Chapter 10: Sport Festival Begins
The morning fog lingered like a silent witness as Rei Kurohara stepped onto the school sports field. Arms reached skyward, stretching open under the towering stadium lights. Even under cloudy skies, the expected husk of sunlight made the air feel urgent, like something new had happened overnight. And yesterday's rumors felt painfully real.
Sensors and shouts meshed together: teammates warming up, children chasing each other in mock relays, coaches directing enthusiastic freshmen. It was alive. This was real. This was the moment the system wanted: festival day.
Rei inhaled, exhaled, and smoothed his hair once more. A habit he hadn't needed to — until recently. He moved toward the center, where flags in every color waved impatiently, announcing chaos in organized form.
Across from him, Jun Kirigawa leaned against the bleachers. The red-haired youth looked steady, almost smug. His presence clung to the place like a spotlight. He saw Rei. Their gazes met.
Game on.
The Opening Ceremony
The headmaster's voice carried through the stadium with practiced formality. Rei recalled the ritual: march-in, salute flags, repeat pledge. He followed the third-class team, stepping in sync. He was part of something, and his heart refused to stay undercooked this time.
As the ceremony closed, classes rushed to set up supply tables, stretchers, and lineup boards. Third-year Class 3 assembled into clusters.
A girl from earlier — the one who asked for poster help — smiled at him beside the class table. Under her gentle gaze, Rei offered a faint nod. No words — too early. Preparation came first.
The first event? Class relay. Four-person team. He was penciled in as the second runner.
Event One: Class Relay
"Remember, 3-run-big!" the class monitor yelled. Technique mattered. Speed mattered. Unity mattered more.
Haru from the PE club lined up, muscular, confident. Next to him, a freshman girl clutched the baton; behind her, two boys tapped their feet idly. It felt normal — except for the occasional glances Rei received, and that wicked sense of challenge.
Rei's system flickered into view:
[Side Quest: Relay Runner – Bring your team to Top 3]
[Reward: +0.5 Agility | +0.5 Endurance | +100 CC | Bonus: Close with a "smile finish"]
He swallowed. Bonus smiles were optional—but valuable.
The whistle blew. Freshman-out, Haru gave the first sprint. He dashed past the freshman in a blur, baton handed smoothly. Rei, next.
Breathing tight, legs taut, Rei snapped into motion. Feet slapped the ground. Arms flew. The stadium blurred by.
Mid-run, someone on the opposite track shouted Jun's name; he vaulted, taking the lead. Rei gritted teeth, chasing after him, crowd noise weaving like an avalanche. He felt muscle burn, lungs strained—perfectly painful.
By the hand-off, Rei had reclaimed ground. The third runner took it near the podium. The tension was intoxicating.
Rei stumbled into the exchange, adrenaline washed out limbs. He managed a smile — electrifyingly genuine. Bonus earned.
The third runner brought the class home — a silver award. Not first—but podium.
System pinged:
[Quest Complete: Silver Relay]
+0.5 Agility, +0.5 Endurance, +100 CC
Bonus Achieved: Smile Finish +50 CC
CC +250.
Jun eyed him coldly. A competitor awakened.
Event Two: Treasure Hunt
Later, the field held the scavenger labyrinth. Ten points hidden among tents, props, and kits. Teams of four scrambled.
Rei, Jun, poster-girl, and a random freshman formed Class 3's mix.
Jun snapped strategy: "Cover zones. I take the west. You take the east."
Rei blinked: It was him.
He studied the map for seconds before speaking softly. "Finders in thick brush near southeast. The info booth overheard them mention candy litter."
It wasn't random. It was intuition.
Jun raised eyebrows, nodded.
They followed Rei's whispers — found two scrolls.
One zipped another corner. Jun found one more.
Third corner: Rei found the last two.
System pinged:
[Sub-Quest: Southeast Sweep Completed]
+0.5 Intelligence | +100 CC
They bagged another roll and boasted.
Combined, Class 3 scored first in the hunt gold.
[Side Quest Complete: Outsmart Rivals]
+150 CC | +0.5 Intelligence
Bonus: Time under 20 minutes – +100 CC
Factor in gold, silver, bounty? CC +500.
Rei's thoughts: This all feels too well aligned. Eyes flicked around — hidden watchers, the teacher's window, future schemes.
Jun's jaw tightened.
Later, he muttered, "You had tips. Info-reading mind or system feed?"
Rei answered simply, a smile tucked under reserve: "Just experience."
Midday Break: Festival Booth
At the student fair grid, sticky with cotton candy smells and table banners, the Order of Chaos booth stood elegant among floral chaos.
Rei's poster-girl co-hosted. A girl in a floral dress checked digital requests.
"Rei, people keep asking 'what is Order of Chaos?'" She winked. "They're attracted to the name..."
He cleared his throat. "It's a service. Random tasks, simple errands, secret motives."
Her eyebrow lifted, but she smiled. "Be more charismatic."
Tent backdrop: Rei's logo. A digital crown made of data lines. Scanning eyes.
People lined up:
Lost jewelry retrieval: silver charm ring, CC +30
Spare thermos delivery: intelligence +0.2, CC +20
Embassy of generic t-shirt: charm +0.5 (flash sales)
System pinged for each.
By the end, they'd served 8 clients. Business Phase 2 progress visible:
[Quest 2: Build Reputation – Testimonials Earned: 4/5]
+150 CC on completion
Tent crowned best-looking booth among homerooms. The judge looked intrigued.
Reputation rising like mist.
Event Three: Mystery Duel Begins
Afternoon sun glowed hot. Jun flagged Rei near the corner of the main yard.
"You ready?"
Rei inclined his head.
Testy grin on Jun's face.
They led across stages toward the Mystery Duel Arena, where Club members supervised.
Rei noticed weapon cases, padded mats, and the announcer waiting.
Duel rules are unseen until the first strike.
The crowd gathered fast: whispers again. "Is he going to melt down with no training?" "I heard fights ended fast in Duel."
System voice quietly slid in:
[Main Quest: Mystery Duel – Surpass Rival Jun]
[Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Agility, +200 CC]
[Bonus: Win with Artful Combo]
Rei didn't sigh. He nodded.
In cases: two padded batons.
This would end all his games.
Battle One: Jun vs. Rei
They stood 3 meters apart.
Crowd hush.
Small bell.
Jun charged aggressively. Swing baton. Feint left. Surprise strike.
Rei took a breath. He blocked, spun.
He wasn't fast here. He compensated with cautious moves, a predictive mind.
That earlier voice buzzed:
"It's him. But not fully…"
Rei faltered partly: The voice? Internal or external?
Jun jolted, paused.
Rei shifted stance.
Rei launched a combo — predictable, yet artful, from Martial Arts Club tactics he studied secretly.
He landed the final strike softly on Jun's shoulder.
Jun staggered. The crowd burst.
Rei offered hand — hand-sportsmanship.
[Quest Complete]
+1 Strength, +1 Agility, +200 CC
Bonus: Artful Combo +100 CC
He gathered round applause faintly.
Jun glanced away. Wordless nod.
Evening Recovery – Silent Accusation
Rei sat under the field lights after dusk, sweat cooling, heartbeat steady.
The tablet glowed:
CC collected so far: 2,855
Completed main quests: Relay, Hunt, Duel
Completed boss quest: Business Phase 2! — Testimonials 5/5
Business Phase 2 complete:
+150 CC | Passive "Brand Aura" (+0.5 Charm in crowd) | Awards upcoming
New Quest Unlocked:
Sport Festival Achievement – Collect all 4 event ribbons
Reward: +300 CC | +1 Strength | +1 Agility | Aura "Active Leader"
The system blinked.
She watched again from the catwalk windows. Her glowing mark pulsed faintly. She whispered to Rei, though he was miles away in his mind.
The End- Chapter 10
Chaos Crown System – Status Panel
Name: Rei Kurohara
CC Balance: 2,855
Evolution Progress: 15.1%
Stat Total
Strength 5.3 + 2.0 = 7.3
Agility 4.4 + 2.0 = 6.4
Endurance 4.5
Intelligence 15.2
Charm 30.5 (Brand Aura applied)
Willpower 5.5 Business Sense Tier 1.5