Rice's POV
It's been a week since I asked Big Brother to push me to my absolute limits. Since then, words have come out of his mouth that I never thought I'd hear him say—harsh, cold, and demanding. There were moments when I felt like crying, moments when I wanted to turn and run as far away from the track as possible.
But every time I felt that way, I looked at him. I saw how much effort he was putting in, how much he was sacrificing for my sake, and that weakness vanished in an instant. Even the President and CB-san, who have been helping us, look exhausted lately. I see them leaning on their knees more often than not.
I'm starting to adjust, though. For the first three days, I'd get back to the dorm and just collapse onto my bed, falling into a dreamless sleep before I could even take off my shoes. But the changes aren't just in my head.
"It went down again..." I whispered, staring at the numbers on the scale.
"It really did," Zenno Robroy murmured, leaning in to look.
My weight. I've been eating more than usual to keep up my energy, but because the training is so intense, I'm losing 0.3kg a day. In just one week, I've lost two full kilograms. I was worried, so I asked Big Brother about it.
"It's proof that the baby fat is melting away and being replaced by lean muscle," he had explained, not looking up from his clipboard. "Fat burns off easily with high-intensity aerobic work. Right now, your body is consuming its reserves faster than it can build new muscle tissue. It's a transition period. You're shedding what you don't need and hardening what you do."
In other words, the "unnecessary" parts of me are disappearing, leaving only what I need to win.
"Rice-san, are you sure you're okay? No muscle pain?" Robroy asked, her voice full of concern. "I caught a glimpse of your session the other day, and... it looked so terrifyingly strict. I've been worried about you."
"I'm alright, really," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Big Brother gives me a very thorough massage after every single session. He makes sure my muscles aren't tightening up too much. My body actually feels lighter and better than ever."
"O-oh, I see..." Robroy let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."
"Thanks for worrying, Robroy-san."
I have to admit, seeing the numbers drop day after day was scary at first. I thought something was wrong with my body. I thought it was just because I was too tired to eat dinner some nights, but Big Brother's explanation made me feel so much better.
"Rice Shower, how are you holding up?"
I jumped slightly. "P-President! I'm fine! I'm getting used to the rhythm now, so I'm not passing out immediately after dinner anymore!"
Rudolf smiled, though she looked a bit more tired than usual. "I'm glad. I was worried when I didn't see you around the first few nights, but it's good to see you're maintaining your routine. Even though I'm not doing the full menu, I'm certainly feeling the fatigue. Air Groove actually had to stop me during Student Council work today because I was zoning out."
"Wow... even the President?" Robroy whispered.
"Indeed. It's a long, arduous road to the Tenno Sho Spring," Rudolf said. "But Brother is remarkable. Even when he's clearly exhausted from the day, he never neglects our after-care. His massages are so effective it's almost a curse—it makes the urge to sleep nearly impossible to resist."
"So you're doing Student Council work after all that?" Robroy asked, wide-eyed. "The Council really is a busy place."
"Haha. I won't lie and say it's easy, but if it's for the sake of the students, I don't mind the toil."
"That's so amazing..." I said.
I wonder what Big Brother is doing right now? Is he eating dinner? Or is he already hunched over his desk, obsessing over tomorrow's menu? After hearing the President talk, I realized he must be just as busy and tired as we are... maybe even more.
"At any rate, I'm glad there are no issues," Rudolf said, bowing slightly. "I'll take my leave. Rice Shower, Zenno Robroy—I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes! See you tomorrow!"
"Goodnight, President," Robroy added.
"...Shall we head back too?" I asked.
"Let's."
Tomorrow's training will be just as hard, maybe harder. But it's all so I can stand on that track and beat McQueen-san!
Alright, Rice... you can do this! Just a little bit more!
Hachiman's POV
"..."
I stared into my drink, the ice clinking against the glass.
"Sorry for dragging you out here on such short notice, Hikigaya," Okino said, grinning like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Do I get an apology too?" Minamisaka asked dryly.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I muttered. "So, why the sudden summons? I've got things to do."
"You know why! The Tenno Sho!" Okino leaned forward, his energy levels way too high for this time of night. "My McQueen, your Rice, Minamisaka's Machitan... how's everyone looking? Give me the scoop!"
"We're trying things," I said vaguely.
"Training is proceeding as scheduled," Minamisaka added.
Okino groaned. "Come on! You guys are no fun! Give me something better than that!"
"Why would we tell you anything?" Minamisaka pointed out. "Technically, we're rivals for this race."
I sat there with Minamisaka and Okino—McQueen's and Matikanetannhauser's trainers, respectively. Okino had organized this little get-together, probably hoping to fish for info or just vent some pre-race jitters.
"Let's just save the surprises for the main event," I said.
"Stingy," Okino huffed. "I've heard the rumors, you know. They're calling you the 'Demon Trainer' now. Word is you're putting Rice Shower through some kind of psychological warfare on the track."
"Interpret it however you like."
"The fact that you aren't denying it is scary... Just don't break the poor girl, alright?"
"I know what I'm doing. I handle her after-care personally," I replied. Then, I leaned in with a small, cynical smirk. "Actually, maybe I should stop by McQueen's place later and give her some of my handmade sweets. See if I can't 'stimulate' the competition."
Okino's face went pale. "Hey! Don't you dare! Don't you go near her with those sugary weapons of yours! I've seen what your baking does to people's willpower!"
"Relax, it was a joke," I sighed. "Though, knowing her, she'd probably be the one demanding I make them."
"Hikigaya, I'm serious. Don't make anything for her until after the race!"
"I won't. I don't even have time to breathe right now, let alone bake."
I took another sip of my drink. Honestly, even the time I was spending here right now felt like a luxury I couldn't afford. But sometimes, you have to stare your rivals in the eye just to remind yourself why you're working so hard to beat them.
Rice's body continues to change, and the pressure is only mounting...
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