Just as Chinatsu let out a sigh of relief after the warm-up run, she heard about an even more terrifying activity—dodgeball, and it was mixed-gender.
(... It's over. A high-speed evasion activity like this...) Her vision darkened, and she decided to strategically slack off, aiming to be the first one eliminated.
However, Fate (or rather, Aha) seemed determined to work against her.
Initially, everyone seemed wary of her status as "the new beautiful girl," and no one threw the ball toward her.
But this only made her stand out more on the court—an idle, stunningly shaped ice queen. Finally, a boy, either due to a slip of the hand (or ulterior motives), threw the ball straight and fast in her direction!
The ball was fast! Chinatsu's nerves instantly tightened! Her reflexes from her past life as a male, combined with the dynamic vision granted by the The core of reason, activated instantly!
Before her brain could issue the command to "take the hit and get out of the game," her body instinctively reacted—a smooth, swift, and almost martial arts-like side-lean dodge!
Her flexible waist bent backward into an astonishing arc, her long legs firmly planted on the ground, while the "Giant Slimes" on her chest reacted to the violent movement and gravity.
They presented an even more breathtaking, bouncing momentum, as if trying to break free from all constraints!
The ball barely grazed her chest before flying past her nose.
This superhuman dodge, combining power and aesthetic flexibility, along with the accompanying dramatic jiggle, plunged the entire court into brief silence once more.
"..."
"W-was that move... something a human could do?"
"So... so amazing... but also too... She's beautiful, and she's good at everything?"
"The ball was that fast, and she actually dodged it? And dodged it so... beautifully?"
Chinatsu froze, maintaining the back-bend posture.
(... Damn it! That was an overreaction!)
She hurriedly straightened up, subconsciously wanting to cover her chest with her hands, but she forcefully restrained herself. She could only maintain a poker face, pretending nothing had happened. However, her scarlet earlobes and slightly trembling hands betrayed her.
Now, more balls were thrown her way (by both boys and girls); everyone seemed eager to witness that "beautiful sight" again. Chinatsu was overwhelmed and in an embarrassing predicament.
Every dodge and twist provoked small gasps and more fervent gazes. She felt like a monkey in a circus... Next was the half-court practice scrimmage. The warm-up laps and dodgeball had already made Chinatsu the center of attention, but the subsequent basketball practice pushed the disaster to its climax.
Initially, Chinatsu just stood under the hoop, trying to be invisible. She was determined to stand under the basket like a vase, but when the ball was passed to her.
The competitiveness and muscle memory from her past life playing basketball as a boy instantly awakened!
(Oh? A pass? Good opportunity!)
Completely forgetting her current situation, she received the ball and executed a smooth spin move and dribble, the action possessing a masculine vigor and wildness, driving straight past her defender!
As she drove the ball, the "Giant Slimes" traced breathtaking, full arcs with her running and change of direction, bouncing violently yet resiliently.
They were like two lively yet heavy white rabbits, ready to break free and leap out at any moment!
Shido, watching from the sidelines, was completely stunned.
Younger Sister Chinatsu... is she this good at basketball? Her movements were clean and sharp, possessing a masculine vigor that was very familiar to him.
But... but!
Every time she ran or jumped, the violent jiggling made his heart pound and his face flush crimson.
That extreme contrast of "She's both my bro and my wife" delivered tons of impact to his brain!
"B-bro, nice shot!"
He nearly shouted it out along with the boys next to him, thankfully stopping himself just in time, wishing he could slap himself.
Every time she jumped to shoot (though she missed), the moment her body stretched out in mid-air, the strength of her core contrasted sharply with the magnificence of the surge on her chest.
Every time she bent down to defend, the tight shorts outlined a perfect curve that made blood rush to the head.
Sweat gradually dampened the hair on her forehead and neck, and also soaked the fabric across her chest.
She played with focus, breathing slightly, her cheeks flushed with a healthy redness from the exercise, and her eyes were concentrated.
She even occasionally showed a boyish expression of annoyance when she missed a shot.
This contrasting appeal of "both handsome and seductive," and "both my bro and my wife," inflicted tons of real damage on the adolescent boys!
"B-bro! Nice shot! Ah, no... Senpai is amazing!"
"Wife! Go! Uh... what am I yelling..."
"She's too cool... but also too... I can't handle it..."
The boys were already incoherent, their eyes fixed on the leaping figure on the court, having practically forgotten how to breathe.
Finally, after a period of intense running, Chinatsu felt winded, stopped, and leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees while slightly catching her breath.
Sweat gradually soaked the hair on her forehead and neck, and also dampened the fabric across her chest, making it somewhat translucent and clinging even closer to outline the astonishing contours of the "Giant Slimes."
The alluring color of the skin underneath and the suggestive protruding contours were faintly visible.
Just then, a breeze blew past, making the wet fabric cling even tighter. The resulting suggestive visual effect combined with her heavy breathing from the strenuous exercise—
"Aah—!"
A short, shy shriek suddenly escaped Chinatsu's throat!
She reacted instantly, jerking upright, tightly crossing her arms over her chest, trying to hide the embarrassing sight.
Her entire body instinctively crouched down, leaving only a pale, slender back and crimson ear tips facing the boys.
(It's... it's over! It's... showing through?!)
(What sound... did I just make?! What kind of shy, girlish voice was that?!)
A massive wave of shame instantly overwhelmed her, making her wish she could dig a hole and bury herself right there.
This shriek and her reaction instantly woke up the stunned girls.
"Hey! You boys! Haven't you seen enough?!"
"That's rude! Turn your heads away!"
"Don't look! Classmate Hōōin, hurry and get up, we'll cover you!"
That short, shy "Aah!" was like a needle, instantly piercing Shido's dazed state.
He saw Chinatsu crouching on the ground, her ears bright red, and that look of utter shame, vulnerability, and cuteness made his heart fiercely skip a beat.
A powerful surge of protective instinct mixed with immense guilt immediately washed over him.
"W-what was I just looking at!"
He abruptly turned around, forcing himself to look away, his heart filled with self-reproach.
"She is clearly Koushi's Younger Sister, and she looks so distressed... I'm truly terrible!"
But when the girls surrounded her, he couldn't help but anxiously glance at the protected figure out of the corner of his eye.
The girls immediately rushed forward, forming a human shield, and fussily helped Chinatsu, who was crouching on the ground like an ostrich, back to her feet. They condemned the boys while escorting her toward the gymnasium.
Chinatsu was surrounded by the girls, her mind buzzing and blank.
(I just... actually... shrieked 'Aah' like a little girl?! And did a crouch defense while covering my chest?!)
(Koushi Hōoin! You are a man! A pure one! How could you make that sound?! Or perform that action?!)
(Is this the body's instinct?! Or is it the curse of Aha?! Is my soul... beginning to be assimilated by this body too?!)
The feeling of social death, mixed with a slight panic regarding her self-identity, plunged her into deep confusion and self-doubt.
The disaster of PE class temporarily concluded in the most unexpected and humiliating way possible for her. However, the resulting psychological trauma would likely take a long time to fully calculate.