Chapter 11: Whistles, Rivals, and the Underdog's Gamble

The sunlight was unforgiving.

Golden rays cut through the cloudless sky like judgmental spotlights, heating the concrete campus with an almost personal grudge. Students poured onto the courtyard, their chatter bubbling like soda cans shaken too hard.

Banners flapped in the wind—red, blue, green, and gold. Loudspeakers squealed to life with a high-pitched buzz before a far-too-cheerful voice blasted from the main building.

"Good morning, students! "Sport Festival Team Tryouts Begin Today!"

Rei Kurohara stood stiffly in the corner of the courtyard like a misplaced NPC.

"...Why am I here?" he muttered under his breath.

[Chaos Crown System Notification]

New Arc Unlocked: Sport Festival – Day Zero (Prep Phase)

Main Objective: Survive the Prelims and Make a Name

Reward: Hidden Title, +500 CC, ??? If Jun is defeated

Bonus Objective: Don't Get Humiliated Publicly

He squinted at the glowing panel only he could see. "That last one feels a little pointed."

[System Response]Mockery is reserved for post-failure processing. Good luck, Host.

Before Rei could even argue with his glorified motivational program, a shadow loomed.

"Well, well, Kurohara," said Jun Kirigawa, captain of Class 1's track team, stretching with smug ease. "Didn't think you'd show up. Thought you'd run back to your little notebook club."

Rei blinked. "Notebook club is very exclusive, thank you."

Laughter snuck from nearby students like it was rehearsed. Jun grinned wider. "Let's see if that brain of yours can move as fast as it talks."

They were all gathered now. The entire third-year and second-year classes, jammed together like contestants in a low-budget reality show.

The PE teacher, Coach Saito, climbed onto a podium with a whistle already halfway down his throat.

"Listen up!" he barked. "All third-years are required to participate in at least two events. Today's warm-up event will be the 100-meter practice dash. No arguing. We're building team brackets."

Murmurs broke out.

One girl whispered, "But I'm in drama club..."

A guy in glasses groaned, "I have brittle knees."

Saito blew the whistle anyway. "Line up!"

And somehow, Rei was pushed forward into the fourth line.

He stared at the empty lane ahead like it was the edge of a cliff.

"Why is this happening again…" he whispered.

[System Notification]

New Quest: Win Any Sprint Event Prelim

Reward: +0.5 Agility | +75 CC | Secret Comment from System

The last one was suspicious. "What does secret comment mean?"

"Go, Rei!" someone yelled behind him.

He looked back. It was Haru, waving like this was a picnic. Beside him, a girl with long dark hair raised a subtle eyebrow, silent as always. But Rei noticed the tiny tilt of her lips.

She was smiling again.

No pressure.

The whistle blew.

Rei bolted forward.

Sort of.

His knees immediately regretted their life choices. His spine screamed. His arms pinwheeled like an untrained chicken trying to fly.

[System Commentary Log – Hidden Snark Mode Enabled]

"You run like you're late for an anime premiere but forgot your wallet."

"Shut up!" he hissed aloud.

"Did he just talk to himself mid-run?" one boy whispered.

Rei pushed harder. His feet pounded the ground. The wind clawed at his ears. Jun was two lanes to his left, smooth and fast like a predator in motion.

But Rei kept moving. Not fast. Not stylish.

But forward.

He crossed the finish line fourth. Not last. Not disqualified.

Just... behind the top runners.

[Quest Partially Complete]

+0.3 Agility | +35 CC

He collapsed onto the grass, arms wide.

"Everything hurts," he mumbled.

"Not bad, Kurohara." Jun stood over him, smirking. "Not good either, but hey, you stayed upright. That's progress."

Rei held up a single finger. "One day… I'll trip into victory."

Back in the classroom, the post-sprint buzz lingered.

"Did you see Rei run?"

"He didn't fall once."

"He looked half-dead, though."

"He was kinda… fast?"

Voices echoed. Not loud, but audible.

Rei leaned back in his seat, still catching his breath, when Kaito elbowed him lightly. "You're becoming a school legend, man. At this rate, we'll need to print posters."

"Of me dying on the track?" Rei said.

"No," Kaito grinned. "Of you making Jun squint in confusion."

Lunch break.

Rei sat beneath the Sakura tree behind the gym, trying not to think.

His bottle of water was nearly empty. His legs throbbed like a war drum.

[System Notification]

Daily Quest Completed: Physical Challenge Endured

+0.4 Endurance | +50 CC

[New Passive Acquired: Athletic Recovery I]

Mild soreness heals faster when fed sugar or praise.

"…Sugar or praise?" Rei muttered.

Behind him, a familiar voice called out.

"I heard you didn't die," said Haru, tossing him a cold energy drink.

Rei caught it. "Barely survived."

"Coach Saito's picking relay members today," Haru said, crouching next to him. "Guess who's already on the list?"

Rei pointed at Haru.

"Me, yeah," Haru nodded. "But also… you."

Rei dropped the drink.

Afternoon

The entire track field was filled again, this time with official relay lanes marked in chalk. Jun stood near the front, spinning a baton in his fingers like it was an extension of his soul.

Coach Saito was calling names for test runs.

"Kirigawa! Kurohara! Haru! Miyako! Let's see what this combo can do!"

Rei walked up like a condemned man.

He looked at Haru.

"Tell my desk I loved it."

Haru snorted. "You'll be fine."

Their test run was wild.

Miyako passed the baton like a ninja. Haru tore across his lane like lightning. Rei fumbled the pass, sprinted too hard, nearly tripped—but didn't fall. He passed the baton to Jun.

And Jun?

He blitzed the track like it owed him money.

Coach Saito stared for a moment, then scribbled something down.

"Team B. Final relay. Let's see what you can do Friday."

Rei blinked. "We made the final?"

Jun tossed him the baton. "Don't screw it up, Kurohara."

Rei stared at the baton like it might explode.

[New Quest Activated: Final Relay Showdown]

Beat Jun's Segment Time OR Steal the Spotlight

Reward: +120 CC | +1 Strength | +1 Agility

??? Hidden Passive (Condition: Finish with applause)

That evening, Rei flopped on his bed.

Legs aching. Arms sore. Dignity slightly dented.

[System Update – Status Panel]

Current CC: 1,375

Strength: 5.3

Agility: 4.4

Endurance: 4.5

Intelligence: 14.0

Charm: 30.0

Willpower: 5.5 Business Sense: Tier 1

Evolution Progress: 9.8%

System Mood: Mildly Impressed

Just as he was about to sleep—

The screen glitched.

For a second, strange characters appeared again.

Not the system language.

Something older. Deeper.

A whisper echoed:

"He's watching now."

Rei sat up.

"Who is?"

[No Response Detected]

The system returned to silence.

And outside, under the moonlight, a figure stood by the school gate.

Long coat.

Eyes glowing faintly.

Watching.

The End- Chapter 11

Note = This status includes passive and other details, but not the other one 

[Don't get confused by it. If you want this status, then you can tell me. I will not add this in future chapters.]

Chaos Crown System – Status Panel

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Name: Rei Kurohara

CC Balance: 2,855

Evolution Progress: 15.1%

— Stats —

• Strength: 7.3

• Agility: 6.4

• Endurance: 5.0

• Intelligence: 15.2

• Charm: 30.5 (includes passive: Brand Aura)

• Willpower: 5.5

• Business Sense: Tier 1.5

— Unique Passives —

• Trusted Vendor: Boosts client trust and successful deals.

• Brand Aura: Social charm increases faster; attracts interest from allies and rivals alike.

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