At one point, Taichi got curious enough to ask what compelled her to set this up, and her answer was this:
“In just a few short weeks, I’ll be charging headfirst into entrance exams. So if I’m going to chase my teenage dreams, this will be my last chance.”
+++
The weather was bright and sunny — perfect for a Battle Royale. Out on the athletic field, the students who had successfully registered for the event were now standing around in their gym clothes, gathered in pairs. This dress code was put in place simply to ensure everyone would have full range of motion, but now the event was starting to feel like a Sports Festival knockoff.
Technically, parents and other related parties were permitted to come and observe the event, but as it was still early in the morning, there were no adults to be seen.
For me, Fujishima Maiko, this was the Saturday of Reckoning.
After speaking to my fellow outreach committee members in charge of registration, then getting a good look at the number of students still waiting in line, I estimated approximately 300 pairs would be competing today. Assuming each of those pairs battled one-on-one, the winning pair would need to survive eight different battles. And if we could ensure that those individual battles didn’t drag on too long, we would theoretically finish the event by this evening.
There were some guy-guy pairs and girl-girl pairs, but the overwhelming majority were guy-girl pairs, plenty of which were already dating. Each of the registered pairs carried a single fake flower styled like a red rose.
Everyone competing today was aiming to win... myself included. For once in my high school career, I wanted to be number one at something. That way I could submit myself to entrance exams with no regrets.
“This is my last hurrah.”
This event would surely lead to a rash of new couples springing up like daisies, as well as deeper friendships. Even I stood a chance at finding my soulmate. Starting now, I would soon face off against countless fellow students, strengthening my bond with my partner and...
My bond with... my partner...? Wait, why does it feel like I’m forgetting something?
“I... I didn’t speak to anyone about teaming up?!”
This was an earth-shattering realization. I was so busy prepping for the event, it had completely slipped my mind.
Nervously, I glanced around. Most people were already paired up; I could tell based on the flowers they were holding. But a handful of people didn’t have flowers. After all, this event was fairly spontaneous, and it was hard to pick a partner without knowing for sure who would actually show up. Evidently a lot of people had decided to wait until the big day to decide.
Plus, this was the perfect setup for a cute moment like:
—Looks like no one’s gonna pick us. Wanna team up with each other?
—Y-Yeah, I guess we pretty much have to!
Anyway, all that aside... I needed to find a partner, and quickly. But who? Ideally, I wanted someone who would bolster my own chances of winning, and the first person who came to mind was Katori Jouji, the ultra-competent student council president.
However...
“Hey, guys! Look over there!”
“Oh my god, did they team up?”
“Now there’s a power couple!”
Following the gazes of the students around me, I noticed President Katori standing beside Yamaboshi High School’s most eligible bachelorette, the radiant and beautiful Nagase Iori.
“Damn. She was my second choice,” I muttered. Honestly, they were both so ridiculously overpowered, it felt downright unfair to let them pair up.
My third choice was Yaegashi Taichi, but knowing him, he’d take this opportunity to team up with his dear girlfriend Inaba Himeko. Lucky bastard. So what were my other options?
“F-F-Fujishima-san!”
As it would happen, that was when someone hesitantly called my name.
“Oh, hello there, Watase-kun.”
It was Watase Shingo, one of few students who I had shared a class with for all three years of high school. He was a respectable young man, and at one point, something he said to me changed my life forever. Without his encouragement, I never would have committed to the path I found myself on today.
“If you don’t have a partner, would you wanna... I mean... We should team up!”
Bowing his head, he thrust his hand out in my direction. Almost like he was asking me to be his girlfriend or something. Not that I knew from experience, of course, since no one had ever asked me out. Wait, did he just ask to be my partner?
First impressions of Watase Shingo: a tall, handsome boy with a charming smile. As the star player on the soccer team, he was sure to have strong athletic reflexes. His grades were average at best, but that wasn’t to say he was unintelligent; far from it. He simply chose not to study.
As far as partners went, I could do a lot worse.
“Are you planning to win?”
“Damn right! Let’s win this thing!”
His passionate words matched the look in his eyes.
“Very well. I hereby entrust my fate to you, Watase-kun!”
I took his offered hand and gave it a firm shake. His palm was sweaty, probably from the heat.
Now it was time for me to get my head in the game.
“I’ve done a great many things during my time in high school. At times I lost sight of myself, but even then, I always had fun. But while there were times that I briefly stood in the spotlight, I was never number one.”
I wasn’t special. I acted like I was the king of the hill when I was really just run-of-the-mill.
“So just this once, I’d like to come out on top. Maybe then I’ll finally find my soulmate.”
“Wait, what did you just—”
In the end, 602 students gathered under the clear blue sky that day. Then it came time to announce the official rules. I was originally planning to handle it myself, but the others told me I had already worked hard enough, so they filled in for me.
“Alright, everybody! It’s time for a word from our special guests!”
On cue from the student council vice president, Tanaka-sensei and Hirata-sensei walked onstage.
“Whoaaaa!”
“I didn’t know they were coming!”
“Ryouko-sensei looks so pretty!”
“Congratulations!”
“Man, I still can’t believe Tanaka stole Ryouko-sensei from us...!”
As they stood in front of the mic, Tanaka-sensei looked as stoic as ever, while Hirata-sensei was wearing her usual cheerful smile.
“Frankly, I have no idea why this is happening. All I know is that the rest of the faculty wanted me on board as the supervisor, and now here I am, wasting my morning when I could be doing more important things...”
“Oh, don’t mind him! I assure you, we’re very flattered that you would hold a special school event in our honor. Let’s all have fun today, but be sure to stay safe!”
Her voice was chipper and cute, like a pop star’s.
“Now then, I hereby announce the start of, uh — What’s it called again? Oh, there it is, thank you — Tanaka-sensei & Hirata-sensei’s Happy Wedding Bouquet Toss: Couples’ Battle Royale! ...Wait, what?! That sounds dangerous!”
10:00 AM — the start of the tournament.