With her vision blocked, Azusa could rely solely on memory and spatial awareness to accurately hit a target with a headshot.
Even by Kivotos standards, this was an extraordinary skill.
"Not surprising at all, Azusa, the expert sniper,"
Mashiro sincerely praised her, but immediately added,
"However, I'm a sniper too! If this is a contest of marksmanship, I won't be outdone!"
Without hesitation, she lifted the two-meter-long sniper rifle, taller than herself and weighing dozens of kilograms. Mimicking Azusa's earlier stance, she closed her eyes and fired.
This time, the watermelon fared even worse than before due to the ammunition used.
"…Impressive." Azusa didn't hold back her admiration. "To achieve such precision with an anti-materiel rifle is truly commendable."
"Hmph, to defeat evil, reaching this level is only natural."
Azusa then thought for a moment: "At this distance, it's hard to tell who's better. We should add some restrictions."
Mashiro nodded enthusiastically: "Sounds good! Whatever challenge, I'll accept it, Azusa."
The two, now fully fired up, exchanged a glance, immediately agreeing and huddled together to discuss which extra conditions to add.
SAUCE
Hifumi watched them and nervously asked me, "Is this really okay? Them doing this, is it really fine, sensei?"
I considered and replied, "I think it's fine. It's not the traditional stick-smashing game, but finding the watermelon while blindfolded and smashing it counts as skill-based fun. Hasumi should approve. Tsurugi, what do you think?"
"Guh hei iyiyiy..."
I dutifully translated: "Tsurugi says she thinks it's fine too. More than formality, the mood matters. Both Azusa and Mashiro look happy, and that's enough."
Hifumi hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly: "I'd like to ask… sensei, how do you... ah ugh."
What!? She's questioning the unspoken understanding between Tsurugi and me? Or doubting my translation skills?
"However," the blonde girl accepted the explanation, "that makes sense. Completing the task to avoid punishment is important, but I also want to enjoy the sea with everyone while I can."
"…I-I also…"
The words, tiny and stammering, spilled from Tsurugi's blushing lips, reaching us clearly.
Hifumi looked surprised at the seemingly intimidating JTF president: "Tsurugi…"
Perhaps, there was room for easing the tension between the two of them.
With that in mind, I suggested, "It's a rare chance. Tsurugi, Hifumi, do you want to try this new version of watermelon smashing together?"
"Eh? M-me?" Hifumi was startled. "But in terms of sniping… ah ugh…"
Tsurugi didn't reply, only lowering her head to look at her two cherished guns.
Both were shotguns.
Using them for sniping would be a little impractical.
"That's fine. You both have other skills to compensate, right?" I said meaningfully. "We just need to tweak the rules a bit."
A short while later.
"Se-sensei," Hifumi's voice trembled. "Are we really doing this? I… I might need some mental preparation…"
"It's okay, Hifumi," I reassured her. "Everyone else is trying this for the first time too. Once you get a hang of it, you'll likely experience a kind of joy you've never felt before."
"B-but…"
Azusa encouraged her: "Hifumi, if you get the chance, I'd like you to join. Otherwise, it feels like we're hogging all the fun."
Mashiro supported this: "Exactly. If it's just the two of us, it feels a bit unfair. It's more fun and fair when everyone participates."
"B-but… b-but…"
I snapped at her: "After all this, you're still hesitating? Look, Tsurugi is already ready."
Tsurugi responded with a fitting eerie laugh: "Kehi hehehe!"
Finally, Hifumi, pushed to the edge, shouted:
"But! Driving a tank to blast watermelons is just… too weird!?"
At this point, she was already seated in the Crusader brought from school.
What's the problem? This seems perfectly Kivotos to me.
Hifumi was clearly overreacting.
"It's okay, Hifumi," Azusa reassured her. "Your tank driving skills are the best I've seen, so I know you'll be fine."
"I-I was just pressing buttons randomly back then! And driving is different from shooting! Besides, isn't the point somewhere else!?"
What a strong sense of protest!
I compared her to someone else: "Hifumi, see, Tsurugi didn't complain at all."
Tsurugi, in her starting stance, let out a few more sinister laughs upon hearing this.
In this watermelon game, her restrictions were indeed the strictest.
She had to close her eyes, run to the watermelon, and smash it with her bare hands.
But given Tsurugi's strength, these harsh conditions let her enjoy the game to the fullest.
"So the focus isn't there at all!?"
I looked at her oddly: "Isn't the point to just have fun?"
After hesitating for a moment, Hifumi finally gave up arguing: "Ugh… fine, I'll do it… okay?"
Even though her words still carried reluctance, today's Hifumi resembled yesterday's Azusa.
At first hesitant and resisting, but soon fully absorbed in the game.
I was able to capture photos of them enjoying themselves without issue.
Before I knew it, several rounds had passed.
And the best performer… was Hifumi.
"She even used artillery to destroy all our targets, preventing us from scoring. As expected of Hifumi, not to be underestimated."
"And she kept hitting every shot… so she was holding back before?"
Blushing, Hifumi said: "I-I was just firing randomly! It's just that the shells were so powerful…"
I interjected: "But that's still part of your skill, isn't it?"
"Ugh…"
Hifumi turned even redder: "The last round, okay?"
Azusa nodded, full of competitive spirit: "A final match to decide the winner? Perfect."
But just as the final round was about to start…
"…Eh?" Hifumi rubbed her eyes. "Where's the watermelon?"
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