"I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for you.
But it's okay.
You're... their child. And mine.
You might grow up a little twisted, but I know you'll turn out to be a good kid.
So please...
Run away.
Run.
Don't fight back.
Just run.
Take this child... and run.
No───."
It was a childhood memory.
Surely, it must have been my mother, whose face I can't even remember.
No... do I remember her?
I mean, I can recall this…
But now, I'm not so sure anymore.
(Maybe I just have terrible memory. I forgot Sagami and Ebina-san's quirks too.)
"…Ah, HEY, exchange student!?"
"Hm."
"You're totally zoning out, but we're starting—SAY HEY!?"
"…"
"No reaction!! That's cold—alright, HIGH START!"
Wolf's lethargic demeanor even makes Present Mic lower his volume.
"Do your job properly," Eraser Head mutters.
But even he prepares by adjusting the bandages around his eyes.
He anticipates that Hachiman Hikigaya might pull something.
The one who might suffer from that is his opponent: Honenuki.
To prevent it, not only Eraser Head, but also the pro-heroes in the audience and even Hiratsuka by the gate are on high alert.
Honenuki is the first to move at the starting signal.
He had observed Wolf's quirk during preliminaries and heard more details from Hayama and Sagami.
He controls air strongly enough to blow away Inferno Robot.
He hasn't used it directly on people yet, but if he does, they'd be blown straight out of bounds.
So the choice is clear.
The ground under Honenuki softens instantly, and his body sinks completely into it.
"!?"
"Whoa! B-class recommended student Honenuki just hid himself in the ground!? Is this his COOL strategy!?"
Hachiman doesn't know Honenuki's quirk.
But back when he was kidnapped by the League of Villains and forced to fight various enemies, that kind of uncertainty was the norm.
Just do what he always did.
(He sank into the ground? Not phased through—it rippled. Softened? Did he soften it? Could it be an illusion? Unlikely since the body is actually gone. A quirk that lets him merge into matter?)
He tests his theory by slamming a mass of air into the ground where Honenuki had been.
The wind kicks up, and the ground ripples.
As expected, it's softened—almost like water.
(…That means… it's like playing Whac-A-Mole.)
"So it's like playing Whac-A-Mole, huh?"
"!?"
Just as the ground beneath Hachiman shifts, he jumps.
At that same moment, a pair of hands bursts from the ground trying to grab him—Honenuki's.
But his feet aren't where Honenuki expected.
Surprised underground, Honenuki thinks:
(He read me!)
(That was close—barely dodged it.)
Hachiman floats midair, seen clearly by Honenuki.
He might've hoped Hachiman dodged by instinct, but no.
The air manipulation used to hover shows it was intentional.
Winds swirl like a storm around Wolf.
This match is going to drag, Honenuki realizes.
And Hachiman thinks the same.
One in the air, the other underground—neither can strike easily.
If Hachiman could connect to the concrete below, he could manipulate it and win instantly, but doing so would risk revealing his identity.
(…For now, let's shoot.)
Hachiman raises his right hand toward Honenuki.
Honenuki immediately starts to sink into the ground.
"Vann."
Compressed air launches from his palm at 150 km/h—an air cannon.
It flies toward where Honenuki had submerged, cracking the concrete.
But something feels off.
That surface was supposed to be soft, yet it cracked.
Maybe only Honenuki himself can phase into it.
Or maybe he can revert the soft ground back to solid—i.e., disable his quirk.
Time to test which one it is.
"Jeez… Air attacks are hard to follow. You can't see air! Give us some commentary!"
"He read Honenuki's ambush and dodged it, then countered with an air cannon. It's different from the initial probing shot. Honenuki realized what it was the moment Hachiman raised his hand—he must've known his quirk beforehand. Both of them are strategic types."
"Seriously, they're just high schoolers? (Well, one of them isn't…)"
"Class A usually relies on powerful quirks or raw strength. This match is a great learning opportunity."
"Yeah, but that guy—Wolf—he took down a robot with a huge wind blast! If he's not using that now then… wait!?"
Present Mic turns his eyes back to the field.
Dust swirls around Wolf—he's generating a soft wind on stage.
"The heck!? That's just a breeze! What's he doing!?"
"…Searching."
"Huh!?"
"…Or maybe… he's trying to end it."
It's confirmed that Honenuki is burrowing rather than phasing.
But how does he breathe underground?
This may be the key.
Thirty seconds pass since the whirlwind began.
Almost a full minute underground for Honenuki.
Wolf floats, watching quietly.
Maybe his prediction was wrong?
No.
A ripple behind him—air shifted the soft soil.
The swirling wind had disturbed the surface.
Now's the chance.
He slams a mass of air into the spot.
"!?"
"The ground just caved in!?"
"Look closely. The wind just swept away the softened soil."
Likely, Honenuki needs air like anyone underwater.
So the soft ground functions like a pool.
The swirling wind creates waves in that "pool" and reveals his location.
Then, a direct blast confirms the target.
A mistake to revert the ground to solid every time—had he kept it soft, the air cannon would've been ineffective.
Eraser Head nods: Wolf made the right call.
"…You still want to continue?"
"..."
Honenuki resurfaces, most of his body now exposed.
He could still burrow, but the opponent in front of him won't allow it.
That right hand is already aimed again.
And even if he could go under, he has no way to hit Wolf in the air.
"…Nah, I give up."
"…"
"Surrender declared! Winner: Wolf Eightis! Advancing to round two!!"
Wolf lands, while Honenuki pulls himself out of the ground.
The U.A. heroes watching breathe a sigh of relief—no serious harm.
They now feel more confident he wasn't infiltrating to harm students.
Still, precautions had been in place.
Wolf—Hachiman—feels the same relief.
His opponent wasn't made for offense.
His only winning chance was dragging Hachiman into the ground and hardening it to trap him.
A drag of a match.
Hachiman glances at Honenuki, who is muttering:
"…I guess charging in head-on wasn't gonna work. I showed my hand too early too… That was a mistake."
"…"
"I panicked, thinking the longer it went the more my quirk disadvantage would show… What should I have done…"
"...…You probably should've just broken the ground under me and swung."
"!"
The words slip out.
Honenuki stares at him in surprise.
That slipped from Hachiman involuntarily.
But Honenuki doesn't know who he really is.
And Hachiman doesn't care if his voice is recognized.
Even Midnight nearby is stunned.
It was sound advice.
"…But you'd just float again, right?"
"Yeah, but… if you knew that, then you should've gone all out first. If you can't win once I'm in the air, you should've ended it before that."
"So you're saying I should've gambled on a collapse?"
"If you had a better plan, sure. But clearly, you didn't. That's why you defaulted to dodging."
"…"
Honenuki thinks.
Hachiman regrets talking too much and starts walking off.
"…Hey."
"…"
A voice stops him.
Honenuki is now looking at him directly.
"If we get the chance… fight me again. Even if you leave after the festival."
"…I'll consider it."
"Yeah, right. That means no, huh? You're totally that type."
"…"
Hachiman sighs—wanting a rematch even after that?
Still… in real villain fights, you don't get to complain about quirk matchups.
You find a way.
Maybe that's what Honenuki wants too.
"See ya, Wolf Eightis."
"…That's not my name."
"Huh?"
He mutters it before realizing it.
Honenuki didn't hear.
Hachiman heads quickly toward the gate.
Honenuki walks out the opposite side.
Midnight watches the two, emotionally conflicted.
(So youthful!! Pure youth!! …If only he weren't a villain, I could actually enjoy this.)
"Next up, round one match seven! The Sparking Killing Boy, Denki Kaminari!! VS! The Water-and-Ice Beautiful Girl!! Yukino Yukinoshita!! Are you readyyy!?"
"There's no way I lose this," Kaminari smirked inwardly.
No matter how powerful Yukinoshita's quirk might be, it relied on water and ice.
Both conduct electricity well.
If he went full discharge at the starting signal, there'd be no way she could block it in this small arena.
Which meant he'd win! Easy peasy! He grinned.
"Yukinoshita-san, if I win, wanna grab dinner with me?"
"Reflect on your life and give up after you die."
"Isn't it enough just to reflect!? Wait—DIE!?"
"You really thought someone you've barely spoken to would be interested in you. What is your thought process?"
"So harsh!! S-So Yukinoshita-san, what kind of guys do you like? High standards?"
"…Well, lower than you'd think."
"Huh?"
Then why am I not good enough? Kaminari tilted his head.
Yukino ignored him and looked toward the Class A section of the stands.
The wolf-masked boy had just sluggishly taken his seat.
"…Midnight-sensei, the starting signal, please."
"Aw, I thought a teen drama was about to start."
"Save your jokes for the interviews."
"Boo, fine. Mic, we're ready!"
"…I don't really get what's going on, but I got the signal—okay, START!!"
Tilting his head in confusion, Present Mic still gave the signal.
The moment the match began, Kaminari discharged his electricity at full power.
Even if it fried his brain for a while, that'd still leave Yukinoshita paralyzed and unable to fight.
So there was no reason to hold back.
Kaminari's body glowed—then came the massive discharge.
Electricity covered the stage, forcing Midnight to retreat.
Even she, the referee, thought Yukinoshita had lost.
After a few seconds, as he neared the edge of brain-dead, Kaminari's glow faded and he became visible again.
But he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Yukinoshita stood there, calm and composed, surrounded by a thin film of water.
"Kaminari-kun, you really should think beyond full-discharge tactics."
"Wha… huh!? W-Why!?"
"Have you heard of pure water?"
"???"
"…It's useless to explain to you now. Ask Yaoyorozu later."
Yukino pointed at Kaminari.
The water film surrounding her instantly converged at her fingertip, forming a water sphere.
In the next instant, it launched like a bullet and struck Kaminari directly on the jaw.
His jaw snapped, and his head twisted—he collapsed.
He had suffered a concussion.
The audience fell completely silent at how easily he was taken down.
"Midnight-sensei, the judgment, please."
"Ah, right. …Kaminari-kun is unable to continue! Winner: Yukino Yukinoshita! Advancing to round two!!"
"I don't even know what just happened…! But with that final clean strike, Yukino Yukinoshita knocks Kaminari out cold! A true powerhouse appears—could she be a tournament favorite!?"
Well, of course, Hachiman sighed.
He was surprised she hadn't struck from the start.
Thinking about facing her in round three filled him with dread.
Facing Todoroki in the semifinals wouldn't be as bad—he didn't have to win that one.
But as things stood, his odds against Yukino were low.
If he used solid manipulation, he could probably win easily—but that risked exposing his identity.
At least let him use liquid manipulation.
However—
(…She's gotten fast. I couldn't even see it. That quirk was already OP, and now it's even stronger. Yeah, I really don't wanna fight her. Time to cheat.)
"Now for match eight of the first round! We're halfway through round one! Let's make it flashy! A sparkling beam of dazzling radiance—Class A's Aoyama Yuga!! Facing off against the blunt-faced but skilled—Class A's Saki Kawasaki!!"
Ah right, Kawasaki's up next, thought Hachiman as he spotted her already on stage—he hadn't even noticed her leave.
Apparently, it was the second Class A vs. Class A battle in a row.
Her opponent: a cheerful? blond boy from Class A.
But since he was in the lower bracket during prelims and was on the same cavalry team as Shinso, Hachiman hadn't seen him use his quirk at all.
He had no clue what it was.
Though unlike others, Aoyama had a large belt around his waist—that might be a clue.
"Kawasaki-san☆ I want you to feel my sparkle☆"
"Can't. I don't understand a single thing you're saying."
"Non! You'll understand soon… Besides, I've wanted to talk to you guys."
"?"
"You students from Soubu, I mean☆"
"…Then at least pick Yuigahama or Totsuka. I'm not really suited to talking."
Turning her body halfway, Saki took a fighting stance against Aoyama.
His quirk: Navel Laser.
A powerful laser beam fired from his bellybutton—definitely a high-offense quirk.
Which, ironically, made him an easy opponent for Saki.
"Aoyama-kun… probably has no chance."
"Right. If he had some other tactic besides firing lasers, maybe…"
"Huh?"
Midoriya and Uraraka turned around to the voices of Yukino and Yui.
Their conversation sounded as if the outcome was already decided.
Yukino continued, completely certain:
"Kawasaki-san's quirk could essentially neutralize all direct-damage type quirks."
"Neutralize? I thought her quirk was something like delivering shockwaves?"
"No, Uraraka-san. Her quirk is Shock Conversion. You remember that villain called a Nomu? The one with shock absorption?"
Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki, and Kirishima recalled the black-skinned Nomu.
The one who fought All Might in a brutal battle.
That villain had been retrieved via warp gate after the fight was interrupted by the villain known as Connector.
"Ready… START!!"
"Kawasaki's quirk is similar to that shock absorption. But she has more versatility, so in that sense it's a superior version."
"What!?"
"Superior!? What do you mean?"
"Saki-chan's quirk is called Shock Conversion!"
As Yukino explained, the match began.
Aoyama instantly fired his Navel Laser at Saki.
But she didn't even try to dodge.
Aoyama assumed she had frozen in fear and began thinking of a flashy victory pose.
The laser hit her directly.
"She absorbs the shock inflicted on her body and stores it. Then she can release that stored energy."
"W-What kind of quirk is that!?"
"It's similar to BMI hero Fat Gum's quirk. He uses his fat to absorb hits. Kawasaki-san can do that without any fat. But the shock only lasts for about an hour before dispersing."
Aoyama stopped firing.
Saki stood completely unfazed, just as calm as before the match started.
Aoyama froze in place.
Then, Saki stepped forward.
Aoyama flinched.
"Wait… is Kawasaki-san basically invincible!?"
"Not exactly. There must be a limit to the power she can absorb."
"W-What kind of limit!?"
"…Back in middle school, she took a high-speed impact from over 200 kg of stone and came out unharmed."
"That was crazy! Even Hikki kept asking if it was really okay before going through with it. Normally you'd think she might die!"
(…Yeah, that happened.)
Hachiman watched the match, listening in on their conversation.
He remembered how scary Saki was back then—not just being chosen as a training partner, but for being capable of such things.
Even if she had the goal of becoming a top-earning hero, it was shocking.
"Then what about when she blew away that robot!?"
"She says she stores shock even just from the ground resistance of walking. That full hour of stored energy was probably what she used on the robot."
"That's all it takes…?"
"So just walking for an hour can knock over a robot? Still confusing."
"Same. What does it mean, Yukinon?"
"Put simply: if you walk for an hour, that's about 5,000 steps. Combine the impact of 5,000 people stepping—and that's enough to topple a 15-meter tall humanoid robot."
"5,000 people… yeah, that actually sounds possible."
"Even 1,000 people running can cause a small tremor. Makes sense…"
Ashido and a newly awakened Kaminari seemed to accept it.
Hachiman listened, remembering hearing a similar explanation from Saki herself back in middle school.
(If you team up with me, I can release a massive shock any time. Pick me, Hikigaya.)
That line stuck with him more than anything else—so much that it made him forget the rest.
He never imagined someone would say, let's form a team in the future.
Back then, only weirdos like Zaimokuza talked like that.
Eventually, two more people did.
"Winner: Saki Kawasaki!!"
Lost in nostalgia, Hachiman looked back to find the match already over.
Aoyama had fired at her several times, but she didn't even flinch.
Now he lay flat on his back outside the ring, while Saki was already walking away with her back turned.
"…There was too big a power gap—no, this was another case of quirk mismatch! Contestants, you'll need more than just your quirks! The level is High!!"
"And next up—it's me! Fufuu, nice to meet you, Mina-chan!"
"Mm! Nice to meet you too, Orimoto!"
"Now it's a battle of the Class A girls! With that sunny smile, she lights up the stage—Kaori Orimoto!! Versus the Acid Princess herself, Mina Ashido!! Is this a gal-on-gal showdown!?"
Next is Orimoto, huh, thought Hachiman as another familiar face stepped onto the stage.
He couldn't help but notice that all the entrants from Soubu were somehow people he knew.
Sure, it made sense that those with strong or rare quirks often climbed to the top of the social ladder—but to have ten of them he personally knew? That was another matter.
Besides, Yukinoshita and Kawasaki weren't even in the ladder—they ruled outside of it.
And Orimoto hadn't even been a student at Soubu Middle to begin with.
"Gal, huh? I wasn't really going for that vibe, but okay—hilarious!"
"I'm glad you think so too! Hilarious!!"
"Shut up and just start already."
"Harsh, my friend! Don't take away my mic—my precious tool!"
"Start."
"That's my job!!"
With Present Mic being his usual noisy self, Aizawa gave the signal to start.
For some reason, the two girls began the match at that signal.
The others gave a "Guess that's fine?" kind of look.
"Heh, I already know your strategy, Orimoto! You'll touch me, teleport us both, and toss me out of bounds, right!?"
"Hmm? Something like that~"
"…Hey."
Hachiman murmured, slightly embarrassed.
Good thing Kawasaki hadn't returned yet.
Could they please not shout their strategies out loud like that? Everyone could hear it.
"That's gotta be some kind of plan, right!?"
"…Hmm, I doubt it in Kaori-chan's case."
"Yeah, same with Ashido. She's not that kind of schemer."
Kirishima and Yui shut down Kaminari's guess, making him cover his face in shame as Jirou giggled.
"Then… how about this!?"
"Oh?"
Ashido's body began oozing thick acid.
She adjusted its viscosity and acidity to safe levels—but there were limits.
Too much, and even her own skin would be at risk.
"Hehehe! Try touching me now, Orimoto! I'm just gonna keep pushing you into a corner like this!"
"Hey, won't your clothes melt?"
"They will! So don't look! I'm making sure the important parts don't melt but still—so embarrassing!!"
"Oh my god, that's hilarious and kinda lewd!!"
"Gyaaaah!!"
What a self-destructive strategy, thought Hachiman, turning his gaze away.
Most self-disciplined boys did the same.
Mineta, of course, had been tied up by Tsuyu and Shoji as soon as Ashido began secreting acid.
Yukino, meanwhile, gave Hachiman a sharp glance.
"Hmm… I think I can manage it. If I touch you."
"Wait! It won't melt your hand off or anything, but it'll definitely blister!!"
"But you know? Everyone's been going all in to get this far. I'm no different."
Orimoto gave a carefree laugh.
Her words didn't match her bright expression.
She began inching toward Ashido.
"Most of us from Soubu came here with real determination."
"Determination?"
"Yeah. Like… wanting to get someone important back. We ran forward, chasing the hero's path so we could make that happen. Watching those two… it inspired me too."
"It's not like me," she laughed brightly.
Those two—mentioned without naming—watched their match with a mix of pride and embarrassment.
And the person they wanted to bring back covered his face from the second row.
(…Keep it down, seriously.)
"So I won't stop, and I won't quit. Sounds kinda heroic, doesn't it? That's why I'm reaching out now."
"…"
"I'm coming, Mina-chan."
"…I can't afford to lose either!!"
The moment Ashido responded, Orimoto vanished.
She reappeared behind Ashido, who immediately turned with sharp reflexes.
Her reaction speed was excellent—top tier even among Class A girls.
But then Orimoto vanished again.
She began warping in rapid succession around Ashido, appearing and disappearing over a dozen times.
Ashido couldn't respond—her senses couldn't keep up.
Thinking it was unfair, she jumped away from where Orimoto had disappeared.
The acid scattered in her wake, and she did a quick roll to regain footing.
But Orimoto was nowhere in sight.
"…Where'd she go?"
"Up, silly~"
"Huh?"
Ashido looked up and saw Orimoto's face descending from above.
In that split second, the scenery shifted again.
Clouds moved slightly to the side as the world tilted.
Then Orimoto vanished once more—and sky filled Ashido's vision.
A hint of floating sensation, followed by the shock of landing.
Wait… was I floating?
"O-Out of bounds! Winner: Orimoto-san!!"
"Huh!?"
Turning to the sound of Midnight's voice, Ashido saw Orimoto waving with a handkerchief, wiping her hand while soaking in cheers.
Ashido glanced down and realized—she was standing outside the ring.
"…W-What just happened!? That was teleportation!?"
"Yup. Cool, right?"
"Cool!—No wait, seriously!? What just happened!? Where did you even go!?"
"Oh, I was just hovering above you, warping mid-air repeatedly."
"HUH!?"
While Ashido was rolling, Orimoto had warped above her and started falling.
Before touching her, she warped again—upward.
She did this repeatedly, effectively vanishing from Ashido's field of vision.
The moment Ashido turned to look behind her, Orimoto struck—warping directly above, tapping her head, and teleporting her out of bounds.
Orimoto herself warped back onto the stage, leaving Ashido alone outside the ring.
(…So she overcame it. Her teleportation used to have a cooldown… maybe it still does, but it didn't seem to stop her. Back then, she'd get nauseous from using it too often. Looks like she conquered that.)
Hachiman remembered the Orimoto from grade school—how he'd rushed over when she collapsed from sickness due to her quirk.
That moment changed things between them.
"Ugh, Orimoto's way too strong…"
"Nah, not really. Just kinda nauseous."
"Huh?"
"Like you, Ochako-chan. Using my quirk repeatedly makes me feel sick. I'm way better now than in elementary, though."
The two girls walked off together.
Ashido's gate was the opposite direction, but Midnight didn't stop them—she nodded in approval.
"Wait, quirk side effects can get better?"
"Not easily. I worked hard. Back then… someone took care of me when I got sick. But… I pushed them away."
"You pushed them away?"
"Yeah. …Sorry, not really something to bring up out of nowhere."
"…Is your hand okay?"
"Ahh, it's a little blistered, but acid is no joke. Great defense. I'm off to Recovery Girl!"
"Wait! I'll go with you! I'll tag along!"
"Really!? Thanks, Mina-chan!"
"Hey, can I call you Kaori!?"
"Totally!!"
Six years ago.
Fourth grade.
When she was confessed to by the boy who nursed her back to health.
When she later learned that his father had passed away.
Guilt and misfortune collided—and she lost the courage to speak to him.
It would've been nice if we could've grown closer… little by little.
Orimoto smiled inwardly.
As the two girls giggled their way through the gate, Midnight gave a thumbs-up from the stage.
She was definitely the one having the most fun at this sports festival.
What kind of teacher is she… Hachiman frowned from under his mask.
"…Yukinon, I'm heading to the waiting room early."
"!"
"Oh, Yui-chan? Already?"
"There's still like, three or four matches left!"
"Yeah… I just want to prepare myself mentally."
"…I'll come too, Yuigahama-san."
"Yukinon… thank you."
Yui stood, and Yukino walked quietly behind her.
Hachiman silently watched them go.
"What's up with Yui-chan?"
"Nervous, maybe…"
"…Probably because her opponent is Miura-san."
"Totsuka, you know something?"
Sero caught on to Totsuka's quiet remark—Soubu classmates, after all.
"Miura-san and Yuigahama-san were best friends. Along with Ebina-san from Class B. They were always together."
"So it's hard for her to fight a best friend…"
"Huh? Isn't Yukinoshita-san also Yui's best friend?"
Sato asked, and Totsuka chuckled.
Even Hachiman had to laugh a little at the absurd image of Yukino and Miura holding hands and giggling.
Impossible.
"Yukinon and Yui are super close, but Miura… it's more like rivalry. Or just not getting along."
"Ah… complicated."
"Miura's always the one picking fights with Yukinoshita…"
Kawasaki sighed, her tone slightly mocking.
Not that she got along with either of them, Hachiman noted behind his mask.
"That's why it's tough for her. …But I know Yuigahama-san won't back down."
"Well, yeah. Even if it's her best friend, this is a rare chance to impress the pros at the sports festival. No room for holding back…"
"No… I mean, she wouldn't back down even if this wasn't the sports festival."
"…What do you mean?"
"Yuigahama-san has changed. …I think, for Hachiman—Hikigaya Hachiman."
"…!"
The name hit Hachiman like lightning.
No—stay in character. Be Wolf.
He silently turned to the match.
A ponytailed girl was fighting a bird-headed boy.
"Yuigahama won't stop until she saves him. Yukinoshita's amazing—already has her provisional license in junior high. But in terms of growth? Yui's on another level."
"Pro license in junior high!?"
"And Yui surpassed that!?"
"Those two won't stop—no matter how tired or hurt they get. They want to be the kind of heroes who save people, no matter what. I think… we're all learning from them."
Is it my fault?
Hachiman remembered USJ.
Yukino held hostage—her costume rigged.
Shigaraki trying to use her as a shield to kill All Might.
But she risked herself, broke free, and tried to save him.
Was I the one who pushed her into that choice?
A shadow crossed his face.
He looked up—no clouds.
But a feeling… something like a hero's spirit…
was beginning to take root inside him.
"...Sagami-san's match just ended. Only two more before it's Yuigahama-san's turn."
"...Sagamin's strong."
"Yes. In close combat, she's formidable. She's tall, and she moves with feline grace. ...Of course, I don't plan on losing even if she lands a hit."
"...Hey, Yukinon."
"What is it?"
"Do you think... do you think Hikki is watching the sports festival somewhere?"
"...Yes. I'm sure he is."
"...I see."
"Don't worry, Yuigahama-san. When we meet him again someday... then, we can show him the recording of the sports festival until he gets sick of it. To make up for the time we lost."
"..."
"So give it your all. So you won't have any regrets. So you can be proud in front of Hikigaya-kun. Do your best."
"...It's rare to hear you say something like that, Yukinon."
"...Is it?"
"Still... thank you, Yukinon."
"..."
"The match is over already."
"That was quick. ...Next is—"
"Hayama-kun. So this one will probably end even quicker. ...I have to go."
"...Good luck."
"Yeah! I'll do my best!!"