Rising from Defeat

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the school courtyard, but I felt none of its warmth. Rin's victory still weighed heavily on my mind. But that weight wasn't dragging me down — it was pushing me forward.

"Isagi!" Kaito called, running up to me. "The next event's been announced — the team strategy game!"

My eyes lit up. A team event meant collaboration and planning — something I was good at. "What kind of game?"

"A capture-the-flag style event, but with a twist. Each team will have to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to reach the flag. Strategy and intelligence are just as important as speed and strength."

This was my chance.

Our team gathered in the classroom to plan. Kaito, May, and a few others joined me. I laid out our approach — assigning roles based on strengths, coming up with signals, and mapping out possible routes. The excitement in the room was infectious.

On the day of the event, the field was transformed into a maze of challenges. Each team had to hit three checkpoints, solving riddles to get clues to the final flag's location. As the whistle blew, our team moved with purpose.

At the first checkpoint, May stepped up. The riddle read: "I speak without a tongue and listen without ears. I am never seen, but always heard. What am I?"

"A… an echo!" May said with confidence. The lock clicked open, and we grabbed the first clue.

The second checkpoint's riddle was tougher: "The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?"

I thought hard, the pressure mounting. "Footsteps," I said at last — and the box opened, revealing the second clue.

The final checkpoint was the hardest yet: "I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I touch, will soon turn red. What am I?"

"Fire," I answered, my heart pounding. With the last clue in hand, we sprinted toward the flag's location.

As we neared the final stretch, Rin's team was right on our heels. Kaito sprinted ahead, diving for the flag — and snatched it just seconds before Rin's teammate.

The crowd erupted. We had won.

As we celebrated, I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve. I turned to find May standing close, her eyes shining. "You were amazing, Isagi. I knew you'd figure it out."

Before I could respond, she slipped her hand into mine — just for a second — and my heart nearly stopped.

The battle was far from over, but for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged in it. And maybe… just maybe… I wasn't fighting alone anymore.