At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

"Don't be afraid. Stay confident. Fear will only make the enemy seem stronger."

A hand patted his shoulder. The speaker was the vice president, Hiiragi Gosho.

"They may have something extraordinary about them, but there's no way we can lose to them. Because they... Next, we'll use Tactic Number Three."

The expression on Hiiragi Gosho's face had returned to normal, and he began analyzing the situation before them.

After his reassurance, the other members of the Basketball Club quickly regained their composure and started fighting back.

They had left openings because they hadn't taken the girls seriously. But now that they were playing by the book, the outcome would be completely different.

One-on-one, player for player, they could keep the girls in check.

Even with Takanashi Rikka and the others empowered by Zone, on paper, even Fujiwara Chika, the strongest of them physically, could only just about keep up.

So even with their second-level Zone ability to work in perfect harmony, they couldn't break through on their own.

After all, the difference in their physiques remained. They couldn't get past the reach of the boys' arms.

At the same time, the Basketball Club players didn't have the heart to use rough tactics to steal the ball. If anyone got hurt, their personal reputations would hit rock bottom, and their lives would be over.

Their reservations kept them from using their full strength, too.

As a result, neither side had a clear advantage at first, and the game fell into a stalemate.

"What should we do?"

Nibuya Morika held the ball, glancing from side to side as she searched for an opening to pass.

But any such opening vanished in an instant. She could only trust her instincts and take a gamble. If she guessed right, they might get a chance to score. If she guessed wrong and the other team took the ball, they would almost certainly lose a point.

They could barely steal the ball, let alone block a shot.

And so the game went back and forth, turn by turn.

10 to 9.

20 to 15.

35 to 23.

But as time passed, the gap between their scores gradually widened.

And just like that, the first half came to an end.

Compared with the energetic Basketball Club players, the girls had lost far more stamina. They were drenched in sweat and close to their limits.

If they hadn't instinctively used the Breathing Technique Hasegawa had taught them, they would never have lasted this long.

So what should they do now?

The situation had become critical!

The legend of absolute invincibility would never be broken!

The halftime break began.

"So it really was impossible?"

"The physical difference between boys and girls is just too great."

"They've done well to make it this far."

"They tried their best, but there's nothing they can do."

"The boys are holding back, but Fujiwara-san and the others have completely won me over, too. If you ignored their height, I feel like they could play women's basketball!"

"What are you talking about? Do you even know who Fujiwara-san is?"

"Oh, right. I guess she doesn't have much appeal."

The spectators in the gym and the students watching the livestream all expressed their disappointment.

It was only natural that they couldn't win. It would've been strange if they had.

The fact that they had managed to hold their own at the start had already amazed everyone.

"So what should they do now? Fujiwara-san and the others look like they've run out of stamina."

"Hasegawa was way too bold! If he'd worked with everyone, they might've had a huge advantage by now!"

"Fujiwara-san and the others must be this good because of Hasegawa, too. Maybe he was so confident because he was sure the Basketball Club as a whole was no match for him alone."

"No way! That's way too much!"

Listening to everyone's chatter, Eriri's excitement from the start gradually faded.

"I can't believe everyone's working so hard while you're still slacking off, Izumi! If you lose, go kill yourself to atone for it!"

She grumbled inwardly, having been won over by the girls' performance.

In the locker room.

"I can't do this anymore! I can't take it!"

Fujiwara Chika lay on a cushion, flailing around like a child.

"Phew... Looks like we've reached our limit."

Nibuya Morika bowed her head. The ponytail she'd tied for the game had come undone, and her long brown hair spilled down like a waterfall. Her damp, slightly messy hair had a beauty all its own.

"T-Thunder Hammer User will not end like this... like this, death..."

Dekomori Sanae was covered with a towel, her voice growing weaker with every word.

"The mana in the Human World is still... whew... far too thin. Even a little strenuous exercise puts a heavy burden on the body."

Takanashi Rikka was just as physically weak. She was so exhausted that she'd sat down on the floor, hands braced against the cushion as she panted.

"Ugh, we still can't win on our own."

Fujiwara Chika suddenly grew calm.

"I don't know why, but I suddenly feel a little frustrated."

Nibuya Morika bit her lip and muttered under her breath.

For a while, the mood in the locker room sank to rock bottom.

The break was nearly over, and the girls left the locker room.

Just outside the door, someone stood in the sunlight, bathed in a holy radiance as he approached, like a god of the Human World surveying his domain.

"Lord Sage."

"Lord Sage!"

"Izumi-chan."

"Hasegawa."

As four different voices called out to him, Hasegawa Izumi's features gradually came into focus before them.

"Sorry, Izumi-chan. I think that's all I can do."

Fujiwara Chika looked apologetic.

"It's fine."

He replied with a calm, "That doesn't matter."

"From here on, I'll take over!"

On this storm-tossed battlefield, the boy of the storm made his entrance.

Elsewhere.

The mood in the Basketball Club's locker room wasn't much better.

They'd been holding back, but the score was still painfully close.

The girls weren't that strong. They should've been ahead by more than this.

"Vice President, what are you thinking about?"

Kato noticed the vice president's silence and asked cautiously.

"I'm worried about that Hasegawa."

Hiiragi Gosho spoke plainly.

At his words, the others grew inexplicably uneasy.

They all understood. That man hadn't even played in the first half, yet he'd already put them in such an awkward position. They couldn't even imagine what would happen if he took the court.

In their minds, Hasegawa was at least stronger than the club president.

After all, Hasegawa had shown off absurd physical ability before, and there was no need to mention his technique. His basketball skills had clearly been honed by a girl.

"Don't worry. Those girls have used up most of their stamina in the first half. They definitely can't keep up an intense fight in the second half. So things should go about as we expected. Five against one—however you look at it, we have the advantage."

Hyuga Konji quickly reassured them.

"The club president's right. We can't lose our nerve before the game even starts. Let's play first and see!"

Hiiragi Gosho held out his hand.

They glanced at each other, then placed their hands on top of his and cheered themselves on together. "Let's go!"

Just before the break ended, the Basketball Club players returned to the gym. As luck would have it, the Far East Magic Society had just entered from the other side, and their gazes suddenly met.

At the same time, music rang out through the gym.

"Let the legend of absolute invincibility never be broken!"

"We have to fight, my way!"

"If I'm ever gonna get back, get back, get back!"

The tension was wound tight, and the situation was ready to explode.

As the battle song rang out, the atmosphere grew even more electrifying.

"Who's playing that song?"

"What song is this? I've never heard it."

"I mean, you've gotta admit, it's pretty hype."

"They're playing a battle anthem!"

The students who had just walked back into the gym looked confused.

Of course, Hasegawa Izumi had asked Asahi Shizuku to play it earlier. It was even his own version, sung by himself.

"Hasegawa...! Hasegawa...! Hasegawa...!"

The cheers at the start of the second half were deafening. The crowd had truly been waiting with bated breath for his arrival.

Eriri's own cheers quietly blended into the crowd's.

Now, everyone was waiting for a miracle!

They returned to the court.

At this moment, there was no need for words.

The result of this game alone would show who the true winner was!

Since the Far East Magic Society had lost points in the first half, they had possession at the start of the second.

The inbounder passed the ball to Chika, who was the most physically gifted.

The Basketball Club players all tensed up.

"Whistle!"

As the shrill whistle sounded,

Fujiwara Chika passed the ball to Hasegawa Izumi amid a silent exchange of glances.

Before long, the player with the ball had reached the center of the court.

This time, Hyuga Konji stepped up to guard him.

"Here he comes...!"