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“You really are an emotional one, you know that?”
Tachyon’s words echoed through my head as I washed my face. The revelation of Tachyon’s weakness while illuminating her behaviour, made me worry immensely.
“How did I not notice sooner?” I muttered to myself. Even if Tachyon did more research than running, her form must have given some clues…
I smacked my cheeks, trying to snap myself out of this spiral. While it was her own dream to reach the limits of her body, it was my selfish desire to see her run that pushed her this far. What was I doing trying to back out now?
Even so, the risk of injury, her research being halted; those were things I could not allow. My brain racked up other leg exercises to add to Tachyon’s training plan as I made my way back to my apartment.
“It has to be here somewhere…” I muttered, rummaging through my medical records. “Aha!” I exclaimed, finding the one document I had in mind. This should help her even if this was created with a human body in mind.
I walked to my laptop, booting it up to play a recording of the recent Kikuka Sho along with my notes of Tachyon’s form. Comparing these with the additional knowledge of her legs’ fatal flaw, I should be able to develop a strength plan.
A painful memory flashed before me, a reminder of my past. A young girl clutching to her leg as she tried to get out of bed.
“C’mon. Please move the way I want you to. You’re a part of my body and I need you to listen to me!” she sobbed as her mother came with an ice pack to help with the pain and swelling.
I let out a sigh as I focused on the task at hand. No way I could let that happen to her.
***
“Good morning Trainer-kun,” Tachyon said cheerfully.
“Good morni-” I let out a yawn before I could greet Tachyon.
“My my what’s this? Did you not sleep well, even though you chastised me numerous times for the same?” Tachyon grinned mischievously as I sat in my chair, rubbing my eyes as I felt them dry up. “Thankfully I have just the drink for you!” She rummaged through the fridge and handed me a drink that was glowing softly blue. “This contains caffeine, creatine and other aminos that should improve cognitive function. And of course glucose to help with energy and make it go down easier.”
“Thanks.” I said as I picked up the drink and chugged it. In the past I would have been worried about drinking strange liquids but after spending two years with this mad scientist, I was starting to get used to being her guinea pig. I shivered a bit as the cool liquid went down my throat.
“So, what was it that kept you up all night?” She said, rummaging through my bag, picking up the notes I had compiled from last night’s research.
“You’re holding it.” I said through the beaker. Tachyon read the notes carefully, her face having an unusual seriousness.
“Your strength training plan is really good. While it does have most of what I concluded from past experiments, it also has extra methods of recovery that I did not consider. To compile all this in one night, you must have had some experience…” She looked at me narrowly, trying to read my face.
I let out a sigh, “You could say that. I myself am no stranger to leg injuries, so I would like to prevent one if I could.”
“But all in one night, without any sleep?”
I chuckled, “What can I say? You’re not the only one who has selfish desires and gets influenced by them.” I got out of my seat. “We have a few months until the Osaka Hai. Think this plan will help?”
“I will include this for the next set of hypotheses I wish to test.” She said, picking the papers. “You’re becoming more and more like an assistant than a guinea pig.”
“Whatever it takes to go beyond the limits, as promised. I will be an assistant, a guinea pig, whatever you need me to be.”
Tachyon stifled a chuckle before full on laughing. “You really are an eccentric one! Even more than me!”
“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go.” I said, the effects of the drug finally kicking in, letting me feel a bit more energised.
“Well actually, you might want to wait before leaving the room. Your face has turned pink…” she said, bringing another set of chemicals. “Though now I have to determine what caused this side effect.
I sat back down, a smile cracking my lips. It was okay for today, as long as we moved in unison towards our shared goal.
To break the limits and current understanding of Umamusumekind.