Take it, and they crossed the line.
Don't take it, and the girls' line would be short one bottle of water this round.
The sound of rain pressed in from beyond the white rope.
For a moment, no one by the fire spoke first.
Gu Heng looked first at the half-full bottle stopped outside the line.
Then he looked at Karuizawa.
"Don't take that bottle."
Karuizawa's brows immediately drew together.
"The girls were already short this round."
"Short or not, don't take it," Gu Heng said.
"Get through this round first."
He turned to Hirata.
"Split the girls' line into two drinks."
"The outer half gets one sip first. The inner half waits until the next round to make it up."
"Ike, speed up the inner-circle collection."
"Got it." Ike Kanji answered at once.
Karuizawa stared at the bottle for a second.
In the end, she looked away.
"Did you all hear that?"
"One less sip this round."
"Anyone who reaches out first, I'll mark them first."
The girls behind her, who had already been looking over, immediately pulled their feet back.
Ryuuen stood outside the line, the faint smile on his face unchanged.
"You'd rather let your own people drink one sip less than give me this step?"
"That's right," Gu Heng said.
"One less sip can be made up next round."
"If you catch us crossing the line, we won't be able to make that up tonight."
Ishizaki clicked his tongue.
"You Class D lot can really endure."
"They're the ones enduring, not you," Karuizawa cut in coldly.
"If you've really got the nerve, step in yourself."
Ishizaki was about to retort when Ryuuen raised a hand.
He did not let Ishizaki continue.
His gaze remained fixed on Gu Heng.
"I think I understand a little now."
"You're