As the barbecue hit its stride, I could already see the fruits of today’s efforts. The primary goal of this beach trip was to foster closer ties, and I had hoped that those who rarely interacted would find common ground.
"Personally, I’m a fan of barbecue sauce, but you really can’t go wrong with the reliable flavor of simple salt and pepper," I remarked.
"Hmm, I wonder which I prefer?" Fate replied. "They’re both good, so it’s hard to pick a favorite... Oh, but when it comes to things like yakiniku, I definitely prefer the meat to be marinated before it hits the grill."
"Is that because dipping it yourself is too much work?" Sieg asked.
"Bingo! Good intuition, Sieg-rin."
"That sounds just like you, Fate... Though it might be a bit late to ask, where did this 'Sieg-rin' nickname come from?"
Fate responded to my comment, and Sieg, who happened to be nearby, naturally drifted into the conversation. It was a pleasant sight; a relaxed atmosphere had settled over us, the kind where casual small talk just flowed.
Looking around, I saw similar scenes unfolding. Everywhere I looked, people were chatting happily over their food.
"I don't think it's just my imagination... Shaltier, you seem significantly stronger than before," Kuro noted.
"Yes... the quality of her magic power... is quite different... I think... she has become... very powerful," Isis added.
"The quality of her magic power, you say?" Lilia asked. "Unfortunately, perhaps because our abilities are so far apart, I can't perceive the difference at all."
"It isn't... the sheer amount... but sensing the quality... takes a certain knack," Isis explained. "If I show you... I think Lilia could do it too... I will teach you... next time."
"Thank you very much."
A short distance away, Kuro, Isis, and Lilia were deep in conversation. Seeing Lilia chat so comfortably with Kuro and Isis really drove home how successful this trip had been.
That aside, has Alice really gotten that much stronger? Personally, the levels of Alice and the others were so far beyond my comprehension that I couldn't tell the difference even if it was pointed out to me. But if Kuro and Isis felt it, then she must have actually improved.
Now that I thought about it, she had mentioned something a while back about wanting to do a bit of training. She’d joked that "training arcs aren't popular, so I'll just cut the whole thing," but maybe she had been serious about the training part.
Still, Alice was already one of the top powerhouses in the world. Could someone at her level really grow enough in such a short window for Kuro and the others to describe it as "significant"? And what kind of training was she even doing?
The timing seemed to align with when her attitude toward Eden began to shift. Was it possible she had been training with her?
...No, that seemed unlikely. Leaving Alice aside, there was no reason for an omniscient and omnipotent being like Eden to train. No matter how much she might respect Alice, I couldn't see Eden entertaining a training regimen.
Well, it was Alice. She was probably just using some incredibly efficient method.
Shifting my gaze, I spotted Shiro, Alice, and Anima talking in another corner.
"I see. So the preparation is the most vital stage," Shiro said.
"Well, half the flavor of a dish is decided before it ever touches the heat," Alice replied. "Wait, are you actually interested in cooking?"
"That is a difficult question."
"Is it really... that difficult?" Anima asked.
Alice and Anima looked slightly exasperated by Shiro’s characteristically airheaded response, but the vibe between them was good.
Alice treated Shiro with a degree of respect, and I got the impression that Anima viewed her with something akin to religious devotion. It made sense; Shiro was the one who had reincarnated Anima. Ever since their first meeting, Anima had consistently addressed Shiro with high honors, even while referring to others more casually.
At any rate, Shiro and Fate—the two I’d been most worried about—seemed to have integrated well with the group. It was a relief. At this rate, the afternoon looked to be just as enjoyable.
"Oh, I know! Since we’re all here, let’s do something as a group this afternoon. How about beach volleyball?"
Kuro spoke up at the perfect moment, drawing everyone’s attention. We had been doing our own things during the morning, so finding an activity for everyone to enjoy together was a great idea.
Everyone seemed on board, and I was looking forward to some lively fun...
"But just playing normally would be boring, so let’s compete using the pairs we formed this morning! Since Kaito-kun needs a partner, we’ll just have whoever isn't playing at the time step in for his team!"
...I see. That actually sounded like a decent way to balance things. There weren't any pairs that seemed overwhelmingly dominant, so it promised to be a close contest... if you ignored me, the person who stood out for being at the absolute bottom of the power scale.
Wait, facing this lineup in beach volleyball... was she trying to get me killed? Our physical capabilities were on entirely different planets. I was going to get a massive handicap, right?
Kuromueina & Sieglinde Total Power: A+ / Combination: S / Strategy: A / Total Physical Ability: B / Technique: A
Shallow Vernal & Lilia Total Power: S / Combination: C / Strategy: B / Total Physical Ability: SS / Technique: A
Isis & Fate Total Power: A+ / Combination: A / Strategy: B / Total Physical Ability: S / Technique: B
Alice & Anima Total Power: S / Combination: B / Strategy: S / Total Physical Ability: A / Technique: S
Kaito & ??? *Result: Guaranteed Victory
Machina: "I see. It is certainly a well-balanced matchup. The heavy hitters—Kuromueina, Shallow Vernal, and Alice—are each paired with someone of significantly lower physical ability, meaning they’ll have to provide a lot of support. Meanwhile, the Isis and Fate pair is physically balanced but lacks in technique and strategy. It’s hard to predict who will come out on top."
Serious-senpai: "...Hey, the winner is already written right there!"