Volume 3 Chapter 32 An Intense Race Game
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was a famous action racing game¹ that everyone and their mother knew. Even though it had been out for over a year, the hype hadn’t faded one bit. It made sense why the series had managed to last through eight installments.
We played it all the time too. Sometimes I’d just go for a relaxing drive with Suu-chan, and other times I’d get into serious “try-hard” matches with Mio-san and Mitsuhisa-san. For the record, Mio-san was the absolute strongest. (Honestly, I have to wonder about someone who shows zero mercy to a kindergartner, pelting them with shells constantly. I really wish she’d learn to hold back a little.)
”Which one do you want?”
Yuma’s older sister-Miyu-asked me. Just as Nanami-san had mentioned, she was clearly being considerate since I was a guest and younger than her. I could practically feel her nervous energy.
”I don’t really know them well, so I’ll just leave it up to you, Miyu-oneesan.”
”…Okay.”
(Man, playing the “innocent little boy” role is a real workout.)
Turning back to the screen, Miyu-oneesan first selected the game mode. She chose Grand Prix mode, where you compete for the top spot based on total points across four races. Next up was the “CC” class, which determined the speed of the karts. Without a moment’s hesitation, she picked 50cc. It was the slowest, most beginner-friendly class-easy to handle with weak AI. It was a setting even a preschooler could enjoy.
Suu-chan looked like she wanted to say something, but I decided to just let our host take the lead.
The screen switched to character selection. The “Big Sister Squad” seemed to have their favorites already decided, as they navigated the menu without a second thought. Miyu-oneesan picked the yellow tomboy princess, Hina-oneesan went with the pink mushroom, and Aoi-oneesan chose the green dinosaur. They were clearly picking based on looks rather than stats, which was honestly pretty cute.
”What do you use, Makoto?”
”I guess I’ll go with this guy…”
I selected a lanky, sinister-looking man-the kind of character the Youngsters usually avoided. I didn’t really have a reason; I just liked the vibe.
”Oh, you’re using the same one as Dad…”
Miyu-oneesan muttered that. I guess Yuma’s old man and I had similar tastes.
”Are you going to use him too, Makoto?”
”Is that a problem?”
”No! It’s just because I use him too!”
Yuma cheered happily. Once characters were set, we moved to the machine customization screen. The karts were made of three parts: the body, the tires, and-despite it being a kart race-a glider for soaring through the air. Since Yuma’s dad played, every unlockable part was already available, including all the DLC. The older girls knew exactly what they wanted here, too. Miyu-oneesan chose a standard kart, Hina-oneesan went with a flashy gold one, and Aoi-oneesan-for some reason-picked a bike with a shield attached.
They all had such unique setups. I was a bit surprised by the quiet Hina-oneesan’s flashy taste, but I turned my attention to my own build: a blue, airplane-like body with small tires.
”Suu-chan, which one should I pick?”
”The pink one!”
”Aye-aye, captain.”
I picked the pink umbrella glider to match her preference. Usually, I’d optimize my build for the specific course, but since I didn’t know where we were racing, I went for a balanced setup. (The aesthetics were a bit of a mess, though…)
With the karts finished, it was time for the final choice: the Cup.
”Is the easy one okay?”
”Yeah, that sounds great!”
Since Miyu-oneesan asked, I nodded. Out of the eight available Cups, she picked the one with the shortest and simplest tracks. I’d have to stay sharp; those races would be over in a heartbeat.
The TV split into four quadrants, with my character shown in the bottom right. Even with the split, the screen was so massive that it didn’t feel cramped at all. Honestly, one-fourth of this TV was still bigger than the entire set at my house.
The first race took place on a ranch. I’d have to be careful not to bump into the cows, or they’d send me flying. The Big Sister Squad was locked in, staring intensely at the screen. Even if it was just a game, it was a serious match to them. Nobody wanted to lose.
The countdown hit zero, and we all tore off the line.
”Good luck, Makoto!”
”Beat Shiho-chan’s Older Sisters!”
”Go for it, Maa-kun!”
I appreciated the support from my three classmates, but I decided to play it safe for the first round. I didn’t know how good the girls were yet, so I stuck to the racing line and drove a clean, safe race. The first round ended without much drama. The course was short and simple, so there weren’t many chances for big plays. Aoi-oneesan took first, followed by Miyu-oneesan. Hina-oneesan finished in fourth, and I crossed the line in fifth.
The points were tallied up: 15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, and 8 for fourth, decreasing by one for every rank after that.
Current Standings:
Aoi-oneesan: +15pt -> 15pt
Miyu-oneesan: +12pt -> 12pt
Hina-oneesan: +8pt -> 8pt
Makoto: +7pt -> 7pt
”So close!”
”You almost had it.”
”Muu… Maa-kun…”
”There, there, Suu-chan.”
I soothed the dissatisfied Suu-chan as we moved to the next round. The game was just getting started.
The next track was the classic circuit course that shared its name with the game’s protagonist. I immediately overtook Hina-oneesan and tucked in right behind the two leaders. As we hit the massive U-curve that felt like it was climbing into the sky, their speed dropped.
That was my cue. I let a green shell fly, sniping both of them in one go. (Pleased to meet you; I’m Sniper Makoto.)
”Ah…!”
”Aaaaagh!”
The two of them shot me dirty looks, but that was just how the game was played. They shouldn’t hate the player. Even though they were the best of the group, my interference sent their race into a tailspin-
”I did it! Hina is in first!”
”Shiho-chan’s Older Sister is amazing!”
Hina-oneesan, who usually seemed to eat the others’ dust, had managed to snag the lead. She was way more excited than I expected. Even Shiho-chan, who was supposed to be on my team, was genuinely happy to see her big sister win. Well, at least my hard work paid off.
Hina-oneesan took first, I took second, followed by Aoi-oneesan and Miyu-oneesan.
”Ugh…”
”…”
The two of them were clearly used to fighting for the lead, and they weren’t happy about the upset.
Current Standings:
1. Aoi-oneesan: +10pt -> 25pt
2. Hina-oneesan: +15pt -> 23pt
3. Miyu-oneesan: +8pt -> 20pt
4. Makoto: +12pt -> 19pt
Before they could complain, we were already at the third race: a seaside course. It was perfect for the season, even if I didn’t have any actual beach trips planned. I figured it was time to actually win one, or Suu-chan’s frustration was going to reach its boiling point. I made sure to cross the finish line in first place.
”Makoto won! That was awesome!”
”Thanks.”
”Hmph! Of course he did! That’s my Maa-kun!”
The points were getting a bit tight, but Suu-chan was happy, and that was what mattered.
Current Standings:
1. Aoi-oneesan: +10pt -> 35pt
2. Makoto: +15pt -> 34pt
3. Miyu-oneesan: +12pt -> 32pt
4. Hina-oneesan: +8pt -> 31pt
Then came the final race of destiny: a high-speed sprint across a highway. (Honestly, you’d have to be insane to try and race through traffic like this…)
The Big Sister Squad was visibly pumped up. Since the points were so close, anyone could take the overall win.
”Good luck, Shiho-chan’s Older Sister!”
”Yeah!”
Sadly, I had lost my last supporter. Since Hina-oneesan had never been this close to beating the other two before, I couldn’t really blame Shiho-chan for switching sides.
The final race began. Miyu-oneesan and Aoi-oneesan were so stressed about the points that they started panicking, crashing into obstacles left and right. Meanwhile, Hina-oneesan was letting out pathetic little shrieks, but she was driving safely and putting up a real fight. I kept the two leaders in check while ruthlessly bullying the AI drivers to clear the path-
”Yes! Mi… I mean, I won!”
”Agh, dammit!”
”Aww, I lost…”
Final Results:
1. Miyu-oneesan: +15pt -> 47pt
2. Aoi-oneesan: +45pt
3. Hina-oneesan: +12pt -> 43pt
4. Makoto: +8pt -> 42pt
The final standings ended up right there. I think I did a pretty good job controlling the flow of the game. It was a challenge, but that just made it more fun.
”The big sisters are really strong…”
Yuma was disappointed. He had been so close that he seemed genuinely gutted. Still, you have to let your elders have the win sometimes. That’s the secret to a long life…
”Makoto, you were so good!”
”Yeah, that was a blast!”
”Let’s play another round!”
The Big Sister Squad was buzzing with excitement from the close finish. I think we definitely got closer than we were before we picked up the controllers.
”I’ll let Suu-chan take the next one. Go avenge me.”
”Got it. I’ll do it.”
I knew the older girls weren’t going to give up their controllers anytime soon, so we’d just have to swap out on our end. Through the power of video games, we had officially become friends.
By the way, Suu-chan absolutely demolished the Big Sister Squad without an ounce of mercy. She hadn’t been trained by Mio-san for nothing…
”Suu-chan is incredible!”
”She actually beat Shiho-chan’s Older Sisters!”
Shiho-chan was clapping with a smile, and Yuma was jumping for joy.
—
Summary:
Makoto and his friends visit Yuma’s house and play a popular kart racing game with the ‘Big Sister Squad.’ Makoto uses his gaming experience to subtly manipulate the race results to keep the girls happy and build friendship. In the end, Suu-chan joins the fray and dominates the older girls using skills learned from her previous ‘training.’
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Trivia:
- Mio-san is established as the strongest gamer in their circle.
- Makoto is intentionally ‘throwing’ or sandbagging to manage the social atmosphere.
- Yuma’s father is a gamer who has unlocked all DLC and difficult parts.
- Makoto chooses the character equivalent to Waluigi (slender, villainous man).
- Hina, despite her quiet nature, chooses a golden kart and screams while playing
—
Character Insight:
Makoto shows his maturity by prioritizing social harmony over winning a game. Miyu’s initial social anxiety regarding Makoto is resolved through the shared experience of gaming.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The game is a thinly veiled reference to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, referencing 50cc, Grand Prix, and specific character archetypes like Daisy (tomboy princess), Toadette (pink mushroom), and Yoshi (green dinosaur).
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Mitsuhisa – 184 cm, 71 kg, 33‑year‑old IT specialist; slick‑back hair, deep voice, often scowling. Breadwinner of the Totsuka family, doting husband of Mio and father of Su‑chan. Reserved with Akari, family photographer with a DSLR and tripod. Close to former college‑athlete Makoto, sharing playful‑sometimes‑sinister humor and gaming lag. Desk‑working salaryman, surprisingly toned, protective yet occasionally lonely as kids grow independent. Now works from home to care for pregnant Mio and manage household duties.
• Mio – 28‑year‑old pregnant mother of Suu‑chan, round belly, bed‑resting for health; wife of Mitsuhisa (164 cm, 57 kg, baby‑faced, G‑cup curves, elegant in gray). Former relay runner and badminton star turned teacher, cook, photographer who bakes strawberry shortcake and chirashi‑zushi, adores babysitting Ma‑kun, subtly pushes his marriage to Suu‑chan, avoids crowds, captures family chaos, dresses the protagonist’s mother, devotes herself to her daughter’s education, playful, theatrical, neighbor/family friend in a joint‑destiny child‑rearing unit.
• Nanami – Yuma’s mother is humble and polite, grateful to Makoto for shaping her son’s healthy habits, and proud of her elegant upscale home that doubles as a showroom for her business.
• Miyu – Yuma’s older sister, leader of the ‘Big Sister Squad’, is elegant in a grey dress. As a squad member she’s tasked with hosting Makoto, and though initially nervous, she embraces the role with poise.
• Yuma – Frail, sickly kindergarten boy from a wealthy land‑owning family, he has an idol‑like face, admires his father, and his parents work in real estate. Member of Rose Class and Rose Group, he folds paper airplanes taught by his dad and offers technical insight on the Skytree’s triangular base. Energetic friend of Makoto (Makoto’s classmate, younger brother of Miyu) and neighbor of Shiho‑chan.
• Hina – Shiho’s older sister presents a gentle aura with long hair and a flowing dress. Though typically quiet, she lights up with excitement whenever she wins.
• Aoi – The third Big Sister, with a boyish cut of short hair, wears denim shorts and a T‑shirt. As a member of the Big Sister Squad she’s competitive and excels at racing games, often challenging her teammates and earning their respect.
• Makoto – 93 cm, 13 kg three‑year‑old boy in a neat shirt and cap, short hair, backpack, booster seat in Hinomori’s Rose Group. He is a reincarnated 30‑year‑old salaryman with architectural know‑how, social‑management skill, hidden English and analytical mind, living with the Totsuka family (mother works) and protecting Suzuka‑chan; called Maa‑kun by Suu‑chan and leader of Rose Class. Secretly possesses high‑level social and gaming abilities, mediating among the children.
• Shiho – Shiho‑chan, a three‑year‑old Rose‑Class girl with shoulder‑length hair in a side‑up ponytail, uses training chopsticks and a white kitten‑themed placemat. Sleepy, she leans on Makoto’s “secret” advice and makes mud dumplings. Neighbor of the Yoshikura family, classmate and peer of Makoto, younger sister of Hina, and friend of Suu‑chan and Yuma. Older sister in the senior group, she quietly competes with Suu for Makoto’s attention, wishes happiness for the Tanabata deities, and, despite a childhood fear of water, now eagerly embraces swimming.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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