"That's Takanashi, right?"
"I'm running in the same heat as him."
"There's no way I'm losing."
It was a total pain; I’d managed to gain a bunch of unnecessary enemies.
But since Sara-senpai had cheered for me, the least I could do was run with everything I had.
Just as it was about to be my turn, a voice called out from the cheering area near the starting line.
"Takanashi-kun, do your best!"
"Good luck, Big Brother!"
It was Todo-san and Mio-chan.
So they really did come...
I waved back at them. The tiny twin tails on either side of Mio-chan's head were bouncing energetically.
Amidst the bloodthirsty atmosphere of being surrounded by enemies, Mio-chan's presence was truly healing. Todo-san was quite cute as well.
By the way, what was with the guys who turned around as if they were the ones being called just because someone shouted "Big Brother"?
"Is... is that an angel!?"
What the hell were these guys even talking about?
Then, another voice called out from a short distance away.
"Good luck, Kazunari!"
Even Yokokawa had shown up.
Ever since that one incident, he had started calling me by my first name. I hadn't exactly reached a point where I trusted him enough to call him by his name in return, but since he kept hanging around me one way or another, I couldn't really be cold to him. Honestly, it didn't feel bad anymore.
I raised my hand in acknowledgment.
With that as the signal, more voices began cheering for me.
The two classmates mixed in over there were likely from Natsumi-senpai's Fan Club. And were those guys near Yokokawa his own fan club?
"Takanashi-kun, you'd better live up to Sara's support!"
Natsumi-senpai had come over, too.
Most of these people didn't have a direct connection to me, and I knew there were specific reasons why they were here. But even so, I never could have imagined a day where so many people would cheer for me.
I realized all over again that it was only because I had met Sara-senpai that my world had expanded like this.
Just how much had she saved me?
On a side note, since the support from the girls was becoming overwhelmingly loud, the hatred from the other boys seemed to have reached its peak.
I gave it my absolute all, but some things can't be overcome by sheer grit alone.
Still, finishing fifth out of ten runners felt like a massive achievement for someone like me. Or rather, running two hundred meters at full speed with a body that never got any exercise was brutal.
I was exhausted after the race, but I wanted to see Sara-senpai's face, so I looked toward the live commentary seats.
"Takanashi-san, good work! You were amazing!"
A voice spoke from right beside me.
Startled, I turned to see that Sara-senpai had come all the way down to meet me. She praised me with a radiant smile on her face.
In stark contrast, the murderous intent radiating from the guys around us was incredible.
I was happy she came, but what about the commentary?
"Umm, my apologies. It seems Satsukawa-san just remembered an urgent matter and is currently away from her post. Until she returns, I will be handling things solo..."
Fukazawa-senpai's announcement echoed across the field.
So "urgent matters" were things you could just think of on the spot.
No, I had to get Sara-senpai back there immediately.
I led the smiling Senpai back to the live commentary seats.
I still had the scavenger hunt coming up later, but I had to make sure I gave her a firm warning so the same thing wouldn't happen again.
"Students participating in the girls' sprint, please report to the preparation area..."
Fukazawa-senpai was announcing the next event. She had been talking nonstop; was that not exhausting? Actually, I just realized—what about Fukazawa-senpai's own events?
Once we sat down and caught our breath, Sara-senpai spoke to me.
"Good work, Takanashi-san. Your final push in the middle of the race was incredible. Please do your best in the scavenger hunt as well."
"It was only thanks to your support, Sara-senpai."
"Fufu... Is that so? In that case, I shall make sure to cheer for you during the scavenger hunt as well. If you work hard... I shall give you a reward later."
A reward?
If she was "giving" it to me, did that mean it wasn't a physical object?
I had no choice but to go all out now.
"You two, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop flirting at the commentary desk..."
The twin-tailed, loli-type Fukazawa-san gave us a judgmental look with her cute face. For some people, I suppose that look itself might be considered a reward.
"Well then, Minamin is competing in an event now, so I'm handing over the mic~."
As I suspected, Fukazawa-senpai was also participating in the festival. Going by the timing, it was likely the 100m dash. Sara-senpai was in the 200m dash, so she would have to leave soon as well.
But who was taking over the commentary?
"Good work, everyone."
The President had returned. He sat down, swapping places with Fukazawa-senpai.
I see, so that was the plan.
The President didn't look nervous at all as he addressed the microphone.
"I will be taking over the commentary from Fukazawa-san. I am the Student Council President, Daichi Uesaka."
The fact that the President and Vice President were handling duties that would normally fall to the broadcasting club was apparently a major draw for the festival.
"Well then, Takanashi-san, I am off."
The President and Sara-senpai had been providing commentary together for a while, but it was finally time for her to head to her event.
"Good luck, Sara-senpai."
"Yes."
And then, it was just two guys left at the desk.
The President was going to handle the commentary alone, right? Or rather, I realized that since Sara-senpai wasn't here, I could just go and cheer for her from the sidelines.
"I'm going to go cheer for Sara-senpai, so good luck, President."
I tried to stand up quickly to escape before he could say anything unnecessary, but at that exact moment, the President spoke into the mic.
"Satsukawa-san is stepping away temporarily to participate in the 200m dash. Until Fukazawa-san returns, the commentary will be brought to you by myself and Takanashi-kun."
...No, no, you have to be joking.
I refused. I absolutely refused.