My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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"Um?"

"I've already placed you and the judo club on opposite sides as you requested. But if you can't advance, the plan still won't work, right?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"You're still the same old you, always acting recklessly..."

She sighed in exasperation. However, it's not like I hadn't thought about that either.

"Even if we lose, we can still do it again under the guise of an exhibition match. The task is the same, just in a different way."

"Indeed... no matter which method you choose, it won't end well."

After finishing writing the schedule, Yukinoshita finally turned around and gave me a gentle smile.

"However, even if I weren't participating in the competition, I don't want my club to lose too humiliatingly. So, please at least lose gracefully."

"Please don't assume I'll lose the game..."

Before the competition even started, I had already lost confidence. How could she say those things with a smile?

Okay, she's right, it really doesn't matter if I lose the game.

To be precise, as long as the competition goes smoothly and that senior student is present, my plan will be 80% complete.

The purpose of this competition did include promoting the judo club and encouraging them to recruit new members, but that was at most one of the purposes.

Another objective was to make that senior student disappear from the public eye.

The key to achieving this goal is to completely undermine his prestige. As long as he's attacked enough to make him too ashamed to ever return to this high school or the judo club, that will be enough.

I had considered several methods beforehand, but all of them would inevitably have an impact on the judo club in the future, so I had to face this issue with caution.

The most effective method, of course, is to ask the senior to participate in the competition and then defeat him in the competition.

However, this method is too impractical.

After all, the opponent got into university through judo, so it's best not to expect that we laymen can beat him.

In that case, we must adopt a less desirable strategy.

"It's almost time."

Yukino looked at the clock; the match was about to begin.

At that moment, the entrance suddenly became noisy, it seemed that Ye Shan and his group had arrived at the venue. Their timing was impeccable.

"I'm getting excited!"

Among them, the one from the Ministry of Revenue had a particularly loud voice. Many other familiar faces, including Miura and Ebina, were also present.

As soon as Ye Shan spotted me, he quickly ran over.

"Sorry I'm late."

"No, the timing is perfect."

I gestured for Hayama to look at the clock, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Really? That's good. Oh, right, that person is here too."

Ye Shan turned his head and looked at a guy who was looking around suspiciously. The guy looked just like a bear that had wandered into the city by mistake.

"Hmm... what's causing this commotion here...?"

He put his hand to his mouth and occasionally let out a strange "pop" sound.

"You're so slow."

Seeing that the timber vendor didn't seem to be heading into the meeting room, I simply went up to him and struck up a conversation. He was initially startled, going into alert mode like a small animal, but gradually relaxed after realizing it was me.

"Hmm! So it's Hachiman... I flew out here because you summoned me (Note 44: a line from the anime 'The Sneezing Demon King'). What's going on here?"

"Oh. The competition. You, the player. On my team."

"Huh? Mr. Hachiman? What did you say?"

He clearly had a "I don't understand what you're saying" look on his face. Strange, did I forget to explain that to him?

Never mind, it doesn't matter.

"Alright, stop touching everything and hurry up and go inside, the competition is about to start."

"Huh! A competition?"

The wood stand made strange "uh-uh" noises, looked left and right, and finally found the race schedule right in front of it.

"Hmm, at least explain what kind of competition it is... If it's a card-drawing duel, I might be able to handle it..."

"Japanese-style dueling is somewhat similar to what you described."

"You're definitely lying to me!"

Sweat beaded on the woodworker's forehead. I couldn't be bothered to listen to him anymore, so I shoved him into the judo dojo.

I was halfway through pushing it when Hayama came to help. He's such a nice guy. But a truly good person wouldn't force the timber slab in.

"Nice to meet you, Zaimokuza-kun."

Hayama never forgets to maintain his cheerful demeanor. When he greets Zaimokuza, his cheerfulness is naturally at its peak.

"Whoa whoa……"

In contrast, the woodwork base resembled a human-shaped rainforest, unbearably hot year-round. He didn't even bother to give a proper answer, muttering to himself, "Who goes there? I, Hayama, am here too..."

In short, our group is finally complete.

I looked toward the registration area, where Yuihama was making a large circle with her arms, indicating that all the participants had gathered there.

I looked at Yukinoshita again, and she nodded, pointing to her watch.

Although it was a little past the scheduled time, everything is ready.

Finally, I looked up at Chengshan Mountain.

He was talking to a senior who had arrived not long ago and didn't notice my gaze. Instead, the first-year sweet potato duo, Tsukui and Fujino, gave me a slight greeting.

All actors have been assigned their roles.

Next, the "S1 Grand Prix," the battle to determine the strongest title at Soubu High School, is about to begin.

× × ×

As the nominal organizer of this competition, Shiroyama first gave a very brief speech.

In fact, he was as taciturn as usual, but the audience gathered there were very enthusiastic, and everyone still cheered him on.

The first match then began – a duel between the judo club and another group of strangers.

The judo club easily won the match. The second and third matches, influenced by the fast pace, also ended decisively.

The Ministry of Revenue group, which was scheduled for the second match, successfully advanced to the top four. That being said, since there were only eight teams in the competition, everyone was already in the top eight from the start.

The tournament proceeded smoothly, and the next match was the fourth match, which was also our first game.

We changed into the borrowed judo uniforms and stepped onto the square playing area.

Throughout the journey, the woodworker kept muttering to himself.

"Hachiman, what is going on...?"

"Are you ever going to stop? Didn't I tell you it's judo?"

He looked at me with resentment when he heard my reply.

"You just told me it was a Japanese-style duel..."

"Isn't it about the same? And this can be a reference for your novel's subject matter."

"Hmm... I see."

This was just an excuse I made up on the spot, but I didn't expect the lumberjack to actually accept it and even nod his head. Wait a minute, a normal person doesn't make that kind of sound when nodding.

And so, I successfully unlocked his chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) mode. Another possibility is that he was too nervous in front of so many people, causing something in his brain to malfunction and automatically switch to swordsman general mode. In this mode, he won't care about other people's opinions. Oh no, Zaimokuza is about to write a new page in his dark history…

We stood neatly on the tatami mats.

The referee was one of the "Sweet Potato and Taro Duo," uh... Tsukui? Or Fujino. They probably took turns being the referee, though I'm not entirely sure.

After the referee gave the order and everyone bowed to each other, the opposing team's players who were not the vanguard temporarily left the field, indicating that they had already decided on their order of appearance.

How should we arrange the order?

Deciding the order of appearance is also a tactic. This competition is not an elimination system, but a round-robin system, with the first team to win two games advancing.

I was clearly asking Hayama, but Zaimokuza interrupted and spoke up:

"Hmm, I'll take the lead. I deserve the credit for this match."

"That should be good."

Hayama was very well-mannered and accepted Zaimokuza's sudden attack with great humanity.

"So, I'll take the middle position, and the generals will be handed over to the penguins."

"Is this okay?"

But I don't have a construction helmet. Should I hurry up and get one? (Note 45 refers to the character "Shamutaro," whose original name was "Taishō.")

"I'm better at performing under pressure. Good luck, Zaimokuza."

Ye Shan said with a smile, gently patting the back of the timber base.

"Ah, yes... yes."

Just speaking a single sentence to him made Zai Muza break out in a cold sweat; he was barely holding on. "Hey, what are you so nervous about? Don't tell me you've fallen for Hayama?"

"Sorry for suddenly dragging you into this. Please."

"Don't be so formal, leave it to me!"

Strange, why do you answer me with such an impressive air, and seem so reliable? I mimicked Hayama's gentle pat on the back, but my hand ended up sliding across his back.

...Huh, is this guy an amphibian? Was that sweat I just touched? I thought he was putting Vaseline on himself... Hayama actually managed not to show the slightest disgust, he's really amazing.

Hayama and I left the tatami mat to watch the vanguard battle.

Timber's movements were more agile than I had imagined, but his opponent was no pushover either, and soon grabbed his sleeve.

But in the next instant, the opponent's face contorted with fear and disgust, and he released the sleeve he had managed to grab as if he had been electrocuted, nervously looking at his own hand.

It seems he has experienced the power of the "Timber Seat Swamp" firsthand...

Of course, the timber company wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

He grabbed his opponent's chest with all his might and threw him away.

With such a significant weight difference between the two, the opponent was powerless to resist.

"One, one win?"

For some reason, the referee announced the result in a questioning tone.

"Wow~" The audience didn't erupt in a grand cheer, but rather in conservative murmurs, and applause was sparse.

It's okay, a win is a win.

The timber pedestals returned to their place with composure.

"How's Hachiman?"

"Yes, that's impressive."

I meant your sweat... If you were born in the wrong era, you'd definitely be executed for illegally manufacturing salt. Also, those club members wiping the tatami mats on the field look incredibly hard-working; I even feel sorry for them...

"Then, it's my turn to go on stage."

Hayama walked confidently to the center of the field.

At that moment, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted all around.

"Hayato, go for it! Hayabusa, go for it!" (Repeated below)

Not only that, the cheers subtly escalated, now including shouts of encouragement. Could they have practiced this thing before...?

"Hayato!"

Amidst the deafening cheers, Miura's voice remained clearly audible. I saw her waving a fan and cheering for Hayama; I never imagined Miura was a fangirl. In other competitions, she wouldn't have shown any interest whatsoever, just endlessly fanning herself and shouting "It's so hot, so hot!"... Also, although it's not very important, I still have to say that the shouts from the Ministry of Revenue were truly annoying.