Chapter 332: After the Sports Festival

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah. How have you been lately, Chidori?"

"I don't go by Chidori anymore. I changed my surname after getting married," Sagara Kaname said with a smile. "Just like how you changed yours after marrying that guy... Though according to his side's customs, you didn't really need to change it, right?"

"I didn't have a surname to begin with. I didn't even have a name," Rinji's mother replied gently. "He gave me my name, and the surname was borrowed. After getting married, I naturally took his surname. It was my own choice."

"I see…"

"How's Rinji been here? Has he been giving you trouble?"

"There's been a bit of trouble, sure," Sagara said as she rubbed her temple with a helpless expression. "But compared to the idiotic things our husbands used to do back in the day, this is nothing. I'm honestly not too bothered."

"Thanks for your hard work."

"No need to thank me. I still owe you both a lot from back then," she replied with a smile. "Are you leaving now?"

"Yeah. After seeing how Rinji's doing, I can finally rest easy. It's time for me to go back to his side."

"If you have time, drop by again. Especially that guy—doesn't he care about his own son at all?"

"…He actually wanted to come this time, but I insisted on coming myself," Rinji's mother said with a chuckle. "I just don't feel safe letting him go out alone."

"Haha, can't argue with that."

"But as long as Rinji's here, I'm sure he'll eventually come to see for himself."

"You're probably right."

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After the sports festival ended, the parents gradually left.

Shirogane's father, although quite free, knew it was time for him to leave the school too.

During the event, he chatted with a girl—Shinomiya Kaguya—and he had a feeling something might happen between her and his son.

"Well then, Miyuki, I'm heading out," he said.

"Okay, just go already," Shirogane replied.

Next to him stood a blushing Kaguya. It was clear whatever Shirogane's dad had said had embarrassed her deeply.

Seeing her red face, Shirogane really wanted to know what kind of nonsense his dad had said to her.

After that, Fujiwara's father, Fujiwara Daichi, also left after saying goodbye to everyone.

The entire Fujiwara family came to the event, including her mother, Fujiwara Maho, and her older sister Fujiwara Toyomi—who supposedly skipped her college classes to attend.

"Well then, Chika, big sis is heading off~"

"Okay, take care~"

Toyomi had a voluptuous figure and wore somewhat revealing clothes, but her sleepy, dazed expression and cute face made for a strange contrast with her mature body.

"Oh right, next time can you introduce me to that boy?"

"Huh? Who?"

"That super cute boy in the cheer squad, the one in the dress who looked like a doll!" Toyomi said with a grin.

"Oh, you mean Rinji."

Chika's expression instantly turned hollow.

"Let's not... He's probably really mad at me for helping him with the makeup."

"That's a shame~"

Meanwhile, after finishing her chat with Sagara, Rinji's mother also left the school.

Before she left, both Karura and Hayasaka accompanied her. Since Karura wasn't a student here, she just gave a quick goodbye before heading back to her own school—she had ditched class to see Rinji's performance after all.

Once she was gone, only Hayasaka remained with Rinji's mother.

"It's time for me to go too."

"Auntie, you're leaving already?"

"Yes. I've seen Rinji, and that's enough."

As she spoke, she pulled out her phone.

"Would it be alright to add you on LINE?"

"Eh? Of course, I'd be happy to!"

Hayasaka quickly pulled out her own phone and they exchanged contact info.

After putting her phone away, Rinji's mother looked at Hayasaka and said softly, "I feel relieved about Rinji right now, but who knows what the future holds. So... could I ask you to look after him?"

"O-of course!"

"Thank you. If you ever need anything, just contact me. I may not always get the message right away, though."

She smiled.

"If I'm leaving him in your hands, then I really can relax."

"…"

Her words made Hayasaka blush and look down.

This was probably the day she'd blushed the most in her life.

———————————————————————————————————————

After the sports festival, the school custodians began cleaning the grounds.

Meanwhile, the student council members were tasked with putting away the equipment used for the event.

Fujiwara and Ishigami carried a few lighter items to the storage shed, stacking them inside.

"This sports festival was so much fun~"

"Yeah, I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

For Ishigami, who had always been distant from the student body, this was probably the most enjoyable festival he'd ever experienced.

He used to be very withdrawn. During events like this, he'd just sit alone watching others sweat it out, quietly mocking them for wasting energy on something pointless.

But after finally becoming part of the group, he understood what that joy really was.

"I hope the next event is just as fun."

"Of course! There's more coming after the sports festival, after all," Chika said cheerfully.

"Yeah. I hope the next one is just as great."

Both of them felt deeply satisfied with today's event.

As they basked in the afterglow, a pair of hands suddenly clamped down on their shoulders.

In that instant, cold sweat drenched their foreheads.

"Ishigami, Fujiwara," Rinji said in an unsettlingly gentle voice, right by their ears. "It's good to hear you two enjoyed yourselves. But now that the festival is over... it's time to settle the score. Someone has to take responsibility for making me do something that embarrassing."

His voice was calm, but the pain in their shoulders told them…

They were doomed.