"Dodgeball Frenzy #1: Team Junichi"

Shiriku woke up and he was met with the sight of Sachi snapping her fingers right in front of his face. Her expression conveyed a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she eagerly announced, "Hey, Shiriku, Takahashi Sensei is here!"

Rubbing his eyes sleepily, Shiriku let out a small yawn before responding, "Oh, thanks, Sachi," his voice laced with a hint of drowsiness.

Sachi smiled warmly and returned to her seat, her anticipation palpable in the air. Nearby, Junichi leaned over with a concerned expression, asking, "Hey buddy, you alright?"

Now more awake, Shiriku replied with a yawn, "Yeah... I just woke up, haha so just let me relax a little bit and I'll be sure to fix myself," his tone light-hearted despite his lingering fatigue.

Junichi chuckled in response, the sound echoing through the classroom. "Yeah, I'm surprised I didn't wake you up with all my yelling 'good morning' in front of our classroom door. Haha," he remarked, amusement evident in his voice.

Their brief moment of camaraderie was interrupted by the sultry voice of Sensei Takahashi, whose arrival commanded the attention of the entire classroom. "My darlings, stand up and fix yourselves before we start," she purred, her tone sending a ripple of blushes and straightened postures through the room as the students prepared for the lesson ahead.

1 HOUR LATER

The hour passed and the next subject on the schedule approached, the anticipation for gym class began to stir among the students.

Among them, Fuyumi couldn't help but notice Shiriku's fatigued appearance. Concern etched across her features, she approached him with hesitant steps, her arms crossed protectively in front of her.

"Hey, Shi-Shiriku," she stammered, her voice betraying her worry as she addressed him, "you look tired. You should consider skipping gym class and heading to the school nurse."

Shiriku, offered her a gentle smile as he closed the distance between them. With a tender expression, he reached out and affectionately patted her head, his touch conveying a sense of comfort. "Don't worry, Fuyumi. I'll be fine," he reassured her, his voice warm and soothing. "Besides, I'm feeling much better now. I think the tiredness has passed. Haha."

Fuyumi fell into an uneasy silence, her mind reeling from the unexpected gesture. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and her thoughts raced in confusion, "What's he doing... Why did he just pat my head like that? Is he trying to comfort me?"

Meanwhile, Shiriku, completely unaware of Fuyumi's internal turmoil, continued with his casual demeanor. "So yeah... Junichi and I are going to head out first to change our clothes. We'll catch up with you and Sachi there," he announced, his voice calm and relaxed.

With a nod of agreement, Shiriku and Junichi exited the classroom, each adopting their own casual stride. Shiriku walked with his hands tucked deep into his pockets, while Junichi strolled along with a carefree demeanor, his hands leisurely resting behind his head.

Lost in her thoughts, Fuyumi was startled back to reality as Sachi approached her, snapping her fingers right in front of her face, bringing her attention back to the present moment.

"Umm, Fuyumi? Fuyu-chan?" Sachi's voice cut through Fuyumi's thoughts, prompting her to startle slightly and turn towards her friend. Her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment, Fuyumi replied, "Oh, Sachi. Didn't see you there," her tone tinged with nervousness.

Concern etched on her features, Sachi surveyed the almost empty classroom before turning her attention back to Fuyumi. "Yeah, you know, we should really go. We're the only ones here," she remarked, her voice filled with urgency.

Realizing the situation, Fuyumi's flustered state intensified, and she nodded hurriedly. "Ahh, yeah! We really should go now," she agreed hastily, her words rushed.

Without wasting another moment, Fuyumi grasped Sachi's hand, and together they made a beeline for the girls' changing room, Fuyumi's mind still swirling with questions about the unexpected head pat she had just experienced.

LOCATION: GYM CLASS

In the gym class, Sensei Takahashi, known for her flair and charm, gathered the students with a clap of her hands, commanding their attention with ease.

However, one inquisitive student dared to voice the question lingering in everyone's mind. "Um, Sensei Takahashi, why are you here? Isn't Sensei Daisuke our gym class teacher?"

Sensei Takahashi maintained her charismatic demeanor, her smile unwavering as she addressed the curious student. "Ah, my little darlings, Sensei Daisuke couldn't make it today due to an emergency. Since every gym teacher is occupied with other students, I volunteered to keep an eye on my little darlings," she explained gracefully, her words soothing any concerns.

With the explanation settled, she continued, her tone playful and inviting. "Alright, my darlings, before we dive into some dodgeball action, let's warm up those muscles!" Her energetic demeanor set the stage for an exhilarating warm-up session.

After five minutes of stretching and dynamic exercises, Sensei Takahashi revealed the team assignments, her voice carrying a sense of excitement. "Everyone, Sensei Daisuke left me a note detailing the teams. 'Team 1 will consist of Shiriku, Junichi, Dachi Bushida, and seven other classmates,' and 'Team 2 will consist of Fuyumi, Sachi, Daiki, and seven other classmates,'" she announced, her words sparking anticipation for the upcoming game.

Junichi's excitement was palpable as he exclaimed, "Wohoo! Shiriku and I are on the same team again!" With a burst of energy, he broke into a little dance and extended his hand for a high-five with Shiriku. Momentarily taken aback, Shiriku quickly recovered and reciprocated the high-five with a smile.

Junichi's enthusiasm seemed boundless as he continued to spread his infectious energy throughout the team, going around and exchanging high-fives with each member. However, when he approached Dachi, who stood apart from the others, Junichi paused, his playful demeanor shifting slightly.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Junichi looked at Dachi with a taunting grin. "Hey, Dachi, wanna hear something interesting?"

Intrigued by Junichi's proposition, Dachi raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it?" he inquired, his interest piqued.

Junichi leaned in closer, his impish smile widening. "I was just pondering, you know... who's the better between you and Daiki. I mean, by 'better,' I'm referring to strength and skill," he says, his tone laced with playful competitiveness.