Chapter 97

On the day of the sports festival, when I arrived at school, Iwamuro-kun called me aside in a low voice and asked me to check his skin because he had used a pack the night before. I felt it with the back of my hand. Yeah, it’s soft and smooth. When I praised him, he seemed delighted and thanked me before joining the group of boys. Once the door is opened, it might never close again.

In the main events, I’m in charge of cheering. I watch the games with my friends in the tent to avoid getting sunburned. Oh, I should have lent Iwamuro-kun some sunscreen too.

In the relay race, as rumored, the emperor, who had been practicing intensely with the relay team to vent his frustration over not being able to participate in the horseback riding, took first place with a flawless baton pass. It looked like some kind of military operation, which was a bit scary...

In the first-year girls' events, Manaka-san and her friends were doing well. They’ll probably be walking tall for a while.

When it was my turn for the three-legged race, I went to the entrance gate and tied my leg with Nara-san’s. I noticed Ifuba-chan in the same row.

Ifuba-chan is also in the three-legged race? And in the same group. I didn’t know Ifuba-chan was good at sports.

Well, right now, we need to focus on ourselves. We’ve practiced a lot, so I’d like to win first place. Nara-san is also full of energy, saying, "Rika-sama, I’ll do my best!"

At the sound of the pistol, Nara-san and I started running while shouting, "One, two, one, two." I could feel a pair behind us falling. We were in first place in this group! Just as I could see the finish line and was sure of victory, a pair suddenly overtook us and took first place!

The shock made my legs tangle, but I managed to finish second. The person holding the first-place flag was Ifuba-chan.

"Yay! We’re first!" Ifuba-chan was rejoicing, but the girl in her pair looked worried and quickly stopped her.

Ifuba-chan looked confused, asking, "Huh? Why?" but after the girl whispered something in her ear, she looked at me. Huh?

Then Ifuba-chan was pulled away by the girl and disappeared into the crowd of other participants.

"Rika-sama, I’m sorry. I made you lose..."

Nara-san apologized, looking regretful. What! You don’t need to feel so responsible!

"It can’t be helped. There was a faster pair than us."

"But..."

"Let’s do our best in the next event. You’re also in the ring toss, right?"

"Yes..."

I’ve never really thought that I absolutely have to win at the sports festival, but it seems others feel differently.

After that, Ifuba-chan also participated in the big ball rolling. She couldn’t control the ball’s trajectory and collided with the big ball being run by another class. The victim of this collision was Aphrodite, who was shouting, "My hands! My violin life!" Ifuba-chan was desperately apologizing. While being hassled by Aphrodite, Ifuba-chan ended up in last place. ...RIP.

In the afternoon, I’m participating in the costume relay.

My costume is a gray dress with gray leggings, and I have big mouse ears on my head. I used cat gloves instead of mouse gloves for my hands, and I wore sneakers for safety. However, holding a pumpkin in one hand and a baton in the other was dangerous, so I decided to wear a pumpkin backpack. Compared to Cinderella, the prince, and the wizard, my character seems the most vague...

Iwamuro-kun, dressed in Cinderella’s dress and a blonde wig, came to show me. He even had pink blush and lipstick on.

I asked Iwamuro-kun if he wanted me to apply the gloss I brought, and he replied, "Of course!" So I brought the gloss, and the tall, muscular Iwamuro-kun, who is on the judo team, knelt in front of me, closed his eyes, and offered his lips.

Eh, I’m supposed to apply it?

I applied the glittery gloss to Iwamuro-kun’s lips, which were more feminine than I imagined. Yeah, you look cute.

Iwamuro-kun was secretly making a duck face while looking in the mirror. Come back...

When it was my turn in the costume relay, the audience’s cheers turned into murmurs. Some people even avoided my gaze. Why? Is something wrong?

Shungiku-chan and Kikuno-chan gave me strange cheers, saying, "Rika-sama! You look great!"

We didn’t come in first place, but I think our class’s costumes were quite a topic of conversation, so I’m satisfied. Cinderella looked happy the whole time, so I gave her the glittery gloss as a gift.

After various events, it was finally time for the horseback riding.

Iwamuro-kun is also participating in the horseback riding because of his good physique. I wonder if he’ll be okay, being so feminine.

When the popular horses entered the gate, the audience’s cheers grew louder. Among the first-year students, the cheers for the horse of a certain classmate were the loudest. He’s the deputy mayor, yet he’s so popular. It’s a bit frustrating.

The horse of my first love, Tomegane-senpai, received the loudest cheers from both boys and girls. I clapped enthusiastically. Go, Tomegane-senpai!

The high school horseback riding was more intense than the middle school’s. I think it’s because of the upperclassmen’s physique and physical abilities.

Still, the horse of the classmate I admire was holding its own. He was fighting on equal terms with the upperclassmen and even taking their headbands. Go, my classmate! Fight for the village’s honor!

I was worried about Iwamuro-kun and looked for him. He was shouting, "Roar!" and charging at the enemy, completely different from the happy Cinderella I saw earlier. Go, judo team!

Meanwhile, Tomegane-senpai’s horse was defeating the enemies one after another and accumulating victories without any trouble. Tomegane-senpai, you’re so cool! The "Oh, goddess of fate" in my head is ringing like crazy!

While I was watching Tomegane-senpai, Iwamuro-kun’s horse had already lost. I’m sorry I didn’t see it. I’ll lend you some moisturizer for your sunburned skin later.

The horse of my classmate was among the last few. Amazing, as expected of my classmate! However, he was targeted by Tomegane-senpai and, despite holding on for a while, lost his headband when he fell for a feint. The evil smile on Tomegane-senpai’s face at that moment made my heart skip a beat!

I suddenly thought of the emperor and glanced at him. He was frowning, clenching his fists, and staring intently at Tomegane-senpai’s horse. He looked very regretful.

...If so, he should have participated. Why did he declare his retirement? What a fool.

In the end, Tomegane-senpai defeated the horse of another third-year student and became the champion of this year’s horseback riding.

I stood up and clapped for his heroic figure. I even jumped and waved my hands!

At that moment, Tomegane-senpai looked at our seats, winked, and gave a thumbs up with a smile. Eh! Me?!

I looked around, and Tomegane-senpai pointed at me. He waved at me and then left with his teammates, hugging each other.

I let out a nosebleed in my imagination.