Shinomiya Kaguya took a deep breath, composed herself, and spoke.
"Fujiwara student, could you please be quiet and still? This is very difficult for me."
Feeling the increased strength in Kaguya's hands, Fujiwara Chika wrapped her arms around the other's neck, steadying herself, afraid that she too would be thrown off like Tanaka Masao.
Fujiwara Chika quieted down, but because the other person suddenly hugged her tightly, Kaguya, on the contrary, felt like throwing her off.
"Fujiwara student, you're squishing me. What's the point of having such a large mass of flesh? It just adds weight and makes things difficult for me. I might as well just cut it off.
I can arrange the best doctors for you, ensuring you feel no pain and gain a lighter body."
As Kaguya continuously muttered to herself, one minute quickly passed.
The other three groups of contestants, whether due to exhaustion or thinking that a panda keychain was a good enough prize, also gave up quickly; no one persevered.
Fujiwara Chika got down from Kaguya's embrace, overjoyed.
"Yay, we won."
She wiggled her body and danced a short, very classic Secretary Dance.
Tanaka Masao also walked forward with a smile, congratulating her.
"Congratulations, Fujiwara-senpai, only your group completed the challenge."
Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips, looking incredibly proud.
"That's right, the combination of me and Kaguya-douchi is the strongest."
Kaguya: Fujiwara student, you didn't seem to exert much effort in this round of the game, rather, you were holding me back.
"Yes, it's a shame, but next, the strongest combination in the world will have an internal competition."
Tanaka Masao spoke with a tone of regret, but looking at his expression, there was no sign of regret at all, but rather a hint of schadenfreude.
"Event organizers, I advise you not to be ungrateful. Quickly arrange an unrestricted battle for me. I want to see rivers of blood."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, Fujiwara Chika's good mood instantly vanished.
"Indeed, Junior Tanaka is just bad."
"Fujiwara-senpai, you should think about how to face Kaguya."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's hint, Fujiwara Chika turned to look at Kaguya.
At this moment, although Kaguya was smiling, her fighting spirit was already overflowing, and she was constantly moving her shoulders and wrists.
"At this moment, I realize that training in the archery club every day is useful. Fujiwara student, I will defeat you with my own hands."
Even if Fujiwara Chika was slow-witted and bad at reading the atmosphere, she now understood that Kaguya seemed very interested in competing with her.
"Kaguya-douchi, this is just a small game, there's no need to be too serious."
"Fujiwara student, you're wrong. No matter how small the matter, one should treat it seriously.
Only then will you not make mistakes when doing important things.
If you're always not serious and think it's good enough, you'll always fall short at critical moments."
"Fujiwara-senpai, you can do it! I believe in you."
"Junior Tanaka, don't instigate things at a time like this."
"Sister, go for it!"
"Moeha?"
"Fujiwara-senpai, you can do it."
"Kei!"
"Fujiwara student, you can do it."
"Even Xuezhixia Classmate…"
Fujiwara Chika was a little touched, not expecting so many people to support her. Ah, she felt a warmth in her body.
"Oh, this feeling, this feeling…"
Fujiwara Chika was entirely consumed by passion, clenching her fists, like a hero facing a demon king, filled with the bonds of friendship and family.
"Is this the power of bonds? I'm incredibly strong now. Come on, Kaguya-douchi, I'm not afraid of you!"
…
Two and a half minutes later.
"Boo hoo, I'm sorry, I let everyone down."
The hero Fujiwara Chika ultimately lost to the great demon king Kaguya.
Because the final match tested intelligence.
This is something that doesn't change with one's will. No matter how much determination you have, if you don't know it, you just don't know it.
The power of bonds doesn't work either, unless there's an option for outside assistance.
Facing the dejected Fujiwara Chika, Tanaka Masao was the first to step forward to comfort her.
"Fujiwara-senpai, you don't need to feel guilty, because no one expected you to win."
Fujiwara Moeha nodded.
"That's right, after all, it's my sister. How could she be a match for Kaguya-senpai?"
That stings, sis.
It was one thing for Tanaka Masao to say that, but why did you say it too? Are we still sisters?
She cast a somewhat pleading gaze towards Shirogane Kei, hoping to find comfort from this cute junior.
"Hmm… Fujiwara-senpai already tried very hard…"
"Hey, Kei, your eyes darted away just now, didn't they? Absolutely, I saw it."
"Xuezhixia Classmate…"
At this moment, Fujiwara Chika could only turn to this person she had just met.
Friends are all fake; only strangers can give her warmth.
"Hmm…"
Facing Fujiwara Chika's pleading eyes, Yukinoshita Yukino had a good impression of this somewhat childish and overly familiar senpai.
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to comfort the other's wounded heart.
"Second place should also have a good reward."
"That's true!"
Fujiwara Chika immediately regained her energy and began to look forward to her prize.
"Since Xuezhixia Classmate also likes pandas so much, we'll share the prize when it comes."
Soon, a staff member arrived with Fujiwara Chika's prize.
"Congratulations on winning the second prize, a panda mascot costume."
Taking the mascot costume, Fujiwara Chika hugged it and rubbed her face against it.
"Wow~, so soft, so comfortable."
At the same time, Kaguya was also led by a staff member into the Panda Garden.
"I envy Kaguya-douchi; she can directly interact with pandas."
Fujiwara Chika sighed.
"But even though I can't directly interact with pandas, I can directly dress up as a panda."
Saying that, Fujiwara Chika immediately put on the panda mascot costume she had just received.
Watching Fujiwara Chika change into the mascot costume, Tanaka Masao took out his phone.
"Fujiwara-senpai, can I take a picture?"
"Hmm, this outfit is very cute."
"Fujiwara-senpai is also very cute."
Having received everyone's praise, Fujiwara Chika was a little smug, grinning.
"But, I always feel like something's missing…"
Yukinoshita Yukino pinched her chin, looking at Fujiwara Chika's outfit. Although it was indeed very cute, she always felt like it lacked a bit of soul.
Hearing this, Fujiwara Chika nodded.
"Now that Xuezhixia Classmate mentions it, it really does seem to be missing something."
Saying that, she turned to look at the pandas in the park, then looked at herself, and then at Tanaka Masao next to her, and suddenly realized.
"Ah, I know what's missing."
She took off the panda mascot costume and handed it to Tanaka Masao.
"Junior Tanaka, quickly put it on."
"Me?"
Tanaka Masao was a little confused but didn't refuse, putting the costume on himself.
"Why does it have to be me?"
"Oh, you'll know in a bit, hurry up, hurry up."
The others also cast curious glances over.
"Being stared at by everyone while putting on clothes, it's really a bit embarrassing."
Tanaka Masao put on the mascot costume with this feeling.
"And then there's this."
After Tanaka Masao finished dressing, Fujiwara Chika put the matching panda headpiece on Tanaka Masao, covering his chubby face.