Chapter 38
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
In the Maken-ki clubroom, while I'm sorting out the many requests for duels between us to referee later in the day with Haruko's help, Usui storms in with a stack of papers and places them noisily on Furan's desk, who raises an eyebrow.
"That's... what's that?" She asks.
"These are the laments coming from the minds of our guys." Explained in such a serious tone, I might have thought it wasn't him.
"Complaints?" Furan repeats, a drop of cold sweat running down her cheek.
"The principal has opened the pool... are you aware of the resulting schedule for swimming lessons?" Usui asks.
"Y...Yes the girls' petition... stipulating that swimming lessons will not be co-ed?" Furan replied, increasingly confused.
"That's right!" Usui exclaims.
"Haha... In short, you're mad because you can't look at girls in swimsuits...! Why are the Kuoh guys just a bunch of idiots?" Azuki scoffs.
Hearing this, I'm about to retort, but I refrain, not wanting to get into a pointless debate.
"Azuki-senpai, what are you implying here..? Don't tell me you're trying to think of yourself as a girl?" Usui turns to her, completely sure of what he's saying.
"What's the matter with you? What do you mean I think I'm a girl?" She gets up and walks over to me. She swivels my seat toward her and puts her hands on my shoulders, her face very close to mine. "Tell me Senji, you who are the sanest by far, I'm just a normal girl, aren't I?"
"Why are you asking me? You just have to ignore what he said you know..."
"Just answer the question!" She shakes me, preventing me from finishing my sentence.
"Well, you're what we call a tomboy, but there's nothing wrong with that, on the contrary, it's a charm I'd say." I try to get out of this situation.
Hearing my answer, she starts blushing heavily, then bows her head. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she releases me and returns to her seat, unsure whether this will reassure her or not.
"By the way Senji!" Usui points at me. "I've been looking all over for you when you were right there dammit! Anyway, you deposit your signature too, it's our honor at stake!"
"I'll be honest with you Usui, I couldn't care less, if the girls only want separate swimming lessons, good for them. Even if I think it's childish and a waste of time for all of us."
"Seriously?! Hey you, Kiba and Sasuke are the only ones who didn't sign, are you guys gay or what?"
"Ah, that's Senji for you! Well said!" Yan Min laughs.
"Yeah, I admit it's slightly inappropriate though..." Kimi said shyly.
"I agree! Why should we be afraid of the looks of guys, at worst we'll gouge their eyes out, except for those like Senji of course!" Chacha raises her fist to the sky, motivated.
"No, it's out of the question! It's the behavior of the majority of boys that's pushing us to take drastic measures!" Haruko stands up and slams her fist on the table.
"That's true but, for some here there's no point in kidding ourselves, I know you're dying to see Senji in a swimsuit." Said Kodama loud and clear, a smirk on her face.
"Really?" I raise an eyebrow, exasperated by the turn this pointless debate is taking.
"What?! Not at all, That's not the point!" Haruko turns red as a tomato.
"Oh, why not? After all, it's always nice to have a pretty boy to look at." Yan Min stares at me.
"Plus I remember well that you were pretty muscular when we were at the hot spring, so if you keep training it must be better!" Chacha exclaims.
"I confirm! Senji-sama trains every day!" Inaho said innocently.
"Can we make an exception for Senji?! I'm sure that will delight a lot of girls!" Shiria asks, starting to drool.
"Making an exception is out of the question! And stop talking about it, Senji is melting with embarrassment in his seat!" Uruchi raises her voice in annoyance.
"please make it stop..." I cover my face, as red as Haruko's face.
"Is it a blessing or a curse to be a girl magnet?" Demitra asks, as impassive as ever.
"Please can we all calm down?" Furan stands up. "You're going to scare Senji-san away if this keeps up!"
"Ah! So you see? You're all as deranged as the guys! These days "boy" and "girl" are outdated words! It's embarrassing to say that boys and girls are equal, even in today's society!" Usui slaps Furan's desk with the palm of her hand. "In the interests of fairness, swimming lessons should be at the same time for girls and boys!"
"All those fine words to come to this?" Furan doesn't know what to say.
"But this only contains the boys' signatures, so the girls aren't likely to appreciate it." Yuuka remarked.
"I've been thinking about this eventuality..." He pulls out another sheet. "Let's settle these problems with this!"
"In the water... Battle of... rider?" Furan reads.
"Sounds like fun!" Yuuka adds.
"It seems in this school that everything has to be settled by competition." Remarks Demitra, who has finished writing today's report.
"What's that?" Haruko asks, handing over the document we've completed.
"Oh, this is to celebrate the inauguration of the pool this year!" Kodama explains, still amused by my still slightly flushed face. "From what I've heard, rider battles are affiliated with battles during the 'fighting kingdoms' period. I think battles are more appropriate than a hokey match in this case!"
"Ufufu... why don't we take into account how boys feel?" Yuuka asks, sounding very amused.
"Fuu... Well, why not afterwards, if it'll calm them down..." Furan sighs.
"Wait a minute president! I've already received the agreements regarding the schedule for the students. You're not involved in this, so there's no need for you to..." Haruko seems worried about Furan.
"Ho... Haruko-san, this isn't like you!" Furan replies simply.
"Eh ?"
"The second and third years also take part... Aren't you confident we'll win against the boys?" She asks, totally sure of herself.
"Yes, I do!" She replies with intensity.
"No way to lose!" Azuki adds.
All the girls are fired up, which gives Usui a slight fright, but he immediately pulls himself together, as if a brilliant idea had just occurred to him.
"Then it's all settled!" Furan finishes, sipping his tea, slightly stressed nonetheless.
"Well, if I'm not needed anymore, I'll take my break." I place the last document on Furan's desk and start to walk away.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Usui grabs my shoulder and starts pulling me along.
"What the...? Oh no! I'm not taking part in your ridiculous game! I don't have time for this!"
"You're one of the best first-year students, of course you're going to participate. On that note, let's go!"
Then, just before I step out of the door, Yuuka steps forward and bends down to speak to me.
"Senji-kun, if the game itself doesn't interest you, take this as a training session or a competition, it'll spice up the game I'm sure!" she whispers in my ear.
"I'm not all that excited about it..." I sigh, giving up.
"It's about this. You also have to think that we have a big handicap, they're going to pick the strongest girls in the school." Usui explains, facing the gathering of boys from the school in a large room. "The opponents are leaving it up to us to choose their riders, so I propose that the participants be these ones!" Usui exclaims.
"No objection!" Jojo replies favorably.
"I hope there will be a few accidents during the match." Jonouchi adds.
"What the hell am I doing here?" I pinch the top of my nose, exasperated.
"Ahaha... It seems you've been dragged here by force too..." Next to me is Kiba, who is also not very comfortable.
"It's true that it's amazing to see you there, did they kidnap you so that you end up here?" I ask.
"No, they just told me it was a friendly competition to inaugurate the opening of the pool. They didn't tell me about their... real intention."
"I see, they're clever when it suits them. You've been fooled like Sasuke apparently." I turn to the other seat next to me, to see Sasuke, at his wit's end.
"Indeed, how did you get here Sasuke-kun?" Kiba asked.
"They mentioned a competition, so of course I was interested, what a bunch of bastards..." He mumbles loud enough for us to hear, he's not very happy.
"So let's get started! Draw lots to see who will participate! Each team must have a teacher for this match, so there will be 5 student riders. Each rider must have three people to ride. But first, let's see who the riders will be." Usui takes out a box of small papers, five in particular with black tips.
Everyone gets up and queues up, which we reluctantly do.
"Knowing Usui, he's probably tampered with the box, so he's already chosen who's going to be a rider, that's for sure." I comment, infuriating Sasuke and exasperating Kiba.
Once everyone has passed, we finally get to know our four riders. Unsurprisingly, I drew a black ticket, with Usui holding it proudly.
"Okay, this is closed!" He announced.
"Shit!" Some lament not having drawn the right ticket, others even weep.
"Dio? Are you participating too?" I turn to said person, having drawn the black ticket.
"Of course, my friend. For some, this event is all fun and games, but for me, it's just a way of showing my supremacy over all of you, so I hope you can put on a good show, because I'm going to show these dolls who the man is around here." He said with a sneer.
(Misogynist, huh... Why does that not surprise me.)
"Senji Emiya, from what I see, you are also a horseman, that reassures me, with you, we have all our chances!" I turn to see Kai Kurigasa, the mountain of muscle, with the black ticket in hand and slightly red cheeks.
"You seem excited about tomorrow, but thanks, even if I'm not that excited about it."
"Oh come on, even if for most it's out of pure perversity that they do it, for us, it's a good way to have fun, and impress the girls, or that she impresses us for that matter!" exclaims Kai, who can already see himself in it.
"I see your point... By the way Usui, do you think you made the right choice in choosing these girls? I'd point out that they're also very strong and that Shiki is not at all to be underestimated!" I call out to Usui.
"Relax, I have a plan. The guys involved will put it into action from now on!" He explains with a smirk.
We look at each other with Kai, not understanding what he has in mind.
Thursday, January 12, 2023
"Hello Senji, ready for today?" Kai asks me.
"Hi Kai, yeah... The more it goes, the less I want to be there." I let out a sigh.
"Well, it seems you're hard to change your mind, can I ask why you're so reluctant to participate?" He asks me.
"Since today was supposed to be a day off, normally I'd be training right now." (Plus All Might was available...)
"Hmmm, I see, well take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the moment, that way you'll be even more motivated by your training, that's how I see it from my side!"
"...I... You know what, I'm not convinced yet but I'm going to follow your example, who knows, it might be a good experience."
"That's what I like to hear, glory to us!"
As we chat, moving towards the changing rooms, I notice 4 people heading towards the girls' changing rooms, three of whom I recognize.
"This way..." Usui show.
"The curtain is open!" Motohama exclaims.
"These fools... they don't know how to behave." They exasperate me.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me they do this all the time?" Kai is surprised.
"You didn't know? I see, they hide their games rather well." I announce in a tone of indifference.
"We'll have to stop them then!" Kai moves toward them. "Wait! Guys!"
I reluctantly follow him, putting on my Maken-ki armband just in case.
"Ah... Kurigasa and Senji." Matsuda seemed indifferent by his presence.
"What's your blem?" Usui asks.
"We'd rather tell you! Senji just warned me about your behavior! You're nothing but troublemakers, you're a disgrace to all the guys! Besides, do you think the second and third years we'll be facing won't point that out?!"
"But there will be Azuki-senpai too, right?" Motohama points out.
This is not lost on Kai, who suddenly turns as red as a tomato, holds his head and starts bleeding from the nose, surely imagining Azuki in some way.
(Ah yes, it's true that he's in love with Azuki, poor guy, he's got work to do.)
"Plus this time, we've got a secret weapon!" Usui, bring up the fourth person I don't know.
He's a young man, shorter than them, and a little shorter than me, with a simple bowl cut.
"This is Usuya Kageshiro-kun and his alter! Who is able to mask presence!" Usui introduces him.
"Eh..? Er..ermmm..." Usuya looks annoyed. "My 'Chameleon' alter is able to mask your silhouette but, not make your presence disappear..."
"Ehhhhhhhhhh?!" Usui couldn't believe his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"So... Sorry!"
"You might have a chance with the first years, but it's dead with the upper classes, especially with Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai, you'll be spotted for sure." I explain, destroying what little hope they had left.
"Damn it! Cut the bullshit and let's go to the pool!" Kai separates Usuya from the perverted trio and heads off.
"Guuu... This may be the end..." Usui laments, on all fours.
As I watch the three idiots moping about not being able to check out the girls, a thought that I never thought I'd have crosses my mind.
(I have a bad feeling about this...)
"Aki-sensei is so sexy!"
"Only in her DVDs can you see Shiria in a bathing suit!"
"Rias and Akeno are really hot!"
"So happy to be in Kuoh!"
As we waited, the girls came out of the changing rooms in their school swimsuits, driving several of the boys crazy.
"Ahahahah, this is embarrassing..." Kiba scratches his head, embarrassed.
I ignore this ridiculous spectacle and turn to a large mirror on the wall. I inspect my body, which has certainly suffered the consequences of my mistakes, small scars and darkened marks, but above all I notice that I have indeed put on muscle.
(Looks like All Might's training is paying off.)
"Argh, I don't understand! My breasts are big and still well preserved so why do they only have eyes for you?" Minori fumes.
"Oh? It may well be that the question isn't just about the chest." Aki replied indifferently.
"Oh my, isn't that Iruka-sensei?" Minori turns.
"Indeed, a teacher in each camp, and I'd be your opponent. Even though I know that for most this game is just a way to satisfy their gaze, I'd participate with everything I've got!" Iruka motivates everyone.
"It's perfectly normal, otherwise it wouldn't be fair..." Aki turns her gaze to me and stares.
Minori follows her gaze to fall on me and a big smile spreads across her face, approaching me.
"Well Senji, I didn't know you were the type to stare at yourself in the mirror..." She said with a touch of mockery.
"Not at all, it's quite the opposite precisely, I've never realized visually how much progress I've had." I explain.
"I see, in any case, you're pretty well built, pretty good!" She gives me a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, I'm pretty happy with my training."
"Oh? Now I'm curious..." She said, leaning over to take a closer look at me.
"Sorry, it's someone who trains me and he made me promise not to tell anyone." I stop her immediately.
"It's getting more and more suspicious, this story..." She tries to grab me, but I hold her back.
"Senji, I know it's important to have a good physical condition, but don't forget that you're still growing, too much muscling is a risk of harming your body, especially in the long run, so promise me you'll be careful." Aki stops Minori and inspects me, running her hand over my abs, cheeks slightly flushed.
"I... um, I'd be careful but... what are you doing Aki-sensei?" I freeze, not knowing how to react.
"I'll check if you're overdoing it! You've already got considerably more dark spots on your body, as a teacher I worry you know!" Aki defends herself, redder than before.
"I especially see you touching a minor, I thought you'd prefer men older than you Aki..." Minori seems very amused by the situation.
"It's not at all what you think!" Aki grabs Minori by the shoulders and shakes her around, embarrassed.
"Ok! Ok! I get it!"
"Sorry to keep you all waiting! The competition pitting boys and girls against each other in a rider battle for mixed swimming lessons will begin without further ado!" Yuuka announces the start of the competition, microphone in hand..
The rules are pretty straightforward: a team is out if its headband is stolen or if the rider falls off his mount and into the water. The only bans are blows to the head, belts and elbows.
"That's it for the rules! The rest is in line with classic rider battles." Yuuka finishes explaining.
At the signal, the three people who will carry me, Sasuke, Kiba and Jojo, dive in and hold me firmly, putting us face to face with the girls.
The girls' team is made up of Kodama, Chacha, Shiki, Garrett, Shiria and Aki-sensei.
The boys' team consists of Usui, myself, Kai, Dio, Jojo and Iruka-sensei.
"The six groups of girls and boys in each team must be ready! A team will be considered the loser if all six groups lose! Do your best!" concludes Yuuka.
"Guu... Why do I have to be part of the mount when I'm known as the institute's pretty principal?" Minori complains, being Aki's front mount.
"Fufufu, I admit I'm a little jealous, I would have liked to mess with Senji." Laughs Akeno, who is Aki's left rear mount.
"I'm not sure if facing us will motivate him more than that Akeno, but at least they have the intelligence not to choose the strongest girls." Comments Rias, being Aki's right rear mount.
"It's just too much! The boys here have nothing in their eyes!" Yan Min is upset, Shiria's right rear mount..
"Can we stay focused?" Demitra asks, Shiria front mount.
"I understand their point of view... But aren't we just proving the boy right here?" Amio, who finished her suspension just before December, thinks aloud, Shiria's left rear mount..
"Well then the long awaited match shall start in accordance to the versus map in place! Here are the pairs the flow for the two, the path the two takes will not intersect, for the sake of one's path, for the sake of proving oneself with all one's might show Kuoh your strength! The path of sun's child!"
As Yuuka sings the ceremony sermon, all eyes are focused and at that moment, I can feel the flame of excitement burning inside me. I wasn't at all interested in this game, but now that I'm here, and seeing how important it is for so many people, I tell myself it's no bad thing to take part.
"And heaven be our witness!" We all shout together, starting to charge at each other.
"Here we go! Everyone do as agreed!" Usui reminds us.
The strategy is simple: always maintain numerical superiority. To achieve this, we've allocated a target to each player. By doing this, we'll be able to attack and defend freely.
(It'll hold for quite a while, so just hang on).
I order my three mounts Jonouchi, Kiba and Sasuke to head for Shiki.
"Senji." Obviously, she notices us immediately and prepares.
'Senji, no mercy! Only you here know Ryougi-san well, so you're the most qualified person to look after her...' I remember Usui's words yesterday.
(And he doesn't know her at all, so just because it's me doesn't mean she'll be any less violent...)
"I'm not feeling it too much but, it's part of the game so I'm going to do it!" I throw my hand toward her headband, but she immediately intercepts me with a punch that pushes me away.
"Let me guess, it was Usui who set up this strategy of making you face me, wasn't it? Well sorry Senji but this is a competition, so I'm going to give it my all, and beating you is a must!" Shiki throws her hands towards me.
I receive her directly, we hold hands, our fingers intertwined, pushing each other away. Shiki is by no means to be taken lightly, as she's proved time and again in sports classes. Underneath her indifferent looks and body, which may seem fragile at first glance, she's actually extremely strong, and has even surprised Jojo, Dio and Kai, who are mountains of muscle.
(But there's something different here, I've never seen this expression on her face, she seems to be having a lot of fun, a big smile on her face, she seems like a completely different person...)
Suddenly, instead of pushing me away, she pulls me towards her, frees herself and reaches for my blindfold. I duck down, leaning on Kiba's shoulders, then attack again.
(What the hell's going on? I feel like I'm dealing with someone else, I've never seen her with so much energy! And the strangest thing is that she agreed to take part. She who only likes to wear kimonos and nothing else, to the point where it's hard to tell her to wear sportswear to sports classes, is it really her?)
"Shiki, is it really you?" As I parry an attack from my left, my question makes Shiki freeze, eyes wide.
Seeing this, I took advantage and pulled the blindfold off her head, winning my duel.
"Oh... in less than a minute, the boys' team took down the girls' team!" Yuuka announces.
"Wha... What happened? Ryogi-chan!" Garrett asks, being closest to us.
Shiki remains motionless for a few seconds, staring at me as if impressed, then straightens up and waves her hand in surrender.
"Senji beat me to the punch, so good luck." She replies simply.
"Well done Senji, I knew I could count on you! Thanks to that, the plan is working perfectly! Now come to us!" Usui indicates the next part of the plan.
"Ah! Senji Emiya-kun! We never really get a chance to talk, but I want you to know that I'm hearing a lot of positive things about you, so I'm going to give it my all against you!" Garrett faces me, ready to attack.
"Good, otherwise it wouldn't be a competition, would it?" I position myself.
"Yes! Well said!"
Further on, Usui heads for Kodama, who faces Dio, whose mounts are members of Kodama's fan club... Moreover, she lets her spirits do the work for her, the fire spirit kicking Dio's arm as he defends himself against something he can't see.
"Damn it, you good-for-nothing! What are you doing to me? Powers are forbidden, I remind you!" Dio gets angry.
"Himegami-san! As a member of your fan club, even if you're the smallest girl on your team, you'll always be the best in our eyes and our feelings are true! No! The smallest are always the best!" Dio's mounts declare their flames at Kodama.
"Tss, you have no taste, you larvae! There's absolutely nothing interesting about this girl!" Dio in turn lets loose.
"What?!" Kodama blushed with shame all at once.
"Bunch of... How does she have small breasts?" Asks the fire spirit, even though no one can hear her but her, which seems to piss her off even more.
"Aaaaa... You're not shy about saying it's a breadboard!" The lightning spirit adds another layer.
"How dare you?" Kodama firmly catches her spirits, on the verge of exploding. "Get out of my sight!" She tosses them into the air, then prepares to attack Dio. "Very well... such a provocation deserves a response!" She signals her mounts to go for it. "Get ready!"
"Come on! I'll show you who's superior!" Dio waits with bated breath.
The two come into contact, forearm against forearm, but Dio has completely forgotten both Kodama's headband and his own, leaving it completely exposed. Kodama uses his fist, but at the last moment opens his hand and grabs the headband, to Dio's surprise.
"How?!" Dio exclaims.
Humph! Take this as a lesson, you'll learn to do things moderately so you don't make me angry." Kodama comments, playing her princess.
But Usui comes up from behind, unnoticed, and removes Kodama's headband as if nothing had happened.
"You're cute even when you're angry! Himegami-senpai!" Usui adds.
"Usui..!" Kodama is surprised.
"And I like small breasts too!" Usui can't resist adding another.
"Stupid idiot!" Kodama punches him in the face, but Usui's smile indicates that it doesn't bother him at all, rather the opposite.
"Emiya-kun! I understand better all the voices speaking well of you! You're really strong! Your mastery of martial arts is admirable! I'm proud to say I'm a fan!" I really seem to impress Garrett.
"Thanks, but don't expect to win thanks to pretty words!" I notice her, barely taking her headband.
"It goes without saying! Winning that way would be a humiliation for me too! Hmpf! It looks like I can't take your headband, so I'll take the second option!"
She charges her arm with energy and lunges forward. Seeing this, I strengthen my body and put my arm in front to protect myself. She strikes, sending me flying over the pool with an uppercut, but what she didn't expect was for me to catch her headband in flight.
"Hey... Huh? The blindfold, don't tell me Emiya-kun..." Garrett couldn't believe it.
"Hoooo!" Students watching the competition stand up.
"Senji-kun swiped the headband while he was being sent flying!" Yuuka comments on the action, amused.
I fall on my three comrades who catch me just in time.
"Thanks guys!" I get up immediately, albeit a little stunned.
"No problem, it was risky but it worked, well done!" Kiba congratulates me.
"It's not over, so I hope you've still got it." Sasuke is super focused.
"Too good Senji, but you've got to stop hitting on every girl you meet!" Jonouchi gets angry.
"The boys made a nice save, so they're left with five teams compared to four for the girls!" Yuuka takes her role as commentator to heart.
"Nice work, Senji!" Usui congratulates me.
"Yeah, it was risky though." I mumble.
Further on, Kai faces Chacha - well, it's more the other way round, given the size difference. Kai pushes Chacha away with one hand, nearly toppling over.
"Chacha! Everything okay!?" Haruko asks, her mount in front.
"Bwa! He doesn't pull any punches!" Chacha stands up, wiping the water off her face. "Given his size, the only way to prick the headband is to jump! If I jump this time, I could find myself thrown into the water!"
"So Chacha-chan? It's not your style to whine!" Kai scoffs.
"Huh? Who's the one..." Chacha turns and delivers a backhanded kick to Kai straight into the ribs. "Who's moaning?!"
"Ugh!" The impact is so strong that Kai leans forward, leaving his headband easily retrievable.
"Hmm~~ Kicking is not forbidden! It's okay!" Yuuka clarifies.
"Oh Ohh! Shiria! Go for it!" Chacha calls out to Shiria.
"Let's go Demitra!" Shiria, facing Jojo, immediately turns to Kai.
"Got it!" Demitra recites an incantation and, like last time, splits the water in two to run.
"Oh! That's... Demitra is able to control water, what a brilliant athlete! Like Moses parting the sea!" Yuuka comments.
"I'm in!" Shiria takes Kai's headband, still in shock. "Your headband! I got it!"
"Hey, this way it's hard to know who's going to win!" Chacha catches herself and straightens up.
"Chacha! Up there, up there!" Shiria tries to warn Chacha but it's too late.
Iruka-sensei comes in from the side like an arrow and grabs Chacha's headband.
"Never let your guard down, not even for a second! Chacha-kun, like you said, this match isn't over yet!" Iruka-sensei takes the opportunity to teach a lesson.
"To be able to take Chacha's headband at such speed and on top of that give a little lesson right behind it? That's pure Iruka-sensei!" Said Yuuka.
"Well, it's four against two now..." I think aloud but stop, seeing Jojo, beaten by Aki-sensei.
"Aki-sensei defeated Jonathan's team!" Yuuka announces.
"L... Lost! She seems to be able to read my movements!" Jojo is in the water, defeated. "Bra... bravo Aki-sensei!"
"Be on your guard!" Warns Youta, one of Jojo's mounts.
"So that's Aki and Minori huh... There's no other way, I have to fight you!" Iruka-sensei announced, charging towards them.
"Haa... Surely not!" Aki isn't very comfortable with the idea.
"Bah then Aki, it's easy against students but against another sensei it's no longer possible?" Minori scoffs.
"Iruka-sensei!" Call Usui.
"We should be assisting you!" I walk over to sensei, accompanied by Usui.
But Shiria steps in, putting herself between us and sensei.
"No! Senji-kun!" Shiria points at me. "You must only have eyes for me! Aha!" Then she winks at me, making a V with her fingers.
"Why always him!" The boy spectators get angry. "Shiria!" And try to get her attention.
"Oh~~ Once again the boys are booed!" Yuuka is having way too much fun.
"We should do a double attack! Don't worry about the old man!" I suggest a tactic to Usui, ignoring the spectators' insults.
"Okay!" He accepts immediately.
Being further ahead, Usui attacks first, but no sooner does he extend his arm than he is caught and thrown out of his team, falling into the water.
"Usui was literally thrown out of his team! Only two teams left on each side!" Yuuka announces.
She tries to do the same to me, but thanks to my strengthened body and superior Usui abilities, I hold my own against Shiria, constantly pushing us back in a flurry of attacks to grab the other's headband, then exhausted, we both retreat out of breath.
"What are you playing at Shiria?! Don't tell me it's that complicated?" Yan Min complains.
"Haaaan, it's just that... "Shiria wriggled, unsure how to respond.
"Hey! Senji-kun, everything okay?" Kiba asks me.
"What strength. She's almost as strong as Kakashi-sensei, I thought my arms were going to come off at times." I realize the difference in strength between an amateur like me and a confirmed mercenary.
"I'm only going to do things by halves on this one!" She said, sticking her tongue out at me.
(She's kidding, right? She went easy on me there?)
"It looks like the confrontation between the sensei is over! Tie!" Yuuka announces.
"Well... sorry about the girls..." Iruka-sensei lets out a sigh.
"Haha... So this is how it had to end..." Aki-sensei looks disappointed.
Seeing that we're the last team standing, I can feel the tension rising between us. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I stare at Shiria, seeing only her. I get into fighting stance, ready to suck in energy.
"Senji-kun, don't tell me that..." Kiba notices my intention.
"No choice, this is the last dance Kiba, Sasuke, Junouchi, you have to give it your all now are you ready?" I ask them, continuing to stare at Shiria, who blushes more and more under the intensity of my gaze.
They don't answer me, although they don't have to; I can feel their determination and motivation emanating from them.
"I showed such a difference in strength! And yet he's as determined as ever! Senji-kun is so cool!' Shiria holds her cheeks, slightly flushed.
"This is no time to chicken out Shiria." I reply simply.
"Very good! That's why I'll be merciless! Let's go Demitra!"
"Okay!"
At these words, the girls charge towards us. We do the same, charging forward with everything we've got.
"Forward!" Demitra motivates herself, but her gaze suddenly changes direction, completely losing the rhythm of the action and braking all at once, surprising the rest of her team.
"Eh?" Shiria nearly loses her balance.
"Eh!? Put on the brakes!" Demitra asks.
Seeing this, all I have to do is help myself and take Shiria's headband with no problem.
"Ah..." Shiria notice it and can't do anything.
"Um..." I look at her dazedly, not knowing what just happened.
"Ahh... I've lost!" She said, rubbing her head.
"With only one team left in the race for the boys and none left for the girls, the battle of riders between the two sexes, ends in a male victory!" Yuuka announces the end of the match.
I barely have time to get out of the water before the guys grab me and throw me into the air, celebrating our victory.