Everyone took their positions in their respective swimming lanes.
Kaguya stood on the starting block, casting a cold glance at Kiyotaka beside her.
Remembering the inexplicable “sense of crisis” this man had given her over the past few days—firstly, the bizarre coincidence of him miraculously appearing out of nowhere in the grade-level test with a score falling short by precisely one point, then the displeasure of sensing him probing her at the library last time, and his provocation in the shallow end just now…
A ruthless thought gradually sprouted in Kaguya’s heart.
She intended to use this swimming test, with an absolute gap in strength, to make him soberly realize the gulf between the two of them.
As long as she completely shattered his self-confidence right here, a frustrated him might even have his subsequent study efficiency affected.
In this way, on the next exam, she could more securely and completely widen the score gap between them, erasing this hidden trouble.
Meanwhile, other students who had finished the test or were waiting also noticed the extraordinary lineup of this group, which was on a level of “gods fighting among themselves”.
“Isn’t this a group of death…?”
“To think Ayanokoji-kun was assigned to the same group as such a bunch of monsters, he’s so pitiful.”
“Although he’s good at studying, he looks all weak and frail.
Let alone Kitahara, I bet even those few girls are sturdier than him.”
“He’s probably going to come in last.”
“If I were him, I’d definitely have a serious talk with Fujiwara-san who drew the lots.
What kind of terrible luck is this…”
Hearing the whispers and sympathy reaching his ears, Ayanokouji sighed softly.
Then he raised his hand and silently put on his swim goggles, his expression calm and unaffected by anything.
The last time in the White Room when eight people were gathered together to conduct a swimming test under such a competitive atmosphere was probably more than three years ago.
After that time, the number of people in the White Room who could keep up with the progress began to decrease rapidly.
Eventually, only he alone remained in the fourth generation.
After such a long time, a “control group” had appeared once again.
Just what kind of level could he display right now?
Let’s give it a try.
“On your marks—!”
Beep!
The moment the whistle sounded, eight figures leaped out simultaneously.
Kaguya’s starting jump was nothing short of perfection, her softly curved body drawing an elegant arc in the air, entering the water with almost no splash.
The remaining sports-talented students weren’t bad either.
In contrast, Kiyotaka’s start appeared entirely unremarkable.
Merely at the instant of the start, Kaguya was already visibly ahead of him by half a body length.
But Kiyotaka showed no panic whatsoever; the moment he entered the water, he went full throttle and charged forward.
This situation was completely different from when he would unfeelingly and continuously sprint in that emotionless room.
Kiyotaka’s body was bathed in the chilly water temperature.
Nor was he thinking about catching up to or overtaking anyone ahead.
He was simply swimming at full speed, as if parting the wind, gradually shortening the distance with the swimmers ahead.
“No way!”
Fujiwara Chika let out an astonished cry as he overtook her, but the sound immediately drifted away with the wind.
Then came the incredulous gasps from both sides of the pool banks.
Next, Kiyotaka couldn’t even hear the cheers anymore.
The moment he passed Kaguya’s position, he locked eyes with that pair of slightly startled red eyes.
“Look, Shinomiya, I can still accelerate.”
At that very instant, Kaguya was taking a breath.
She had instinctively wanted to use the corner of her eye to appreciate the pathetic sight of Kiyotaka being left far behind.
However, she unexpectedly discovered that the lane beside her was empty!
The moment she snapped back to her senses, she saw a dark figure like a torpedo dash past her side, churning up the currents and splitting the splashes ahead.
That cold gaze, as if looking down upon mere ants, struck Kaguya’s chest fiercely like a heavy hammer.
This instantly threw her originally perfect rhythm into complete disarray.
…
Tap.
Kiyotaka easily touched the wall with one hand, his breathing without a single trace of disorder, and stood up by grabbing the edge of the pool.
Then he took off his swim goggles and casually shook the water droplets from his hair.
A full several seconds passed.
“Hoo…
ha…”
Kaguya’s chest heaved violently as she panted heavily, touching the pool wall in an extremely disheveled state that was completely unlike her usual self.
The physical education teacher on the bank stared at the stopwatch in their hand in utter disbelief.
After repeatedly checking it three times, he finally confirmed that the seemingly unremarkable male student before his eyes had created a record close to a national record.
The rest of the students in the venue shifted from their previous clamor into an incredulous silence, which was then followed by roaring cheers.
Those students who had just been sympathizing with Ayanokouji moments ago all had their mouths wide open now, momentarily unable to believe the reality before them.
“Mr.
Ayanokouji…
What, what is your situation?!”
Fujiwara Chika, who had landed ashore in third place, couldn’t even spare a breath to pant as she hurried over, staring with wide eyes at Ayanokouji who was wiping his hair with a towel.
“It’s because you were going easy on me just now, Fujiwara.
Kiyotaka delivered a deadpan joke without changing expression.
“No, no, no!
Save these joking words for later, look at everyone’s reactions around us!”
Several male classmates who usually had some friendly relations with Ayanokouji already rushed over excitedly at this moment, surrounding him in the center.
“Ayanokouji!
You bastard swim super fast!
You’re simply like a monster!”
“Have you been holding back in PE class all this time?!
That’s so uncool!”
“…”
Afterwards, due to the exceptionally intense level of gods fighting among themselves in Ayanokouji’s group, as well as the appearance of this dark horse who shattered records completely beyond everyone’s expectations, the remaining groups of tests, even though the contestants tried their utmost, could no longer generate any highlights that could capture anyone’s attention.
When the noon bell for dismissal rang, the final scores on the teacher’s record book had already been released and posted.
First place: Kiyotaka (47.12 seconds)
Second place: Kaguya (56.85 seconds)
Third place: Fujiwara Chika (1 minute 02 seconds)
…
Everyone dispersed, and the noisy natatorium gradually returned to peace.
Kaguya stood all alone in front of the score notice board, staring at the name at the very top, her eyes trembling violently, her pupils even showing a trace of dispersion.
Frustration.
And, for the first time in front of her peers, experiencing such a thorough and up-close sense of humiliating defeat.
Her self-esteem was ruthlessly crushed, and her underlying worldview—which required maintaining the Shinomiya Family’s dignity and ensuring absolute victory—collapsed.
In front of Kiyotaka’s abnormal and unreasonable absolute violence, the skills and efforts she had painstakingly practiced since childhood felt like a joke.
Until the people around had almost all left, and Fujiwara Chika ran over to pat her shoulder and call out to her, Kaguya finally turned around in a daze.
Beside her ears, Fujiwara Chika’s comforting words went in one ear and out the other.
Kaguya couldn’t take any of it in at all.
Her gaze passed over Chika’s shoulders and looked toward the distant back of the figure walking into the men’s locker room, who showed no triumph after winning nor came over to mock her.
In her cold red eyes, emotions of shock and frustration churned ceaselessly without a moment’s pause, and, born from regarding the other party as a formidable rival for the very first time…
a strong desire for inquiry.
Kiyotaka…
Just what kind of person are you?