"Done!"
Tanaka Masao and Yukinoshita Yukino carefully completed the final assembly step, unable to stop themselves from cheering.
Having worked together to complete such a complex project, both of them were filled with a sense of accomplishment. They couldn't help but glance at each other, wanting to celebrate.
As they turned their heads, the two, who had been sitting very close, almost pressed against each other, found themselves face to face, no more than ten centimeters apart.
Their eyes met, and their previously excited hearts were instantly replaced by surprise and shyness.
Like receiving an electric shock, both turned their heads away, their bodies instinctively shifting to the side.
Tanaka Masao's heart raced, unsure if it was due to the exhilaration of having just finished their creation or a budding romantic feeling.
Or perhaps both.
On the other side, Yukinoshita Yukino was in a similar state, her heart beating rapidly, and she, too, couldn't quite grasp what this emotion was.
Tanaka Masao scratched his face, unsure if it was due to being too busy just now or some other reason, but he had sweated a bit and felt a little stuffy and warm.
He stood up and said,
"It's finally done. I'll go find some bottles to test its power."
"Alright, I'll wait here."
As Tanaka Masao walked out of the living room, he felt a refreshing breeze on his face, instantly making him feel much better, and the heat on his body dissipated.
Patting his face to clear his head, Tanaka Masao poured a few drinks and, while he was at it, grabbed a few empty milk cartons before heading back.
By this time, Yukinoshita Yukino had also returned to normal, sitting at the table, making bullets from the remaining materials.
"Have something to drink and rest a bit."
Tanaka Masao placed the drinks in front of Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Okay."
Stopping her work, Yukinoshita Yukino picked up a drink and started to sip it.
Kashi's weapon was also finished. She walked over, picked up a drink, took a few sips, and looked at Tanaka Masao with full fighting spirit.
"How is it? Are you finished? Do you want to compete with me?"
"Of course, let me show you the power of knowledge."
The living room wasn't too big, so for easier testing, the three of them finished their drinks, took their respective weapons, and the milk cartons for testing, and went into the yard.
There were ten milk cartons in total, and the rules of the competition were simple.
The two would stand fifteen meters from the milk cartons and attack them.
Knocking down or destroying a milk carton would be considered a valid hit.
The first to successfully knock down five milk cartons would win.
The contestants were Tanaka Masao and Kashi, and the referee was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Tanaka Masao held a pistol made of cardboard, and the bullets were also made from cardboard.
Kashi held something between a slingshot and a crossbow, and her projectiles were sharpened disposable chopsticks.
Tanaka Masao and Kashi struck what they considered their coolest poses and engaged in some pre-match trash talk.
"Kukuku, Masao, you'd better attack quickly later, or I can knock down all ten milk cartons in an instant, and you won't even have a chance to show off."
"Heh heh, Kashi, that's what I should be telling you. For you to be allowed to compete with me with that primitive type of weapon in your hand, it's already a great honor for you."
"Enough trash talk."
"Let's decide the winner."
Their gazes crossed, as if lightning was colliding.
Yukinoshita Yukino, as the referee, stood between them and said,
"Alright, both contestants, prepare for the match. 3, 2, 1, start!"
Yukinoshita Yukino was also caught up in the atmosphere, her tone becoming excited and enthusiastic.
Tanaka Masao thought: Xuezhixia Classmate, you're quite playful too.
As Yukinoshita Yukino's words fell, Tanaka Masao and Kashi simultaneously raised their weapons, aiming forward.
"Fire!" x2
The [arrow] and [bullet] hit the milk cartons almost simultaneously.
Tanaka Masao's bullet hit a milk carton, easily knocking it down.
Kashi's weapon, after being modified, had significantly increased power. Not only did it hit the milk carton, but the [arrow] also partially embedded itself, easily knocking the milk carton over.
In terms of power, Kashi clearly had the upper hand.
But this competition wasn't just about the power of the weapons.
It was also about the speed of attack.
At this point, the gun made by Tanaka Masao showed its advantage. With its excellent mechanical structure, it could easily achieve rapid-fire.
Kashi, on the other hand, had to load an [arrow].
While she was loading her [arrow], Tanaka Masao had already finished shooting with a "pew~ pew~."
Tanaka Masao coolly twirled the gun in his hand.
"The outcome is decided."
After saying that, he quickly knocked over several of Kashi's milk cartons.
Kashi, who had just finished loading her arrow, widened her eyes at this sight.
"How can this be?!"
She stared at the pistol in Tanaka Masao's hand, somewhat unable to understand its mechanism.
Kashi was unwilling to admit her defeat and retorted,
"Hmph, you just shot a little faster.
In terms of pure power, mine is still more formidable. On the battlefield, as long as the power is great enough, one hit is all it takes to kill, no follow-up is needed.
So I haven't lost; it's just that the competition rules are flawed."
Tanaka Masao shook his head helplessly, sighing,
"Is it that hard to acknowledge someone else's excellence?"
"Kuh~"
Kashi felt a stab in her heart. These were the very words she had used to mock Tanaka Masao earlier, leveraging her photographic memory, and now he had returned them to her verbatim.
"Alright, alright."
Yukinoshita Yukino walked over to mediate.
"Time was short, and the competition rules were indeed not perfectly formulated. How about you each get one point, counting it as a draw?"
Although, strictly according to the competition rules, Yukinoshita Yukino had a hint of favoritism.
But Tanaka Masao didn't place much importance on winning or losing, and this pistol was a collaborative effort between the two of them. Since she suggested it, he readily agreed.
"I have no objections."
Kashi nodded.
"I have no objections either."
As long as it wasn't a defeat, Kashi could completely accept a draw.
[I lost the last armor snatch, and this competition is a draw.
I am the constantly growing Great Kashi, and next time I will definitely win.
Kukuku, that mere Masao can just wait to be trampled under my feet.]
However, her eyes remained fixed on the pistol in Tanaka Masao's hand.
[Although that thing isn't as powerful as my weapon, it's not bad.
Especially the attack speed; it's simply outrageous. I need to figure out a way to get my hands on it.
That way, if a shot misses, I'll still have subsequent attack methods, increasing my margin for error.]