Our team had successfully claimed victory in our very first Flying Board tournament. I shared the moment with Hina-chan, who was practically bouncing with excitement, and Aoi-chan, who maintained her cool exterior despite her obvious delight. Just as the three of us were celebrating, the members of Black Muscat and Scarlet Blue made their way over to us.
"That was a magnificent race. A total defeat for us. You completely caught us off guard with that maneuver around the final right curve."
"Thank you very much. Luck happened to be on our side as well, though."
I thanked the member of Black Muscat, who praised us in a polite tone that seemed to be his true self rather than a persona. The members of Scarlet Blue also smiled, offering us a light round of applause.
"Luck is a part of skill as well. Your situational judgment in reacting so quickly to our offensive was hardly what one would expect from a first-time participant."
"Actually, we were quite surprised by your offensive as well."
"Fufu, and here I thought we had it decided... It truly is a shame."
They were remarkably good sports about it. It was truly wonderful to see people who could praise the winner so graciously as soon as the race was over.
Aoi-chan and Hina-chan also seemed to be enjoying themselves as they chatted with the other competitors.
"Ah, that’s right. Since you’re new to the event, you probably don’t know, but the organizers host an after-party every year once it's over. Participation is optional, but it's all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink for the finalists, so please join us if you’re up for it."
"Yes, the award ceremony will be held in one hour. We hope to see you there, and if possible, at the after-party afterward."
With that, the members of Black Muscat and Scarlet Blue waved and departed. An official later explained the schedule to us; the award ceremony would take place in an hour, once they finished collecting the magic crystals from the checkpoints.
As for the after-party, it would run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM following the ceremony, featuring traditional local dishes and regional sake. Local residents apparently provided the food and drinks. Given that the event had been running for forty years, it seemed the sport was deeply rooted in the community.
"Ah, that was so much fun!"
"It really was. I thought it was a strange sport at first, but I got pretty fired up. It’s all thanks to your invitation, Hina-chan."
"I’m looking forward to the after-party, too," Aoi added. "Hina-chan and I can’t drink, but I’m excited to try the local specialties."
After the briefing, we decided to kill time until the ceremony and recover from the exhaustion of the race. The three of us walked together to find something to drink. Having won the tournament, both girls looked bright and genuinely happy.
We bought some drinks from a stall and moved to a spot with benches to take a rest.
"It’s so peaceful around here."
"You’re right. It’s lively now because of the tournament, but it doesn't feel like a tourist trap. The atmosphere is very tranquil."
As Hina-chan said, the town felt like a quiet agricultural community. Still, with the surrounding nature, the lake, and the clock tower, it seemed like a lovely place to spend time. Personally, I quite liked this kind of vibe. I felt like I could really relax just by doing some casual fishing at the lake.
While I was lost in thought, an unfamiliar voice suddenly addressed us.
"...Yo. Sorry to barge in while you’re resting. Got a moment?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"
I turned toward the voice and saw a sturdy, elderly man. He looked to be in his sixties but possessed a powerful, well-trained physique. With his height and his thick beard, he carried the intimidating weight of a retired veteran. I didn't recognize him, which made me wonder what he wanted.
"You’re the one, right? Kaito Miyama?"
"I am... and you are?"
"Ah, the name's Shigenobu Okura. To put it simply, I’m a former Hero-role."
"...Eh? Then, are you the Shige-san that Kaori-san mentioned?"
"Yeah, that’s me. I’ve heard about you from Kaori-chan and some old friends. I’d been wanting to meet you, but I didn't expect to run into you by chance like this. I couldn't help but come over to say hello."
This was a truly unexpected encounter. I had finally met Shigenobu Okura—the former Hero-role who had decided to immigrate and whom I had heard about from both Kaori-san and Alice. I vaguely recalled hearing that he lived in the remote regions of the Hydra Kingdom, but I never imagined it was so close to this town.
Regardless, he was someone I had definitely wanted to meet, so I considered myself lucky to have crossed paths with him.
Serious-senpai: "...I am the Incarnation of Seriousness. No matter what anyone says, I am the Incarnation of Seriousness!"
???: "...I-I see. Well, if that’s what you want to believe, Senpai, feel free to do as you like."