The puppeteer of the elites (CoTE) ON HIATUS

Sports Festival... START?

Keiko POV

If I may, can I pose a question? Are all human beings equal? I have wondered this for a long time. As I watch the classes duke it out in the cavalry battle, I cannot help but wonder this once more. "Kanzaki!" A class B student yelled. "I got it!" He yelled back after taking a headband from class D. "Hey!" I heard the class D student yell. Well, I'm sure it's a ruse. You never know until the end. Humans are mammals that can speak, think, and have control over their decisions. We are said to have descended from monkeys, and we think we are better than all the other animals across the globe.

I see class B is winning, for now. Class C and A are close to catching up, but class D is falling behind. Sakayanagi is by my side, along with Kamuro and Hashimoto. Humans changed this world, whether in a good way or a bad one. We created things from the earth's fruits, and also created technology, learnt more about the science of the world around us, created transportation... we will continue to advance, adapt and evolve in this modern world, and to ensure that people from our generation do not get left behind, this institution was created. An institution for learning and growing as both people emotionally and physically, but also to learn more about our future and present opponents.

I sipped my drink, enjoying the cool juice on my tongue. The weather was still a little warm, but it was slowly getting colder, and the leaves will soon change colors before dropping off the trees, announcing autumn's return in this land of the rising sun. Humans are all born into this world in the same way. When we first come into this world, I do believe we are equal, even if it is just for a second. I wonder, what if that second had lasted our entire lifetimes? This would most certainly be an interesting concept. Would we think the same, act the same, do everything similarly? Would we still develop our own skills that are different from those around us?

I can see Sakayanagi smirking as we enter the final stages of the cavalry battle. So she has noticed as well. Class D was conserving their energy for this final bout, to retrieve as many headbands as quickly as possible. Quite an easy plan, but since some in class D have short fuses, this might have proven to be difficult for them. This is why not many anticipated this development. I see our class managing to keep up, and finally getting second place as the buzzer beeped. Class D had secured most of the points and was put in first place. Class C and B are tied for third. Class C has some internal conflicts, so they do not work well in these sort of situations. Class B is too nice, so they won't purposely push and shove people. In other words, they lack the thirst to win.

It would appear that class D has many athletic students. So what they lack in intellect, they make up for in physical ability... how interesting. They may be defects, through and through, but pawns are there for a reason. They are to be sacrificed for the greater good, so nobody remembers them, or cares much when they are discarded, unless it was in a good position to become a queen. This is why I will keep them around for now. Class D is a fragile class. Just a little push, and it will topple. It is easy to tip the scales.

I meet the eyes of a familiar face and nod in understanding. So this is their declaration of war, huh. After that speech at the pool, I can tell that Horikita truly wants to make it to class A. To do that... She will have to use Kiyotaka to defeat me. Or, he must use her to defeat me. But it doesn't matter to me, who is used and who is using them. All that matters is that I win. Well, onto the next event else go. It's a shame that my train of thoughts has been cut off. Next is ... Ah, tug of war. I don't really understand this concept. How does one find fun in pulling on a rope to make another get pulled to their side? Seems like a child's game. Luckily, I wasn't signed up for it.

Of course, Sakayanagi isn't signed up for any sporting events, so she was sitting out as well. Hashimoto and Katsuragi are on this event... Well, they probably care more about the class than their petty rivalry. We are up against class B, then against the class that wins the other round of class C versus class D. This seems rather simple. Class B has some strong people, that's for sure, but our class is superior in this sort of event. Tug of war not only requires strength in the arms, but also the legs and back. Another important factor is the sense of balance of the person pulling on the rope.

If the person is clumsy, there is no doubt that they will inevitably have a poor sense of balance and will be easily knocked down when the rope on the other side is pulled hard enough. I can tell class B has some people like this, such as Chihiro. Our class has some of these people as well, but it doesn't matter. After all, Sakayanagi had carefully considered our physical aspects when writing our names down on the events. Well, she didn't care about my physical abilities though, and assumed I was a master of all. That... is rather conflicting to me. I don't want to stand out or cause trouble, but I also don't particularly desire to be looked upon as trash, in other words, I want to be average. But her plans... are throwing me into a loop.

I sigh, leaning on the wall for support, shuffling through my pockets for something. I used my other hand to fix my loose hair behind my back once more. I pulled out a bottle of pills and carefully popped two into my mouth, swelling the it as the bitterness hit my tongue, making me feel like coughing. I held it in, gulping down some water, watching the classes pull at the rope with all their might. I really don't get it...

Kiyotaka POV

Class D is up against class C. They are undoubtedly powerful physical wise, and also have a master tyrant boss as their leader, which make them quite a strong driving force. However, there is a way to win. Tug of war is a simple game to most, but arm strength is not all there is to it. A person needs to have a good core strength to be able to perform well in such an event. So, we chose people like Hirata and Sudo to participate. They are good at this sort of sport, Hirata being a team player and Sudo being an experienced athlete. Since Sudo's sport of preference is basketball, he has good arm and leg strength, and his core strength isn't too shabby either. He may be rather overconfident at times, but he has a great talent for sports, despite his shortcomings in other areas, such as the mind.

I gaze upon the classes and can't help but envision a child yanking at a toy only for another child to try and yank it back. Is this how normal childhoods are like? Do children fight, play, laugh, grit their teeth in anger, and smile? Do they cry when they are sad? Is this how it is out here? When I was younger I remember crying a lot. I cried almost every day for petty reasons, but she was always there for me, to comfort me, and give me warmth. Until she wasn't there anymore.

I shake my head and look back at the groups of students. I can hear their grunts of agony and pain, trying to prevail over the other. However, this match was set the moment it started. Ibuki yanked at the rope even harder suddenly. "Woah!" Sakura exclaimed, slipping on the ground and tumbling down, along with a few others from both the classes, yet she and Ibuki took the brunt of it. Since both were at the middle of the rope, they both fell, and each winced in pain. "Stop!" Sakayagami sensei ordered, checking on the girls. They were soon brought to the infirmary.

I watched as Sakura was helped by Haruka out and sighed. I'm such a rotten human being. The worst of the worst. The biggest defective of class D. However... I cannot help it. Seeing as this was necessary to win... It is what I will do. No matter what, I must win. I click stop on my phone recording. This may prove useful in the future. Then I turn around and walk off. Horikita, who was in this event, dusted her hands off and followed behind me. Then we headed to the infirmary.

Game of deception. Start, NOW!