With a serene smile that suggested she'd relinquished any claim to class leadership, Sakayanagi Arisu reminded him.

Kaoru surveyed the surrounding students—those formerly aligned with Sakayanagi's faction had already gravitated towards Katsuragi, leaving only a handful still with her.

"No need for me to take command. Katsuragi is perfectly capable of handling this. Besides, what follows will be a test of pure physical prowess."

Even the slightest weakness in athleticism would virtually guarantee a poor ranking.

Any fool could see this sports festival would favor the exceptionally gifted students.

Fortunately, routine PE classes revealed Class A's remarkably balanced athletic standards, with few notably weak performers.

Thus, for Class A, the strategy was simple: identify events where they could secure top placements while maintaining decent performances elsewhere.

"Hehehe, aiming for honorable competition, Mitoma-kun?" Sakayanagi seemed mildly surprised.

"I expected you'd keep suppressing other classes to crush my hopes before our second year."

While the competitions themselves would test physical limits, the real battle lay beyond the arena.

Scouting opponents' strengths, analyzing their event rotations, even forcing early withdrawals—the possibilities for manipulation were endless.

The school's restrictions on substitutions likely aimed to curb such underhanded tactics.

"Have you truly not given up yet?" Kaoru's gaze drifted to her calves.

"Not at all. Until the day you kneel in submission, I'll keep playing this game with you." Sakayanagi lowered her eyelids, privately amused by his undisguised ogling.

Sometimes, merely recalling his antics made her wonder how she'd endured him this long.

Yet paradoxically, she recognized his remarkable restraint—this boy who channeled his desires into controlled, context-specific outbursts.

Precisely because it fascinated her, Sakayanagi want to know what truly occupied his thoughts.

"What do you think of surrendering now, and I might indulge those desires of yours?"

Teasingly, the girl lifted one leg slightly, the tip of her shoe tracing a provocative arc before him.

From his angle, Kaoru could even glimpse the fluttering hemline that accompanied her movement—revealing a tantalizing thigh.

Kamuro expressionlessly averted her gaze.

Even though she had done far worse herself, she usually had the nerve to criticize Kaoru's little antics with him.

"Only an idiot would agree to that, right?" Kaoru was somewhat speechless.

"If you became my little maid, wouldn't I be able to order you to satisfy me anytime?"

Sakayanagi remained calm, even blinking her eyes.

"The agreement is for second year, which is still a long way off. If you agree to my terms, I can satisfy you right now. Isn't that good enough?"

Kaoru paused, as if this made some sense.

"Though I really don't want to interrupt your flirting, could you two at least pay attention to the surroundings?" Kamuro said while hugging her own arms as if disgusted, yet her eyes remained fixed on Kaoru Mitoma.

Though their conversation was quiet, Sakayanagi's striking appearance made it impossible to ignore.

With her petite, sickly frame, she was the only student using a cane and sitting in a chair while others stood or sat normally—it was hard not to notice her.

Many students from the nearest Class D had already turned their attention to Sakayanagi, with occasional murmurs of amazement.

"We seem to be drawing attention," Sakayanagi smiled, then greeted the Class D students.

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Sakayanagi. Due to my health, I'm afraid I won't be of any use in the competitions. My apologies for the inconvenience."

"N-no problem! It's the school's fault!" one student stammered.

Sakayanagi simply smiled, but then a pleasant voice chimed in.

"Ah, what a shame. I was hoping we could cheer each other on, Sakayanagi-san."

From among the Class D students, Kushida's face showed genuine disappointment, her angelic voice conveying sincere regret.

Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes slightly, noticing how the other girl's gaze lingered—intentionally or not—on the man beside her.

"I'm afraid I'll only be able to cheer from the spectator seats."

"No need to apologize! It's not your fault. Nobody wants this, right?"

"Thank you for your concern."

Seeing Sakayanagi's composed demeanor, Kushida slowly formed a smile and asked, seemingly offhand.

"By the way, is Mitoma-kun taking care of you?"

Anyone hearing such an ambiguous question would instinctively react.

If guilty, one might fluster and deny it awkwardly.

Kushida could then innocently claim she was only asking about the chair.

*Hehehe, though I've considered it, someone still refuses my proposal," Sakayanagi met Kushida's gaze unfazed.

What's wrong with this woman?

Kushida maintained her smile but felt a flicker of irritation inwardly.

This response practically confirmed an improper relationship with Kaoru.

Didn't she know he was actually a perverted foot fetishist?

How annoying—did she even realize what she was saying?

"Don't talk nonsense. Did Kamuro bring this chair for you from somewhere else?" Kaoru felt a bit of pressure as the surrounding gazes on him and Sakayanagi grew increasingly strange.

"I took it—right in front of the teacher!" Kamuro reacted strongly, perhaps because it touched on her secret.

"Why not take a few more?" Kaoru deliberately tried to steer the conversation off track.

"Are you also disable?" The moment she said this, Kamuro immediately realized her mistake.

As the two of them bickered, Sakayanagi merely smiled, seemingly not the least bit annoyed.

"What are you all talking about? Can I listen in too?"

At that moment, a girl from Class B who hadn't left yet suddenly approached.

Both Katsuragi and Hirata showed a hint of wariness at her appearance.

"Good afternoon, Ichinose-san," Kaoru greeted her.

In that instant, Sakayanagi, Kamuro, and Kushida all turned to look at him.

Ichinose Honami seemed delighted, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled and said.

"Good afternoon, Mitoma-kun. Looks like we'll be opponents again."

"Hey hey, shouldn't Class B stay out of this? We're still discussing the sports festival!" Totsuka Yahiko complained impatiently.

Ichinose immediately clasped her hands together apologetically.

"Sorry, sorry! I just overheard you talking about Sakayanagi-san and thought your discussion had ended."

Kaoru looked puzzled.

Had Sakayanagi become that noticeable today?

"Me?" Sakayanagi also seemed slightly confused, though she vaguely sensed something peculiar in the air.

Because Ichinose Honami's gaze kept drifting towards Kaoru as well.

"Hmm, maybe I'm overthinking it?"

"Ahaha, we were just saying how Sakayanagi-san can't participate in the events due to her physical condition," Kushida suddenly explained on Ichinose's behalf.

Ichinose glanced at Sakayanagi's legs and cane.

"Hehehe, please don't mind it. I'm quite used to this," Sakayanagi continued with her usual smile.

Just as Totsuka Yahiko was about to interject, Katsuragi placed a hand on his shoulder and said solemnly.

"As you can see, Ichinose, Class A has unavoidably lost some strength. But if you want to join the conversation, feel free. We weren't planning to discuss tactics here anyway."

'Wait, don't say that'

Kaoru silently turned his head away.

"I see," Ichinose chuckled. "To be honest, I didn't expect to hear anything valuable here either. After all, we are opponents."

Hirata Yosuke shared the same sentiment.

"Katsuragi-kun, even though we're teammates for this event, competition is still competition. As for the team matches, should we talk about them later?"

"Sure, we'll discuss it later."

It seemed their conversation was coming to an end.

Kaoru sighed in relief, ready to leave.

But then, Sakayanagi inexplicably extended her small hand toward him.

"Help me up," the girl's voice was clear and melodious, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on him.

Ichinose Honami, who had been smiling moments ago, froze in surprise.

Kushida Kikyo's expression also turned blank.

"Can't you stand up yourself?" Kaoru glanced at her, then at Kamuro beside her, who pretended not to notice.

"At times like these, a gentleman like Mitoma-kun should be more considerate towards girls," Sakayanagi chided him lightly, completely oblivious to the stares around her—especially the ones coming from across the room.

Kamuro crossed her arms, utterly indifferent.

There was no point in arguing with her now.

Reluctantly, Kaoru took her small hand and helped her up from the chair.

"Fufufu, Mitoma-kun really is such a gentle man." Sakayanagi Arisu's peripheral vision caught the expressions on Ichinose Honami and Kushida Kikyo's faces, causing the corners of her lips to curl up slightly.

Kaoru remained silent, but his gaze inadvertently drifted to her perky little ass.

Noticing this, Sakayanagi immediately realized what was on his mind.

A faint blush finally appeared on her cheeks, her eyes flashing with both embarrassment and irritation.

After all, it had been her first time getting spanked.

Even the slightest recollection made the lingering sensation heat up faintly again—something utterly embarassing to admit.

--------------------------------

Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator