Chapter 54

* English
* Japanese

**Sports Festival, Part 1** is the fifty-fourth chapter of Tomohito Oda's Komi Can't Communicate.

## Summary

The sun is shining without a cloud in the sky for the 23rd Itan High School sports festival, and the students are particularly enthusiastic for victory, especially for their class goddess, Komi. As class 1-1 chant their mantra, Komi is frightened from a distance.

As Najimi shows school spirit for Tadano and Komi, Tadano recognises their ulterior motive of not studying, typical Najimi. An unfamiliar student comments on Najimi's eagerness, estimating "39.2 degrees". (102.56 Fahrenheit), and puts her arm around Komi, who is nervous at her physical proximity. She introduces herself as Chika Netsuno, from the year above, and has a fiery passion for sports and competition. She comments how their classes enthusiasm is "hot", but claims that Komi is cool, or even cold, a rare insult for Komi, or even a time where people are not grovelling for her. Netsuno says that Komi is 16.9 degrees (imagine using Fahrenheit), and departs, leaving a hurt Komi and a seething group of her followers, lead by Yamai. Tadano suggests that they try their best anyway, as Komi shakily nods.

The first event is warm-up exercises, judged by the dignified, elderly vice principal. She immediately notices Netsuno, with her perfect willpower and stretches, and is about to award her the maximum 10 points when she spots Komi, and overcome, hastily awards her instead, presumably from her looks. Next is the tug-of-war, which Yamai, overly protective of Komi, adorns her in protective gear such as googles, a helmet, knee-pads, until she is excessively covered, but Komi removes them before the event starts. The actual match is balanced until Komi accidentally touches Yamai, who faints from ecstasy, as does several others, losing them the game.

Everyone collaborates in the high jump by forming a tight circle around the tallest person and jumping in sync, who is "apparently" Komi. Tadano is surprised that they managed so many jumps, and Netsuno is impressed at the classes teamwork. During the obstacle course, Agari clumsily fails at vaulting, but is awarded many points by the male teachers for her physical display (the vice principal is unimpressed with the male teachers). As Agari passes the baton to Nakanaka, she is annoyed at having to participate in the festival, considering them to be unnecessary for education where unathletic students are shamed. Her hopes of avoiding embarrassment are shattered when she reaches a box with candy and starch, which needs to be sorted without hands. Nakanaka is initially apprehensive, but upon seeing Komi's face in the crowd, she is motivated and calls upon the dragon force.

With her face covered in starch, she passes the baton to Tadano, but has brought the class to last place. Najimi and the class cheer for Tadano, Najimi supportively, but most of the class aggressively so that he won't fail, Yamai included. Komi notices the cheering, and Najmi suggests her to join in, which she tries, but can't make any noise. Tadano, dizzy from spinning around a baseball bat, collapses, angering the class. He looks at the crowd and spots Komi, who, almost imperceptibly with barely more then a whisper, encourages him to do his best. Tadano, reinvigorated, takes off like a rocket, and manages to secure 3rd/5th place from dead last. Netsuno is very impressed with Tadano, giving him 52.4 degrees.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Komi Shouko
* Tadano Hitohito
* Najimi Osana
* Chika Netsuno
* Yamai Ren
* Tsukasa Aizawa
* Vice Principal
* Yadano Makeru
* Chiarai Shigeo
* Sonoda Taisei
* Agari Himiko
* Omoharu Nakanaka

## Events

* The school has the 23rd sports festival
* Komi and Tadano meet Netsuno
* Komi encourages Tadano during the relay