waved. I remember the disastrous state of my own participation and speak up without using her name so as not to stand out too much.

「Good luck! I’ll be waiting at the goal area!」

Senpai nodded with a smile.

「Whoa, as expected of Satsukawa-san, that was a wonderful run!」

Senpai was the winner by a landslide.

I’m probably not the only one who was entranced by the sight of her running.

Honestly, I wanted to call out to her, but I send a signal to Senpai at the finish line and head back to the headquarters early.

It’s because I have the scavenger hunt next, and I have to prepare myself this time.

「For the next scavenger hunt, borrowing items from the faculty tent and the headquarters tent is forbidden!」

「Ehhhhh.」

Voices rose mainly from the guys.

They were likely trying to get close to Sara-senpai under the guise of the hunt.

Of course, I was the one who suggested it, anticipating that… it was the right choice.

Though it means I can’t borrow from Sara-senpai either…

「Now, regarding this scavenger hunt, for some reason there are voices of criticism from the guys because of the forbidden areas. Satsukawa-san, what do you think of them?」

「If they can’t even follow a rule like this…」

The voices of criticism stopped instantly.

They’re so easy to read.

「As long as everyone is satisfied, the competition begins. If the task is an object, just bring it, but if it’s a person, please cross the goal together!」

The turns progress, and after this group is done, it’s my turn.

There shouldn’t have been anything with a high difficulty level, and there should have been a bonus or a very easy task included, so if I’m lucky, I should be able to aim for a top spot.

「Now, Takanashi-kun is in the next group. He seems to be cheered for quite a bit, so is he popular? Now, what kind of task will he get… ah! Even though we made it a forbidden area, Satsukawa-san, don’t try to leave the tent!」

There’s no way I’d be popular even if the heavens and earth were turned upside down.

But more importantly, I hope I get an easy task.

And it seems Sara-senpai tried to do something, as there’s a commotion over the commentary again.

On your mark… Bang!

I narrowed my aim to one while running.

Since the guys who reached them first took the tasks on both sides of the one I’m aiming for, this one is left all alone.

As expected, it’s an instruction to aim for this one.

I pick up the slip and look inside.

「A close friend of the same gender.」

……This was a task with a difficulty level far too high for me.