Chapter: Extra Episode – Volleyball and Ice Cream

Tokyo – Mayor's Office

The mayor was going on and on about his achievements in front of the six of us. I impatiently picked my nose and asked, "What exactly do you need us for?"

Momoko, meanwhile, was eating pudding and listening to music, completely immersed in her own world.

Shigeru and Kaoru were watching the soccer match on their iPads, equally oblivious.

Kagami was nearly dozing off, and Miyako gently shook him: "Kagami, wake up!"

Miss Bellum reminded the mayor: "Mayor, please get to the point!"

The mayor realized he had strayed off topic and said loudly: "Sorry, I got off track. I brought all six of you here because I want you to represent the school and Tokyo in a volleyball friendly match against the representatives from Saint Petersburg High School in Russia!"

Miss Bellum added: "Because you three boys performed so well in the last baseball match, we decided to have you team up with the Powerpuff Girls Z to represent Tokyo and our sister city, Saint Petersburg, in this international exchange."

At this point, Momoko took off her headphones, Shigeru and Kaoru looked away from their iPads, and Kagami, who had been drooling, suddenly woke up.

The six of us exclaimed in unison, "What?! A volleyball match?!"

I was the first to complain: "A volleyball match? No interest, I'm not doing it! There's no benefit in it!"

Kaoru thought: "Soccer would be fine, but we hardly ever practice volleyball."

Shigeru also said with some reluctance: "And the opponents are international exchange students, so their skills will definitely be strong."

However, the mayor seemed to anticipate our thoughts and smiled: "Don't be too quick to refuse. The winner of this match will not only bring honor to the school but also receive generous rewards, including a substantial scholarship and high-quality ice cream vouchers."

Hearing the word "scholarship" made me suddenly perk up: "Scholarship?! I'm in! I'm in!" I couldn't resist the temptation of money!

Kaoru's eyes also became serious instantly: "If there's a scholarship, it's definitely worth a try." It was clear she had a strong sense of responsibility toward her family, and the scholarship was a huge motivation for her.

When Momoko heard "high-quality ice cream," she excitedly shouted: "Ice cream? Really? And it's high-quality?!" For a dessert enthusiast like Momoko, this was an irresistible attraction.

Kagami, who had been hesitant, was also instantly won over by the mention of ice cream, drooling as he said: "High-quality ice cream… It must be delicious!"

Seeing us getting more excited, Shigeru shrugged: "Since everyone is so motivated, I'll join too."

Miyako smiled and said: "Then let's all work hard together~~"

So, under the dual temptation of scholarships and ice cream, the six of us decided to accept the challenge and represent Tokyo in the match a week later.

Every day of volleyball training was challenging but exhilarating. As the Outside Hitter, my job was to spike the ball with the strongest power and most tricky angles to force the opponents into mistakes and score points.

I loved this feeling, especially during spikes, when it felt like all my strength concentrated into a burst in an instant, which was particularly satisfying. Of course, because of our unique physical build, we had to control our strength.

One of the most fun parts of training was competing with Momoko. Momoko had pretty good athletic reflexes, and every time I spiked the ball, she could always catch it. Although sometimes I could see her taking a few steps back, she never let the ball drop.

After each rally, she would smile and say, "You think you can beat me? Wait another hundred years!" I wouldn't back down and would always reply with a smile: "Let's go again and see who's better!"

Miyako was also a key player on our team. As the setter, her passing was crucial to our attacking success. She passed the ball very accurately, always placing it in the best position for Momoko and me.

Sometimes she would set particularly difficult balls for Shigeru and Kaoru to practice blocking. She would tell us with a smile: "Just focus on attacking, I'll make sure to pass the ball to the right spot for you!"

Kagami, as the ace of the kendo club, had incredibly fast speed. As the libero, he covered the entire court with his defense. During training, I would often deliberately hit tricky shots to the corners to see if he could handle them.

Kagami always managed to respond easily, quickly saving the ball and then grinning at me: "I'll guard your backs!" His confident attitude always made everyone laugh.

Shigeru and Kaoru were our defensive wall. Their blocking training was very intense, especially Shigeru, whose strength was unmatched. Kaoru was also impressive, with her quick reflexes and judgment.

The two of them often worked together in training, their cooperation was very seamless.

Sometimes, they would jokingly compete to see who could block the other's attacks better. Meanwhile, the rest of us would watch them compete while resting, thinking how well they got along.

Although the daily training was exhausting, we found joy in it and grew closer together. Whether sweating it out or joking around, we were all gearing up for the upcoming match. I could feel everyone was full of enthusiasm and confidence, ready to showcase our skills on the court.

However, such intense training also came with its side effects…

In class, the teacher gripped the chalk with a twitching hand, veins bulging on his forehead.

I, with sleepy eyes, looked at my teammates: Shigeru had dark circles under his eyes, barely holding a pen to take notes, Momoko had succumbed to sleep, resting her head on the desk, while Kagami and Kaoru were already snoring: "ZZZ."

Among the six of us, only Miyako was still truly awake. Miyako hurriedly tapped Kagami's back with her pen: "Kagami, wake up!", and then gently shook Kaoru and Momoko's shoulders: "Momoko, Kaoru, we're still in class!"

The teacher snapped the chalk in his hand and turned to shout: "Is my class really that boring?! Akatsutsumi, Matsubara, Midou!?"

Miyako quickly stood up to explain: "Sorry, teacher, they're just exhausted from volleyball practice lately!"

Before long, a week had passed.

"On the Day of the Competition" "Tokyo Kunitachi High School"
"Gym"

The venue was packed with spectators; the entire school's students and staff were there, cheering us on.

The six of us were stretching on the sidelines when suddenly a gasp filled the arena.

We looked over and saw the Russian representatives making their grand entrance. They were a three-men, three-women team like us, but every one of them was a perfect 9-heads-tall, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present. Each of the six had incredibly high facial attractiveness.

The boys had muscular, sculpted bodies with well-defined lines, like perfect statues, while the girls were all tall and slim, with long legs and narrow waists, exuding a noble air, like cover models from a fashion magazine.

The boys had handsome, stern faces that conveyed determination and confidence, while the girls had exquisite features and high noses, their eyes carrying a cold yet captivating charm.

I couldn't help but stare at the opponents, especially the Russian female players. Their delicate features and enchanting aura seemed to hold my gaze in an instant.

"Wow, they really are good-looking..." I couldn't help but blurt out, my eyes glued to them.

Shigeru also chimed in, "No wonder they're from Russia; there are really a lot of beauties!"

Kagami seemed to be captivated too. He stared at the female players' chests and said, "Hmm... they look pretty strong."

However, our reaction seemed to upset the girls on our team.

Momoko smiled gently but firmly grabbed my ear and asked, "What are you looking at, Yuzuhiko? Didn't we agree to focus on the match?"

Caught off guard, I quickly explained, "No, no! I'm just studying their serving techniques!"

Just then, I noticed Momoko's gaze was also drawn to the Russian male representatives. Those tall and handsome Russian male players looked like they had stepped out of a manga, and Momoko's eyes seemed to sparkle with hearts.

"Hmph, Momoko, weren't you just telling me to focus on the match?" I seized the rare opportunity to tease her, "You can't keep your eyes off those handsome guys, can you?"

Momoko's face turned bright red at my comment. She shot me a glare and defended herself, "I… I'm just checking out their physiques, afraid that the opponents might be too strong!"

I couldn't help but laugh, "Oh? Is that so? I thought you were interested in their looks."

Momoko seemed to have been caught off guard by my comment. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Anyway, let's focus on the match!"

At that moment, Miyako gently patted Kagami on the head, speaking with a sweet tone but a hint of mockery, "Kagami, where were you looking just now? Do you want me to help you take another look?"

Kagami quickly responded, "I just think they might be very skilled..."

Kaoru pinched Shigeru's cheek and pretended to be angry, "Shigeru, are you looking at the beauties or the opponents?"

Shigeru rubbed his sore cheek and smiled, "I'm observing them to think about our tactics!"
To make matters worse, the Russian female players seemed to have noticed our awkward situation and began throwing flirtatious glances and even blowing kisses!

Russian player A sent me a kiss, Russian player B threw a flirtatious glance at Kagami, and Russian player C smiled and softly said something in Russian to Shigeru: "удачи" (good luck).

This action instantly increased the girls' jealousy.

Momoko smiled even more sweetly but clenched her fists, saying to me, "Yuzuhiko, are you going to return a kiss or not?!"

Miyako put her hands on her hips, pouted, and glared at Kagami, "Kagami, are you still looking?"

Kaoru patted Shigeru on the shoulder and said calmly, " Shigeru, it seems you're quite popular!"

I was instantly flustered and quickly turned my head, pretending I saw nothing, "I didn't see anything!"

Kagami, with a slightly flushed face, muttered, "I'm only interested in the match!"

Shigeru, clearly frightened, quickly raised his hand in surrender, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Let's just focus on the match!"

The match hadn't even started yet, and we were already in an uproar.

"The Match"

The match was a best-of-three series. As the game began, the Russian team served first. Their serves were indeed powerful and highly accurate.

Kagami quickly used his agility to receive the ball, sending it securely to Miyako. Miyako swiftly assessed the situation and passed the ball to me.

Recognizing this as a good opportunity for an attack, I leaped without hesitation and slammed the ball into the opponent's court.

However, the opposing team's blocker reacted swiftly, attempting to block my attack. Fortunately, Kaoru and Shigeru coordinated well at the net, effectively covering my attack and allowing the ball to pass over their block and land heavily on their side of the court.

This successful play scored us the first point of the set, and the whole arena erupted in cheers and applause.

As the match progressed, both sides were exchanging blows, with the score remaining close. The Russian attackers performed excellently, but Kagami was always able to anticipate their moves, agilely saving the ball and creating more opportunities for our attacks.

Miyako's sets became increasingly precise, Kaoru and Shigeru's net play grew more coordinated, and Momoko's defense became more solid.

As the first set reached its crucial moment (24-23), the Russian team launched a fierce attack, sending the ball speeding toward the edge of our court, nearly impossible to react in time.

In this critical moment, Kagami managed to kick the ball back! Not only did he save the ball, but he also successfully delivered it to Miyako, allowing us to organize a counterattack. Miyako set the ball high, and I smashed it into the opponent's court. Thanks to this counterattack and our teamwork, we narrowly defeated the Russian team to win the first set.

The team's reaction was one of astonishment, as many probably didn't expect volleyball could be played with the foot!

Momoko exclaimed in surprise, "Kagami! You used your foot to save the ball!"

Shigeru also looked amazed, "I didn't know you could use your foot in volleyball!"

Miyako cheered loudly, "Kagami, you're amazing!"

Kaoru joked, "Are you a soccer prodigy who was held back by kendo~?"

Kagami chuckled and said, "It was just a coincidence, just a coincidence~"

I clenched my fists and encouraged my teammates, "Great, we've won the first set!"

This hard-earned victory had the whole audience excited. We knew that the upcoming sets would be even tougher, but we were fully prepared and ready to face our strong opponents.

"Second Set"

As the second set began, we started to notice something was wrong. The Russian players began targeting the girls with powerful serves and spikes, each shot coming with immense force and precision, directed straight at the girls.

Kaoru, with her strong physique and agile reactions, could barely handle a few of them, but Momoko and Miyako seemed to be struggling.

Especially when they were hit hard by the ball, not only did their arms go numb, but their bodies were also repeatedly struck by the ball.

The opponents' power was immense, but they didn't violate any rules, making it impossible for us to protest with the regulations! This relentless assault increased our pressure significantly.

Momoko, holding her shoulder where she was hit, furrowed her brow and said, "They're being too rough! It's supposed to be a friendly match, not dodgeball!"

Miyako, gripping his reddened arm and sounding a bit weak, asked, "Their serves… are like cannonballs… Momoko, are you okay?"

Kaoru gritted her teeth and tried to return the ball, "Be careful! These guys aren't ordinary players. Their ball speed is too fast. I'll help you block them!"

Kagami, Shigeru, and I gradually realized something was off. We kept a close watch on the opponents' every move, our fighting spirit ignited.

Although this was supposed to be a friendly match, the opponents' intensity and their 'targeting' of the girls made us decide that we couldn't just stick to our usual tactics.

I called out to the referee, "Referee, timeout!" and we six moved to the sidelines.

I glared at the Russian representatives, clenched my fists, and said, "These Russians are clearly targeting the girls. Since they're not planning to hold back, we need to get serious."

Kagami, also noticing the opponent's style, looked at Miyako with concern, "These serves are not ordinary! Miyako, are you okay?!" Miyako, grimacing through the pain, forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, Kagami… you three don't worry about us, just keep playing!"

Shigeru calmly analyzed the situation, "We need to change our strategy. Kaoru, keep blocking at the net. Kagami, continue as the libero and minimize the chances of Momoko and Miyako getting hit directly. Momoko, join in the blocking and focus on serving. Miyako, focus on setting, and Yuzuhiko, give it your all on the attack!"

The other five, including me, responded in unison, "Got it!"

During the next round, the opponent's powerful spike came straight for Miyako.

Realizing that Miyako couldn't fully defend against the ball, Kagami suddenly leaped and kicked the incoming volleyball at the edge of the court, miraculously saving it.

Seeing the ball kicked back by Kagami, Shigeru immediately had an idea: "Miyako, set the ball high!"

Miyako understood and setted the ball high. Shigeru jumped at the net, quickly turning his body, and performed a move called " Overhead Kick ":

"Look at my Overhead Kick !" The volleyball flew towards the opponent's side, and the Russian team was completely caught off guard. It was in bounds!

The whole venue erupted in excitement, and even the opponents were stunned.

When Shigeru landed, he shouted loudly: "Goal!"

Kagami and I immediately high-fived Shigeru: "Cool! Brother!"

But the referee's whistle blew: "Beeep beep beep!"

The referee said: "Foul! The Overhead Kick does not comply with the rules!"

The whole audience burst into laughter: "Hahaha!" Even the Russian players were laughing hysterically.

Shigeru looked confused: "What? That's a foul too? Isn't it allowed to use the foot to save the ball?"

Kaoru stomped her foot in frustration: "Shigeru, what on earth are you doing with that Overhead Kick! What were you thinking, trying to score with a move like that? It's not soccer!"

Miyako explained with a bitter smile: "Although the rules allow using the foot to save the ball, you can't use your foot for attacks, let alone perform a risky move like a Overhead Kick at the net."

Momoko shouted anxiously: "Our hard-earned lead is being caught up! We have to come up with a way to score 2 more points!"

I glanced at the scoreboard. We were only ahead by one point, 24-23. It seemed like it was time to pull out the big moves!

I looked at the ceiling, estimating its height to be about 25 meters, equivalent to eight floors. I couldn't jump that high with all my strength, so… let's do it this way!

It was the Russian team's turn. They served a powerful ball straight towards Momoko. Seeing this, I shouted at her: "Momoko, hit the ball higher!"

Momoko painfully received the powerful serve: "So painful!" The ball flew towards the ceiling due to the reaction force. I then shouted to Kagami and Shigeru: "You two, give me a hand!"

Kagami and Shigeru understood immediately, reaching out with one hand each to act as a platform. "I placed my feet on their hands, and with their coordinated effort, they lifted me high into the air.

Timing it perfectly, I jumped off, soaring into the air, aiming straight at the ball flying towards the ceiling!"

Many people in the crowd gasped: "So high!"

I took advantage of the timing and performed a powerful spike: "Here it comes!"

I smashed the volleyball hard towards the opponent's court. It was in bounds!

Just when I thought we had won, the referee blew the whistle again: "Beeep beep beep!"

I was a bit annoyed and yelled at the referee: "Why do you always call fouls on us?!"

The referee replied sternly: "Foul! Using other players as a platform is against the rules!"

Kagami looked puzzled: "This is also not allowed? I just used force to help Yuzuhiko…"

Miyako explained helplessly to Kagami: "In volleyball, players must rely on their own strength and can't use external force!"

Momoko shook her head and sighed, covering her forehead: "You three really… Of course, that's a foul! Who plays volleyball like that…"

Kaoru loudly complained: "Are you all a bunch of idiots?! Stop using these weird tactics!"

Shigeru looked serious: "This is trouble; it's now 24-24. We need to figure out how to win 2 more points!"

As the match reached the crucial 24-24 moment, our whole team was on edge. The Russian team prepared to serve, their gaze as sharp as an eagle's, and the pressure in the court increased.

The Russian team's serve was like a lightning bolt heading towards Momoko. Momoko struggled to receive the heavy ball, but the powerful reaction made her arm go numb again, and the ball flew high towards the back.

In this critical moment, Kagami quickly rushed to the back of the court, showcasing the speed and agility of a libero. He chased after the ball heading out of bounds and, with astonishing speed, leaped and used all his strength to push the ball back into the court.

However, the intense save caused Kagami to crash into the seating area, breaking the seats with a loud noise. The whole audience gasped. But Kagami was unharmed, quickly getting up and jumping back into the court.

The ball arced beautifully in the air, landing perfectly on Miyako's head.

"Miyako, set the ball!" I shouted.

Miyako setted the ball, and Shigeru and I immediately moved into attack position. At this moment, the opponent's powerful spiker wasn't going to back down and launched another fierce attack.

Shigeru decisively jumped and blocked the ball high, sending it back to the Russian team's court, giving us a valuable offensive opportunity.

The Russian players, caught off guard by Shigeru's block, struggled to respond. The ball was weakly returned. I was ready.

"Watch this!" I jumped high, aimed at the weak return, and used all my strength to spike the ball fiercely into the corner of the Russian team's court. The ball fell rapidly like a cannonball, and the Russian team couldn't react. We won the point! 25-24!

But the match wasn't over; we still needed to score one more point. At this moment, Momoko stood at the service line, enduring the pain and serving a precise serve.

The ball sped across the net and headed towards the opponent's court. Although the Russian team managed to receive the ball, it was off-target, and their attack became chaotic.

The opponent's spiker tried to attack again, but Kaoru was in the front row. She was already prepared, guarding the net and closely watching the opponent's moves.

The opponent tried to break through with power, but Kaoru's block was successful again. The ball was forcefully sent back to the Russian team's court, leaving them in disarray.

The Russian team was completely thrown off, unable to organize an effective return. The ball eventually landed! 26-24!

The whole audience erupted in cheers, and the girls hugged the three of us, excitedly shouting and jumping.

I couldn't help but smile, and Kagami and Shigeru also showed satisfied smiles: all six of us played a crucial role in this match. Kagami's brave save, Shigeru and Kaoru's crucial blocks, Miyako's setting, Momoko's receiving and serving, and my spike—all our efforts led to this hard-earned victory.

However… the next day…

"Principal's Office"

After the match, the school summoned the six of us and listed the damages caused during the game. The principal and several teachers enumerated all the items that needed repair.

The principal spoke first, his tone serious: "First of all, congratulations on winning the match. However, we also discovered some damage issues."

He turned to Kagami and continued: "Midou, you accidentally broke several rows of seats while saving the ball."

Kagami lowered his head, looking apologetic: "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just focused on saving the ball."

Next, the principal looked at me: "Shirakawa, your spike broke several light fixtures."

I clicked my tongue: "It's the school's lights that are too flimsy!"

The principal then turned to Shigeru: "Kusama, your powerful attack hit the wall and some decorations in the court."

Shigeru looked surprised: "I will be responsible for the compensation."

Finally, the principal looked at Momoko, Miyako, and Kaoru, relaxing his tone a bit: "As for Akatsutsumi, Gotokuji, and Matsubara, you three didn't cause significant damage. You can leave for now."

So the three girls left the principal's office first.

Ten minutes later, when the three of us came out of the principal's office, we found that Momoko and the others hadn't left immediately.

It turned out they were patiently waiting outside the principal's office until we finished our discussion with the school.

Seeing us looking dejected over the damages, Momoko immediately stepped forward and said concernedly: "Although we didn't cause any damage and don't need to compensate, seeing you so down, we decided to share half of our scholarship with you."

Miyako patted Kagami's shoulder, comforting him: "Kagami, we've all seen your effort. Don't be too hard on yourself."

Kaoru saw Shigeru wanting to refuse and smiled at him: "Shigeru, don't be shy. Just accept it!"

I looked at Momoko and smiled gratefully: "Thank you all!"

Kagami looked at Miyako with gratitude and said cheerfully: "Thank you all. I feel like my save wasn't in vain, haha~"

Shigeru smiled at Kaoru and said, "We really appreciate your help. We will remember this support!"

Momoko then showed a high-quality ice cream voucher she had and suggested, "To celebrate our victory, let's go for ice cream together after school today! Let's relax a bit!"

We all nodded in agreement, saying in unison, "Agreed!"

After school, the six of us decided to go to the ice cream shop to celebrate. The sun was shining brightly, and on the small terrace outside the ice cream shop, three pairs of boys and girls each sat at a small table, enjoying a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Momoko and I sat at the table closest to the front. Momoko had a smile on her face, with a hint of excitement coloring her rosy cheeks. She held a scoop of ice cream in her hand, playfully offering it to my mouth, eagerly waiting for me to taste it.

I shyly turned my head away, my cheeks flushing, seeming to resist, but not really wanting to refuse. Momoko's eyes sparkled, clearly enjoying our little interaction. Her relaxed and happy demeanor made me smile involuntarily.

At the table on the right, Miyako and Kagami sat together. Miyako was propping hER chin on one hand while gently stirring her ice cream with the other. Kagami, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair with a contented look and a faint smile on his lips.

Although he didn't show it directly, I could sense Miyako's influence on Kagami. Kagami glanced at Miyako and said something softly that made Miyako laugh. She gently patted his shoulder, her eyes full of warmth.

At the table on the far left, Kaoru and Shigeru sat side by side. Kaoru appeared a bit shy, with her ice cream barely touched. Shigeru, on the other hand, was focused on eating his ice cream, occasionally glancing at Kaoru with a hint of concern in his eyes. Kaoru noticed Shigeru's gaze, looked up, and met his eyes, making both of them smile, creating a pure and warm atmosphere.

Although the three of us brothers were feeling down because of the damage caused unintentionally during the competition and thought we were just working in vain, the girls' initiative to share their scholarships with us deeply touched us.

Momoko smiled at me and said, "Look, even though your scholarship was deducted, at least we have ice cream, right?"

Even though I was still a bit frustrated about losing the scholarship, seeing Momoko's bright smile made me smile as well. "Yeah, as long as we have ice cream."

Miyako gently patted Kagami's shoulder and comforted him, saying, "Don't be sad; the results of our efforts together will definitely not be in vain."

Kagami nodded, looking at Miyako with gratitude, clearly feeling warmed inside.

Kaoru smiled at Shigeru and said, "Don't worry about it; as long as everyone is happy, that's what matters!"

Shigeru scratched his head and laughed, saying, "Next time, we need to be careful not to damage the school's facilities."

On such an afternoon, our mood gradually lightened. Although there were some regrets, we understood that the most important thing was our friendship and mutual support.

The girls' comfort and encouragement swept away our disappointment. We enjoyed ice cream while chatting, with laughter echoing around the ice cream shop, creating a scene full of youthful sweetness and innocence.

Note: This story takes place after the baseball game and before Christmas. It is not related to the main storyline; it was inspired by watching the volleyball at the Paris Olympics while eating ice cream,

Below is the positioning of the six characters. I'm not very familiar with volleyball rules, but I hope this brings a smile to your face. I hope you enjoy this chapter XD.

Yuzuhiko (Brick) Position: Outside Hitter

Momoko (Blossom) Position: Opposite Hitter

Miyako (Bubbles) Position: Setter

Kagami (Boomer) Position: Libero

Kaoru (Buttercup) Position: Middle Blocker

Shigeru (Butch) Position: Middle Blocker