With anger, “Are you enjoying this? Bastard, don’t touch me!”

  With double anger and carelessness, “You think you're so beautiful that I want to touch you? I feel like vomiting.”

  “Then why are you touching my spine, bastard? Move and hold the net!”

  “Then why are you touching my back? Because of you, we're in this mess, you greedy princess.”

  With an annoyed tone, “Huh! Then why did you come, too? You’re also greedy, bastard. If you had stayed there, I could’ve easily taken the crystal and you could’ve untied it. Shit!”

  “That’s my line. First, I saw the crystal.”

  *How Yuta and Himari ended up in the mesh net*

  1. Net Setup

  -A thick stainless steel mesh net is placed on the ground, covered with leaves, branches, and mud to make it blend in. A small blue crystal rests on it.

  -Thin stainless steel wires run along the edges of the net, with a matte finish instead of shiny. These wires are threaded lightly through foliage/tied to branches or vines, making them hard to spot.

  2. Positioning the Wires:

  -The thin wires are attached to Tree A (where the net is placed) and combine into a single wire.

  -The wire from Tree A’s branch stretches to a branch on Tree B and is connected to a rock on the upper branch of Tree B.

  -The wire runs high between the trees, blending with the branches or shadows. Unless someone is actively looking up, it won’t be visible.

  3. Rock Placement:

  -A heavy rock is placed on the upper branch of Tree B, balanced precariously.

  “Hey, why are you going so fast?”

  “Huh? I’m not fast. You’re slow!” ‘Shit, why did I pair up with her?’

  “Hey, I don’t want to pair up with you either, but we can’t do anything now. Just stop. We have plenty of time. We only need one crystal per day.”

  Yuta turned back, “Huh? Are you mad? If we get more, we can get favour . Didn’t you listen? Well, it’s my mistake to asking. Sorry.”

  With anger, “Huh! What do you mean by your mistake? Are you calling me dumb? First, we need one. After that, we can search for more. By the way, idiot, master said it’s a small favor.”

  Yuta saw the crystal. “Crystal!”

  “Where?!”

  “That way, are you blind?”

  “Huh! Shit, I’ll go take it. Wait here.”

  “Huh! You wait here. I saw it first.”

  Both of them stepped on the net, triggering the wire, which pulls the rock. The rock falls to the side, and before either of them could react, the net sprang up, pulling tight around their bodies. In a split second, they were hoisted into the air, tangled and hanging from the tall tree like helpless prey.

  "Damn it! A trap?!"

  Himari struggled, "Ugh—your elbow is in my back!"

  Yuta gritted his teeth, "You think I like this? Move your spine!"

  The net swayed slightly as they dangled, their backs aligned, spines brushing, heightening both their annoyance. They were facing opposite directions, looking toward the net. Their backs were away from the net, with their spines barely touching each other’s. Their knees were drawn up close to their chests, hands gripping the net tightly as they tried to find a way to free themselves.

  “Shit, the rock is so far away. If anyone comes and unites us, we can get out.”

  “Greedy princess, I told you ‘I will go.’ Now look.”

  *Present*

  With a sigh, “Well, we got the crystal. Store your energy.”

  *********

  Hina, Miko, Inori, and Haruki were watching the scene on a mini screen with the help of a controller.

  Miko sighed, closed her eyes with embarrassment, “Arguing like kids.”

  With teasing, “Senpai, they fought like this in the previous tournament, too. From that time, they’ve been like this.”

  “Well, ask them to change the pulse.”

  With teasing, “Huh? Don’t you want to see Senpai? Your son?”

  Haruki and Hina didn’t want to talk.

  “Inori, do you ask them to change, or should I?”

  With a sulky tone, “Okay, why are you saying it with no expression, Senpai?”

  *********

  After a few minutes, Yuta asked, “Hey, can I ask you a question? Why do you hate me? I didn’t do anything. In fact, I was the one who should hate you.”

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “Huh? You had the right to hate me? Idiot, why did you give it to me instead of fighting?”

  “....”

  With anger, “Talk, idiot. You called me arrogant. Then what about you? You didn’t even fight me, thinking you’re strong.”

  With annoyance, “Huh! Are you mad? Did I say that to you?! You asked, and even when I asked first, I gave it to you to avoid unnecessary fighting. After that, you’re the one calling me arrogant without any reason.”

  With anger, “Then why did you come with me to take the crystal? You could’ve left it, right? Then we wouldn’t be in this mess by now.”

  With a huff, “I didn’t want to give it to you.”

  “Huh! Oi, are you mental? Think about the situation, idiot. That’s something you should fight for, this is something you should avoid. Now, I’m starting to doubt. Are you older than me?”

  With annoyance, “Shit, don’t talk. I have every right here. You’re the one who hated me without any valid reason. Everyone knows that. Why aren’t you agreeing?”

  “I already said, if I ask, why did you give it to me without a fight? You think I’m weak and showed mercy?”

  “Hey, why do you think like that? We both passed. I just wanted to avoid unnecessary fights and take another. What’s the use of that? I just avoided it, not because I wanted to show mercy. You’re the one thinking like that and blaming me.”

  With a huff, “Actually, that’s the point. You should’ve fought for it. You had every right. You gave it to me when I asked with your attitude.” With a sulky face, “Okay, assume I misunderstood. Why didn’t you tell me until now?”

  “Huh! Now, you’re blaming me! You’re not agreeing with what you did wrong!”....“Actually, where did you give me the chance? Shit. Honestly, Say, everyone knows who was at fault back then. From the start, you were arrogant. Just learn some manners from your younger sister Mei. She’s 100 times better than you.”

  With a sulky face and tone, “Why are you comparing me to her? I know she’s better, but I’m also better at some things.”

  With carelessness, “That’s your character. You still think you’re better. If someone comes, then we can get out. This stupid net isn’t even cuttable. Or we could just move, and maybe it’ll break from the weight.”

  “I’ll kill you if you do that! You want this situation, that’s why you came.”

  Feeling disgusted, he said, “Huh! Hey, first of all, you’re ugly.”

  “You’re the only one calling me, bastard. Shit, if that board weren’t there, we could’ve gotten out easily.”

  The board on the tree tied to the wire falls by pulling, showing: [You can’t use your powers.]

  Yuta sighed, “Hey, how much longer do we have to stay in this net? We have to try. Even if someone comes, what’s the guarantee they’ll help us?”

  “At least they can’t attack. I want to get out too, but if we move, we’ll touch, You’re waiting for that.”

  With anger, “Hey, listen first. You know I’m not that type, but you’re still being stubborn.”

  With a sigh, “Hey, I understand. But let’s wait a bit. If no one comes, we’ll try.”

  *********

  Meena (24, Number “56”) and Nivan (24, Number “12”) were walking through the forest.

  Meena said, “Airi is with Arata-san. I think she’s scolding him now.”

  With a laugh, “Yes, Airi is definitely scolding Arata-san, even though she’s younger.”

  With boredom, “Um... Should we just sit somewhere and relax? I know we have to find it, but there’s so much time.”

  “Huh? After we find it, we can relax. We’re just avoiding difficult traps. Check all sides.”

  With a huff, “Huff... huh!” She saw a crystal under the tree. “Hey, a crystal! …..But it’s too exposed. I think something’s suspicious.”

  “We have to try. Let’s approach slowly. I think there’s some trap.”

  Meena slowly went toward the tree, Nivan watching to see if any trap would trigger , by following her. Meena cautiously approached, three meters from the tree, when her foot plunged through a hidden hole beneath the soil. With a startled gasp, she tripped and lost her balance. “Huh! Nivan! I stepped on something!” she yelped, but it was too late.

  Nivan, who had been walking behind her, immediately grabbed her arm and steadied her. As if on cue, the ground began to vibrate, and a loud rustling from above sent a chill down their spines. A swarm of angry bees erupted from the beehive on the nearby tree, their buzzing filling the air like a shrieking warning. They started running back in panic.

  "Great, now we're running from bees!" Meena screamed, her voice tinged with panic. Nivan didn't waste any time. "Just keep running!" he shouted, his eyes wide with panic. "They’re not gonna stop until we... find water!"

  "What?" Meena gasped, still in a daze from the fall, her legs moving almost on instinct as she ran beside him. "Where's the water? I can’t even see it!"

  "I don’t know! Somewhere, anywhere!" Nivan half-screeched, eyes darting around in a frenzy. "Water’s the only thing that’ll save us from these stingers!"

  “Huh! Somewhere!”

  “I think if the instructors planned this type of trap, they’d keep water nearby. We’re going opposite from where we came. Just keep running! Water! We need water!”

  Meena glanced around wildly. “Where? Where’s the water?! All I see is stupid trees!”

  Suddenly, they saw a glint of water ahead—a small stream winding through the landscape. "There!" Nivan pointed dramatically, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

  Without another word, they sprinted towards it, both of them tripping over the uneven ground as the bees followed relentlessly. "Please, please, let us make it!" Meena whimpered, her feet splashing through the shallow water as she finally reached the stream.

  Nivan didn't even hesitate. He dove in with a yell, holding his breath as he submerged himself in the cool water. Meena followed, her heart racing as she splashed into the water after him.

  The bees buzzed angrily above the water, but neither Meena nor Nivan dared to rise to the surface, holding their breaths as they ducked under. After a few moments, they both came up gasping for air.

  "That was insane!" Meena exclaimed, trying to calm her racing heart.

  Nivan let out a breathless laugh, still half in shock. "Well, at least we're alive... And how did they keep stingers like that?”

  Meena shot him a glare. "I don't want to know. We will find another crystal."

  “But…”

  “No means no.”

  “Meena, if you hadn’t stepped into the hole, we would’ve gotten the crystal by now.”

  With a sulky face, “So, you mean I did wrong?” With anger, “How was I supposed to know there was a hole? It was far from the tree, and there was no way to see it! The ground was even. I think when we got near, some traps would trigger. Who would think like this?”

  With a calm tone, “Okay, okay, I understand, but if we’ll find the bees' origin. We can avoid them and get the crystal.”

  She glares at him with a serious gaze. “You mean you want to go again!”

  “Please listen. Remember you said you stepped on something? What was that?”

  With a sulky face and huffing tone, “I don’t know. I don’t even want to remember it.”

  “Please, if you say we can get that crystal, I think no one is near.”

  Turning her face to the opposite side, “Nivan! Please, let’s go for another. There are so many traps, right?”

  With a sigh, “Well, if you won’t come, I’ll go alone. You just watch from afar and tell me the details.”

  “Huh, well, it felt like a pin tied to a rope in the hole. That too, the pin was inclined at an angle. I stepped on it, and I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, the bees came.”

  “Huh? Wait, a rope?”

  With anger, “Hey, you really want to go?”

  “Just tell me.”

  With a sulky face, “Huff, my feet touched, it's like a rope.”

  “Now I get clarity. A hole contains a thread, and it leads to a beehive on the tree. The hive shakes → bees fly out → causes panic.”

  “So what?”

  “Then, if we go beside it without stepping on it, we can get the crystal.”

  “Huh! …….. wait, I didn’t see the thread.”

  “Maybe it’s a thin thread camouflaged around the tree.”

  With confusion, “...... Okay, then how did the instructors know we would come to that path?”

  “Huh? That’s also correct. If we don’t step and go beside, it’s easy. But maybe there’s something else... Wait! Maybe it’s not just one hole. They may have planned multiple holes around the tree, and each one contains a thread. All the threads connect to one main thread leading to the beehive. Stepping on any hole triggers a vibration through the thread. Maybe they made paths underground to freely pull the rope when we step.”

  “Then how do we go if there are holes around the tree?”

  “Idiot, didn’t you have a brain? At first, we didn’t know about the holes, but now we do. So, at the same distance, if we cross it, then it’s easy.”

  “Still…”

  “Well, I’ll go. You just watch from afar.”

  With a sulky face,

  “I’m not that cruel partner. I’ll also come.”

  **********

  Miko, Hina, Inori, and Haruki were watching Ren’s screen, showing four members.

  Innocently, “Why did Yui Aunt hit that Niisan on the head? What did he do?”

  ‘Yui! What happened in the pit? He didn’t even get angry… wait, you mental fool, what are you thinking? (Scolding herself) He’s like this from the start.’

  Miko looked at both Kazuma and Ren. ‘After his father retired, I forgot about them. Maybe except that family. But seeing them again, I am remembering my memories. So many years passed. I didn't want to think about it before confirming, But even after confirming, I didn’t recognize he was his son right away—like a fool with memory loss....shit, Do you know how many members are waiting for you? ….well, may be they also waiting’

  With teasing, “Miko Senpai, even Yui have restrictions. She’s acting like the boss. She even hit him.”

  Miko faintly smiled and with a sad but calm tone, “Inori, can I ask you one thing? Or Haruki? I don’t know. I haven’t seen the tournament fully in recent years, or even attended.”

  “Senpai, you’re acting differently. Did something happen? You’re seeing me as an outsider. You can ask anything without permission. I’ll tell you anything.”... Teasing, “Wait, other than tournament rounds and rules.”

  “Then I won't ask you Inori... Haruki, I want to ask a favor. I want someone to be an instructor in one round. Do anything, ask him. If he doesn’t agree, tell him it’s my request. If he doesn’t listen, I’ll directly ask that idiot. I will personally ask, may be my request will listen” ‘I don't want to interfere but at least this thing makes ease without anything interfere, understand Kazuma, Ren’

  “Huh! Senpai!”

  *********

  Diya (35) thought, “Hmm... no one is coming.” ‘If my daughter comes, I’ll help. If others come, I won’t help.’

  “Huh! Someone is coming!”

  Diya’s lips curved—not with warmth, but with a subtle, knowing smirk. It was a dangerous smile—cunning, calculating, and just soft enough to go unnoticed by those not paying attention.

  ‘Jin, Mei, come. Your aunty is waiting for you.’

  Author's Note:

  Here, I want to confirm that “Daikin” is written in Japanese kanji.

  (Daikin → Dhaikin in English)

  Same with Haruto → Harutho in English

  Yuta → Yutha in English

  “Tha,”

  “tho,” “dha,” etc. are not written in kanji.

  I will take precautions, and in the future, I’ll use names with an Indian + Japanese vibe or easy-to-remember names like Meena, Ayesha, Mira, etc. I just want to confirm this without miscommunication.