Chapter IV- "Just Don't Bother Me."
"After my challenge, could I leave because I've already participated in the other two," Shishido said as if that was justification.
"What if you're needed for other challenges?" Sakaki said.
"Then find someone else?" Shishido suggested.
"No, you have to stay here," Sakaki ordered.
"Fine…" Shishido whined slightly.
"All right, the five of you are in this group together because you're all the hardest workers among everyone else!" announced Ryuuzaki. "Except Mizuki. I think there was some kind of miscommunication with you."
"Oh well, too late now," said Mizuki.
"Who was SUPPOSED to be in this group instead of him?" pondered Ojii.
"I forget," Banji shrugged.
"Let's just start with the competition," Sakaki said. "This one will be probably the easiest one to judge because it's an endurance challenge that involves crossing a finish line."
None of the Hard Workers said anything in response. They all had this face that said, "Why, oh why, am I not surprised?"
"But," said Ryuuzaki. "We have something that might even surprise you less. Since all the other challenges have involved having another person participate, this competition is no different!"
"And surely we won't be permitted to choose our own partner?" Inui suggested.
"Precisely!" chimed all the coaches.
"As before, you must work as a group of four to decide the partner of the odd man out," said Banji.
So, initially they decided on Momo for Kaidou, but then they happened to remember how well those two worked together. So they eventually decided to once again pair up Kaidou and Kentarou since it was a pretty ineffective pair in the Captain's challenge.
Also initially they decided it would be fun to pair up Fuji with Yuuta, but then they realized an even better pair would be Fuji and Mizuki. So even though it would have been so very entertaining to force the brothers together, they passed on that opportunity to risk Mizuki's life.
Yuuta, instead, received Jirou's help. They simply couldn't think of anyone else that Yuuta strongly disagreed with, so they figured that maybe there was some hidden resentment towards Jirou for defeating him in like fifteen minutes. Also, they sort of secretly hoped that Jirou wasn't feeling up for a challenge and would, instead, sleep through the whole thing.
The group also decided to put Shishido back with Tachibana. They had been amused by the two in the Captain's challenges so they figured, "What the heck?"
Finally, when it came to Inui, everyone was a little stumped. After all, it had mostly been Inui had thought up everyone else's partner, so they just scanned the group for an incompetent and disagreeable person and finally decided up on Horio.
"You know, this is one of the very occasional instances in which I'm glad to be working with Mizuki," said Fuji with the most content and pleasant smile of all time.
"You know, Fuji, you don't HAVE to be so creepy," Mizuki said. Fuji didn't respond. He just continued to smile. "Like I said."
"Not only will this challenge involve an intense race, but it also tests your faith in your partner!" said Banji.
"Can I concede?" Mizuki raised his hand.
"I KNEW he didn't belong on this team," Ojii whispered to Ryuuzaki.
"You don't even know what the challenge demands!" said Banji.
"Yes, come now, Mizuki, don't be such a chicken," said Fuji. Then Fuji caught sight of Yuuta, and turned him and waved. Yuuta slapped his forehead.
"All right," said Sakaki. "The challenge is to run around the track… carrying your partner."
"Yes, I definitely concede," Mizuki decided as he turned around and walked back towards the group of people. Fuji only stood there and then politely asked if Mizuki was allowed to do that.
"Unfortunately, yes," said Ojii.
"What a shame," Fuji sighed.
"Well, I know I'M not forfeiting," said Shishido. "Even though I hate Tachibana and he's significantly heavier than I am."
"Significantly?" Tachibana repeated, sounding somewhat appalled. "I hardly think it's a significant difference."
"If I had known that the challenge would be like this, I wouldn't have suggested mostly small and light people," Inui said, looking at the people that had been chosen.
"I'm the only person with someone who's heavier than me!" Shishido complained.
"I'm glad," said Yuuta, looking at Jirou.
"Are you?" Jirou said.
"Yeah," Yuuta said. "Not only do I not actually have anything against you, but you're one of the lightest people that could have been picked."
"I'm special that way," Jirou said since he does what he can to be special.
"This isn't fair," Shishido continued to complain. "I am by far the hardest working one in this whole group and I'm not going to be able to compete because Tachibana is too heavy."
"Stop acting like I'm so much bigger than you," said Tachibana with a frown. "I am seriously three inches taller than you are."
"No, it's seriously lots more than that," Shishido said as if it was the hugest deal EVER. "And there's definitely twenty pounds difference between us."
"Twenty pounds?" Tachibana repeated, sounding enraged. "Hardly!"
"Shishido, are you suggesting you, like Mizuki, want to forfeit?" Sakaki said, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Of course not!" said Shishido, looking pumped.
"I would like to forfeit," said Inui.
Everyone looked at him confusedly.
"WHY?" they all said, gesturing towards Horio's small stature, and Inui's own not-so-small stature.
"It is a personal decision on my part," Inui said.
"AW MAN!" screamed Horio. "I was actually excited about getting a piggy-back!"
"You would have been," Inui scoffed.
They were all led to the track, and the large group watched them curiously. Mizuki and Inui were keen enough to explain the challenge to them, and everyone made fun of Mizuki for being a pussy, but they all knew that secretly in their hearts they would have done the same thing if they had been paired up with Fuji. No one made fun of Inui because they knew he had some sort of smart reason for forfeiting that they would inevitably find out later and curse him for thinking of it first.
"When I say 'Go' then you can pick up your partner and start the race," said Ryuuzaki. "You can carry them however you like… on your shoulders, on your back or whatever."
"We sort of recommend on the back," Banji said. "It's easiest."
"If I lose because of you then it's your fault," said Kaidou, pointing at Kentarou.
"Whoa, geez, that's a lot of pressure…" Kentarou said. "Too bad I can't do anything to influence the situation AT ALL."
"Just don't bother me," Kaidou threatened.
All the groups decided they wanted to carry their partners on their backs. So they got in the ready position, preparing for the moment when Ryuuzaki would say GO!
"GO!" Ryuuzaki yelled.
After Kaidou collected Kentarou, they began. Kaidou didn't seem to be struggling under the weight, and he started with an early lead.
Jirou climbed up on Yuuta's back and immediately shouted "MUSH!" This, of course, caused a moment's diversion because Yuuta felt that Jirou needed a glare before he continued forth. So after the glare was accomplished (and rest assured, Fuji was very proud of his baby brother) they started off down the track as well.
Of course, no one thought Shishido would win. He had pretty much been smooshed by Tachibana within about four seconds of Ryuuzaki saying GO!
"This is all your fault," said Shishido as Tachibana got off him. "Lose some weight!"
"It's not my fault you're worse at tennis than I am," said Tachibana.
"How dare you…!" Shishido started but Choutarou ran over and comforted him and gave him a Thomas the Tank Engine band-aid for his scraped knee.
"The race is pretty much down to Yuuta and Kaidou!" observed Banji as they watched Kaidou reached the halfway mark with Yuuta not far behind him.
"Kaidou will win," said Inui. "With a training schedule almost as rigorous as mine, how could he lose?"
"Are you saying you have no faith in Yuuta?" said Fuji.
"Um…" Inui calmly moved to the other side of the mass.
Not to be anticlimactic or anything, but Kaidou basically won. Even though Yuuta put up a good fight, Inui really does have a point when he said it's impossible for Kaidou to lose in a running challenge. Yuuta works hard and everything, but I think Kaidou is sort of like… the Prince of Endurance. If there was such a prince.
Of course, after the challenge was complete, Kaidou was fine and looked like HE could have carried Tachibana but he didn't because that would have just been ludicrous.
"Kaidou wins!" said Ryuuzaki.
Yuuta looked sad and disappointed, but various people who are obsessed with him came over to give him comfort, which immediately changed his sadness and disappointment into fear and apprehension. So he assured them he was over it so they would leave him alone.
"So Kaidou is the captain of the Hard Worker Team," said Sakaki, marking it on the clipboard.
"And what group is next?" Banji inquired.
"Why…that would be the Tall Team," Sakaki answered.