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The Fukushima Racecourse was still ringing with the roar of the crowd, the heat shimmering off the turf like a standing ovation from the earth itself. The Tanabata Sho podium ceremony had barely concluded, and already, the afternoon's true storm was charting a direct path toward the gates.
"I did it! Turbo is the absolute, ultimate champion of the universe!"
Turbo practically broke the sound barrier, her blue twin tails whipping through the air like lightning bolts. The G3 winner's sash was pinned askew across her racing silks, and she was jumping with enough force to risk a shoulder dislocation.
"Did you see? Did you see the final stretch?! Turbo went vroom and everyone else went splat!"
A few centimeters away, stood her self appointed chaperones for the day.
Instead of a stopwatch, Royce was holding a chilled bottle of water in one hand and a damp, cooling towel in the other. Her expression melted into profound relief the moment she saw the blue haired girl come closer. She immediately stepped forward, adjusting her glasses with a fretful sigh.
"Turbo, my dear, slow down your pace before you trip over your own boots," Royce said, her voice laced with that worrying maternal warmth.
She knelt down instantly, gently capturing Turbo’s shoulders to stop her from vibrating away, and began using the towel to carefully wipe the sweat from the girl's forehead.
"You ran a magnificent race, but you pushed yourself far too hard at the start," Royce scolded softly, her eyes filled with concern. "I was watching from the stands with my hands clenched the entire time, your breathing was much too shallow in the final stretch,”
“And your stride was getting dangerously irregular. If you keep redlining your engine like that without proper pacing, you are going to get hurt. Do you understand how worried I was?"
Turbo puffed out her chest, though she let Royce clean her face without much protest. "I don't get hurt! I run fast! Turbo is a champion!"
"Yes, you are a champion," Royce murmured, her expression completely fracturing into a fond smile. She popped the cap off the water bottle and pressed it into Turbo's hands.
"But even champions need to hydrate and rest. You worked incredibly hard out there. I'm very proud of you, Turbo."
"Ah, listen to my lovely commander, worrying over her flock like a sweet, protective melody. ~♪"
A pair of slender arms wrapped gently around Royce’s shoulders from behind. Sounds of Earth rested her chin lightly against Royce's shoulder, her eyes sparkling with the dramatic intensity of an opera production's opening night as she smiled down at them.
"It was not a mere race, it was a capolavoro! A masterpiece!" Earth declared, lifting one hand to frame the sky like a painter capturing a sunset.
"The turf was our stage, and you, mio dolce Turbo, delivered unbridled passion! A soaring crescendo that left the audience, and our dear, sweet Royce, completely breathless! ♬"
Royce’s cheeks warmed to a subtle crimson at the sudden closeness, though she didn't pull away. She reached up, her fingers briefly brushing against Earth’s wrist as she stood up. "Earth, please. I am simply ensuring she doesn't suffer from heat exhaustion after such a reckless expenditure of energy."
"And that is why you are the most wonderful anchor to my heart, amore," Earth interrupted with a giggle, leaning in to press a brief, affectionate kiss to the crown of Royce's head. She then turned her dramatic flair back to Turbo. "Today, we sing an aria of triumph! And what grand opera is complete without the celebratory banquet? ♫ "
Turbo’s ears twitched straight up. "Banquet?! You mean food?! I want ice cream! The biggest one! With the sparkly sprinkles!"
"Ice cream? Right after intense cardio?" Royce immediately frowned, her alarms going off. "That could shock your stomach, Turbo. A proper recovery meal should consist of protein and-"
"Then let the curtains rise on the second movement," Earth said, standing up with a theatrical flourish and extending her hand toward Royce, entirely enabling Turbo's wishes. "The afternoon heat demands a refreshing melody. Shall we chart our course to the gelateria, capitano? ~♪ "
Turbo was already running laps around a nearby signpost in anticipation.
Royce looked from Earth’s inviting hand to the chaotic blue blur by the signpost. A sigh escaped her lips, but the look she shared with her partner was entirely warm.
"Fine. But she is drinking another full bottle of water first," Royce said, stepping forward to gently catch Turbo by the collar of her jacket before she could orbit the signpost a tenth time. "And I am choosing the portion size. Let us proceed before she completely burns off all her victory energy."
.
.
.
The local gelateria was a haven of pastel colors and the sweet, wafflecone scent of baking sugar, offering a blessed reprieve from the blistering heat outside.
True to Royce’s rule, they had not even stepped across the threshold until Turbo had drained every single drop of her recovery water, a feat she accomplished by chugging it in approximately four seconds flat while making aggressive eye contact with a nearby pigeon.
Turbo's face was pressed so firmly against the glass of the display counter that her nose was completely flattened.
"Look at that one! The one with the chocolate castle! No, wait! The strawberry volcano!" Turbo chanted, her tail swishing so fast it was creating a miniature breeze in the shop.
Royce stared up at the colorful menu board, her maternal instinct immediately going into high alert.
"Five scoops of high-density artisanal dairy immediately following a high-exertion G3 race is a recipe for severe gastrointestinal distress, Turbo," Royce said, her voice laced with concern as she gently pulled Turbo back by her jacket collar so the shop owner could actually clean the glass.
"..Not to mention the inevitable glucose crash. You'll be asleep before we even make it to the shopping district, and your stomach will be in knots."
"But I’m an engine! Engines need fuel!" Turbo whined, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Champion fuel!"
Royce looked utterly torn. She wanted nothing more than to spoil the younger girl to celebrate her hard earned victory, but her protective heart couldn't bear the thought of Turbo feeling sick later.
She looked to her partner for backup, her eyes silently pleading for a voice of reason.
Earth caught the look and smiled softly, her eyes warming with affection for how seriously Royce took her self appointed duties. She stepped forward, letting the silk of her sleeve brush against Royce’s arm in a grounding, comforting gesture.
"Ah, a classic conflict of the soul," Earth murmured poetically, resting a hand over her heart as if addressing over a theater balcony. "A duet between the sweet, joyous allegro of celebration and the wise, protective moderato of care. But fear not, amore, for a grand opera always finds its harmony."
Earth leaned over the counter, giving the shopkeeper a smile.
"Sir, we shall commission a custom composition," Earth declared with a graceful wave of her hand. "We request a base of Greek yogurt gelato and fresh summer berries, rich in nutrients, gentle on a champion’s stomach, yes? ♫ ”
“..But lay out the arrangement with the grand spectacle of a festival! Pour the dark chocolate drizzle like a sweeping melody, and top it with the grandest, brightest sparklers you possess!"
Turbo’s ears perked up instantly. "Greek yogurt? Is that champion food?!"
"The food of ancient triple crown winners, mio dolce Turbo," Earth said smoothly, winking at Royce. "And to ensure our champion does not face this monumental mountain alone... we shall request three spoons. We will divide the movement together, as an ensemble!"
Royce’s eyes widened slightly behind her glasses, a wave of relief washing over her. By making it a shared family dessert, Turbo wouldn't overeat, the base would be good on her stomach, and they still got to indulge Turbo’s need for a sugar rush.
"A shared portion with high-protein yogurt and antioxidant-rich fruit," Royce murmured, the tension completely leaving her shoulders as she looked at Earth with immense gratitude. She reached out, gently squeezing her partner's hand. "That...I can work with. Thank you, Earth."
"Anything to keep the beautiful smile on your face, amore, ~♬ " Earth whispered back, leaning in to softly press her shoulder against Royce's.
When the sundae arrived, it was an absolute masterpiece. It was served in a massive glass bowl, surrounded by fresh strawberries and blueberries.
"WOAAAAAH!" Turbo cheered, her blue eyes reflecting the dancing sparks as she bounced in her chair. "It's so colorful!"
"Eat carefully, Turbo, it’s still very cold," Royce fussed instantly, though she couldn't hide the soft smile on her face as she handed Turbo a spoon. "Small bites. We don't need a brain freeze to ruin the afternoon."
For the next fifteen minutes, the only thing that could be heard was the clicking spoons and Turbo’s enthusiastic rambling about her race tactics.
Royce spent half the time eating her own modest portion of yogurt and the other half leaning across the table with a napkin, gently wiping stray drops of chocolate sauce off Turbo’s chin.
"Hold still, Turbo, you have syrup on your cheek... I just now realize you run like a streak of lightning, but you eat like a whirlwind," Royce scolded gently, her thumb softly brushing the edge of Turbo's jaw until the girl was clean.
Earth watched the two of them, her heart swelling with a profound warmth. She rested her chin in her hand, her gaze locked onto Royce.
"You are so utterly beautiful when you care for others, Royce," Earth said softly. "A perfect, loving anchor. ♬ "
Royce paused, the napkin still in her hand, as a rosy blush bloomed across her cheeks. She cleared her throat, looking down at her spoon to hide her fluttering heart. "I am simply... executing proper post race care for Turbo. It is a logical necessity."
"Hey! Don't look away, Royce! You're missing the best part!" Turbo yelled, aggressively scooping up a massive strawberry and shoving it toward Royce's face. "Open up! Champions share the victory fruit!"
With Earth giggling beside her and Turbo practically vibrating in front of her, Royce couldn't help but give in completely. She leaned forward, bit the strawberry from Turbo's spoon, and smiled, feeling entirely content in the chaotic sanctuary of her little family.
.
.
.
The transition from the gelateria to the flashing local arcade was a sudden shift in tempo. The air inside hummed with the electronic symphony of synthesizer melodies, the rhythmic thud of dance pads, and the clicking of plastic buttons. For Turbo, it was the equivalent of stepping into her natural habitat.
"WOAAAAAH! Look at all the lights!" Turbo shouted, her boots practically pacing across the polished floor as she immediately surged ahead.
"Turbo! Stay within my line of sight!" Royce called out instantly as she adjusted her glasses and quickened her stride. She was already carrying two boutique bags from a brief stop they'd made earlier, but her posture remained alert, her eyes scanning the crowds to make sure their hyperactive champion didn't accidentally collide with an innocent bystander.
"And do not run near the racing cabinets! The floor cables can make you trip!"
"Ah, the vibrant scherzo of youth," Sounds of Earth chuckled, effortlessly gliding alongside Royce. She slipped her arm through her partner’s free elbow, her touch a soothing balm against Royce's fretful tension.
"Let her explore the arena, amore. Every great champion must have a playground to celebrate their laurels! ♬ "
"I am exercising a standard safety margin, Earth," Royce murmured, though the warmth of Earth’s arm against her own made her chest swell with fond reassurance.
Suddenly, Turbo skidded to a brilliantly lit crane game tucked into the back corner of the arcade. Her face slammed against the glass with such velocity that her nose flattened entirely for the second time that afternoon.
"Look! Look! Look!" Turbo shrieked. "The big one right in the middle! It has a little gold race crown! It looks just like Turbo! It belongs with the champion!"
The both of them stepped up behind her. Inside the machine, resting atop a mountain of generic plushies, was an incredibly fluffy blue teddy bear sporting a golden crown that made the sparkle in Turbo’s eyes shine louder.
Royce looked at the bear, then down at Turbo’s wide, sparkling eyes. Royce's heart melted instantly.
"Stand back, Turbo," Royce said, her voice dropping into a serious tone. As she set the shopping bags down. She pulled a shiny 100-yen coin from her pocket and slotted it into the machine with the absolute precision of a surgeon. "If you require the crowned token of victory, then your guardians shall secure it for you."
"Yay! Go, Royce! Smash the machine!" Turbo cheered, bouncing on her heels.
"Calm your respirations, Turbo, or you will throw off my focus," Royce exclaimed, wrapping her hand firmly around the joystick. She adjusted her glasses, her mind locking onto the task.
"if I aim the claw's primary axis directly over the plushie's center of gravity.. Specifically the thickest part of its stuffing. I can create a mechanical lock that nothing can slip out of."
"Oh, look at you, amore, ♬ " Earth cooed, leaning her chin gracefully onto Royce’s shoulder, her eyes locked in at how intensely her partner approached a simple game. "A brilliant commander mapping out her grand strategy on the battlefield of love. How passionately magnificent!"
Royce’s cheeks flushed a vibrant, rosy pink at Earth's breath against her neck, but she kept her eyes glued to the glass.
She perfectly aligned the metallic claw until it hung exactly three millimeters above the blue bear’s crowned head. She took a deep breath and slammed the drop button.
The claw plunged downward. The metal prongs opened wide, lowering themselves around the stuffed bear, wrapping around the poor bear's throat.
"Yes! You can do it!" Turbo screamed, jumping up and down.
The crane lifted, lifting the blue bear cleanly out of the pile. It rose higher and higher. Royce allowed a smile to break across her face.
I did it!
But just as the crane began its glide toward the prize chute, a shudder rattled the machine. The claw’s prongs suddenly went completely limp, loosening just enough to let the bear slip cleanly out of its grasp.
The plushie tumbled backward, landing flat on its face with a thud right in the center of the pile.
The claw returned to its starting position, empty and mocking.
Royce froze. Her hand remained clenched on the joystick, her knuckles turning white. Her mind was completely fractured.
"Statistically... impossible," Royce whispered, her voice trembling slightly with a mix of shock and rage. "The friction of that specific plush fabric should have sustained the vertical lift for at least three more seconds!”
“This... this is an unmitigated logistical scam. It cheated my child."
"Aw, man!" Turbo groaned, slumping heavily against the glass like a deflated balloon. "The claw machine is a big cheater! It hates champions!"
Royce felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she looked at Turbo's slumped ears. She reached for her wallet, her eyes narrowed at the coin slot. "..I will purchase twenty more attempts and map the exact internal timer of the tension valve-"
"Step aside, mio capitano, ♪ " Earth interrupted smoothly, stepping in with a sweeping gesture of her hand. She dropped a single coin into the machine with a casual flick of her wrist.
"Earth, please, pressing the buttons with closed eyes won't help," Royce warned, her eyebrows knitting together in fretful worry as she watched her partner. "The machine is rigged."
"Just watch me work, amore," Earth said, turning her back entirely to the machine, leaning casually against the control panel. "The wind of destiny blows where it pleases, and right now, the song of victory guides my hand. ~♪ "
"Earth, you aren't even looking at the-"
Without a single glance at the glass, Earth reached blindly behind her back, grabbed the joystick, and yanked it violently to the left. She held it for a random beat of a melody humming in her head, and then casually smacked the drop button with the heel of her palm.
The claw plunged downward blindly into the far corner of the machine, completely missing the bear's head.
Royce winced, preparing to comfort a doubly disappointed Turbo.
But as the claw slammed into the pile, one of the metal prongs managed to slip perfectly into the narrow ribbon loop of the bear's collar(bow? thing?).
The crane lifted the massive blue bear upside down by its ribbon, carried it smoothly across the cabinet, and dropped it cleanly down the prize chute.
Twin Turbo gasped so incredibly loud it sounded like a semitruck’s air brakes releasing. "WOAAAAAH! EARTH IS A MAGICIAN! SHE HAS SUPERPOWERS!"
Royce stared at the empty prize chute, then at Earth, her mouth slightly agape as her world view shattered. "You... you didn't even establish a line of sight????"
"You don’t always have to use logic, amore." Earth laughed, bending down to retrieve the crowned bear from the chute. She knelt down and presented it to Turbo like a queen bestowing a legendary knighthood to a victorious warrior.
"For our prima-donna of the turf! A prize won by the beautiful rhythm of life itself! ♫ "
"Turbo got the champion bear!" Turbo yelled, snatching the plushie and hugging it with a force that nearly popped its seams. She squeezed it tightly, her tail wagging so hard it was practically a blur. "Earth is the best! Royce is the best! Turbo is the fastest!"
The lingering frustration of her own tactical failure evaporated instantly, replaced by a wave of deep, profound affection. She stepped closer to Earth, reaching down to gently grasp her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"I still maintain that the outcome was a statistical anomaly," Royce murmured softly, a deeply fond, incredibly tender smile breaking across her face as she looked at her partner. "But... seeing her this happy... I suppose I can forgive the universe's total lack of mathematical discipline."
"The universe simply wanted to see us smile together, amore, ♪ " Earth whispered back, their hands remaining intertwined amidst the flashing lights of the arcade.
The evening sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in sweeping brushstrokes of amber, violet, and gold. The heat had finally mellowed into a sweet summer breeze as the trio strolled down a trendy boutique avenue.
Turbo was marching proudly, her new giant bear held between her hands so tightly that there was no chance it was escaping her grasp.
"We need to make one final stop," Royce said as she guided Turbo toward a brightly lit clothing boutique. "Your current racing jacket is showing significant wear at the seams, Turbo.”
“You need something durable and properly insulated. If you catch a chill after redlining your heart rate like today, your immune system will suffer."
"Aw, but clothes are boring!" Turbo whined, though she willingly let Royce pull her inside the store. "Turbo only wants to wear the champion colors!"
"Every great protagonist requires a costume change for the final act, mio dolce Turbo," Earth chuckled, her hand resting lightly on the small of Royce’s back as they entered the boutique. She looked around at the chic displays, her eyes glittering. "A new cloak to signify your entry into the pantheon of Tanabata victors! ~♬ "
Royce immediately went to the athletic section, meticulously checking the fabric tags of various jackets for breathability and weather resistance. "This nylon blend should suffice... Turbo, come over here and try this on-"
"NO WAY! Look at these! Royce, Earth, look!"
Turbo’s loud voice echoed through the quiet boutique, drawing amused smiles from the store clerks. Instead of paying any attention to the clothing, she was standing in front of a rotating accessory display near the checkout counter, her eyes completely wide with absolute awe.
Pinned to a cardboard backing were three sets of oversized, glittering star-shaped hair clips. One set was an electric neon blue, another was a deep crimson; and the last was a shimmering orange.
"They’re stars!" Turbo cheered, pointing a finger at the display. "We have to get them! We have to wear them together!"
Royce walked over, looking down at the glittering plastic accessories. Her maternal practicality flared up out of pure habit.
"Turbo, those are entirely ornamental. They serve no functional purpose for securing your hair during training, and the glitter might-"
Earth looked at Royce, her eyes pleading with that soft, romantic warmth that always made Royce's heart skip a beat. "Please, amore? For her? ♬"
Turbo looked up at Royce too, her lower lip trembling, clutching her new teddy bear tightly against her chest.
Faced with the unstoppable forces of Earth’s romanticism and Turbo’s puppy-dog eyes, Royce’s defenses disintegrated instantly. A deeply defeated sigh escaped her lips as she reached for her wallet.
"Fine," Royce murmured, her cheeks dusting with a lovely shade of pink. "But only because it is a special occasion."
"YAY!"
A couple of minutes later, they stepped back out onto the avenue. Turbo proudly wore the neon blue star clips right at the base of her twin tails. Earth had pinned the crimson stars elegantly into her hair. And Royce, looking entirely serious, walking with perfect, straight posture was wearing the glittering orange star clips on the left side of her head.
As they neared the train station, the weight of the day’s excitement, the massive ice cream sundae, and the arcade adrenaline finally began to fade away from the G3 champion. Her eyelids grew heavy, letting out a yawn, her grip tightening on her giant blue teddy bear.
She looked to her left at Earth, and then to her right at Royce, who was watching her carefully, making sure she didn't trip in her sleepy state.
Without a word, Turbo reached out. Her left hand securely grabbed hold of Earth’s slender fingers. At the exact same time, her hand reached over and firmly grasped Royce’s hand, locking them all together.
This way, they were all connected, including the teddy bear being dual-held by the blue haired girl and the one with the teal glasses next to her, having a tight grip on both Turbos, but also the bears hand, making her fingers form in an awkward position trying to handle them both.
Royce blinked in surprise. She looked down at the blue haired girl, and then looked up to meet Earth’s gaze. Earth was smiling softly, her eyes shimmering with a quiet joy that didn't need any grand speeches or theatrical monologues to explain.
Her heart swelled with a warmth so deep it completely overwhelmed her usual reserve. She squeezed Turbo’s hand back tightly.
"Are your feet hurting, Turbo?" Royce asked, her voice dropping. "We can slow down the pace if you need."
"No..." Turbo mumbled, her eyes half closed as she kept walking, anchored safely between the two of them. "Turbo can keep going forever... 'cause we're the fastest team!"