...
"Since the envelopes are all opened, then let's look at the gifts together too?" Tokai Teio said again.
"Teio, da me desu." Mejiro McQueen folded the envelope neatly and put it back into the gift box, "I've already let everyone see mine—isn't it time for the others to fulfill their promises?"
Seeing everyone's gazes converge on her, Twin Turbo placed her gift box on the table, "I know, I know! Let everyone see the message the Trainer wrote to me—he must think I have unlimited potential and can create miracles or something~"
Opening the envelope, Twin Turbo read the contents: "What you chase is not others, but a heart full of anticipation."
"Trainer, why did you write this to me?" Twin Turbo asked in confusion.
"Because Little Shark and Suzuka both use the 'front' running style—there's only scenery ahead, so go surpass yourself."
However, compared to Silence Suzuka, Twin Turbo's "escape method" was actually extremely unstable.
During training, "reverse jet," that is, losing speed after leading, was very common.
"Oh! Of course I will—I'll work hard with Suzuka-senpai as my role model and keep getting closer to her!"
The little fighter was full of spirit, and Lucian believed she could go very, very far.
"My envelope has been shown—next, isn't it Nature's turn?" After putting away her envelope, Twin Turbo directed the trouble toward Nice Nature.
Nice Nature refused, "Twin Turbo, I never said I would show the contents of my message."
"Hm!? Nature won't let us see—she wants to keep it all to herself!" Twin Turbo tried to rally the others to pressure her, just like Tokai Teio had done.
But this move had little effect, because even Tokai Teio didn't want to help her.
However, unlike Tokai Teio, Twin Turbo could still act cute: "Nature, Nature, let me see, please."
Twin Turbo
Twin Turbo
"I'll let you see, I'll let you see... really, there's no helping you."
Nice Nature seemed reluctant as she opened her gift box; she only showed the envelope's contents: The win or loss of a race cannot define your life's script. Others always wrap up, but you are forever the protagonist. Don't always play a supporting role in someone else's drama.
Nice Nature glanced at Lucian, feeling something in her heart, with no confusion, "Twin Turbo, you've seen it, right? Once you're done, I'm putting it away."
"I saw it—thank you, Nature."
After all four had shown their envelopes, everyone's gazes unanimously turned to Matikanetannhauser, who had returned to her seat at some point and was sipping tea.
The latter was holding her teacup, her upper lip still dipped in the tea; noticing everyone's stares, she blinked cutely, "Eh, do I have to too?"
"What do you think! Of course!" Twin Turbo instinctively took Matikanetannhauser's cup and tasted it, "So bitter, so bitter!"
"You already knew it was bitter..." Nice Nature said speechlessly.
"Fine, then I'll show everyone mine too." Matikanetannhauser didn't hide anything and generously displayed both the gift and the letter, "This is... a phonograph? And a silver disc."
"What a beautiful phonograph." Twin Turbo exclaimed.
She instinctively reached out to touch it, but Matikanetannhauser shielded it with her body, "Look only—no touching. This is from the Trainer to me."
"I didn't even touch it... I have one from the Trainer too." Twin Turbo grumbled.
As pictured
"Trainer, why did you give me this gift?" Matikanetannhauser naturally liked it, but she didn't feel it was strongly connected to her.
"Actually, the gift I wanted to give you is this silver disc." Lucian picked up the disc packaged in a small box; this time Matikanetannhauser didn't stop him, "This is a song inside, called "Tannhäuser"."
(The name "poetic drama" comes from the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner's opera "Tannhäuser".)
(Poetic drama never won a single G1 race in her career—she seems to owe us a G1 victory, just like Wagner was still revising his opera until his death, saying: "I still owe the world a "Tannhäuser".")
"I-is... this a song the Trainer composed himself?" Tokai Teio suddenly spoke up.
Because the gifts were all unique, Tokai Teio cared so much.
"The Trainer wrote it?" Seiun Sky's jealousy flared too—the "We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day" he played for her was still unfinished.
"Trainer-san is truly talented." Clearly, Special Week's jealousy jar was already tipping, about to spill.
"It's not written by me—why would you think it's my work? I really only know a little about music." Lucian hurriedly waved his hands to explain, "I commissioned the music master Richard Wagner to make it specially. Tangtang, you can listen to it when you get back—I hope you like it."
Lucian also thought there was fate at work; the opera's regret seemed to be made up for.
"Mhm, mhm—thank you, Trainer." Matikanetannhauser nodded; after understanding the gift's value, she accepted the disc with both hands.
But she was also puzzled in her heart: "'Tangtang'? Why did the Trainer suddenly give me a nickname? And... such a sweet name."
"Tannhauser, the envelope, the envelope~"
Twin Turbo urged, Twin Turbo urged, after Twin Turbo urged, Haru Urara urged.
"Oh oh, Urara, don't rush—I'm opening it now."
The message was very short, but after just one glance, Matikanetannhauser's heart felt like a target hit by a bullet.
She was too embarrassed to read it aloud, so she let Twin Turbo do it for her, "The days when no one pays attention are the perfect time to reach the peak."
"What does that mean? Is Tannhauser like Seiun-senpai and involuting too?"
Twin Turbo was baffled.
But it didn't matter—Seiun Sky pressed her head down for her, "Twin Turbo, what do you mean by that?"
"N-nothing!" Twin Turbo fled to Nice Nature's side, "Nature, save me."
Nice Nature decisively stood up and made a "please" gesture toward Seiun Sky.
"Trainer." Twin Turbo had no choice but to hide beside Lucian.
"No fighting here." Lucian stopped the two's antics continued explaining: "The reason I wrote this is not because Tannhauser is involuting like Seiun."
"So Seiun-senpai really is involuting?" Twin Turbo said.
Lucian raised an eyebrow, then stepped aside and made a "please" gesture to Seiun Sky, "Take her out and file down her teeth."
Same logic as trimming Doto's cowlick.
...