"—we're going to have a battle!"
"Wait, is this a Battle Royale?" I interjected immediately.
"The rules are simple. There are exactly six of us, so we'll split into teams of three," Sunny continued, ignoring my comment about the Battle Royale.
"We have two large water guns and four small ones ready. After forming teams, each team will choose a leader, who will receive one of the large water guns. Now, about these paper balloons," she said, picking one up to show me. A hairpin was attached to the side.
"As you can see, this is designed to be worn on your head. In this game, these paper balloons are crucial to your survival. You all will have to shoot them down with your water guns."
"I see. Sounds fun! So, the goal is to destroy all the paper balloons of the opposing team, right?"
"Not quite! That wouldn't encourage teamwork, so I have added some special rules!"
Sunny's voice was lively as she explained the game, her excitement infectious enough that I found myself smiling too.
"There are three victory conditions. If a team meets any one of them, they win. The first condition is to pop the leader's balloon. The second is to pop any member's balloon, excluding the leader. The last condition is for all team members to keep their balloons intact for one hour while successfully popping at least one balloon from the opposing team. If the time runs out with no dropouts from either team, we enter a sudden-death extension until someone is out. In this case, when one person goes down, the game ends, regardless of whether they're a leader or a member. Please report any dropouts in the group chat!"
Indeed, teamwork is crucial for victory. While the first condition allows the leader to focus solely on survival by entrusting tasks to the team members, the second condition complicates this strategy.
And then there's the third condition… it's quite tricky. If one member is eliminated and the opposing team turns their focus to escaping, winning becomes nearly impossible. This game demands teamwork; individual actions are not permitted.
"Here are the rules! Any questions?" Sunny asks.
"What's the range of the field?" Aoi Yuki inquires.
Sunny snaps her fingers and spins around with her arms wide open. "The field encompasses the entire riverside area. More specifically, since this river is surrounded by Forest, you can't leave the Forest."
That broadens the range significantly. Setting a time limit of one hour suggests it's meant to be a lengthy challenge.
"What happens if there's an accident and the paper balloon breaks?"
"In that case, it's a game over due to negligence. There are no spare balloons left," Sunny replies. "If there are no other questions, let's move on to team selection! Oh, and we'll draw lots to determine the teams!"
With no objections raised, they proceed to form teams. Ideally, Summer would be a definite pick, but for this, they will have to rely on fate.
"Alright everyone! On the count of three, let's pull!" Sunny announced, ensuring everyone was ready with the chopsticks from the cylindrical container.
"One, two, three!"
Teams were formed as follows:
**Red Team**
- Me
- Summer
- Aoi Yuki
**White Team**
- Sunny
- Jasper
- Momiji
"Great, we've divided nicely into teams! Now let's quickly decide on a leader and kick off the game!" They gathered to discuss who would take the lead.
"I'm glad I'm on the same team as my brother. I feel like we can't lose!" Summer whispered, barely audible to the others, as she pumped her fist in triumph. I felt a sense of relief, my ideal situation fulfilled, and like Summer, I was confident in our victory.
We couldn't hold back our laughter, sharing glances of amusement. Aoi Yuki, observing us from a half-step back, hesitated before speaking up awkwardly.
"Uh, you guys... are a little scary."
"No, not at all! We're perfectly normal," I reassured her.
"Exactly! Not scary in the least!"
"..."
For some reason, Aoi Yuki fell silent, her expression tense. The wrinkles on her forehead twitched, as if we were something monstrous in her eyes. It was cruel, considering we hadn't done anything at all.
"Can we just choose between me or my brother as leader?"
"Okay, then let's go with Summer for better mobility. You're okay with that too, right, Aoi Yuki?"
"... At this point, I'll go with whatever. I'll just follow your lead."
"Then I'll be the leader! We can figure out the details once the game starts."
"Agreed."
With our opinions aligned, it seemed the other team had also chosen their leader, who approached us.
"Our leader is Kaba-san!" Sunny announced. "And what about yours?"
"Our leader is Summer."
"Got it! Now, please attach these paper balloons to your heads."
We complied and affixed the paper balloons as Sunny instructed. Looking at Summer across from me, I couldn't help but think it looked rather silly...
"It seems everyone is ready! The game will start in 15 minutes, so feel free to move around as you like!"
With Sunny's declaration, the game began. Armed with water guns, we set off in different directions.
We walked through a vibrant, green world. Sunlight streamed through the trees, creating a carpet of light that seemed to guide our path.
"Wearing swimsuits with sneakers is about as out of place as pineapple on sweet and sour pork," Summer complained, pushing aside branches and grass that obstructed our way.
The forest is fraught with dangers, where even the slightest misstep can lead to injury. Considering safety, I've switched from sandals to sneakers and thrown on a T-shirt.
"Speaking of evildoers, what does Mizuno Rappis put on his fried eggs?" I say.
"Hey, wait, Summer! Don't ask questions that could throw us into chaos!"
"Ouch!?"
I smack Summer on the head with the grip of my water gun. The weight of the water makes it feel heavier than expected, producing a duller sound than I imagined, but it's not my fault. Rubbing the spot with both hands, Summer glares at me with watery eyes. Look all you want; I'm not apologizing.
"By the way, Shuhei, where are we headed?"
"We don't really have a destination," I reply.
We have less than three minutes left before the game starts. What I'm focused on is memorizing the terrain around here as best as I can before the clock runs out.
For Sunny and the others, who have grown up in Niihigao Town, this riverside is like their backyard. But for Summer and me, it's uncharted territory. Understanding the terrain is crucial in a battle like this.
"Summer, are you mapping it out?"
"Yeah. I've covered this area already. I think I can finish the rest once the game begins."
Summer responds without looking up from her map-making app, her expression serious and focused.
"Understood. Are you measuring the elevation changes properly?"
"Absolutely. I've sent the escape routes and assembly points in a message; make sure to check them."
"This one? I see... well thought out. But if we're going to stick to this route, shouldn't we take the other path instead?"
"You're right. I'll revise that and send it again."
"...How serious are you two about this?"
Aoi's surprised voice made us turn simultaneously and reply in unison.
""All the way.""
The words, cold and sharp, struck Aoi like an arrow. A bead of sweat dripped from her forehead, falling to the ground where it vanished into the soil.
"...Right now, I genuinely feel relieved that you're not my enemies."
Aoi was smiling, but her laughter was drier than a desert, harsh and rattling.
"---The game is starting. Brother, Water Rapids."
Her laughter abruptly ceased, and I braced myself. This Forest was no longer just a Forest; at this moment, it had transformed into a battlefield.
"So? How do we proceed?"
"Based on Sunny's personality... she's likely to try and meet the initial victory conditions."
I was planning to burst the leader's balloon. Given their straightforward nature, I didn't expect any subtle moves from them.
"Flora is certainly active, so she seems likely to meet that requirement. This game relies on teamwork; everyone needs to attack together."
"So, are we saying we'll face off against Sunny and her team as one?"
"No, that's too simplistic of a thought." I shook my head, dismissing Aoi's idea. She tilted her head, clearly confused.
"While it's true that confronting them together could be effective, it also raises the stakes for all of us. I mentioned that they would attack en masse, but I never said they'd come at us head-on."
They're not that foolish. They wouldn't naively think they could defeat us in a straight confrontation.
"They'll approach without us noticing and strike when the opportunity arises."
"So what are you suggesting? We need to stay vigilant for Sunny's approach and make snap decisions?"
"Well, hold on. I'd appreciate it if you could listen to the end of what I have to say first." I spoke firmly, locking eyes with Summer and Aoi. They returned my gaze, their expressions serious, as I shared my plan.
"I propose that instead of sticking together, we split into pairs and go solo."
"What? Why?"
My words seemed to shock Aoi, who wore a look of bewilderment that I'd seen multiple times today. Summer was startled at first, but her eyes soon lit up with understanding as she clapped her hands together.
"Decoy operation?"
"Correct. And you'll be the decoy, Aoyuki."
"Me?! No way, that's too big of a role for me!"
Aoyuki waved her hands vigorously, shaking her head in disbelief. I wanted to take a moment to enjoy her rare flustered expression, but I couldn't afford to waste time while Sunny and the others were gearing up to attack. We needed to keep things brief, outline the plan, and put it into action.
"Listen, Aoyuki, we don't have time to waste, so pay attention. You're the one with the least stamina here, so you're essentially a burden."
"I'm going to kill you."
I caught the punch that flew at me with one hand and continued speaking.
"However, just because you're a burden doesn't mean I plan to disregard you. The truth is, even burdens can play a crucial role in our strategy—ow, that hurts! Quit kicking me in the shins!"
"Seriously, Summer! Do something about this jerk!"
"Well, to be honest, I do think Water's Rapids is a burden, so Aoyuki, you need to tough it out. Victory lies ahead if we can endure this."
I couldn't tell if she was trying to comfort Aoyuki or egging her on. But knowing Summer, she was probably just enjoying the teasing. Aoyuki swallowed her rising frustration and let out a low, sinister growl, her voice chilling like it was coming from the depths of hell.
"You all... just wait until this fight is over..."
The words laced with anger and murderous intent sent a shiver through the Forest. Sensing something dreadful, the birds took flight in a flurry, while a squirrel, startled, abandoned its half-eaten nut to escape up a tree.
"So? What do you expect me to do?" Aoi Yuki glared at me, her frustration evident. Even under the sharpness of her gaze, like a blade, I maintained my smile and stood my ground.
"Oh, it's simple," I declared confidently, puffing out my chest, ready to bewilder Aoi Yuki once more with my next words. "Get Kaba and the others to break some paper balloons."
---
"Listen up, everyone. Shuhei and his group are likely lying in wait for Sunny and the others. Stay alert, and as soon as we spot them, we overwhelm them all at once!"
Sunny and the others moved through the Forest to protect Kaba. So far, there was no sign of Shuhei, but with danger lurking around every corner, there was no room for complacency.
"Hey, SunnySunny," Kaba whispered, drawing Sunny's attention while still staying vigilant.