Chapter Twenty-Two: The Sports Festival (Part Two)
Kiiro wasn't particularly amazed by how fast the word spread around the school. It seemed to her that everyone knew about the Sports Festival by the time school started the next day. Most students even knew who had wanted the festival in the first place.
Kiiro also wasn't particularly concerned by the festival. From what she could tell, there weren't many contests that she could take part in being almost completely non-athletic. She felt bad for Haruhi though, since the girl would almost have to compete, and in the males' contests.
The one thing that worried Kiiro, was Kyouya. He was completely uninterested in the festival and rather angry with Tamaki for being so incessant and capricious. She doubted Tamaki was totally ignorant to this, but would still try to rile him up anyway. Which, was never a good idea.
Even when she had texted him last night he had continued to remain indifferent about it, changing the subject often. She wanted to tell him that she knew him better than that, but she let it slide.
Haruhi had also taken note of how bored Kyouya was of the idea, and had asked during club hours, "Kyouya-senpai, are you just not interested in sports or...?"
To which he replied, "Me being non-athletic, participating in a pointless event like this?" he sighed. "It's just that I don't want to waste any effort on something that doesn't give me any merit."
Haruhi could feel the gap he was putting between himself and the rest of them.
"But, Kyou-chan, if you participate in some contests during the Sports Festival, customers might increase~!" Hani cheered, unphased by his icy aura, appealing to his calculative side.
He shrugged, "Of course, I've thought of Hani-senpai and Mori-senpai's activities. I might sell them in DVD format. But, this Sports Festival is only profitable to the sports clubs. Unlike the Culture Festival, there's no point in appealing to parents. And, to increase customers somewhat would require me to waste my time training, if I think of all the minuses that come of the Sports Festival, there's no gain."
"Then if you had objected more..." Haruhi trailed off.
"Even though we can't stop Tamaki's energy?" his irritation apparent.
The door to the Music Room was flung open, "Hey! Listen to this! I can't believe this!" Hikaru yelled. Kaoru followed him in, his expression much more calm. Hikaru continued, "The teams were made with the attendance numbers and now Kaoru and I are on seperate teams! Haruhi and I are on the Red Team, while Kaoru is on the White Team!" he turned to Kyouya. "Kyouya-senpai! Please ask Tono to change the method of the team assignment!"
"Ask him yourself."
"Takashi and I are on different teams as well~!" Hani explained. "Takashi is on the Red Team and I'm on the White Team~! What team is Tama-chan on~?"
"Who knows? He's probably on the Red Team." Kyouya rested his head in his hand. "Kiiro and I were assigned to the White Team, so if we follow the order..."
"Hahaha! Exactly!" Tamaki dashed in as if on cue. "The organizer of this Sports Festival and the vice chief of the Red Team is no other then myself! Red Team will definitely win!" he got in Kyouya's face, determined to fire him up. "Kyouya! Since we're on different teams, we need to go all out! That way our friendship will deepen even more!"
Kyouya was so close to glaring, "Is it really friendship when the guy is organizing a worthless event even though you are against it?"
Tamaki backed off, fidgeting, obviously Kyouya's harsh words had affected him, "W-well I'm sorry, Kyouya! But, if you participate then we can all have fun!"
"Is that so? Well I didn't think there was a meaningful reason..." Kyouya stood up. "Even though there's no merit, I have to sweat in a futile event! I have no preference in sports and I refuse the chief position of the White Team."
"Kyouya!" Tamaki tried, concern apparent.
"Tamaki." he said tersely. "Sorry, but, leave me alone. This time, I don't like your way of doing things."
Without another word he left, leaving Tamaki shocked and the rest of the club wary.
'Kyouya...' she frowned, watching him storm out like that...
"Can it be? He's really pissed."
"He said a lot of things about merits, but the truth is he's mad because he feels betrayed by Tama-chan."
"Yeah. He may not appear during the Sports Festival."
"But... That wasn't my intention at all..." Tamaki frowned. "I just thought he could have some fun in a fight where he could go all out. Besides..." he began to cry. "...if I had won I was going to ask for rights to use his kotatsu all year."
The club slumped at his stupidity.
Kiiro sighed, "I'm going to go find him."
She headed out, hoping she could talk some sense into him.
After a few minutes spent searching, she spotted Kyouya in one of the hallways open to the courtyard.
'Ah, who's that with him?' she eavesdropped from behind a pillar, not wanting to interupt.
"You're the leader of the White Team, right?" she heard Kuze's voice. "What's with the sad look?"
Immediately her anger flared, Kuze always took things far too far.
"No, I refused the position." Kyouya's voice was bordering on icy.
"Ah... Just like I thought. After all, you're just Suoh's purse, you can't beat him in a public event, can you?"
Kiiro's brow knitted, unsure of what to do.
"You can only restrain yourself. If you were in a fight against Suoh, you would give up so he could have all of the praise. How troubling it is to be the third son of the Ootori family."
'That's it.' she made to turn, if she walked up to them now, she could pretend she hadn't heard anything and make Kuze leave.
When she saw the menacing aura around Kyouya, however, she stopped in her tracks.
Kuze took off, as if he had just seen a demon.
"...Kiiro?" Kyouya turned, his expression dark, and far angrier than she had ever seen.
'Great, he saw me.' she panicked, not wanting him to know she had eavesdropped.
"Why are you hiding?"
"Umm..." she knew the question was rhetorical.
He made his way back to her.
"Tell me, Kiiro, why would I restrain myself for Tamaki?" he stood before her and put a hand on either side of her.
"W-well..."
"Why would I restrain myself for anybody?" he raised an eyebrow.
Kiiro followed him at his brisk pace back to the Third Music Room.
'It's hard trying to adjust your collar while running...' she fiddled with her dress, trying to hide the red marks left by Kyouya's teeth. 'If the Twins see these, my life will become a living hell...'
Kyouya grabbed her wrist and pulled her down the last corridor, as if he were on a war path.
"Hey!" he got the attention of all the Hosts. "You guys! If the Red Team wins, I'll let you use my kotatsu all year round! Is that clear?" he snapped back to normal. "Kaoru, is there list of the members of the White Team?"
"Kyou..." Tamaki tried.
"Eh... yeah... probably in the Student Council Room." Kaoru replied.
"Hani-senpai, can you supervise the training of the members from tomorrow on?"
"Yeah~! I'll do it~!" Hani held up his hands.
Kyouya continued, "I will gather the data of each member to determine which activities fit them. I'll also think up a strategy. Kiiro, Kaoru, you two will become my supports."
"Understood." Kiiro nodded.
"Roger!" Kaoru saluted.
"Kyouya! My friend!" Tamaki cheered, reaching out to embrace Kyouya. "You thought it over! Let the both of us..."
"I am also overwhelmed by hatred, I must find a way to convert it..." Kyouya adjusted his glasses, the murderous aura was almost visible. "I'll crush you and Kuze-senpai!" he pointed. "The victory belongs to the White Team." Kiiro, Kaoru and Hani stood around him, victorious smiles gleamed. "Just do your best with your friendship and your vigorous power!"
Everyone on the Red Team was taken aback by the black aura.
There was quite a bit of planning to do. Everyday the White Team retreated to Meeting Room One to make a concrete strategy, assign members to events, and take their training orders from Hani.
"In any case, let's study the data of both the Red and White Team's members." Kyouya stated, holding up a bundle of files. "One's physical ability is, of course, attributed to one's personality. It is necessary to investigate if there are any changes during club activities, even the reason for the ups and downs in results."
"However, Kyouya, how could they be related to the match?" Matsudaira, the Student Council President asked.
"Excuse me for my impoliteness, Student Council President." Ayame adjusted her glasses. "But, if we don't study the data as much as possible, then, in terms of athletic power, the Red Team has the advantage. Ootori, have you thought about this? We need a plan to beat these spirited guys."
"Yeah!" Kaoru interjected. "It aims at fully using the opponents' weaknesses!"
"Well, isn't it mean? As expected of Kyouya..." Mitsuyama chuckled.
"Haninozuka-senpai, how about I study this curse that halves the fighting spirit of the opponents..." Kanazuki offered.
"Okay, Kanazuki-chan~!" Hani wolfed down his cake before he darkly ordered the terrified boys in the back of the room, "Idling guys have to run fifty laps around the field!"
"Kaoru, I have the reports on all second-years printed." Kiiro handed the large stack of papers to the twin.
Kyouya explained, "The contests where we have to secure points are the Bread Eating Contest and the last Relay." he glanced over a report. "And the contests after the Cheerleading Contest, which is in the middle of the program." he hesitated. "Especially the contests after the Cheerleading Contest. If they selected the wrong members, there is a high probability that we would earn a lot of points during in the Tug of War. It is where we can make the most points."
"What do we do with the Cheerleading Contest, Kyouya-senpai?" Kaoru asked.
"There was a picture taken from a Cheerleading Contest at a normal school. Kiiro, would you design costumes like these?" he handed her a photo.
"Okay?" she questioned the costumes.
"The Cheerleading in itself doesn't yield any points." Kyouya continued. "It is simply done to motivate those who dislike sports, to awaken their honor so they can accomplish something. Please make a compilation of these." he ordered Kaoru.
"Okay!"
"But, Ootori..." one boy began. "Is it okay to do this so simply? Tamaki Suoh is on the Red Team after all, he will do something extremely showy."
"Like I said before, senpai, the Red Team will uselessly put strength in the Cheerleading Contest." Kyouya smiled almost innocently. "They don't think of efficiently using their physical strength. They will wear themselves out more and more during the following contests, I can see them having a lot of difficulties." his smile began to edge on demonic. "Let's show that idiot that you can't win by doing anything you like."
Just about anyone in the room that didn't know him shivered.
'The grin gets worse by the second...'
"Kiiro-senpai!" Haruhi caught up with Kiiro in the hall. "I need to ask you something."
Kiiro beamed, "Ah, Haruhi, I haven't seen you since Kyouya banned all contact with the "enemy"." she settled against the wall. "What is it?"
"Well, it's something Tamaki-senpai said yesterday. He said, 'Kyouya's a 'fiery guy'."
Kiiro chuckled, "You know, I've known him for almost ten years and I still don't understand him sometimes." she shrugged. "But, Tamaki's right. Kyouya, he may hide it, but, he's easily effected. If you say the right words, he'll fly off the handle just like Tamaki or the Twins would."
"Do you think that's why Tamaki-senpai wanted this Sports Festival?"
"So he could go all out?" Kiiro put her index finger on her chin. "I've been wondering the same thing... Probably, but, he's bitten off more than he could chew." she grinned.
At the same time they heard, "Kiiro-senpai!" "Haruhi!"
Both girls turned their heads in opposite directions, Kaoru dragged Kiiro off while Hikaru dragged Haruhi off.
"No conversing with the enemy!" the boys yelled in unison.
Kiiro sighed, 'I can't wait for this Festival to be over.'
"By the way, Kiiro-senpai, Kyouya-senpai wants to talk to you." Kaoru informed her.
"Oh boy..." Kiiro smiled sarcastically.
"Which team do you think will win?" Kyouya asked her as she treaded into Meeting Room One. She was the only one there with him.
"I can't really say, Kyouya. We have the intellectual advantage, but spirit is nothing to sneeze at, and Tamaki's always got an abundance of spirit." she shrugged.
"Really now?" he shut his laptop. "Even though we've set up an immaculate strategy?"
"Yes." she sat on the table. "Though, I have to say, if you were to go all out like Tamaki wants you to, there'd be no doubt in my mind that White Team would win."
"Hn." he stood up in front of her. "What makes you think that?"
"You're a 'fiery guy' after all." she smirked.
"Have you been talking to Tamaki?" he knitted his brow.
"Haruhi actually, though, to be fair, it was Tamaki that said it." she grinned.
"So, you were fraternizing with the enemy?"
"That's almost exactly what the Twins said."
"Really?" Kyouya put an arm around her waist. "I thought I banned all contact with anyone on the Red Team?"
"Well, I'm feeling daring today, so, I don't really care." she smiled.
"Hm? That's a shame. You should." he moved her collar over, revealing the disappearing pink marks on her neck. "Because, how...nice I am depends on how 'daring' you feel today."
"Great..." Kiiro murmured.
"You know, if you had only said that I would win in the first place..." he whispered in her ear.
"What? Did you want me to lie?" she wondered why it was so fun to ruffle his feathers. "You know I'm a horrible liar."
"You really are daring today, aren't you?" he licked her neck. Which served to put a halt to her daring streak.
"U-umm..."
"Cat got your tongue?" he chuckled.
In answer she kissed him, slow and soft. And, for the first time in a few days, he seemed to relax.
"The day has come at last! We have superb clear autumn weather! Great weather for a sports festival!" The announcer shouted. "Now, at last! We declare the Sports Festival of the High School Section of Ouran Academy, open!"
Like many things in the academy, the stadium was huge. And the seats were all full. Students, faculty and family had packed the place until there was hardly any excess room.
Kiiro zipped up her white and black jacket to her uniform sweatsuit. The teams faced each other. Some, like Hani, posed with a peace sign. Others, like the Student Council President, held their stomachs in anguish. And Kyouya faced Tamaki with a straight face. Tamaki stood in for Kuze, who had fallen ill earlier.
"Now, at last, it has started!"
Kiiro took her seat in the middle of the lavish arena for the first event.
"The first contest is the 'Bread Guessing Contest', which is limited to girls. Italian classic table sets have been placed in the center of the field! It is a modest present from the Chairman to the ladies in commemoration of the Sports Festival. Each table has three types of croissants. They were offered by the famous Ricchie and Rio Grand Hotel from France, who bake their breads in a magnificent, traditional way. The girls have received the so-called, 'Kiki Bread'. The ones who guess the three types of bread correctly will go through the goal 5m from here."
Kiiro sighed as she sampled the croissants, 'This isn't even a sport.'
"May I?"
"That was fast! Jonochi from the White Team has called the waiter! She is the first to guess correctly!" the waiter held up a sign with an circle on it. "Quickly followed by Harper also from the White Team! They gracefully reach the goal, the first two points won by the White Team!"
"Great guess, Kiiro." Ayame adjusted her glasses.
"Same to you, Ayame."
"What's this? There is something wrong at the Red tables?"
All of the Red Team's girls were holding their hands over their mouths. "In... inside the bread there's something like fish meat." one girl coughed.
"The Red Team's girls are retiring one after another! It is the White Team's complete victory!"
'Way to sabotage your own team Tamaki...' Kiiro saw the ootoro stuffed in all of the Red Team's bread, probably for Haruhi to try. Too bad Haruhi couldn't participate in that event due to the fact that the entire school believed she was a boy. Kiiro could hear Tamaki yelling from the other side of the arena as she took her seat with the rest of her team.
"Next is the boys 100m! The first runners must line up in front of the starting line! On your mark... get set... go!"
The White Team boys ran off but, those in the Red Team were too distracted by Tamaki making a commotion to start at the correct time.
'Somehow King's fits are working to our advantage.' Kiiro sweatdropped.
By the time the opposition realized their mistake and began sprinting the White Team had already won.
"The Red Team should concentrate! They got a totally late start! The White Team has reached the goal! What is the Red Team doing? While they're quarreling the White Team is steadily gaining points! For the second contest, it is again White Team's complete victory!"
"Wow." Kiiro remarked. "I didn't expect it to be this easy."
"Leader!" Kaoru announced. "Our opponents are already self-destructing!"
"They are really stupid~." Hani clutched Usa-chan.
"So that was why you requested the best ones to participate in the Bread Guessing Contest." Matsudaira commented.
"As expected of Kyouya!" Mitsuyama smiled. "If something can leave them in a terrible condition, you'll see it!"
"It's too early to rejoice everybody." Kyouya quieted them. "The ones who lose concentration during a match are the ones who lose." he crossed his left leg over his right. "With this stream, let's steadily earn points." from where Kiiro sat next to him, he seemed to ooze confidence.
"Next is the mixed ball throwing contest."
Kiiro hopped up, it seemed simple but, Kiiro was rather good at throwing balled up papers into a wastebasket. Every event was carefully thought through.
"Ball throwing consists of throwing as many beanbags as possible into a basket 4m above. In other words, it is a simple stupid commoner's game. This time, the basket that will be used is a national treasure! It is Betsubuuemon's traditional bamboo work. As for the beanbags, they were manually tied and colored by the famous Kyuuyuuzen, 'Aoi Yama'.
Kiiro, with the rest of the White Team easily flung the beanbags into the basket. The Red Team, however were picking up the beanbags, because Mei, who was in the crowd, was ordering them to collect the famous designer's works.
"What? The Red Team is ignoring the basket and is instead collecting the beanbags to give to Fujioka! They don't have any points so far! White Team's complete victory!"
"Say, could it be that you invited Mei-chan to-?" Kaoru started.
"I only invited Ranka-san so he could see Haruhi preforming in an event." Kyouya stopped him.
"Next is the Male Hurdle Contest! Both teams elite male runners are present for this contest! First, a notable candidate in this race, the Captain of the Soccer Club, Kotaru Mitake!"
"Go, Kotaru!" the Red Team hollered.
Kiiro observed as White Team's Nanakura struck up a conversation with Mitake. Kyouya whispered to her, "Because of the connection between their families, Kotaru will get nervous and slow."
'He really has every step planned.' She replied hushedly, "How long did all of this take you?"
Sure enough, "The winner of the race is White Team's Nanakura! It can't be! Mitake is third?"
As time passed by, "The White Team also wins the next race! The White Team is strong! Did the Red Team's participants lose because of the pressure? Before the start we could see they were shaking a lot!"
Kiiro was damn near astounded by their consistent victories, not once did their enemy pull through. She had expected some fight, but it was obvious that Kyouya had plotted a complete and total hostile takeover for the event. Seeing his ability to strategize in action, there was no doubt in her mind, 'This man could rule the world if he wanted to.' she looked on in quiet admiration.
The next race was almost underway, "Eh? What's this? I can make out the shape of Nekozawa from the Black Magic Club! He must be an unexpectedly fast runner! On your mark... ready... go!"
The stadium lights came on, glaring into Umehito's very soul. Nekozawa screamed and fell back, trying to scoot away from the light.
"Oh! He went in the reverse direction! Spotlight trouble and an unlikely reverse direction-taking! Nekozawa is disqualified!" The Red Team lost another point.
Kaoru turned, "Eh? It's the Chairman?" he looked through the crowd. "I thought it was good that Haruhi's parents came to the festival but, some other's came too."
Kyouya shrugged, "He must have had some time off."
"Both my parents are at work, oh well. But, where are yours?" he asked Kyouya.
"They won't come." he answered simply. "If my parents had taken the initiative to come, I would of planned my strategy of my position."
"Differently? How do you mean?"
"My strategy would have consisted of gaining popularity." his glasses gleamed. "I would have worked way more on the White Team's activities to appeal to them." he stated as if it were obvious.
"I see..." Kaoru sighed.
"Kiiro, the candy-crafting event is starting, do your best." Kyouya smirked.
"No pressure, right?" she glared at him.
"Now, it is the last competition of the first half of the Sports Festival. 'The Candy-Crafting Contest'! Each participate must complete their sculpture following a topic to win!"
While Kiiro worked the candy like clay into form she listened to the announcer, "Look at Suoh's smooth technique! Such a serious expression! He is easily creating an object appropriate enough to be called an artistic masterpiece! But, can his technique beat Harper's, a top art student and his own club's Art Director?" the girls squealed while watching Tamaki artfully craft his work, a serene expression gracing his face.
Tamaki finished his project at the same time as Kiiro. Kiiro looked over her little pink bunny. 'The topic was 'cute'.'
"Now, the result of Suoh's performance." the thing that somewhat resembled a disfigured bear Tamaki presented was..."Ah!... It's horrible! All members of the jury give him bad points! The Red Team scores badly! Harper's candy scores high!"
"Sorry, Tamaki..." Kiiro apologized sincerely before heading back to her seat.
"Because of this, the Red Team has 63 points to the White Team's 183! There is a difference of 120 in the scores! White Team dominates totally!"
"No apologizing to the enemy, Kiiro." Kyouya warned with a smirk.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Good."
"The Red Team's Cheerleading performance will begin right away!"
"I wonder if they will play Macbeth?" Mitsuyama mused. "Or maybe Romeo and Juliet?"
"No... whatever they play for this Sports Festival, Shakespeare's plays will end badly..." Kaoru explained.
"In any case, the Red Team should give up soon, they have lost their fighting spirit, right?" Ayame thought aloud.
"At this point, tragedy or comedy, whatever they play, they can't deny the fact that this kind of performance is inappropriate, right~?" Hani questioned.
"Yes, something unexpected can't possibly happen." Kyouya sighed.
"I don't know, Kyouya... I can't shake this feeling..." Kiiro frowned.
"I am the muse god of fire poetry." they heard Hikaru say. "I was given the glorious strength of imagination. Actors and nobles. We are in the battlefield from this little scene. Now, under Agincourt's sky, there are countless, shaking helmets without any strength left."
"This... it's from 'Henry V'!"
"It's a historical play!"
"'Agincourt' which means it's the decisive battle of the Hundred Years War in the 15th century~."
"Yes... the scene where King Henry speaks to the English soldiers when they lost hope because of the great number of enemies in front of them, it's famous."
Tamaki surfaced in King Henry's suit, "It is not my wish to fight alongside cowards who fear death."
Kiiro could see the realization in Kyouya's face. They all knew this was the perfect play to raise morale.
"However, gentlemen!" Tamaki went on. "If you fight today's battle to the end, you can return safely to your homes! I think that, in times when today's battle is spoken of, you will be able to strengthen your chest and feel proud of yourself! People are forgetful. Even if others forget all about today, the recollection of this day's honor and happiness will stay fresh in our memories! If you fear defeat and leave this place, then you will curse yourself afterwards. That is why, even if we are only a few people, we will be the group who is granted happiness! On this day, in this battle, those who shed blood, each of them will become my brothers! Then, gentlemen! Let's go! God is blessing all of our brothers!" Tamaki yelled, his fired up expression proved to be contagious.
The Red Team flung their fists up in unison.
Kyouya smiled.
The White Team's cheering team were nothing in comparison.
'And I worked so hard on creating their animal masks and uniforms...' Kiiro sagged. 'Nothing I could have done would have followed that...'
"In prayer for victory of the White Team! We send yells to the White Team! Go! Go! W-H-I-T-E!" their cute animal suits masked their shame at following such a magnificent act with such a poor performance.
"Ootori," Ayame began. "Look at the energy level of the Red Team! We didn't expect that." she looked to the opposite side, where they stood cheering together.
"Yeah! Didn't you say they were supposed to waste all their energy cheering and collapse entirely?!"
"There's no need to worry." Kyouya said calmly. "Thanks to their self-destructive efforts in the first half, we've gained more lead than we planned. And, we have a team of elite athletes and Hani-senpai for the obstacle race after this."
Kiiro spectated as Hani greeted Mori and prepared for the race ahead.
"We are kicking off the later half segment with an obstacle race!" the commentator announced. "The highlight of the race is Haninozuka versus Morinozuka! It's a cousin face-off! Ready... set... GO! Morinozuka of Red Team took the lead! Haninozuka is right behind him! Here comes the first obstacle! A triple vaulting horse with twenty tiers each! As expected, Morinozuka is hopping off the vaulting horses with total ease! Small built Haninozuka is at a huge disadvan-!"
"Usa-chaaaan... JUMP!" Hani somersaulted over all three vaulting horses.
"He jumped! This is impossible! He is a super human being! Is it true that he is a bunny rabbit reincarnated?"
'How many rabbits do you know that can jump a twenty-tiered vaulting horse?'
"He effortlessly passed Morinozuka, who is having some trouble getting through the tires!"
Mori wiggled through the tiny tires while Hani easily swept through them.
"They face the next obstacle, 'eating a whole cake'!"
The runners stopped before delicious looking cakes covered with strawberries.
'That's no obstacle for Hani-senpai...'
Hani took a big bite of the cake while Mori somehow ate the whole thing in one bite. Mori ran off, taking the lead. Hani looked so sad for a moment before he finished his cake and ran after his cousin angrily.
"I said! You have to savor the cake to the full extent!" Hani yelled running after him.
"It seems Haninozuka doesn't like the way Morinozuka ate his cake! He is super scary! I'll never eat cake in front of him! The raged bunny takes the lead with the net obstacle! And he keeps the lead as he moves to the pole vault, the last obstacle!"
Hani stuck the pole to the ground, launched, but then hit the bar and fell.
'Oh no!'
Mori pole vaulted and caught Hani.
"Oh my God! Morinozuka caught Haninozuka, who lost balance in midair! What a beautiful cousinly love! And the winner is..."
The judge held up the red flag.
"...Red Team! Morinozuka won because he hit the mattress first! Red Team finally came first!"
Hani hugged Mori.
"No way! I can't believe Hani-senpai lost!" Kaoru yelled as he held onto the railing of the bleachers.
"Don't be so hasty." Kyouya kept his calm composure. "It's just one race-."
"Second race, Red Team comes first!"
"Red Team again!"
Kyouya's eyes snapped open as he witnessed all of his tediously careful planning fall to ruin in the face of Tamaki's spirit.
"The key person bringing in the sudden victories for Red despite the prediction is him! Red Team's Chief, Takeshi Kuze! Revived Kuze and the members of the Football Club are adding high points to the Red Team one after another! Red Team is on the run with the return of their captain! Which team is going to rule the next three-legged race?"
This was what made Kyouya angry, he glared from his spot on the sidelines and he pushed up his glasses.
Kaoru and Kazukiyo from Class 1A were beaten by Hikaru and Tamaki.
"Red Team, again!"
Tamaki, Haruhi and Hikaru tugged the rope, knocking down Kaoru, Kazukiyo, and Nnakura.
"Again, Red Team won the Tug of War! Red Team won tightrope-walking and walking on a ball!"
Kyouya's stare grew distant but never lessened in anger.
"Red Team wins huge points for the Male 1000m race! What a great return the Red Team has shown! It's all down to the last race, the Relay! The difference in score between Red and White is only twelve points! The big moment will be the showdown of the captains as anchors at the end! The winner will get thirty points! The winner of the relay race will rule the field day!"
Kyouya stood up and tossed his jacket to the side.
"Kyouya..." she started. 'Good luck.'
"Ah! Red is changing their anchor to Suoh! He'll be slower than Kuze but, we don't have much lead in the score... We might actually lose on this one..."
"Kyouya-senpai!" Kaoru tried. "Why don't you withdraw from the anchor? Luckily, the executive president is watching the race, so you can take advantage from this whole thing by pretending to of planned this all along and let Tono win in the end!"
"You think we can use a trick such as that on the executive president?" Kyouya glanced at him. "And besides, this is not about profit."
Kiiro smiled.
"This game is simply about pride... from the beginning!" he marched off to the track.
"Kao-chan~?"
"Just as I thought, Tono wants Kyouya-senpai to fight without calculating the profits and losses."
Kiiro watched as Tamaki warmly greeted Kyouya, who returned his welcome coldly. She could just barely make out their conversation, "By the way, if I win, I'll be issued the "Annual pass for Kotatsu at Kyouya's."" Tamaki stretched. "Don't forget."
'He really likes kotatsu.'
"...If I win," Kyouya retaliated. "...you alone wear only a loincloth at club. But, you have to act like a Western gentleman, nevertheless."
'Ew.'
"If I win, I'll sit on the window side of the airplane when we go on a school trip next month."
'That's not that bad.'
"If I win, you alone will travel in Economy Class. Holding your knees the entire time on top of that."
'That's a little harsh.'
"Huh? How come your penalties are more severe than mine? You throw in extras, too!" Tamaki cried.
"If you consider the trouble I had been going through because of you, those penalties are nothing! You idiot!" Kyouya raged.
"What? I know you enjoy those troubles! Don't put on airs, you twisted buster!"
"Shut up! You don't know how much I'm picking up after your mess? You don't even realize!" he shouted back.
Kiiro and Kaoru laughed aloud, it was the first time they'd ever seen him so worked up.
Haruhi, Mori and Hikaru came over, "Look, they're fighting like kids. That's Kyouya-senpai I'm talking about!" the Twins said in unison.
"Wow," Haruhi chuckled. "I didn't know Kyouya-senpai had a face like that."
"Told you." Kiiro said in sing-song.
"We finally come to the last race! The first runner has started! Red takes the lead! Is Red Team's counterattack unstoppable?"
"Tamaki-senpai said," Haruhi started. "Kyouya-senpai always thinks about making the Suoh's look good when it comes to public events. Even though it's for his own advantage, Kyouya-senpai lets Tamaki-senpai have a crown which he is more than capable of taking himself."
Kiiro nodded, "But, this time, Tamaki wants Kyouya to take that crown himself."
"Oops! There was trouble for Red while passing the baton to the fourth runner!"
One of the Red Team's boys lost the baton and had to stop to pick it up.
"White is quickly gaining on Red and now... both anchors have received the baton at the same time!"
Tamaki and Kyouya took off at the same time at top speed. Tamaki took the lead.
'Come on, Kyouya!' Kiiro thought, she stood from her seat, aching with anticipation, hoping he could hear her silent encouragement.
The look on his face, the determination... She had never seen him like that before, her chest tightened.
Kyouya went neck-and-neck with Tamaki.
And then, in a flash of an instant...
"O...Ootori! The winner is Kyouya Ootori!"
Kyouya and Tamaki stopped to catch their breath.
"White Team wins!"
The applause erupted. Involuntarily, Kiiro cheered, letting out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding.
Kyouya seemed taken aback.
Tamaki said something and Kyouya replied with a genuine smile.
The Hosts ran up to Tamaki, "Everyone be happy, Red came in second place!"
"Yay! That means we lost!" Hikaru yelled.
Kiiro walked up to Kyouya, "Don't look so lost. You won!" she smiled.
"Yes, but..." he glanced back at her. "...I didn't expect this..."
"Expect what?"
"Nothing." he sighed.
Kiiro raised an eyebrow, he didn't have to say it but, she knew. As he looked over to where everyone was standing and laughing, and he smiled, she knew.
Too see him so happy, genuinely and freely, she had only Tamaki to thank.