Chapter 242: Three-Legged Race, A Useless Burden!
The Three-Legged Race was much less popular compared to the previous large-scale competitive event, the Pole-Toppling competition; there weren't even many spectators watching. Hikigaya felt this was for the best, as he didn't like being pointed at and discussed.
But then again... among the few people in the spectator stands, the proportion of acquaintances was unexpectedly high!
"Go, go, Hachiman-kun, do your best!"
Sakura Airi cheered for them loudly. Perhaps because her mindset had undergone a change, now that her "beauty seal" was broken and she was without her dorky glasses and braided pigtails, she was a youthful and beautiful girl!
"Hee-hee~"
Haruka stood closely beside Hikigaya, waving her hand toward Airi.
"That girl Sakura—watching Hasabe cling to Hachiman like that, she doesn't have any hard feelings at all?"
Kushida Kikyo widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Why would she have hard feelings?"
"Aren't they all friends?"
Horikita Suzune asked in return.
"Yes, yes, yes. Then I wish for you and Hachiman to be friends for the rest of your lives!"
Kushida Kikyo bared her teeth.
"I don't know why you're blessing me, but thank you anyway."
Horikita Suzune expressed her confusion. Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Sigh~ I really want to play the Three-Legged Race with Hachiman-kun too."
Karuizawa Kei rested her chin on both hands, her eyes full of envy.
"What's a Three-Legged Race?"
"A 'Three-Person, Four-Legged' race is what's truly exciting~"
Matsushita Chiaki spoke meaningfully, her words clearly carrying a hidden layer.
"....That indeed is Hachiman-kun's hobby."
Karuizawa Kei's cheeks flushed slightly, as if she had associated the comment with something else.
"What's that?
Also, don't forget to include me!"
Sato Maya didn't understand, but she just wanted to follow along blindly.
"Kamuro-san, I wonder what your thoughts are right now?"
"I'm not jealous!"
"My, my~ did I say you were jealous?"
"You're so annoying!"
Sakayanagi Arisu's daily "dog training" and Kamuro Masumi's daily irritation continued.
"Shiina, what's so good about watching this Three-Legged Race?"
"There is; Hachiman is here."
Shiina Hiyori's eyes were like ripples, her soft voice carrying a hint of sincerity: "Even though Ibuki says that, in your heart, you really want to watch Hachiman's race too, right?"
"Huh? Why would I want to watch that guy's race?"
His partner is a useless burden; it's impossible for them to get a good rank."
Ibuki Mio pursed her lips, repeatedly muttering: "Right, that thing is just a useless burd..."
There were focused gazes outside the field, and inside the field as well.
"Hikigaya-kun, please let us fight side-by-side this time~"
The contestants from Class A were Ichinose Honami and Shiranami Chihiro.
It was not a surprising combination; in terms of coordination, the two could be described as being "of one mind."
However, while Ichinose Honami's "feeling" was friendship, Shiranami Chihiro's "feeling" likely contained some different ingredients.
"Hikigaya-kun, the love between me and Honami-chan will not lose to you!"
Shiranami Chihiro stared at Hikigaya with burning eyes, full of a competitive spirit.
Hearing this, Hasabe Haruka placed her hands on her hips and responded unceremoniously: "That's not necessarily true. The love between me and Hachi is invincible!"
"W-wait a second?!
The 'love' Hasabe-san is talking about... what exactly does it mean..."
Ichinose Honami wanted to follow up with a serious expression. Hasabe Haruka's internal radar immediately went off.
'This is a love rival! I have to intercept her for Airi's sake!'
"That's right~
It's exactly the kind of love Ichinose-san understands!"
As Hasabe Haruka spoke, she linked her arm with Hikigaya's, appearing very intimate.
"The race hasn't started yet, why are you pulling me?"
Hikigaya glanced at her strangely.
"Nothing, I just want to be close with Hachi to increase our physical coordination."
Hasabe Haruka winked at her.
"I think you're just drawing aggro for me."
Hikigaya once again felt the sharp gazes coming from all directions.
"Hmph! You brought it on yourself!"
Who told Hcchi to like flirting everywhere?"
Hasabe Haruka complained huffily.
"What flirting? You're getting more and more outrageous."
Hikigaya felt speechless.
"Ahahaha~ I think Hikigaya-kun isn't that kind of person."
Ichinose Honami spoke up for him with a smile.
"Finally, someone said something fair for me today!
Ichinose, you are an angel!"
Hikigaya was deeply moved.
"I-it's not that exaggerated~"
Ichinose Honami scratched her head embarrassedly.
"Hachi, you're still flirting right in front of me."
Hasabe Haruka couldn't help but reach out and pinch the soft flesh on his waist.
On the other side, Shiranami Chihiro used her petite body to shield Ichinose behind her: "Great Demon King! Please do not seduce my Honami-chan!"
"The Three-Legged Race is about to begin!"
The referee's shout interrupted their conversation.
"Will the partners of the contestants please complete your leg-tying preparations!"
"Ready..."
"Bang!"
The instant the gunshot rang, the contestants of each group started simultaneously. As everyone knows, the Three-Legged Race is when you are most likely to trip during the start. Unsurprisingly, several groups fell right at the starting line, followed by a chorus of "Ouch!"
The transition from static to motion is often the ultimate test of the pair's compatibility. Hikigaya and Haruka followed the rhythm of their daily training: after starting, they maintained a low speed for two seconds before gradually increasing it. After eight seconds, they maintained a state of steady running.
The progress of the two wasn't fast, but they excelled in being in sync and very stable. From a distance, their bound hands and feet seemed like a single unit, moving without a single gap.
Halfway through the track, the leading teams began to slow down for various reasons, and some even fell, losing their qualification for the race. Hikigaya and Haruka steadily overtook group after group, moving toward the front row before they knew it.
Ichinose Honami and Shiranami Chihiro had even higher coordination, aiming straight for the top three! At this time, the teams from Class B and Class C were also neck-and-neck. No one could predict the outcome until the very end.
However, at this tense moment, an accident occurred in the front row. Manabe Shiho and Kinoshita Minori from Class B suddenly fell for some reason, and the direction of their fall happened to be into Class A's lane, taking Ichinose Honami and Shiranami Chihiro down with them!
"...."
Hikigaya's eyes sharpened.
With his keen vision, he immediately realized that Class B's fall was not normal! However, taking advantage of the chance while the Class A and B teams were down, the team from Class C quickly accelerated and successfully claimed first place!
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