Chapter 97: A One-Way Path Beyond Return

Xiao Chun Miura wandered alone, unconsciously arriving at the corner of the Sports Field.

This area, used for Track and Field, had completed all its high jump and long jump events a few days ago.

No students lingered here anymore; only some sports equipment that hadn’t been collected yet remained.

However, none of these trivial things registered in Xiao Chun Miura’s eyes.

Her mind was filled with the expression of Kanzaki Sou when he appeared beside Kondo Haruka as she fell.

After the accident on the track, Yui Hori still finished the race, but naturally, she didn’t get a good rank after the collision and the ensuing commotion.

Moreover, after that, Yui Hori, Yuzuki Yasuda, and Mio Sato couldn’t say much to Xiao Chun Miura either.

Yui Hori only forced herself to grumble a few words about Kondo Haruka, saying she obviously approached on purpose and got knocked over, and even pretended to be more seriously hurt when carried away…

That was all she said.

Yuzuki Yasuda and Mio Sato didn’t chime in.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Kondo Haruka lying on the ground clutching her ankle looked truly pitiful…

Plus, she was the Tennis Club Ace at school, with athletic talent that shone brightly and couldn’t be hidden. If this incident resulted in any serious consequences…

The pressure from all these factors weighed on their hearts, making each of them feel tangled inside.

Originally, they just wanted to stand up for their friend and never intended to do anything too excessive to Kondo Haruka.

Even Yui Hori, who had been the most emotional earlier, couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh to Kondo Haruka anymore.

She was afraid that this accident might really cause some irreversible damage to that girl’s leg.

Although she did feel indignant for Xiao Chun Miura, she had never wished for Kondo Haruka to lose the ability to run or jump.

As a result, Xiao Chun Miura, who had initially wanted to be alone for a while, found that her friends didn’t stay by her side after she voiced her thoughts.

After giving her some brief comfort, Yui Hori and the others also walked away dispiritedly.

So now, Xiao Chun Miura could only pace back and forth in the deserted corner of the Sports Field, her heart in turmoil.

What should I do.

Kondo Haruka is injured.

Kanzaki Sou will definitely stay with her for a while.

Although the cause of the accident is still unclear, it’s obvious at a glance that it’s related to us.

How will Kanzaki Sou see this…?

The situation with Yui Hori’s fall was certainly worrying, but Xiao Chun Miura had no time to think about it.

What mattered was survival; her mind was consumed by the issue of Kanzaki Sou’s Goodwill fluctuations.

***

According to her original plan, she was supposed to be the one knocked down in front of everyone at the Sports Festival.

But because she was caught up in the competitive spirit at the time, she missed the best chance to show weakness…

Of course, she didn’t exactly regret that, but still.

Xiao Chun Miura never expected the situation to be reversed.

Now, the one knocked down in public and evoking sympathy wasn’t her—the originally weaker party—but the always strong Kondo Haruka.

Confident, dominant, already holding the advantage.

Now she even gained sympathy points from Kanzaki Sou.

Before she fell, the balance was already tipping away from Xiao Chun Miura.

Now, it had completely shifted toward Kondo Haruka.

The scales had tilted…

Things had gotten really bad.

Xiao Chun Miura paced anxiously, her heart growing more uneasy with every thought.

She had never expected things to develop like this.

Is this the compulsory force of the plot?

If Kanzaki Sou spent time with Kondo Haruka in the Infirmary and they exchanged some key words…

The Goodwill might instantly soar.

This was a classic Favorability Event in a Text Adventure Game.

Such a scene never appeared in her Memory of the game.

In fact, her recollections of the Sports Festival had been vague these past ten days, and she couldn’t remember any concrete details.

Whether this Infirmary scene had occurred in the game was also impossible to judge.

But what she could confirm now was—

The System had said before that “no matter what,” the Goodwill would rise to a high level.

She had been wondering how that would manifest.

She wanted to take precautions, but never imagined this possibility.

She hadn’t even signed up for the Class Group competition—she only went to cheer for Yui Hori so she wouldn’t feel discouraged.

Then she got dragged onto the track by her and ended up colliding with Kondo Haruka.

Neither she nor Yui Hori had done anything wrong, yet she was still caught up in a Goodwill Event between Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka.

The proud and strong heroine, showing vulnerability after being injured, then being cared for with gentle concern by the male lead…

And because of this injury, Kanzaki Sou came to realize a new side of Kondo Haruka he’d never seen before…

Xiao Chun Miura felt a tightness in her forehead, her breathing becoming subconsciously rapid.

This was no longer about blocking progress; she was now actively pushing them together.

Xiao Chun Miura instinctively called up the Goodwill Interface only she could see.

[Kanzaki Sou’s Goodwill toward Kondo Haruka: — ]

The familiar translucent blue interface flickered before the girl’s eyes, seemingly loading data.

Xiao Chun Miura held her breath, staring at the shifting garbled text.

Come on.

Please don’t go up…

Please don’t go up.

[ —- ]

However, the System seemed broken, never displaying the latest value.

“Breaking down at a critical moment!”

Xiao Chun Miura stomped her foot in frustration.

She had finally summoned the courage to check, but now it refused to give her a straight answer.

It was like even the death sentence wouldn’t come cleanly.

The fear of the unknown was more torturous than a direct bad ending.

Xiao Chun Miura looked up.

Before her was the quietest corner of the Sports Field.

Compelled by some impulse, she gazed upward.

Behind the pile of neglected equipment lay a sloped lawn.

Further above was the Teaching Building area.

From Xiao Chun Miura’s position, she could only hear the distant noise of students from the Sports Field behind her.

But her eyes couldn’t help but lock onto the silent Teaching Building.

The Infirmary was in the Teaching Building—so Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka were over there.

Was anyone else in the Infirmary now?

Or was it just the two of them?

What were they doing?

What were they saying?

Would Kondo Haruka use this chance to confess…?

Would Kanzaki Sou, out of guilt or pity, accept her feelings?

Is it because this is a Favorability Event that I can’t see the Goodwill value now…?

Countless tangled thoughts crashed in her mind, making it impossible for Xiao Chun Miura to stay calm.

No.

I can’t just stand here and wait.

Xiao Chun Miura bit her lip.

She had to know what was happening.

Even if it meant eavesdropping.

Once this idea surfaced, it couldn’t be suppressed.

Courtesy, moral restraint—such things became insignificant before the fear of a survival crisis.

Xiao Chun Miura clenched her teeth.

She hadn’t made up her mind yet, but her feet had already moved on their own.

Then, she left the Sports Field by the steps and headed toward the lawn above.

And ahead, was the Infirmary.

The Teaching Building was quiet.

Most students had gone to the Sports Field to watch the last few events, which were mixed competitions between staff and students, so even the teachers were mostly gone.

The corridor was empty—only Xiao Chun Miura’s figure remained.

She relaxed her steps as much as possible, trying to avoid any sound from her shoes.

If Kanzaki Sou or Kondo Haruka caught her here, she didn’t know how to explain herself.

So she ended up looking like she was sneaking around.

Finally, Xiao Chun Miura reached the door of the Infirmary.

The door was slightly ajar.

From the corridor, she could see the off-white sliding door of the Infirmary, with a narrow gap along the wall.

Just as Xiao Chun Miura was about to peek around the corner, voices drifted from inside the Infirmary.

Because the corridor was so quiet, Xiao Chun Miura could catch the faint sounds of conversation.

She quickly withdrew her foot from beyond the corner, focusing intently on the voices coming from the room.

It still hurts…

That was Kondo Haruka’s voice.

Usually so strong-willed, but now with a hint of tears and vulnerability—a tone Xiao Chun Miura had never heard from her before.

“You have to bear with it, Haruka.”

Unexpectedly, though it sounded like he was caring for his childhood friend, Kanzaki Sou’s voice wasn’t particularly gentle.

The more she listened, the more surprised Xiao Chun Miura became.

Not only was he not gentle, but Kanzaki Sou’s tone toward Kondo Haruka was even more stern than usual.

Good—it didn’t sound like a confession was happening.

Hearing this, Xiao Chun Miura relaxed a little.

“Sou-kun…am I useless?”

Then, in the next second, she heard Kondo Haruka’s words, spoken almost like a plea for comfort.

Xiao Chun Miura tensed again.

Kondo Haruka seemed to sniffle, her voice full of grievance:

“I really wanted to win… I wanted you to see my cool side…but I messed up…”

Xiao Chun Miura unconsciously clenched her fists.

Damn it, at a time like this.

How could Kanzaki Sou resist such words?

“Haruka, don’t say things like that.”

“But, Sou-kun…”

Kanzaki Sou sighed, and the sound of wringing a towel came from the Infirmary.

“Haruka, not getting first place doesn’t change anything.”

“You don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself or overthink things.”

“But…”

Kondo Haruka’s voice paused, as if hesitating.

“Sou-kun, do you blame me?”

“Blame you for what?”

“For being reckless, insisting on competing with someone from Class (5), then getting myself hurt and making you lose the match too…”

Outside the door, Xiao Chun Miura’s heart skipped a beat.

Those were the very words she had prepared!

And now Kondo Haruka was saying them?

She had to admit, Kondo Haruka was probably maxing out the Goodwill right now.

If her childhood friend tried so hard for her, and after failing to achieve her goal, showed such vulnerability…

Taking a step back to advance, showing weakness on purpose, with a normally proud personality becoming soft in private—

All of that was sure to trigger a guy’s protective instincts.

Kanzaki Sou was silent for a while.

Xiao Chun Miura’s heart rose.

What would he say?

It felt like a death sentence was about to be handed down.

Xiao Chun Miura shivered.

“…Haruka.”

At last, Kanzaki Sou spoke.

His voice was calm—but the unusual tone and atmosphere made both girls inside and outside the door hold their breath.

“We’ve known each other for so long. You know I wouldn’t blame you for something like this—”

“You’ve always been number one. I know you’re used to winning.”

“Not winning once doesn’t mean anything.”

At this point, Kanzaki Sou paused before continuing.

“But, Haruka.”

“Like I just said, we’ve known each other for a long time.”

“You know me, and I know you.”

“No one can beat you on the track—you’ve never been shaken at the start or during a lane change.”

“Just now—”

“…You crashed into her on purpose, didn’t you?”