NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 92: The Explosion of Excitement!
Xanthia hadn't initially remembered that the opening ceremony of the school's sports day featured a guide at the forefront of each class formation, responsible for holding the class placard.
It's not entirely her fault; after all, she had barely any recollection of her previous high school sports events. In her past life, she was the type who was terrible at sports and mostly invisible during school events. She only vaguely remembered being volunteered for a high jump event, where she was quickly eliminated in the first round and then made a swift exit.
Besides, Thessaloniki First High School was quite different from her previous high school. Thessaloniki First High School was predominantly a boarding school with strict rules and a serious academic atmosphere. Even the most arrogant students had to bow their heads in this institution. Serious misconduct would result in expulsion without any leeway, emphasizing the school’s commitment to maintaining a clean environment.
The academic atmosphere here created a sense of prestige, much like a traditional sports club with a strong heritage.
When Xanthia found out about the position of class leader or guide, she was immediately interested. This role was perfect for standing out—a chance to shine as the face of the class. It was exactly the kind of spotlight she wanted, especially when she planned to wear a white maid outfit!
In her past life, she had been so inconspicuous; in this life, she wanted a complete reversal. She wanted to unleash her charm and assert her presence, which would undoubtedly bring her immense joy. This was a golden opportunity to boost her happiness points!
Undoubtedly, Xanthia had an inherent desire not to remain in the background. Who in this world is born wanting to be just a supporting character or a mere passerby? In her past life, she had envied those with good looks, talents, and eloquence who always had the chance to shine in school activities, while she was just a small, invisible spectator.
This time, it was her turn to shine!
So, when filling out her vote, Xanthia decisively wrote her own name, and also added Luciel and Elena for good measure.
Elena, seeing Xanthia’s vote, couldn’t help but protest, “Don’t vote for me! Pick someone else. I really don’t want to be the class formation guide. It feels so... awkward. This kind of leadership role should go to someone outgoing.”
“Huh? I think it’s fine. It’s just holding a placard.”
“But thinking about having to meet everyone’s expectations and wearing such flashy clothes gives me a headache. Just don’t vote for me,” Elena said sincerely.
Elena wasn’t someone who shunned fame. She liked the feeling of being in the limelight, but she cared too much about her image and dreaded the risk of messing up. Her family's downfall had made her overly cautious. Her father's failure to manage risks and subsequent financial ruin had left a deep impact on her.
“Alright, I’ll cross your name out,” Xanthia agreed readily.
Elena sighed in relief. Seeing that Xanthia had voted for herself, she couldn’t help but admire her confidence. This deskmate, who seemed so gentle on the surface, was actually quite bold when it came down to it.
Elena also voted for Xanthia but left out Luciel, reflecting a bit of her own competitive nature. She didn’t mind losing to Xanthia but couldn’t accept having fewer votes than Luciel.
Xanthia’s deskmate and the students around her all wrote her name on their ballots. Those who were close to her knew she was perfect for this kind of role. Even those who had seen her in her JK uniform previously were quick to vote for her again, simply wanting more of that stunning sight.
Xanthia's perfect proportions and long, slender legs in a short skirt were unforgettable. She was the ideal candidate to create lasting, youthful memories for everyone.
Luciiel and Elena were also beautiful, but they kept a distance from the boys, unlike Xanthia, whose straightforward appeal resonated with the boys' preferences. Not voting for her would be preposterous!
The anonymous voting ended quickly, and under the supervision of Emmanuel, the class president Ryan called out the votes, while Lilim tallied them on the board.
It was a shocking sight. Each time Ryan called out a name, it was almost always “Xanthia.” It seemed like everyone had given her their first vote, with the other two names being mere fillers.
Xanthia had the most tally marks under her name. With 56 students in the class, she could get a maximum of 11 tally marks if everyone voted for her. Although she didn’t get a perfect score, she had 10 tally marks, totaling 50 votes.
This result caused an uproar in the class.
“Six traitors didn’t vote for Xanthia! This is so not conducive to unity!”
“Or maybe just five; Xanthia might not have voted for herself.”
“True, true. Those who didn’t vote for Xanthia should be outed as enemy agents beyond classes…”
“It’s shocking how popular Xanthia is! She got double the votes of Luciel, who only got 25. I didn’t expect that.”
“Luciel is pretty, but she’s too authoritative. She doesn’t do fun stuff or wear quirky outfits. If it were for class president, she’d win by a landslide.”
“Wow, even our classy goddess Elena got crushed by Xanthia’s popularity. She only got 28 votes, probably all from her admirers like Dematero…”
“Dematero got 20 votes? Who would have thought? Must be all the sympathetic boys voting for him, not the girls…wait, maybe Xanthia voted for him out of kindness.”
“The funniest one is Hera, our ‘fart clown.’ She only got 4 votes, one of which was probably her own, and another from the creepy uncle-face Kenny. Who else could be so blind?”
“Maybe her deskmate Noemi, who’s too nice and easily bullied…”
One of the votes for Hera indeed came from Chica, who was friendly with her. After voting, she would likely seek a reward from Hera, hoping to get some benefits. Chica didn’t care about Hera’s image in the class; she loved getting small perks. It was a pity Hera wasn’t a boarder; otherwise, Chica would have been in for a lot of free stuff.
Hera’s face turned sour as she looked at the board. She knew without her using her money to sway votes, the results would be embarrassing. She mentally cursed Kenny for recommending her, thinking he had set her up to fail.
“You! Noemi! Who told you to vote for me? Now it looks like I forced you!” Hera lashed out at Noemi, who bowed her head, looking pitiful. Hera, however, felt no sympathy and continued to berate her new deskmate as a punching bag.
Hera would never have dared be so arrogant if she were still sitting with Luciel.
Seeing Xanthia’s high tally marks, Hera’s resentment grew. She thought bitterly, “Just wait for the 3000 meters. Let’s see if you survive that!”
Noemi, meanwhile, silently tallied the mental damages inflicted by Hera, intending to repay her in kind. She believed in a balance and had her own ways of making others pay for what they took from her.
...
Seeing the results, Emmanuel beamed and eagerly announced, “The results are in! Xanthia will be our class formation leader!”
The class erupted in cheers, especially the boys, who were already celebrating as if popping champagne.
Although Miguel lost his chance to become the class guide, he had no objections to Xanthia’s election. She was their “big sister Xanthia,” a true otaku who could bring excitement to any event. He couldn’t wait to see what she would do!
Miguel decided he would cosplay as Ultraman Tiga, whether he had a competition that day or not. He planned to participate as Ultraman Tiga, asking, “Who cares if I win? The important thing is, will I look cool?”
Elena, seeing she had three more votes than Luciel, felt victorious. If she had voted for herself and Xanthia hadn’t crossed her out, she would have had 30 votes, five more than Luciel. She smiled and whispered to Xanthia, “Congratulations, Xanthia. You’re the perfect choice for the class guide!”
Luciel and Lhoraine also turned to congratulate Xanthia. They knew she would be thrilled and looked forward to her antics on the day.
Xanthia smiled, grateful for everyone’s support, but kept her planned outfit a secret to maintain the element of surprise. Many classmates speculated she would return in her JK uniform, which had already dazzled the class and now could amaze the whole school.
After Emmanuel’s announcement, the class meeting neared its end. He encouraged everyone to sign up for the sports day to defend their class’s honor.
His attitude towards the “troublemakers” and “poor students” had softened. In a sports event, athletic prowess was often found among the back-row students.
When it came to earning honors for the class, they couldn’t rely on top students. Athletes like Marcus were their only hope.
Marcus didn’t hesitate. After forgiving the timid sports committee member, Kenny, he signed up for high jump, long jump, and triple jump. With his impressive jumping ability, he felt confident he could win honors for the class.
This proactive approach delighted Kenny. The task of encouraging students to sign up had been entirely delegated to him by Emmanuel.
In a semi-prestigious class like theirs, there weren’t many athletic stars. Most students preferred not to embarrass themselves on the field, leaving the responsibility to the few skilled ones like Marcus.
“Marcus, you’re awesome! I’ve signed you up. The class is counting on you,” Kenny flattered.
Marcus’s leadership spurred other capable students to sign up. For instance, Sunny, the “Speedy and Soccer Boy,” registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 400m relay. His speed on the soccer field made him a natural for these events.
Luciel, being athletic, also signed up for the girls’ short-distance races. Her graceful figure would soon be seen on the track.
Lhoraine, the class's literary committee member, also signed up for the high jump, influenced by Luciel. Such events didn’t exhaust her and were a chance for her to set an example.
Elena signed up for nothing, preferring to be a cheerleader and write motivational speeches. She also planned to recruit Xanthia, forming a top-notch cheerleading duo for their class.
For events like the shot put, the class “volunteered” students like Sequanni and Makarios. Sequanni had the strength to win honors, but Makarios, despite his numerous leisure activities, reluctantly filled in, focusing on participation.
As the sports day approached, the class's roster filled up. Even the boys’ 3000m had a volunteer: the stoic bespectacled Glen, surprising everyone.
“Glen, can you really finish the 3000 meters?” Dematero asked, amazed.
Glen adjusted his glasses. “No problem. I can run 10,000 meters while contemplating deep philosophy and feeling the power of the stars. It’s a joy for me.”
Dematero gave him a thumbs-up. Glen, despite his poker face, was reliable in critical moments. Dematero felt guilty for avoiding him in his past life. He had wronged both Xanthia and Glen.
“Great, I’ll cheer you on!” Dematero patted his shoulder.
With Glen volunteering, the boys’ 3000 meters was covered, but no girl had signed up for the same event.
This was all part of Hera’s plan. She secretly urged Kenny to sign up Xanthia without her consent. By the time the deadline passed, it would be a done deal.
“But Xanthia is so popular. If I do this, won’t it cause an uproar?” Kenny hesitated.
“Are you stupid? Just deny it. Insist Xanthia signed up herself. Praise her highly and use the class honor to morally pressure her. No girl wants to sign up, so hint that if Xanthia doesn’t do it, another unlucky girl might have to. Let her decide if she wants to keep her popularity or face group ridicule,” Hera sneered.
Kenny shivered at Hera’s cunning. She knew how to manipulate and instigate internal conflict, ensuring she wouldn’t be the scapegoat. If Xanthia wanted to keep her good image, she’d have to accept or face backlash.
Eventually, Kenny reluctantly followed Hera’s scheme, secretly signing up Xanthia for the 3000 meters without her consent. He submitted the list, feeling uneasy.
Emmanuel, satisfied that all events were covered, didn’t scrutinize the list. He was relieved to have completed his task.
When the list was published and the class saw Xanthia’s name under the girls’ 3000 meters, chaos erupted!
