The Results and Unexpected Turns

The auditorium was still buzzing with excitement as we waited backstage for the results. My palms were sweating, and I kept stealing glances at May. She seemed calm, but I noticed the way her fingers toyed with the hem of her dress — a telltale sign of nerves.

Kaito bounced on his heels. "Man, that was incredible! We totally crushed it."

"We did our best," I said, my heart pounding. "Now we just wait."

Moments later, the student council president took the stage. "Thank you to all the teams for their amazing performances. It's time to announce the winner of the talent showcase!"

The crowd held its breath. I felt my own breath catch as the president opened the envelope.

"And the winner is… Rin's team!"

Applause thundered through the auditorium. My heart sank, but I forced a smile as Rin's team took the stage to accept their trophy. I met Rin's eyes, and his smirk was sharper than ever.

"Looks like I win this round, Kawaguchi," he said as he passed by.

I clenched my fists, but before I could respond, May touched my arm. "Hey… we did amazing. Don't let this get you down."

Her smile was soft, and for a moment, the loss didn't sting as much.

But the night wasn't over. As the crowd began to disperse, the student council president returned to the mic.

"One more announcement!" she called. "We have a special event coming up — the School Trip Challenge! Teams will face off in a series of games and activities during our trip next week. And this time, the stakes are even higher."

The air crackled with excitement. I glanced at May, and she grinned. "Looks like we've got another chance."

Rin's voice cut through the crowd. "Try not to lose too badly this time, Isagi."

I met his challenge head-on. "We'll see who comes out on top."

As the night ended, I walked home with a renewed sense of determination. The next battle was already on the horizon — and this time, I wasn't going down without a fight.