My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 80
A few days later.
Morning sunlight lay long across the white lines of the Athletic Field.
The track cast no shadows, and the dormitory tents billowed loosely in the breeze.
6:45 AM.
Ivy’s checklist held fourteen items, and she’d completed two so far.
Wake up. Set up the tent.
Including waking up felt a bit cowardly, but breaking through three alarms at dawn was undeniably a great achievement.
While kneeling on the ground to secure the tent lines, moisture from the dew chilled the tips of her fingers.
Footsteps approached from behind.
“Ivy.”
Joy’s eyes were half-closed as she held a folder.
“You know we’re short people for the Relay Race?”
“I know we’re short for more than just the relay.”
Ivy stood up, tapping her stiff limbs to work out the soreness.
Today was Sports Day.
That unfortunate event, overshadowed by the Dance Party, had finally arrived.
“Don’t worry. Once everyone sees Third Dormitory win a few events, they’ll get excited and sign up.”
Ivy had hung a registration form on one side of the Third Dormitory tent, along with a pen.
“You’re really acting like a class rep now.”
“I really am one.”
Ivy pulled out a Megaphone, tested it, and set it back down.
“By the way, you know Cyrus didn’t sign up for anything?”
“Well, there are always a few like that.”
Ivy answered offhandedly.
“I’m going to the Storage Room.”
“Okay, I’ll set out the chairs.”
Checking her watch, it was already seven.
Ivy hurried her steps, thinking of everything left on her checklist.
And before long, she was running.
9:00 AM. The Hurdles Competition.
Each time the rhythm of clearing obstacles accelerated, the cheers around the track grew louder.
Except from Third Dormitory.
The cheers belonged to First Dormitory, which had claimed victory.
9:30 AM. The Discus Throw.
With each result announced, the tent’s atmosphere grew heavier.
Some students began peering outside, eager to slip away back to the dormitory.
But Ivy knew. In a little while, they’d all come running with fire in their eyes.
First Dormitory students heading toward the Rounders event passed by their tent, waving their hands.
Their faces carried an arrogant question: You were here the whole time?
“……Where do we sign up?”
Sure enough, students jolted awake as if a switch had flipped, rising from their seats.
Ivy pointed indifferently at the registration form hanging on the wall, and from that moment on, a fierce competition erupted over the open slots, everyone insisting they go next.
“……Seriously.”
Joy marveled in wonder, and Ivy let out a satisfied laugh.
“Told you.”
Ivy distributed Bib Numbers to the competing athletes.
After that, she pulled out a Hand Cart to fetch water for the tent.
The sun, now climbing high in the sky, beat down on the nape of her neck.
Ivy pulled out her phone.
[Where are you?]
Of course, the recipient was Cyrus.
On a day like this, only he would disappear without a trace.
Since she’d grabbed his sleeve on the staircase days ago, something between them had shifted.
Not noticeably closer, but not distant either. Somewhere in between.
His reply came almost immediately.
[Experimental Chemistry Lab]
Normally he’d use the gymnasium broadcast room, but today it would be crawling with people, so he’d found a new spot.
[We’ve been losing all morning.]
[I know.]
[How?]
[It’s obvious.]
[If you know so well, why don’t you come out and compete?]
His swift replies faltered.
She’d definitely seen it marked as read.
[Tell me if there’s anything I can help with.]
A moment later, a completely different message came back.
She’d asked him to compete, and instead he offered to help her with class rep duties?
Ivy stopped the cart and tapped her phone screen. And then she noticed her lips had curled upward.
She quickly rearranged her expression.
[I don’t need your help.]
[I know that too.]
[How?]
[It’s obvious. And I’m not competing.]
She chuckled at his reply before pocketing her phone and pulling the cart forward again.
* * *
When lunch was announced, tension released across the Athletic Field.
Ivy set down boxes of sandwiches and drinks at the tent. Soon, laughter spread among students sprawled lazily on the grass.
They hadn’t forgotten the morning’s defeat, but it seemed anger took a break when stomachs were full.
Only Ivy couldn’t put down her pen.
Event rankings, accumulated scores, afternoon roster.
“Ivy, eat something.”
Joy brought her a sandwich.
“I’ll eat in a bit. I need to submit this first.”
But that ‘bit’ never came.
By the time she’d submitted the tally to Operations Headquarters and heard the afternoon event briefing, her sandwich had vanished.
“…….”
Someone must have assumed there was plenty and eaten it.
Though asking someone to endure a sports festival on just one sandwich was asking too much.
Ivy lacked the energy to ask who did it, so she slipped out of the noisy tent for a moment.
The even stronger sunlight pressed down on her head. A few clouds would be nice, but the sky was perfectly clear.
Inside the tent, students were talking about the afternoon events. Some were dancing and playing along to the playlist Ivy had arranged.
The atmosphere had definitely livened up. Days of preparation had been worth it.
Except for the fact that her legs were screaming in protest.
Ivy pulled out her phone.
[How is it there?]
[Relatively quiet.]
As expected, the reply came right back.
[Is it cool?]
[More or less.]
It was only natural that the Experimental Chemistry Lab, filled with chemical reagents, maintained a cool temperature.
It would be so different from this scorching Athletic Field.
Just thinking about it made her envious—she almost wanted to send Cyrus something a little mean. Asking if he was enjoying having that place all to himself.
But before she could even finish typing, his message arrived first.
[Come over.]
Ivy stared at those two brief words.
She couldn’t think of how to reply.
Passing the Main Building and entering the corridor of the Science Building, she felt a slight chill from the cool air.
The shouts from the Athletic Field seemed distant now, muffled.
Ivy hesitated briefly outside the Experimental Chemistry Lab.
‘Is it really okay for me to go in?’
Why wouldn’t it be? There were no events right now anyway, and she’d finished everything she needed to do.
No one would say anything if she took a quick break somewhere cool.
And she’d just happened to learn that this place was good for hiding away.
After conjuring up every possible excuse, Ivy finally opened the door to the Experimental Chemistry Lab.
Air slightly cooler than the corridor brushed across her still-warm skin. The faint scent of chemicals, half-drawn curtains filtering the afternoon light at an angle through the windows.
Cyrus was reading a book at one of the workbenches. He lifted his head at the sound of her entering, but showed no surprise.
Of course—he’d been the one to call her here.
Without a word, Ivy sat down beside him. The cold chair touched her thighs.
And she realized something.
This was the same seat they’d shared back when they were lab partners in Experimental Chemistry.
She remembered making a ridiculous mistake back then, and Cyrus having to deal with the consequences.
Why of all places had she sat here?
She thought about asking but decided against it.
“This.”
Cyrus held out something that had been on the workbench.
A bottle of water and a sandwich wrapped in plastic.
“……?”
When Ivy looked up, he’d already turned his eyes back to his book.
“You didn’t eat.”
“How did you know?”
“……Really.”
Ivy was momentarily speechless. He’d just guessed.
At any rate, her throat was dry, so she opened the water and took a sip.
Her mind felt a little clearer.
She immediately unwrapped the sandwich. She’d thought she had no appetite, but once she took a bite, her mind changed.
She was starving.
“Take your time.”
He offered a gentle reminder while reading.
“I will.”
And again the lab fell quiet. Only the occasional shouts from the Athletic Field and the sound of Cyrus turning pages.
Savoring that ease, once she finished the sandwich, her entire body felt pleasantly heavy.
Ivy lowered her head onto the workbench. The pleasant coolness drew closer.
“……Just five minutes.”
“I’ll wake you up.”
Reassured by his words, Ivy closed her eyes without hesitation.
The sound of his finger brushing across the page was soothing.
Once, twice, and three times.
But at some point, she stopped hearing it. Probably because she’d drifted into drowsy sleep.
His hand turning pages would never stop, after all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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