Tanoue thought for a second. "Don't worry too much. Even if the timing varies, the Peak Phase doesn't just end in a few months. It often overlaps with puberty, so things can feel a bit strange. You'll be fine. If you get results in the selection races after the New Year, you'll find a Trainer and make your debut. Heck, I'd even take you on myself."
"That's a grand idea!" Tachyon chirped. "I'd much rather have you than some random stranger hanging around."
"Wait, Trainer-san, aren't you still in the middle of your three years with Tachyon-san?" Scarlet asked.
"Yeah, but I've finally gotten the hang of handling Tachyon. I figured I could manage a new student alongside her for my final year."
Tachyon looked slightly offended at being "handled," but she went back to her food. Scarlet, however, seemed lost in thought, picking at her meal as the lunch hour drew to a close. As they got up to leave, she simply said, "I'll consider your offer," and hurried away.
"Do you think she's hit her Peak?" Tachyon asked once they were alone.
"Who knows. We'll find out during the selection races in January."
"I suppose. I only attended the first one myself," Tachyon mused.
Tanoue laughed. "I remember. You said you didn't want to be bothered by the 'masses.'"
"Because they are a bother," Tachyon pouted. "People standing in front of me, saying this and that… except for you. You were so incredibly foolish. I thought you'd be easy to control. …But your eyes were interesting. You were looking at me, but also at something that wasn't me. What were you thinking back then?"
Tanoue hesitated. "I just thought your running was incredible."
But in his heart, he thought: Maybe I've loved her since that very moment. He pushed the thought away.
"I've decided," Tachyon said suddenly. "I'm going to your house. I'm definitely going."
Tanoue groaned. "Look, if you come, my vacation is ruined. I'll be on edge the whole time."
"What?! You're saying you're always on edge when you're with me?"
"No, it's not that! It's just… there's the 'me' that's with my dad and the 'me' that's at work. If you come, those two worlds collide. It's a logistical nightmare!"
Tachyon narrowed her eyes. "But I've become quite interested in you."
"I appreciate the interest, but stay away from my house."
Tachyon knew she had him. Just as she had a soft spot for Scarlet, Tanoue had a soft spot for her. She just had to keep pushing.
"You're my guinea pig, aren't you? My experimental subject! If you obstruct my research… no, that won't work. You still have a role to play." She stepped closer. "I'm going. I don't care what you say. …Any objections?"
Tanoue was amused by her feigned heartlessness. "Plenty! My dad for one. It's not fair to drag him into your experiments. I protest!"
"Fine. Let's call your father right now."
"No! He's at work. I'm not disturbing him."
"When can we call him, then?"
"After 9 PM. After your dorm curfew."
Tanoue lied. His father's job ended at 5 PM. Tachyon noticed the slight hesitation in his voice. She locked her scarlet eyes onto his.
"…Are you lying to me?"
"No," Tanoue said, though he couldn't meet her gaze.
"Hmm..." Tachyon sounded unconvinced. Then she slumped her shoulders. "I see."
She decided to let it go. She knew pushing him further would only cause more friction. She felt a wave of disappointment—both in him for lying and in herself for her plan falling apart. She sighed. "So, I can't talk to him?"
Tanoue felt a surge of guilt. He hated lying to her. "I mean… I could send him an email, but..."
"No, forget it. It would bother me if you lied to me. After all, your sincerity is your only redeeming quality."
The words cut Tanoue to the quick.
They reached a fork in the hallway. "I'm going to the lab," Tachyon said. "I have things to think about. I might not come to training today. Actually, I might. Just wait for me. If I show up and you're not there, I'm storming your dorm."
She walked away into the shadows of the lab corridor. Tanoue watched her, feeling terrible. Her dejected silhouette was too much to bear.
He hesitated, then sprinted after her. "Wait! Sorry!"
Tachyon turned, a glimmer of hope on her face. "What is it?"
Tanoue struggled for words, scratching his head in frustration. Finally, he just blurted it out. "I lied! You can call him. His job ends at five. You can call anytime after that. …Dammit, Tachyon! You can't just say my 'sincerity' is my only good point and then walk away! It's not fair!"
Tachyon laughed. "So you were lying. My little psychological gambit worked. But really, lying to me just because you didn't want me to come? That's cold."
"I wanted you to know how much I really didn't want you there!"
Tachyon looked at him with a sad, pleading expression. "Is it really that impossible?"
Tanoue felt his resolve crumbling. A voice in his head whispered: It's just Tachyon. You love her, don't you? This is your chance.
He sighed, the sound of a man surrendering. "…Fine."
Tachyon's eyes lit up. "Truly?"
"Yeah. You can come. But we call my dad first. If he says no, the deal's off."
Tachyon beamed. "I knew you'd say that! I'll definitely be at training today. We'll call him as soon as we're done. I'll even speak to him myself!"
Tanoue nodded, and they went their separate ways. Tachyon walked with a light, airy step, her mind already racing with new ideas. Tanoue walked toward his office, the quiet, orderly hallway suddenly feeling a lot less eerie than it had moments before.