593 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game
### Chapter 593: "Verification" There were several oddities and concerns, but pondering over them alone wouldn't yield any answers at this stage. I was leaving the background check of involved parties to others, so I had to wait for the information to be gathered. More pressing, however, was something that needed immediate attention. "...And so, it has been decided that we will verify the safety of the new event." "Whoa!" When I shared this with my group, they inexplicably erupted into cheers and applause. "So, this means we can do the piggyback race with Sakuya again!" "No, we have already clarified the matters regarding the two-person scavenger hunt, so now we'll be checking the two-person obstacle course." "Oh no..." Satsuki, who had been all smiles, looked utterly despondent upon hearing my words. The shift was so drastic it was almost theatrical. Is Satsuki really the character I thought she was? Recently, her behavior seemed to be breaking character at every turn. Regardless, this was a vital issue that needed swift action. Rescheduling the sports festival was difficult. Shifting one event's date would require readjusting several others, a massive undertaking. If the festival were to proceed as planned, there wasn’t time to allocate for altering the event or performing extensive safety checks. We needed to conduct safety verifications quickly, present our improvements and safety measures, so preparation could proceed, and other students could practice. If we ignored this, it might eventually compromise the festival’s very execution. "So, what's the specific plan for addressing this?" "In the next PE class, we'll practice while conducting safety checks and draft improvement plans. There may be some risk of injury, but I ask for your cooperation." "Oh! Please, lift your head, Sakuya-sama!" "Yeah, we're willing to help too!" "Thank you, everyone." I bowed my head and requested their cooperation, and they readily agreed. The idea of nobles testing the safety of an unverified new event was unthinkable under ordinary circumstances. I intend to ensure no one gets hurt, yet absolute safety cannot be guaranteed. Still, everyone was willing to help, and for that, I bowed my head once more in gratitude. --- Progress on preparations for the sports festival would halt unless we confirmed safety and proposed improvements. Thus, with PE time finally upon us, we promptly got to work. For the two-person scavenger hunt, we significantly reduced the course. The initial plan had one person carrying another, traversing the course to reach the envelope holding the scavenger hunt item list, and then both team members gathering the items. While searching for items, they could move separately. But once finished, they would have to return to where the envelope was, carry one member again, and run the course to the goal. However, this plan posed certain dangers. During recent practice with the registered participants, running carrying someone was extremely challenging. While someone like me, who exercises regularly, could manage a hundred or two hundred meters, it was excessively tough for ordinary noble young ladies to run carrying someone. "The running distance for the scavenger race will be twenty-five meters from the start to the envelope and another twenty-five meters to the goal—a total of fifty meters with a straight course laid with mats." "Won't we trip and fall because of the mats?" I explained the improvement plan for the scavenger race. Everyone listened intently and freely asked questions. "Indeed, it's possible some might trip, but considering the risk of falling while carrying someone, it's a minimal necessary measure." "I see..." To be blunt, it's impossible to eliminate all risks completely. Even if one runs a short race on a meticulously maintained track, there's still a chance someone might fall unexpectedly. They could even sprain an ankle or break a limb while falling. Insisting on eliminating every risk means nothing could ever be done, as life's daily routines pose similar hazards. If due to oversight by the organizers, someone trips on a loose stone or a pothole, then the organizers are at fault. But if it's well-maintained and someone still falls, it's not the organizers' fault. In running while carrying someone, falling forward is likely. If they fall forward, the carried person can brace with their hands or feet. No one would fall face-first without instinctively trying to protect themselves. However, the real trouble arises if one falls backward. The person being carried has their legs held, so they can’t brace with their feet. Their hands grasp the one carrying them. While they might let go to brace themselves instinctively, humans often can’t react optimally in an emergency. Just like a firefighter about to ignite flames may inadvertently splash gas all around if the gasoline container catches fire in panic, it’s hard to let go of it. Panicked, they might wave it around instead, causing a sea of flames. Even experts sometimes fail in emergencies, and noble young ladies cannot be expected to instinctively brace themselves. Thus, the main danger lies in falling backward. To prepare for this, the route is lined with mats. Mats can still cause falls and injuries, but it's safer than hitting bare ground. By reducing the course to only a straight line and shortening the distance, we lessen the burden and mitigate potential injuries by using mats. We’ll also carefully choose scavenged items making sure they’re easy to carry and don’t pose a risk if dropped. With these measures, the scavenger race should be sufficiently safe. "So, participants for the scavenger race, practice with this setup, alright? I'll be checking on the obstacle course." "Alright..." "It's too bad Sakuya isn't with us..." "C'mon! We were together last time, so it’s fine to be apart this time! Let's ensure safety for everyone!" "Hehe." "Yuzuriha, you're such a ray of sunshine." Thanks to Yuzuriha's boundless optimism, everyone seemed to have adopted a positive outlook. With this mindset, the scavenger race should be fine. Later, I'll need to intentionally fall on the mat to verify its safety, but there's no need to mention that now. It would be disastrous if someone got hurt trying it without me present. "Alright then, those participating in the obstacle course, shall we head out?" "Yes!" Everyone's enthusiasm was refreshing. Now, let's turn our attention to checking and brainstorming improvements for the obstacle course. --- "Hmm..." "......" Looking over the plan for the two-person obstacle course, it's... disastrous. The course—or rather, the setup of obstacles—was clearly designed for a solo obstacle race. Expecting it to work for a three-legged race is unrealistic. The course planning seems haphazard, to say the least. The obstacle race has been a staple for years, leading teachers to assume it wasn't particularly dangerous. They've made some safety measures, like placing safety mats beside the balance beams, but that's far from adequate. Even with all the stated safety precautions, the risks seem high. If additional safety measures weren't even implemented, that recent accident could have been expected. "First off, anything requiring climbing, like the balance beams, is out of the question." "Is it? We managed okay," Azami responded to my remark. It's true, Azami and her partner might have done fine, but it wasn't pure luck that led Unohana and Fuki to fall—it was just as likely that Azami's team succeeded by chance. However, if they walked the balance beam repeatedly, they'd inevitably fall at some point—and injuries could follow. Solo, falling off a balance beam might only result in landing on one's feet without much consequence. Even a rare bad fall wouldn’t cause a major accident on one's own. But with legs tied in a three-legged race, a fall could result in one crashing down onto the other, just like what happened to Unohana and Fuki. Fortunately, they didn’t sustain serious injuries, but it's feasible for the one underneath to suffer fractures if landed on. While the safety mat aims to mitigate this, a lack of them means little. "We definitely need to reevaluate the obstacles." There are also sack races, where participants hop in burlap sacks. A classic in solo races, but requiring two people to hop together in a single sack is overly ambitious, to say the least. "For now, the feasible ones from the original plan are 'Net Crawl,' 'Ladder Crawl,' and 'Bread Eating.'" The net crawl is a classic, requiring participants to crawl under a net. Though it could be tricky in a three-legged race, it's unlikely to pose serious danger. The ladder crawl originally involves ducking through the frame of a sideways ladder. Since it’s impossible to fit through a real ladder while partnered up, this is adapted to use a simple frame for pairs to crawl through. As for the bread-eating, it's a staple, so no further explanation is necessary. Unlike bread eating, a flour-filled candy-hunt isn't done here at Fujibana Academy due to hygiene concerns and potential allergies—the mess it causes is also a deterrent. "Naturally, these alone won't suffice for an obstacle course... but finding obstacles manageable with a three-legged pair seems quite challenging..." Even after pondering, viable ideas didn’t come readily. Traditional obstacles assume solo participation and don't cater to paired challenges, though some might technically be possible. Yet, just applying them as-is would neglect crucial safety considerations. It’s understandable that the experienced teachers might have underestimated the requirements for a two-person obstacle race, given their routine familiarity with single participant ones. Even if they want to rethink the course design, ideal obstacles don't just spring to mind. "So, Sakuya-sama! Let’s start with what we can do! It might spark some ideas!" Azami chimed in. "Hmm?" Azami's suggestion makes sense. Time is limited. Conceptualizing in our minds won't lead anywhere, but physically trying feasible obstacles might inspire us further, potentially revealing other viable options. "Yes... you're right, Azami. Let's begin with what's feasible." "Great! Then let's do this together!" Azami eagerly started tying her leg to mine. Checking with the others for objections, it was clear the obstacle team consisted of Azami, Renka, and Seri. Neither Renka nor Seri were the type to assert themselves, typically following Azami's lead. "Alright, we'll start with Azami and myself testing things. Later, Renka and Seri, you'll switch with us and help evaluate everything thoroughly. Meanwhile, observe for any dangers and think of other feasible obstacles for our pairings." "Got it! Can't wait to tackle the obstacles with you, Sakuya!" "I'm not confident in handling multiple at once, but I'll do my best!" Seri earnestly replied. Asking her to watch us and ponder simultaneously was indeed demanding, though seeing objectively and asking for new ideas was my true intention. "Alright then, Sakuya-sama! Let’s go!" "Remember, the main goal is safety verification, okay, Azami?" "I know! Now, come on, let's go!" Does she really understand? Still, seeing Azami’s excitement, it felt awkward to dampen her spirits. I'll ensure attention to safety and verification, but for now, let's proceed with the task at hand. Support with Likes Support the author by giving points, submissions are currently closed. 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