Beach... Volleyball? (before battle)

I have witnessed it myself!

There was, and I speak with certainty, what hath appeared to be a ball of sorts amongst the stranded trash!

'Twould be no puffery to say that 'tis true injustice to deny ourselves merriment when a ball, able bodies, and beach all await us!

Can we... really call this a beach, though?

Don Quixote, I told you. We're not here for a vacation.

That I am well aware, Dear Gregor! I appreciate thine advice, yet I simply do not have it within mine heart to deny such a proposal when an opportunity to bring us together presents itself!

Yeah, okay. At least hold back that big grin next time, why don't you?

Yes, I am in agreement with Don Quixote.

...Yi Sang?

Upon reflection, I have no memory of engaging in such a sport with my fellows.

I cannot say that I am particularly talented in games of the ball variety... but this appears to be as good a time as any to experience it for once.

So let us partake in this game of volleyed balls.

Sheesh...

We're so not ready...

...Hah.

This isn't the time to play ball games... We've been slacking too much as of late... Yeah, we were too lucky last time.

Ishmael was starting to practically ooze all over with an ominous aura.

...It might be a good idea to divert her attention for a bit.

<...Let's play beach volleyball.>

A wise decision! I shall retrieve el balón~!

Oh boy...

This is a downtime activity designated by none other than our Executive Manager. Everyone, quit grimacing and accept it with gratitude!

Okay, okay... Haah, I just hope I don't pull my back playing this game.

I am aware of the rules and the specifications of this game. Allow me to draw the arena.

There were grumbling Sinners, beaming Sinners, reticent Sinners...

Their reactions were all varied, but everyone eventually moseyed out to an empty lot to play beach volleyball.

I stretched, hoping that this activity would help break up the tense atmosphere...

Some time later...

Now, let us commence!

The field was drawn over a squelchy mudflat.

The worn ball rocketed into the air with Don Quixote's serve...

I-is this how the game is played?

With Yi Sang's nice receive, it was starting to look like we had a proper game going.

Yup, yup~ Ahaha, you're pretty good!

Hup!

Oof.

Meaningless, all of this...

Khm... hah!

Outis, I think that serve would've killed me if I hadn't dodged it in time...

Consider this a part of our training.

……

<Ryōshū, you're not supposed to hit the ball with your sword...!>

Aha~! Forsooth!! I have received thy ball!

Uh, uhh... hup!

Haah, we're wasting time we could be using to study the whales' characteristics...

...Ugh!

Sigh... And we don't even have a compass to guide us through the Great Lake...

Hm.

Damn it... and that bastard has still got to be alive, somehow...

…For fuck's sake, woman!

Heathcliff, unable to stand Ishmael's attitude any longer, kicked the ball with enough force that it just might burst...

Haah...?

...And the ball flew way over the mark, and toward the boundary separating us from the pristine beach we saw a few days ago.

<Did the ball just... pop?>

It most certainly has. There appears to be a field of plasma invisible to our eyes.

<A field of plasma...? Who put a field of plasma on a beach...?!>

A barrier of sorts, installed to separate the Nest from the Backstreets. Along the borders of every Nest are installations that serve the same function, though their specific methods may vary.

Of course. There are always fences and whatnot to stop Backstreets residents from crawling into their precious Nests.

But with that technology, they could've simply made the ball disappear without a trace, instead of leaving the torn mess. Which gotta mean...

They want to enjoy watching clueless souls be ripped to pieces, I bet. Huh, glad the rich folk are having so much 'fun' with our lives.

...I have no comment to make regarding the device's particular purpose or its sadistic nature.

I-it took me a whole hour of my time to procure us the ball...

Brace yourselves. The sound of the ball popping attracted the trash crabs.

...We'll have a chat after this.

......

I... really thought that this could be the activity to dramatically bring us all together.

<It's all gone to hell... Why does this keep happening...?>

Isn't it about time you got used to this, manager bud? Come on, let's first take care of business.