The sun hung brightly in the sky, casting a warm glow over the bustling school grounds. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, and excited voices filled the air as the students gathered for the opening ceremony of the annual Sports Festival. Guardians filled the stands, cheering and waving as their children prepared to compete.
On the stage, the principal stood beside the energetic announcer, who grinned with a microphone in hand. "Welcome, everyone, to this year's Sports Festival! We have an exciting lineup of events today, so let's cheer on our students as they give it their all!"
The crowd erupted in applause, and Izumi stood among his classmates, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Anzu slapped his back, nearly knocking him forward. "You ready, hero?"
Izumi scoffed. "Will you stop calling me that?"
Yuki adjusted his glasses, a small smirk on his face. "Well, if you don't want the title, then don't do anything heroic today."
Izumi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with." But his eyes drifted to Marina, who stood gracefully among her classmates, her expression calm and focused. He couldn't help but admire her composure, even with all the attention on her.
The announcer's voice echoed across the field. "And now, to start things off, the 100-meter race!"
Izumi's heart skipped a beat. "That's me," he muttered, stepping forward.
"Good luck, hero!" Anzu called out with a grin, earning a glare from Izumi.
"I said don't call me like that!"
He made his way to the starting line, lining up alongside the other competitors. His eyes scanned the crowd, briefly catching sight of Ren, who was watching from the sidelines with a smug grin. Izumi felt his fists clench. He had to win this. Not just for himself, but because he refused to let Ren get one up on him.
"On your mark..."
Izumi took his stance, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Get set..."
His muscles tensed, ready to explode into motion.
"Go!"
The whistle blew, and they were off.
The world around him blurred as he focused solely on the finish line. The wind whipped past his face, and his legs burned with every stride. He could hear the other runners close behind, their footsteps pounding the ground.
For a moment, Ren's smug face flashed in his mind, fueling his determination.
With one last burst of speed, Izumi lunged forward, crossing the finish line just a fraction of a second before the runner beside him. He stumbled to a stop, gasping for air, his legs feeling like jelly.
The announcer's voice boomed. "And the winner of the 100-meter race is... Izumi!"
The crowd erupted in applause.
Izumi felt a wave of relief and pride wash over him. He barely won, but a win was a win. He looked over at Ren, whose smirk had disappeared, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze.
Their eyes met, and Ren's expression hardened before he turned away.
Izumi felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Next up was the tug-of-war event. Anzu stepped up confidently, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's show them what we're made of!"
"WE ARE MADE OF STEEL!!" Anzu's team louded their voice.
His team gripped the rope tightly, facing off against a group of third-years who looked like they could lift a car.
The whistle blew, and the rope jerked violently. Anzu's muscles bulged as he planted his feet, roaring, "PULL!"
His team dug in, pulling with all their might. The third-years gritted their teeth, straining to regain control, but Anzu's raw strength was unmatched. With one final heave, Anzu's team yanked the rope across the line, winning the match.
The crowd went wild, and Anzu flashed a victory sign. "Too easy!"
Izumi laughed, shaking his head. "Show-off."
The next event was the ball-throwing game, where everyone participated, including Marina. Izumi stood a few feet away from her, trying not to look too obvious as he stole glances in her direction.
She moved gracefully, tossing the balls into the basket with practiced ease. It was mesmerizing, watching her. Even in something as simple as this, she was composed and elegant.
"Focus, Izumi!" Yuki scolded, tossing a ball that bounced off Izumi's head.
"Ow! Alright, alright!" Izumi grumbled, rubbing his head. But he couldn't help but smile. He was having fun.
During a break, Izumi sat down, catching his breath. But his rest was short-lived.
"Marina," Ren's voice cut through the noise. Izumi's head snapped up.
Ren stood before Marina, his arms crossed, confidence radiating off him. "Let's make this interesting. If I win the relay race, you go on a date with me."
The area went dead silent. Every head turned to Marina, waiting for her reaction.
Izumi's heart sank. "What the hell is he thinking...?" he muttered under his breath.
Marina stared at Ren, her expression unreadable. For a moment, no one moved. Then, she shrugged. "Fine."
The crowd gasped.
Izumi shot to his feet. "Wait! Are you really okay with that?"
Marina turned to him, her eyes softening just a little. She smiled. "It's just a game. I'm not worried."
Izumi opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the confidence in her eyes. She really wasn't bothered at all.
Ren's smirk widened. "Good. I look forward to our date."
Marina didn't even look at him. "If you win." Her voice was cold, dismissive.
Ren's expression faltered, and he walked away, clearly irritated.
Izumi watched him go, his fists clenched. "That jerk..."
But before he could say anything else—
The air grew tense. The atmosphere changed. A shiny black car, sleek and expensive, pulled up near the field. It was surrounded by several men in suits, their expressions cold and focused.
The door opened, and a man stepped out. He wore a perfectly tailored black coat, his posture composed and commanding. His presence alone was enough to silence the crowd. His hair was jet black, neatly styled, and his eyes held a sharpness that demanded respect.
Marina's eyes widened. "Father...?"
The students around them began whispering.
"Is that... Ashford?"
"The head of the Kamiyama Group? What's he doing here?"
"Why would he come to a high school event?"
Izumi felt a chill as Marina's bodyguards appeared behind him. One of them leaned in, his voice low. "That man... is Marina's father."
Izumi nearly jumped out of his skin. "W-What?! Why are you telling me that?!"
The bodyguard smiled. "You're her friend, aren't you? It's good to know who's watching."
Izumi swallowed hard. He looked at Marina, who stood frozen, her eyes locked on her father. The composed, untouchable girl was suddenly vulnerable.
The announcer's voice echoed, barely masking his shock. "L-Ladies and gentlemen... it seems we have a special guest... Ashford Kamiyama!"
The crowd erupted into a frenzy.
And Izumi realized... this Sports Festival was far from ordinary.
To Be Continued...