第三百零七章:体育仓库事件
"Regarding the sports festival events, if anyone has suggestions, please feel free to share. Let's brainstorm before it starts."
During self-study time, Iino Miko stood on the podium of Class 1-B addressing the students. Because she's only 147 cm tall, the podium was almost at her chest level, making her look quite adorable.
Japanese high schools have many unique sports festival events, some of which are rarely seen in other countries.
For example:
Itakizukuri (板木桩): Teams defend giant wooden poles while opponents try to topple the rival's pole—a physical collision event.
Tug-of-war: A classic.
Object Retrieval Race: Each class sends a runner who starts on one side of the track, runs to a box filled with lots, picks one, then must find the object or person indicated on the lot, and return to the start with it as fast as possible.
Three-legged race: Pairs stand side by side, with one leg of each tied together, testing balance and cooperation.
Bread-biting race and Horseback battle—all sorts of events not found in traditional sports.
"You guys... can't you just do something normal for once?"
"It's tradition every year, what's wrong with that?"
Yao Yaoling's deskmate, Ishigami Yu, stared thoughtfully at a blank sheet on the desk.
This year's festival seems to want to add some new sports events, so opinions were being collected via class voting.
"Did the school give any requirements?"
"They want events that everyone can join, collective activities."
"Collective activities, huh... I think I get it."
"Every time you say 'I get it,' I feel like you misunderstand," Ishigami said, head down, jotting down suggestions.
"By the way, this year parents are allowed to come, right? Will your parents come, Yao?"
"Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. They might send someone instead. My dad and mom aren't slackers."
"Wait, your uncle and aunt are busy working?"
"No, busy traveling," Yao said. "They go all kinds of weird places and bring back local specialties—like white-haired robots, jeweled gloves—really strange stuff."
"Uh... where do they go?"
"No clue, all sorts of random places. I used to travel with them a lot as a kid."
While talking, Yao finished writing his suggestion.
"Alright, done."
"What did you write?"
Ishigami leaned over to look at Yao's paper.
Written in big characters was: "Brawl".
"I think Iino-san will get mad."
"I think this fits the school's requirements perfectly."
"No no no, no matter how much the school likes collective activities, they won't allow students to have brawls."
Buzz~
Yao's phone suddenly vibrated. He picked it up and saw a message from Shirogane Miyuki.
[Yao, urgent situation.]
"Hm?"
Yao frowned slightly and sent a reply.
[What happened?]
[I got trapped while organizing the gym storage. The door was locked from outside.]
[Shirogane-san, you're locked inside the gym storage alone?]
[No, I'm not alone. Shino-sama (Shinomiya) is here too.]
"..."
Yao started thinking.
One boy and one girl locked inside the gym storage—what could possibly happen?
If it was only Shirogane, Yao would have already rushed to rescue him. But now with Shinomiya too...
"Ishigami, question for you."
"What?"
"If a boy and a girl are locked inside a gym storage, what usually happens afterward?"
"Oh, that? It's a very common trope in dating sims and anime." Ishigami replied while writing suggestions on the paper.
"A few years ago, this was a very typical scenario: the male and female leads go into the gym storage, a passerby sees the door is ajar, assumes no one's inside, and locks the door. Then, inside the closed space, the boy and girl develop feelings for each other due to the 'suspension bridge effect.' It's a cliché."
"Develop feelings, huh..."
"Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"Nah, nothing."
Yao sent a quick reply.
[Got it, Shirogane-san. I'm coming now.]
[Thanks, you're a big help.]
After sending the message, Yao put the phone away, stood up from the chair, and headed for the door.
"Ishigami, help me deliver this note, I have to step out for a bit."
"Huh? You want me to give the 'brawl' note to Iino? Hey, wait—"
Before Ishigami could finish, Yao had already left the classroom.
—————————————————— Half an hour earlier ——————————————————
"Why do we have to check the gym storage inventory at this time?"
"Well, the sports festival is coming soon."
Shirogane Miyuki and Shinomiya Kaguya were tasked by the school to check the equipment stored in the gym storage hidden behind a grove at the back of the academy.
The storage was obviously old and dilapidated, its decrepit look clashing with the noble atmosphere of Shuchiin Academy. The dim interior felt like a horror movie set.
"This rope still looks usable."
"Yeah, after decades unused, some equipment might become a safety hazard. Better to get rid of the unusable stuff early."
While checking the inventory, Shirogane smiled at Shinomiya.
"Honestly, compared to the equipment, the storage building itself is more of a problem. What if we get locked in here? No one would hear us."
"Hahaha, no way."
Shinomiya laughed, turning the door handle.
Click, click.
"..."
The door was locked.
Whether due to old hardware or someone locking it intentionally, Shirogane and Shinomiya accidentally triggered the infamous Gym Storage Incident.
Bang bang bang bang!
"Is anyone there? Please open the door!" Shirogane knocked and shouted.
No response.
He tried pulling the door but it wouldn't budge.
"Can't open it... Kaguya, did you bring your phone?"
"No, I forgot it in the classroom."
"Damn... I also didn't bring mine."
At that moment, Shirogane suddenly realized their predicament.