A Clear Goal

The outcome of the second match had long since ceased to hold any suspense.

Ichinose Honami's team executed their tactics with impressive precision, flanking from both sides while maintaining supplies from the rear, their coordination seamless.

The opposing team initially held on through sheer momentum, but once they were caught in the pincer attack from both sides, their formation fell apart. One after another, they were struck precisely by snowballs, and their eliminations came faster and faster.

By then, only two people remained on the opposing side. They were huddled behind a snowbank in the farthest corner of the field, too afraid to show themselves or even move.

The spectators at the sidelines had already decided the winner, laughter and heckling rising one after another.

"Ichinose's team has this in the bag!"

"Those two might as well surrender. Come out and take a couple of hits."

The two hiding in the corner were stubborn enough, though. They held out for another minute, poked their heads out to throw several snowballs, and missed every one. Instead, two people from Ichinose Honami's side snuck up and surrounded them, sending them cleanly out of the field with one snowball each.

The second match ended with a resounding victory for Ichinose Honami's team.

She ran out from the field, her cheeks flushed red from the cold wind, looking excited and satisfied.

She ran up to Kazehara Tetsu and brushed the snow off her hands. "Did you see that? My tactics weren't bad, right?"

"Yeah. That was a clean win."

"Of course!"

Ichinose Honami smiled even more brightly, then glanced back at the field. "Is the third match your turn? Hurry up and warm up. Don't lose, okay?"

Kazehara Tetsu nodded without saying much and turned toward his team's warm-up area.

The members of the