Hachiman's POV
"Alright, from today until the Kikuka-sho, we're going to be focusing heavily on stamina training," I announced. "As we discussed, Brian is here to help out. It's a short window, so let's make it count."
"...Looking forward to it," Brian said, her voice characteristically low and steady.
"Y-yes… I'm in your care!" Rice added, a mix of nerves and determination in her eyes.
"We're going to run this exactly how we expect the Kikuka-sho to play out," I continued. "As you both know, Mihono Bourbon won the Kobe Shimbun Hai. Not only did she win, she put significant distance between herself and the rest of the field. She's getting stronger. Rice, you've improved too, but we're aiming for the top. We have to go further."
"Right!" Rice nodded.
"Okay, let's get start—"
"Hold it right there!" a voice chirped, cutting me off.
I didn't even have to look. Good grief. Here she comes.
"Why are you starting without me?!" C.B. demanded, jogging up with a pout. "I haven't even joined in yet!"
"Look, C.B.," I said, rubbing my temples. "I already decided I was training with Brian after the St. Lite Memorial. I… sorry, you just weren't in the plan. I forgot you were coming."
"Forgot?! How could you forget me?!" she cried, clutching her chest dramatically. "We always train together! And Rudolf was there too, remember?!"
"...Yeah, my bad," I said, giving her a half-hearted, dismissive little bow.
"That's so lazy! You're being so lazy with me, Hachiman!"
Brian looked at me, then at C.B., her expression bored. "Hey, Aniki. Let's get moving. Just leave her behind."
"Ex-CUSE me?!" C.B. yelped.
Honestly, why does C.B. act like it's a given that she's part of my sessions? She just crashes them whenever she wants. Her and Rudolf both.
"Ugh, this is too much work… fine, we're starting. Everyone, get ready—"
"I'm in!" C.B. shouted.
"—since you all seem ready, let's go," I finished with a sigh.
"Yes!" Rice cheered.
"...Fine," Brian muttered.
"Ready when you are~!" C.B. sang out.
Well, I thought, watching them take their marks, it is what it is.
The session began. What started as a two-person gallop turned into a three-way heat. It didn't actually disrupt the flow; in fact, putting them all through the same menu started to yield some interesting results.
"Kh…!" Rice gasped, her breath coming in sharp bursts.
"Come on, come on!" C.B. called out, her voice playful but her positioning shark-like. "You'll never get ahead like that!"
"...I'm moving up!" Brian countered, surging forward.
C.B.'s positioning was, frankly, brilliant. Every time Rice tried to find the right moment to make her move, C.B. would sweep in from the outside. When Rice tried to break free, C.B. would become a physical wall, boxing her in. She was completely shutting Rice down, showing a total understanding of Rice's running style.
I'd intended for this to be a simple stamina drill, but this was an unexpected windfall.
"Ugh… I couldn't get through again…" Rice lamented as they slowed to a walk, her shoulders slumped.
"Ahahaha! You've still got a long way to go, Rice-chan!" C.B. teased, leaning over with a grin. "I can see exactly what you're trying to do before you even do it!"
Brian narrowed her eyes. "...C.B., you're just playing around, aren't you?"
"Eh? Me? I have no idea what you're talking about~," C.B. purred.
"..."
"More importantly," Brian continued, turning to me. "C.B., have you forgotten this is stamina training for the Kikuka-sho? It's not a 'distract Rice Shower' drill."
"Actually," I cut in, "C.B., keep doing exactly that. Keep getting in her way. If Rice can't run her own race, she'll start fighting the bit, and that's how she'll lose her composure. Keep the pressure on her. Rice, I want you to use this. Experiment. Figure out how to slip past C.B. in those conditions. When she's in front of you, treat her like Bourbon. When she's coming from behind, treat her like a rival. Brian, stay in the heat; it'll help them keep the right pace."
C.B. beamed, striking a triumphant pose. "See? I told you I was helpful!"
That smug look of hers was a little grating, but I'd let it slide for now. I owed her one.
We ran two more sets at the same distance. Both times, C.B. managed to check Rice, preventing her from finding her kick before the final straight. By the time we finished, Rice had a look on her face I didn't see often: pure, unadulterated frustration.
It was probably the first time she'd been shut out like that. Being stifled that much is stressful for any runner, and I'm pretty sure C.B. was chirping at her the whole time—likely some expert-level taunting.
"Hrrgh… how should I have run that?" Rice muttered to herself, her eyes fixed on the ground as she paced back and forth. "I couldn't move forward at all today… I couldn't find my kick… maybe tomorrow I should try to bait her, or maybe…"
"...Uh oh," I whispered. "She's gone into deep-thought mode."
"...I was watching from the side," Brian added, "and even I was getting annoyed by C.B.'s antics."
"H-hey! Wait!" C.B. said, her smugness evaporating as she looked at Rice. "I was just trying to help! I thought she needed to build up some resistance to taunts and pressure, you know? It's not just about stamina—you need mental toughness too! So I was just testing her! It just... didn't seem to work out the way I thought with Rice."
"To get past C.B.-san… do I need to push back? Or should I create more space? Rice has to work harder… Rice has to be better…" Rice continued to mutter, completely lost in her own head.
"...U-um, Hachiman?" C.B. whispered, looking worried. "Did I overdo it? She's not coming back to us."
"If she stays like that for the rest of the day, it's on you," I said flatly. "You're taking responsibility and walking her back to the dorms."
"...She'll snap out of it eventually," Brian said, though she didn't sound entirely sure.
Rice did eventually "come back" to reality, but she stayed visibly miffed at C.B. for the rest of the afternoon. I know she understands it was just training, but it's starting to worry me… I'll probably have to find a way to smooth things over with her later.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"