As Sachi's thoughts raced, she couldn't help but notice Shiriku still in the game, a fact that had slipped her mind amidst the chaos. "Wait, Shiriku? He's still here too? Damn, I almost forgot about him. I was planning on getting back at him in gym class, but right now, I only have the strength left to take down this carefree Junichi," she mused inwardly, determination etched on her face as she aimed a dodgeball at her target.
However, Junichi, always ready with a comeback, couldn't resist boasting about Team 1's success. "Haha, Sachi, looks like Team 1 is already winning! Shiriku's still in the game, and we all know he's better than Fuyumi!" he declared with a triumphant grin. With lightning speed, he launched a ball towards Sachi, prompting her to execute a breathtaking somersault to evade his throw. Her agility left everyone in awe, eliciting exclamations of "Wow... Go, Team 2!" that reverberated throughout the gym.
Amidst the uproar of cheering and excitement, Fuyumi stood with a tired yet fiercely determined expression, fully aware of the unfolding situation. Amidst the shouts of encouragement, some voices even remarked on her appearance, with exclamations of "Kyaa, Fuyumi-sama looks stunning even when exhausted!" adding to the chorus of support. Among the cheers, there were chants for Shiriku to make a move.
However, Shiriku remained rooted to the spot, feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of the game and the dizzying speed of the balls whizzing past him. His mind briefly wandered, recalling his earlier morning coffee delivery to Ayaka. "Haaaahh, why do I feel so dizzy? Everything's moving so fast. I thought I had enough sleep to recover some strength from this morning's events," he pondered, still watching the game unfold before him without making a move.
In the midst of the electrifying cheers and frenetic energy in the gym, Sensei Takahashi couldn't help but wear a happy smile as she observed the students unleash their competitive spirit. "Oh my, everyone's really hyped up today," she remarked, her tone filled with amusement.
As Sachi breathed a sigh of relief after narrowly dodging a close call, she couldn't help but reflect on her actions. Pulling off the impressive move had drained her stamina even further, leading her to chastise herself in her inner dialogue. "Tsk, that was a close one. Why did I even do that? It only drained my stamina more," she thought, frustration evident in her tone.
Meanwhile, Junichi's mind buzzed with an idea, his eyes widening with excitement as a mischievous grin crept onto his face. It was time to unveil the secret weapon. With a triumphant yell, he called out, "Dachi, it's time!"
Responding to Junichi's call, Dachi sprinted toward him, and Junichi quickly climbed onto his back. Wrapping his arms around Dachi's neck and securing his legs around Dachi's waist while clutching two dodgeballs, Junichi executed the peculiar maneuver with confidence, leaving everyone, including Sachi, utterly baffled by the sight.
Unable to contain her confusion and skepticism, Sachi interjected with a perplexed expression. "Wait a minute! Is that what you call a secret weapon? How's that even going to help you beat us?" she questioned, her skepticism evident in her tone.
Junichi, still grinning from ear to ear, responded confidently, "Well, Sachi, you might think this is stupid."
"Yeah, I do," Sachi replied, her expression hollow and exhausted from the intense game.
Undeterred by Sachi's skepticism, Junichi continued to explain his unusual strategy, defending his choice with determination. "Shut up! With Dachi's big body and speed, I'll conserve my stamina for a while, while maintaining a shield in front of me. So it's a win-win," he declared, his confidence unwavering despite Sachi's doubts.
However, Sachi remained skeptical, her last hope resting on seeking clarification from their teacher. Turning to Takahashi-sensei with a puzzled expression, she questioned, "Ummm, Takahashi-sensei, is this even allowed?"
Takahashi-sensei, who had been thoroughly entertained by the spectacle, took a moment to consider Sachi's question. Finally, she responded, "Well, technically, I know it's not allowed, but... I'm enjoying what I'm seeing, and it seems everyone else is too. I don't see any harm in letting it slide." Her tone was casual yet understanding, acknowledging the unconventional but entertaining turn of events in the game.
With a nod of approval from their teacher, the unorthodox strategy remained in play, further heightening the excitement of the game.
Breathing heavily, Sachi knew it was time to execute her next move. She turned to Daiki with a determined expression and said, "Daiki, you know what to do." In a well-coordinated effort, Sachi and Daiki swiftly initiated a synchronized misdirection strategy. They skillfully passed the ball to each other, creating a bewildering whirlwind of dodgeballs that left Junichi and Dachi disoriented.
Meanwhile, Fuyumi, who had been observing the chaos unfold on the court while standing still like Shiriku, couldn't contain her astonishment. "What the... what the heck is happening?" she exclaimed, her eyes glued to the spectacle as she tried to make sense of the fast-paced exchange between Junichi and Dachi versus Sachi and Daiki.
Junichi, refusing to back down, continued to demonstrate his prowess by hurling two balls at a time. Despite his efforts, Sachi and Daiki moved with lightning speed, seamlessly passing the dodgeballs between them while simultaneously launching them at Junichi and Dachi. It was a battle of wits and agility as the dodgeballs whizzed through the air, each team vying for dominance.
In the midst of the chaos, Junichi managed to intercept a pass from Daiki to Sachi. The unexpected disruption caused Daiki to be struck by the dodgeball, momentarily freezing Dachi in celebration. However, this brief moment of distraction allowed Sachi to react swiftly and hit Daiki with a well-aimed throw. As a result, Junichi found himself toppling from Dachi's back, landing unceremoniously on the gym floor.
As Junichi looked forward, he realized that a dodgeball was hurtling towards him. With quick reflexes, he intercepted it with another dodgeball, but this maneuver redirected their own ball back towards them. In a split second, Sachi's dodgeball struck her, and Junichi's ball hit him as well. Both competitors, utterly exhausted, let out a collective exclamation of "I'm done!" while releasing a heavy breath.