Chapter 1450 - Final Race ④

The town came into view after we crossed a forest area in the fiercely contested final race. Perhaps because it’s a remote town, the only large building in here is the clocktower, making the checkpoint easy to find.

However, the final goal was at the lake, so we had to encircle the clocktower like a pole, turning to the right.

[……A little more, and when the Black Muscat in front of us starts to turn, we will accelerate.]

[Unnn, thanks.]

[Our altitude seems to be about right now.]

This is the critical turning point, and it’s important to be able to control our Flying Board as it accelerates. Concentrate and wait for the moment…… While our Flying Board meandered over the town, my concentration focused on the Black Muscat team ahead of us.

Then, I saw the Black Muscat making a big right turn, heading for the checkpoint.

[Kaito-san! We’re almost there!]

[Yeah, let’s speed up!]

Thereupon, Aoi-chan operated our speed and our Flying Board accelerated at once. Don’t make too much of a big turn. We must make the shortest turn possible at this speed.

While swerving the Flying Board hard to the right, I adjust the direction of the Flying Board according to the change of the course at varying points. As I’ve somehow managed to bring the Flying Board under control, we accelerated and managed to line up our Flying Board with the Black Muscat.

[Wha!? You plan to challenge us here!? You’re actually going to make the turn at that speed!?]

As we expected, Black Muscat was also surprised by our actions, as he hadn’t expected we would make such an extremely risky play. Indeed, at this speed…… If we move even slightly in the wrong direction, we will not be able to pass the checkpoint.

It’s almost like a gamble, but at this angle…… We should be able to make it!

As if our wish was granted, our Flying Board didn’t make an unexpected move and passed the checkpoint at the expected angle.

At the same time, we passed by Black Muscat and took the lead.

[Alright, let’s keep going! Aoi-chan, our magic power reserves?]

[We’re still good to go. By my estimations, Black Muscat, who we just overtook, and Scarlet Blue, who had planned to make a large opening between the others and accelerated back in the rocky mountainous area, should have the same amount of magic power reserves as we have. At our current speed, we should have enough to barely reach the goal.]

[Senpais, I’ll lower the altitude a bit…… Ahh, the 2 other teams are speeding up too!]

I don’t have the time to look behind me as controlling the Flying Board needs my attention, but if it really was as Hina-chan said, it seems like the two teams behind us also increased their speed.

This would probably be the final attack and defense in this race. From here to the finish line, it would be a game of technique. How well one controlled their Flying Board and made it fly as straight as possible will make the difference between victory and defeat.

It’s just, I have a good feeling at the moment. I feel like I’m in the zone, making me feel like I can control the Flying Board very well with intuitive controls.

[Hina-chan, how’s it going behind us?]

[We’re slowly managing to pull away! Compared with the others, Kaito-senpai’s controls make us able to fly straight with only small shakes!]

[Kaito-san, I think it would be rough, but please keep going like this.]

[Yeah. Aoi-chan, please keep tracking our magic power reserves and Hina-chan, I leave checking our rear to you.]

[ [ Yes! ] ]

We’ve already finished adjusting our altitude for the goal, so I’ll have Hina-chan keep an eye on the two teams behind us while I focus my attention on controlling the Flying Board with my gaze straight ahead.

I also trust Aoi-chan to manage our magic power reserves, so we should definitely be able to maintain this speed all the way to the goal.

[ !? Kaito-senpai! Wind is blowing from the right!]

[……Alright!]

As if in response to Hina-chan’s shout, I instantly maneuvered strongly to the right to counter the wind. The timing and strength of this maneuver were also perfect, and rather, thanks to the wind, our Flying Board was able to fly straight with almost no side-to-side swaying.

I’m proud of how well I was able to control our Flying Board, and Aoi-chan’s management of our magic power and her judgment of the situation at key points were also good. Hina-chan’s intuition also helped us a lot, and this result wouldn’t have been possible without any of us.

It was precisely because the three of us worked in conjunction with one another……

“The 1st place has crossed the finish line! The race has been decided!”

Our flying board flew through the goal without giving up the lead and a loud cheer resounded.

[……We did it.]

[……That, we did.]

[We did it! Senpai! We won!]

Hina-chan jumped on me and Aoi-chan from behind us, holding both of us in her arms. I could tell without needing to look at her face that she had a happy smile on her face.

And thus, our first participation in the Flying Board competition led to the best result, winning us the championship in this fierce competition.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [I- Impossible…… I’m the Incarnation of Seriousness…… Ahh, t- t- that’s right! Not only am I the Incarnation of Seriousness, I’m the one who observes seriousness! That’s the way it is, right, omniscient God!!!? Hey! Tell me I’m right!!!]

Makina : […………That’s right.]

Serious-senpai : [What’s with that lukewarm reaction!?]