The zoo's selection process was brilliant. No matter the size of the crowd, they could always whittle it down to a manageable number for their event.
The chosen few were elated, while those not selected could only lament their poor luck.
Yet, the eliminated participants didn't disperse. Instead, they lingered, forming a ring of spectators around the upcoming activity.
"Green here!"
"Me too!"
"Also green!"
"Green as well!"
Masao's group—comprising himself, Yukinoshita, Chika Fujiwara, and Kaguya Shinomiya—had all cleared the first round. The three others who had been with them were not so fortunate.
With only twenty spots available from over a hundred applicants, their group's luck seemed almost uncanny.
Once the twenty were finalized, a staff member addressed them.
"Alright, everyone, listen up! For the second round, each of you must find a partner from among the other contestants. You have ten seconds. Anyone without a partner when the time ends will be eliminated! Starting now… ten…"
This round was a test of social agility. Most attendees came in small groups, and the odds of an entire group making it into the top twenty were slim. Consequently, most of the finalists were strangers.
Masao's party, however, faced no such dilemma. With four of them, they split naturally into two pairs: Masao with Yukinoshita, and Chika with Kaguya.
Ten seconds vanished in an instant—barely enough time to form a coherent thought. Those who hesitated, searching for an ideal partner, lost their chance to indecision. The clever ones simply partnered with the person nearest to them.
In a single sweep, half the contestants were cut, leaving only ten.
The remaining pairs huddled together, exchanging names and pleasantries, preparing for a potential quiz about their new partners.
Established duos like Masao's, however, bypassed the formalities and launched directly into their familiar dynamic.
Chika Fujiwara planted her hands on her hips, leveling a triumphant look at Masao. "Hmph! Don't get too comfortable, Masao-kohai. Kaguya-chan and I have been best friends for years! We have an unbreakable bond and flawless teamwork. Prepare to be defeated by our superior coordination!"
Kaguya Shinomiya's internal monologue: 'Fujiwara-san, while our acquaintance has been long, I would not characterize our coordination as "flawless."'
Masao adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing opaquely. "Perhaps you're right. In a contest of pure rapport, we might be outmatched."
A sly, almost ominous smile crept onto his face. "However... Who's to say this round is about cooperation? It's possible they'll pit partners against each other. So, Fujiwara-senpai, as best friends... could you really strike her down?"
"Wha—?" Chika stumbled back a step, the color draining from her face. The possibility hadn't even crossed her mind. She turned wide, pleading eyes toward Kaguya. "Kaguya-chan! What would we do if that happens?"
Kaguya offered a smile so gentle it was almost beatific—the kind that made those who didn't know her well mistake her for a saint.
"Fujiwara-san," she began sweetly, "we are the best of friends."
She let the words hang in the air, watching the hope bloom in Chika's eyes before delivering the final blow with serene grace. "Which is precisely why you must know... I give my best in every challenge, every competition. I never hold back. So, Fujiwara-san, I will show you no mercy."
'Steel yourself, Fujiwara-san. I will annihilate you.'
"Ehhh~! No fair!" Chika's shoulders slumped in defeat. Arguing with Kaguya's competitive spirit was futile. "You're always so serious, Kaguya-chan! I don't stand a chance against you..."
Her despair was short-lived. She immediately pivoted, poking a finger at Masao. "Well, what about you, Masao-kohai? Are you confident you can take down Yukinoshita-san?"
Masao met her gaze, then let out a soft, resigned sigh.
"Yare yare, Fujiwara-senpai. You still don't see it, do you? I am Tanaka Masao, a man of limitless potential, forever ascending to new heights of power! When faced with a worthy rival like Yukinoshita, my course is clear..." He paused for dramatic effect. "...I surrender."
The whiplash from his grandiose declaration to his immediate capitulation was so severe Chika nearly lost her balance.
"Masao-kohai!" she sputtered, pointing an accusatory finger. "It's not your upper limits that are missing, it's your lower ones!"
Their comedic routine proved highly entertaining for the surrounding spectators.
As their banter subsided, the staff member announced the next game's rules.
Yukinoshita, who had been observing quietly at Masao's side, leaned in slightly. Her voice was low, meant for his ears only.
"Masao-kun. Should this become a direct competition, I expect you to fight seriously. A victory gained through forfeit is meaningless to me. I intend to earn first place through my own merit."
Masao met her earnest gaze and gave a single, solemn nod before turning his attention to the announcer.
'If that's how Yukinoshita feels, I won't hold back.'
"The first two rounds tested your luck and social initiative!" the staff member declared. "This round will test your strength! Please look at the number on your badge. The partner with the higher number must lift the partner with the lower number in a princess carry! You must maintain this position for one full minute to succeed and advance!"
A flurry of movement followed as everyone checked their numbers.
"I'm sixty-nine," Masao stated. "Yukinoshita?"
"Seventy-eight."
Masao's eyes narrowed, a single eyebrow arching above the frame of his glasses as he regarded her. "Let me get this straight... I am to be princess-carried... by you?"
Yukinoshita's gaze swept over him, and a heavy silence stretched between them for several seconds. "Is forfeiting still an option?"
"Out of the question!" Masao's reply was swift and filled with a feigned, righteous fervor. "Yukinoshita! Weren't you just preaching about earning victory through your own efforts? How can you surrender at the first sign of adversity? Is this 'little challenge' truly too much for you to bear?"
Yukinoshita's eye twitched. "Masao-kun. A 'little challenge'? I believe you are far more acquainted with the... logistical realities of this situation than I am."
Undeterred, Masao adopted a tone of profound wisdom.
"Yukinoshita, I understand. This is unfamiliar territory for you. A true test of fortitude. But remember the saying: 'If you encounter a mountain, you must climb it. If you encounter no mountain, you must pile the earth yourself and climb it anyway!' So, be brave! Take the leap! I promise, I will do my utmost to... assist in your journey."
Yukinoshita could only stare at him dumbfounded. She was certain his "saying" was not only fabricated but also logically unsound. Who wants to create their own obstacles purely for the sake of overcoming them? That's just willful masochism.
_____
_______
Show your support with Power Stones guys!
[email protected]/Raven_scroll