CHAPTER 32: ARRIVAL OF THE SPORT FESTIVAL

August 1st — 8:00 AM | Café

Sunlight poured through the tall glass windows of the campus café, casting warm reflections off coffee cups and silver cutlery. At the high table near the window, Aria and Kairon sat sipping quietly, while just below them at a corner booth, Riven and Meira sat with half-finished pastries and steaming mugs.

Riven leaned back with a relaxed smile.

"We’re in a new term," he said, raising his cup. "Let’s work twice as hard as before."

Aria nodded. "We have to. If we want to reach Class S, even a single mistake could cost us everything."

"I’m just glad the last test is over," Meira muttered. "But I still don’t get it. What was the point of that ’Silent Negotiation’ test? It felt like we were thrown into chaos with no explanation."

Everyone exchanged glances. Then, with a soft clink, Kairon set his cup down.

His eyes stared into the swirling liquid.

"Communication is a weapon," he said quietly. "Some wield it like a scalpel. Others... like a brick."

Meira blinked. "What does that even mean?"

Kairon leaned forward slightly, his voice calm and precise.

"That test wasn’t just about negotiation. It was about adaptability—our ability to work with people of different personalities, different class standings. In the real world, that’s crucial. Especially in high-level economics and strategy."

He continued.

"Body language reading. It tested how well we could understand others without words.

Leadership without authority. Lizzy led the Aries group—without force, just trust.

Subtle manipulation. It tested how we influence outcomes... without direct control.

Quick thinking. Speed in processing information and reacting effectively."

Aria’s eyes lit up. "So it was training us in high-level negotiation under pressure. Skills we’ll need in the business world."

"Exactly," Kairon said.

Meira pouted. "Well, it sounds simple now. But in the moment..."

"It always seems easier once you understand it," Kairon replied.

Riven chuckled. "He’s right."

Meira sighed dramatically. "I was so happy when we got 5000 points. I thought we won. Then Class C snatched the victory."

Kairon shrugged. "Points were allocated individually. Class C had three students in Group Aries. That’s 15,000 points alone. If the others in their class also completed objectives in other groups... well, it makes sense they won."

Aria folded her arms. "So if we want to beat Class C and reach Class S, we need to win. Not just one group — but all of them."

"Exactly," Kairon said. "Strike all at once. Leave no openings."

Meira smirked. "And how are we going to do that, Miss Perfect?"

"By working twice as hard," Aria shot back.

"So selfish," Meira muttered, shaking her head.

"Now, now..." Riven smiled awkwardly. "Let’s not start fighting again."

Kairon didn’t speak. He simply stared into his cup again. Calm. Distant. Almost as if none of this mattered to him.

---

Class 1–D | Later That Morning

The classroom buzzed with low chatter as Miss Elira wrote neatly on the board. Everyone listened intently, pens scratching across notebooks, eyes focused. Outside, cicadas sang their endless summer rhythm.

When the bell rang, she closed her book and placed it on the desk.

"We’ve entered a new term," she said. "And none of you got expelled. For that, I’m proud of you."

Cheers rose lightly from the class.

"But don’t get cocky," she added with a smirk. "Riven. Hand these out."

Riven quickly walked down the rows, passing out neatly folded papers. He returned to his seat as murmurs filled the room.

"Don’t tell me this is another test," Torin Rika groaned.

"This," Miss Elira said, "is your curriculum for the term."

Eyes dropped to the sheets. The title read in bold:

Term Two Curriculum: Sports Festival & Aptitude Training

"You’ll each be required to participate in at least one sports event. No exceptions. Whether you’ve got the stamina of a sloth or the speed of lightning, you’re all in."

Groans swept through the room like a wave.

"Enough," she said sharply. "Your choices are listed below. Choose wisely. Team events require full member names. Individual events, just your own. If you don’t submit the form tomorrow... I’ll choose for you."

Everyone sat up straighter.

---

Track Events:

100m Dash

200m Sprint

400m Mid-Run

800m & 1500m Long Run

3000m Marathon

Hurdles

4x100m Relay

4x400m Relay

Team Sports:

Basketball (5-player teams)

Volleyball (6-player teams)

Individual Sports:

Fencing

Tennis (Singles & Doubles)

---

"Three thousand meters? What are we, war horses?" Caden complained.

Kei grinned. "Basketball sounds fun. I’m calling point guard."

Riven raised a hand slowly. "Do we... have to talk to people for volleyball?"

"You poor introvert," Sena teased.

Meira tapped her pen. "Fencing sounds fun. Or hurdles."

"You? With a blade?" Torin said skeptically.

She smirked. "It’s all rhythm and control."

Miss Elira gave them a warning look. "Remember. Sports... are war in disguise. Plan wisely."

Riven raised his hand. "Can someone do... like, five events?"

Miss Elira grinned. "Do all of them, for all I care. The school gave you freedom to select your strongest reps."

Her eyes drifted toward Kairon, sharp and unreadable.

"And yes," she added. "Even all of them."

Kei stood up, raising a fist. "We got this! You can all count on me!"

The class clapped and laughed.

"Dismissed," Miss Elira waved them off. "Let the games begin."

---

At the Gym Hall — Aptitude Testing: Grip Strength

The gym echoed with metallic thuds, soft beeps, and the shuffle of sneakers. Students lined up before the grip strength tester — a sleek, silver device with a black handle and digital red screen.

Torin gripped the handle — 50.6 kg.

"Not bad," Caden said, clapping his shoulder.

Next, Kei stepped up, rolling his shoulders. He grabbed the handle and squeezed hard.

80.0 kg.

Cheers followed.

"Damn!" Riven whistled. "That’s crazy."

Kei raised his arms, flexing his biceps.

"I told you. Point guard, baby."

Caden looked down at his own number: 30.9 kg.

He sighed. "Welp. I’ll be cheering from the sidelines."

Riven placed a hand on his shoulder. "It’s not all about numbers. We’ve all got our strengths."

Then came Kairon’s turn.

He stepped forward calmly. Not rushed. Not hyped.

Adjusting his gloves with clinical precision, he stared at the machine.

"All yours, Kairon," Miss Elira said, arms crossed.

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied the grip like it was a puzzle.

Then he spoke — not to anyone in the room, but like he was explaining to the machine itself.

"The human hand consists of 27 bones.

14 phalanges. 5 metacarpals. 8 carpals, holding it all together.

Grip isn’t about brute force.

It’s about the coordination of the flexor digitorum profundus and the flexor pollicis longus."

Silence fell across the gym.

"Most people squeeze with their palm. But if I activate the tendon origin near the elbow...

I can channel the force down like a whip.

No wasted movement. Just... controlled strain."

He gripped the handle — not tightly, but precisely.

A single squeeze.

BEEP.

70.8 kg.

Gasps.

"Wait—he’s almost on Kei’s level!" someone whispered.

Kairon slowly released his grip, one finger at a time, like he’d just played a final note on a piano.

Aria walked up to him.

"I didn’t know you were this strong."

He looked at her, calm as ever.

"Strength without understanding is like swinging a sword blindfolded.

Precision... always wins."

Ivy ran up, beaming. "Then we’ll rely on you and Kei!"

Kairon stepped back. "It was just luck. I’m shocked myself."

Suddenly, Caden and Torin grabbed him from both sides, crowding around with Kei and Riven.

Caden blinked. "Dude. What do you do to have a grip like that?"

Kairon looked at them... then dropped a bomb.

"I just whip my dick a lot "

"STOP!" Riven’s face went red. "Was he joking?!"

Torin blinked. "I... I don’t think so..."

Caden glanced down. "What if I—"

SLAP!

Torin smacked his hand away. "No. Don’t."

"I wasn’t going to!" Caden protested.

Riven groaned. "I hope not..."

Meanwhile, Kei stood off to the side... watching.

His fist clenched.

Eyes narrowed.

Kairon... had caught his attention.

---

The Sports Festival Hadn’t Even Begun...

But the battlefield had already shifted.

And the tension?

Was rising.

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