Chapter 28: Race Day

"Don't mess with the Gun Hero. He can throw a mean punch with that weird stick of his..."

—Akito Takei

Atop Mt. Diminuendo, Meisatsu prepared himself for the race. Ragan and Ayame had accompanied him to the summit.

Leina wasn’t present—she couldn’t bear to watch her son attempt something so dangerous!—but she asked that they inform her of the results.

It was twelve noon, and there was still no sign of Gō. Meisatsu began to feel somewhat uneasy. Did I show up too early?! I wouldn’t want to look desperate or anything…

Brushing the thought aside, he focused on his pendant, summoning The Dark Night. It started to wrap nimbly around him, the cape fanning out gracefully behind his back once it finished.

He touched the holster on his belt that contained his Glock, patting it a few times. How it got there whenever he transformed, he had no clue.

Ragan, standing across from him, found himself utterly befuddled. “What kinda armor is that?!!”

“A Tailor in Bac made it just the way he wanted!” Ayame replied with her usual bubbly energy, patting her stunned father gently on the back.

WOOSH!

A huge gust of wind swept across the mountaintop, stirring up clouds of dust. And out of the swirling haze, a man emerged, carrying a boy with weapons strapped all over him.

“Akito?! Umare?!!” Meisatsu called out to them, delightfully surprised. “Why’re you guys here?” 

Also, did he just run up the mountain princess-carrying Akito?!!

Umare set Akito down, and the boy replied, “I might have…maybe…told Umare about your race...”

He let out a small chuckle, and Meisatsu shook his head. Great… If I lose, I really didn’t want Umare watching it happen…

“Didn’t think I’d find out, huh, kid?!” Umare strutted up to Meisatsu, laughing, and bringing a callused hand down firmly on his shoulder. “I see you put that crystal's reward to good use!”

He gestured toward Meisatsu’s Magi-Mobile and suit, now circling them. “Impressive…but this is the first I’ve seen with two wheels!”

“Yeah, it was all Meisatsu’s idea!” Ayame scowled, striding to Umare. “By the way, I could’ve gotten the funds for it myself.”

“Sure you could,” Umare said. And his tone left no doubt that he meant the exact opposite.

Suddenly, everyone’s heads snapped toward the mountain path at the faint sound of something whirring.

Gō’s Corvette came into view, its low, sleek chassis and open rooftop glinting in silver, commanding attention with every curve and angle.

“So, you actually came?” Gō asked in a mock fashion, hopping down from his Magi-Mobile. “I thought you’d turn tail and run.”

That thing has doors. Use ‘em! Meisatsu couldn’t comprehend why he always had to jump in and out of the driver’s seat. I know it looks cool, but take it down a notch, sheesh!

“I ain’t scared of you. If anything, I just feel bad.”

“Hmm? Bad that you won’t be tasting victory?” Eyeing Ayame, Gō waved his brows making her flinch.

“I feel bad cuz the only thing you’d be tasting be tasting... Is my dust!”

Gō gnashed his teeth, stepping back, caught off guard. “Why you—!”

“Bwahahaha!” Umare burst out laughing where he stood. “He sure is feisty today!”

“Of course! He’s racing for my sake. Or should I just say, just for me!” Ayame giggled as she squirmed in place.

“Excuse me…?!” Umare peeled his eyes away from Ayame and back to Meisatsu. Ya sure you’re safe kid?!

“I-it’s you who’ll be eating m-my dust!” Gō’s comeback sounded anything but confident.

Meisatsu’s eyes shifted to the side, quietly muttering, “Weak.”

“Enough talk! Let’s race!” Gō stomped his feet in a sour mood and—once again—hopped into his Dorvette. “Ayame, you’ll start us!”

Ayame grabbed her father’s shoulder. “Okay!”

She flickered twice, and Ragan was gone—teleported to the foot of the mountain, from where he’d spectate.

Following her lead, Umare scooped up Akito in a princess carry, and in a plume of dust, dashed to the mountain base in seconds, joining Ragan.

Umare set down Akito then faced Ragan. “Ya got one heck of a son there!”

A fatherly smile pursed Ragan’s lips. “Yeah.”

Back at the mountaintop, Meisatsu and Gō lined up their respective Magi-Mobiles, with Ayame standing between them, both hands raised.

Placing his thumb on the ignition, the V2’s magically synthesized engine rumbled—technically, its magi-core, as it interacted the many different components inside.

“Why’s yours so noisy? And what’s with that outfit?” The perplexed Gō asked from his Dorvette across from Meisatsu. “Wouldn’t a quiet one be better if you’re sneaking up on enemies?”

Crap...he has a point on the enemies bit!!!

Then in a relaxed voice, Meisatsu responded, “It’s just…more my style.”

As the end of his reply, a well-timed breeze blew his cape, accentuating his coolness.

Nailed it!

“Satsu, get ready!”

“Hey! What about me, Ayame?”

“Yeah sure, whatever. You too.”

Meisatsu rolled his eyes at Gō’s shamelessness.

✦✦✦

Elsewhere...

In a cluttered chamber deep within the Magic Institute, not far from the capital, two High-Mages huddled together.Their beards, long and grey, might well have reached their waists, flowing over their robes.

On the table before them rested a strange, box-like object. Two evenly spaced holes were covered with soft black velvet, and between them, arcane symbols danced across a glass-like display.

The elderly High-Mage on the left perked up his tall blue wizard's hat, smiling at the object. He adjusted his royal-blue robes, which bore a treble clef-like symbol sewn into the left chest area.

Then he spoke, “Finally… The Magical Music Synthesizer is complete!”

The High-Mage on the right—almost identical, though clad in red—added, “Yes… we have recreated the idea of the 'BOOM BOX' left by that former Hero…”

The principle behind it was simple, yet complex. The symbols could be arranged in an infinite number of combinations, each arrangement producing a different melody. They had deduced that these sounds came from an existence beyond their own.

Sliding his fingers down the glassy display, the symbols rolled, and countless melodies played. One, in particular, caught their attention.

It was energetic and slightly pitched, filling them with a sense of urgency and inexplicable excitement. The overall sound was upbeat and adrenaline-fueled, with repetitive hooks that lodged firmly in their minds.

“Brother… This is a miracle!” The one in red nodded along in rhythm. “What do we call this type of symphony?!”

After a moment of deep thought, as if guided by a premonition, his brother responded…

"EUROBEAT!!!"

“Three, two, one…” Ayame flung her arms down. “Go!!!”

At her command, the two shot forward, descending the mountain path at breakneck speed.

From the foot of the mountain the three spectators cheered them on. Ragan was far more excited than anyone would have anticipated.

His eyes glimmered with a childish joy, shouting, “Win this Meisatsu!!! Give him the Kanezuka special!!!”

Umare laughed at Ragan’s booming enthusiasm, slinging an arm around him, while Akito pumped both fists into the air. “Do it, Hero!!!”

Ayame blasted off, fire propelling her forward as she tailed them down the mountain.

About a quarter of the way down, Meisatsu noticed Gō pulling ahead.

“Who’s eating whose dust now?!” Gō cackled, flooring the—magical?—acceleration pedal on his Dorvette as more magic surged through it. “See ya!”

151… 156…

Meisatsu looked at his speedometer, his face scrunching up. “Not yet…”

He throttled harder, and the V2 responded, slowly closing the gap between him and Gō. The engine roared wildly as Meisatsu chased his rival.

157… 159…

High above, Ayame observed the race with unwavering confidence. I know Satsu will do whatever it takes to win… and I get to watch it all happen. She twirled in the air, letting the thought strengthen her resolve.

“Tch. He’s still behind me,” Gō snarled, glancing at what acted like a rear-view mirror. I’ll have to use that soon…

Ragan’s cheers rose and fell like tides, echoing whenever Meisatsu came in and out of view as he rounded the mountain curves.

Halfway down, Gō began sneaking glances over his shoulder at Meisatsu—

“Ground Spikes!” As if the road obeyed his command, foot-long spikes shot up from the road, blocking Meisatsu’s path. That kiss is mine…

Ayame readied herself to save Meisatsu—and take out Gō—but paused, grinning from ear to ear gleefully.

“MUZZLE ENERGY TRANSFER!!!”

The shout from Meisatsu was immediately followed by the sound of something heavy crashing against the thick metal railing.

“The heck…?” Gō murmured, wondering why someone crashing would yell such a thing.

Then—

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “He’s... Riding the rails?!”

Yes. As the spikes propped out of the ground, Meisatsu hoisted himself unto the railing with gained strength from MUZZLE ENERGY TRANSFER. 

He then used the centrifugal force on the curved platform to stabilize himself as he accelerated.

160… 165… 170…

He was—in the literal sense—rail riding. Meisatsu had seen this in a popular arcade racing game in his previous life and decided to try it in his new one.

The spectators’ jaws below dropped in horrified awe at the stunt he had just pulled.

“VELOCITY SHIFT!” Meisatsu shouted as he cornered around Gō in a sudden blur.

Dropping back to the path, he whipped out his Glock, aimed, and fired. “This is payback!!!”

BANG!

The bullet pierced through the windscreen and whizzed past Gō’s ear, forcing him to swerve in panic and collide into the railing.

But the ground never came…

“Ayame…”

“Shhhh…” She whispered to him, helping him up. “Meisatsu’s the winner!!!"

Cheers erupted spontaneously from the three spectators as they hurried up to meet them.

“I can’t believe what you just did!" Akito was the first to express his admiration. "What if you'd fallen? That bravery… You’re the Hero alright!!!”

Now that he mentions it…what if I had fallen…? Meisatsu weakly laughed it off. Meh—Ayame would have helped.

“Ya sure went wild out there kid. And nice work handling that magic output!”

Umare folded his arms, nodding in satisfaction.

“Meisatsu…” Ragan's face tensed before softening. “That was reckless…”

“I know...” Meisatsu hung his head, and Ayame glanced at her father, upset. “I’m sorr—”

“You really are my son!!!” As he boomed the words, he wrapped both children in a warm hug. “You remind me of myself back in the day—always finding new ways to almost get myself killed…”

A mental gulp echoed in Meisatsu’s head.

“But we won’t tell you mother the details…” Ragan quickly added, and both his kids nodded in agreement.

Akito glanced around before asking, “Where’s the other guy?”

“Oh him? He gave up the moment Meisatsu passed. He’ll come down when he’s ready.”

For some reason Ayame’s words carried a malice so thick, Akito felt it like it could slit his throat…

“Let’s go home” She then said, leading them all away from the mountain, leaving a frustrated Gō sobbing over his wrecked Magi-Mobile.

Elsewhere, in a magnificent castle, the residents scurried through halls carrying paperwork, all because the King had finally spoken.

“I shall pass judgement.”