The Defectives (CotE x Male Reader)

Raising the Curtains

(A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for the slow update. For your information, I've a lot of works to do right now and I only managed to write the draft during the weekends. Fear not, I'll catch up with the story progress as soon as possible after I'm free. Peace out!)

(Y/N)'s POV

With everyone working hard, the days passed quickly. At last, there was only one week left to go until the sports festival. Today we must submit our participation table and decide on the participants of each events. While Hirata stood at the podium, Kushida faced the blackboard with chalk in hand to record the preparations.

He spoke based on the notes containing the daily records of the class, the best pairings as discussed by the class and the order incorporating the winning strategy. Then everyone memorized their own roles in the contests and the order. Not a single student objected to Hirata's results, which were based on hard data and clear testing of people's abilities. Everything proceeded without a hitch.

I was impressed by how Hirata managed to respect everybody's individual wishes while also taking everyone's abilities into account. In the last prominent event, the relay, it's the fast students like Horikita that comprise the lineup.

However, Horikita, who sat next to me, was for some reason continuing to stare at the blackboard with an unconvinced expression.

Right after the discussion ended smoothly, Horikita stood up from her seat. As I wondered where exactly she was headed off to, it turned out to be in front of Sudou's seat.

Sudou: What's up?

Horikita: There's something I want to talk about. Can you come with me?

Sudou: S-Sure.

Sudou, having been called out like that, hurriedly stands up.

Horikita: Oh, Hirata-kun. Can I also have a moment of your time as well?

Horikita, who started walking off right afterwards, for some reason also called out to Hirata and called him towards the rear of the classroom.

Horikita: I want to discuss the participation table we decided on earlier. I'd like you to give me the anchor position in the 1200-meter relay at the end of the festival.

Sudou showed momentary confusion in response to that unexpected assertion.

Sudou: But... The anchor is usually handled by the fastest one right? Or are you uneasy with having me as the anchor?

Between boys and girls, there is a fundamental difference in regards to physical abilities. Horikita is indeed fast amongst the girls but if she were to be mixed with the boys group, then she wouldn't be able to beat even Hirata.

It's natural that Sudou, who's equal to or faster than Hirata, should be the anchor. Sudou had also obviously thought he would be doing it and probably couldn't accept it right away.

Horikita: No, that's not it. I know your abilities from seeing you practice.

Sudou: Then, why?

Horikita: I have my reasons. You're good with the starting dash, right, Sudou-kun? In that case, I thought having you be the first runner and cast aside our opponents would be a viable strategy. Starting with the second runner, we'll allow everyone to take the lane they like on a first-come-first-served basis. In case we get overtaken, it's specified in the rules that starting from the second runner onward, we are permitted to use the outer lanes to overtake them.

In other words, Horikita would like to set Sudou as the first runner for an outrun strategy.

Sudou: But...