'It's Aashi's fault.'

Varvara muttered, clutching her knees.

'If only Aarushi hadn't taken the sticks from the hunting guild ...... and taken both sticks from that guild leader, ...... Aarushi and the others wouldn't be in last place. ......!

Barbara's back teeth clacked .......
Magda and Loretta called out to him. ......

'...... That's not true. It's not Barbara's fault.'
'Yes, it is. It was too bad for her.'
'Even so!Aashi can't forgive ...... Aashi!'

Barbara spat, and ran off.
I wanted to chase after her, but I couldn't do that now.

There's no one around me now.
But everyone in the white team is watching me from afar.

I stare up at the scoreboard, alone and silent, knowing that I have fallen to last place again.
Ginette, worried, was about to approach me, but Inez stopped her.

No one came close to me.


The sky had darkened considerably.


'Hey ......'.

It was Nephrite who sounded anxious.

'Barbara, are you sure you want to be left alone?

The words seemed to be directed at me, but I passed them by without looking back.
I don't know how she felt about that, but I heard a long sigh from Nephrite.

'It can't be helped. I'll go talk to him.

The caring Nephrite was about to go to Barbara when someone raised his hand quickly.
It was Percy.

'Mr. Nephrite, I'll go and cheer him up.
'Yeah, but ......'.
'Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I'm good at making depressed people smile. So...'

Percy's throat gurgled.

'When Barbara-san gets well, I want Nephrite-san to smile ...... instead of looking so worried, seriously.

A determined confession.
It was a good one for Percy.

'Yeah. Okay. I'll take care of you.
'Ugh!

Nephrite's voice softened at Percy's words.
That alone was enough to give Percy the impetus he needed. Percy, in high spirits, ran to Barbara.

'You're a good man, Percy.

He muttered something that would make Percy cry with joy if he heard it.

'Do you think he likes Barbara?

He said something that would make Percy sob with grief if he heard it.
Good for you, Percy. I don't have very good hearing.

Then Percy stands in front of Barbara, who is kneeling in the corner of the field.

'Can I sit next to you?
'...... No.'
'Don't say that. ......Yes, I'm here.'

Percy smiled lightly and sat down next to her even though she refused.
His brazenness comes in handy in situations like this.

'Don't cry, seriously.
'............'
'Because you were working really hard.
'Even if you worked ...... hard, you're still ...... in last place.'
'So what?
'What do you mean, ......, you're fighting to win!
'So, so, so...'

Percy's index finger stops at the tip of Barbara's nose as she looks up angrily.

'You're the biggest winner here, aren't you?
'What about ............?'

The anger and sadness disappeared from Barbara's face, either from surprise or from not understanding the meaning.
Seeing this, Percy continued to speak.

'Because Medora Rossel?She's the head of a hunting guild that no one in Allbloom knows the name of.There's no way you can win against someone like that, right?
''That's why, Aashi, you lost to ......!
But Medora Rossel said that you were the only one who was 'awesome'.He gave you one of the sticks that he was sure he could have taken.That's a pretty big deal, isn't it?

I don't know what to look like. You can see the confusion on Barbara's face as she searches for the right words. Her mouth is moving slightly, but no words are coming out.

'So you won, you know. You got him to admit it. That's awesome, seriously.'


...so Aarushi always wants to win, and needs to win, against everyone. ......!
'It's okay, we're in last place.
'It's not okay!Last place is the lowest!
'I know you're the lowest, but that doesn't make you any less valuable!

Barbara, who had stood up in anger, was drained of her venom and slumped down.
She sits up in a lovely girl's seat and stares at Percy with round eyes.

'I thought it was awesome watching you fight. I thought you were cool. To be honest, I was a little impressed. It's not easy to do something like that.'
'No, that's not ...... impressive or ...... what?Huh?
I think. It's not cool to make efforts that don't lead to results, right?I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

The words are accompanied by a whining tone that sounds like self-deprecation, but still goes straight to the listener's ears.

'But there are some things that you know are uncool and lame, but you just can't give up on, and no matter how miserable, pathetic, uncool and disgusting you are, there's something you just can't give up on.
'...... Arshi has one too.'
I'm sure you're right.I'm sure you'll find a lot of people who'd like to know more about this.
'...... is ...... cool even if it is uncool?
'Of course it is! It's the very last moment. It's a long way to go, you know.
'So much, huh ......?
'Oh. It's really, really making me cry.
'Is it that much,......?
'But, you know, once you reach the goal, that's the end, right?I think so. I'm sure that once I reach the goal, I won't be able to work as hard as I do now.
'If I reach the goal, I won't be able to work as hard?
'It's impossible to give it your all, isn't it?

Barbara's face twisted with anxiety.
That look is one of anticipation. The one word I want you to say. It's a look of expectation, wanting her to say it.

'So, it's okay to be uncool for now, isn't it?It means you can still make an effort to be cool. It means you still have a chance to work hard. Isn't that super lucky?

Barbara's eyes flickered.

'Our future has infinite possibilities, that's what it means, isn't it?

Percy stands up quickly, brushes the dirt from his ass, and holds out his hand to Barbara.

'At least you looked cool to me. You looked radiant.'
'Oh, Aashi is ......?'
'Oh, I'm serious. We're kind of the same. Let's keep working on each other, best friend!I don't know, hehe.''

Barbara's face turns bright red.
He turned his head down as if he couldn't stand it, then looked up fearfully and turned his face away again when his gaze met hers.

Then, slowly, she lifts her trembling hands and--

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do my best,....... Sh, sh, yuh......'

--and took Percy's hand.


At that moment, the audience was buzzing.


What,......?
You don't think Barbara is going to give Percy ......?
What?
It's Percy, right?What?
...... Barbara?

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so impressed with your work.
Such an atmosphere is spreading all over the area.

'......Arshi, all my life I've been told that I'm not good enough, that I'm wrong, that I don't understand, that I don't get it. ......'

Barbara had no money, no job, even her sister's health was at risk, and she still couldn't get out of it.
The adults who had the chance to come in contact with Barbara must have said to her. The adults who had the chance to come into contact with Barbara must have all said, "You're living the wrong way.

'But even if you're the ...... lowest, even if you're not the ...... best, it's okay, isn't it ...... Aashi?
'I don't care if you're the lowest,......, you know. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
'I see,......, Aashi,............, you're not the lowest anymore.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not, but I have.
You've got a lot on your mind. I'm sure he's very concerned about words like 'bottom' and 'worst'.
That's why he talked in a way that interrupted people, tried to compete with them, and always looked at those around him as enemies.
Don't let him say what you don't want him to say.



Well, maybe I only told him to do more.
Because of what happened with Teresa and his dangerous way of thinking,......, that was the hardest thing for Barbara.

Maybe only Percy could have unraveled it.
You must have a super positive mental attitude to be able to justify such disgusting stalking behavior.

'Well, let's keep working on it, shall we?
'Yeah!Aash, I'm going to work harder and harder,...... and work ...... harder and work ...... harder, and if I can be a better guy,...... then I'll be a better guy. .................. you and .......'

I was about to say this, but then I pulled my hand away, blushed plainly, and looked at her like she was half crying.

'It's nothing!'

--I don't think so! He ran back to the white camp, leaving behind a line that sounded like he was waiting to be told off.
He immediately clung to Mokoka's back and rolled onto his back to hide.
...... No, you're not hiding.

......

Barbara leaks a voice like an idiot.
It sounds like she's about to cry, but it's an upbeat sound.

'Hmm?I'm not your best friend, am I?
'You're my best friend!You're my best friend, but you're just as much my best friend as you are my best friend ......, but you're not my best friend ............... ...What the hell is this,...... I'm so excited,......'
I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.
I'm not going to throw up!I'm not sure what to say.I'm not going to tell you.

I'm not going to tell you what to do.


Scary, field day.
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bad experience.
This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your time with your family and friends.

...... scary, field day. No,seriously.



--And.
I don't really care about Barbara's first love.
I start preparing to set off the traps I've set.

Inez and Deborah, and Magda and Loretta are leading the way.
The key person is Sophie.
She is one of the many girls who are considered to be my natural enemy, both internally and externally.

It's a bit of a loss, but I've offered her a deal in exchange.


Now let's start .......


'Sophie--'

I was standing alone with my head down, covering my mouth.
It was as if I was severely disappointed to be at the bottom again.

'Please...'

I let out a whisper that only the rabbit-people can hear, and hit my knees on the ground.
It's over. It's over. There's no turning back no matter what I do.
That's the vibe you're giving off.

'Team leader.

Sophie said to Magda in a dignified and resonant voice.

'This is Yashiro's fault.

She denounces me in a clear voice.

'As Mr. Yashiro told us, we carried multiple sticks to hit the Medora guild leader and the hunting guild.

The white team, according to my plan, held one stick in each hand and moved to eliminate the free sticks.
The white team had one stick in each hand, according to my plan, and moved to eliminate the free sticks, in order to beat the hunting guild to Medora.

However, it is not true that holding two sticks in one hand will give you an advantage.
Simply, if the opponent pulls the sticks with both hands, they can be easily taken away. No matter how hard you try, there is no way you can resist if two or three people come at you.
No matter how hard you try, if two or three people come at you, there's no way you can resist them. Even if you touch two sticks, you can't get any of them and they are taken away.
It was a lousy strategy with such weaknesses.

'He thought that as long as the hunting guild and the Medora guild leader crushed each other, victory would come to him. You could say that he was overconfident.

I gave the white team a plan to do so, and they put it into practice.
The result was a fall to the bottom, no, a crash.
It was a huge blunder.

'Up to this point, we have been proceeding with the competition according to his bizarre plan, but the result is as you can see. We may have stood out strangely, but we have not won. Isn't that right, team leader?
'...... You're right, Sophie.'
'But what do you want me to do?My brother also thought it was a good idea. ......'
I'm saying that this 'good' is not good. It's true that Mr. Yashiro has made some achievements so far. But aren't they all the kind of things where you feel like you've won because of a vague and indefinite decision that doesn't really tell you whether you've won or lost?

In a race like an athletic event, where black and white is clearly defined, my deception is ineffective.
Sophie blames him for that.

'It's dangerous to follow his plan for the rest of the competition. I suggest you change your chief of staff.

The players of the other teams, not to mention the white team, did not say a word.
Silence fell over the ground, which had begun to dim.


'That's not true.


It was Ginette who broke the silence.



'Mr. Yashiro's accomplishments are not hazy or insubstantial. You've clearly changed things in a very happy way!

Oops, Jeannette's kind of mad.
Oh no, no, no, no, no!
I thought I had explained this to Ginette. ...... Oh, right. I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm here.
Inez, Deborah, please, keep Ginette at bay.

'Manager, come here for a moment.
'You're making a big mistake.'
'It's not a mistake!Mr. Yashiro is willing to go to great lengths, even to the point of hurting himself, for our ...... sake and for the sake of everyone in this city. ......'

Mazuii!
This makes Sophie look completely evil!
And the plan is dead!

Inez and Deborah give me a look.
Inez and Deborah look at me like, 'She's impossible to shut up.
Hey, hey, hey. Don't look at me now. You'll give away the plan!
Natalia and Lucia might notice that I'm directing them to avoid me.

I can't help it: ......

'Sophie: ......'

In a voice that only the rabbit-people could hear, she gave the following instructions.

'Mr. Manager.
'I wonder...'
'I mean it in a good way!
'...... In a good, way?'

Ginette nods her head.
'No, no, no!
I thought Jeannette would be able to fool me with a stupid reply like this, but she's not that stupid, is she?

'I don't mind if you mean it in a good way.

I'm being deceived!
Is this girl really okay?
Is she really safe to be out in the world?

Even so, Jeannette is still giving off a vibe that's hard to explain.
I've got no choice but to deploy my secret weapon.

'...... libeka--gony gony gony ......'
'Tencho!I also approve of my knight!

On my command, Rebekah jumps on Jeannette.
Then she tells Jeannette exactly what I said.

'You and I will form an alliance with my knight, who is not bad!
'That sounds like a great idea!

Ginette high-fives Rebeka's raised hands and says, 'Then let's work hard to increase the number of people who will join us! Ginette made a fist.
Ah, Riveka. Just bring Ginette to me, will you?
And Sophie. Don't stare at me so much just because she defended me. It's an act, okay?Your hostility towards me is only staged, okay?
Hahaha, that's a perfectly hostile look in your eyes.

'Yashiro-san!Me and Rebeka-san are on your side.
'Listen, Jeannette. Don't make a sound and listen to what I have to say.

Ginette came in front of me as I crouched down and I told her exactly what the plan was.
I knew I should have explained it to her beforehand. Sometimes he can be very stubborn. I'm not smiling at you.

'Oh, ......, is that what you meant?
'Well, that's what I meant.
'Well, then, if I don't say anything bad about Yashiro-san,............ let's see,......... ...Well, ............, Yashiro-san, for example, ......, um... ...'
'No, you don't have to do anything. I'd rather you didn't. They'll know in two seconds.'

It was impossible for Jeannette to say anything bad about anyone.
So I'll let Rebekah do the talking here.

'Rebekah, will you help me?
'Leave it to me!
'Your work will make everyone think that your sister's opinion wasn't wrong.'
'All right!I'm happy when my sister is recognized. I'm proud of you!
'Zukun!

A rabbit was shot in the distance.
Hey. Don't tell anyone you can hear voices in the distance.
Many people don't know, but Estella and the others know, they just forgot.

It's getting dangerous so I'm going to carry out my plan quickly.

Sophie, let's finish it.
'Leave it to me!I'm your proud big sister!



Shouting something unnecessary, Sophie pointed her finger at me and declared.

'For the next competition, we'll do as we please!
'Sure.'

To follow Sophie, Inez and Deborah, plus Nikka and Carl gather around Sophie and stand against me.

'If you can't win because you keep obsessing about winning, then you might as well give up on winning and prioritize having fun.
'There are a lot of people who couldn't compete because of the score. It's not fair.
'In the first place, it was only the anchovy that was so obsessed with winning!
'I can't deal with his selfishness any longer!

In response to Sophie and the others' opinions, Magda pondered silently.
Then, he slowly raised his head and slowly spoke.

'...... It can't be helped. Everyone has a point. In the next competition, those who have not been able to play so far will be brought to the fore and participate for the sake of fun.

Then Magda looked at me with only her head moving.

'...... This is Magda's decision. If you have a problem with it, Magda will listen.

With those words, I silently raised my hands.
Total surrender.
I'm not going to tell you how to play the game anymore.
The rest is yours to do with as you please.

It's a gesture that looks like .......

'Then I'll be in the same group as my sister!
'Rebekah!I've always wanted to be with Rebekah!

The rabbit sisters spin around, hand in hand.

'Nikka, you'll be in the same group as me.
'Of course I will. ...... I want to be with you, too.'
'Then we'll be in the same group, Carl.
'That's what being a senior is all about, isn't it, Turnip?
'Geez!Cub-senpai, Maru-senpai ......, please don't interfere.
'I'm not interfering.You know?
'That's right. Well, you know what?If you guys flirt, the hand I put on your shoulder might get a little bit stronger, though, right?
'Oh, you're a demon, my seniors!

A beetle and a stag beetle stop a swallowtail butterfly couple from making love. Good job, you guys. I'm not sure what to make of that.

'...... Magda should be up there.'
I'm sure you're right.I'm sure we can support Magda!I like it, Goozja, Janbold!
'Oh, he decides what he wants to do. ...... Well, I knew from the beginning what the master would think.
'I'll support Magda's butt!
'If you touch it, you won't get paid for ten years!
'No, no, no!No, no, no, no!
'Goozuya's got twenty years!



I'm not sure what to say. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out. I don't know. I'm not sure what to say.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm not sure what to do.
'All right!Then we Hewitt Sisters will take care of Masha's legs!
'Wow! Looks like she's fast!

On the other side, the Loretta sisters, who were carrying Masha, had completed their group.
Can Masha join them if she's up there? I see.


......, you know what I'm talking about.


That's right.
The next event was the classic field day event.
It's a cavalry match.

The "top" of the horse, which is in charge of attacking and defending the enemy, is important, but the "horse", which protects the footing, is also important in this event.
It may look like each of us is choosing our own team, but in fact, the right person is in the right place.


In the stick-pulling competition, I went for a strategy that was a little too aggressive, and it backfired spectacularly.
As a result, the white team stopped listening to me and started to choose their own pairs.
They are now more concerned with having fun than winning.

--And to make people think that, I'm going to make a plan to say, "Yashiro, there's no seat for you!
Well, I knew that Jeannette would come at me with such a plan, but I was too clever.
I thought that as long as Jeannette was cooking, she wouldn't care about the people around her. ...... I made her worry unnecessarily.
I don't mean to atone for my sins, but, well, I've got this guy's back.

'Mr. Yashiro. I'm sure you'll be in the same group as me.



--I tried to be there for him, but he offered.
I'll be there for you,' he said.
So, this is just a strategy, and it's not like she doesn't like me, right?You're okay?I'm fine, right?Okay?

I'll take care of it.
'Yes!

Ginette smiles like the sun, even though it's getting dark.
Can we put off the cooking for now?

'Hero.

Barbara stands in front of me and Ginette.
...... Oh, by the way, did I mention that she's going to be my wife or something? ...... Please don't make me antagonize Ginette here... ...

'Aashi, on second thought, I didn't like you that much.'
'What about ......?
'So, I'm sorry. I can't be your wife, after all.'

What's this?

'You know, ......, marriage is supposed to be with someone you love, right?I've heard that's how it works.
'Oh, yeah. Well, yeah.
'So, I can't do it, but you're a pretty good guy, so I'm sure someone good will come along!So... Don't be too downhearted!

I'm being rejected by Barbara.
Why?
I didn't show any favoritism at all!
In fact, I was showing a lot of 'annoyance'!

Why am I being rejected?

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had it.

It's you!
And when I say for a while, I mean just a short time ago!

'So, you see, if we were to be in the same group, we wouldn't want people to think we were cool or ...... misunderstood, you know? That's why I can't let you be in the same group with me!I'm sorry!You'll have to find someone else.See ya!

I didn't even ask her out, but she turned me down.
I'm being unilaterally rejected again.

What is it?
Will it stop if I hit Percy, this vindictiveness?
I really feel like I'm five seconds away from being killed.

'Barbara. Team up with me again. This time we'll work together to mow down the enemy!
'Yeah!That's what I want!

So, Barbara is excited to have found a partner so easily.

I'll tell you one thing.
No, two.

I'm not in love with you!
So I'm not sorry at all!

I'm just really pissed off!

'Paaaaa...... shhhhhhhhh ............!
'Yashiro-san, Yashiro-san!You're scaring me with your face.

It's not my face that scares me.
It's the blind love that's immersed in delusion.
Whether you confirm or deny it, I'll get hurt. I'm the only one who gets burned.

'I'll support you, Barbara's first love.'
'I don't care.
'Isn't it wonderful, your first love?
'You had a first love, too?
'My first love was a sister.'

Oh, I remember you saying that.

'And after that, your grandfather?○○○○○ They're all older than me.'
'Yashiro-san. Your mouth was moving with the word 'amazing'. ...... You'll get angry, Sister.

I'm sorry. If you don't say it out loud, it won't be recorded in the Conversation Record.

'I'm not interested in other people's happiness.
'Mm-hmm.

What's with the 'again' smile?
I don't like it.

'So, Yashiro-san, are you interested in your own happiness?
'Of course I am.

I'm the type of person who doesn't care who's sobbing in misery, as long as I'm happy.


Your own happiness comes first. Of course.

'I'm interested, too. In Mr. Yashiro's happiness.
''Hmm?
'If I could, I'd like to see Yashiro-san smiling happily, forever and ever, right beside me.'

'Forever and ever, right beside you.

Hey, Jeannette.
Where I come from, that's what we call a proposal.

Well, comic duo's stay together forever, so it could be an invitation to form a duo!
I don't know what he means. No one knows.
Wasting your mind on something you don't know is just a waste of time. Let's not think about it anymore!Yes, thank you!

'Then Ginette's on the horse.'
'What?Why are you suddenly talking like that?Oh, well, I've seen the demonstration, and I think it's probably impossible for her to be on top. ......'
'Don't worry, don't worry. I'm not sure if I feel that way.
I'm not sure what to do.

You should have realized that by now.
You should be aware of the fact that after you make a careless remark, you will be hit by a painful blow.

...... You should think a little more before you speak. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.
'plump tits'.
'Please don't call me that, Deborah!

Inez and Deborah came over, and Ginette went at Deborah.
I wonder if you want to make a comedy duo, Ginette.

'I heard that the cavalry is in groups of four.
'We'll take the other two.
'Oh. You guys are a hundred strong.''
'Also, I improvised and followed up on a few loose ends during the operation earlier.
'If I do say so myself, it was a brilliant move.'
'Yeah. Don't say that about yourself, though. Deborah, you're a bit like that, so be careful, okay?'
'I think it's time to go!
'I think I agree with you, Ines!
'All right, all right!It was great, it was great, it was great, it was great, you guys were very nice!
''I'm satisfied.''

''I'm satisfied.'' The smiling head waiter.
I don't know,......, but there are more and more idiots who can do the job.

So, with the strategy of "I don't care about winning anymore, let's just enjoy the rest of the competition to the fullest, since we're in last place anyway," we're going for the win.

First, the cavalry!

Watch this.


When the cavalry battle is over, you'll be amazed. ...... Hahahahaha!



The sky turned purple, and the faces of those in the distance became a little less visible.
The bonfires were lit and the ground looked like a battlefield.


With the help of the staging, the players' voltage was rising and rising.