NOVEL WEB Chapter 6: Swimming lessons
I watched with a small smile as the classroom buzzed with frantic discussion. Panic was setting in, though none of them wanted to admit it.
"So many upperclassmen are purposely saving up their points! If that's not proof, what is?"
"Right? When I asked them about it, they just clammed up. They know something we don't!"
I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. Of course, they wouldn't have found any real proof in a single day—but that was never my intention. A seed of doubt was all I needed.
The conversations dragged on, spiraling in circles, until I decided it was time to act. I rose from my seat, the steady tap of my cane drawing all eyes to me.
"If you could listen for a moment." I said, my voice effortlessly cutting through the noise. "Mashima-sensei will arrive any minute now. It's time we make our decision."
Hashimoto leaned back in his chair, his usual grin in place. "Is there even a need to think about it? Paying is clearly the best move."
"Speak for yourself!"
"I'm not giving up half my points over baseless speculation!"
Protests erupted immediately, but Hashimoto's smirk never wavered.
Katsuragi stood, his commanding presence forcing some of the louder students to quiet down. "These aren't just speculations. The school is hiding something from us. If we want answers, we have to pay the two million points."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. But the opposition wasn't backing down.
Kamuro, silent until now, finally spoke up. "If you're so desperate for the truth, why don't you give up all your points?"
Katsuragi's brows furrowed, caught off guard by the sudden demand.
Kamuro didn't let up. She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "You want us to put our money on the line, but how much are you willing to risk? Or do you expect us to take all the risk while you keep your points?"
Katsuragi hesitated—just for a second. But that was all it took.
"That's right!" Another student chimed in. "If you actually cared about finding the truth, you wouldn't even hesitate!"
"If you're unwilling to make a real sacrifice, why should we?"
Totsuka shot up from his seat, glaring. "Stop being ridiculous! There's no reason for him to give up everything! This is for all of us—"
"Then he should lead by example." Kamuro crossed her arms, unimpressed.
The class spiraled into another argument, students snapping back and forth, until the sound of approaching footsteps silenced them.
Mashima-sensei entered, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "Have you reached a decision?"
The classroom fell into an uneasy hush. Students glanced at each other, waiting for someone else to speak.
I smiled and stepped forward.
"Of course, Sensei." I made sure my voice was calm, reassuring. "We've had our disagreements, but I consider every single person in this class an important classmate. And if a sacrifice is needed to help all of you—then that's what I'll do."
Katsuragi turned to me, doubt flickering in his eyes.
I pulled out my phone and held it up for everyone to see—my balance displayed nearly a hundred thousand points. Then, without hesitation, I transferred every last one.
The screen flashed: 0 points remaining.
Gasps rippled through the class.
Mashima-sensei's expression remained unreadable, though I caught the faintest twitch of his brow. "Are you sure, Sakayanagi-san?"
I nodded. "Of course." I turned to the class with a small, apologetic smile. "Now, each of you will have to pay a thousand points less. I know it isn't much, but I hope this shows my sincerity."
Hashimoto let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "No need to worry, Sakayanagi-san. You just gave away everything—I think everyone gets the message now."
The weight of the moment settled over the classroom. The students who had resisted before shifted uncomfortably under the pressure.
Kamuro was the first to break. "…Fine. I'll pay my share."
The moment she gave in, the others had no choice but to follow.
"Sakayanagi-san gave away all her points… giving up half isn't that big of a deal."
"Yeah…refusing now would just be selfish."
One by one, students hesitantly agreed.
I caught Katsuragi staring at me, his expression unreadable. 'Such simplistic methods…' I sighed inwardly. He reminded me so much of my brother.
'No, Ryuto could be much more than this. I couldn't possibly place them on the same level.'
Shaking off the thought, I turned back to Mashima-sensei. "As you can see, Sensei, we're willing to pay."
Mashima nodded, his gaze lingering on me for just a second longer than usual. "I see. Then please transfer the points—and pay close attention."
…
After saying goodbye to the girls and Hirata, I headed toward the campus library, planning to find some books on cooking.
The thought of just buying a manual crossed my mind, but for some reason, I didn't want to.
Since when have I become so stingy? I sighed at the thought, shaking my head as I reached the large doors of the library.
Stepping inside, I was met with the sight of tall bookshelves stretching across a wide room, neatly arranged under the soft glow of ceiling lights.
After asking at the reception desk, I followed the given directions to an aisle lined with instruction manuals.
Archery, Kendo, Wilderness Survival and much more.
I paused, tilting my head. Wilderness survival? Unlike the others, it had no obvious connection to the school.
"That's a weird choice…unless the school is planning to drop us in the mountains one day." I chuckled to myself.
Filing the oddity away in the back of my mind, I continued browsing until I found what I was looking for.
"Momma Knows Best: A Beginner's Guide"
I stared at the title for a moment before shrugging. "Alright."
Pulling it from the shelf, I flipped through the pages as I wandered past the aisles, casually glancing at the books.
A faint huff caught my attention.
Turning my head, I spotted a silver-haired girl standing in the mystery section, stretching on her toes as she tried to reach a book from the top shelf.
Approaching her, I grabbed the book and handed it to her.
"Oh, thank you." She blinked, looking at me with a hint of surprise before taking it.
"No problem."
As her purple eyes met mine, I found myself momentarily caught off guard. There was something about them—calm yet sharp, distant yet observant—that drew me in. They weren't warm, but there was a depth to them, as if she could see right through me. For a moment, I couldn't look away, captivated by the quiet intensity they held.
"Are you alright?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah, sorry." Clearing my throat, I mentally scolded myself for spacing out. "I'm Sakayanagi Ryuto. From 1-D."
"Shiina Hiyori. I'm in 1-C." Her gaze shifted to the book in my hands. "Do you like reading… or cooking? You know we can just look up recipes online, right?"
I let out a chuckle. "Yeah, this was more of an excuse to check out the library."
She nodded slightly before repeating, "So you like reading?"
I hesitated before shrugging. "Not the biggest fan, but there are a few books that caught my interest, so I gave them a try."
That seemed to pique her curiosity, her expression subtly brightening. "Which ones?"
"Well…I know they might be basic, but I liked The Name of the Wind and The Call of Cthulhu." I rubbed the back of my neck.
"That's an interesting mix." She mused. "You're interested in cosmic horror?"
"Yeah, well…something about the unknown is kind of thrilling." I glanced at her. "What about you? What do you read?"
"I also enjoy stories about the unknown… though I prefer books that offer answers instead of just fear." She looked down thoughtfully before continuing. "There's actually a book I've been reading—"
…
Unknowingly, half an hour passed as we sat at one of the library's tables, deep in discussion. Shiina spoke with quiet enthusiasm about her favorite books, her pet peeves, and recommendations.
At some point, a small pile of books formed beside me, courtesy of her subtle excitement.
"I'm sorry." She said, exhaling softly. "It's not often I can talk with someone so freely…I got carried away."
I let out a light laugh. "It's fine. Never thought someone could get me this interested in reading. I'll make sure to give these a try."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up slightly. "Would you tell me what you think after you finish them?"
"Sure. Will it be like those reading clubs where you share your thoughts on the book of the week?" I teased.
"If you'd like that…" She trailed off.
"I'd like that." I nodded. "I enjoyed talking to you—don't mind if we make it a habit."
"Hmhm." A soft hum escaped her lips before she hesitated. "Can we…exchange numbers? It'd be easier to keep in touch."
I took out my phone, adding her to my contacts. Somehow, I already had seven people in there—the girls, Hirata, Kushida, and now Shiina.
A few moments later, we left the library, going our separate ways.
I came looking for a cooking manual and left with half the library… I glanced at the stack of books in my hands, most of which were mystery novels.
'To think Arisu tried so hard to get me into reading, only for Shiina to do it in less than an hour…' I sighed, slightly ashamed of what that said about me.
Speaking of Arisu, my steps halted near the library entrance as I took out my phone.
When exchanging numbers, I noticed a new message from her.
…
…
Seeing her message, I couldn't help but realize something. 'Even if she is my sister…aren't I indirectly helping the enemy in some way?'
With a sigh, I decided on what I should do, knowing Arisu should be of the same opinion.
…
…
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her words, suddenly feeling suspicious.
…
…
After getting the location, I made my way toward the café where Arisu was waiting.
As I walked, my mind drifted back to our last real conversation.
'She said she wanted to find evidence about the school rules…'
My brows furrowed as I recalled her words from the first day.
'And that I should already know how she'd do it…'
Then, like an obvious puzzle piece clicking into place, realization struck.
'Arisu mentioned that after hearing about the two million points needed to uncover the truth behind the rules…did she actually manage to pay?'
Even though I was certain her class had been heavily involved, I still found it surprising.
Yet one question remained.
'Why did she send those points to me?'
I couldn't find an answer before I arrived at the café. Peering inside, I spotted several students chatting happily among themselves.
Arisu sat in one of the booths, but what caught my attention was the presence of another figure talking to her—a purple-haired girl, scowling.
Seeing Arisu with anyone her age was rare, but I quickly recovered and made my way over.
As I approached, their conversation became clearer.
"Why did I have to act as the villain?" The girl questioned.
"Would you have preferred me in that role? I thought we already discussed this in the morning." Arisu replied with a calm smile.
"Just saying you'd be a natural at it." The girl scoffed.
Before they could continue, their eyes landed on me just as I reached the table.
"Hey, Arisu." I smiled, casting a curious glance at the unknown girl.
She stared at me, her expression shifting to shock and disbelief.
"There's another one!?" She nearly shouted.
"Huh?" I blinked in confusion.
"Kamuro, this is Ryuto, my brother." Arisu introduced.
"Nice to meet you." I gave an awkward smile, not understanding Kamuro's reaction.
She studied me for a moment before huffing.
"Kamuro Masumi. Can't say the same."
I paused at her blunt response before glancing at Arisu.
"What did you do?"
She sipped from her drink, looking entirely unbothered.
"I don't know why you're accusing me. Didn't you want me to make friends?" She asked innocently.
"Friends? You're blackmailing me!" Kamuro immediately refuted, glaring at her.
Arisu frowned slightly. "I don't remember doing that."
"Arisu…is this why you didn't want me to come?" I raised an eyebrow, my expression clearly judging her.
"It's not as bad as you're thinking. I'm simply trying to better my classmate." She smiled sweetly.
I studied her for a moment longer before sighing and taking a seat.
Whatever she had planned, I knew it wouldn't cause Kamuro any real harm. At most, she'd be dragged into one of Arisu's schemes.
"Better me? Really? What if Katsuragi holds a grudge for what I said?" Kamuro questioned.
"He won't. You asked a fair question, which I managed to comply with. And if he does hold a grudge, that will have to apply to everyone else who agreed with you." Arisu shook her head calmly.
"What are you two talking about?" I glanced between them.
"It took a little push, but I managed to convince my class to pay the two million points." Arisu chuckled.
"Is that so?" I muttered, her words only reminding me of the poor state of my own class.
"Hey! Why are you just telling him that!?" Kamuro demanded, suddenly glaring at me.
'Why are you glaring at me?' My brow twitched, but I held back a comment.
"Don't worry, he already knew about it. And it's unlikely his class could manage to pay." Arisu reassured her.
"Why's that?" Kamuro asked.
"He's part of Class D."
"For real?" Kamuro's eyes widened, her gaze suddenly scrutinizing me.
'Seriously, what's with this girl?'
"So what if it's true?" I asked.
"Nothing, I guess…but are you, like, adopted or something?"
"...You know, I don't feel that bad for you anymore."
"Like I needed your pity!" She scoffed, plopping her head onto her hand.
"Leaving your growing bond aside, why did you feel the need to come here?" Arisu intervened, tilting her head.
"Because I want to see my sister?"
"Really? Strange, I don't recall seeing you at all yesterday." She smiled.
"Right…sorry about that." I averted her gaze. "I got pretty busy."
"Hope it was important enough to leave your sister all alone." She lowered her head dramatically, making me roll my eyes.
"I got to learn more about the school. Not as much as you probably know now, but still quite a lot." I shrugged, taking out my phone.
"Oh? Please do tell." Arisu looked intrigued.
"Well, that's actually why I came here." I said, transferring the points back to her. "I don't think we should help each other when it comes to school matters."
That seemed to give Arisu pause.
"I'm saying this because we're in different classes." I explained.
"Should've warned me this might be getting emotional…" Kamuro muttered with a sigh.
Arisu let out a light laugh. "Sorry, I was just surprised. But if that's what you want, I don't have any objections."
I sighed in relief. "That's great. I really didn't—"
"I wanted to tell you what I learned about the rules, but that seems impossible now." She mirrored my sigh.
"You're messing with me, aren't you?" I asked hopefully.
"Who knows…" She only smiled.
"Pfft—"
I glanced at Kamuro, who immediately burst into laughter at my misfortune.
"Think I'll go now." I got up, not wanting to stick around any longer.
Before I walked off, I glanced at Kamuro, who was finally calming down.
"Kamuro, we barely know each other, but if Arisu ever causes you real trouble, just let me know."
"Huh? What, you're gonna act as my saving grace?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No, because I doubt you'd ever need saving. Arisu might be a pain, but she's not a bad person. Just give her a chance." I said sincerely.
Arisu's face turned slightly red as she glared at me. Kamuro, meanwhile, laughed even harder.
"I don't need you to find me friends." Arisu coldly said.
"I know." I smiled. 'It's just payback.'
"Well then, see you two later!" I waved before exiting the café.
…
"So that's your brother, huh?" I muttered, glancing at Sakayanagi. She kept her eyes on the café entrance, her thoughts unreadable.
"Does he always seem like a dumb but hot stereotype?" I asked, watching her finally turn to me.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She chuckled, clearly entertained.
"You said he's part of Class D. So I'm guessing all the brains went to you." I shrugged.
"It may seem that way, but I assure you, he could be much more if he wanted to. And now I can't help but hope that change is finally beginning." She spoke with a smile, though I didn't care enough to dwell on it.
"Leaving that aside…are we already close enough for you to tell me my brother is handsome?" She raised an eyebrow.
The corner of my mouth twitched. "So what? If he's hot, he's hot. No reason not to say it."
"Seeing how enamored you are, I would've tried to help you, but unfortunately, you aren't suitable for him." Her lips curled in amusement.
"Huh!? Enamored!?" My eyes widened. "And who says I'm not suitable!?"
Sakayanagi merely smiled, sipping her drink as if the conversation had never happened.
…
It was now the fifth day of school. While I spent time trying to piece together the missing parts of the school's rules, I hadn't come up with anything truly effective.
As I mulled over my next move, my attention drifted to the increasingly loud voices of the boys. They were huddled together, talking excitedly about our upcoming swimming lesson—and, of course, girls.
"Professor, can you record the girls in their swimsuits for us?" Ike asked eagerly.
"Leave it to me. I'll pretend to be sick so I can skip class and observe." Sotomura declared with a look of absolute determination.
"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The Professor is gonna rank the girls' breast sizes for us. If we're lucky, he'll get some pictures with his phone." Ike grinned.
"Hey, hey." Sudou visibly recoiled at the idea.
'At least someone has some decency.' I sighed.
"We're actually betting on the girls' breast sizes. Wanna join?" Yamauchi asked.
I paused, unsure how to respond.
"Alright." I finally said, tossing in two thousand points.
"Nice! Who are you betting on?" Ike asked excitedly.
After wrapping up the bet, I returned to my seat, only to notice Horikita giving me one of her usual unimpressed looks.
"First you, now Ayanokoji. It seems I'm surrounded by idiots." She muttered.
Hearing her words, I glanced back—sure enough, Ayanokoji had joined in on the betting, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Don't worry, Horikita. They may be playing checkers, but I'm playing chess." I gave her a confident smirk.
"…And that's supposed to mean what, exactly?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't matter. All you need to know is that I'm gonna win."
She exhaled sharply. "I don't care."
"Really? You sure seem like you do." I teased. "If this bothers you so much, why not warn the girls?"
"Anyone with common sense would already know what they're planning. If they don't, that's their problem." Her tone was as cool as ever.
"Guess that means the responsibility falls on me." I sighed dramatically.
"Oh? And what would we ever do without you?" Horikita said flatly, the sarcasm clear in her voice.
I gave her a lazy grin. "Good question. What would you do without me?"
She frowned. "That's not what I said."
"What? Sorry, can't hear you!" I said over my shoulder as I walked toward the girls group.
…
"Hey, Koenji, isn't that a little too much?" I asked, eyeing the blond, who stood there proudly in nothing but speedos.
"I think it's too little…" Hirata commented from the side. "Koenji-san, that might make…Well, everyone uncomfortable."
"As if. Why would any woman be opposed to my perfect self? As for the boys…I do not concern myself with the envious."
"Alright, man. Stay in your delusions." I patted him on the shoulder before heading out of the locker room.
"They are only delusions if you let them be!" Koenji declared behind me.
Shaking my head at the usual weirdness, I turned my attention to the interior pool.
'Why do we even have mandatory swimming classes? And they built an entire pool for it…' I mused, already suspecting the school had a bigger reason for this.
Before I could think further, Ike's voice screeched against my ears like nails on a chalkboard.
"Hey, I wonder what would happen if I just suddenly jumped into the girls' locker room?"
"They'd leave you without a dick." I answered instantly.
"I think there are stages to this." Ayanokoji added, his expression completely blank. "First, they'd gang up on him, beat the crap out of him, and then file charges."
"Ooh, and then leave him without his dick."
"Exactly."
"Don't give me such a realistic, deadpan answer and ruin my fun!" Ike trembled, clearly visualizing his demise.
"I'm just warning you. Do you really want to risk being dickless?"
He seemed to consider my words before shaking his head. "Like there's a guy out there who wouldn't stare! Agh. What am I gonna do if I get a boner?"
'Yeah, this is just getting sad…' I sighed, deciding he wasn't worth my time.
I leaned against the railing, waiting for the teacher to arrive, when Ayanokoji, standing nearby, caught my attention.
"Hey, Ayanokoji, do you go to the gym?" I asked.
"Hm? No. Why'd you think so?"
"Your muscles are pretty well defined. Not something you get naturally."
"I like to do push-ups in my room."
"Right…" I nodded, pretending to buy it.
'No way that's all it is. That's an athlete's body. But everyone's got their secrets, I guess.'
Before I could say anything further, a girl's voice echoed through the area.
"Wow! It's so spacious! It's so much bigger than the pool at my junior high school."
"A-Are they here?!" Ike looked about ready to explode with excitement.
'How am I in the same class as this guy?' I sighed, suddenly aware of my unfortunate placement.
The boys crowded around, eyes locked on the entrance like dogs waiting for a treat.
"Seriously, how have you guys not been arrested for sexual harassment yet?" I muttered.
"We're just taking a peek, it's not that big of a deal." Yamauchi waved me off. "Not like you'd understand our suffering."
I turned away, already writing them off as a lost cause—only to notice Ayanokoji subtly glancing along with them.
"…Really?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm curious." He said with a shrug.
Ike then cried out in despair.
"They're not here! W-What's going on, Professor?!"
From the second-floor observation deck, Sotomura frantically scanned the area, looking for the girls.
"You guys are disgusting." Karuizawa's voice cut through the commotion.
"Huh!?" The boys exclaimed, finally noticing the girls standing on the deck above them, right behind Sotomura.
"Can you stoop any lower?" Shinohara crossed her arms.
"At least one of you has some decency." Sato scoffed.
"Aw, but I thought I'd get to see big tits! Big tits! I thought this was my chance!" Ike fell to his knees in despair.
"…Gross." The girls muttered among themselves.
As the boys wailed at their failure, Ayanokoji subtly glanced at me.
"…Is this why you made that bet?"
I smirked. "What, you jealous?"
He exhaled, his voice flat. "Considering the amount of points…a little."
I chuckled, nudging him. "That's what happens when you follow those guys instead of thinking for yourself."
"I guess…" Ayanokoji sighed.
As we talked, his attention began to drift. I followed his gaze and saw the reason immediately—Kushida had stepped into view in her swimsuit, effortlessly drawing the eyes of every guy present.
She was smiling, completely unfazed by the attention.
I found myself watching as well. Her eyes, wide and bright, seemed to capture every bit of light around her.Unlike Karuizawa and the other girls, who carried themselves with guarded expressions, Kushida's gaze was open—welcoming, even. It was as if her eyes, full of warmth, were made to draw others in without her even trying.
I exhaled through my nose, breaking myself out of the moment.
'Man, her charisma really is something else.'
"You're done ogling her?"
Horikita's voice cut through my thoughts, startling me. I turned toward her, only to take a slight pause as I saw her wearing the same school-issued swimsuit as Kushida. Her cold gaze settled on us, her piercing eyes sharp and calculating, but beneath that coolness, there was something...captivating. They weren't warm like Kushida's, but they still held a certain quiet intensity that drew me in.
"You say that, but you sure popped up real quick the moment Kushida got attention." I chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Hey, can you announce when you come? You were about to give me a heart attack." Ayanokoji glared at her.
"Your weak heart has nothing to do with me." Horikita scoffed, flicking her hair back.
At that moment, Kushida joined in with a bright smile.
"Are you a good swimmer, Horikita-san?" She asked cheerfully.
Horikita blinked, as if confused by the sudden question. "I wouldn't say I'm good or bad."
"Really? You seem pretty athletic, though." I observed, briefly glancing at her toned arms.
"Are you that shameless?" She huffed, crossing her arms.
"I'm just stating the truth. You should be proud of maintaining such a body." I replied seriously, only for her to scoff and turn away.
Ever since the club fair, I realized one thing about Horikita—there was no backing down, only doubling down. So that's exactly how I handled our conversations now. Of course, I didn't want to push too far, but knowing Horikita, if I ever crossed a line, she wouldn't hesitate to let me know.
Kushida let out an awkward laugh. "You two sure got close."
"Not even a little." Horikita replied flatly.
Before I could continue, a middle-aged man, clearly devoted to sports, clapped his hands to get our attention.
"All right, everyone, line up!" He called.
…
After showcasing our abilities, the teacher announced a fifty-meter race, with five thousand points for the winner and supplementary lessons for the last-place finisher.
The girls went first, with most of the boys glued to their forms, whispering excitedly among themselves.
"Everyone, burn these images into your mind! Remember the fap material you see here today!" Ike cried out.
"Yeah!" The boys echoed.
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. 'These guys really have no filter.'
The race began, and just as I expected, Horikita came in high, securing second place, just two seconds behind a girl named Onodera, who clocked in at twenty-six seconds.
"That was really good, Horikita." I told her with a smile.
"Just two seconds away, you were close." Ayanokoji added.
"I don't mind whether I win or lose." She replied indifferently, crossing her arms. "It's your turn now. How do you feel?"
"I just don't want to come in last place." Ayanokoji shrugged.
"Like that'd happen." I chuckled. "I'm feeling pretty pumped, though. Hey, Horikita, are you gonna cheer for me?" I grinned.
"No."
"Seriously? To think I wanted to win the race for you…" I sighed dramatically.
She raised an eyebrow. "If you're going to win it for me, are you going to give me the points?"
"Well…" I looked away sheepishly.
"Thought so. Don't bother then." She scoffed.
"Wait. If that's all it takes, then I accept. But in exchange…let your coldness wane, even just a little." I spoke dramatically, only to be met with a blank stare.
"You should've joined the drama club." She deadpanned.
"You see it too, huh?" I chuckled, just as the coach announced the start of the first race.
"Oh, looks like I'm up. Don't miss me too much!" I grinned, only to feel a sharp glare on my back.
"At this rate, she might just stab you." Ayanokoji muttered as he followed.
"Oh, come on, I'm sure it's making her warm up to me…or stab me, haha…ha." My confidence wavered slightly.
…
"Take your positions!" The coach called as we lined up.
Beside me stood Sudo and Ayanokoji, with others aligned further away.
"You confident, Sudo?" I asked.
"Of course. Don't be surprised if I leave you behind." He grinned.
"We'll see about that." I smirked, taking a stance that mirrored professional swimmers.
With the whistle's sharp blow, I dove into the water.
I moved my arms in powerful strokes, propelling myself forward with practiced efficiency. The world around me faded away, leaving only the feeling of water rushing past my skin.
Reaching the edge, I effortlessly pulled myself up.
"23.47 seconds!" The coach announced, sounding genuinely surprised.
Excited murmurs erupted around the pool.
"The hell? That was awesome!"
"He even beat Sudo!"
Among the shouts, I suddenly heard excited voices from the girls as well.
"Ryuto-kun, you're amazing!"
"I'm sure you're gonna win!" Sato's voice was unmistakable among the cheers.
I blinked, slightly taken aback by the shift in attention. Since when did they start paying so much attention to me?
Regardless, I smiled, which only seemed to fire them up even more.
'Everyone in this class is weird…'
…
After a few more rounds, the top five swimmers were set for one final race.
"Simplici-ryu, are you ready to lose a second time?" Koenji smirked confidently, his previous time being 23.33 seconds.
"No chance. That was just a warm-up."
"Like hell you two are winning! That was a fluke, I'm leaving you all in the dust now!" Sudo cut in.
Hirata smiled awkwardly. "It's not that serious, guys."
"They're too fired up to care." Miyake chuckled.
The whistle blew, and we all launched into the water.
This time, I pushed myself to the absolute limit, each stroke cutting through the resistance like a blade.
As I reached the finish line, I realized I had pulled ahead.
"22.51 seconds!" The coach announced, eyes wide with shock.
A triumphant grin spread across my face as cheers erupted from my classmates.
"Why the hell are we cheering!? Don't you see him stealing all the girls' attention!?" Ike screamed to the heavens.
The other boys paused, seeming to realize this all at once.
"You never had that attention to begin with, so it doesn't really matter." I chuckled.
"What do you want, traitor?" Yamauchi glared at me in betrayal.
"The bet. Sotomura couldn't measure the girls, so that means…" I trailed off with a smile.
"No girl won…" Ike's eyes bulged before he let out a gasp. "You planned this from the start!"
I shrugged casually. "Won fair and square. So, you better pay up."
Despite some groaning, the boys agreed, and considering the odds were thirty-to-one, I walked away with sixty thousand points.
"So this was your grand plan? Betting that no girl wins and then warning them?"
Horikita's voice made me glance to my side, where she stood with a questioning look.
"Pretty smart, huh?" I smirked.
"For an elementary school student, sure." She scoffed, before her eyes narrowed slightly. "Though…it did work."
"Hah, see? You're impressed."
"Hardly."
She then began to further away as the girls gathered around, congratulating me.
A part of me knew—just a few days ago, the me from the entrance ceremony wouldn't be in this position.
But here I was.
And for better or worse…things were definitely changing.
....
Point amount: 187.500
Should I start putting his points at the end of the chapter? Just so everyone can track it.