Warming Up First

(Sun Yao)

"Huh? Miss Miluno and I aren't in the same group?"

Miss Sirius wanted to organize a doubles beach volleyball game, but her team assignments were surprising.

I was paired with her, while Miluno was paired with Antarctic Star.

"Hmm, to understand each other's fighting styles, it's more appropriate for you to stand opposite her rather than behind her..."

"Ouch!" I covered my mouth and let out a small cry.

Miss Sirius sneaked up behind me, pinching my waist with her small hands, and commented in a rather professional manner. "Hmm, your waist is quite slender, but it's loose and not firm at all... However, the soft feel of it is not bad."

Holding me like that, I couldn't help but squirm.

"Miss Sirius... please... please don't do this, I don't have much muscle."

My body is a bit fleshy now, but not fat; it just doesn't have the muscle definition of Miss Miluno.

"If you lack training before transforming, it will be reflected in your magical girl form afterward. Don't think that these are two separate bodies; your current appearance is also a modification based on your original body."

Of course I know that.

The injuries sustained by a magical girl remain even after she transforms back, which is why I was surprised to see the scars on Yezi's back.

I almost thought the Yezi was Miluno.

As if she were addicted, Miss Sirius was still gripping my waist, saying, "So, exercising can also make you noticeably stronger! Miluno said I'm more resilient than other magical girls? That's the result of my years of consistent training! Being an idol is exhausting, even more so than being a magical girl; it's a torment for both your mind and body."

Miss Sirius released my waist, then glanced at Miluno with an embarrassed smile...

"Don't even think about pinching me."

Miluno clutched her stomach and took two steps back.

However, Miss Miluno's abs are indeed very attractive; even if you glance at them unintentionally, your gaze will involuntarily linger.

"How stingy! Miluno- chan is still not cute~"

Miss Sirius muttered to herself, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had done anything wrong.

Antarctic Star, standing nearby, asked, "Then, can you use magic?"

"Of course~ No matter what method you use, as long as you hit the ball onto the opponent's ground, you score a point~ However, there are conditions: magical interference cannot cross the net, nor can it directly target the player. Oh! And one more thing to note: if the volleyball is smashed before landing, then the opponent gets a point~"

It sounded reasonable, but Miluno raised her hand.

"Can I use my feet?"

Huh? If you use your feet, is that still a volleyball?

Miss Sirius replied, "Sure, as I said, you score a point by hitting the ball over the net and onto the opposite side of the court. The first team to reach 21 points wins the game, best of three."

"I understand... Miss Antarctic Star, please come over here for a moment."

Miss Miluno nodded, then pulled the somewhat clumsy-looking Antarctic Star aside to discuss tactics.

I also looked at Miss Sirius was on my team.

"Hmm, Ceruno- chan, is there anything you want to say?"

"What is Miss Antarctic Star's magic?"

Miss Sirius blinked and asked, "Don't you know?"

"The Antarctic Circle has not been invaded many times, and judging from the few battles that have occurred, the forces involved are probably exaggeratedly powerful?"

When the Antarctic Star was discovered by the international expedition team, the Monster that was their adversary had already been censored by this magical Emperor Penguin. Although it was dressed in a polite tuxedo, it possessed an extremely exaggerated amount of strength.

However, that power seems to be subject to certain conditions.

"Hmph, you're quite observant, aren't you? The essence of magic lies in the secret of the Antarctic Star, but I'll tell you anyway to win the competition!"

Sirius leaned close to my ear and whispered, "That penguin girl's magic manipulates the mass of objects she touches, but it doesn't last long, and it just so happens to be countered by your ability."

My bubbles can eliminate the inertia of objects and the forces applied to them; in other words, my magic can nullify their attacks, and I can indeed gain the upper hand.

"One person is responsible for receiving the ball, and the other is responsible for returning it. These roles don't need to be clearly defined; just adapt to the situation on the court."

Miss Sirius stepped onto the field as she spoke.

On one side of the volleyball court, Ms. Yin Wei climbed high onto the referee's chair, which was equipped with a sunshade.

Her long, straight hair was braided into a plait and hung down her back. She wore sunglasses on her serious face and had a mahogany whistle hanging around her neck.

In addition, she finally took off the suit that looked too hot and changed into a more conservative two-piece swimsuit, but the sky-blue fabric shimmered like plastic and was very eye-catching in the sun.

"Hey~"

She suggested, "Why don't we practice before we start? At least learn the basic techniques of catching and hitting the ball."

"Okay!"

I readily agreed.

After all, this was my first time playing volleyball. If I stood opposite Miss Miluno without any preparation, I would not only be utterly defeated, but it would also seem disrespectful.

"That 'Ceruno- chan."

Miss Sirius picked up a volleyball from the side and threw it at me.

"You try serving first."

Warning: Viewpoint switching!

Warning: Viewpoint switching!

Warning: Viewpoint switching!

(Bai Ziye)

"Miss Antarctic Star, have you ever played volleyball before?"

The penguin girl, whose expression wasn't much more varied than mine, shook her head.

He replied, "We don't have this kind of activity in the Antarctic Circle, but the people at the research station do play curling together."

"No, that's a completely different sport from volleyball."

Speaking of which, what exactly are the rules of curling?

I rubbed my temples and asked again, "What kind of magic do you have?"

"I can change the 'relative' mass of an object."

"... How do you explain that?"

Antarctic Star thought for a moment, then grabbed a handful of sand from the beach.

"I've increased the quality of this handful of sand for 'you'."

As she spoke, she reached out her hand, and I instinctively reached out to take it.

As a result, the fine sand that slipped through my fingers made me feel its weight. When I finally let go, I almost couldn't hold it up. Plus, the sand grains were small, and the huge pressure almost broke my palm.

Although amazing, this heavy transformation effect dissipates quickly, turning back into ordinary sand in less than ten seconds.

"The destructive power of your magic is astonishing..."

I brushed the remaining sand off my hands.

"However, using it in this match would be quite disadvantageous."

"How so?"

"Ceruno's magic can block the forces inside and outside the bubble and eliminate the inertia of matter. Past matter how heavy the racket is, it will be trapped by her magic and turn into a floating bubble."

Ceruno's magic is inherently defensive, Sirius's tangible lasers are also a major headache; their combination is practically impregnable.

However, according to the rules, you can't use magic to interfere with the other side of the volleyball net, so the ball that Ceruno hits shouldn't have bubbles on it?

Antarctic Star scratched his short hair.

Politely, I asked, "Miss Miluno, what's your plan?"

"There is one, but it's not exactly a brilliant strategy. It just takes advantage of Ceruno's magical weakness: her magic can only work on what she can see. So all I have to do is make the ball go so fast that I can't see it anymore."

"So Miss Miluno's magic is indeed speed-based?"

"... I guess so."

Although it's somewhat despicable, I don't want to reveal my secrets, even though Antarctic Star has already told me the principles of his magic.

On the other side of the net, Ceruno had already begun practicing her serves.

I saw her serious, focused expression as she tossed the ball, then swung her arm sharply...

Oh, I missed.

The volleyball hit my head and then landed on the sand at my feet.