"Alright, let's have an evaluation session. Except for Teio, this will be a learning session for you."
Minaz team members are now in the team room, except for their assistant trainer, who is still under investigation. Add Daiwa Scarlet for an unknown reason. The big-breasted Uma's frequent visits to Minaz's team room have made her presence somewhat more tolerable and expected.
"First of all, the cutie Urara. You won by a neck in your last race. Congratulations."
"Hehehe~~ Yaaayy!!"
"Celebrate for now, Haru Urara, but we'll continue the training until you are ready to challenge the grade race. I will register you in a grade race once you can win by five lengths in either a pre-open or open race."
"Mmhh!! Urara will try her best!!"
"We will try our best, Urara. We'll focus on increasing your top speed and power. You clearly already have enough stamina to challenge a dirt-course sprint race."
"Alright!! Urara will be better with everyone!!"
"Next up, Goldship. Ice lemonade sells more than yakisoba. Do you know why?"
"Yes!! People usually eat something before watching a race, which makes them feel full. But people also scream for their favorite, which makes them thirsty!"
"Exactly!! In addition to screaming, people also sweat, especially if the race is held in the afternoon. That perfect combination of excitement and high temperature is ideal to sell iced drinks."
"Got it!! I'm writing this down!!"
"Can you both take this seriously?!"
"What are you talking about, McQueen?! This is important!! Goldship's sales also help with the team's financial situation, you know?"
"Are we on the red? Please tell me if we're on the red?! I can lend some of my snack money to the team if you need it!!"
"I'm an adult, McQueen. I can't simply take money from a teenager."
"..."
"...Without doing something in return."
The young man had to put the last bit in as all of the Umas looked at him with a deadpan stare. McQueen was even about to call him out.
"So what will you have me do for your donation then, McQueen?"
"..."
McQueen looked up the young man up and down before licking her lips. Dangerously.
"I can prepare the contract."
"Yeah, no. I'll stick with Goldship's sales."
"Goldship, do you have some time after this? Can you meet me at the Tokyo harbor?"
"Wait!! What is this scary aura from McQueen?! I haven't even done any pranks on you lately!!"
"Alright! Time for Suzuka. I have watched the recording of your race. Congratulations on winning by one length, Suzuka."
"Thank you."
"We'll focus on your stamina and top speed. You were panting pretty hard during the last straight in the recording. We will learn breathing techniques that will help you maintain and even recover stamina. If you have some free time, please read a book that delves into relaxation and breathing techniques."
"Will do."
"Now for McQueen. You won by a head. Not exactly a good picture. Considering we are aiming for the Triple Crown, you need to win at least by a margin of three lengths if we're going to be confident at the last leg of the Triple Crown. As for the two legs of the Triple Crown, your stamina should be okay."
"I understand. I will spend my free time studying about this."
"Good. We'll focus on your stamina only for the three weeks before shifting our focus back to speed and power. Not only that, I will also be teaching you how to navigate between the Umas so you don't have to sacrifice an advantageous position because you're worried that you'll get boxed in."
"The first corner, yes? Apologies. I don't like how I was being tied down and not able to use the techniques you taught me."
"Being eager is fine, but you should read the track. Don't let emotion ruin a perfectly crafted strategy. You'll easily get tricked if you keep listening to your emotions. Just bottle them up during the race and let it all out on Goldship afterward."
"WAIT!! Why me??!!"
"It's McQueen. Who else will be the victim of her anger other than you?"
"I understand!! I will keep my emotions in check from now on!!"
"Why are you so eager, McQueen?!"
"This also applies to you, Teio. You watched just how narrow McQueen was to losing from failing to navigate her surroundings. You will face the same problem since you're a pace chaser like her."
"Does that mean I will be letting my anger out on Goldship, too?"
"No! No! No! He's talking about navigating the track!!"
"Don't worry, Teio. The Mejiro family has experience in punishing people. I'm sure we can learn much."
"Trainer!! These two are going to kill me!!"
"You two, make sure to hide the body properly, okay?"
"Okay~~"
"AAAHH!! Goldship doesn't have any friends!!"
"Alright. That will be it for the evaluation session. Also, that Uma over there, can you stop writing this down? This is confidential team information, you know?"
"Eh? Won't I be invited into team Minaz once I debut?"
"Wait, what? Who told you that?"
"Tachyon did. She said that she'll make sure you invite me into the team, no matter what."
Okay, those last three words are kinda scary. Especially when they came out of Tachyon's mouth. Who knows what kind of horrible shits she will concoct if I were to ever deny Scarlet entry to Minaz.
"I only accept exceptional uma."
"Am I not exceptional to you?!"
Your boobs are.
"You haven't even run yet, Scarlet. When will you be debuting again?"
"Next year, of course. I'm still not of legal age to debut, yet."
Daiwa Scarlet is a student of Tracen Academy, but she isn't like most who come when they're legally able to debut. Daiwa Scarlet was scouted before she reached the legal age. The reason for this is her exceptional skill and ability in running. The young man hasn't watched her mock race yet, but it must be amazing for Tracen to basically pre-order her before any of the racing schools. This type of student is rare in Tracen, so trainers usually keep a close eye out for them.
"Are you sure you want to join this team?"
Daiwa Scarlet doesn't answer immediately. She looks around the room for a moment. Her face twisted in pain and doubt. Goldship the freak, McQueen the dessert blackhole, Teio the hyperactive, and Urara the single-brained Uma. The only normal uma in this team is Suzuka.
"I–I–I am su–su–sure…"
"You don't need to push yourself, you know? If you want to be with Tachyon, then you can just visit the team room instead of sacrificing yourself to be with these freaks."
"Hey!! What does that mean?!?"
"Look at a mirror, Teio."
"Wha!! Mmmhh!! Why you!?!? YYAAAAH!!"
"AAAAHH!! I CAN'T SEE!! I CAN'T SEE!! HELP!! HELP!! WHO TURNED OFF THE SUN!!??! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! I HEARD SOMETHING CRACKING!! MY SKULL!! MY SKULL!! AAAAHHHH!!"
The young man's words trigger the facehugger, and she fulfills her title by jumping onto the man's face and hugging it very tightly. She wraps her legs around the man's neck and her arms around the man's head, tightening them until the man can only smell her fragrance. The panicking young man runs around the room to try to get his face free, bumping and falling over stuff in the process.
"Goldship~~ Can you help with something?"
"Yeah? What is it, Mc–WOAAAHH!!! Why do you have a taser baton?!"
"Oh, Goldship~~ Why did you move? Didn't I ask you to help me with something? Now let's try that again."
"What do you mean again?! I'm going to die, you know?!"
"Oh please~~~ You like to hyperbolic thing, don't you? This is just a one-million-watt taser, it won't kill you."
"IT WILL FRY ME INSTEAD!!! WAIT!! WAIT!! WOAAAHH!!!"
Goldship nimbly dodges a thrust from McQueen's laser baton and runs to the corner of the room. She then grabs a broom and uses it as a weapon as McQueen menacingly slow walks toward her.
"Whatever I did that angered you, please forgive me!!"
"You exist~~"
"I can't fix that!!"
"That's why I'm doing it on my own. Now, please stay still."
*Thud* *Thud* *Thump* *Thud* *THUD*
"Eeeeeeehhhhh…"
Haru Urara is watching the entire scene from the sideline with a blank stare. If someone were to look inside her brain, they would see one brain cell bouncing inside her skull like the DVD logo.
Maybe I should search for a much more stable team…
"Scarlet~~"
"Eh? Senior Suzuka."
As if noticing Scarlet's hesitation, Silence Suzuka approached her junior and put her hand on Scarlet's shoulder. It feels like a proper senior who is about to give life-changing advice to her junior.
*Grip*
"Ow!"
"Please…"
"Ehh?"
"Please join the team."
Suzuka's face was unlike anything Scarlet had ever seen before. Silence Suzuka had an image of tranquility and politeness. An image that is born from how she carries herself in her everyday life. And yet, the Suzuka that Scarlet sees is one of desperation and loneliness. It's as if she had been alone and tortured for a very long time.
"Aren't we comrades? Comrades should stay together, right?"
*Grriiiippp*
"Ow!! Ow!! O-ookay!! Okay! I will join team Minaz!! Ow!! Ow!! I promise!!"
"Fufufufu~~ Thank you, Scarlet."
Tachyon!! Please save me!!