NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 101: The 3000-Meter Race!
Many spectators, influenced by their stereotypes of Xanthia, found it hard to believe that someone who appeared so delicate and seemed to carry a “weakling aura” could handle a 3000-meter race.
Look at Xanthia’s competitors: they all looked fierce and powerful. While some of them were "volunteered" to run the 3000 meters, the fact was that these girls were in good physical shape to begin with.
No matter how you looked at it, these sturdy girls seemed far more reliable than Xanthia, who was seen as a “fragile girl.”
Among them, the most likely candidate to win the race seemed to be Inane Bolt, a freshman from Class 7. Although she wasn't a professional athlete, she was an amateur long-distance running enthusiast.
Students who frequented the track often saw Inane Bolt jogging alone during the long breaks between classes. Since Thessaloniki First High School didn’t have scheduled physical exercises, some students preferred to stay in the classroom and relax, while others took leisurely walks. Few students like Inane Bolt used the breaks for jogging, but those who did were clearly dedicated athletes.
Inane Bolt's regular running had naturally built her endurance. She was determined to win the 3000-meter race, especially since Class 7 relied on her to compete for class honors. Her appearance exuded a sense of energy and readiness, unmistakably marking her as an active, athletic girl.
In comparison, Xanthia seemed completely outmatched in terms of presence.
She appeared to be a delicate, bookish girl who preferred tranquility over physical activity. While she excelled in literature, her skills in sports were evidently lacking.
At this moment, the 3000-meter race contestants had taken their positions. Long-distance races didn't require specific lanes or strict starting requirements; competitors often jostled for the inner lanes once the race began.
A common strategy was to follow the lead runner to conserve energy and then surge ahead during the final stretch to claim victory.
In long-distance running, maintaining one's rhythm was crucial. Disruptions in pace could deplete energy reserves more rapidly.
Among Class 3’s cheering squad, many students worried about Xanthia, especially since she had been coerced into participating by the despised sports committee member, Kenny.
Xanthia had been utterly distressed and tearful on the day she was forced into the race, which deeply upset many of her classmates.
At a critical moment, the usually gentle Dematero had stood up for Xanthia, giving Kenny a severe reprimand. This act of bravery changed many classmates' perceptions of Dematero, who had previously been seen as a pushover.
People realized that Dematero was not just a pushover; he had his limits and was capable of taking action. This created a sense of respect, fear and awe among the students.
While others were anxious for Xanthia, Hera was internally thrilled and struggled to hide her excitement. She could barely contain her glee at the thought of seeing Xanthia suffer as part of her meticulously crafted scheme.
Today was the best day of her life, and she hoped more such days would come in the future!
Kenny, who was being blamed for Hera’s machinations, was nowhere to be seen in the cheering squad. Instead, he was busy preparing for the upcoming fun event—stilts racing.
Kenny was worried that if Xanthia encountered problems during the long-distance race, he might face the wrath of angry classmates, particularly Dematero. If Dematero frightened him again, Kenny feared he might not be able to handle it.
No one knew that the true mastermind behind the scheme was Hera. She had concealed her role very well. Many students from Class 3 thought Kenny had assigned Xanthia to the race simply because she seemed easy to bully and manipulate. If it had been another girl, there might have been an uproar.
In reality, Xanthia had chosen to endure in silence, not seeking help from the class teacher or complaining about the situation. Her image as a "victim" was particularly sympathetic.
To many girls, Xanthia participating in the 3000 meters race was like a heroic figure from a tragic epic. As long as the outcome wasn't disastrous, she would already be a hero to the class!
When the 3000-meter race began, Dionysius was not at the scene, as he was unaware that his sister was competing.
On the following day, with fewer exciting events left, Marcus, a basketball enthusiast, invited Dionysius to the court for a game to relax.
Dionysius wanted to remind Marcus to report more reliably about Class 3’s activities and not disappear so often. So, he left the cheering squad and joined Marcus for a classic half-court 3v3 game.
Marcus had not only invited Dionysius but also a few other skilled players, including some sports active students. Since all the major events had concluded, it was a chance for them to enjoy basketball.
The sports meet was supposed to be a time to relax, and with no basketball events on the schedule, the court was mostly empty. Basketball enthusiasts took advantage of this to play as much as they wanted.
Dionysius’s basketball skills were impressive. While not as flashy as Marcus, his play was clean, practical, and efficient. He had a signature move—a back-to-the-basket post-up and turnaround jumper—that was hard to defend against.
At that moment, he struck a classic "triple-threat" stance. Marcus, knowing Dionysius’s quick first step, took a step back to avoid being easily driven past.
However, Dionysius, sensing Marcus’s retreat, performed a smooth, high-arcing jumper reminiscent of peak NBA Pro.
Marcus leapt to block the shot, but it was nearly impossible to block—
His jumping ability couldn’t match Dionysius’s. At most, he could only attempt to interfere, and he wasn't skilled enough to close off Dionysius's vision. Any excessive attempt to block could result in an injury, which could lead to personal grudges.
The basketball swished through the net.
Marcus glanced back and smiled wryly. “Impressive, Bro. Your shooting today is unstoppable.”
Such an unorthodox jumper, when on target, was indeed hard to defend. If a defender got too close, Dionysius would simply drive past them for an easy score.
The other players also praised Dionysius. It wasn’t mere flattery; his recent shot was a perfect example of what they aspired to be.
Many basketball enthusiasts, while walking, often practiced jump shots for fun. Others might find it awkward, but they felt it looked cool. Making a shot like that would make their day.
The joy of student life was simple and unpretentious.
Dionysius, earned his respect not only due to his prominent status but also because of his genuine skill and approachable demeanor. Even those who were somewhat narcissistic occasionally imagined themselves as being just as cool, if not cooler, than Dionysius!
Moreover, Dionysius’s lack of arrogance made him easy to get along with. When asked to play basketball, he joined in cheerfully, and his camaraderie naturally improved relationships.
“Not bad, the shooting feels pretty good… By the way, has anything noteworthy or gossip happened in your class recently, especially related to my sister?”
After playing for a while, Dionysius casually mentioned his real purpose.
Marcus responded confidently, “No, Xanthia is very popular in our class. She’s happy every day. Don’t worry, Bro. I’m reliable with my tasks!”
Dionysius thought to himself that Marcus's reliability seemed questionable. Class 3 felt like it was engulfed in a fog of conflict and turmoil. With Marcus being engrossed in basketball and frequently missing evening self-study sessions, he was unsure what was happening with Xanthia and whether she was being mistreated.
