We headed for the Middle Level with Tre and Falce in tow. We weren't rushing there, though; we took our time browsing the stalls along the way.
We eventually stopped at a stall featuring a game similar to a basketball free-throw attraction. The exterior looked like a small shack, but Space Magic had evidently been used to expand the interior to the size of a full basketball court.
The rules were simple: take five shots and see how many go in. The score varied based on the distance. The furthest point—at the very edge of the court—was worth a staggering one hundred points per ball, but the distance was absurd.
Hina was currently trying her luck from the standard free-throw line. She did quite well, sinking four out of her five shots.
"Whoa, Hina! You're good at this!"
"Ehehe. I'm actually pretty decent at basketball. Tre, do you want to give it a try?"
"Well then, don't mind if I do."
A social butterfly through and through, Tre had hit it off with everyone in record time. She took Hina's place on the court, ball in hand. With her height exceeding 180 centimeters and her lithe, athletic build, she looked like a seasoned pro just by her stance.
She gets a perfect score for her look and vibe... but seriously, only for her look and vibe.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Tre leaped gracefully and took her shot. The ball flew off in a completely different direction, failing to even graze the rim. True to form, she missed every single shot, yet she returned with a strangely satisfied look on her face.
"In another world, I think they’d call that a paper-thin margin, right?"
"There wasn't a single 'thin' thing about it! You didn't even come close!"
"Hmph. Then you give it a try, Kaito. I bet you’ll end up with the same result as me."
"Don't underestimate me. I’ve played basketball in school, after all..."
Tre goaded me into trying, so I stepped up. I tried to stay cool—I really did want to sink at least one—but my over-eagerness backfired. The rim seemed to have a personal vendetta against me, and I finished with a big fat zero.
When I trudged back, feeling appropriately embarrassed, Tre looked as if she’d just achieved a legendary feat.
"Kaito! I knew I could count on you!"
"The... the ball hit the rim, at least..."
"Well, no need to be depressed. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Let's keep moving."
"Wait, why are you trying to comfort me with that smug, triumphant face?! You got zero points, too!"
"Well, I mean, this is hard... It's not something you can just do on your first try..."
I couldn't help but snap back at her. She was acting like she’d won some grand victory. It was a bit frustrating, but since we really were on the same level, the competitive banter was actually kind of fun.
As I stood there with those complicated feelings, Luna turned to Lilia.
"Milady, I’ve taken a liking to the grand prize. Please go and retrieve it for me."
"Wait, me? But I've never even played this before..."
"No need for modesty. You learned how to shoot just by watching Miyama-sama and the others, right? Now, if you please."
"Don't hold a grudge if I miss, alright?"
Lilia gave Luna an exasperated look before stepping onto the court. She walked all the way to the furthest shooting point. She took a breath, aimed, and released. The ball traced a perfect arc, swishing through the net without even brushing the rim—a flawless no-touch shot.
She proceeded to repeat the exact same motion four more times, as if someone had pressed a 'replay' button on her first shot. Every single one was a perfect swish.
"Phew. I managed somehow."
"Lilia-san, that was really your first time? That was so perfect it's scary."
Lilia smiled as she returned with the prize. "I was watching you and the others play, you see. Having that prior information to use as a reference made it quite easy to calculate the distance."
"I... I see."
I had a feeling that would happen, but it was still incredible. Lilia was the kind of person who could master almost anything perfectly just by watching someone else do it once. Her talent was a literal cheat. To be honest, she was only overshadowed because she was constantly surrounded by the Six Kings and other world-class powerhouses. Alice had once called her a 'bug-level' genius, and she wasn't exaggerating.
And yet, despite being so incredibly gifted, she still somehow felt like a total airhead overall. That bizarre balance was exactly what made her so endearing.
Serious-senpai: "Honestly, Lilia's specs are terrifying, but she somehow manages to stay a total airhead. It's like a miracle of character writing."
???: "Well, she still feels capable, though. It’s a nice mix of competence and clumsiness. She isn't a complete lost cause like you, Serious-senpai."
Serious-senpai: "...Excuse me? I am the transcendentally capable Incarnation of Seriousness!"
???: "Why are you talking in your sleep when you're already awake?"