"Today," our P.E. teacher declared, holding a dodgeball like it was the Infinity Gauntlet, "we separate the weak from the slightly less weak!"
It was dodgeball day.
My greatest fear.
Not because I'm unathletic (which I am), but because Ayaka *does not* understand the concept of "toning it down."
"Ayaka," I whispered, eyeing her suspiciously glowing fingertips, "this is just gym class. Please don't blow anyone up."
"I understand," she nodded solemnly. "Minimum force protocol activated. Non-lethal only."
"...Non-lethal?!"
She entered the court with the grim determination of a war veteran entering her final battle. She even painted camouflage lines on her cheeks using someone's crushed blueberry yogurt.
The first whistle blew.
Chaos.
Ayaka *teleported* behind the entire red team and unleashed a barrage of dodgeballs so fast it broke the sound barrier. One hit Tanaka so hard his soul briefly left his body.
Another student tried to dodge but was caught in a net Ayaka fired from her *arm*. A net. She brought *crowd control equipment* to a dodgeball game.
"She's dual-wielding dodgeballs like a ninja," Yuki gasped. "This is a massacre!"
Our gym teacher looked like he was re-evaluating his life choices. "I—I didn't sign up for *this*."
Ayaka landed beside me, steam hissing from her joints. "I have neutralized the enemy team. Victory is ours. I recommend immediate retreat before reinforcements arrive."
"Those reinforcements are sixth graders, Ayaka."
"All threats must be taken seriously."
She was already prepping smoke bombs.
---
**Later that day…**
Ayaka was in the principal's office (again), explaining why she'd installed motion-activated laser turrets in the locker room "for student safety."
"I swear, she's trying to start a war with the lunch ladies next," I muttered.
But I had no idea how right I was…