Chapter 52

As a result, I couldn't become friends with the students who were attending the remedial classes.

Following Kaori-chan's advice, I greeted the students nearby with a smile and a "Good morning" when I entered the classroom in the morning, but on the first day, a few of them became suspicious.

Still, as I continued to do this every day, they gradually started to greet me back normally.

But it didn't progress any further. I decided to think that it was better that they were no longer scared of me.

Then, in the new semester, when I met the group of students I hadn't seen in a while, they said to me, "Oh, Reika-sama, have you lost weight?" You guys must have noticed that I had been gaining weight.

If you were calling me a raccoon roll behind my back, I won't forgive you.

When my friends found out that I was attending remedial classes, they, for some reason, misunderstood it as "As expected of Reika-sama. She's so diligent in her studies." I decided to leave the misunderstanding as it was.

The first thing after the break was to decide the events for the sports festival.

In the middle school, there is a student council, and there are physical education committee members and club representatives, so there is no longer an executive committee like in the elementary school.

However, it seems that the class representatives, along with the physical education committee, will take on various roles.

I was enthusiastic.

Finally, I can interact with the student council!

For the seniors, I'll work as hard as I can! Come on, come on, let's quickly decide the events and send me to the student council room!

In middle school, the types of relay races increased. For me, who doesn't like running, these are events I want to avoid as much as possible.

In addition to the long jump and the ball toss, I decided to participate in the three-legged race when my friends invited me.

The most contentious event was the boys' bullfight. No one was willing to volunteer. That's understandable. Because the bullfight always involves that guy.

I heard from a boy who had participated in the bullfight before that the emperor and his bull come charging at you with such intensity that it's terrifying compared to other bullfights.

The emperor must be busy choosing a new bull right now. If you're chosen as a bull, you have to attend secret training after school. And the bull, trained by the emperor, shows the difference in strength during the actual event.

No wonder no one wants to participate. I'm glad I'm not a boy.

In the end, the boys who didn't know the situation and the unlucky boys who lost the rock-paper-scissors had to participate. Good luck to them.

With the events decided, I headed to the student council meeting for the sports festival. Look, the committee leader, I'm going early. Don't dawdle.

The committee leader was using the reflective window glass to fix her hair because Miharu-chan was also attending the same meeting. She's such a girl.

The student council members were already gathered in the meeting room, including Romeo-senpai, the president.

Ah, I haven't seen him up close in a while!

He must have gone to the beach during the summer break; he's tanned and looks even more rugged!

I almost broke into a wide smile, but I clenched my teeth to hold it back. I don't want to be seen as a weird girl smiling to herself. But my facial muscles moved on their own!

Romeo-senpai and I made eye contact! He looked surprised! Was my face really that strange?!

In the meeting, we discussed the precautions and assigned roles, and at the end, we submitted a printout with the names of the participants for each class's events.

Romeo-senpai, looking at the submitted printout, said, "By the way, there's someone incredibly strong in the bullfight, right?"

"I'm also participating in the bullfight. I wonder if I can win."

What?!

Romeo-senpai is participating in the bullfight! I have to cheer for him!

When I handed him the printout, I mustered the courage to say,

"Senpai, good luck in the bullfight."

Senpai looked a bit surprised but then smiled and said, "Thank you."

Yes!

My plan to get closer to senpai through the sports festival preparations didn't really work out.

As a class representative, I was only responsible for the class's miscellaneous tasks, while the student council, sports clubs, and physical education committee were in charge of the overall preparations.

Still, whenever I had a reason to go to the student council room, I took the lead.

The committee leader looked at me with a warm but slightly suspicious gaze, so I silently warned her not to say anything unnecessary.

Once, I got a lot of leftover sweets from Pivoine's salon and brought them as a treat. When he said, "Oh, these are delicious. Thank you!" with a dazzling smile, I almost said, "I'll smuggle as many sweets as you want for that smile!"

But senpai can eat so many sweets without gaining any weight. I remember Daitokuji also eats a lot of macarons and chocolates at the salon but has no excess fat.

Isn't that unfair?

On the day of the sports festival, I participated after applying the strong sunscreen recommended by my mother.

Since I wasn't in any of the main events, I focused on cheering.

The long jump went well because other classes made mistakes. I didn't realize how tiring the long jump could be.

In the club relay race, I took multiple photos of Aizawa-kun from the track team running in a Snow White costume. I'll give them to Sakura-chan later. Aizawa-kun looked quite beautiful.

Daitokuji and Enjo, who participated in the relay, were surrounded by girls offering them lemon honey. They must have received so many that they couldn't eat them all.

I often hear about lemon honey being a standard treat for sports clubs in manga and novels, but I've never actually tried it. Is it delicious?

After completing each event, it was finally time for the bullfight in the afternoon.

When the emperor's bull appeared, the cheers were especially loud. The emperor looked majestic, and the bull seemed to be breathing heavily. They must have practiced a lot. They were full of confidence.

In addition to the cheers for "Daitokuji-sama!" and "Emperor!" from various places, I heard "Tomari-kun, do your best!" I was worried. Senpai seems to be quite popular. There are many rivals. What a situation.

Ignoring my anxiety, the bullfight began.

Daitokuji started by crushing the bulls nearby one by one. The emperor's bull attacked the fleeing bulls. Oh, that's my class's bull. It's being dragged down. Oh, it fell, it's crushed.

Well, you did your best. The bulls from other classes, who were also beaten up, seemed to be licking their wounds. May you rest in peace.

Romeo-senpai wasn't losing either. He gave precise instructions and captured his opponents. Senpai is amazing!

Finally, the only ones left on the field were the emperor's bull and Romeo-senpai.

Romeo-senpai, Romeo-senpai, do your best!

As I prayed desperately, a friend next to me said, "Don't worry. Daitokuji-sama will definitely win." No! That's not it!

The one-on-one battle between the emperor and Romeo-senpai was almost evenly matched. I and everyone around me were surprised to see a bull that could fight so well against the emperor's bull, who usually has no equal.

Maybe he can win?! Just as I thought that, senpai's bull stumbled, and the emperor took advantage of the opportunity to snatch the headband.

The field erupted in cheers. It was the most exciting moment of the day.

Even though he lost, senpai was smiling happily. The emperor, who had never been pushed so hard before, looked a bit disappointed despite winning.

He'll definitely increase his training next year...

In the overall results, Romeo-senpai's class won. However, the MVP was the emperor, who won both the relay and the bullfight.

The emperor raised the trophy he held in one hand high. You're actually quite into it, aren't you?