As everyone exchanges glances, Iris and Lance's teams walk away.
Iris: See you at the finish line, losers!
Lance: Yeah! Get ready to eat our dust.
Akira: They're so annoying!
Himitsu: Tell me about it!
Kono: Well, Lith, I suppose we're competing against each other again.
Lith: This will be quick!
Daru: Alright, let's get going.
Kono: Right!
Everyone follows Kono to register. They arrive at the podium, where two girls stand with clipboards.
Tyra: Hiya, everyone! Welcome to Sledding Mania!
Libra: Hiya, everyone! Welcome to Sledding Mania!
Ohma: Hi!
Daru: Didn't she just say that?
Zodiac: Yeah…
Tyra: I'm Tyra! And this is my big sister, Libra!
Libra: I'm Libra! And this is my little sister, Tyra!
Tyra & Libra: And together! WE ARE THE CLIPBOARD KEEPERS!
Ohma: AWESOME!!
Gram: What?
Himitsu: The clipboard keepers?
Tyra: Yep! We keep score—
Libra: Of your progress!
Tyra: So you must be the Maivelance Squad, correct!?
Kono: Ugh… yes, that's us.
Libra: See, sis? You're always RIGHT!
Daru grabs Kono by the arm and pulls her closer.
Kono: Ah!
Daru: Kono, what is this?
Kono: Ugh… I don't know…
Daru: You don't know!
Kono: No, I don't, because this is my first time participating too.
Daru sighs.
Ohma: When do we start?
Libra: Well! Since you asked, you start in two minutes.
Gram: TWO MINUTES!!
Tyra: I KNOW, RIGHT! IT'S SO EXCITING!! But I'll give you these.
Tyra hands them three unusual-looking sticks.
Gram: Umm… What are these for?
Libra: They're to steer your sled, of course! (laughs)
Gram: To steer?
Tyra: Yes, to steer! Oh, I forgot you all are new to this! Let me go over some rules.
Libra: Rule one: You must form teams of three.
Himitsu: But there are seven of us—
Himitsu notices Akira walking away.
Himitsu: H-hey, where are you going, Akira!?
Akira: I'm not doing this stupid game.
Ohma: Aww man…
Tyra: Rule two: This race isn't about who finishes first or the fastest lap; it's about the best teamwork to reach the finish line.
Libra: And rule three: No killing! (laughs) I think that's self-explanatory.
Tyra: And those are the rules!
Gram: Well, it doesn't sound too hard.
Ohma: Okay, well… if it's basic, then I think the teams should be Daru, Zodiac, and—
Gram: ARE YOU DUMB?!
Ohma: Did I say something wrong?
Gram: Yes! Ohma, Daru, and Zodiac have the worst teamwork.
Kono: I agree; it's the worst teamwork.
Zodiac: Just so you know, we're right here.
Daru: I'd rather not work with him anyway.
Himitsu: Yeah, I think it's for the best.
Ohma: Okay, so what should the teams be?
Kono: Perhaps it should be—
Gram: It should be ME! Gram the Great, and my mighty allies should be Daru and Ohma.
Ohma: Umm… Gram, why are you talking like that?
Gram: Like what, my comrade?
Daru: Gram, shut up before I punch you.
Gram: Okay, okay, calm down, jeez.
Kono: That leaves me, Himitsu, and Zodiac on the other team.
Himitsu: Then that settles it!
Daru: This is going to be so annoying; I can feel it.
Zodiac: Yeah, I know…
Iris: I can't believe they signed up for this! And Zodiac is doing it too.
Lance: Who cares? We'll crush them and take the money for ourselves.
Iris: Yes! You're right. We'll crush them!
Lance: We'll show no mercy!
Libra: Okay, guys, we're starting soon, so get ready and pick your sled.
Gram: Wait, do I have to pick the sled?
Tyra: Yes! You get to pick your sled, but you only get one, so make it count!
Kono: Alright, let's go select the sled.
Ohma: YEAH! Let's go get the sled! We should get a gold one!
Himitsu: Gold? Why gold?
Ohma: I don't know; I just like the color gold.
Zodiac: Whatever. Can we just get this over with? This is boring me.
Gram: Why do you have to be a party pooper?
Zodiac: Say another word, and I'll slit your throat.
Gram: Okay, jeez.
Daru: Let's head over there.
Daru and the others walk towards the cabin where everyone is selecting their sleds. Akira is seated on a bench.
Akira: This is so stupid! They're actual idiots!
Kora: Hey there, girly!
Akira looks up to see Kora and her team.
Akira: Great, it's you!
Kora: Ugh! You're upset to see me?
Blue Trooper 1: How dare you be upset by Kora's presence! She's the greatest!
Blue Trooper 2: Yeah, the pinnacle of beauty!
Blue Trooper 3: The Fairy Queen herself!
Akira: Okay, I get it, holy shit!
Blue Trooper 1: Good!
Akira: Do you guys actually enjoy practicing this?
Blue Trooper 3: Practice what?
Akira: (Sighs) Never mind.
Kora: Why are you sitting on the bench? Aren't you participating in the sledding competition?
Akira: No, I'm not doing this—
Blue Trooper 1: Excuse me!
Akira: What's your problem?
Blue Trooper 1: When you speak to the next Fairy Queen, you should stand!
Akira: I'm not standing for anything, and I'm not listening to you.
Blue Trooper 1: How dare YOU!
Akira: I don't give a flying f—
Kora: OKAY, STOP! We get it. It's fine; she doesn't have to stand, and besides, she's not in Ethrea.
Akira: Ethrea? What is that?
Kora: Wow, you really don't get out much, do you?
Kora looks at Akira, who appears confused.
Kora: Ethrea is a kingdom of fairies. Some say it's a fantasy world or a myth, but it's real because I'm from there. My girls are from there too.
Blue Trooper 4: Yeah! And Kora's mom is the Queen!
Akira: So, you'd be next in line after she dies?
Kora: Look at you, learning! Yes, I would be, but my mother is sick, and we don't know how much time we have left. I must train to be the best Fairy Queen ever!
Akira: Shouldn't you be training there instead of here?
Kora's friends make strange faces, and Kora lowers her head.
Blue Trooper 1: Kora's dad kicked her out of the kingdom because—
Kora: Shut up! Nothing! HE CAN GO DIE IN A HOLE FOR ALL I CARE! WHEN I COME BACK, I'LL SHOW HIM!
Akira: (Smirking) It seems like you and your father have some issues to work through.
Kora glares at Akira.
Kora: We're leaving!
Kora snaps her fingers, and her friends follow her.
Akira: That was weird. I'm hungry.
Akira gets up to find food as the scene shifts back to Kono and the others.
Gram: NO, I SAID THIS ONE!
Ohma: But we should get this one!
Gram: No!
Ohma: Yes!
Gram: NO!
Ohma: YES!
Daru: Aahh! Enough! Holy moly! We're taking this one.
Daru grabs a yellow and brown sled from the shelf.
Ohma: Good choice, Daru!
Gram: But it's yellow and brown. It's so ugly.
Zodiac: I already hate this!
Kono: (Sighs) Every time we try to do something, it just turns into a longer day…
Tyra: There you are! We were looking everywhere for you.
Libra: Did you get your sled?
Ohma: Yeah! We got this bad boy!
Libra and Tyra observe the sled and grimace at its color.
Gram: See? I told you! Even they are making faces about it!
Daru: Yeah, we picked this one. Can we go now?
Libra: Yeah, go right ahead! The starting line is up there, so just head to that mountain!
Himitsu: It's all the way up there? That's so high!
Kono: Is it safe?
Tyra: Well, are the missions we do here safe?
Ohma: Yeah! Wait… no, because we could get killed, right?
Daru: So we get up there and sled down, and that's it?
Libra: Yeah! That's it.
Ohma: Well, that sounds easy enough!
Tyra: I hope you guys win! And have lots of fun!
Daru: Let's get up that mountain.
Kono and the others begin walking up the mountain.
Libra: What did we just witness?
Tyra: I have no idea, but one thing is certain: they are not winning that money.
Libra and Tyra start laughing. Ten minutes pass as they continue their ascent. Gram begins to tire.
Gram: My legs hurt… Daru, can you carry me the rest of the way?
Daru: I'm not your servant.
Gram: I know, but could you do it just this once, please?
Daru: No, use your own legs.
Gram: But I'm tired!
Daru: Gram, you're really getting on my nerves! Now shut up before I'm the one who kills you!
Zodiac: I call dibs.
Gram: Wh— You can't call dibs! And you can't kill me! You need me!
Himitsu: With all due respect, we actually do not need you, Gram…
Gram: Wow! I see how it is. You know what? I am stopping right here!
Gram halts and sits down, closing his eyes.
Kono: Gram, what are you doing?
Gram: I'm not walking anymore! I'm done!
Daru: Whatever…
Daru and the others continue their ascent up the mountain. After a few moments, Gram opens his eyes and sees them walking away.
Gram: Hey! You can't just leave me!
Gram gets up and starts running towards them.
Gram: I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, you know, right?... RIGHT?!?!
As they continue walking, they reach the summit of the mountain and can see most of Sampostis.
Himitsu: Wow, look at this view! It's amazing!
Kono: It's beautiful! Man, I love Sampostis!
Tyra: Good! You guys made it up here!
Gram: Wh— How'd you get up here so fast?
Libra: What was that?
Himitsu: What? You're up here too?
Tyra: Yeah, we just took an Uber.
Himitsu and Gram exchange blank stares.
Libra: Now it's time to go sledding!
Tyra: I want to see some sick skills out there, guys!
Gram: (winks and smiles) Oh trust me! You'll see tricks you've never seen before!
Libra: Well, we're looking forward to it!
Libra and Tyra walk away as Gram looks back at Kono and the others.
Gram: Huh? What?
Zodiac: You're an idiot.
Gram: What! What did I do!?
Announcer: OKAY! LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! CAN I HAVE THE FIRST GROUP ON THE WHITE LINE?
Gram: Oh! So who do you want to go first?
Kono: Umm… Well, I think it should be—
Himitsu: You guys go first! It'll be better for us to finish the race.
Kono: Yeah, that could work too!
Daru: Alright… let's go.
Daru, Ohma, and Gram approach the starting line with their sled as everyone watches.
Ohma: Guys, look, everyone is watching us! (Waves) Hello!!
Gram: They're staring because the sled looks disgusting!
Daru: Can you stop complaining?
Gram: I'm just saying it's nasty! Who gets yellow and brown?
Daru: Who cares? Let's just sled and be done with it. I don't want to be here any longer than you do.
Ohma: But Daru, I want to be here for a while! (Smiles)
Himitsu and Kono facepalm.
Announcer: NOW! WE BEGIN IN ONE! TWO! THREE! RELEASE YOUR SLEDS!
Everyone starts sledding down the mountain.
Iris: Let's go! Faster! Faster!
Lance: YEAH, FASTER!!
Daru: LET'S GO!
Tyra: Okay, guys.
Kono and the others turn around.
Libra: You'll need to meet them at the second station.
Himitsu: Oh, okay.
Tyra and Libra lead the other participants to the second station.
Daru: Gram, turn the sled!
Gram: (Struggling to turn) WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M TRYING TO DO?!
Ohma: YEAH, GRAM, TURN THE SLED!
Gram: OHMA, SHUT UP!
Ohma: (Laughs) You're terrible, Gram!
Gram: DO YOU WANNA TRY THIS?!
Daru: YOU PICKED THE FRONT, SO TURN THE SLED!!
Gram: FINE, YOU WANT ME TO TURN IT?!
Ohma: YES!
Gram: FINE!!
Gram shifts his body left as the sled veers right into a tree.
Daru: AHHH, DAMNIT, GRAM!!
Ohma: GREAT, GRAM!!
Gram: OHMA, SHUT UP!
Ohma continues to laugh.
Lith: (Laughs) THEY CRASHED INTO A TREE!
Reiji: I hope they're okay.
Souta hits Reiji on the head.
Reiji: OUCH!
Souta: (To herself) I hope Daru is okay.
Daru: PICK UP THE SLED, GRAM!!
Ohma: Yeah, Gram, pick up the sled!
Gram: (Struggling with the sled) I can't! It's stuck! Wait, Ohma, be quiet!
Ohma continues to laugh.
Daru: Ahh!! Move out of the way!
Daru grabs the sled, pulls it free, and strikes Gram with it.
Gram: AHH! What the hell!
Daru: You picked the front, so you have to turn it!
Gram: I wanted to be in the front… Why can't you turn it?
Daru: Because I have to control the weight from the back, you IDIOT!!
Gram: Oh…
Ohma: Yeah, Gram!
Daru: Ohma, shut up.
Ohma: YEAH! SHUT UP, OHMA!
Daru: I hate this team!
The scene shifts to Zodek and Cindy in the living room, noticing Daru, Gram, and Ohma on the television.
Cindy: Uh! Hey, that's Daru!
Zenshi: Daru? What? Where!?
Cindy brings Zenshi to the living room, where they see Daru and the others on the screen.
Cindy: And it's Gram and Ohma!
Zodek: They look like they're playing a sledding game.
Cindy: I saw something about sledding on the billboard the other day.
Zenshi: Yeah, but whatever it is, it doesn't look like it's going well.
Meanwhile, Akira walks through the city, eating pizza. She glances up at a large screen displaying the sledding race, with Daru visibly frustrated with Gram.
Akira: Look at these idiots. I was going to be in that dumb sledding game.
Himitsu: I hope they're doing okay up there.
Kono: I'm sure they are. They have Daru, after all.
Himitsu: You're right, and we have Zodiac.
Zodiac: Shut up.
Iris: I see the second station!
Lance: Good, let's be the first ones there!
Lith: You wish!
Iris and Lance notice Lith beside them.
Iris: You really think you can beat us?!
Lith: No… I know we will! Bye-bye.
Lith accelerates, overtaking them.
Iris: NO! Lance, hit them.
Lance: Hmpf, with pleasure!
Lance collides his sled with Lith's, causing them to spin out.
Lith: HEYYY! THAT'S CHEATING!!
Reiji: I'M GETTING DIZZY!
Souta: Screw this!
Souta utilizes her powers to propel the ground, causing their sled to crash into Iris and the others, resulting in them spinning out.
Iris: AHHH! WHAT THE HELL!!
Lance: AHHhh!
Iris and Lance cease spinning but land at the second station.
Lance: Ugh… are we here?
Iris lifts her head and sees Lith across from them, struggling to regain her balance.
Iris: OUT!
Lance and the other squad members disembark as the other three enter and commence sledding down the hill.
Lith: What! Ugh! Everyone out!
Lith and the others exit as Mako and his team board, beginning their descent down the mountain. By the time the squads reach the second station, Zodiac and the others are still awaiting Daru and his team.
Himitsu: Where the heck are they?
Kono: I have a bad feeling about this.
A few moments later, Kono spots something in the distance.
Kono: Hey guys, I see something coming.
Zodiac: You've got to be kidding me.
As they look, they see Gram and his team slowly sledding down toward them. Gram steps off the sled and addresses Zodiac.
Gram: We can't win this… (We're finished…)
Himitsu: NO! WE CAN STILL WIN THIS!
Kono: Himitsu, I don—
Himitsu: NO, WE CAN! LET'S GO! EVERYONE ON!
Zodiac: This is absurd.
Zodiac, Himitsu, and Kono climb onto the sled as they begin their descent.
Himitsu: Kono, can you use your gun to help us go faster down the hill?
Kono: Ugh, yeah, I guess so.
Kono retrieves her pulse gun.
Kono: Alright, here we go!
Kono fires at the ground behind them, propelling them forward, but they end up careening in the opposite direction.
Himitsu: Damn it!
Zodiac: I always have to do this myself!
Zodiac employs sudoshi, realigning them on course.
Kono: That was impressive, Zodiac!
Zodiac: Yeah, just stay focused.
Kono: Right!
As they fly down the mountain, they pass other competitors.
Squad Guy 1: What the hell! How?!
Squad Girl 1: NO WAY!!! BUT THEY WERE LAST!!
Himitsu: Keep pushing forward, let's go!
Zodiac: CAN YOU STOP YELLING? YOU'RE RIGHT IN MY EAR!!
Himitsu: Oh… sorry.
As they continue their descent, they spot the finish line below.
Kono: There's the finish line!
Mako: Hey guys! Look who it is!
Mako and his team notice Zodiac and his group racing down, overtaking numerous competitors.
Yoshi: They're flying down!
Junko: We have to reach that finish line fast!
Yoshi: Agreed!
Yoshi raises his hand to the sky, calling upon the wind for assistance, then places his hand on the ground as the wind propels them swiftly down the mountain.
Himitsu: Kono, shoot again.
Kono: Okay!
Kono shoots at the ground behind them several times as they accelerate, rapidly closing the gap to Mako and the others, who are closely clustered together.
Mako: What the hell! You guys were just in last!
Himitsu: Not anymore!
Mako: Yoshi, do it!
Zodiac: Kono, shoot again!
As they near the finish line, Kono and Yoshi unleash their blasts…