So, Otohime. She's a robot girl so she had to be modeled after something. For her, she was modeled after a dragon. And since she's from Takamagahara, she's heard of Amaterasu's dragon brother Susanoo. How is that relevant? Because she heard a rumor saying she was modeled after a dragon because Amaterasu needed to sink Susanoo's whole memory into the sea. So Otohime thought, "I wonder what Lord Susanoo is like?" She looked into him and found out he aired out lots of people's dirty laundry, was a weird rich guy, and a legend like no other who crossed Takamagahara's walls of common sense. Then the Dragon Palace event happened where she crossed the walls of her Subsystem subrealm when she left. Now she lives in Tokyo as a cleaning consultant and studying and wondering what the hell to do with herself.
One day in the past
Otohime is picking up trash at Odaiba.
Otohime: Look, Yamasachi. There's a crab in this plastic bottle.
Yamasachi: Dang, better let it go. Anyways, thanks for helping me with cleaning.
Otohime: Oh no, I am glad to help since I have time.
Otohime thinks about the Dragon Palace while looking out at sea.
Yamasachi: Something up? Maybe my dumb, useless self can help.
Otohime: You are nothing of the sort... but lately I've been wondering what I should do here in Tokyo. What do I do now that I'm not managing the Dragon Palace? I cannot set my own goals as an AI.
Yamasachi: Maybe figure something out? What do you do these days?
Otohime: I help at Kamata and sometimes at Toyosu. Sometimes they do dangerous things for organics, so I might assist there.
Yamasachi: Cool. But what do you wanna do, personally?
Otohime thinks a bit.
Otohime: I still would want to help people. Helping people be happy and being thanked makes me happy, I believe.
Yamasachi: Oh. Well good luck with that! Guess you really aren't that different from when you were the Dragon Palace's lady.
He meant it as a compliment. Otohime is still feels briefly unhappy about it though.
Otohime: Oh. I may look the same, but I thought on the inside I--
Yamasachi: I meant, maybe you're the same deep down. You smile for everyone and push the sadness away, even out here.
Otohime: ...is that truly enough?
Yamasachi: Uh, if it ain't, then maybe try whatever since you're in a whole new world?
Otohime: Hmm, what for...?
Yamasachi: Nah, I mean like, literally do whatever for the hell of it? Maybe you'll find something while you look.
Yamasachi smiles. It reminds Otohime of someone specific...
Otohime: ...heh. Thank you, Yamasachi!
Present
Otohime: And now I'm part of the sports festival. Whatever happens, I will not have studied for nothing. The race will go as planned.
Otohime looks at the other racers this round.
Durga: My time has come! I'll get first place for Ashigara too since he screwed around so much!
Tu'er Shen: Welp, better bounce in for the money I got paid up front. Fuxi paid too, so if I do good I'll find even more exciting stages!
Michael: I am clearly going to win.
Tanetomo: You'd best be prepared to work for it. Touji, are you ready with the arrangements?
Touji: (frowns)
Bathym: Welp, I gotta beat Angel Boy at least.
Heracles: How do I fulfill my team's order...?
Otohime: Just as expected.
Announcement time!
Taurus Mask: Change of commentators! First off, me! Taurus Mask of the Berserkers!
Belphegor: And me, Belphegor of the Berserkers!
Taurus Mask: Everyone's gonna know me! And now a round of applause for the Akihabara Creators for all this VR tech!
Applause!
Belphegor: Thank you, everyone! And now the rules for this round. It's a 10km triathlon race, points awarded based on finishing order! No particular rules, so let's get the stage set up!
Beep boop, tunnel track!
Otohime: I have a question. A triathlon is defined as having three parts, but this appears to be a standard track and field course.
Taurus Mask: Good question! There's gonna be a surprise in the track, and I wish I knew what it is too!
Belphegor: Okay, places everyone... oh wait, commercial segment for Claude's marriage counseling business first!
Taurus Mask: Dude, that wasn't part of the plan!
Belphegor: Oops. But isn't this place romantic? Classic Japanese high school love life opportunities! SOMEBODY out there must be having it!
Taurus Mask: O-oh, okay. Let's just...move on.
Waiting athletes. A referee pulls out the starting signal pistol!
Belphegor: Ready? Time to start things this round!
Taurus Mask: On your mark, get set...go!
Everyone goes! Michael and Durga break out ahead!
Michael: Oh my, someone can actually keep up with me?
Durga: Hey, that's my line! But this makes things better when I do win!
Michael: Pssh, keep dreaming.
Michael speeds ahead! Otohime and Tu'er Shen follow after Durga!
Otohime: So, Tu'er Shen is it? You seem like you can afford to go faster still.
Tu'er Shen: S'up, girl? And who wastes a sprint right off the bat? I see you holding back a bit here too.
Team Southern Tokyo Waiting Room
Perun: Fuxi, why DID you bring in Tu'er Shen? He doesn't seem THAT fast and he doesn't even seem to be a sports star.
Q'ursha: I've asked him to play one on one b-ball with me before. He's...good at giving me a good game half the time. Like he knows where I'll go before I do.
Fuxi: Yes, he has limited Future Vision.
Perun: Oh, you think your fortune telling is right do you?
Q'ursha: Eh, just watch.
Arena
Taurus Mask: The top two are pushing their leads! Belphegor, who's your money on?
Belphegor: Tu'er Shen maybe? If he's here he probably has a chance.
Taurus Mask: Friend or something?
Belphegor: NO!? He's more a business rival and stuff!
Taurus Mask: O-oh, okay. Well let's check on him!
Suddenly Michael stops before making a lap!
Taurus Mask: WHAT?
Belphegor: Hmm. Switch cameras?
Michael: Metal tripwires!?
No flying!
Tanetomo: Did you really think you could just fly your way past this race track?
Michael: Was this your idea? How underhanded, just like you.
The other racers are catching up!
Bathym: Don't go thinking this could stop us.
Tu'er Shen: This is easy stuff. Anyways, see ya later Otohime!
Durga, Bathym, and Tu'er Shen run off ahead!
Tanetomo: Well I never expected this to slow you down much, but you will have to be careful for the rest of the race now.
Michael: I'm still going to win.
???: Ow, what?
Heracles is tied up in the tripwires!
Tanetomo: Hmm...well he probably won't be hurt. But how did this happen?
Otohime: I believe I have seen this in one of Lord Hephaestus's animes! Ahem. Oh no, I'm stuck~!
Party Waiting Room
MC: GIRL, STOP PLAYING / Girl needs Performance lessons / ooh, nice angle
Aegir: What the hell has she been doin' all week!?
Gargoyle: God, I wish I had some wires to show off my beefiness!
Carbuncle: OTOHIME I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SMART!
Arena
Otohime: Oh no whatever will I do~?
Heracle: Oh no, are you alright!? If only I had a weapon!
Touji cuts the wires!
Touji: ...what are you people doing? Otohime, isn't MC counting on you for this round?
Otohime: My apologies, Lord Touji, I thought now would be an appropriate time to play the comic relief.
Bathym, Durga, and Tu'er Shen are fighting over the lead!
Bathym: Okay I'll place third at least, but where...
Suddenly the tunnel floods up!
Taurus Mask: Stage change time! It's not a triathlon without a water section!
Bathym: It's not supposed to go like this but I can work with it!
Durga: I'm still good at swimming!
Durga jumps into the water! Tu'er Shen is catching up... except he's wall jumping instead of swimming!
Durga: Wait, how are you doing that!?
Belphegor: Ah, the Quick Turn swimming technique being adapted into a parkour technique.
Taurus Mask: Did we have to wear swimsuits for commentating this part too!?
Belphegor: You're no fun.
Tu'er Shen is zooming ahead. Somebody else is swimming in at crazy speeds!
Otohime: I will not be outdone in swimming as an underwater model robot.
Tu'er Shen: And there it is. This'll be fun!
Otohime is competing for the lead!
Michael: Ugh, I'm losing a lot of speed!
Tanetomo: Changing plans...
Michael: To what? This is still a race, isn't it?
Tanetomo, Touji, Heracles, and Bathym form a roadblock!
Tanetomo: We can't let you win, so if we can't beat you, we will force you into last place.
Flashback!
Shirou: Tanetomo, may I speak with you about the triathlon round?
Tanetomo: Oh? This sounds...interesting.
Shirou: Well yes, it's plotting. It'll help us both. You want to stop Team Eastern Tokyo, right?
Tanetomo: Go on.
Present
Bathym: I made some arrangements.
Tanetomo: The four of us colluded, one runner and three to slow you down over the course of the race. That way, we'll eventually lap you.
Michael: And you even got the police in on this?
Touji: I just believed in our strategist's plan. And there are no rules here.
Tanetomo: So how does it feel to come in last for once?
The audience is focused on the top 3! As the top three reach the second checkpoint, the course transforms again!
Otohime: Oh, back to the tunnel? And I see...
Taurus Mask: And now the riding portion! There aren't just bikes either!
There's sleighs and skateboards too. But the top three all pick the same thing!
MC: Yeeeah! / Full speed ahead! / Having fun, Otohime?
Otohime: MC... yes, I am! For this stretch, I shall go with this!
Durga: Yeah, the inline skates for me too!
Boost panels have been added to the course like a cart racecourse!
Tu'er Shen: Ooh, nice! I'm winning this one, bye girls!
Tu'er Shen breaks out ahead!
Durga: Oh no!
Nobuhara: Don't give up, Durga-senpai!
Gunzo: Yeah!
Cheering friends!
Durga: Right, I shouldn't throw in the towel!
Durga gets determined!
Party Waiting Room
Carbuncle: Gooo, Otohime!
MC: YEEEAHHH
Arena
Otohime: What a wonderful experience... I shall be sure to win.
Otohime is determined!
Otohime: My apologies, Lord Hephaestus, I will be using The Thing to win here. Limiter release!
Beep boop, damage will occur from going past safety limits!
Otohime: Then I will just have to win before that happens!
Taurus Mask: Oh my god, Otohime is zooming down the track!
Belphegor: Is she copying Tu'er Shen!?
Gotta move fast!
Taurus Mask: ...oh my god, Otohime wins the triathlon race at the literal last second!
Wild cheering from the crowd! Everyone else crosses the finish line in the meantime!
Belphegor: Durga, 2nd. Tu'er Shen, 3rd. Great runs, everyone!
Time to tally up points and check the rankings! 1. Team Eastern Tokyo at 23 (+0) 2. Team Yoyogi, Team Southern Tokyo, AND Team Carbuncle at 19 (+6/+8/+10) 5. Team Kudan at 12 (+2) 6. Team Shinjuku, Team Army Prison, Team Bukuro at 11 (+5/+1/+3)
Michael: I can't BELIEVE I came in last! I'll get you people for this!
Later
Carbuncle: Awesome run, Otohime!
Chernobog: Yes, an exciting come from behind victory.
Gargoyle: I understand sports spectators now.
Aegir: Good shit, Otohime. You coulda won the prelims with that speed.
MC: You did great, Otohime! / You okay?
Otohime: Thank you, everyone. Being cheered by so many is quite a wonderful thing. Lord Girimekhala, your own performance gave me courage to go out as well.
Girimekhala: O-oh. You really gave it your all, Otohime.
Carbuncle: And now we're in 2nd place! Just 4 points from first! Let's keep this up!
Announcement! Next round is Ultimate Basket Catch!
Otohime: I'd like to go again if everyone agrees.
Aegir: Are you trying to turn this into the Otohime Show or something
Chernobog: Aren't you tired from that race?
Otohime: I am a robot so I am fine. And in the next round I can calculate throw trajectories.
Girimekhala: You can!?
Carbuncle: Let's win this thing!
Team morale high! Except for Gargoyle looking like he wants to say something.
Gargoyle: (stares)
End of Episode part
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