After the plan had been described to Kirihara, Eiji, Kabaji, Yukimura, Kamio, Akutsu, Inui and Atobe, there were a wide variety of reactions.
"Well, as you can see from this obstacle course…" Banji began. "You as the pets will travel in and out of the tubes, up the stairs, over the hurdles… and yes, this IS a regulation pet obstacle course. Whoever finishes first is the winner."
They all stared at him.
"No." Akutsu said.
"Kabaji," said Atobe as he snapped his fingers. "Find me an umbrella. It is hot out."
"Yes." Said Kabaji as he walked off.
"Looks like it's just us!" said Eiji, looking at Kiriharau, Yukimura, Inui and Kamio.
"Are you serious?" said Kirihara. "I'm not going through a pet obstacle course. Are you on drugs or something?"
Eiji looked sad because of that last comment.
"I'm just going to stand here." Inui announced as he whipped out his notebook and a pen. He was going to collect data.
"All right, it's just us then!" said Kamio to Yukimura and Eiji. "I'm determined to win so I can get that individual prize!" He paused. "Hopefully, it'll be something so good that I can get INSIDE the house…"
"Let's all do our best!" said Yukimura.
But then he hacked up blood and passed out.
So he was transported to the hospital, and Kamio and Eiji nodded at each other.
"In a race, I can't lose!" said Kamio. "Once I get in the rhythm."
"I can't lose because of my acrobatics!" declared Eiji.
"Ready?" said Banji as Eiji and Kamio got in their ready positions. "GO!"
With that, Eiji and Kamio both tore off through the obstacle course just as Kabaji returned with a giant umbrella.
"Ah, thank you Kabaji." Said Atobe as he sat down and Kabaji held the umbrella over him.
"I am gathering some compelling data on these two." Said Inui as he watched Eiji and Kamio in their element. Even though it's not really their element. Their element is actually tennis.
"This is the stupidest thing ever." Said Akutsu. "I don't even like tennis. Why am I going along with this?"
"I wish I was playing tennis right now…" sighed Kirihara longingly at the courts that were decorated with pet obstacle course things instead of the net that he loves so much.
It was about that time that all the other groups that had been doing other tasks returned to watch the rest of the race. They were angry with their pets for refusing to compete and were sad that only Group Two and Group Five had someone to cheer for.
"Once this competition is finished, we will announce the winners of each competition!" said Ryuuzaki. "You will find out who the individual winner is tomorrow morning in the mail, and it will come with your special prize as well. Whichever team has the most wins will also find their prize when they get home."
"HURRAY!" cheered everyone.
"HA!" came a triumphant voice from the pet obstacle course.
Everyone stood up to see who had won to discover Kamio emerge from the tunnel and point off at the sun as a sign for his victory.
"Go Team Five!" cheered all the others on Team Five, as Eiji crawled dejectedly through the tunnel and hung his head in shame. His team told him it was okay, but he felt like crying.
The coaches gathered everyone around and made them sit in their groups. The Dads all had their projects with them and were showing them off to their families.
"The winner of the Dad competition is…" Ojii said, pausing for the anticipation. "TACHIBANA!"
"TACHIBANA, YOU ARE THE BEST!" screamed everyone in Fudomine.
The others all stared at everyone in Fudomine. It was silly because no one on Fudomine is on Tachibana's team.
"Good job, Tachibana!" said Aoi. "What did you make?"
"A chair." Tachibana answered, holding up his chair that looked perfect. "I noticed we only had four chairs for our kitchen table…"
"I made a chair too!" Momo said, drawing attention to the worst chair in the entire world.
"Did you have a seizure while making that chair?" Kaidou said.
"HEY!" Momo yelled. "Your chair looks worst! It's too small to even sit on!"
"It's not a chair!" Kaidou said angrily.
"What is it, then?" Momo said.
"I'm not telling!" Kaidou said, protecting his tiny project.
"What about Yuuta's bench?" Fuji questioned.
"Fuji, just leave me alone!" said Yuuta. "You spent your entire hour just staring at me and you didn't even make a project! That's just weird!"
Fuji didn't say anything in response. It's not like he could have.
"ANYWAY," Ryuuzaki interrupted. "Let's move on so you can all get home before it gets dark. For the MOM'S competition! I taste tested all the meals and, although some of them were pretty good and most of them were rancid, there was one that was above and beyond all the rest! And that person is…TAKA!"
"Me?" Taka gasped.
"Your Sushi never ceases to amaze me!" said Ryuuzaki, wiping a tear from her eye.
"But…what about…my pie…?" Oishi said, looking ULTRA sad as he still held his pie. Ryuuzaki didn't have the heart to tell him that it was all undercooked on the inside and burnt on the outside just because he tried so hard on it.
"I'm so proud of you, Taka." Said Fuji.
"Um…thanks." Said Taka.
"So far, Team One and Team Three each have a point." Said Sakaki. "And just so you know, in the event of a tie, we move into a tiebreaker. But moving on! The Brothers competition…"
"Tezuka." Said all the brothers.
"Wow!" said Sakaki. "How did you know?"
"All of our controllers exploded, remember?" Tetsu said with a frown.
"Yes, I remember." Said Sakaki. "That's why Tezuka won."
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"Anyway, I also judged the Sisters competition." Sakaki went on. "And considering there's only one person who actually braided the Brother's hair, the winner is Atsushi!"
"I win!" cheered Atsushi.
"Can I take this braid out now?" whined Ryou.
"No, you have to keep it in forever." Said Sakaki.
Ryou ignored him and took the braid out anyway. Sakaki didn't care because he wasn't serious.
"And finally, the Pet competition." Said Banji. "Well, you were all there! You all know that Kamio won!"
"YAAAAAAAY!" cheered Kamio's team.
"Nice job, Kamio." Said Tachibana.
"Thank you, Tachibana!" said Kamio as his eyes welded with tears after receiving a compliment from Tachibana.
"Does that mean our team wins because we have two points?" Aoi asked, raising his hand.
The coaches made sure it all made sense, and then agreed.
"The winners are Team Three: Tachibana, David, Aoi, Tezuka and Kabaji!" announced Ryuuzaki.
"That team has too many captains on it." Inui observed, but his observation was pointless and to himself. He wrote it down.
"Well, now that you all know who the winners are, we want you all to return to your houses." Said Ojii.
"And we remind you that you're not allowed to play tennis." Sakaki said.
"And be excited for the letter tomorrow to see who your individual winner is and what they get for their SPECIAL prize!" said Banji. "Not to mention Team Three will find their team's special prize when they get back to their house!"
"Eat dinner and have a good night!" urged Ryuuzaki.
The teams then dispersed and made their way back their houses.