Ryūen Kakeru barely managed to roll to the side, dodging a ball that had been hurtling toward him. Breathing heavily, he gred across the field at Kōenji Rokusuke.

  Even after all this time, that guy’s breathing was still completely steady. His endurance was downright unbelievable.

  After his earlier failed attack on B-Css, Kōenji had shifted his focus entirely to A and C-Css, steadily eliminating their participants one by one.

  A and C-Css couldn’t even fight back. They could do nothing but watch helplessly as their cssmates were picked off.

  Meanwhile, A and C’s attacks against D-Css had zero effect—any balls that entered D-Css’s territory were effortlessly intercepted by Kōenji’s massive hands.

  The only successful attack so far had come from that bastard Uesugi, who had thrown a ball at the same time as Kōenji, forcing him to split his attention and allowing them to score.

  But that was a strategy C-Css couldn’t replicate.

  At this rate, they were going to lose.

  Damn it.

  Losing to Uesugi’s bastard tricks was one thing.

  But to lose to D-Css?!

  Ryūen clenched his teeth in frustration.

  Losing to B-Css… then losing again… What next? Losing to D-Css?

  At this rate—he’d have nothing left to lose.

  He’d be at the bottom of the food chain.

  He’d be no better than a D-Css loser himself.

  There had to be a way out of this.

  There had to be a weakness in Kōenji.

  Even Uesugi had weaknesses—how could someone like Kōenji not have any?

  At that moment—

  Kōenji Rokusuke let out a loud, knowing ugh.

  "Dragon boy~ Give up already! I, Kōenji Rokusuke, am fwless—just like my own beauty!"

  Oh?

  Ryūen’s eyes snapped open, a cold smirk forming on his lips.

  The return of the ever-arrogant, chuuni Ryūen Kakeru.

  "Is that so?"

  "You think you’re invincible?"

  Ryūen picked up a ball, his tone full of implication.

  "I highly doubt that."

  The moment he finished speaking—

  Ryūen suddenly began channeling his energy from his core, letting out a low, guttural growl.

  Uesugi Gen, watching from a distance, visibly flinched.

  "Wait… is he about to—"

  Transform into a Super Saiyan?!

  Could it be that Ryūen actually had some kind of secret move?!

  Seeing Uesugi’s genuinely shocked expression, the other students immediately tensed up.

  Even their faces became serious.

  "Ha—"

  The sound grew louder.

  The spectators held their breath.

  "—PUH!!"

  Ryūen spat a thick glob of saliva directly onto the ball.

  Then, as if that wasn’t disgusting enough, he rolled it on the ground, making sure the saliva spread evenly over the entire surface.

  Finally, he turned back to Kōenji with a smug, taunting grin.

  "This ball… carries 15 years of my cultivated power. Can you handle it?"

  "…"

  A collective silence fell over the field.

  Then—

  All the students took two synchronized steps backward.

  Their faces full of horror.

  "Ew!"

  "Ugh!"

  "Gross!"

  "Mashima-sensei, is this even allowed?!"

  Even Katsuragi, normally composed, couldn’t handle this filthy strategy and immediately appealed for external intervention.

  Mashima Tomonari sighed heavily.

  "Unfortunately… it’s not against the rules."

  He reluctantly expined.

  "After all, the official game rules you submitted never specified that you couldn’t do this. Besides, there are only four balls in the game. They’re irrepceable."

  After hearing Mashima's ruling, the entire field felt even more disturbed.

  They couldn’t repce the ball.

  If they got hit with that thing…

  They wouldn’t just lose points.

  They’d lose their dignity.

  They’d never be able to wash off Ryūen’s filthy aura.

  At that moment—

  Horikita Suzune quickly opened a brain-link communication channel with Uesugi Gen.

  Horikita Suzune: [Oi. Throw the ball at me. Right now. I still have 450,000 personal points left. Three hits should be enough.]

  Uesugi Gen: [You’re skipping out on the final point battle tonight? Sneaky ugh.jpg ]

  Horikita Suzune: [I’m leaving it to Kōenji. I made a deal with him. No matter the outcome, I can accept it.]

  Uesugi Gen: [So that means… that 450,000 points are mine now? Curious stare.jpg ]

  Horikita Suzune: [Screw off. I haven’t seen any points in months. You, on the other hand, are sitting on millions and you’re still trying to take my tiny amount?! Angry.jpg ]

  Uesugi Gen: [Well—]

  Horikita Suzune: [Shut up. If even a single drop of Ryūen’s ball touches me, I swear I’ll camp outside your dorm every night.]

  Uesugi Gen: […Alright, fine.]

  Brain-link communication terminated.

  Watching Uesugi Gen’s barely suppressed ughter, Horikita sighed in defeat.

  "Honestly… I do bear some responsibility."

  She muttered to herself.

  "I should’ve questioned it the moment you agreed to Ryūen’s pn so easily. Instead, I just went along with it, and now we’re stuck with this mess."

  "Whatever. Girls shouldn’t be messing around in dodgeball with guys anyway. There’s too much of a physical gap."

  Uesugi shrugged.

  "Look around—besides you, is there any other girl still in the game?"

  "It’s not like I was calling you a tomboy in a bad way. Your personality’s just… straightforward. Now, get off the field."

  "…Oh."

  For once, Horikita didn’t argue.

  Instead, she stepped forward, making it easier for Uesugi to eliminate her quickly.

  Uesugi casually tapped the ball against Horikita’s hand three times.

  "That should do it. See ya."

  Horikita Suzune: -450,000 (Eliminated).

  "Uh—"

  Horikita hesitated, looking as though she wanted to say something.

  Then—

  "You better win."

  Uesugi raised a brow.

  "So… are you rooting for me or for D-Css?"

  He smirked.

  Horikita’s usually pale face tinged red.

  "Just—win, okay?!"

  The moment she finished speaking, she turned and practically sprinted off the field.

  Meanwhile, back at C-Css’s territory—

  Ryūen Kakeru proudly held up his Cursed Ball of Doom.

  "You say you’re fwless?"

  "Hahahaha! What a joke!"

  "Tell me—can you do this?!"

  For the first time ever, Kōenji Rokusuke hesitated.

  A single bead of sweat slowly slid down his forehead.

  Because…

  Ryūen’s shamelessness was on a level even he could not match.

  "This is… not beautiful at all."

  Kōenji muttered.

  "Didn't you say you were unbeatable?!"

  Ryūen grinned wildly, rearing back his arm, his entire body tensing.

  "Take this throw—if you dare!"

  "Did you really think you could taint my beautiful body with such filth?!"

  Kōenji sidestepped instantly, dodging the ball with minimal effort.

  But—

  His evasive maneuver exposed the students standing behind him.

  "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"

  D-Css students scrambled for their lives, fleeing in terror from the incoming projectile.

  Watching from the sidelines, Horikita exhaled in relief.

  Good thing I got out beforehand.

  Otherwise…

  She shuddered.

  As for Uesugi Gen?

  He had only one thing to say.

  "Kid, you’re unstoppable."