The Aftermath and New Tensions

The crowd's cheers were still ringing in my ears long after the capture-the-flag event ended. Our team's victory felt like a turning point — and yet, I knew the road ahead wasn't going to get any easier.

"Hey, Isagi!" Kaito called, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "Man, that was awesome! We crushed them!"

"Barely," I replied with a grin, though my eyes flicked toward Rin, who stood across the field, his usual cool composure betrayed by the faintest hint of frustration.

"Don't sell yourself short," May chimed in, walking up beside me. "We wouldn't have won without you."

My heart skipped a beat. "It was a team effort," I said quickly.

She smiled, and for a moment, the noise of the crowd faded away.

But reality crashed back when Rin approached, his eyes locking onto me with a sharp intensity. "Don't get too comfortable, Kawaguchi," he said, his voice calm but carrying a clear edge. "This was just one round. The real competition's far from over."

"I wouldn't dream of underestimating you," I replied, meeting his gaze head-on.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Good. Let's see how long you can keep up."

With that, he turned and walked away, his harem of admirers trailing after him.

"Man, that guy's intense," Kaito muttered.

"Yeah," I agreed, but I couldn't help feeling the pressure already building for whatever came next.

Later, as the evening settled over the school grounds, the student council announced the next event — a talent showcase. Every team had to put on a performance, and teamwork and creativity would be just as important as individual skill.

"Any ideas?" Kaito asked as we gathered in the classroom.

"We could do a skit," one teammate suggested.

"Or a musical performance," another added.

May's eyes lit up. "What about a dance routine? We could mix different styles and really make it something memorable."

The room buzzed with excitement, and I found myself nodding along. "A dance it is, then. Let's make sure it's a performance no one forgets."

As we started planning, I felt a renewed determination. Rin wasn't going to make this easy — but I wasn't going to back down. Not when I finally had a chance to stand by May's side.

And this time, I wasn't just fighting for victory. I was fighting for my place in this story.