Bourbon and Rice Shower's meeting was purely by chance; Bourbon had simply spotted her on the way to the hospital.
Seeing Rice Shower looking lost and helpless, Bourbon invited her to join her. Rice Shower followed silently, her gaze fixed on Bourbon's back the entire way. They reached the hospital without exchanging a single word.
Bourbon pushed open the door to the hospital room. Toyama lay in bed, reading a newspaper. Aside from the slight pallor of his face, he seemed no different from usual.
"You're here again, Bourbon," Toyama said without looking up.
"Yes, Master."
Bourbon placed her get-well gifts on the bedside table, which was already overflowing with similar items. It was clear Toyama hadn't touched a single thing. Rice Shower shrank to the side, a bitter feeling rising in her chest as she looked at the man in the bed.
This taciturn man exuded an aura of decay, like rotting wood. There was no trace of a will to live in him.
"I told you not to come," Toyama said. "Even if you're no longer participating in the URA, your school life isn't over. You should be enjoying yourself at your age."
"Physical fitness test: perfect score. Academic performance: excellent. I have successfully completed my mission. Awaiting next mission," Bourbon replied with meticulous precision.
"I told you, this isn't a mission. Besides, I'm not your Trainer anymore. Stop calling me Master."
In response to Toyama's words, Bourbon remained silent, her gaze fixed on him. But for Bourbon, this silent defiance was a form of resistance in itself.
"Who are you?" Toyama noticed Rice Shower in the corner. "Is that... Rice Shower?"
Rice Shower had been staring intently at Toyama, yet somehow failed to notice his gaze shifting to her. She jumped in surprise when he spoke.
"Yes!!!"
Looking at this man who seemed on the verge of death, Rice Shower's heart churned with a mix of emotions. An indescribable bitterness welled in her chest, making it impossible for her to meet Toyama's eyes.
Toyama looked at Rice Shower and sighed inwardly. What a sensitive child, he thought, with such a keen yet fragile heart. A blank canvas, she takes on whatever color the world paints her.
It was precisely this nature that had trapped her in this tragedy, unable to escape. She was the epitome of the Unlucky Generation, its final representative.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." Rice Shower tried to speak, but choked up before she could finish her sentence. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She frantically wiped at her eyes, unable to form any words.
Toyama glanced at Bourbon out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to want to step forward but hesitated, stopping in her tracks. Rice Shower, Bourbon... they're fundamentally the same kind of person, he mused.
Those shackled by the world are destined to drown in it.
Toyama had often wondered: If I were gone, what would become of Bourbon? She obeyed his every word, a "Cyborg" as everyone called her—a "perfect machine" that followed every command without a thought of her own.
Toyama had originally planned to look after Bourbon until she graduated from Tracen Academy. But his worsening illness shattered that plan. Now, he could only lie in his hospital bed, awaiting the Grim Reaper's arrival.
"Rice Shower."
Rice Shower looked up, her tear-filled eyes clouded with confusion.
"You ran well."
For a moment, Rice Shower froze, her sobs ceasing. Toyama lowered his head and began reading a newspaper, seemingly done with the conversation.
There was nothing more he could do. At the very least, he wanted to lessen Rice Shower's guilt.
After a while, Toyama seemed to grow tired and gestured for the two to leave. Rice Shower remained lost in thought, and Bourbon was nowhere to be seen.
As Rice Shower wandered dazedly through the hallway, she unexpectedly bumped into Nakayama Festival, who was carrying a bouquet of carnations.
"Nakayama-san, are you here to visit someone too?"
Of course. Nakayama Festival was here to visit the most important person in her life.
"I'm coming in, Nobuko."
Without waiting for a reply, Festival pushed the door open. On the bed, a pale woman watched her with a gentle gaze.
"You're here, Festival."
They exchanged smiles, and a faint warmth seeped into the cold hospital room.
Today was destined to be anything but calm.
"Why not?! You admire Kousei-senpai too, don't you?! So why won't you join Sirius?!"
The scene was clear: Contrail had cornered Vodka, desperately trying to recruit her into Sirius. After all, the current Sirius was a far cry from its glory days with McQueen and Teio on the team.
"Ugh! How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to join!" Vodka snapped, her patience worn thin. It was obvious Contrail had been pestering her for a long time.
"Why not?! Do you look down on Sirius now too?!" Contrail accused, assuming Vodka was refusing because Sirius was no longer a top-tier team.
"That has nothing to do with it!"
"Then what is it?!"
"You're so annoying!"
Vodka shook off Contrail's hand and stormed away without a backward glance, leaving Contrail fuming alone.
"Damn it!"
Contrail couldn't understand. If they both admired the same person, wasn't it only natural to follow in their idol's footsteps?
"Contrail."
A soft voice pulled Contrail back. Standing before her was her childhood friend, Almond Eye.
"Almond-chan!" Contrail exclaimed, her face lighting up at the sight of Almond Eye. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just passing by when I heard arguing," Almond Eye explained. "It sounded a lot like you, Contrail, so I came to check." What she didn't say was that she'd come because she was worried.
"It's nothing! Nothing at all!" Contrail laughed carelessly.
Though childhood friends and rivals from the same generation, the two had chosen different paths. Contrail had set her sights on the Classic Triple Crown, while Almond Eye pursued the Triple Tiara. This meant they wouldn't face each other in a race until after their Classic Year.
"So, who were you arguing with, Contrail?" Almond Eye asked, her concern evident.
"It was Vodka-senpai. I wanted her to join Sirius so we could strive together, but she refused. Almond-chan, you saw it too, right? Kousei-senpai's incredible performance in the NAU! We at Central need to work even harder! One day, Kousei-senpai will come back!" Contrail grew more and more excited as she spoke.
But Almond Eye's expression seemed troubled. Kousei had undoubtedly intended to send a message to her friends back at Central through that race. Yet, the same event could be interpreted in countless different ways by different people.
"Everyone has their own ideas, Contrail. You don't need to be so fixated on it," Almond Eye said, unsure of what else to say and opting for a more indirect approach.
"Once I win the Classic Triple Crown, no one will dare look down on Sirius!"
Contrail was lost in her own monologue, clearly not having heard a word Almond Eye had said.
"Oh, right! Almond-chan! Do you want to join Sirius?"
Almond Eye offered a wry smile at Contrail's invitation and shook her head. Contrail felt a brief pang of disappointment but quickly pushed it aside.
"Alright! In that case, I'll support Sirius all by myself! If Kousei-senpai could carry the Northern Academy on her own, so can I! Just you wait and see!"
Watching the fiercely ambitious Contrail, Almond Eye's unease grew. Setting aside Contrail's own issues for a moment, what about Kousei?
Even if Kousei-senpai does come back... will she really be on our side then?
Her thoughts tangled, and she let out a long sigh.
-
Meanwhile, Vodka, who had stormed off earlier, was jogging alone along the riverbank as the sun set.
"Hey! Idiot Vodka!"
A sharp, feminine voice called out. Vodka knew instantly who it was.
She turned around. Sure enough.
"Idiot Scarlet."