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The next day, just as White promised, they were shown something new. As always, it began with a title.
[HARVESTON SLEDATHON]
Vil waited, curious. Last time they’d had one of these special viewings, it’d been much calmer than the things they usually saw. Given that White told them it’d be “something lighter” to watch, this was sure to be the same. Vil was admittedly very relieved. He dreaded the thought of what they might see of Idia’s future and the longer he could not think about that, the better.
‘What’s a sledathon?’ Riddle asked.
‘It must mean “sledding marathon”,’ Idia said. ‘But why are we watching that?’
‘Why do we watch anything in here?’ Jamil said, shrugging. ‘Because White decided we should.’
‘What’s sledding?’ Azul asked.
‘It’s a sport thing you do in winter, when there’s snow on the ground.’ Vil informed him.
[Epel walked into the cafeteria, complaining about a phone call and his grandmother very suddenly calling him back to Harveston. He went to Yuu and Grim, looking for a seat and when Grim asked him about his apples, he had an idea and invited him over to visit his hometown.]
‘Oh, are we watching Epel?’ Vil said.
He was unsure how to feel about that. Hopefully this wouldn’t involve his older self in any way, he didn’t want to see him again so soon. Not after his turn was already over.
‘He’s probably going to invite one of us,’ Leona said. ‘White only shows us things that involve our future.’
[Grim agreed easily, eager for more apples. Epel, slightly nervous, told him and Yuu the day of departure was tomorrow. At their surprise, he complained about only receiving notice himself this morning – there was a festival happening in his hometown and that his family wanted him to attend. Epel assured Grim he’d get to eat as many apples as he liked and asked if he wanted to take part in the sled race with him. He explained about the sled race and that his grandmother asked him to participate with his friends. Grim refused, considering it too difficult. He just wanted to eat apples.]
‘Does he only think with his stomach?’ Riddle asked.
‘Apparently.’ Leona shrugged.
‘Is sledding that difficult?’ Malleus wondered.
‘I mean, it depends on whether you like sports I guess?’ Vil shrugged.
‘This sledding thing sounds like one of this stupid sports races back home. I don’t blame Grim for not wanting to join, sports are awful. Especially team ones. I don’t get what there is to like about them.’ Azul complained with a visible pout, tentacles splashing against the water.
[Epel invited Yuu as well, but said he wouldn’t be able to take part in the race, since he couldn’t use magic. The sleds were moved with magic – that was why he was asked to bring his schoolmates along. Grim said he had a good eye, inviting him along.]
‘Wait, really? They don’t use animals?’ Idia exclaimed.
‘You know, I never really noticed how many things are done with magic.’ Jamil said. ‘Not having any must be pretty tough.’
‘I can’t imagine living without magic.’ Malleus said.
[Epel wondered who else he could take on such a last minute trip and Grim asked why he didn’t just take Vil and Rook with him.]
Vil wrinkled his nose.
‘Oh please no. I don’t want to see my future self again. It’s too soon!’ he whined.
[Epel outwardly acknowledged that, but thought to himself being back in his hometown would cause to slip up with his speech and with Vil there, he’d have act all cutesy and girly even in front of his family. He definitely couldn’t bear that!]
Vil sighed, his annoyance with Epel bubbling to the surface. And here he thought they might just be past this nonsense. Why was Epel the one they were following here and not someone else?
‘This again?’ he rolled his eyes. ‘He still doesn’t get- you know what, whatever. I don’t care. Leona, when we’re at NRC I’m kicking Epel out of Pomefiore and into Savanaclaw. You can deal with Mr. I Hate Women. I’m not wasting my time on this.’
‘Ha!’ Leona barked a laugh. ‘If you do that, I’ll lose my patience and maul him in like a day.’
‘He deserves it for being stupid.’ Vil said peevishly.
[Grim told him to just invite a random person and Epel looked around, spotting Sebek. He started talking to him and Grim interrupted, inviting him to the race. Sebek immediately refused, saying he heard them talking about it and he had no interest in such entertainment. Epel got a mischievous look on his face and asked if he was looking down on the sled race. He baited Sebek by saying it was a serious and tough all night match that required physical strength as well as magic and that he was sure to be praised for winning it.]
‘He’s going to fall for it.’ Leona said confidently.
‘Oh he is absolutely going to fall for it.’ Idia agreed, amused.
‘He’s not lying though is he? He just know the right thing to say.’ Jamil said.
[Epel dramatically asked where he could find someone strong, good with magic and sports. Sebek pointed himself out and said he’d definitely take part if this was a tough race, to Epel’s satisfaction. But Epel still needed two more people and Sebek said there weren’t too many people willing to take part in unknown festival and asked if this mountain was famous. Epel said it definitely was and Jade finished his words.]
‘Him?’ Azul jerked, surprised.
[Jade joined the conversation and told them he was interested in the mountain, asking to go with them.]
‘Well that was easy,’ Vil remarked.
‘Why does he want to go?’ Azul questioned in confusion.
[Jade said as a member of the Mountain Lovers club, he had to visit and Epel happily agreed. He asked about the sled race and Jade said he wouldn’t mind helping – sledding on the mountain at night sounded interesting. With that, there was only one more person left to find.]
‘Alright, which one of us is it going to be? At least one has to be involved in this, or White wouldn’t show it to us.’ Leona said.
‘I don’t know. It looks like he’s just inviting the first people he sees.’ Riddle said.
[That was when Idia approached.]
Idia’s jaw dropped.
‘No way!’
[Idia tried to join the conversation but was too nervous to speak properly and got out his tablet. After switching to the tablet, he immediately began to ask about the sled race at Harveston and when they’d be leaving.]
Idia continued to stare at the screen, speechless.
‘Why is he so eager?’ Riddle asked.
‘No idea,’ Jamil shrugged. ‘It really doesn’t seem like his kind of thing.’
[Idia asked if Epel was from Harveston and Epel said yes. Idia mentioned “Love Sled” being set there and Epel explained to the others that it was an anime taking place at Harveston, made about ten years ago that he remembered watching.]
‘So I’m going because of an anime. Now it makes sense!’ Idia said, snapping his fingers.
‘Oooh, so that’s why.’ Vil said, remembering Rook with Neige. ‘He’s a fanboy tourist.’
[Idia said he’d seen it recently, due to a streaming of nostalgic anime. Sebek asked what it was about and Epel told him it was about girls forming a sled club and aiming to win the national championship. Sebek said it was a strange plot and Jade remarked that other than the sledding, it sounded a standard enough plot. Idia immediately began to rant about how “Love Sled” shouldn’t be compared to average anime and mentioned plushie sledding.]
‘Is it that good?’ Idia said, frowning at the screen. ‘Okay, I have to check it out now. I wonder if it’s out yet…’
‘Wait, did he just say plushies?’ Vil asked. He wasn’t sure he heard that right.
‘What do plushies have to do with sledding?’ Jamil questioned, baffled.
[Everyone asked what he meant and Idia sighed that this was why he didn’t like normies and explained he OBVIOUSLY meant stuffed toy sled racing!]
‘That’s just an anime thing though, right?’ Idia said. ‘It can’t be part of the actual race.’
[Epel explained that was part of the race – your magic animated plushies that would pull the sled. A strange tradition, perhaps, but one related to a story from Harveston, where animals rushed to help a girl who was in danger. In Harveston, they started doing the sled race to honour those animals and since they couldn’t make real animals run all night, they did it with stuffed toys instead.]
‘Land sports are so weird,’ Azul said, wrinkling his nose. ‘So they stay up all night because of some old story?’
‘Okay but, now I want to know who came up with that idea,’ Leona said, snorting with laughter. ‘I can just imagine my brother’s face if somebody came up to him and said “how about we switch out the contestants in our festival with magically animated plush toys instead”…’
[Idia gushed about the anime some more and then started pointedly talking about having nothing at all to do this weekend. Epel awkwardly invited him and Idia happily took the invitation. When Epel asked if Ortho would go with, Idia said yes. With all those people, Epel had finally fulfilled his grandma’s request.]
Vil glanced over at Idia, noting how immediately strained his smile grew at the mention of Ortho.
‘O-oh, I bet he would totally love that, that makes sense, of course he’d go with me…’ Idia babbled, laughing awkwardly.
Behind Idia’s back, everyone exchanged agonised looks.
[The next day at the Mirror Chamber, Epel greeted Grim and Yuu, then Sebek. Noting how motivated Sebek looked, he remembered Vil telling him to make sure to win and how surprisingly competitive he was.]
‘Well, obviously. Nobody likes losing.’ Vil huffed.
[Jade approached next and said Azul held him up for a while with advice – apparently, they’d decided to make this into a business opportunity and do a special promotion with a Harveston village theme. Epel said he’d be sure to recommend plenty of local dishes.]
‘I wanted to complain about future me making everything about business, but that’s actually not a horrible idea…’ Azul said peevishly.
[Next, Idia and Ortho came up to them, Idia carrying a big suitcase with him. When Sebek remarked on the suitcase, Idia said he’d brought plenty of stuff with him to visit the location of “Love Sled”. Ortho thanked Epel for inviting his brother along and asked them to please take care of him. To Epel’s surprise and Idia’s horror, Ortho said he wasn’t going.]
‘Oh-thank-god, I mean, oh wow really? I thought he’d really like it there!’ Idia said, quickly hiding his relief behind a falsely-chipper tone.
Malleus opened his mouth to say something and Riddle hurriedly shook his head, mouthing don’t.
Vil wondered in silent despair if all of Idia’s turn was going to be so full of excruciatingly awkward dancing around the gigantic elephant in the room.
[Ortho told Idia that it’d be a better experience for him to go by himself, to which Idia frantically denied that he couldn’t possibly go on a trip with complete strangers like this!]
‘You’re the one who signed up for this, stupid.’ Leona said, rolling his eyes.
[Idia continued to be stubborn about not going without Ortho and eventually, after Ortho’s talk of wanting Idia to experience school life, Epel said they couldn’t take part in the race without the correct number of people and he along with Sebek dragged a protesting Idia through. Ortho happily waved goodbye and Jade said he was quite a sweet and thoughtful brother. Ortho wished them a safe trip and they went through the mirror.]
‘Excuse you, Ortho’s the absolute best brother, period.’ Idia said with mock-offence.
‘Are all siblings this pushy about making you do things?’ Vil asked.
‘Yes.’ Jamil and Leona answered simultaneously.
[Some time later in wintry Harveston, everyone, dressed in warm clothes, was buying souvenirs.]
Vil’s eye was immediately drawn to the new clothes.
‘They weren’t wearing these clothes before, so we must’ve skipped a chunk of time,’ he remarked.
[Epel bought his souvenirs for Vil and Rook and said his grandmother must’ve finished the plushies by now and it was time to head back.]
Vil started at the mention of his name. It was a little surprising to hear that Epel was willing to buy souvenirs for him, given how he was complaining about him before.
[After they met up with Epel’s grandmother Marja, the village head came up to them. He welcomed Epel back and asked if he was participating in the sled race, to which Epel said yes but given it was everyone else’s first time, they couldn’t possibly win against the village head’s team. To Epel’s shock, the village head said he’d got a call saying one of his team members had gotten injured by… slipping on an apple peel. Which meant they couldn’t participate this year.]
‘Wait, that actually happens in real life?’ Idia exclaimed.
‘It’s that easy to get injured on land?!’ Azul squeaked in horror, drawing his tentacles closer to himself.
[Marja was visibly angry and village head apologised, cowed. Epel said they’d try their best to reach the goal and Marja called it a weak response and said they absolutely HAD to win!]
Riddle reflexively flinched back from the screen.
Jamil wordlessly slid his hand into his and some of the tension left the redhead’s stiff posture.
[At the boys’ surprised denials, Marja insisted they couldn’t possibly let outsiders win the sled race – in place of the village head, it had to be Epel’s team instead.]
‘But aren’t most of them outsiders too?’ Malleus questioned.
‘I guess Epel’s presence counts for more?’ Vil answered, shrugging.
[In response to Epel and the village head’s protest that the other boys were all beginners, Marja snapped at them to stop complaining. She continued to fiercely berate them to not give up and Grim, frightened, said her personality did a complete 180. Epel explained she really loved the sled race and would get very heated about it each year and would get so furious you could barely recognise her as the same person. Grim noted dryly that they really were related.]
Riddle flinched again, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
‘Wow, she’s really intense…’ Vil muttered. He couldn’t remember his dad ever getting that heated about something in his life.
‘She’s talking kind of like my parents do about serving the Asim family.’ Jamil said idly.
[At the venue for the sled race, plushies in tow, Epel explained the sled race. While the exact number of teams depended on the year, it was about thirty and some came to participate from afar. Epel’s grandma added that there used to be up too 200 participating teams, but as the years went by the numbers dropped… then she switched right back to talking intensely and said she’d be very disappointed if they didn’t liven up the race. From the side, Grim said he was glad he didn’t take part.]
‘I still don’t get what the point of all this is. Sports aren’t nearly as important as everyone pretends they are!’ Azul grumbled in annoyance.
‘It’s about hometown pride, Az,’ Leona explained. ‘Nobody wants their team to lose, you know?’
‘I still think the fact that nobody other than Epel is from Harveston should be a bigger problem,’ Malleus said, frowning.
‘Beggars can’t be choosers,’ Jamil shrugged.
Riddle was silent, eyes distant, almost vacant. Jamil, not looking at him, squeezed his hand again.
[Epel instructed everyone on how to sled with the plushies and then gave a demonstration. Sebek, Idia and Jade watched and commented that it must be easy, given how they used it daily in classes and Marja told them to try for themselves.]
‘They’re going to fail miserably.’ Leona predicted, confident.
[Sebek, Idia and Jade, of course, failed and couldn’t get their plushies to move properly.]
‘There’s no way they’re actually going to win the race at this rate,’ Vil shook his head. ‘There’s just too little time to practise.’
[Grim watched, unimpressed. Epel explained that moving the stuffed animals was completely different to flying with brooms and assured his concerned grandmother that they only needed to get used to it first. Marja said she’d leave it to him and that he’d better train them properly.]
‘Do you think they’ll actually win?’ Jamil asked Riddle quietly.
‘Maybe if they practise enough.’ Riddle replied, shaking off his daze. ‘But they’re aren’t motivated enough, I don’t think.’
[Some time later, Epel complimented everyone on their improvement and said they were doing great for their first time. They stopped for a rest, despite Sebek’s insistence he could go on practicing. Epel told him breaks very important and said he’d go to get something at a nearby aid station. Sebek explained what those were to a confused Grim.]
‘They’re not totally hopeless.’ Vil admitted.
‘Still not going to be enough though. Riddle’s right, they’re not motivated to actually win this.’ Leona commented.
[Epel asked if Yuu and Grim would help at the aid station and they both agreed, Grim eager to get food. Epel went off to the aid station and while they were waiting, Jade, Sebek, Idia, Yuu and Grim got into a snowball fight. One of the snowballs hit a small figure nearby, one of several young dwarves.]
Vil’s jaw dropped.
Leona threw his head back and groaned.
‘Not them…’ he said miserably.
‘Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!’ Vil protested. ‘Seriously? WHAT are they doing here? Don’t tell me, is Neige going to show up too?’
Azul glared at the screen, crossing his arms.
[Jade remarked that they looked familiar and Yuu said he remembered them. Epel ran up to them with food, took one look at the dwarves and said he recognised them – they were from Royal Sword Academy. Every NRC student reacted with shock and the dwarves obliviously introduced themselves. Sebek asked what they were doing here and one of the dwarves replied they wanted to take part in the sled race.]
‘Why am I getting a bad feeling about this…’ Jamil said, sighing. He exchanged knowing looks with Leona.
[The dwarves said they wanted to take part because they heard the winner would get eternal happiness. When Sebek mocked them for going all that way for such a questionable reward, they replied they knew it was greedy, but they really wanted to share their happiness with others! It would be better if people all around the world could be happy.]
‘And the bad feeling gets worse.’ Leona said dryly.
‘They can’t be serious.’ Riddle said, voice oozing scepticism.
‘That’s it?’ Azul said scornfully.
[Idia said that if it were that easy, nobody in the world would have a difficult life. The dwarf with glasses replied that was true, but if they could make Neige smile, he thought the entire world would be happier seeing that smile and though it might sound greedy, it was their sincere hope. Sparkles shone around him as he spoke.]
‘Oh wow, thanks, seeing some celebrity I don’t know smile definitely makes my day when I’m getting kicked around and poisoned while working.’ Jamil said sarcastically, voice utterly monotone.
‘I think I just threw up inside my mouth.’ Leona continued, equally deadpan.
‘They’ve got to be messing with us at this point. People don’t talk like that!’ Idia said.
‘Is that the only reason they’re participating in the race?’ Malleus asked, eyebrows raised.
‘Looks like it.’ Riddle said.
Vil watched the screen, lips pinched. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Neige would be part of the race, so that was something at least. But even so, the last thing he wanted was to see Epel lose to the dwarves again, especially not in his own hometown. It would just be salt on the wound.
[The NRC students listened, baffled. Grim said they made no sense and Epel and Sebek that it sounded sketchy and fake. Jade said they acted humble but were in reality awfully confident and Idia said he was ready to die of cringe. Epel said that was a normal response and Sebek said it made him angry. Together they asserted that they absolutely couldn’t lose to them.]
‘This is our chance to get back at those stupid dwarves and their stupid song,’ Azul said, eyes blazing with sudden enthusiasm. ‘They had better win that race now!’
‘There’s no way we’d lose twice in a row.’ Riddle agreed.
[The dwarves and the NRC team had a back and forth during which the dwarves expressed concern for the injured person, but said with NRC taking part, it was sure to be fun. They continued their practise and the NRC team said they’d watch.]
‘I hope they’re at least better prepared than they were with that song.’ Vil said.
‘Don’t remind me about that.’ Leona said disgustedly, ears flicking.
[A little while later, the dwarves finished up and left for their hotel, leaving the NRC team stunned at how fast they were and great their teamwork was. But this only left them further determined to not lose – if they lost to RSA the others at school would never let them live it down.]
‘That’s right,’ Azul said. ‘So don’t you dare lose!’
[They practised and practised until it was late night and they had to stop. Epel complimented them on their effort and Idia said he was a little too strict. Epel replied he’d gotten very into it because he didn’t want to lose to RSA. Jade said he understood and Sebek once again said they ought to keep practicing. Epel told him they needed to take a break. Idia said he wanted to sleep and Jade agree that they needed to rest up for tomorrow.]
‘Losing to them twice in a row would be awful, so I’m not surprised.’ Vil said. Epel had more reason than anyone to win the race. Harveston was his hometown after all and this sled race was hosted by them since he was young. Losing to the dwarves in his own home might just be even more humiliating and painful for him than the VDC had been.
[The next day, at the venue for the sled race, Marja gave Epel a cape, which he recognised as hers. Marja said she participated in the race often while wearing it as team leader and she used to be quite famous. There was even an animation based on her team.]
Idia brightened.
‘Oh wait, is Epel’s grandma’s team the one from that anime? That’s so cool!’ he said.
[Idia immediately recognised it, to Marja’s surprise. He said that meant his favourite character was based on her and enthusiastically asked her to sign a guidebook and take a picture with him. This made the entire trip worth it.]
‘I really do need to remembered to check if the anime’s out yet when we return,’ Idia said.
Vil decided he might just do the same thing. He didn’t really watch anime, but this was a special occasion.
[Marja handed over the cape, saying she specially tailored it the night before to match Epel’s size. Epel gratefully took it and put it on. Marja teared up looking at him and how big he got, while Jade noted he looked more determined. Sebek said his motivation must’ve increased and Idia was happy to see the cape his favourite character wore in real life. Epel was slightly embarrassed at all the attention.]
‘It does look good on him.’ Vil said, examining Epel’s cape.
[After the announcement that the race would be starting soon, Marja’s attitude changed and she said that if they lost she’d tie them to an apple tree. She told Epel to win for the pride of Harveston.]
Vil cast a glance around the room, noting how intently everyone watched the screen. The unexpected appearance of the dwarves had ignited their competitive spirit. Even Azul, who’d been complaining about it before, was watching avidly.
[They spotted the dwarves, picking their participants for the race with rock paper, scissors. The dwarf with glasses said that though they had four participants, all seven were a team together and they cheered. Everything about their attitude annoyed the NRC students more.]
Vil’s lips pinched. This time he could wish with all his heart to win without needing to feel conflicted about it. It was Epel’s show here after all, not his future self’s and while he didn’t like Epel that much, he didn’t want to see the boy lose to the dwarves.
[After RSA greeted them, it was time to line up at the starting line. With some last encouragement, they lined up and the race began. Both the dwarves and Epel’s team dashed forward. They almost pulled forward, but at the last minute Jade was hit with a branch! Seconds later, Idia and Sebek got whacked with branches to the face as well and Epel frustratedly exclaimed that they were too tall. With their rivals thus hindered, the lucky dwarves took the lead uncontested.]
‘Here it comes,’ Jamil said, resigned.
‘Here what comes?’ Vil asked.
Jamil cast a meaningful look at Leona. Leona put his head in his hands and muttered something about dice.
‘What? What did you notice?’ Azul asked anxiously.
‘Just tell us.’ Malleus said.
Leona looked up.
‘Guys,’ he said. ‘Our luck sucks.’
[Sebek was determined to catch up, but then suddenly, his plushie tore. They had to take an emergency stop for Epel to fix it before they could race to catch up with the dwarves.]
‘See?’ Leona said, waving his hand at the screen pointedly. ‘First those branches, now the plush tearing… it’s just going to keep going, I’m sure.’
‘So what? We can still win!’ Azul insisted.
‘Yeah.’ Riddle said. ‘Just because you might have bad luck in games doesn’t mean you can’t win them, right?’
‘If you say so,’ Jamil said, but Vil didn’t think he looked too convinced.
[After a neck and neck race and finally pulling ahead of the dwarves, both teams arrived at the aid station. The dwarves were slightly glum at losing their lead, but simply took it as further motivation.]
‘See? We pulled ahead!’ Azul said triumphantly.
Vil brightened. The knot in his chest loosed some. Maybe they really would win this time.
[Marja complimented at them for gaining the lead and asserted they needed to keep it up till they won. Epel told her Sebek’s plush tore and Marja said he did a good job with the sewing, but she’d fix it up some more. A little while later, the dwarves left the aid station first and again took the lead. Epel, Idia, Jade and Sebek ate while racing to catch up. After a while, they began to lose stamina. Then after, asking if Epel needed to change the lead, Sebek noticed something and bumped Epel’s sled out of the way of a falling tree.]
‘Did that just… happen?’ Riddle gaped.
‘This isn’t very safe. Who even came up with this course for the race?’ Vil asked.
‘I told you.’ Leona said. ‘Unlucky.’
[Epel tried to thank Sebek for saving him, but Sebek had gone missing. Idia and Jade thought Sebek could find his way back on his own and they needed to catch up with the dwarves, but Epel was determined to find him. Meanwhile, Sebek had fallen down a hole and was hanging onto a vine. He tried calling for help, but his voice caused an avalanche of snow. Epel finally noticed him and he and others pulled Sebek up.]
‘They’re really losing time…’ Vil said nervously.
Leona hadn’t been kidding when he said they were unlucky. Branches, torn plushies, falling trees and big holes, avalanches… it was almost like world itself was conspiring to make their path as difficult as possible. In contrast to the dwarves who’d had an easy time of it the whole way through.
Vil dismissed that thought as soon it came into his head. He was just overthinking, this was just… an especially unlucky coincidence. Wasn’t it?
[Sebek said his sled was broken and he couldn’t continue, but Epel stubbornly refused to give up. Epel had an idea – if they jumped across the canyon they could still catch up and win. Even with Sebek’s sled broken, if he rode with Epel with his plush, that would count. The only problem was that canyon was really wide and the leap was dangerous. Jade, Sebek and a very reluctant Idia agreed to follow Epel’s lead.]
‘They’re crazy…’ Vil breathed, eyes wide.
‘They’re not really going to do that, are they?’ Azul gasped.
‘I’m with me here, that’s nuts!’ Idia said.
[As they approached the canyon, even Jade and Sebek got second thoughts but Epel stubbornly kept going. He didn’t see the big deal about jumping a cliff, he wasn’t some polite honour student, but the poison apple of the Felmier. Idia screeched that this wasn’t something they could overcome with willpower and Epel said something they couldn’t understand.]
‘I can’t look.’ Riddle said, putting his hand over his eyes.
Vil watched as they made the leap, heart in his throat.
‘They made it!’ he said breathlessly. ‘Look, they made it!’
[The dwarves raced forward to finish line, the other teams far behind them, but at the last minute, NRC made its comeback as their team landed on the course. Before they could pull ahead for the win, Epel’s plush tore. Their sleds crashed and the dwarves pulled forward. Abandoning the sleds, they raced forward on foot, plushies in hand.]
Everyone leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen to see who won.
[The announcer cried out that both the teams reached the finish line at the same time!]
‘Oh you can’t be serious.’ Vil moaned.
‘Yup.’ Leona said with a humourless laugh.
[From the results of the photo finish, the winners of the race were, of course, the dwarves’ team!]
‘That’s-’ Azul teared up. ‘That’s not fair! They won last time too, can’t we have this one?’
‘I thought so,’ Jamil said with a resigned sort of anger in his voice. ‘Stupid oblivious little optimists always get everything handed to them.’
Idia fumed silently, hair flaring red.
Riddle heaved a sigh.
‘After all that, we still lost…’ he said, disappointed.
Vil didn’t say a word. He glared at the screen, trembling.
‘What?’ Malleus said, gaping angrily at the screen. ‘That… that can’t be right.’
[To their dismay, NRC had lost to RSA once again.]
‘But they should have won.’ Malleus said. ‘After all that work, they should have…’
‘That’s not how it works, Mal.’ Leona told him gently. ‘Sometimes you work and work, but somebody else is just born luckier and there’s nothing you can do about that.’
‘That’s… that’s not fair.’ Malleus said, voice shaking.
‘That’s life.’ Jamil said, shrugging.
[The dwarves came up to them to compliment them on a good race, to their frustration. Sebek snapped that they were showing off and Jade said they didn’t meant it like, to which Idia replied that just made it worse.]
‘Uh-huh.’ Idia nodded, still fuming. ‘They didn’t even want to win that badly! They just said all that stupid stuff about happiness and- UGH!’
[After Marja came up to him, Epel apologised to her for losing, but Marja complimented him for the exciting race, as did Yuu. Together they watched the beautiful sunrise. Epel said he wanted to shout something to the sky and Jade, Sebek and Idia all agreed with him.]
‘I have a feeling I know what they’ll say…’ Azul muttered.
[As they watched the sun rise on Harveston and the end of their trip, the boys all screamed together-]
‘Me too.’ Leona nodded.
[“I’M SO PISSED OFF!”]
There was a brief silence.
Vil wordlessly grabbed the nearest pillow, shoved it in his face, and screamed with helpless, directionless frustration.
Leona patted him on the back understandingly.
[HARVESTON SLEDATHON – END]
As it turned out, everyone in that room had one more thing in common – they all really hated losing.