After coordinating with Obayashi-senpai and the others regarding tomorrow’s placement, the three of us headed out to the sports field. Since the tents around the headquarters were already set up, our class’s assigned preparation work might have already finished, but we couldn't exactly skip out on joining them.
We moved toward our assigned area at a light jog to make it look like we had rushed through our business. As expected, our classmates had already finished stringing the boundary ropes and were split into small groups, chatting to pass the time.
"Hm? Oh, Kokonoe, Hirose, Hiiragi. Is your business with the Student Council finished already?"
Realizing there was nothing left for us to do, I slowed to a walk. Hirasaka-sensei noticed our approach and called out.
"Ah, yes. We’re all done."
"I see. So, what did they want?"
"It was about safety measures for tomorrow’s event. You know how that runner took a spill today and went flying into the spectator area during the relay? They asked for our cooperation to prevent that from happening again."
"Ah, that..."
When I gave a brief explanation for the summons, Hirasaka-sensei’s face soured as he recalled the moment the runner had fallen.
"The school has been inquiring with rental companies to see if they have any corner cushion mats, but negotiations have stalled. Part of it is the short notice—the deadline for delivery is tomorrow morning—but apparently other schools have been making similar inquiries..."
"I see..."
"We’re doing everything we can, but we’re simply out of time. So we asked the Student Council if they had any ideas, and they said they’d look into it on their end... What did they tell you?" Hirasaka-sensei asked with a regretful expression.
"Since there's no time to prepare equipment or facilities, they want us to catch any runners who look like they’re about to go flying into the spectators."
"Catch them...? You mean just you three?" Hirasaka-sensei looked a bit surprised by the Student Council’s solution.
"Of course, there are others. The top-class explorers enrolled in the school will be cooperating as well."
"Is that so... Normally, that kind of role should be handled by school staff, but most of the faculty don't have an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures. Even if we wanted to take your place, the staff simply lack the strength. It’s clear we wouldn't be able to serve as substitutes."
"If teachers without permits tried to catch them, they’d probably just end up plowing into the spectators right alongside the runners."
"Yeah. And even if we wanted to have event security guards with permits dispatched as catchers to replace you, it's too late to arrange that for tomorrow..." Hirasaka-sensei let out a heavy sigh and looked at us with a weary expression. "Depending on the faculty meeting after school today, I don’t know what will happen with tomorrow’s sports festival. We’ll do our best on our end, but if the arrangements don't make it in time, I’m sorry, but we might have to borrow your strength. When that happens... please make sure you don't get hurt."
"Yes, sir."
With a complicated expression, Hirasaka-sensei gave us a slight bow.
After passing the time doing "preparations"—which was really just a way to kill time until the scheduled finish—we held pep rallies for tomorrow’s event within our respective class teams. Since we had just finished the rehearsal, the pep rallies were fairly lively. The school probably won't have to worry about the students looking unmotivated in front of the parents during the actual event.
Once the pep rally ended, Yuji and I quickly changed in the Audio-Visual Room and headed back to the classroom. We sat and chatted while waiting for afternoon homeroom to start.
"Still... what are you going to do about this, Yuji? Acting as catchers for falling runners, of all things."
"There's no point complaining now. We’ve already accepted the job. All we can do is follow through."
"Well, I guess so..." I let out a sigh.
Seeing me like that, Yuji brought up a new topic to distract me.
"By the way, Daiki... where were you assigned for the corners?"
"Huh? Oh, uh... the entrance to the first corner. What about you?"
"I’m also at the first corner entrance."
"You too?"
"Yeah. It’s a placement based on them doubting our abilities, in their own way. Just because the President vouched for us doesn't mean they're going to just say, 'Oh, okay.' Even if they saw the mock battle we did for the club activity introduction, they haven't actually sparred with us. Besides, anyone with a decent level and combat experience could pull off a mock battle of that caliber if they tried."
The people in that room could probably manage a similar performance. Yuji and Hiiragi-san had been being quite reserved, after all.
However, since they didn't refuse our participation despite doubting the President's explanation, they likely judged our strength to be close to theirs, or perhaps slightly inferior. They just couldn't accept it emotionally. If you've spent years working hard in rival groups to be counted among the top explorers in the school, you wouldn't easily accept being told that we—who appeared out of nowhere with nothing but bad rumors until now—are on the same level.
That was the reason for the placement at the entrance of the first corner. Since we couldn't be fully trusted yet, they gave us the spot with the lowest priority.
"But hey, it’s an easy placement, so isn't it fine? It would be best if no runners went flying in the first place, anyway."
"Well, that’s true."
Near the start of the first corner, people haven't reached full acceleration yet, so there shouldn't be many people wiping out.
"Good work, Kokonoe, Hirose."
"Hm? Oh, Shigemori. Good work."
"Good work."
Shigemori, who had finished changing and returned to the classroom, spoke to us as he sat in the seat next to mine.
"Hey, hey, what on earth did you guys do to get summoned by the Student Council?"
"We didn't do anything. They just asked us for a small favor regarding tomorrow’s sports festival."
"A small favor, huh..." Shigemori gave me a skeptical look.
"Weren't you actually called in because of that spar during the club introduction? You guys were being pretty flashy..."
"No, that wasn't it."
"Really? Guys who never had a single rumor about them suddenly showed off combat like that. I figured the Student Council would want to keep an eye on you."
Hearing those words, I realized what Shigemori was worried about. I see. From the outside, if you don't know the context, that’s exactly how it looks.
I let out a breath and decided to give him a bit of the truth.
"We already told the Student Council about our track record as explorers when we got permission to form the club, so there’s no need to worry about that. Right, Yuji?"
"Yeah. We gave the Student Council an outline of what we were going to do for the club activity introduction in advance. This summons was for something else entirely."
"...I see." Shigemori looked a bit relieved.
"Thanks for worrying about us, Shigemori."
"Yeah, thanks."
"...Hmph."
When Yuji and I thanked him, Shigemori looked away bashfully.
As we shared a wry smile at his reaction, Hirasaka-sensei entered the classroom, having changed from his jersey back into his usual stiff clothes.
"Homeroom is starting. Everyone, get back to your seats."
Hearing the command, Yuji and Shigemori gave me a quick nod and returned to their desks.
Homeroom ended without any major announcements, and we met up with Mika and Saori-chan near the school gate to head home. On the way, Mika and Saori-chan vented their frustrations with sour expressions.
"Have you heard, Onii-chan!?"
"Yes, yes, I'm listening."
"Honestly, those guys... just going on and on with their nasty sarcasm!"
Mika reported the behavior of Goto’s group after the club activity introduction with a voice trembling with indignation.
Apparently, as soon as they had returned to the cheering section, the people in the Goto group had immediately started picking a fight. However, having just seen the mock battle between Yuji and Hiiragi-san, they hadn't laid a hand on the girls directly. Now that it was clear they had obviously superior backers like us, the group couldn't recklessly make a move, no matter how much they threw their weight around among the first-years.
Instead, they had resorted to verbal abuse.
"Seriously, who are they calling a 'parasite explorer'?! They’re the ones who've been riding Goto-kun’s coattails to level up, and even their weapons and armor are all thanks to him! Right, Saori-chan!?"
"Yeah. It’s true we rely on Onii-san and the others for dungeon exploration, but we earned the money to buy our own equipment, and we learned how to fight through training with Juzo-san. We have no reason to be belittled by people who leave everything to Goto-kun."
"Exactly!"
Mika nodded vigorously at Saori-chan's words before letting out a long, heavy sigh. The Goto group's attitude had clearly pushed her to her limit.
I watched them, wondering how best to soothe their anger, before asking a question that occurred to me.
"Hey, Mika? I get how the followers were acting, but what about Goto-kun himself? Did he do anything?"
"Eh? Come to think of it, Goto-kun didn't get involved personally... Saori-chan, did he say anything to you?"
"No. Goto-kun looked at us like he was annoyed, but he never said a word. If anything, it felt like he was watching his followers interact with us with bated breath."
It seems Goto-kun has a decent intuition. He might have a lot of pride, but after seeing Yuji and Hiiragi-san spar, he must have realized he was outclassed. Perhaps it’s an instinct born from the experience of his previous injury? He’s likely avoiding direct hostility because he knows we might step in if he clashes with Mika and the others.
At this rate, they might keep up the sarcasm, but he probably won't take any action that directly harms them—provided he can keep his followers on a leash.
"I see. Then, I’m sorry you have to deal with them, but I think we should just endure it for now and see how things go."
"...True. If they stay quiet, there’s no need to go out of our way to be hostile."
"That's right... I'm sorry, Mika-chan, Saori-chan. You might have an unpleasant time for a while, but do you think you can bear it? Of course, you can talk to us whenever you need to."
The three of us bowed to Mika and Saori-chan with apologetic expressions. Even if there’s no direct harm, being constantly mocked is mentally taxing.
Mika and Saori-chan looked at each other, then shook their heads.
"It's okay, Onii-chan. I expected something like this from the start, so don't worry about it."
"She’s right. Besides, the fact that they aren't getting physical is a better outcome than I expected."
Mika and Saori-chan spoke with eyes full of determination. That’s right—they both joined this circle knowing the risks. But still...
"I see... But you two, if it gets too hard or you think it's getting dangerous, tell us right away, okay? We'll definitely do something about it. Right, Yuji? Hiiragi-san?"
"Yeah. Call us anytime. If it comes down to it, we'll go and settle things ourselves."
"Yes. I’d prefer to keep things peaceful, but I have no intention of staying peaceful if it means Mika-chan or Saori-chan get hurt."
As the three of us offered fearless smiles, Mika and Saori-chan nodded their heads, their expressions twitching slightly.
It all depends on how Goto-kun and his followers act. Let's pray the "talk" doesn't turn into a talk. Of course, if we do end up having a talk, I don't intend to hold back.
"Y-Yeah. We'll count on you if... if anything happens..."
"B-But please, try to keep it as peaceful as possible, okay?"
"Yeah, leave it to us."
Hearing our reply, Mika and Saori-chan let out sighs, looking like they had resigned themselves to a very particular kind of fate.