"We've played enough, but just in case… we'll do rescue training now."
"Ehhh!" (Committee members wanting more fun.)
"No complaints! We can't wait for an accident."
"Even Kivotos folks can drown."
"And our tough bodies mean drowning would be… extra painful."
Kivotos people shrug off bullets, but their durability makes suffocation or drowning agonizingly prolonged.
"Toughness has its downsides… Ow, brain freeze." (Eating shaved ice.)
"Being too strong has its cons, Sensei… Ow, head!" (Eating shaved ice.)
"Don't casually drop strong-guy lines! It's demoralizing."
"We're strong, so… Ouch!"
"Stop eating shaved ice while listening! Eat slower if your head hurts!"
The committee nodded at the strong duo's banter—understandable, given their boss, Hina, a top-tier fighter, and Mash, a teacher who could take on Gehenna single-handedly, a living crime deterrent.
"This rescue training is simple: quickly save a drowning person."
"Got it."
"Iori, you're the victim. Sensei, the rescuer."
"Me? I'm bad at acting…"
"Leave it to me. I'll save you, dead or alive."
"That's weirdly convincing…"
"…Ako, let me be the victim."
"No way, Committee Chair! That's too dangerous!"
"So it's fine for me!?"
"…Hmph."
Hina wanted to be rescued by Mash, but Ako's firm refusal squashed it. Training began.
"Iori-san, go!"
"Alright—Help! I'm drowning!!"
"When you see someone like this, what do you do? Sensei too."
"Obvious, right?"
"Yes. First, use this—"
"Yup." Lift.
"…Sensei?"
"Help~ (What's he doing…?)"
Mash turned toward Iori, iron staff in hand. Everyone was confused—except Hina, who had a hunch.
"No way… but it's Sensei, so maybe…"
"Sensei, what're you—"
"Like this." Twist twist.
"Huh!?"
"Iron fan complete."
"Why!?"
"Why!?" (Iori stops acting.)
"…Hah!" Swing!
Mash swung the iron fan, unleashing a gust that…
"The sea… split!?"
The sea parted in two. Iori, flopped on the exposed ground, gaped in shock.
"Now for this." Dash dash.
"S-Sensei…"
"You okay?"
"…Yeah."
"Let's get you out."
"…Yeah."
Mash princess-carried Iori back to Ako and the others. As the sea closed, he gave a thumbs-up.
"Mission complete."
"No way!!"
"Huh? Was that bad?"
"Everything's wrong!"
"But I saved her…"
"How are we supposed to copy that!?"
"…Oh."
"Not everyone's a freak like you!"
"Freak…?"
"Sensei's not a freak, he's a superhuman, Ako."
"Sorry, superhuman. Not everyone's a superhuman!"
"My bad."
Ako planned for Mash to demonstrate, but his Moses-level sea-splitting derailed it.
"I'll do it. Sensei, you drown."
"Harsh, but fine."
"Okay."
"Here I go!" Jump!
Mash leaped far into the sea. Ako held a rescue tool, explaining, with Hina assisting.
"Spot someone drowning or in distress? First, call for help."
"Going alone risks you drowning too."
"Exactly. Throw a ring buoy with a rope or anything that floats."
"So they can stay afloat. Be careful—strong throwers might get pulled in."
"Ohhh~"
As Ako and Hina explained, Chinatsu and Iori noticed something.
"Um… you two…"
"What?"
"Sensei's… thrashing a lot."
"He's acting, isn't he?"
"No, it's…"
"Blubblubblub!" Splash splash!
"Is he actually drowning?"
"No way!"
"Sensei drowning? Impossible!"
"…Didn't he say he's never swum due to… reasons?"
"…He's sinking! Sinking!?"
"Ako!"
"Yes!"
Hina and Ako sprang into action. Hina tied a buoy rope around herself and dove in; Ako gripped the rope.
"Everyone, hold the rope! Sensei's heavy!"
"Yes!"
"Prep towels, AED, and a leisure sheet!"
"Got it!!"
Iori and Chinatsu took their roles, aiding the rescue. Hina searched for Mash.
(Sensei! Where are you!?)
Determined to save him, as he'd saved her, Hina focused—then…
Whoosh!!
(…Huh? Something just sped past me… No, impossible. Humans can't swim over 10 km/h… Only one person could…)
"Blubblub!" Zoom!
(It's Sensei!! So fast!)
Mash swam at insane speed, in perfect crawl stroke. Hina recalled a committee member saying Mash had never swum.
(Then why…!?)
"Blubblub." (I can swim okay.)
(What?)
"Blubblub." (Thanks for coming, Hina-san.)
(He's… thanking me? Wait, he just learned to swim by instinct!?)
"Blubblub." (Gotta surface. Bye.)
As Hina marveled at Mash's ability, he grabbed her and shot to the surface.
"Whoa, what!?"
"Something's pulling!"
"Hina's got Sensei! Pull, everyone!"
"ORAAA!!"
The committee yanked the rope, hauling them up.
"Whew~"
"Meant to save him… but got saved."
"Fishing up Sensei and Hina!"
"What, Ako… But Sensei looks fine."
"Maybe he swam… by instinct?"
"Totally possible."
Despite the hiccup, the committee grasped rescue basics. Satisfied, Ako shifted back to fun. With a big group at the beach, one activity was a must…
"Now, Hina Committee Chair & Mash-sensei Team vs. Iori & Chinatsu Team in beach volleyball!"
"YEAH!"
"Wait!!"
"What, Iori?"
"This matchup's unfair!!"
"Can't help it. Hina insisted on teaming with Sensei, all cute and childish."
"Are you their mom!?"
"…Should I write my will?"
While Iori and Chinatsu despaired, Mash and Hina warmed up eagerly. The unbeatable duo—could Iori and Chinatsu stand a chance?
"No way!!"
"Don't give up before we start!"
"Look at them…"
"Undefeated!"
"Total domination!"
"Too intense!! Scary!!"
"Let's start!"
"Nooo!!"
Whistle!
Ako blew the whistle. Iori and Chinatsu served first. Iori, desperate, smashed the ball.
"Hah!!"
"Nice serve."
Mash easily blocked, tossing to Hina, who spiked hard.
"Hey!" Boom!
"Eek!?"
"…A cannonball?"
The ball buried into the sand, scoring for Hina-Mash.
"Got 'em."
"Just the start. Next!"
"Mercy, please!!"
"Back up a bit."
"Don't wanna get hit."
"Go, Hina Committee Chair!"
"Cheer for Iori's team too…"
The match continued, Hina-Mash dominating. Iori blocked a few shots but…
"Ngh!!"
"The impact blew her back!?"
"Just a ball… right?"
Their hits were so heavy, Iori got knocked back each time. Stubborn, she kept trying; Chinatsu focused on support. Still, Hina-Mash crushed them.
"Viva, champions!"
"Lost… but kinda fun."
"Yeah."
"Another round?"
"With another team!!"
"Got it."
"Next, Team XX!"
Mash's team played more matches, Hina going near-invincible. It was a blast.
After volleyball, the committee enjoyed various games until the day neared its end.
"Almost over… sad, but fun."
"A great holiday."
"Enjoyed it?"
"Of course… Sensei?"
"Hm?"
"Um… well…"
"Hina Committee Chair, Mash-sensei, time's almost—"
"How about… we talk, just us?"
"Sure."
"!!?"
Evening fell, but the day wasn't over. The committee sensed what was coming…
"Youth… it's here!!"
"No way!!"
Hina's youth was about to bloom.
A past story:
"Little bro, G! G!!"
"Bugs!? I can't handle them! No way I can kill a G!"
"Me neither!!"
"A G!?"
Stepping off the stairs, I felt it—a strange liquid, warmth, sensation. I'd crushed the fleeing G.
"…Read Terra Formars to destroy Gs?"
"That's a wild leap!!"
A story of G-fueled rage… never want that feeling again.
Comments and feedback, please!
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