The day of Aotaka High School’s proud spring event, the “Aotaka Festival,” had arrived.

…Though, to put it simply, it was just a sports festival. However, up until two years ago, it had been regarded as the most important event for Aotaka students.

The reason? The Aotaka Festival was the best chance to start dating a Suzakura student.

Whether one could impress the Suzakura students who came to watch determined whether their three years of high school life would be filled with romance or remain bleak and gray. Rather than studying for the midterm exams, it was far better to shave even a fraction of a second off one’s sprint time and secure a spot as a relay runner.

…At least, that’s what I had heard before enrolling.

But in reality, when I successfully earned my spot as a relay runner, I was met with an empty Aotaka High School field. The shock of that moment is something I still haven’t forgotten. For some reason, it was incredibly awkward.

Without any excitement, without anyone understanding what was happening, last year’s Aotaka Festival ended in silence.

◆

Because of that past experience, the sight before me now was even more shocking than last year.

Looking down at the field from the classroom, I saw a sea of Suzakura students. Last year, the spectator area had only been sparsely filled with students’ families, but now, it was packed with girls in sailor uniforms.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Look at all the Suzakura girls here!”

Shouting, Souta burst into the classroom. Noticing us gathered by the window, he pushed his way through and came straight to me.

“Good morning, Souta.”

“Yo! This is your doing, Natsuki!?”

“Well, technically, it was Tachibana. I don’t know exactly how she did it, though.”

In the end, Tachibana never told me how she managed to draw so many Suzakura students to Aotaka Festival. Instead, she had asked about my class with a strangely meaningful look. I still don’t know what that was about.

Since Aotaka Festival is a class competition that spans across grade levels, maybe she’s planning to cheer for my class?

“Natsuki… I’m seriously about to cry…!”

“Same here… I feel like I could do anything right now.”

The guys all started clinging to me.

“Ugh, get off me, it’s too hot! Save your tears for when you actually get a girlfriend!”

Unfortunately, I don’t have any interest in being embraced by a bunch of sweaty guys. I pried them off and looked down at the field again. From here, I couldn’t clearly make out faces, so I had no idea where Tachibana was. But she had to be somewhere in that crowd.

“—Show me your cool side at Aotaka Festival.”

Tachibana had kept her promise.

Now, it was my turn to keep mine.

“Hiura, got a second?”

I called out to Hiura, who was nearby. He had stylish brownish hair and was a track team member, ranked among the top sprinters in the prefecture for the 100-meter dash.

Athletically gifted, with a refreshing personality, a lean build, and a well-structured face—he was basically a superman. But, unfortunately, he was still single. If things had gone as usual, he definitely would have landed a girlfriend at last year’s Aotaka Festival.

“What’s up, Natsuki? Found a cute girl?”

“No, I can’t see that far from here. But I do have a favor to ask.”

“What is it? Right now, I’d do anything for you, Natsuki!”

Grinning, Hiura clasped his hands together in mock prayer. He was always lamenting about how he wanted a girlfriend, so I was sure he was more fired up for today than anyone else.

Which made what I was about to say all the more awkward.

“Uh… You’re the anchor for the relay, right?”

“Yep. Don’t worry, I’ll leave everyone in the dust.”

“Yeah, about that—could we swap spots?”

“Huh?”

Hiura blinked in surprise.

Yeah, I know. Normally, the fastest runner should be the anchor. I understand that.

…But the anchor is also the coolest position.

For a moment, Hiura stared at me, dumbfounded. Then, after composing himself, he flashed a smile and threw an arm around my shoulders.

“What’s this, Natsuki? You trying to impress a girl?”

“Well… something like that. So, what do you think?”

“Hmm, honestly, I was really looking forward to showing off as the anchor, but… You’re the reason all the Suzakura girls are here. I guess I can’t say no.”

“You’re a lifesaver. In exchange, you take my spot as the third runner.”

“Got it! Well, even as the third runner, I’ll make sure to pass the baton with a huge lead. Hope you don’t mind cruising to victory, Natsuki?”

“That’s fine by me. Winning is the coolest thing, after all.”

We exchanged a small high-five before parting ways.

Everything was set. Now, I just had to give it my all. The thought made me feel a rare sense of determination.

◆

It was almost time to head out to the field.

The classmates who had been watching the Suzakura students from the window were now changing into their gym uniforms. Usually, they wore them sloppily, but today, they were adjusting their shorts at just the right position on their waists.

These fools, convinced that such minor adjustments would land them a girlfriend, were the very essence of Aotaka High School students. Of course, I, too, was setting my shorts at the position I believed was the coolest.

That was when I heard a voice I shouldn’t have been able to hear.

“Pardon me. I am Tachibana Iori of Suzakura. Is Yamabuki Natsuki here?”

—Tachibana appeared at the classroom door.