In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

Yukino began systematically learning Aikido in elementary school.

Although she didn't dedicate herself to martial arts as much as Saeko, she persisted for many years and her skills were quite remarkable, far beyond what ordinary girls could achieve!

Eriri herself knows this all too well. Many times when she went too far in their private play, Yukino would easily subdue her with a special technique that seemed effortless but was actually completely irresistible. Even if she used all her strength, she couldn't move, just like a fish stuck on a cutting board with a knife.

She couldn't understand why Yukino, who was about the same strength as her in an arm-wrestling match, had so much strength when she was suppressing her.

After much thought, it seems that only techniques can explain this.

On the other hand, that woman Kasumigaoka Utaha, aside from her sharp tongue, slightly better figure, and ability to write novels, when have we ever heard of her achieving anything in martial arts? Her even basic athletic ability is questionable!

Yes, Saeko Busujima is indeed very impressive.

But that's mainly about "kendo"!

The rule now is to use your bare hands! You have to hold the half-full glass of water with one hand!

Even if she's incredibly skilled, if she has to cover everything, there will inevitably be gaps in her defenses, right? It's impossible to be completely foolproof, isn't it?

In Eriri's rapidly constructed, optimistic vision, the scene should look like this—

Yukino made a dashing entrance first, using her Aikido skills to calmly observe and seize the opportunity when Saeko was holding the cup. She skillfully pulled the cup away or made a quick, disruptive move, causing the tea to spill in the blink of an eye! Clean, efficient, and a perfect score!

And what about Kasumigaoka Utaha? Because of her wobbly, flabby body and complete lack of experience in close-quarters combat, she'll definitely be flustered and clumsy when facing Saeko. She might even trip and fall flat on her face, making a complete fool of herself! Even if she manages to score a point by hitting the cup when Saeko goes easy on her, it will definitely take her much longer than Yukino!

That makes the outcome immediately clear!

Yukino can win!

We can absolutely win this game!

With that, the overall score would be 5 to 3, and there would be no need to play the ninth game; Yukino would directly achieve a complete victory!

The moment the dust settles, not only will it severely thwart the arrogance of that woman in black stockings, preventing her from ever being smug again, but it will also greatly vent my anger, allowing me to use the results of this competition to provoke her whenever I want in the future!

Perfect! Absolutely perfect!

Eriri felt incredibly pleased just imagining the pathetic state Kasumigaoka might be in, and her defeated expression—a forced composure masking her utter frustration—and almost couldn't help but chuckle out loud.

However, what happened next was like getting on the wrong train, heading in a completely different direction from Eriri's beautiful expectations.

The smile that had just blossomed on her face, filled with anticipation and smugness, froze instantly when she witnessed the scene after the competition officially began, and was gradually replaced by incredulous astonishment.

She opened her eyes wide and stared intently at the center of the living room.

Qianye raised his hand and clearly called out "Start," while simultaneously pressing the timer on his phone.

Yukino, who was the first to appear, took a step forward with full concentration, her arm outstretched, clearly aimed at Saeko's left wrist holding the cup.

She clearly intended to use the techniques of Aikido—using skill to overcome force and control joints—to win with a single blow.

However, her offensive did not even get going.

Just before Yukino's fingers were about to touch Saeko's wrist, Saeko moved.

Her movements didn't seem swift as lightning; rather, they carried a calm and flowing quality, a simple lift, a hook, and a press.

In the next instant, Eriri couldn't even fully see the specific trajectory of the movement.

All she saw was that Yukino's outstretched arm seemed to have led her into an invisible trap, and then her whole body was pulled and twisted by a subtle and irresistible force.

Saeko's right hand, like a supple vine or a precise iron clamp, gripped Yukino's wrist and elbow joint precisely, pulling and twisting with ease.

"Well……!"

Yukino let out a short, muffled groan, her cool expression shattering instantly, replaced by a look of unexpected astonishment.

Her body went out of control with the force, and her arms were twisted behind her back in an extremely awkward position.

Like a bird with its wings pinned down, he was instantly suppressed until one knee was almost touching the ground. His struggles seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the absolute difference in strength and skill.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the disposable paper cup in Saeko Busujima's left hand remained perfectly still.

The tea in the cup was only slightly swirled, showing no sign of spilling.

The entire confrontation was decided in the blink of an eye.

Saeko didn't even move her feet, letting Yukino attack directly. With just a twist of her body and a few small movements of one hand, she achieved a crushing victory.

This...this...

Eriri's mind went completely blank.

This is different from the scene she imagined: "Yukino skillfully maneuvers, Yukino waits for the right opportunity, Yukino cleverly splashes water, and Yukino achieves victory"...

It seems... completely different?

No... no, it's not that, it's more like!

It's fundamental, a completely different world!

How could this happen?!

If it weren't for the fact that Eriri was facing Yukino, whom she knew best, she might have even suspected that there was some kind of shady dealing involved in the match.

The scene before her eyes was so exaggerated and so subversive that it was completely beyond her comprehension!

"I concede defeat in this match."

Yukino, whose arms were twisted behind her back and pinned down, struggled a couple of times, but found that she couldn't break free from Saeko's grip at all.

Even though only a dozen seconds had passed, she realized that she probably had no chance left in the remaining time, so despite her resentment, she still calmly admitted defeat.

Upon hearing this, Saeko immediately released her hand and gently helped her to her feet.

Yukino returned to the sidelines, her wrists a little sore and numb. Her expression was still somewhat dazed, mixed with a hint of confusion and self-doubt.

"Oh."

A clear, undisguised sneer came from beside me.

Yukino looked up and saw Utaha giving her a disdainful sneer: "As expected, nothing special."

Yukino wasn't angry; she just chuckled and said, "I look forward to your performance."

Shi Yu said nonchalantly, "There's no need to have any expectations. In my opinion, you've already lost."

"Oh?"

"You didn't understand the key point of this match at all. It was about the water in Saeko's hands. This was a battle of wits that required thinking, not brute force. Unfortunately, you no longer have the chance to prove that."

Yukino looked at her quietly for two seconds, then nodded gently, her voice calm and even: "I just hope that your actual performance from now on will be better than your words right now."

"Humph."

Shi Yu said no more, withdrew her gaze, and walked straight to the center of the field.

She stopped about two steps away from Saeko, without adopting any attack or defense stance like Yukino, and without even glancing at the water glass in Saeko's hand.

Instead, he turned directly to Gen Chiya, who was holding a timer, and said decisively, "Let's begin."

Gen Chiyo glanced at her, then at Saeko. Seeing Saeko nod slightly, he didn't hesitate any longer and pressed the countdown button on his phone.

Unlike Yukino, Utaha did not try to rush in with speed or skill from the start.

She appeared unusually calm, even somewhat nonchalant.

She strode towards Saeko with a leisurely, unhurried pace, as if she were simply taking a stroll.

His steps were steady, his eyes were calm, and he didn't even show the slightest aggression or threat.

She walked steadily, step by step, to Saeko's side, so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.

Then, under the slightly surprised gazes of everyone present, including Saeko herself, Shiwa suddenly broke into a bright, even somewhat affectionate, smile.

The next second, without warning, she opened her arms, took a step forward, and gave Saeko a tight hug!

"?!"

This unexpected move stunned Eriri and Rikka, who were watching from the sidelines, and even Yukino frowned slightly.

Saeko was clearly taken aback for a moment, her body stiffening almost imperceptibly, but her left hand holding the cup instinctively raised slightly to avoid the possible squeezing caused by their bodies being pressed together.

Utaha gently pressed her cheek against Saeko's shoulder and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, with a sly smile, "Sorry, Saeko. This point... I'll take it without hesitation!"

The moment the last word fell, Shi Yu's eyes sharpened, and the power she had been accumulating in her body suddenly erupted!

Instead of grabbing or slapping the water glass with her hands, she used all her strength to tightly hold Saeko's body and began to shake her violently back and forth and side to side!

Her strategy was simple and direct—

Since I can't beat you in skill, I'll use the clumsiest but most effective method: use all my strength to shake your balance, making it impossible for you to keep your water glass steady!

However, the cunning and confidence on Shi Yu's face froze the moment the power was unleashed, and were then replaced by an even stronger sense of astonishment.

Why... can't I shake it at all?!

Shi Yu felt as if she was embracing not a person, but an ancient tree deeply rooted in the earth, a majestic and unmoving mountain!

No matter how hard she shook or pushed, Saeko's body remained incredibly stable, without the slightest sway in her lower body.

Even her left hand, which was holding the cup, remained firmly raised in the air. The water in the cup only rippled slightly due to her violent movements, but there was no sign of spilling.

Shi Yu felt something and raised her head slightly in disbelief.

What came into her view was Saeko's slightly lowered eyes, with her usual gentle expression, and that calm and unhurried smile, as if she were simply accommodating a mischievous child playing around.

Her right hand wasn't even used to block or retaliate; it simply hung naturally at her side.

His left hand, held high, steadily supported the cup of tea that seemed frozen.

At that moment, Shi Yu's heart plummeted uncontrollably.

"puff--!"

"Pfft... Hahaha, hahahahahaha—!"

On the sidelines, two barely suppressed laughs rang out almost simultaneously.

Yukino, very reserved and with the proper etiquette of a young lady, covered her mouth with her hand. Except for the laughter that she couldn't help at the beginning, she kept her lips tightly closed the whole time, but her shoulders were still trembling.

As for Eriri, she had no worries at all. She felt that she should maintain a ladylike demeanor in front of Chiyo, but Kasumigaoka's confident and self-assured attitude was so funny that she couldn't help but laugh at his embarrassing appearance when reality hit him hard in the next second!

Not to mention, the woman in black stockings had previously been smug and arrogant, as if she had already pocketed victory, but now she was stunned and bewildered after encountering a major setback and realizing that her plan was completely unworkable.

The contrast between before and after is so huge, the comparison so striking... it's just too interesting! And so delightful!

"...Hehe, hehehe...Eri, Eriri, don't be like this...The competition is still going on..."