Sports Rivalry-II

The players are ready on the line. All eyes are on them. Hanako and Natzume are the last ones running.

The referee signals them to start and they dash off. The red team is in the lead with their first runner. The third runner of the red team passes the baton on to Natsume. She sprints. Hanako gets the baton next. Due to the previous runners, there is a hug margin of difference between the two. But Hanako speeds up and the margin shortens. Five metre, then four, then three..

At last, Hanako crosses Natsume. Everybody went woah!

The Comic Club is in a moment of euphoria. People looked down on them for being geeks and now Hanako is about to bring them the trophy home.

After a while, the difference between Hanako and Natsume widens with Hanako in the lead. Itis clear victory for the white team!

The crowd uproars.

"You did it!" Sachiko shouts as she throws the water bottle to Hanako.

"Thanks, " says Hanako.

"Hanako, we are in the lead, " Toda gives the good news.

"H-Hanako! You did well, " Souta shouts from afar.

"Thank you, " Hanako says.

Makoto just smiled at her as if he already knew what the outcome was gonna be.

"Well played, Natsume, " Hanako brings her hand forward.

"Thank you, you played like a real sportsperson, " says Natsume, grabbing Hanako's hand and shaking hands with her.

"And so did you, " Hanako says.

"Yeah? But looks like you are everyone's favourite now, " says Natsume with sullen eyes and a weak smile, looking at howher friends reacted to Hanako's victory.

Hanako is confused by what she meant.

As Toda watched the match unfold, he gets cold feet.

"Hanako won against an over-powered person. I am next. Sonohara is a star athlete, how am I supposed to win against him?" Toda talks to himself.

"You can do it, Toda" Hanako says from behind.

"H-Huh?!"

"Remember, Alice was an ordinary girl as well, but she was able to make a difference. Toda, I believe in you, " Hanako says.

"Thank you, I hope so. But I am pitted against Sonohara, " Toda says.

Hanako grabs his left ear and whispers something. Souta, on the other hand, watched it from the opposite tent and felt like fighting the weird feelings he was developing.

Relay race for the boys are about to start. The win for either team depended upon this final match.

The match starts. Toda and Sonohara are the last leg. Both receive the baton at the same time.

"Hanako said that the pressure I exert on the ground matters. The key is to be powerful yet swift!"

"He is on par with Makoto. He then turns to Makoto.

"Hey, Makoto!"

"Huh?!"

"DOTA Tournament incident 2013!" Toda shouts and sprints with all his might.

Makoto was distracted and started wondering what he was talking about. By the time he had come back to his senses, Toda had already crossed the line.

And with this, team white won for the first time in many years.

"Hanako, we won! It's all thanks to you, " Toda says.

"Oh you are welcome," Hanako says, smiling.

"What are you talking about, Yoshida?" Makoto asks, coming towards them.

Hanako panicks.

"ZOTA tournament incident 2013 when your open fly was caught on camera, bro!"

"That never-- Hanako, care to explain?" Makoto says with a bugged look.

"Heh! The Placebo effect worked, " Hanako tries to avert her eyes and gives off a silly smile.

"I am sorry Toda butI never played any tournament before 2017, " says Makoto, turning to Toda.

"Huh, then?"

"Yeah, I lied. You see, I gave you psychological strength by saying that Makoto will lose his confidence if he is reminded of that incident, which didn't even exist."

"This girl, " Makoto sighs and face palms himself.

"I see. So, there were schemings involved, huh? But.. Hanako, thanks for that, you gave me confidence, " says Toda, looking thankful.

Hanako, isn't she actually a good person unbeknownst to herself.

"Ho, I thought Hanako is selfish or isn't that something she said?" Makoto smirks and taunts her.

"O-Of course I am. I just wanted our team to win and that's the only reason why I helped Toda. Fool, " Hanako says, acting like a total tsun-tsun.

Everyone congratulates Toda and the White Team celebrates their victory.