Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

Chapter 29 - Shadows

"Obviously, I'm going to participate in all the Recommended Events! That'll give us the highest chances of winning!" Sudo urged Horikita with his simple-yet-effective thought process.

"Wait, that's not fair!" said Ike. "The first 3 places in these competitions earn you Private Points and marks! It's not fair that Sudo gets to hog all the events!"

"Are you saying that you value your Private Points more than your Class Ranking?" Horikita asked him coldly.

"T-That....."

I think I saw Horikita glare at me for a fraction of a second, before returning back to conversing with the 3 Idiots. She's so cold. Tsundere.

"The athletic ones will participate as many times as possible. That should be the main line of thinking, right? You're being naïve, Suzune," Sudo said half-heartedly.

Horikita did not refute Sudo's point, and I did not see any reason to either. Sudo was the one person in the class who is always on the verge of failing during written exams, so it is imperative that he wants to participate in all the recommended events.

Furthermore, the academically brighter students, who were physically weaker, did not mind letting Sudo take all the recommended spots. To them, a student who can possibly win them points, and also get some marks for his own failing written test would be seen as a win-win.

But the problem here arises among the other academically weaker students, like Ike, Yamauchi and Sato-san. They would also aim for the written test marks, but they were left out of the equation due to their inferior athletic skills compared to Sudo. There were several others as well who were adamant on getting their names in on the recommended list just so they could amass some Private Points for themselves.

However, since I was the VIP of the Snake Group back in the Zodiac Exam, I had already received my 1,000,000 Private Points. Right now to me, the first place offered a measly 5000 Private Points, which didn't hold a candle to my current funds. Granted, it would be something if I managed to get a podium finish in 3 or more events, but I believe it would be better to let the academically weaker students try aiming for the marks instead. My point balance was currently 1,046,732 Private Points, which was by no means less. I probably had the most points in Class, considering that Kushida usually spends most of her money on her friends.

Which reminded me that I have very few friends.

But that honestly did not concern me anymore. In this school, friends are superficial, more so if they're from other classes. The underlying fact that we were still enemies in the end, and that we would have to fight each other sooner or later, makes it much harder to interact without mincing words. Letting out any potential weakness or strategy, even during friendly gatherings, can be effectively used by other classes during class battles.

"We'll be having a meeting with all the classes in the gymnasium in about half an hour," Hirata announced. "I think that will be a good time to discuss among all the other D-classes and A-classes about how we should go ahead with the Festival."

"Yeah, that's a good idea!"

"I think we should try that out!"

"Thanks, Hirata-kun!"

***

Over 400 people, including teachers, staff members and students gathered in the gymnasium. The entire student body from the First Years to the Third Years were divided into the Red Team and the White Team.

I was standing next to Ayanokoji and Hirata. Even Hirata was unsure of what to do in such a large crowd. He attempted to get at least Class 1-D under control, but his attempts were futile.