Tanaka Masao sprinted for three minutes before stopping.
"No… I can't go on, I'm going to collapse."
He panted heavily, his legs weak and trembling, completely out of strength.
"Tanaka-kin is already done? How weak."
Yukinoshita Yukino followed behind Tanaka Masao at a leisurely pace, and seeing him slow down, she couldn't help but mock him.
Tanaka Masao looked back at Yukinoshita Yukino, who had caught up.
"Damn it, Yukino is still chasing me.
I've already tried my best, why isn't it working?"
"If effort was all it took, what would we need geniuses for?"
"Yukino, riding an electric bike now isn't exactly relying on your own talent, is it?"
"I'm relying on my intelligent brain to make the smartest choice. Is there a problem with that?"
"No problem, but…
I don't believe humans will lose to cold machinery. As long as we try, humans will surely achieve final victory.
For the dignity of humanity, Tatakae (fight)! Burn, my youth and my passion! Ah~"
Tanaka Masao let out a human roar, and the electric bike beneath Yukinoshita Yukino also let out the roar of an engine.
"Tanaka-kin is amazing; he's already cycling at twenty-six kilometers per hour."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the display on her bike and praised him.
"My bike's top speed is only fifty kilometers per hour, so you'll succeed very soon."
Tanaka Masao failed.
He, with humanity's unwillingness, was defeated by the electric bike's motor.
This was an insignificant moment in human history, but for Tanaka Masao, it was a…
…trivial incident in his entire life.
Tanaka Masao slowly rode his bicycle.
"Damn it, even if machines have limits, are they ultimately stronger than human power?"
"Oh, is Tanaka-kin planning to give up? I was hoping to see you keep going, gritting your teeth and breaking through your limits."
"I haven't given up! This is just a strategic retreat. Just wait, once I drain the battery of your electric bike, you won't be able to be so arrogant."
Yukinoshita Yukino feigned a panicked expression.
"That would be truly terrible. If the electric bike runs out of power, I won't be able to continue."
"Hehehe, now you know fear, don't you? But it's too late."
Tanaka Masao was filled with strength again, and his pedaling became more powerful.
Ten minutes later.
"Yukino, your electric bike shouldn't have used much power, right? Me neither, I still have plenty of stamina."
Twenty minutes later.
"Yukino, I feel like your speed is slowing down. Is it because you're low on power?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes."
Thirty minutes later.
"Huff, huff, I… I can still go."
One hour later.
"I'm almost… almost done. Yukino, does your bike still have power? Don't tell me we won't be able to get back."
"You don't need to worry about that, Tanaka-kin. My bike still has eighty percent battery, which is enough for me to get back."
"What?!"
Tanaka Masao was a bit incredulous.
"Why does your bike still have so much power?"
"Because I bought…"
Ahem, no.
"Because my bike has a range of one hundred kilometers. At Tanaka-kin's speed, it would take five hours of riding.
Oh, wait, your speed has slowed down now, so it might take another ten hours to drain my bike's battery. Keep going, Tanaka-kin, victory is in sight."
Tanaka Masao felt a sense of despair.
"I'm actually challenging an unbeatable opponent. Team Member Tanaka, you have no obligation to face an opponent you can't possibly win against."
"Can't possibly win? I don't understand. If it's Tanaka-kin, he can definitely succeed."
"I don't need your encouragement right now, you jerk!"
"Oh, Tanaka-kin, can't you try a little harder for me?"
"For your twisted, perverse pleasure?"
Tanaka Masao indicated that he wasn't so brain-dead yet; preserving his own life was more important than satisfying Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Let's stop here for today. We should head back."
"Since Tanaka-kin says so, then let's go back."
Hearing this, Tanaka Masao breathed a sigh of relief. Although he still had to ride back, he thought he could manage if he gritted his teeth in his current state.
He looked around, saying with some surprise,
"We've reached the Sea."
He had been a bit tired earlier, just riding with his head down and not paying attention.
Chiba Prefecture itself is very close to the Sea; in fact, some of Japan's more famous cities are located by the Sea.
Tanaka Masao had also ridden over ten kilometers in that hour, reaching the nearest Sea.
He stopped his bike and observed the surroundings.
"It's truly beautiful, the Sea."
Yukinoshita Yukino also stopped and paused to look.
"The scenery is nice."
"But it's a bit of a shame."
"A shame about what?"
"We came too early. It's not time for the sunset yet; otherwise, the scenery would be even more beautiful."
"Does Tanaka-kin want to wait to watch the sunset?"
Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"I'd rather not. Watching the sunset means it will get dark, and I don't think I can ride home after dark, unless…
Yukino, you're willing to let me sit on the back of your bike, and we can go back together then.
Yukino, you really want to see the sunset too, don't you?"
"No, I don't."
Yukinoshita Yukino flatly refused, stating that there was no way she would let Tanaka Masao sit on the back of her bike.
Otherwise, her Blue Meow would be crushed.
"But even if I can't watch the sunset, I should be able to rest by the Sea for a while, right?"
"If it's just for fifteen minutes or so, then yes."
The two went down a nearby slope, parked their bikes, and walked towards the Sea.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the boundless Sea, took a deep breath, and felt her spirit expand considerably.
Just as she was marveling at the beauty of the world, a voice came from beside her.
"Ah, so comfortable."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tanaka Masao, who had taken off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pant legs, and put his feet into the seawater.
Seeing Yukinoshita Yukino looking at him, Tanaka Masao invited her,
"Yukino, do you want to try? It's very comfortable."
Yukinoshita Yukino's originally serene expression visibly turned to one of disgust.
"No, I feel like the seawater has already been polluted by Tanaka-kin."
"Yukino, you're exaggerating. Although my feet have sweated a bit, it's insignificant to the Sea.
The Sea won't be defeated so easily."
Sea: "Oh, yes, yes, yes. First, you made me drink nuclear wastewater, and now you're making me drink foot wash water, right? I really appreciate it, damn."