Chapter 5 Part V

"Alright, leave it to me!".

Looking at the ball gently alighting, Sudou jumped to a great height. And with that marvelous jumping power and using his own body as a spring, he struck the ball. The ball, sharp as a bullet, then assaulted the enemy's position.

Ichinose eagerly snaps at it, but unlike on land, her movements in water were slow and she could not make it in time. There were no cheers rising up for him, but that power of his was equal to if not superior to that of Nagumo which I had seen just a while ago.

"Yeah!".

Easily scoring like that, Sudou made a Guts pose. So this is what it means to be in one's own element. His ally, Horikita, also stared at Sudou's movements in admiration.

"That was an amazing ball just now, you really got us there".

Picking up the ball floating on the water, Ichinose handed it back to Sudou. She expresses her admiration towards him.

"Heh. Well, I guess a woman really can't return my attacks. I need to dial it down" Sudou said.

"Mumu. Discriminating against women? I'll have you know even girls won't lose to boys". Towards an aggressive statement like that, Ichinose replied like that while laughing without anger as she returned to her original position. It was a match that started with Class B's serve but already Sudou was showing off his accomplishments in leaps and bounds and we've already gained a 7 to 3 lead. 

"Sudou-kun has a large defensive range and high attack power, we need to avoid his area as much as possible....."

Becoming more cautious of the Sudou who was pulling his team up, Kanzaki shoots back at the serve Yamauchi released.

"Ok, Ichinose. Then give me the ball, I've found our target!".

"Roger!".

Towards the ball that was falling on her own team's turf, Ichinose courteously raised it back up towards a more favorable position.

The one who leaped up in response to the falling ball was Shibata. Shibata attacks. The target destination of his attack is---sadly right in front of me. If this is not a coincidence then this would mean that they've determined that the biggest hole here is me.

"Get it, Ayanokouji!".

As strict words like that came from Sudou, I took a step forward in the water. The speed of the ball itself was not in itself fast. It shouldn't be difficult to just touch it. I extended my hand. Beh! A dull sound like that rang out.

"Geh.....".

I did repel the ball, but it brilliantly spiralled out far away.

"Yay!".

On the other side, having seen this situation, Ichinose and Shibata exchanged a high-five like that.

Naturally Sudou intensely glares at me with a forceful fervor.

"What the hell was that? That bad play just now!" Sudou said.

"Sorry.....this is a good example of a point taken in a magnificent manner and one taken in a simple manner having the same value in the end" I replied.

"Don't fuck around, you. Even if your angle is that messed up that's fine, but at least get the ball up in the air" Sudou told me but even if I get told that it's problematic. This is the first time in my life I've played volleyball. It won't be as convenient for me.

"Hey, hey calm down Sudou. I'll get it back with my splendid serve".

Having picked up the ball that had fallen nearby, Ike began to serve on his own.

"Sha---!".

And with a 'boyon' like sound, the ball strangely flew towards the territory on the other side. It flew towards where the girls were, and as a matter-of-fact was tossed back up and then the attacker Ichinose jumped up.

"These guys are useless!".

Blocking the ball that Ichinose struck with his arms, Sudou sent it back towards the Class B side.

This time, it was Kanzaki who tossed the ball back up and once of the girls there sent it back towards us. Towards the ball that was accelerating towards me, Sudou used his great height to block it.

Sudou, who brilliantly covered for me, charged at me and blocked it. 

"Take this---!".

Seeing the Sudou who could no longer make a move, Ichinose jumped high while shouting that. In that moment, her breasts swayed. Ike, Yamauchi and myself all had our gazes stolen by that sight.

"Back!".

As Sudou lands, he shouted that at us, and when he did, Horikita who was in the vicinity, tossed the ball from Ichinose back up and raised it back up towards a more favorable spot.

The game had only just begun, but already it was a place where Sudou made the judgement.

For Sudou, whose has incredible power, there were pretty much no girls capable of receiving his attacks. The boys Kanzaki and Shibata were holding on, but firstly and secondly Sudou had superior technique and power and that's why they were both forced onto the defensive.

The only strategy Class B could take now is to not let Sudou have his freedom. Or not give Sudou the ball. On the other hand, on the Class D side both Horikita and Kushida had good physical abilities and above average offense and defense power. A stable lineup.

On the flip side, including me, Ike and Yamauchi became the weak link.

"Gyaa---! Sorry!".

Instead of snapping at the serve that landed near him, Yamauchi ended up letting Class B take a point away. Every time he charges, Sudou's frustration grows and he clicks his tongue.

It can't be helped because most of those were towards the three of us.

"Calm down, Sudou-kun. You're doing your best, it's better not to move around carelessly".

"But...if we lost because of these useless guys it'll all be for nothing" Sudou replied.

Despite voicing his dissatisfaction, Sudou returns to his position. Perhaps Ike felt irritated by that attitude, but when Sudou could not see him anymore he flipped his middle finger at Sudou.

Seeing that, Yamauchi also flipped his middle finger at him.

"Oi, Haruki. It's the death sentence for you later".

"Gyaa---!".

But unfortunately he ended up looking back towards Yamauchi. 

Furthermore, as if routing the enemy, once the game resumed the balls coming from the opponents once again flew towards Yamauchi.

"T-This can't be!?".

In the water he's not used to and under pressure from Sudou, Yamauchi could not eagerly chase after it.

"GaboGabo*!". 

"Damn it, it's pathetic when the girls are on the more useful side, don't you guys think that?".

Sudou, who has a strong presence in the field of athletics, released a blow that hollowed out our hearts like that. Nobody wants to look lame in front of the girls. But it doesn't mean anything. Just like how one cannot improve their intellect overnight, right now in this place I cannot simply improve my physical abilities. The ball once again descends onto my location. From the feeling of my failure the first time around, and assessing the surroundings for the receiving point I can extrapolate that as long as I watch the position of my arm and the rotation of the ball, only tossing it back up should theoretically not be a difficult thing to do.

I perceived the gently descending ball from that spot.

Then I properly received it---

But I did not overlook Ichinose's gaze peeking out from the enemy side. The instant I realized it, I deliberately chose to receive the ball in that spot in a clumsy manner.

I let my feet slip and ended up tumbling down in the pool.

"You're terrible, Ayanokouji".

As I got back up from underwater, Ike who was guarding the back laughed at me.

"Even if it's terrible or whatever as long as you toss it back up it's ok. You did good!".

Having been standing near me in case I tossed it back up, Sudou showed off several jumps I couldn't see well. A fierce attack.

Throughout the match, almost on his own he's moving halfway around the water court. Even though he should have used up a fair bit of his stamina, he once again repeats his special attack with a power I couldn't even see. He's overwhelming even the Class B which is superior in terms of teamwork ability on an equal or even superior level.

Looking over such a Sudou, I decided to amuse myself with volleyball for a while.

"Nyabu---. We lost. Completely".

As I got out of the pool, Ichinose approached me looking frustrated and said that. It was certainly just a game, but there were also unmistakably feelings of not wanting to lose to the other side that came out. It was the victory of Class D who consecutively won 2 sets.

"It was in the form of us almost relying completely on Sudou-kun though".

Near the Horikita who was honestly praising him, Sudou looked smug. He's probably happy to be praised by the girl he likes. This is even more true because it's coming from Horikita, who usually doesn't praise other people.

"You're in the basketball club, after all. There are some boys in our class who are in it also, but I've heard about you Sudou-kun. That you're the best out of al the 1st year students" Ichinose said.

"Naturally".

It seems he's known to the other classes too and that's more important than anything else. In this volleyball match, no matter the feeling, I wonder if it ended up aiming for one significant thing. It means that Sudou's physical ability, which was already high initially, does not lose to those from the upper classes. It's a large harvest. If physical ability becomes part of an exam, Sudou will become a valuable weapon. 

On the other side, looking at it from Ichinose's perspective, he becomes a scary existence that they must put a mark on.

"If you guys weren't pulling my leg, I could not have gotten a more thorough victory" Sudou said.

"Damn it, that Sudou's getting cocky just because he can do sports".

Yamauchi, who had collapsed on the pool side, looked at Sudou with a frustrated expression. It was because after the match, he received Sudou's attack and got knocked out.

Ultimately, charging in for the three of us who were pulling his leg was hard for him after all.

"Well, as long as we win that's good. That means we can eat whatever we want for lunch".

I guided Sudou's anger to collide with food. Let him eat more than the others. Ichinose and the others will be treating us after all.

"That's well, for us since we're broke that's something to be happy about".

It was a cheeky attitude for Sudou to take but undoubtedly he's made a big contribution in this match.

"So, there's nothing to do but uphold the promise. Shall we have lunch?".

Right on time, hunger struck our bellies with that timing. Ichinose and the others, Sudou and the others headed for the shop. Horikita and I slightly took our time in following them.

"Hey Ayanokouji-kun. You're not too bad at sports, right? Even if you're just a beginner in volleyball, those were some unnatural movements" she said.

A while back, Horikita saw me go for a round with her brother (although it's not really that much) and has remembered that exchange.

"Ichinose's strange mark on me was pretty strong. Just saying in case".

"So you're not going to show your hand. Right now, the other classes must be tripping over themselves in trying to analyze Class D's strength".

She nods as though convinced. Before long, as we arrived at the shop, Ichinose turned to look back.

"As promised, whatever you like, no matter the amount you want, you're free to eat" she said.

"Alright! Then we won't hold back!".

The 3 Idiots, more than the others, for the sake of their appetite, dashed as quickly as possible. Ichinose was looking at that sight with a smile.

"Could it be that you're going to bear all the cost?".

"Yeah. I'm the one who said that in the first place".

That may be true, but this is an amount of burden that one cannot stupidly bear.

"I usually make it a point to be frugal so everything's alright alright on that point".

Strangely listening to Ichinose's calm statement like that was Kushida.

"But Ichinose-san, didn't you use up a lot of points on your swimwear? I know I can't compare ourselves to Class B, but that's barely scraping by".

"Hmm. I'm not hung up on things like that, or you could say since I don't buy unnecessary things. As long as I do it in rotation there's no problem. Ahaha, that might be a bit of a problematic statement for a girl though".

"No such thing. Not buying unnecessary things is a very wonderful thing I think".

This might just be my prejudiced view, but in any case girls care about being fashionable. Kushida is also the same. Horikita is still indifferent but even she seems to pay attention to her hair and clothes.

"Because I don't know where in a more important place my points will be needed after all".

Ichinose declared that as such. That means, rather than buying a piece of clothing spending it here right now holds more meaning is what she's saying.

"Then, I'll also unreservedly be choosing my pick".

Horikita always has a small meal but since Class B is treating her she became aggressive in it.

"Ahaha. Yeah, it's ok. But it'd be bad to have leftovers so please stop that" Ichinose told her.

I'm not the same as Horikita but I'm very interested in junk food. I'll be choosing my pick.

N/T*: It's a sfx like a squelching sound one makes when in water or wet.