Cote: Elite in Action

Setting the Stage: The Path to the Competition

Two weeks have passed since the announcement of the sports festival, and just as I planned, I've been making all my classmates train with discipline.

—I can't do this anymore! —Mako exclaimed, panting as she ran on the track.

—Come on, Mako, just two more laps and you can rest —I encouraged her.

—If I run another lap, I'm going to die! —she said, breathing heavily.

—If that happens, don't worry. I promise I'll organize a good funeral for you —I replied with a teasing smile.

—You're a demon! —she shouted, but against all odds, she kept running.

This has been our daily routine for the past few days. With only two weeks left before the festival starts, my goal is to ensure my class performs excellently physically. Fortunately, it hasn't been too difficult; most of my classmates aren't entirely sedentary. Some were even already enrolled in the gym, which boosts our average physical performance. As for academic performance, my class also stands out as the best, partly due to the study groups we've maintained since the first exams. Everyone has to participate at least three times a week to ensure a good performance.

As my classmates continued running, I observed each one of them, making mental notes for future reference. Honami, as I already knew, has exceptional physical skills; she's undoubtedly the best in my class both physically and academically. Minamikata-san, who is part of the swimming club, also has solid physical performance. Mako, while not outstanding physically, has proven to be very competent academically. Kobashi-san, Shiranami-san, and Andou-san maintain average performance, which isn't bad, but the one I'm most concerned about is...

Yuki. I didn't see her on the track. Where could she be? This isn't the first time she's disappeared. I went to find her and, as I expected, she was behind the gym. Yuki has never been good at physical activities. Before training, her performance was pathetic, although she has improved somewhat over time. Still, she remains far behind the rest. Academically, however, she is quite brilliant, partly thanks to me; I've been tutoring her since the beginning.

—Yuki, you know you still have laps to run, right? —I said to the girl, who was sitting on a bench, clearly avoiding the training.

—I don't want to —she replied without even looking at me.

—We've talked about this. It's important that you improve your physical skills. Besides the sports festival, we don't know what kind of exams we'll face in the future, and they might require more in terms of physical endurance —I reminded her, trying to sound reasonable.

—I'm tired. Exercise isn't my thing —she said, crossing her arms.

—Precisely because it isn't your thing, that's why you need to improve the most —I retorted, starting to lose a bit of patience. Lately, Yuki had become quite lazy.

—I've run enough for today. It's more than enough —she said as she slumped onto the bench.

I couldn't let her get away with it. I approached and, without warning, carried her like a sack of potatoes.

—Kayden, put me down right now! —she shouted, visibly annoyed.

—No. And if you don't complete the three laps you have left, I'll ban you from my room for a month —I threatened. Yuki spent too much time in my room, probably because it had everything: a computer, consoles, food. She had become so accustomed to it that she seemed to spend more time in my room than in hers.

—You wouldn't dare! —she challenged me, but her tone no longer sounded so confident.

—Want to test me? —I responded with a serious look. She knew I wasn't joking. Maybe I had been too lenient with her, and it was time to be stricter.