In the last 4 nights, the Tsukuba Fruits Line became a battlefield between two runners on Geo Timer Leaderboard. The 2nd and 3rd position swapped every night since 'Mister Banana' managed to beat the time of 'Azusa-san'. Each night, these two beat each other slightly, just a tenth of a second or two quicker per night.

The time between 2nd and 7th was actually spreading a little as the 2nd and 3rd were one upping each other. The second place was now with 'Mister Banana' with the time of 2:22.27. This was still quite far behind the time of 2:16.9 by 'Urasawa' who hadn't improved his time ever since the leaderboard was created.

Although, the 4th place runner was closing in very quickly as well. 'The FR' was a relatively recent addition to the leaderboard, having been on there since about March, as soon as the snow melted. He's still in the 2:23, but was gaining speed by quite a margin, but the person didn't run as often as 'Mister Banana' or 'Azusa-san'.

On the fifth night, all running was suspended by the repair work being started on the damage done by Takeshi's crash. This meant that the Fruits Line was closed for all traffic for a few nights. The leaderboard was thus frozen for a little while until it was finished.

—

Monday, Late Morning, Towa Wakisaka was supposed to be working at around this time, but today, like it would occasionally happen, he's having a bit of a mental blockage. So he's mostly procrastinating in front of the computer browsing the internet for pointless things.

What Noda-san said when Towa went to get his computer back did resonate with him. He's had his Roadster for a while, and got to know it pretty well by this point. So adding a few modifications to get rid of a few foibles would be a good thing to do. It's not like Towa didn't have funds for it either. He had some savings that should be more than enough to get a few things that would transform it completely.

The Roadster suspension was always too soft, which although meant it was comfortable on the regular road and was stable and safe on the badly maintained mountain roads such as the Fruits Line, it was not really suitable for truly hard driving, as the driver could not get confident with the roll.

Things like the Tein Mono Sport coilover kit that would make the suspension more stiff and direct. That's about 220,000 yen without tax. The Yokohama AD09 tires that would improve the road holding would be around 100,000 yen for a set. A Dixcel Z Type brake pad that would be able to withstand more heat from repeated use would be 40,000 yen. It's like window shopping for today's connected world.

The only issue for Towa was, Sumire told him quite a while ago that she wanted to travel to Thailand during the Golden Week, which was next week. It's been booked and everything. Oh well. Towa could wait for the next paycheck which probably wouldn't be too long anyway.

Towa didn't know either why Sumire would want to visit Thailand anyway, she had been asking him for months to go, and finally decided that the Golden Week would be the best opportunity. He knew Southeast Asia had been a popular cheap destination, but still, why would Sumire want to visit a hot, humid and dirty developing country? He didn't understand that in slightest. But was willing to go with her due to the obligation of being partners.

Anyway, Towa thoughts wandered back to car parts. 500,000 yen including labor cost was pretty steep for just going faster wasn't it? Towa could only wonder why he's so tempted by all this unnecessary stuff that would make the car worse in day to day use. The tire would be stiffer and louder on the road, the suspension would make it more uncomfortable, even the brake pads would be louder and create more brake dust that would cake on the wheels as he drove and be a pain to clean.

Yet, Towa kept coming back to the thoughts of going faster and faster on the Fruits Line. He knew from this point he couldn't resist. He got the bug. Like so many others out there.

Towa was imagining in his head what Sumire would say if he dropped 500,000 yen on his car tomorrow that would make it more uncomfortable to ride in.

What's Towa was imagining as Sumire's reaction alone made him closed all the tabs he's been looking at for the past half hour and forget about it all.

—

Ippei didn't have time to prepare lunch this morning either, so he just went and purchased a box meal from a shop across the road from the High School like quite a few other students who were doing the same. A nice yakisoba for Ippei.

Apparently today Ryoji was away on some school business. It's normal for a top academic level student like him. This left Ippei with only Akira eating lunch in the classroom. Ippei came back from the food shop to sit at his desk. Akira had already started on his rather large fried pork meal that he brought from home.

"Oi, Ippei."

Ippei turned to Akira who called him. He's already frowning from the thoughts of whatever asinine things Akira probably had to say this time.

"What?" Ippei asked, bracing for the 'jokes and banters'.

"Are you going to get into Tsukuba U? We have so many senpais there right?"

Ippei thought that Akira's question was surprisingly not irreverent or taking shots at Ippei for once, so he was glad. But it's not really one that he knew the answer for.

"I don't know if I wanted to though." Ippei answered honestly, which surprised Akira.

"Why would you not want to?" Akira asked again, eyebrows raised.

"It's just... I haven't decided at all."

"Someone like you can get into any University easily right? Like most in our class."

"Yeah," Ippei was contemplating. "...but it costs a lot of money isn't it?"

"If you can live at home it's going to be a hell of a lot cheaper than going to Tokyo. Or private ones like Waseda."

Come to think of it, Ippei remembered that his father graduated from Waseda University. Although he's not going to try enrolling there just because of that.

"I think I'm going to just try Tsukuba U Computer Science. It'd be cool to attend with Chikara-san there isn't it?" said Akira.

Akira also knew Chikara and his girlfriend Ichigo, they were only one year their senior and also used to be in the Computer Technology club with both of them.

"I thought Chikara-senpai was studying Natural Science, was he not? Like Ichigo-senpai?" Ippei tried to recall but couldn't remember.

"Isn't Ichigo-senpai doing Chemical Engineering?"

"I don't know."

Ippei and Akira didn't continue their conversation there, they focused back on their lunch for a while.

"So how's it going with your girlfriend?"

Akira quipping about Sachiko again made Ippei look at him with stink eyes.

"She is not my girlfriend." Ippei still denied which in his opinion was the truth.

"Bring her to some nice place and she might as well be, idiot." Akira's words annoyed Ippei so much.

Akira was finishing his lunch already, so he's putting the box back in the bag he brought it in.

"You only have what? Less than a year left here. If it was me I'd probably ask her out already."

Ippei was pissed with Akira, of course. Being constantly teased about it can get annoying after a while. But this time Ippei couldn't really strike back at Akira either for some reason. Maybe because Akira was completely right, no matter how obtuse in the way he's telling Ippei?

The rest of the class weren't remarkable. To tell the truth, most 3rd year students were already only concerned about their future, so they were studying way ahead of the curriculum for the university exam already. Still, they had to graduate first regardless so they cannot flunk high school either.

Ippei was not one of those who were attending cram school, or even studying much by himself. And seeing all the other students being so fastidious and almost competitive about it, did make him a bit nervous.

They were so far ahead, most of them had already decided where they're going next. Like Sachiko who told Ippei she's trying for Tokyo U.

The others were fearing being unable to accomplish their goals. Ippei didn't even have a goal.

What could Ippei really do? What was it that he's good at? What was something that he'd want to do for the rest of his life?

All the possibilities he could think of right now was not it. Going into the IT sector like his father? Ippei would be alright with that, but does he want to become someone like his good for nothing dad?

Ippei's head was muddled up everyday trying to think of what to do next.

Despite that, the future was coming regardless, and faster than any could imagine.

3PM, and it was club time. Ippei and Akira both walked to the old school building on the other side of the school area, along with a few other students they didn't know too well from other classes. Tanigawa-sensei was already waiting there.

Today's activity was another little coding challenge that Isao designed. Which the students would try to solve either by themselves or brainstorming. Ippei and Akira were together, but they didn't seem to be talking to each other much.

"Shit, syntax error." Akira was frustrated by the challenge.

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"You're already debugging? That's quick." Ippei mused, while still focusing on his code.

"I'm just a normal speed coder, it's you who's slow."

Ippei wasn't caring much for that remark. He's thinking to himself that at least he didn't make stupid typos.

"Alright Time's up." Isao suddenly announced, which made all the students look up from their monitors.

"Really? Seriously, Tanigawa-sensei is setting too harsh a time limit." Akira grumbled to Ippei.

"At least we can go home soon right?" Ippei answered.

"Right, but isn't it annoying that you can't finish your code?"

"It's not like we're writing useful stuff anyway, who cares?"

Akira sighed from Ippei's callousness. He did wonder if his friend was depressed or something, or was he becoming one of those nihilist people? He's saying stuff like nothing in this world really mattered, well except maybe his girlfriend who he kept daydreaming about even when with friends. Akira just knew just from Ippei's eyes alone.

In Akira's mind, he really wanted Ippei to just ask Sachiko out already, as from the outsider perspective it's clear as day that she also liked Ippei a lot, like him.

"Anyone got the solution right?"

Isao asked the students, seeing that no one was raising their hand, so he could only sighed from disappointment.

After reconvening for a bit, Isao reported today's summary and ended the club period today. The students then pack their bags preparing to go home.

As normal, Isao would be sitting at his computer doing some admin work for a bit before actually heading home, so he just let the students go away quietly.

Akira was waiting for Ippei to go home together, but Ippei seemed to be hesitating something today.

"Aren't you coming?" Akira asked.

"You go right ahead, I'll see you later." Ippei replied.

Akira could only wonder what's on Ippei's mind right now, but guessed that he's probably not going to tell him either way.

"I wonder if Komeda's coffee is crowded on weekdays..." Akira mused, which made Ippei wonder what the hell this guy who doesn't drink coffee was talking about.

Ippei walked towards the teacher's desk where Isao was sitting, he noticed pretty quickly that Ippei was coming to ask something.

"Something on your mind, Noda-kun?" Isao asked.

If Ippei was being honest, it's still a bit weird having a teacher who's only 5 years older than him.

"Tanigawa-sensei, I'm just wondering which university did you graduate from?"

Ippei's question did ring quite an alarm bell to Isao. He knew this student had never talked about university entrance before, and he never saw the report from the previous homeroom teacher either. It's not something he had experience with, but he knew that Ippei was one of those students who had no idea about what his future might bring.

"I graduated from Yokohama City University." Isao replied.

"How did you choose where you'd be attending?"

This next question did confirm to Isao a little bit what he's suspecting.

"To tell you the truth, Noda-kun. I couldn't get into Todai, and I'm from Yokohama." Isao said.

"So why did you decide to become a teacher in Ibaraki?"

"It's either here or Kagoshima, my girlfriend is in Katsushika and will absolutely not move to Kyushu."

"I see..."

Isao was contemplating if he should say what he's really thinking about Ippei's situation, and decided that if it's not his job, then whose job is it really?

"Look, if you're thinking about attending further education just for the sake of it, there's no point in doing so."

What Isao was saying did make Ippei raise his eyebrows a bit as to what he meant by that.

"Most of your friends, in your class or not, are pretty diligent right? That can make you feel like you're not doing enough. If you're trying to think of what to do next, but deciding by what others are telling you to. That can lead to a world of hurt, I can guarantee you." Isao further explained, but Ippei still thought he's being too cryptic.

"But, I don't even know what I should be doing after I graduate."

"That is absolutely fine. You will not be finding out in the next few minutes. You don't have to know right now."

Ippei knew Isao was right, but it still bugged him to no end.

"Why did you choose this club activity anyway? I never asked Tanaka-san." Isao asked. He didn't know as he took over the club guidance role from another teacher.

This question made Ippei think back to when he was a first year student at this school. He passed the entrance exam with relative ease, while none of his friends from previous school managed to do it. This meant he had to make new friends, which happens to be the first two people he met here. Akira and Ryoji.

Both Akira and Ryoji were computer geeks, and while Ippei didn't fancy calling himself that, apparently he knew far more than a typical person would thanks to being raised in a PC shop, so they did get along pretty well.

"I just followed what my friends were doing, like usual." Ippei replied.

"Really? But you're one of the most knowledgeable students both in hardware and software. I'm surprised. I thought you had a passion for it."

Ippei didn't have a passion for computers at all. What was there to be passionate about codes and computer hardware? It's his father's job that he happened to learn a bit from.

"Anyway, thank you, Tanigawa-sensei." Ippei didn't have anything else to say, so decided to not take any more of Isao's time.

"It's okay. If you have any concerns you can just ask anytime. You have my Line right?"

Ippei nodded, before bowing to say goodbye. Then he walked out of the room, leaving Isao to sit there watching him going away. Isao couldn't help and be concerned for Ippei as a teacher would be.

Walking downstairs, Ippei was wondering if Sachiko had gone home already. Her club room was one floor lower, but he didn't have enough courage to go and actually check. He wondered what her friends would think? The same as Akira and Ryoji? He wouldn't risk it.

It turns out that Sachiko was there, walking from her club room. Ippei suddenly felt the nervousness he always had when she's around. He couldn't help it. So Ippei was walking cautiously, breathing in and out to calm his nerves which didn't seem to work.

"Kinoshita-san."

Ippei called Sachiko with a low voice, but in these quiet hallways it was enough to catch the attention of Sachiko.

"Oh hi, Noda-kun! Are you going home?" Sachiko said with a smile.

"Yes," Ippei nodded. His heart was pounding. "...you too?"

"Of course, I was just talking to Yamada-sensei in the club room so I left a bit late."

Ippei realized that it's the same reason as him. He was just talking to Tanigawa-sensei before so most of his friends have already left.

"I have something to ask, Kinoshita-san." Ippei was going to continue but was interrupted.

"Why do you keep calling me so formally?" Sachiko asked with a slight smile.

"Eh?"

"I wouldn't mind you calling me Sachiko-chan."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. It feels weird having friends calling you like they're acquaintances, right?"

Ippei didn't realize that at all.

"Okay..." In truth, Ippei was happy.

"What was it that you were gonna ask?" Sachiko put her finger to her mouth in a contemplating pose.

"Er... so..." Ippei hesitated, which did make Sachiko more curious, but he got there eventually. "...You told me that you wanted to attend Todai right? How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Eh?"

Ippei's question was an unusual one, something that Sachiko hadn't really thought about for a while, this made her answer not come immediately and Ippei could see that.

"I mean. You said you want to become a teacher like Yamada-sensei, but surely you wouldn't decide that just after she became your homeroom teacher." Ippei explained his question more.

"That's right, actually." Sachiko confirmed, with a realization.

"So what was it that influenced you in that way?"

"Hmm. Let's see... I've always liked reading and writing..."

"But for it to become something you aim as a goal, surely it takes more than liking it right?"

"That's true," Sachiko replied, before chuckling a little. "...you might call me immature for this."

Ippei was wondering what Sachiko meant by that.

"Being a teacher, shaping the future of the next generation of children sounds pretty cool to me." Sachiko replied, her face turning slightly red from embarrassment.

"That's not just cool though, it's noble." Ippei replied, with an understanding face.

"I guess a little bit too..." Sachiko admitted, before turning to look at Ippei. "...You still have no idea what to do, right?"

Ippei sighed as she was completely right.

"I don't, and Tanigawa-sensei told me that it's alright." Ippei replied.

"And wouldn't he be right?"

"He might be, but that doesn't help, does it?"

"Don't you have some sort of hobby in your life? Something that you can do really well and would like to do?"

"I mean... most hobbies don't make any money right? That's why they're hobbies." Ippei was raising his eyebrows by that thought from Sachiko. It was a curious one.

"Even train otaku would like to become a train conductor right? Even if they can't, they still can become something adjacent to it right?"

"I guess so."

"You can work your way backwards like that, surely. There must be something you really enjoy doing in life no matter how trivial."

Ippei was skeptical of what Sachiko was saying. If that's the case surely there's not many people who would be unhappy with their job right?

"Or maybe you should just take the leaf out of someone close to you." Sachiko said with a smile.

"Someone close to me?" Ippei wondered.

"Yeah, like your father, your friend, someone who you really look up to."

Someone Ippei really looks up to? His father was never one of them, that's for sure.

Ippei and Sachiko got to the bus stop, waiting for their transport home in the queue of students who were doing the same. 15 minutes later they got onto a bus heading to both of their homes.

Akira's words were bouncing in Ippei's head. He was really conflicted as to if he should ask Sachiko out to some nice places. A cafe or a park nearby her house. But he wasn't sure where and even if he should. Sachiko appears to be watching some videos on her phone at the moment.

"Isn't this really cute?" Sachiko asked, which took Ippei out of his thoughts.

"What?"

Sachiko turned her phone screen to let Ippei see, it was indeed pretty cute. A short video of otters asking for the attention of nearby humans. Ippei was thinking maybe Sachiko did like animals. That seems pretty normal right?

"That's very cute." Ippei said and he's now watching the otter holding fish given by its carer.

"They're like sea dogs right? These otters." Sachiko mused, which made Ippei think. To tell the truth, Ippei hasn't got a clue either.

"Do you like animals, Sachiko-chan?" Ippei asked, which made Sachiko chuckle.

"Which girl doesn't?" Sachiko replied with a smile.

"I guess you're right... Do you like dogs or cats?"

"Both, actually, but I can't have either as a pet because my mother's allergic."

"That's too bad..." Ippei commented.

"But there's a really nice cat cafe really close to my home. The place's very clean, and the cats are taken care of very well, but the food is so so."

"That's lucky..."

At this point, Ippei realized, it's as good an opportunity as anything.

"...I want to visit someday"

Sachiko seemed to perk up as Ippei was saying that.

"That'd be great! I can show you around if you want." Sachiko said enthusiastically.

"I'd love that." Ippei replied.

"It'd be nice right? Are you going anywhere during the Golden Week?"

"Will they be open then?"

"They probably will be, considering it's money making time."

Golden Week was coming next week, starting from this Saturday.

"How about 11 AM this Saturday then? It's close to your house right?" Ippei asked.

"Maybe 5 minutes walk, max. It'd take nothing compared to you having to take a bus ride to my place." Sachiko replied.

"I have a moped I can ride. We should probably just meet at the café?"

At this point, Sachiko perked up even more and was now turning to Ippei with her eyes glowing.

"You have a moped?" Sachiko asked while staring intensely at Ippei, which kinda scares him a little.

"Y... yes?" Ippei answered reluctantly.

"What moped?"

"A Honda? It was passed down from my dad. It's a really shitty bike that doesn't ride very well."

"Probably a Super Cub right? Big wheels and classic soba delivery appearance?"

Ippei was wondering why Sachiko suddenly took a massive interest in his weekend mode of transportation. He had no idea what she's saying either.

"It's... a Honda something." Ippei was telling Sachiko only what he knew.

"Sorry," Sachiko seemed to realize she was more interested in it than Ippei did. "...my father used to work for Honda, so we have a lot of motorcycles around. I like them as well. I have a Cub myself I bought with part-time money."

Ippei was wondering what Sachiko looks like riding a Super Cub down the street. Maybe he'd seen her around? But a girl on a Super Cub would be hardly an unusual thing even around here.

It didn't take long until the bus was at Ippei's stop.

"Message me later, alright? I'll see you around." Sachiko said, as Ippei was standing up to get off.

"Sure."

A girl with so many interests hiding behind a veneer of a diligent and well read student. Sachiko was quite intriguing and at the same time made Ippei think he almost seemed dull.

He liked playing Electone from time to time, and even then he didn't really like telling anyone that fact. Who cares, really?

The same walk along Bizen river, leading to Noda PC which probably wasn't crowded, as per usual.

Indeed, when Ippei got home, his father was still sitting there behind the workstation, watching Oozora Subaru livestream, one which he probably had already seen a few times.

"I'm home." Ippei said as he walked in.

"Uh huh." Mizuho said, lurking slightly from the screen. "...You look cheery today. Something good happened?"

Ippei was surprised by that observation from his father. Usually he'd say nothing at all.

"Not particularly?" Ippei replied. Which his dad didn't seem to actually care about.

"Hmm." Mizuho turned back to the computer screen.

Ippei just walked through the door and left his father there to do whatever he's doing.