"So... is this okay?"
With a large bump on his head, Kiryuuin looked at Rice Shower helplessly. After being lectured by Aoi, he had now changed into a Mr. Rabbit mask from Alice in Wonderland. This seemingly cute and harmless mask finally allowed Kiryuuin to sit next to Rice Shower.
Rice Shower had now followed him to the studio.
"Mm... it's okay..."
Rice Shower timidly nodded, and her complexion had indeed improved a lot. However, Kiryuuin seemed to still hear her muttering, "The manager is not a bad person... The manager is not a bad person..."
"..."
For the first time, Kiryuuin felt a sense of sorrow about his own existence.
"Ahem... Alright, what do you want to drink? Barley tea or orange juice?"
Kiryuuin's studio was equipped with a small freezer. To ease the atmosphere, Kiryuuin decided to approach her from a different angle.
After all, for the two of them to communicate normally, they could better complete the upcoming work.
"Orange, orange juice."
Rice Shower said softly. Kiryuuin tried hard to discern what she was saying, then took a can from the freezer.
"Here, you just sit here. I'll tell you what to do in a moment, understand?"
"Hmm…"
Kiryuuin took a small toolbox from a nearby drawer and placed it directly in front of Rice Shower.
"This is what I lent Asama before. It has molds and carving tools. What I need you to do is to polish these semi-finished parts and refine them."
Kiryuuin said, picking up a processed part from the table. "Roughly like this will do. If you're not very skilled, you can practice with the parts to your left, understand?"
"…Yes, I will try…"
Rice Shower glanced at Mr. Rabbit, and with Kiryuuin mentioning Kazuo again, she regained her confidence and nodded seriously.
"Then I'll demonstrate once. You watch and then do it, and I'll see if there are any problems."
When Kiryuuin switched to work mode, he clearly seemed like a different person, completely devoid of his usual lazy demeanor.
.
"By the way, isn't there a G1 race today?"
"Oh, really? I forgot you didn't mention it! It's the NHK Mile Cup, right?"
"I remember Maruzensky is in it!?"
"That 'supercar' racer?"
The conversations of the customers in the shop made Aoi suddenly realize, like waking from a dream, and he clapped his hands, saying:
"I see, Kazuo and the others went to watch the G1 NHK Mile Cup."
Just as the baseball qualifiers had also ended, Aoi quickly picked up the shop's remote control and changed the TV channel.
Although these open invitationals don't receive as much attention as the Triple Crown races, globally, they are highly renowned.
After all, many international racers are invited to participate in this competition.
Aoi took a moment to peek into the back room, checking on Kiryuuin's studio. He saw Rice Shower diligently following Kiryuuin's instructions, and Kiryuuin was patiently teaching her.
Aoi couldn't help but feel relieved. At least for now, the two seemed to be getting along quite well.
.
"Is this okay…?"
Rice Shower looked at Kiryuuin with some uncertainty, and although he was wearing a mask, he knew his expression must be very strange.
The reason was simple: he was holding the part Rice Shower had given him in his left hand, and in his right hand was the one he had polished himself… From his perspective, he couldn't see much difference; they were practically identical… This was quite astonishing.
Rice Shower initially seemed to have no understanding of these things, and even the use of the tools was slowly taught to her by Kiryuuin, hand by hand.
And after only one demonstration… she had produced a perfect, finished product, without missing a single step… This?
One must know, Kiryuuin already considered Kazuo's comprehension ability to be remarkably strong.
Even with Kazuo's learning ability, he had failed twice the first time he did this… Rice Shower… "Um… Is it not good?"
Seeing Kiryuuin remain silent, Rice Shower's face instantly darkened, thinking she had made another mistake and upset him.
"No… I'm just a little surprised. You did very well. Hmm… Just keep going. Make these parts according to the standard you just achieved. Can you do that?"
"…! Yes! Rice Shower understands!!"
For this child, the affirmation of others was actually the most encouraging power.
Perhaps she didn't even realize how pure and unadulterated the smile she just showed was.
Even Kiryuuin, a grown man, found that smile to be too brilliant.
He subtly turned his face and cleared his throat, saying, "Alright then, if you don't understand anything, just ask me."
.
Another half an hour passed.
Only when his phone received a message did Kiryuuin suddenly snap out of his focused work state.
Once he settled down, he tended to focus solely on the task at hand and forget about his surroundings… When he turned his head, what he saw shocked him.
Rice Shower's small square table was filled with parts; the amount he had given her earlier was all completed… And that wasn't all; they were all made to the same specifications.
But what surprised him even more was—
Among the parts Rice Shower had made, three were finished products, not just refined semi-finished ones.
"You… How did you do that?"
Kiryuuin could not hide his surprise at this moment. He looked at Rice Shower in shock; this was not something one could do just by wanting to.
Moreover, he hadn't demonstrated any of these things to her… He had only taught her steps that even a beginner could slowly learn, or so he thought… Rice Shower was startled by Kiryuuin's sudden exclamations. She shrank her neck and cautiously looked at Kiryuuin, saying, "After I finished, I wanted to ask the shop owner what else to do… But I saw the shop owner was very focused just now… I didn't dare to disturb you… So I just kept doing it the way you did…"
"So you watched how I did it? And then you did it the same way?"
Rice Shower nodded hesitantly, her eyes flickering. "Rice Shower… Should I not have done that? I'm sorry… Rice Shower shouldn't have made decisions on her own… It's all my fault…"
"No…"
Kiryuuin slowly shook his head, saying, "You did very well, even beyond my expectations…"
He finally understood. The girl in front of him was still a beginner, yet she could complete such work… Actually, it was very simple; it was Rice Shower's talent—
That was an extremely strong ability to imitate!
Here at Shuke, most images of German maids would be taken down, it's really hard to find one that won't be.
Race Chapter: Crimson Gear / LP1211 - M
Kazuo, personally attending the Fuchu Racecourse, felt only one thing: it was unimaginably vast.
As expected of the Tokyo Racecourse, one of the four major Racecourses, its scale was also the largest in Japan, with the track and the audience seating in the venue being truly breathtaking.
On weekdays, the race broadcasts seen on television were mostly filmed from an angle level with the competitors or slightly overhead.
But now, being there in person, especially in the A-grade seats with a wide view, he realized that the track was actually layered, with the outermost sections even having uphill slopes.
Standing in the stands, the race track and the audience area were actually quite far apart.
At this time, the Racecourse stands were already filled with people, and on the lowest platform, fans who hadn't purchased or couldn't get designated seats stood around the outside of the track, eagerly awaiting the start of the race.
Familiar singing echoed in his ears, and looking around, the audience on the lowest level had already gathered at the front stage, enthusiastically participating in cheering activities.
Since a race had just finished half an hour ago, the track was currently undergoing its final adjustments under the inspection of staff.
Kazuo had been wondering why the venue's BGM sounded so familiar, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was a live performance.
As a permanent feature of major competitions, the organizers would actually invite bands or cheering singers to perform before the race began.
The song echoing through the Racecourse at this moment, which Kazuo found very familiar, was "Shukumei" by Official Hige Dandism.
On an open platform at the Tokyo Racecourse, one could even see the famous band up close.
"It's Hige Dan!?"
Kazuo was very excited; this group's popularity in Japan was simply too high, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them a national idol group.
Being able to see singers he usually only saw on television so closely was an unexpected surprise.
"Generally, major races would choose local orchestras for the opening performance. But this invitational was planned by NHK, so they invited them, which caused quite a stir online... Speaking of which, isn't this song also the theme song for the 101st Summer Koshien support?"
Hayakawa-san was very knowledgeable about these things; it seemed she wasn't just knowledgeable about Horse Racing, but also about various other topics, which she could discuss effortlessly.
"Lead singer Fujiwara is a lead singer I really like!"
Their appearance at the Fuchu Racecourse for this race was an unexpected delight for Kazuo.
Enjoying the intense Racecourse atmosphere, the two found their seats.
"Well, the race will start in a little while, and at this point, the competitors should already be ready in the track's passage."
Sitting down, Hayakawa-san said, opening the small display screen in front of her.
After some operations, the scene switched to a bright waiting area.
At this time, as Hayakawa-san had said, the competitors were waiting in the competitor area for the final adjustments of the on-field equipment.
What was interesting was that each of them was accompanied by a cute little Uma Musume.
These were like the ball boys in football matches; each Uma Musume would lead one into the Racecourse.
Maruzensky's figure was easily visible among them; her fiery attire was quite conspicuous among the competitors.
Compared to the serious and solemn demeanor of the other competitors, she was extremely relaxed, even squatting down to tease the little girl next to her. Her kind and approachable manner made people feel very at ease.
As the song concluded, the audience responded with enthusiastic applause. Being able to enjoy this additional audio-visual feast was truly an unforgettable performance before the main race began.
However, after the performance ended and they slowly exited, the Racecourse loudspeakers were reconnected.
After a few adjustments, the announcer's voice came through.
"This is Fuchu Racecourse, this is Fuchu Racecourse. Thank you to Official Hige Dandism for accepting the invitation to perform. Please continue to support them in the future, everyone."
"Now, the 21st NHK Mile Cup Invitational will be held at 16:30. I am today's announcer, Narisawa Sora. Today's final race is a G1-level 1600m turf Mile Race. This is an information update: the weather is clear, the turf track has a slightly heavy water content, and as for the track, the staff are making the final adjustments."
"Today's most noteworthy competitor is Maruzensky, from Tresen Academy, who has achieved an undefeated four wins and is known as the 'supercar'. She has a memorable 'first escape' running style that leaves a deep impression, and in her previous races, she has surpassed the second-place competitor by at least 2.5 horse lengths. With such absolute strength, Maruzensky is also appearing as the top favorite in today's race."
.
After a series of procedures, the competitors, introduced by the announcer, exited the competitor track one by one.
Each person led a little Uma Musume and lined up facing the audience.
The audience also responded with cheers, welcoming these competitors who were about to deliver a spectacular showdown in the race.
Kazuo paid special attention, and when competitor number eight, Maruzensky, was introduced, the audience's cheers were even more enthusiastic and loud.
This was understandable; compared to the foreign competitors invited, competitors who had competed locally were more popular.
And Maruzensky's strongly identifiable running style in previous races had left a deep impression on many Horse Racing fans.
And she would respond to everyone's expectations, once again standing on the Racecourse.
.
"The competitors are now in the gates. The race is about to begin—"
Bang!
The moment the indicator light turned on, the gates opened, and over a dozen competitors rushed out simultaneously.
"Start!! NHK Mile Cup Invitational, everyone is now watching the NHK Mile Cup Invitational!! The competitors are out of the gates, no delays, each competitor is focused on racing from the very beginning!!"
"Competitor number 8, Maruzensky, has completely taken the lead within less than a hundred meters after exiting the gates!! This is as predicted before the race, so can Competitor Maruzensky maintain her advantage until the end?"
The experience of watching a race live is absolutely something that cannot be felt on a television screen.
The fervent atmosphere, the roaring cheers and encouragement, even threatened to drown out the announcer's voice.
As if hearing the announcer's voice, Maruzensky on the display screen once again accelerated, pulling far ahead of the others. Before the first two sections of the race, Maruzensky's starting speed had already showcased her power.
Watching live, one could feel the dense, drum-like sound of hooves on the turf, and the visual impact of the competitors' flying figures. Coupled with these earth-shattering shouts, even compared to the training races at the Academy, such an atmosphere was far superior.
Although Kazuo had thought she was a very impressive competitor when he watched her race against Symboli Rudolf, it was only now, seeing Maruzensky in an official race with his own eyes, that he truly realized the terrifying presence of this competitor.
Comparing her performance to the historical video data he had seen, Kazuo couldn't find anyone who could rival Maruzensky's performance in the first two sections. The timing of her acceleration, her choice of track, and her application of running techniques were all executed perfectly, like a supercar with an engine full of power from the start, speeding across the track, gleaming with that intoxicating crimson.
"So strong!"
Kazuo stared at the figure on the display screen in front of him and couldn't help but murmur.
This was no longer just a simple race; what Kazuo saw was a 'show' of pure individual skill.
Maruzensky was like a supercar, leading everyone in an unapproachable manner, while the others could only scramble behind her, trying to keep up with her pace.
This was the purest definition of — overwhelming skill.
There was no excessive embellishment of technique, just the simplest display of raw power.
All Maruzensky did was run, then sprint.
It was only at this moment that Kazuo realized why even the Chairman said that if Maruzensky participated in the race... "The track has reached its midpoint, and as we can see, contestant number eight, Maruzensky, is still four horse lengths ahead of the second-place runner, and that number is still trending upwards!!!"
"Contestant Maruzensky's speed is astonishing!!! Where is her limit!?"
However, as they entered the final major turn of the race, something unexpected suddenly happened: Maruzensky, who had been leading by a wide margin, suddenly slowed down at this point.
This sudden, unannounced change caused everyone present to tense up.
The commentator also reported with great surprise:
"What's wrong with contestant Maruzensky? She's slowing down without any apparent struggle!? Contestant number 11, Perfect Start, chooses to accelerate at this moment, putting her neck and neck with Maruzensky as they enter the turn!!!"
Such a loss of speed without any visible struggle was truly astonishing.
Many could only think of one possibility: an injury.
It was indeed possible for such a situation to occur during a high-speed sprint, but —
Kazuo, however, remembered what happened during her previous race with the Chairman... "Could it be an old injury flaring up?"
Kazuo subconsciously thought of this possibility. He quickly looked at the display screen in front of him, intently watching Maruzensky as she ran, focusing on her left foot.
Just as he had expected, her running posture had shown a slight deformation.
On the calf that was bearing the weight, her left foot seemed hesitant to apply force —
But even under these circumstances, even with this loss of speed, Maruzensky on the display screen showed little change in expression; she still focused intently on the track ahead.
This brief lapse allowed her opponent to seize an opportunity, but it didn't mean she was ready to concede victory.
On the contrary, in this situation, she first stabilized her own speed to maintain an even pace with her opponent.
Her mature response and awareness during the race also allowed her to find an opportunity.
"Come on!!! Maruzensky! Don't give her any chances!! Decide the winner in the final turn, don't give up!! The finish line is in sight!!"
What Kazuo hadn't expected was that Hayakawa was extremely agitated at this moment, completely abandoning her usual rational demeanor, and, like the other spectators, passionately cheered for Maruzensky.
Watching her, heedless of others' gazes, passionately shouting encouragement for Maruzensky, Kazuo also felt infected and cheered loudly for Maruzensky.
And as everyone had hoped, this supercar, at the very last moment, roared its engine once again!
"In the final turn, the two are still running neck and neck — wait, wait! Contestant Maruzensky is showing a stance in the turn that's almost leaning flat against the ground; this is an extremely difficult cornering technique!"
At the crucial moment, this move by Maruzensky was unexpected by her opponent, who hadn't anticipated she would choose such a racing style.
Using the centrifugal force of the turn, Maruzensky truly seemed to be driving a race car, leaning her body towards the outer edge and pulling herself, going with the force, and lowering her stance to navigate the turn.
With this technique, Maruzensky managed to create a small gap between the two of them.
And this minuscule difference was the beginning of her counterattack —
The moment she entered the straightaway, Maruzensky, who had adjusted her posture first, was like pressing the accelerator to the floor on the final straight track, as if she had transformed into a crimson race car. As she exited the final turn into the straight, her acceleration surged back.
The burst of power instantly turned into a sonic boom, and Maruzensky's figure, in less than two seconds, once again widened her lead.
"This is! Contestant Maruzensky is in the lead once again!! Unparalleled acceleration!!! Her speed is still increasing, and the distance from the others is still widening! The final two hundred meters —"
This was the absolute skill and on-the-spot reaction demonstrated by a star athlete.
In Kazuo's eyes, Maruzensky was already 'walking' ahead of everyone else, becoming an existence that could only be admired from afar.
And amidst the cheers and shouts of the crowd, Maruzensky, as expected, successfully crossed the finish line, widening her lead again and winning the championship.
"Maruzensky! Contestant Maruzensky! The NHK G1 Hero Cup victory is hers, just as everyone hoped!!! This is a display of her absolute ability!!! And it's her first victory in a comeback race since January! Her fifth undefeated win, truly the strongest foreign contestant in Japan!!! Let's cheer for her! Cheer for her return, her arrival!!!"
After crossing the finish line, Maruzensky also showed a bright, Shining smile, jogging and waving to the audience.
Sweat and a running posture—this is the most Shining moment for an athlete on the field.
"Contestant Maruzensky! We look forward to her future performances!!!"
Accompanied by the commentator's voice, the cheers from the crowd reached their peak.
— — — — — —
P.S.:
First of all, I apologize. I didn't expect Hedgehog Cat to undergo maintenance this afternoon, which prevented me from replacing chapters in the backend. So, I originally wanted to make this chapter a free compensation chapter, but there was no way to modify it, so I could only post it as is.
To friends who subscribed earlier, I apologize in advance. Once the July maintenance is complete, I will replace that chapter with an extra.
Additionally, another extra will be provided as a free compensation chapter at that time.
These days, I've been updating entirely in the middle of the night, and my body is suffering; I feel dizzy every day. So I hope everyone can be understanding. These two weeks are exam weeks, and until mid-July, I might be even busier, but I will insist on updating daily.
Once all this is over and I enter vacation, I will definitely put in more effort to update more.
There are four more updates tonight. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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