Just before 7 p.m Sakayanagi, Kamuro, and Hashimoto of the second-year Class A were gathered at a café in Keyaki Mall.
"I'm not surprised to be called out of the blue, but what can I do for you today, Princess?"
"I want to discuss the matters regarding the sports festival. What we should be doing."
"I thought we had a policy?"
"The situation changes from moment to moment. And today, it means that another change is in the making." Saying so, Sakayanagi continues. "Ryūen's class and Horikita's class made contact."
Hearing this, Hashimoto's eyes change.
"Which one approached which one?"
"That is unknown. But either way, it is safe to assume that the two are connected."
"Wait a minute. I don't think it's going to work out that easily. I don't think Horikita will readily trust Ryūen. He's not someone you can collude with."
"You know what they say, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' We are in a solid position to run alone. They don't have to trust each other, but as long as they have the same goals, they work well together."
The trickiness of the two classes joining forces is easily deduced by both of them.
The report was not a happy one, and the expressions on their faces hardened.
"We are in danger as it is."
"We can't beat them on our own?"
"If you assume that the three classes were going to compete separately, there was still a chance for any of them to take any of the places, but the connection came from an unexpected source."
Sakayanagi makes it clear and looks at Hashimoto.
"I wouldn't join forces with Ryūen. You never know when you might be stabbed in the back."
"In fact, it would be more convenient if he did... Ryūen-kun's class is in first place and Horikita-san's class is in second place. If the result is that obvious, I welcome it, but if it's the other way around, it's a bit tricky.""
Sakayanagi is more wary of Horikita's class than Ryūen's.
Sakayanagi's comment, which could be taken as such, causes Hashimoto's faint smile to disappear.
"And I'm pretty sure they're on a roll right now. I thought it would be impossible for anyone other than Ryūen's class to come in and grab 100 points, expelling the small fry. Has Horikita grown up ... or is Ayanokōji also working from the shadows?"
Emphasizing the name Ayanokōji, he turned to Sakayanagi. As if to confirm something.
Sakayanagi continues in a nonchalant manner.
"He's really stepped up his game lately," she said. "What's going on?"
"I think he's hiding more than just OAA. Well, Ayanokōji isn't the only student like that."
Hashimoto quickly backed down, as a battle of wits would have been bad for his position.
He decided that it was not a good idea to provoke her and draw attention.
"But what are you going to do? They say we'll lose without you, but you're not going to be there, are you?"
In other words, you're throwing away the game? Kamuro asks.
Hashimoto, who had been smiling, seemed concerned about this point, and his expression hardened again. With only 150 points, even if Class A sinks to the bottom of the standings, it will not cause much damage.
However, the defeat is not something to be welcomed, as the situation has been built on the foundation of a continuous battle.
"There's only one answer."
Sakayanagi laughs and continues.
"I will also participate in the sports festival. Even if they really join hands, they are calculating that they can barely win combined with my non-participation. Let them know that is their false hope."
"Seriously? Will you be okay?"
"It's nice that you're willing to do this, but... are you sure?"
The two are concerned by Sakayanagi's announcement of participation.
"Being made a spectacle of? It means nothing to me."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do fine. If you say you'll go out, then it's a quick turnaround."
"However, that still doesn't improve overall athletic performance. It can only pick up the competition that you might miss out on. In other words, it will be a tough fight for me to take first place."
"I think it's enough that I wouldn't call it the bottom of the barrel."
"It's not so difficult to crack the glass relationship between Horikita-san and Ryūen-kun. Let's sidetrack them on the day when they are desperately trying to work together."
Hashimoto and Kamuro have confidence in Sakayanagi, who has absolute confidence in them.
They have produced high results time and again.
"I'm relieved, huh? Well, I'm surprised that you could pick up the information so quickly, Princess. You didn't do it on your own feet, did you?"
For everyday information gathering, she often used Hashimoto and Kamuro.
But this time the two had never heard of it before, and Hashimoto asked curiously.
"I'm still the Class A representative, and I'm getting to know some of the first-year students."
Without panicking, Sakayanagi smiled softly as if enjoying the unexpected question.