The midsummer sun blazed bright, warming the clearing in Ishigami Village. A breeze swept through the woods, carrying the fresh scent of greenery and dispelling the heat of the past few days.
The eagerly awaited water fight tournament officially began.
To make it easier for the referee to judge the results clearly, everyone had changed into clean white clothes.
Once the pure white fabric was stained by the colored water balloons, the marks would stand out, ensuring the fairest possible competition.
The two teams had also chosen distinct colors for their water balloons.
Senku's team attacked with a vivid scarlet, while Li Xiang's team used a clear, deep blue.
Ruri stood in the center of the field, holding a stone timing tablet, and read the rules aloud one last time. Villagers and children crowded around to watch, their excited cheers rising one after another.
Then Ruri gave the signal. "Begin!"
The tension burst, and the match officially kicked off.
"Everyone, scatter! Don't confront them head-on!"
Li Xiang immediately took command.
Light on her feet, Homura darted between the trees for cover. Kohaku moved with nimble, athletic strides. One went left and the other right, slipping into the low woods and shade surrounding the field.
Dodging was a weak point for Senku's teammates, leaving them on the defensive right from the start.
The situation changed in an instant. Barely a few dozen seconds passed before Ginro, hiding behind a tree, exposed an opening.
Kohaku seized that fleeting chance and flung a string of blue water balloons, covering her target with pinpoint accuracy.
A broad splash of blue dye soaked his white clothes, vivid and unmistakable.
"Ginro, eliminated!" Ruri's clear voice rang out immediately.
Scoring the first elimination right out of the gate sent Li Xiang's team's morale soaring.
The battle continued,