Rice's POV
"...Hey, Hachiman. Can't you do something about this?"
"Don't look at me," I said, not looking up from my clipboard. "You're the one who started this. You deal with it."
"But she's terrifying right now!" C.B. hissed, leaning in close and pointing a trembling finger toward the track. "Usually, she's this adorable, shy little thing, but today? She's been staring at me and muttering under her breath like she's reciting a death hex! I can't take the pressure!"
"...." Mutter, mutter...
I had spent all of yesterday thinking of ways to get past C.B.-san, so I was sure I'd be okay today... probably. I have to show Big Brother that I can do this if I really try! But maybe I should think about it just a little bit more. I feel like there's still another way...
"...." Mutter, mutter...
"See?! Look at her!" C.B. squawked, jumping behind me. "She's looking right at me! She's definitely cursing me!"
"Relax," I sighed. "Rice is too nice for a real curse. Even if it was a hex, it'd be something minor, like getting a bit of dust in your eye or losing a button. She's not the type to give you a bloody nose or a sudden fever."
"Then do something before she gets to the 'eternal slumber' stage!" C.B. wailed, flailing her arms.
"...You're being noisy," Brian interjected, walking up with her usual stoic grace.
"C.B. is convinced that Rice is about to lay a dark ritual on her because of what happened yesterday," I explained.
Brian gave C.B. a look of pure, unadulterated judgment. "...You brought this on yourself."
"Fine! Then I'll put a curse on you, Brian! I hope your dinner tonight is nothing but vegetables!"
"...I'm sure Hishi Amazon and the dorm mother would love to hear that your 'curse' is just a healthy diet," Brian replied, completely unfazed.
"Alright, enough. We're starting," I called out. I turned toward the figure standing like a small, dark statue on the grass. "Rice! Earth to Rice! Come back to us!"
"Huh? Ah!" Rice blinked, snapping out of her trance. "Is it... is it time to train?"
"That's the idea. Let's give it our best today."
"Right!" Rice cheered, her voice small but full of spirit.
C.B. leaned over to me, her voice a desperate whisper. ("Wait, Hachiman! What about the curse?! Why aren't you saying anything to her!?")
I've spent all night thinking about this, Rice thought, her expression hardening with resolve. I want to make at least one of these ideas work today. Rob Roy-san taught me so much; I can't let her down!
— Pre-Training Briefing —
"...Ready? Everyone hydrated?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm ready," Rice said.
"...No problems here," Brian added.
"Ready as I'll ever be," C.B. muttered, looking like she was facing a firing squad.
"Good. Then we're moving into the main set. The objective is the same as yesterday: Rice, focus on stamina conservation and timing your final kick. Brian, stay side-by-side with her. C.B., your job is to stay in her way and keep her from running the race she wants. I shouldn't have to repeat myself, but stay sharp."
"...Understood," Brian said.
"Got it!" Rice exclaimed, her eyes locked on C.B. "Today is the day I finally get past you, C.B.-san!"
"I'm looking forward to it," I said. "C.B., don't hold back."
"O-okay..." C.B. swallowed hard. (I've already come this far... no use overthinking it now. Let's do this!)
Big Brother is only letting me do this stamina drill four times today, Rice calculated. I have to overtake her within those four tries... the Kikuka-sho is less than a month away. If I factor in the tapering period, I have so little time. I have to find a way past C.B.-san today...!
I watched Rice take her position. She was radiating a level of motivation that was almost palpable. She was hungry for that lead. Good, I thought. Keep that fire. Don't let it go out.
— Post-Training —
"Ugh... I was so close..." Rice panted, hands on her knees, sweat dripping from her brow.
"Man... that was actually a little scary," C.B. admitted, wiping her forehead. "Hachiman, she's definitely onto me. She was sticking to me like glue today. I could feel the pressure radiating off her the whole time!"
"...I agree with C.B.," Brian said, walking over. "Running next to her, I noticed she was marking C.B. perfectly. In those last two reps, even though C.B. took the lead, Rice stayed right in her shadow, putting constant pressure on her. That's probably what you felt."
"I thought it looked that way from the sidelines," I said, turning to Rice. "Is that what you were going for?"
"Um, yes," Rice said, catching her breath. "I decided I was going to follow C.B.-san no matter what. Since Bourbon-san is famous for her perfect, mechanical lap times, I thought... what if I stepped onto her turf? What if I stayed right where I could see her, but she could also see me, and just... never let up? I couldn't quite get past her, though..."
"I see. If you can pull that off, it's a powerful psychological tool," I said. Then I paused. "But... it might not be practical in a real race."
"E-eh? Why not?" Rice asked, her face falling.
"Bourbon is a front-runner—a 'Runner' style. If you commit to marking her that closely, you're essentially forcing yourself into a Runner's race as well. If the pace is set by someone else, or if the lead is contested, you risk 'sinking' along with the front-runner if the pace gets too suicidal. I wouldn't recommend making that your primary strategy."
"Oh... I see..." Rice looked down. I thought it was a good idea, but I don't want to sink...
"However," I added, "the ability to maintain that kind of pressure is an incredible weapon. You can practice it on C.B. as much as you want—she's tough, she can take it. Treat every session as a chance to stress-test your rivals. Don't hold back."
"Okay!" Rice beamed, her gloom vanishing instantly.
"R-Rice-chan?" C.B. stammered, stepping back. "Could you... maybe... not say the scary curse words while we're running?"
"C-curse words? I would never do something like that!"
"But you were muttering and staring at me before we started!"
"...Wait, did you actually believe in the curse?" Brian asked, deadpan.
"Oh!" Rice turned bright red. "W-was I talking out loud?! I was just... I was trying to organize all the strategies I'd thought of in my head. I must have been whispering them to myself. I'm so sorry!"
"...So, no curse?" C.B. asked tentatively.
"Of course not! I hate scary things!"
"...RICE, I LOVE YOU!" C.B. yelled, lunging forward and pulling Rice into a suffocating hug.
"Waaaaah?!"
"Good grief..." I muttered.
"...Took the words right out of my mouth," Brian agreed.
Well, at least I don't have to worry about anyone being hexed anymore.
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