Infinite Possibilities (Classroom of the Elite x Male Reader)

[Chapter Twelve]: 'Sports Festival'

With everyone working as hard as possible, practicing whenever they could, the days passed rather quickly, until there was only a single week left before the sports festival, an event that had been discussed a lot. Everytime Y/N passed a small group in a hallway, or listened to his classmates, they would be talking about it, and it was certainly a lot better to be hearing people talk about something he was interested, contrary to the most random or disinteresting information he'd ever heard.

Consequently, with all but one week left, Class D had to fill in their participation table with who would do what event by the end of the day. While Hirata stood at the podium at the front of the class, Kikyo faced the blackboard with chalk in hand to record the preparations. Y/N was quite disinterested in most events, aside from the running ones, but he already knew he'd be placed down for most, anyway.

"Without further ado, let's decide on the entries," said Hirata in a clear and loud voice, so that everyone could definitely hear him. 

His strategy on deciding the entries was using his notes upon notes of data regarding their class, ranging from the times they had for races (Y/N always had the highest in the individual ones) to the numbers for their grip strengths. Surprisingly enough, Hirata was able to simultaneously respect everyone's individual wishes (Y/N just volunteered for events even though he didn't want to do them, since someone had to take one for the team. He decided it would be himself for once), while also taking into account everybody's abilities for his decisions. 

"Okay. For the final event, the 1200-metre relay, Y/N will be our anchor," Hirata announced, and nobody really had any doubts in their mind, since Y/N was by far their fastest runner. In relays, you'd want to put your fastest runners at the start (to create an early lead for the slower runners in the middle), or at the end (to increase the gap, or catch up to anyone ahead). Hirata probably considered putting Y/N at the start, but Pluto, their second fastest runner, was much better at starting than ending. Besides, if they were losing badly, Y/N could be trusted to at least secure a spot in the top three.

But when the discussion ended, and Y/N was midway through standing up, Horikita was standing right next to him. "Can I... help you?" he quietly asked.

"I want to talk to you about something. Come with me," she said firmly, and Y/N just nodded, but the moment she turned towards Hirata, he gave her the Giyuu stare behind her back. "Oh, Hirata. Can I have a moment of your time? I want to discuss the participation table we decided on earlier. I'd like you to give me the anchor position in the 1200-metre relay at the end of the festival."

Y/N just blinked at her with confusion. "You are aware that the fastest runner is meant to be the anchor, right?" he asked blankly. "Assuming I couldn't be the anchor, that spot would then go to Pluto, the second fastest. Do you just not trust me?"

"No, that's not it. I know your abilities from seeing you practice," she said. 

"Then what exactly is the problem with me being anchor?" Y/N asked.

"I have my reasons," she said ominously. "But you're as good at the starting dash as you are at the end. If we strategically placed both you and Sudo at first and second, we can guarantee a large lead that can't be closed so easily—"

"Is the reason why you want to be anchor... because you think your brother is going to be an anchor, too?" Y/N questioned, speaking over her. 

"...Yes," she said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

"So, you want to be an anchor with your brother?" Hirata deduced, seeming interested in her reasoning but also seeming reluctant to change the order the class decided. 

"Some stuff happened," Ayanokoji came in; he had apparently been listening in the whole time. "I guess Horikita and her brother aren't really on speaking terms. She probably wants this opportunity to patch things up with him." She glared at him for an instant before turning back to them.