Hikigaya's Silent Suffering. The Start Of The Sports Festival!

Hikigaya sits on the edge of a tall building looking out into the sky. He is in his Watchdog attire but his mask and hoodie are down. He sits for a moment before he hears someone call his name.

Amber "Hikigaya."

He turns quickly and sees Amber standing behind him. He quickly gets to his feet. A smile comes across his face.

Hikigaya "Amber! What are you doing here?"

Amber "Same as you. Caught up in something too big for us to handle."

Hikigaya "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Amber "There are bad people here, Hiki. Will I be okay?"

Hikigaya "It's okay! I'm here. I have powers I can protect you."

Amber "I don't think you can. You don't have enough power. Watch."

There's suddenly an explosion as parts of the ledge they were on collapses and Amber is sent falling. The building is unrealistically tall with the ground nowhere in sight. Hikigaya dives after her. He reaches down to try and grab her.

Amber "I'm dying Hikigaya. Why aren't you saving me? Don't you love me?"

He starts crying as he reaches for her, struggling to make it to her.

Hikigaya "I'm sorry! I didn't know! If I knew you were there I would've saved you first. I promise, I didn't mean to let anything bad happen to you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm-"

Blood starts to pool around her chest as a hole forms when suddenly the ground comes. Right before hitting the ground Hikigaya wakes up in his bed, panting and sweating. His eyes shake as he trembles. He sits for a moment, trying to focus his senses and calm down. He looks around realizing he's in his room and it was a dream.

Hikigaya "Another nightmare…"

He looks down as he calms a bit. Tears start forming in his eyes as he brings his knees up and he lays his head on his arms.

Hikigaya "I'm sorry…"

He quietly cries to himself as it fades to black.

At school, it is the day of the festival. All the Second, Third and Fourth year classes are out and in their P.E. uniforms getting ready to go. Class 2-1, Shiori's class, is all together talking while they wait. Family and friends make their way through the main gate that is all decorated for the occasion. As the rest of the class stretches and readies themselves, the main group discusses their plan to help Mr. Goda with winning this year.

Shiori "Alright guys, everyone remember, the main goal for today is to win the sports festival. We just have to score the most points out of 12 classes."

Kitaro "Right. Should be a piece of cake."

He says sarcastically. Hisana elbows him for the remark.

Haru "We'll do our best but it's probably gonna be you since Mr. Goda made you the lead of the second years."

Shiori "Oh yeah.."

Lucy "Hey, don't worry about it. If anyone is qualified to do it, it's definitely you."

Everyone else nods as she smiles a bit.

Shiori "Right."

Shiori looks around a little at the other classes and starts to notice other students from the years above. They look pumped and ready to go, some of them even look a little odd between being super buff to others being far too into getting ready.

Shiori 'It seems Emiko might not be the only threat to our plan here…'

She turns back around to look at her classmates. She droops a bit when seeing them. Besides her main group which doesn't consist of athletes itself, she looks at Suiyoubi who is just looking around at the decorations, she sees another girl who has a cape tied around her neck and a headband over her eyes as if making a mask jumping around and shouting. She sighs before looking at Touma who is stretching a bit.

Shiori 'At least we have him. He is huge and super strong.'

She shakes her head a bit and focuses.

Shiori "Whatever. I just need to focus. We got this!"

As family and friends make their way into the stands and different seating across the way facing the large track area where most of the activities will be held, Asami, Hamasaki and Takanou begin seating.

Asami "This is so exciting!"

Takanou "First sports festival?"

Asami "Yeah! Amber was always in sports so she never had to participate. Now Hikigaya gets to do it, I'm so proud of him!"

She tears up a little as she smiles playfully.

Hamasaki "Well I'm glad we get to experience our first one together."

She says while taking Asami's hand and smiling warmly.

Takanou "Look, there they are!"

He points in their direction as the others smile widely. Lucy's mom also comes in and sits next to Chizuru's dad coincidentally. They smile and greet each. Haru looks over to see Natsu and Fuyu in the stands standing and shouting at him. He gets a big smile on his face as he waves at them. Sugawara sees this and looks down a bit in sadness before Ryuji puts his hand on his shoulder and gives him a slight smile as if telling him to keep his head up. Sugawara realizes that Ryuji's parents couldn't make it either. Sugawara smiles back.

Announcer "Alright everyone! Welcome to this year's annual Iris High sports festival! We will be beginning shortly so I hope you grabbed your snacks and used the restroom while you can because I can already tell this year is gonna be one to remember! If I could please have all students line up according to year, as rehearsed."

All of the students begin to line up as they were told. There are three large columns of students with four other columns within those representing the specific classes within the specific year. Mr. Goda as well as two other P.E. teachers then step forward and in front of each year. Shiori stands at the front of the line in the first column of her year.

Announcer "The rules for the Sports Festival are simple. Each year from second to fourth will be competing for points. You get points from accomplishing each activity with gusto and elegance! The year with the most points will be crowned the visitor and bring pride to their year's teacher! The classes in each year will also be ranked and the class with the highest score of their year will have earned a delicious reward! Each year also has a specific lead student who has been selected to represent their class as well as participate in any one person activities."

Haru "Delicious reward?"

He salivates at the thought of a barbeque.

Sugawara "Haru, snap out of it!"

He says quietly from behind Haru as he shakes him a bit to break him out of his daydream of food.

Announcer "The judging this year will be done by me, your announcer, Shuhei Arataka, and of course our esteemed Principal Ai!"

She waves and smiles as some people cheer.

Shuhei "And joining us this year as our guest judge is our lovely school janitor, Ashley Ramirez!"

Ashley "Oh stop."

She says as she blushes a bit and waves her hand gently at him.

Shuhei "Now, if I could have Emiko Armada of the fourth years step forward."

Emiko steps forward first with confidence and a big smile on her face and fire in her eyes.

Shuhei "Next, Tom Jinto of the third years, step forward."

A boy with an unimpressed look on his face steps forward. He chews on a toothpick as he looks around.

Shuhei "And finally, Shiori Inabi of the second years, step forward!"

Shiori pauses for a moment before stepping forward as her parents get excited in the stands. She has her head down a bit before taking a deep breath and lifting her head up proudly. Mr. Goda smiles in approval.

Shuhei "These three will be representing their respective years so keep a close eye on their performance. They were selected because they are truly the best of the best! Now, would you three please join me in the Sportsmanship Pledge."

He begins announcing a short pledge of honor and good sportsmanship as Shiori looks to her right. She sees Emiko staring at her. When they make eye contact, she winks and sticks her tongue out. Shiori smiles back with a determined look.

Shiori 'Taking me lightly huh? Underestimating me now could be bad for you. Just you watch, I'm gonna win!' "I will do my very best!"

She shouts along with Tom and Emiko at the same time. Shuhei smiles widely as he takes a deep breath.

Shuhei "Alright then without any more delay, let's get this year's Sports Festival going! I hope all you competitors did your stretching and warmups properly because we are onto our first event, a good old fashioned game of DodgeBall!"

He shouts as the crowd cheers in excitement.

As the classes begin to disperse and prepare for the match, Mormo begins to climb into a tree behind most of the audience.

Mormo "Ah c'mon, let's see here… Hup! Ahh there we go. Let's get a looksie here, where is that dummy?.."

He climbs high into the tree and sits on a branch before he begins looking around at the students.

Mormo "Ah! There she is! C'mon! Kick 'em dead! Do something cool and hopefully dramatic!"

He shouts words of encouragement, at least to him, but she isn't able to hear him. Though, the people directly below him look around in confusion, wondering who shouted those words. Mormo sits in the tree content for a moment before something catches his attention. He sees Tsuki making his way through the crowd to get a better view of the coming match. Mormo then decides to hop down off the branch and make his way through the crowd to Tsuki.

Mormo "Pardon me. Excuse me. Whoops, sorry pal. Hey now! Ooh, nice underwear. Step aside!"

He pushes and shoves peoples ankles and legs out of his way which surprises many people who are confused as to what is speaking or touching them since they all seem to miss Mormo beneath them. One woman squeals a bit as he walks underneath her skirt and comments on her underwear. He eventually makes his way to Tsuki and climbs up to his shoulder. Tsuki is surprised for a moment but calms when he realizes who it is.

Tsuki "Oh, it's just you, Mormo right?"

Mormo "Yeah, that's me. And you're the other toxic parasite in our group."

Tsuki "Must you always insult me?! If you don't stop, I'm gonna rip out all of your stuffing!"

The man standing next to Tsuki gets a look of confusion and concern to which Tsuki just smiles awkwardly realizing to others he is yelling at a stuffed animal.

Mormo "Real smooth there Prince Charming."

Tsuki growls at him a bit but chooses to ignore it.

Mormo "Hey wait a minute, aren't you like a first year or somethin'? Shouldn't you be in class right now?"

Tsuki "Yes technically but I told my parents I felt sick so I didn't have to go then snuck out to come here. I'm not gonna miss Shiori performing in such an amazing event for the first time!"

Mormo "Boy, you really are crazy…"

He sweats hearing Tsuki's excuse but then looks ahead. They stand in silence for a moment before he speaks again.

Mormo "Though I gotta admit, even I'm excited to see Suiyoubi out there today."

Tsuki looks at him, almost surprised at Mormo's words before he suddenly jumps up on Tsuki's shoulder and puts his paw in the air.

Mormo "C'mon! Let's go, second years!"

The crowd cheers in response to his yells. Tsuki shakes his head smiling.