Ryuji stood in the middle of the ball pit, colorful balls flying around him from the players' frantic steps, his eyes darting between the faces of his team and their opponents. Tension was overwhelming everyone, but he raised his voice, trying to instill courage:
– "It's going to be a little difficult… but if we work as a team, we can win!"
In the back, Mouse was silently observing. His eyes moved with intense focus, as if reading all the movements, then he whispered so faintly it was barely audible:
–"I know an effective way… Yuko is our only hope. None of us have the skill to climb fast and skillfully… except her. Her hands tell me that."
Everyone froze for a second, their eyes turning to Yuko. The girl quickly lowered her head and said in a trembling voice:
–"I'm sorry… I can't."
Ryuji's eyes widened, he shouted nervously, taking a step towards her:
–"Come on, Yuko! We're counting on you! If you don't help us… we'll die!"
Hesitant tears glistened in her eyes as she shook her head:
–"You… don't understand… I broke my arm before. I stopped a long time ago."
Mouse suddenly interjected, his voice sharp and harsh like a whip:
–"Even so… you're the most qualified among us all! Move it!"
Yuko trembled and shrank back fearfully, while Ryuji turned violently towards Mouse and said angrily:
–"We're a team! Don't shout at one of us like that!"
Then he turned his gaze back to Yuko, his voice quieter but more insistent this time:
–"It's okay if you fail… the problem is if you don't try for us."
There was no more time to think. Suddenly, a sound came from the opposite side; a member of the other team shouted, raising his hand high:
–"Found it! The black ball!"
The pit exploded into chaos. Katsuro, with his massive body, charged like a bull towards that player. He slammed into him with force, sending him tumbling to the ground, snatched the ball from his hands, and then hurled it with immense power towards Mouse.
Mouse caught it skillfully, and without hesitation, passed it directly to Yuko, saying:
–"Yuko has the most important role… and we'll handle the rest! Kill any bastard who gets close… and if you can't kill them… break their arms!"
Ryuji gasped in shock:
–"What are you saying?!"
But the twins, Kenji and Shinji, shouted in unison like kids in a video game:
–"Wooow!!"
And pounced on an opponent in front of them,circling him like hyenas, throwing punches and kicks from every direction, as if it were just a fun game.
Katsuro, for his part, grabbed three players at once, his grip like claws, while the blind Hiroshi aimed precise strikes with his cane with unexpected accuracy, as if he could see with his ears.
Miko screamed at the top of her lungs, grabbing an opponent's hair and yanking it violently:
–"You won't get past here!"
As for Ryuji, he positioned himself beside Yuko, blocking anyone who tried to approach her, his body like a human shield, waving his arms forcefully.
The place turned into hell. The sounds of punches, screams, and bodies colliding turned the colorful pit into a battlefield. The children's game transformed in an instant into a massacre.
Yuko trembled as she held the black ball between her teeth, then began climbing the iron pole with surprising skill. Her feet moved lightly, her arms wrapped around the metal with precision, until she was spiraling upward like an aerial dancer.
But she wasn't the only one. From the other team, a remarkably skilled girl appeared, no less adept. Her body bent lightly, her fingers gripping the pole as if she was born to climb. The race had begun.
Down below, Mouse was fighting frantically. His fists were smeared with blood, he struck faces mercilessly, each blow carrying the force of survival, each kick sending an opponent to the ground. And yet… his eyes never left the scene above.
And as he was punching one player until his teeth broke, he raised his gaze towards the high platform where the Master sat. And there… he saw something that made his heart stop for a moment.
Behind the Master, on the edge of the shadow, stood a man. His body straight, his hands behind his back, and his eyes directed straight at Mouse. He didn't blink, didn't move, he just stared as if he had known him for a long time.
Mouse froze for a moment, blood dripping from his fist, but he didn't look away.
–"…Tairo."