THE ANIMAZING RACE 4!!!

CHAPTER 1: This is called competition…get used to it…

Yep, another one. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson…

For a start, I have seen all the seasons bar Season 1 and Season 10 thanks to a win on eBay. This has allowed me now to get all of Phil’s mannerisms and input it into the various hosts of this season…

Secondly, the range of anime I’ve watched now is immense and there are so many shows I simply had to use (which of course caused something entirely different…)

I don’t own the Amazing Race – I don’t own the 12 teams and their series they have come from, nor any of the series using as legs.

However, what I do own is making this a great story, and to start it off in the best possible way…

So what leg can do this?

Heh, like you can tell – you need to be an esper, an alien or a time traveller to figure that one out…

….

DAMN!

(We start our journey inside what appears to be a desolate desert. The camera cuts from the back and zooms in to a lone figure, dressed in an elegant black dress. Despite the desert surroundings and the strong attire, she isn’t sweating.)

(Her lipstick powered smile is shown as we are introduced to our main host of the Animazing Race 4, Yuko Suzuhara (from Xxxholic). A tall, beautiful, yet sneaky woman, she is our Phil for this season and starts off as so.)

Yuko: I’m standing here…

(She looks around the surrounding area, nothing but sand and sky as far as the eye can see…)

Yuko: …in what is known as ‘closed space.’ An area out of this world and even this planet where few dare to tread. However, this particular area has been sealed and made safe by a number of certain people…and it is here…

(A flashy smile for the camera)

Yuko: …where 12 teams from various anime shows, from previous Animazing legs and also from shows making their debut will attempt to beat each other in a race around the world. The winner of the race will get…

(Yuko edges towards the camera…)

Yuko: 1 million pounds…

(Yuko turns once more, thinking she’s off camera…)

Yuko: …and with that money maybe Watanuki can clear his deb…(turns)…oh it’s still on?

(A fizzing noise and a moment later…)

(We see the closed space become ‘open’ for a while, because it’s time to deliver the 12 teams…)

Yuko VO: 12 teams have entered the race, each of them teams of two with a pre-existing relationship with each other.

(Helicopters are flying the teams into this remote space as we see a few of them start to come into view…)

Yuko: They are…

(Starting off, we see two adult men with blue uniforms, with a military motif. One of them has a crew cut, looking quite stern but also very handsome. The second, a man with a small beard, looks really excited…and is kissing a picture of what appears to be a woman and a young girl – obviously his wife and daughter.)

Yuko: Roy Mustang and Maes Hughes, Military Officers and Best Friends, from Full Metal Alchemist.

Roy: We work together and have known each other for a long time. We both have our quirks that can find annoying, but when it comes to teamwork, nobody can beat the military…

Hughes: (laughs) You’re such a worrywart Roy! If I recall, you felt doing this would improve the public’s perception of the military and gain you a pro…I…mean…Roy is the best partner anyone can hope for!

Roy: Better…

(Whilst FMA are debuting, this second team were one of the original Animazing Race legs and also an American team trying their luck. Two women, the taller one with bronzed skin, curly black hair and a look which speaks ‘don’t mess with me’. The smaller one, actually similar in age to the taller woman, looks all of 13 but with blonde hair, a spring in her step and a cheeky grin, she wont be underestimated…)

Yuko: Rally Vincent and Minnie May Hopkins, shop owners and working partners from Gunsmith Cats.

Rally: Yep, we know we’re American and up against a mostly Japanese cast, but that’s not gonna stop us! We’ve got past tricky situations before…and we’ve always come out on top!

Minnie May: We’re the duo that loves to be friendly, but we’ll just as well go against you if you piss us off…and trust us, you don’t want to be on our bad side…

(Team 3 however are one of the more interesting teams. At first glance, they look like a young couple…but the boy has a distinct military uniform, unlike Roy and Mustang’s, it pure grey. A scar on his face and a lack of emotion summariises this scruffy haired bish. However, his partner, a long blue haired girl wearing a sailor fuku, a cheerful brash smile, is his complete opposite. And they’re stuck with each other…)

Yuko: Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, classmates from Full Metal Panic.

Sousuke: I was surprised to hear Captain Tesstorosa confirm this mission to me, however I will complete this mission as full proof as I can be. The strangest thing is that I wasn’t allowed to bring any weapons…

*A sound of a paper fan connected with skull is heard*

Sousuke: Chidori, that hurt.

Kaname: This is a race numbskull! A game! A game that we have to win! It’s NOT a battle…

Sousuke: But Chidori, the flyer clearly said ‘A battle to the finish – only one team will stand…’

Kaname: It’s a figure of speech! And why us two anyway? Geez…I bet Kurz did this…said something about ‘no matter what, you do have impeccable teamwork…’

Sousuke: I will make sure you come to no harm Chidori.

Kaname: That’s what I’m afraid of…

(Ahem. Next are two favourites – both of them are wearing the same attire with green jumpsuit and even the same crew cuts and scarily, fuzzy eyebrows. One may mistake them for father and son, but it’s master and student. Both have eyes full of energy and in fact jump from the helicopter as it descended…)

Yuko: Rock Lee and Might Gai, master and student from Naruto.

Gai: To travel the world with my cute student, this is my idea of youth! Let youth explode!

Lee: Gai-sensei, youth will explode as we take on all challengers around the world…

Gai: Youth = victory! And we shall be victorious Lee! *nice guy pose*

Lee: GAI-SENSEIIIIII!!!

(The inevitable hug occurs…so let’s move on shall we?)

(Our next time, like Roy and Hughes, are making their reality debut…this show isn’t as well known as FMA, but is a firm favourite, and also introduces our first true bishoujo – tall, slender, fairly big breasted and shy to a tee, she looks the most nervous does this dark haired beauty. On the other hand, her smaller friend, blonde, cheerful and cute beyond belief is almost too excited as she looks down. She’s also the second non-Japanese nationality here (debate about Roy/Hughes all you want) after the GSG girls being British.)

Yuko: Yakumo Tsukamoto and Sara Adiemus, best friends from School Rumble.

Yakumo: Um…it’s a pleasure to enter this…this game…

Sara: Oh Yakumo, be braver! We’re here to travel, have fun and hopefully find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Yakumo: Of-of course…

Sara: Yakumo, you’re just too cute you know? And with her beauty and athletic skills with my language skills, we could do this you know?

(Next, a boy and a girl, the boy with dark hair, a maniacal grin, and just laughing…and laughing. The straight haired brunette, is simply shaking her head and looking ready to jump…)

Yuko: Katsuhiko and Nanami Jinnai, brother and sister from El-Hazard.

(Note, to make things easier, Jinnai (as he’s known better) is the man whilst I’ll refer to the girl as Nanami)

Jinnai: Returning to this world is a must after ruling El Hazard with my Bugrom army! However, I need to expand…and to do so I need to focus on my world…and what better chance to both increase funds and study the potential enemy by winning this race! And I always get the top!

*Jinnai laughs evilly*

Nanami: It’s for the money…seriously guys…if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be here…why him rather than Makoto? Heck, even Aliele would have been better than this!

(Another AR2 leg makes a team debut – and probably one of my favourite underneath series (thank you Toddy for introducing this and El Hazard to me), we have our second oldest contestant (yep, there is someone older), a tall man, in a uniform similar to a navy officers, but in grey. The younger man next to him however, is in a red T-shirt, a white jacket and looks at the camera with a lazy smile.)

Yuko: Captain Justy Ueki Tylor and Lt. Commander Makoto Yamamoto, captain and 1^st officer, working partner from Irresponsible Captain Tylor.

Yamamoto: Leaving the Soyokaze may be something I regretted to do, but in some ways, leaving it WITH the captain may have been better than WITHOUT…

Tylor: Oh you old fart, they’ll be fine there! You left Yuriko in charge right?

Yamamoto: Yes I know…I just wonder how someone like you can deal with the outside world...but you know, he does have the luck of the gods, so you never know…

(Next up, we have two dignified women who look the type to be used to this type of travel. Obviously a mother and a daughter, the older woman has strong curled up red hair, glasses and the look of a dictator. The younger, has short yet high blue hair, a stern look, and a graceful figure.)

Yuko: Izumi and Keiko Himuro, mother and daughter from Princess Nine.

Keiko: I want to use this time to spend some time with my daughter. Both of us have busy schedules – business for myself and sports for my daughter. Here, we can be ourselves – but always focused to win.

Izumi: Being at the top is what we both strive for, and we have both been there before. We also both know the feelings of being so close yet so far. We don’t intend that to happen this time…this race is ours for the taking…

(One of the younger teams now coming down, another AR1 leg team but having one in one of my other works, the young man with the dark Sousuke like hair but having an innocent looking face (his sister has it too, but she’s far from innocent) – compare that to the teal haired energetic girl who is half choking her poor partner to death…)

Yuko: Kotarou Kobayashi and Tamayo Kizuki, childhood friends from Angelic Layer.

Kotarou: This is going to be a real experience for us – we’re two middle school kids in an enclosed area of Tokyo where most of our friends are stars on the Angelic Layer field. Now, we have a chance to be stars outside it…

Tamayo: Oh come on Kotarou-chan, you’re here to show the world your manly charm! But they won’t get you, because you’re mine Kotarou-chan!!!

Kotarou: Ta-ma-yo…can’t…breathe…

(No death fortunately, as we are down to three teams – our next time is also a debut – these two look really out of place even with people like Roy, Hughes, the GSG girls and Sara here. The smaller of the two has devil like blonde hair, quite muscular, wearing a black jacket and a smirk on his face. The taller man, is of Africian descent, dreadlocks for hair and looks calm and composed.)

Yuko: Souchiro Nagi and Bob Nakahita, sparring partners and best friends from Tenjho Tenge.

Nagi: We’re opposites when it comes to our attitudes, but both of us can kick ass with the best of them…

Bob: Physically, I doubt many teams, if any, can beat us. We’re fast, strong and ready to take punishment if necessary.

Nagi: Yeah, so watch out world, because we’re gonna find ya and destroy ya!

(Our 11^th team consists of the oldest contestant and the youngest contestant of the season. An AR3 leg, the young girl is wearing a school skirt with a simple blue top, her pig tails lowered and tied with bells and holding a music box. The old woman, rather big despite her age, with blue sweater, simple hair and a warm smile, looks fondly down on her granddaughter. This is also another nationality check, as we have a German team here.)

Yuko: Saga and Reggina Bergman, grandmother and granddaughter from Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar.

Saga: I’m so looking forward to this! My grandmother and I are going to explore the world…and we don’t care what happens…I’m just going to enjoy this!

Reggina: My granddaughter suffered a lot when her mother died. However, I love her so much that I am willing to keep up with her as much as I can. She’s usually looks one way and sticks to it, but I want us to be a team…

Saga: Physically, neither of us are going to be a match for most of the teams…but we have our smarts, our smiles and our will.

(Our final team finally returned in Season 2 after a fair break, and are the only real lovey-duvey team in this years roster. The difference however…is the glittering ring on the young woman’s finger. A cute blonde girl (unlike May and Sara, the hair is dyed) clutches the arm of her older boyfriend, in a casual jumper and looking very embarrassed…)

Yuko: Miyu Yamazaki and Yamato Kotobuki, engaged from Supergals.

Miyu: I was hoping we could do this for our honeymoon…but a chance to travel the world to win a million pounds with Yamato-kun!!! I can’t wait!!!!

Yamato: M-Miyu, you’re embarrassing me…but I must admit, travelling around the world without you, without any distractions…

Miyu: …that, and the only thing certain here is that we want to win…and we WILL WIN…

(All 12 teams have made it through the space, and are now inside an invisible dome. Yuko is in front, as imposing as Phil ever could be, as the emotions around the faces range from excited (Saga, Sara, May, Lee), to nervous (Yakumo, Nanami, Kotarou) to bored or indifferent (Izumi, Sousuke). Yuko cracks one more grin…)

Yuko: You 12 teams are about to travel around the world…an experience you won’t soon forget. Throughout your travels, you will be given information in the form…

(Yuko shows the trademark AR envelopes, the yellow and black of course)

Yuko: …of these envelopes. At various points, you will be performing tasks to pass through on your travels. At each leg, you will reach something called a Pit Stop. These are mandatory rest periods for teams after finish the leg…it is also the LAST stop for the last team who may be eliminated when arriving here…so being last is the last thing you want to do.

(The nerves hit a few more cast, though Roy and Nagi smile at that.)

Yuko: Now I know a few of you are more skilled than others, and have abilities that could really be a big advantage in this race. However, any use of alchemy, ninja skills, demon based martial arts…

(Nagi gives a ‘how the hell she knew that’ look…)

Yuko: …mind reading, though if someone looks at you like he wants to jump on this particular person, you may retaliate…

(Yakumo blushes…)

Yuko: …and any use of firearms of any time…SPECIFICALLY ONE OF YOU…

(Rally thought she was talking about her, but realised her gaze was on Sousuke. Rally sweatdrops…)

Yuko: …you will be penalized. Make sure you’re on your best behaviour…

(Again, she seems to indicate Sousuke, making a few of the teams a little nervous…but she continues…)

Yuko: In a moment, you will run to your backpacks where your first clue is waiting…

(A cut shot of their backpacks about 800 metres away. It’s a bit of a run and already the first challenge for the teams.)

Yuko: …and from there, you will have to travel to your next location. From there, the ball is in your court. So, the world is awaiting you and enjoy yourselves.

(A cheer comes from most of the cast as Yuko raises a hand)

Yuko: Once my hand drops, the race will begin…good luck…

(The teams assuming the running position…)

Yuko: …travel safe…

(Phil-erism alert…but of course it is followed by…)

Yuko: GO!!!

(Yuko drops her arm and a mass rush across the desert sand begins. Yuko casually slips in between the rush as the race begins…)

(We start with the run across the sand, with Gai and Lee taking the early lead, just behind are Roy and Hughes as well as Bob and Nagi. Most of the others are crushed together, only Saga and Reggina are at the back…)

(Rock Lee and Gai easily get a good lead and grab their backpacks before anyone else…)

Lee: Ahead already Gai-sensei!

Guy: Good work Lee!

(Lee opens the envelope…)

Lee: Route Info…find the exit of this dust hole…

(2^nd place, Bob and Nagi finish this off…)

Bob: …and locate your next clue on the vehicle provided.

Nagi: You have 28,000 yen for this leg of the race.

(We cut to our first guest host, Koizumi Itsuki, the ‘mysterious transfer student’ or ‘token yaoi boy’ as some people call him, he’s tall, handsome, always smiling and a yes man to his fearless SOS-dan leader.)

Koizumi: Teams must figure out how to escape this closed space and find an exit – there are altogether 4 exits they can find. However, once 3 teams have exited, that space will close permanately and teams will have to find an alternative one. Once teams have escaped the space, teams must find their vehicle which contains their next clue…)

Lee: An exit?

Gai: I think we need to find it Lee…come on!

(The two ninjas run like hell…and immediately find the problem…)

Lee: …so…who put the invisible barrier here?

Gai: I guess…we need to have a feel around…

(After they get up (and a few teams sweatdrop), they begin searching. Bob and Nagi quickly follow, as well as Roy and Hughes…)

Roy: Damn…no flames I’m allowed to use…

4^TH – SOUSUKE/KANAME – CLASSMATES

Sousuke: Find an exit. Affirmative.

Kaname: Find…not make.

Sousuke: Affirmative.

5^th – RALLY/MAY – WORKING PARTNERS

Rally: So we have to get out of this hamster cage?

May: Hee hee, now let’s see…

Rally: May, you know they took away all our bombs and firearms…we have to find it, not MAKE one…

May: No fun…

6^TH – MIYU/YAMATO - ENGAGED

Miyu: Up for some more running Yamato-kun?

Yamato: Come on Miyu!

7^TH – NANAMI/JINNAI – BROTHER/SISTER

Nanami: O.K, we need to get out of here and find the vehicle…

Jinnai: Our first time to locating the world, which means our first step to conquering it!

Nanami: I get the feeling this world maybe out of your reach…

8^TH – YAKUMO/SARA – BEST FRIENDS

Sara: Searching?

Yakumo: Um…let’s see…

9^TH – KEIKO/IZUMI – MOTHER/DAUGHTER

Izumi: Not good start…already a bit behind…

Keiko: I’m not used to running…especially in sand…

Izumi: Well get used to it mother…we could be in for a long ride…

10^th – TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – CAPTAIN AND SUBBORDINATE

Yamamoto: Captain, hurry it up!

Tylor: Gah…exercise…

Yamamoto: And I’m beneath you? Geez…

11^th – KOTAROU/TAMAYO – CHILDHOOD FRIENDS

Tamayo: Age kinda sucks here, we’re fit yet still at the back…

Kotarou: At the moment, we need to stay ahead of one team and that’s what we’re doing so come on Tamayo!

Tamayo: Yay, Kotarou-chan is awesome!

LAST – SAGA/REGGINA – GRANDMOTHER/GRANDDAUGHTER

Reggina: This isn’t good for an old woman like me…

Saga: It’s the start grandma, but keep at your own pace, we’ve got a long way to go!

Reggina: Of course sweetie, don’t mind this old lady…

(All the teams have to manoeuvre in this invisible field, which is quite large, until they find one of 4 holes in the system. Once 3 teams have passed one hole, it will be closed…)

Roy: See here Hughes? If you use your glasses and reflect the light…

(Roy demonstrates…)

Roy: …the light is weaker in this small part of this field…

Hughes: Hey, I’m used to paper work not complex alchemic instruction…

Roy: We should pass here, happy?

Hughes: That works…

(Roy and Hughes push and the door exits…)

Hughes: Quick before other teams see…

Roy: Too late.

Rally: RUN LIKE HELL MAY!!!

Yamamoto: Captain, this way!

Izumi: Mother!

(The three teams attempt to get by, but they are jumped over by another team…)

Izumi: Oh crap…

(Gai and Lee using their superhuman abilities skip by them and become the 2^nd team to escape the first exit, making it a three way exit…Izumi is the fastest of the 6 but Keiko is slow, and Yamamoto and Tylor try to get ahead…however, Rally who is the 2^nd fastest and May is able to navigate across the sand quicker than expected…)

Rally: (all smiles) Gunsmith Cats at your service!

May: See ya!

(Roy/Hughes, Gai/Lee and Rally/May escape from exit 1…)

Izumi: Dammit!

Tylor: We need to find another…before I pass out…

(Jinnai and Nanami had already realised they wouldn’t catch up and quickly begin searching…)

(Meanwhile…)

(Shot of the dog pile of the three teams, with May escaping being squashed by being the last one through…they seem to be in a car park, where 12 vehicles are about…)

Rally: O.K, driving time!

Roy: So I get to showcase my skills here…

Rally: Ha, let’s see you out race me!

Roy: (chuckles) Well, Miss er…

Rally: Vincent. Rally Vincent. And the short one is Minnie May Hopkins.

Minnie: Not short…petite!

Rally: (shakes hands with Roy) Nice to meet you but as you can see, we need to drive!

Roy: Indeed…so Hughes!!!

(Hughes runs off as Rally curses…)

May: I feel sorry for those two…Rally is gonna kill them…

Lee: That can’t be right! Adversaries must…

Gai: Lee, come on! Sorry ladies, race first, mannerisms later!

Rally: Damn it all!!!

(Gai and Lee of course are faster, but when it comes to the rules of the road, the two other teams have the advantage…Hughes looks at the clue…)

Hughes: Welcome to Nishimoniya, Hyogo! Travel to Ohmori Electronics and log onto the SOS Brigade website for your next clue.

(A cut to Koizumi and we get the route info explanation…)

Koizumi: Teams must travel throughout this crowded city and find a small electronics store, used in the infamous SOS-dan movie as one of our many sponsors. Here, teams must find a PC and log onto the internet and locate the SOS Brigade website. It is here, they will get their next clue…

(Roy and Mustang head off, and Rally and May (with an infuriated Rally with gnashed teeth after them. As for Guy…)

Guy: This is not one training technique I am well in tune with…

Lee: Just go straight and take this problem head-on!!!

(Guy does…and nearly crashes into the rails…)

Guy: This may require different strategy…

Sousuke: Chidori, we have found it…

Kaname: (smiles) This is where you’re good Sousuke…

(Sousuke seemed to be able to find the weaknesses of the field and quickly exits with Kaname…Nanami and Jinnai who were looking before team Princess Nine and Team Tylor saw the classmates escape…)

Jinnai: Those two are trying to thwart us! After them!

Nanami: Don’t shout!!!

(Again, too late and this time, everyone except for Sara and Yakumo see this, and begin running. Saga and Reggina quickly stop realising they can’t make it, but everyone else rush…)

(…and…)

Nagi: Ha, this time we’re not denyed!

Bob: Toot your horn when we’re out…

(Sousuke/Kaname, Nanami/Jinnai and Bob/Nagi are the next teams to escape, and head towards the vehicles. There is little banter, due to Sousuke being his professional self, whilst Bob and Nagi just want to avoid hearing Jinnai…)

(Sousuke drives away first, Nanami second with Bob just behind…)

Bob: They won’t beat me when it comes to driving…

(Sousuke however begins a bit of recklessness in the vehicle as he goes a bit too fast for Kaname…)

Kaname: Slow down Sousuke! Speed limits do exist here!

Sousuke: I was under the instruction that we needed to get to this location as fast as we can…

Kaname: Two things. One…not so fast that we die, and secondly…do you know where to go?

(Sousuke stopped, nearly causing Jinnai and Nanami to crash into them…)

Nanami: Watch it you numbskulls!

Jinnai: Interesting attempt to try and finish us quickly, but against the mighty Jinnai, such ploys are pathetic!

Nanami: Shut up and drive…

Jinnai: I don’t listen to…

Nanami: NOW!!!

(Jinnai follows behind as Nagi and Bob get in 6^th place…)

BACK WITH THE OTHERS…

(Sara/Yakumo and Saga/Reggina are working a bit closer together due to their speed not being a match for some of the others. Tamayo and Kotarou on the other hand are being a bit TOO fast…)

Kotarou: We need to pace ourselves, it won’t be any good if we exhaust ourselves right at the start…

Tamayo: And if we’re in last place Kotarou-chan, how fast do you need to be?!!

Kotarou: We’ll worry about that later…

Tamayo: Why can’t we worry about it n…MPPH!!!

(Kotarou covers Tamayo mouth as he spots the ripple in the touch to find an exit. He moves towards it…)

(…JACKPOT.)

Kotarou: No worrying?!!!

Tamayo: None at all! Come on!!!

(Unforunately, Tamayo’s loud mouth has alerted most of the other teams…the two escape into the area, but the other teams begin to run. And this time the fittest survive…)

Miyu: You would have thought we would have been ahead in terms of speed…

Yamato: A minor blot to start with Miyu…

Miyu: Already things show how tough this is going to be. Miyu is a fast runner and Yamato is a police officer so he’s used to running fast, and yet we’re at the back of the pack already…

(Joining the couple, mother and daughter finally catch a break as Keiko beats out Yamamoto with Izumi already there. Yakumo had also got there, but Sara couldn’t keep up…)

Izumi: About time…

Keiko: Let’s just go….

(The third exit has been sealed as Kotarou/Tamayo, Miyu/Yamato and Keiko/Izumi exit it.)

Yakumo: …not good.

Sara: I’m sorry Yakumo!!!

Yamamoto: Captain, why didn’t you run?

Tylor: You honestly think that I would beat that baseball chick and that cop in a running race?

Yamamoto: Frankly no, but you could have tried.

(Saga and Reggina sigh…)

Reggina: Already at the back granddaughter…

Saga: Everyone, just keep looking, as we’re stuck together for the moment…

Sara: Well, if the pressure is off…I’m Sara.

Saga: (smiles) Thanks, I’m Saga Bergman.

Sara: (in perfect German) Nice to meet your acquaintance, Saga.

Saga: (surprised but speaks) Oh, you speak German? Hey, grandma…

(Saga, Reggina and Sara search and discuss (and Sara translating to a perplexed Yakumo…)

Tylor: Hey, can’t I join in?!!! My name is Justy Ueki Tylor, captain of…

*In the mind of Yakumo, that meant ‘DAMN THAT TALL GIRL IS GORGEOUS!’ she slinks away, pretending not to hear him…*

Yamamoto: Captain, your first impressions aren’t exactly what I call awe-enspiring…

(The three continue to search…)

(…meanwhile, the pace setters are…a bit lost…)

Roy: No map, no direction, no hope…

Hughes: We’re basically in somewhere we haven’t been before, and find someplace we’ve never heard of. We could be going the wrong way…

Roy: Well, this is where our brains come into play…

ROY/HUGHES – WORKING PARTNERS (FULL METAL ALCHEMIST)– 1^ST PLACE

Roy: Excuse me miss, can you tell me where…

(The overconfident smile of Roy’s makes the woman he was speaking to hurry off…)

Mustang: Yep, we know where you’re brains are kept…

Roy: Shut up.

RALLY/MINNIE MAY - WORKING PARTNERS (GUNSMITH CATS) – 2^ND PLACE

Rally: Speed limits suck…

May: It doesn’t help we’re in a lost country for us as well…

Rally: Being American, we knew the risks of coming to Japan for the race as we would be out of our depth. Fortunately, it seems everyone else is just as lost…

GAI/LEE – MASTER/STUDENT (NARUTO) – 3^RD PLACE…

(For team energy, the fact that the car they are driving is not as fast as their own movements is the main frustration…)

Lee: We can barely use this, why can’t we go on foot?

Gai: The clue said to use these vehicles…we just need to grin and bear it my lovely student, we are going to get our luck back when we’re on foot…

Lee: Spirit Gai-sensei!

Gai: Indeed, Lee!

(However behind them…)

Kaname: O.K, so this is…

Young man: Sure – it’s about 3 miles off that road – the main market is hard to miss – it’s in there.

Kaname: Thanks!

(Kaname heads back in…)

Kaname: I’m not a helpless schoolgirl that’s for damn sure, but I know that I can use my own skills when I need to do so…even Sousuke falls for it at times…

Kaname: O.K, we need to head straight and take the second left once we get to the signpost marked ‘MARKETPLACE’ and then find it there…

Sousuke: Orders received Chidori – permission to race?

Kaname: Permisson granted!

SOUSUKE/KANAME – CLASSMATES (FULL METAL PANIC!) – 4^TH PLACE

(Sousuke puts up the pace…a bit too much. Kaname grits her teeth, knowing that any reaction could put them in danger…)

Kaname: Dammit, slow down will ya! If we bust the speed limit who knows what that lady is going to do?!!!

(A fair bit behind them now, Jinnai and Nanami are not having as much luck with directions…)

Nanami: Brother, can you understand that the way you ask for directions isn’t going to help here…

Jinnai: But usually when I demand them to take me somewhere…

Nanami: THEY’RE NOT BUGROM IDIOT!

(Team Tenge just see them arguing…)

Bob: Shall I pass?

Nagi: Sure…we have no idea where the hell we’re going but…

(Bob and Nagi pass, and as they do Bob spots something…)

Bob: I think we should head to the centre square. Surely there will be directions or a place we can get a map there…

Nagi: And how can you get there?

(Bob points up where the road map shows…)

(Team Tenge get into 5^th place as a fair bit behind…)

TAMAYO/KOTAROU – CHILDHOOD FRIENDS (ANGELIC LAYER) 7^TH PLACE

(Tamayo and Kotarou are the only team who don’t have a driver in their team due to their age so taking them will be Ichiro Mihara, a.k.a Icchan.)

Icchan: Which way de yaro?

Kotarou: As long as the car doesn’t wiggle…

Tamayo: All moves ahead Mr Icchan!

Icchan: Wiggle wiggle!

(Just behind the wiggly team, the voice of the team’s coach combined with the fact that her mother would sound quite similar to a friend of Tamayo’s aunt, Izumi isn’t impressed…)

IZUMI/KEIKO – MOTHER AND DAUGHTER (PRINCESS NINE) 8^TH PLACE

Izumi: Mother, we’re trailing the two kids…

Keiko: Sorry, been a while since I’ve drove…

Izumi: (sighs) Not a great start…

(Keiko finally gets the hang of it as they get ahead of the Supergals team…and Miyu decides to say one rather important thing…)

MIYU/YAMATO – ENGAGED (SUPERGALS) 9^TH PLACE

Miyu: Yamato-kun, remember you’re not a policeman here…so, if you need to go fast…GO FAST!!!

Yamato: Of…of course!

Yamato: My police instincts are a worry in this race so I need to curb them. Miyu will be able to get me in line though…I’m afraid what will happen if anyone gets her mad…

(Reggina finds the final exit, as she and Greta escape first followed by Sara and Yakumo…)

Tylor: Normally following two cute girls wouldn’t be a problem…but…

Yamamoto: SO the fact we’re in last finally hits your brain Captain?!!

(Tylor ignores him (as he often does) and they rush out…fortunately Yakumo managed to avoid Tylor landing on her as they move into the car park…)

MARKETSQUARE

(Meanwhile…)

(Shot of the first vehicle to make it…in top speed.)

Chidori: Slow down NOW YOU IDIOT! We’re here!

(Sousuke looks around, his speed was a tad fast to say the least, but from it, they’ve overtaken the lost FMA, GSG and Naruto teams…)

KANAME/CHIDORI – CLASSMATES (1^ST PLACE)

(Sousuke turns into a parking space, where they have to pay for the use of it for an hour, the two escape and remembering what the stranger said…)

Kaname: Let’s see Ohmari Electronics…

(Kaname turns to Sousuke…)

Kaname: Let me do the talking here please…

Sousuke: Very well Chidori…

(…Kaname asks a few people about the electronics store, and strikes it lucky on the 4^th go as an old lady points it out…)

Old lady: Over there, next to the flower shop.

Kaname: Thank you ma’am!

(Sousuke and Kaname run fast as they don’t know what is lurking behind them…)

(Shot of Roy and Hughes…still lost…)

Roy: This isn’t good…

Hughes: Lost already, this won’t look good on this record…

(As they speak, they notice a similar car past them. And it’s hard to miss who it is with the driver with those dreadlocks…)

Roy: Huh?

Hughes: What?

Roy: That big strong guy – the one with the dreadlocks…just passed us…

Hughes: And?

(Roy takes the wheel and begins tailing them…not that this hasn’t gone unnoticed by Nagi…)

Nagi: Damn…looks like someone is tailing us.

Bob: Ha, let’s see if they can hang with me…

(Bob speeds up but not to a Sousuke level. Roy grins…)

Roy: They know where to go – let’s see you rumble with a flame alchemist!

(Roy cranks up the juice as well…)

OHMORI ELECTRONICS

(The guy in the store Mr Yamoha welcomes them in, but Kaname immediately rushes to one of 5 PCs in the corner for their purposes…)

Kaname: O.K, let’s see…

(Kaname begins to search looking for the ‘SOS Dan Website.’ Fortunately with a search engine there aren’t too many links for something like that, and she quickly finds the right place…especially with it’s very distinct logo…once on the website, Kaname clicks on a Windows opening. Once she does, a video flashes of Yuko smiling…)

Yuko: Congratulations – here is your next clue. Travel to the nearby Yamatsuoh Model Shop and search for one of many Mikuru figurines there. On the bottom of some of them will be a time…though you won’t know what times until you get there….

(Koizumi appears and explain the clue in a little more detail…)

Koizumi: Teams must travel to this nearby model shop, also used in the infamous movie, and find one of many handcrafted figurines of the movies star, Mikuru Asahina. On the bottom of some of them will be a team mentioning either midnight, 12:30 or 1am. Once they’ve found one, they may choose to rip the time from the figurine, which indicates a coach will pick them up onto a mystery destination…however, once they’ve ripped a tag, they cannot take another one.

(After Yuko ends the transmittion, Sousuke and Kaname head out…)

Sousuke: It was nearby right?

Kaname: Yeah, so head down the street…

(They do…)

(At the back of the pack…)

SARA/YAKUMO – BEST FRIENDS (SCHOOL RUMBLE) – 10^TH PLACE

Sara: Yakumo, where do we go?

Yakumo: If we can get to the main centre, that would probably be our best idea, and then we can take it from there…

(Sara nods and drives calmly, as does the team behind them…)

SAGA/REGGINA – GRANDDAUGHTER AND GRANDMOTHER (TINY SNOW FAIRY SUGAR) – 11^TH PLACE

Saga: Wish I could help here grandma…

Reggina: That’s O.K dear, remember there is one team behind us…which is what we need.

Saga: Just keep going forward…

(As the two all female teams calmly go forward, the one all male…erm…)

TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – CAPTAIN AND OFFICER (IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR) – LAST PLACE

Yamamoto: Captain, I’m driving as fast as I can, but with this traffic and no direction to go…

Tylor: Then just go with the flo…let’s see…eeny meany…

Yamamoto: THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO PICK DIRECTIONS!

Tylor: Weird…always worked for me before…

(Yamamoto is about to have a heart attack…)

Yamamoto: Honestly, I wonder where his luck comes from because I wish it would come my way…but as bad as it is, we still have to rely on each other, which is a bad sign…though we’ve always got through mostly unscathed…

13:50PM

YAMATSUOH MODEL SHOP

(Kaname and Sousuke arrive at the model shop as there is just a single clerk and points at a table. There are a LOT of Mikuru dolls there…)

Kaname: So we’re basically finding something made by a complete pervert…

(Yep, it’s the bunny girl Mikuru…)

Sousuke: So search and destroy?

Kaname: No, just search…

(Sousuke and Kaname begin searching the dolls, and it’s fairly quick that Kaname gets one….)

Kaname: 0100. That’s 1 in the morning…

Sousuke: We should find more survivors and see if there is a better alternative…

(Realising the dolls are everywhere, Sousuke looks around the shelves whilst Kaname goes for the table. Eventually, Sousuke strikes gold…)

Sousuke: Chidori…

(Kaname goes over and sees a 0000. She smiles.)

Kaname: An hour early…that has to be the best one…

Sousuke: Why?

(Kaname holds up one she has with 0030. Sousuke nods.)

Kaname: (salutes but with a smile) Permission to remove that tag Sergeant Sagara is approved!

(Sousuke is a little surprised but does manage a small smile.)

Sousuke: Affirmative.

(Sousuke takes the tag off the doll. The two now wait outside, knowing that other teams will be awaiting, but they get a brief chance to relax…)

SOUSUKE/KANAME – 1^ST TEAM ON 00:00 (MIDNIGHT) COACH

(MARKETPLACE)

(Shot of Bob and Nagi parking where Kaname and Sousuke did, with Roy and Mustang driving in…)

Bob: Round 1 to us…

Roy: You’re going to be hunted down!!!

(Nagi and Bob run off as they begin to search for the electronic shop, Roy and Hughes quickly escape and begin to search as well…)

Nagi: Where’s a damn map!

(Suddenly Bob halts…)

Bob: Map…

(He turns and sees Roy at an Information Centre, bowing to the attendant and then looking through it…)

Bob: Payback?

Nagi: Payback.

(The two wait for them to run and sneakily follow them…)

Roy: May I say I hate you?

Nagi: Feh…heard it all the time until recently…besides, there are two computers here, what are you complaining about?

(Needless to say, Bob and Nagi’s following was successful and the two of them get the Yuko clue. They realise that the model shop can’t be too far…and Bob’s eagle eyes show the way…)

Bob: Hey, there’s that high school chick…

Nagi: If it’s Aya, I’m quitting…

Bob: No, the one with the military guy with her…

Nagi: Even worse…

Bob: Come on!!!

(Nagi and Bob have the advantage over Roy and Hughes in terms of speed, as Kaname spots them easily…)

Kaname: Company Sousuke…NO ATTACKING!!!

(Sousuke doesn’t say anything as Bob and Nagi enter and begin to search for all the Mikuru dolls…)

(…meanwhile…)

MARKETPLACE

(Shot of another team making it into the park…)

Rally: I hate Japanese roads!

RALLY/VINCENT – WORKING PARTNERS (4^TH PLACE)

May: Get used to them…

(Rally and Vincent have managed to drag themselves into the race again as they get there and begin to search for the first place. Back in traffic, Yamato uses his experience as a cop to their advantage…)

Yamato: It’s usually I’m helping old ladies, not the other way round!

Miyu: But she knew where you had to go and even got a written map!

(Meanwhile…)

Gai: Hello, we are looking…

(Another person runs away from Gai rather enthuastic ‘help’. Lee looks in despair…)

YAMATSUOH

Roy: Hmm, I wonder who this is modelled after? I’d like to meet her…

Nagi: Gah…let’s hurry this up so we can kick some real ass…

(Bob finds one marked 0030, whilst Hughes finds one marked 0000.)

Hughes: Roy?

Roy: Hmm?

Hughes: Is this the best one?

Nagi: (loud) 12:30? Are we taking it?

(Roy sweatdrops momentarily but recovers…)

Roy: It’s official. Idiocy work…yep, let’s take it.

ROY/HUGHES – 2^ND TEAM FOR 00:00 (MIDNIGHT) COACH

Roy: Let’s go.

Hughes: Right.

(The two head outside as they discuss what they’ve got to do as Nagi is about to rip the tag off…)

Bob: Wait.

Nagi: Huh?

Bob: Let’s search a bit more…there may be something faster than this…

Nagi: But those guys…

Bob: We don’t know what they’ve got…and we know they aren’t gonna tell us. Let’s keep looking whilst we have a chance of finding something better…

(Nagi seems a bit annoyed, but agrees…)

Nagi: I’m not the patient type, which means a lot of these games will annoy me to the roof. Fortunately, this is what Bob specialises in, and using his mind and calm with my energy we will be the dream team!

OHMORI

Rally: Computers…gah…give me a typewriter…

(The two gunslingers are busy with the message after finding their clue, as at the back of the pack…)

Yakumo: T-thank you very much…

(Yakumo seems to have better luck in finding directions, and as she hops back in, Kotarou and Tamayo just ahead of them spot the two after Yakumo goes back in…)

Kotarou: You see, if you were like that…

Tamayo: So you’re into older women now…I’m so gonna tell Misakichi!!!

Kotarou: (blushing) D-don’t you dare…

(Tamayo chuckles but then…)

Tamayo: Well, let them pass…Icchan, when these two older girls that Kotarou obviously has a thing for…

Kotarou: H-HEY!

Tamayo: …just follow them.

(A bit behind them…)

TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – CAPTAIN AND OFFICER – LAST PLACE

Yamamoto: Not good Captain…it’s been a while since I’ve navigated the roads in Japan…

Tylor: O.K…(opens a window)…hey beautiful lady…

(Tylor works his charm…much to Yamamoto’s chagrin…)

Yamamoto: I really wonder what the…

Tylor: Thank you!

(Yamamoto does a double take as Tylor pops his head back in…)

Yamamoto: Just take a left through there and take the long road there…it’s a shortcut to the marketplace and should park just outside the shop itself so we don’t have any searching to do…

Yamamoto: Er…right…

(The long suffering officer drives on…)

Yamamoto: He has no etiquette, no sense of responsibility, ethics and intelligence…and yet, he is blessed with this weird sense of charm and luck which gets him everywhere…and I think we need more of our fair share against some of the teams…

YAMATSUOH

(Back at the model shop, Bob and Nagi are still looking, they’ve found a couple with either 00:30 or 01:00 but nothing earlier than that. They are about to quit and just take the 00:30 one they had but then…)

Rally: O.K, we’re near the front!

May: Model search Rally first, bragging rights later…

Rally: Oh right…

(Bob and Nagi go to the shelves, which they haven’t looked as Rally and May begin their search. On the second to last shelf, Bob finds the LAST of the early coaches…)

Bob: Nagi!

(Nagi sees it as 00:00.)

Nagi: Can…we…go…now?

Bob: Yes.

(Nagi rips the tag.)

BOB/NAGI – LAST TEAM ON 00:00 (MIDNIGHT) COACH

Bob: It seems we’ve got a camp spot outside…let’s see…

Rally: Shall we take it?

May: Might as well…

(Bob turns as Rally and May pick up a 00:30 one…)

Rally: No real patience in this race…

RALLY/MAY – 1^ST TEAM ON 00:30 COACH

(Back to the other teams as we see two more teams now getting in…Keiko/Izumi and Miyu/Yamato.)

KEIKO/IZUMI – 5^TH PLACE

Keiko: Let’s be quick…I’m sure I saw Yamato and Miyu behind us…

Izumi: Who?

Keiko: The police officer and his cute girlfriend.

Izumi: You know their names already?

Keiko: (adjusts glasses) I’m always aware of the competition.

(Izumi and Keiko quickly move ahead as Miyu and Yamato pass them into a car pack…)

Miyu: The mother and daughter just passed us…

Yamato: And there are 5 vehicles…that means were 6^th.

Miyu: Halfway! Not bad considering we left in the third exit…a couple of teams already messed up…

Gai: (distant) MADDDDDDEEEEEE ITTTTTTT!

GAI/LEE – MASTER AND STUDENT – 7^TH PLACE

Lee: It took everything we had to find this place – I left and jumped a couple of tall poles to try and find it, and no luck. Then Gai-sensei did the same and saw one of the other martial artists in the distance, jumped back, and we drove in that direction…you have no idea how relieved we were when we saw that blonde girl and that middle aged man…

Yamato: I’M ONLY 28!

(Lee realised he was speaking outloud as a miffed Yamato runs by Miyu…Gai and Lee park themselves and begin to search…however whilst their speed is obviously faster, the fact they have no clue where to go is a problem. Yamato goes to an information centre nearby and grabs a map – the lady points out the electronics shop, so it leads to…)

OHMORI

Miyu: Still tied then?

Lee: Yes Miss…er…

Miyu: (chuckles) Miyu! Miyu Yamazaki!

Lee: (bows) Honoured to meet you Miss Miyu!

Miyu: And bye!

(Lee looked confused, until he realises that the two have already read/listened to their clue and heading for the model shop…)

Lee: Gai-sensei, she is a worthy adversary!

(Gai puts his hand to his head…)

MARKETPLACE CAR PARK

NANAMI/JINNAI – BROTHER AND SISTER 8^TH PLACE

(Jinnai is now led by the ear by his sister as Nanami tries the ‘polite’ way of asking for help, rather than ‘demanding’ way that Jinnai tries…)

(…and are completely surprised when they see a car come out a different way…)

TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – CAPTAIN AND OFFICER 9^TH PLACE

Yamamoto: There it is captain!!!

Tylor: Let’s hope we got some time ahead…

(Tylor and Yamamoto pull ahead of the siblings as Jinnai is in a state of shock…)

Nanami: NO TIME FOR THAT!!!

(For once, Jinnai agrees and the brother/sister combo head off…)

(…and realise…)

Jinnai: I don’t wait for anyone!

(Shot of Izumi, Miyu and Gai on the computers…Izumi turns around and does the Izumi GLARE OF DEATH to Jinnai…)

Izumi: You start today.

(That sobered him up…fortunately Izumi finishes off quickly, as she and her mother head off. Jinnai immediately hits the PC, much to Yamamoto’s distaste. Fortunately Miyu is pretty quick and she and Yamato also move…)

Miyu: Follow them!

(The two rush off as Gai finally makes sense of the concept of using the search engine…)

Lee: Go for it Gai-sensei!

(Tylor however gets one up on Jinnai with his skills on the PC and gets ahead of the siblings as at the nearby models…)

SARA/YAKUMO – BEST FRIENDS – 10^TH PLACE

(Sara and Yakumo get into the marketplace as Sara turns into the car park…)

Sara: Need to get faster…

(The two girls escape as just behind them, a frustrated Tamayo and Kotarou enter the car park…)

KOTAROU/TAMAYO – CHILDHOOD FRIENDS – 11^TH PLACE

Kotarou: That sucked. We were ahead of those girls and yet we fell behind due to our lack of direction…

Tamayo: Thank you Icchan-san!

Kotarou: Now run like heck!!!

(Tamayo and Kotarou immediately run, searching in any random direction – Sara and Yakumo see them…)

Yakumo: Sara…

Sara: I know, keep searching…

IZUMI/KEIKO – 2^ND ON THE 00:30 COACH

(Shot of Izumi and Keiko picking up two figurines – one with 00:30 and one with 01:00)

Izumi: I think this gives us a few hints what has happened…

(Izumi rips the 00:30 one…)

Miyu: Yamato-kun?!!

(Miyu has picked up a 00:30 one…)

Yamato: Is this our best option?

Miyu: Miyu doesn’t know…

(Yamato sees around him, Gai and Lee are now joined by Team’s Tylor and Jinnai as Yamato looks a bit unsure…)

Miyu: Well…

Lee: GAI-SENSEI, FOUND ONE AT 00:30!

(Miyu sweatdrops…)

Miyu: Good enough…

(Miyu rips her tag as does Lee…)

MIYU/YAMATO – 3^RD ON 00:30 COACH

GAI/LEE – 4^TH ON 00:30 COACH

Yamamoto: Looks like we’re looking for the 00:30 ones…

Tylor: Oh…

(Tylor has a hold of a 01:00…just about to rip it off…)

Tylor: (drops it quickly) …let’s keep looking!

(With the numbers running down…)

Yakumo: Sara, found it!

(The British and Japanese girl rush to the electronics as Tamayo spots them running…)

Tamayo: Target spotted, go forth my mighty steed Kotarou-chan!

Kotarou: I’m not your steed!

(Kotarou runs full throttle…as they do, the last team finally drives through…)

SAGA/REGGINA – GRANDDAUGHTER AND GRANDMOTHER – LAST PLACE

Saga: We didn’t have much luck in terms of speed. I think as neither of us are Japanese we were worried about the speed limit and we didn’t understand the signs well. We lost a lot of time there…

(Reggina parks as Saga immediately goes for the information centre. Her reading Japanese is limited but she gets through speaking…)

Saga: O.K, over there…

Tylor: YOSHA!!!

TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – 5^TH TEAM ON 00:30 COACH

Tylor: We’ve come back from the death early on – sure it’s the middle of the pack but better than being at the back of the pack…

(Tylor and Yamamoto hop outside wondering what to do as Team Jinnai are left alone…)

Jinnai: Gah…what do we do?

Nanami: Keep looking – I’m not getting eliminated yet…

Jinnai: Ha, it’s O.K, we have all the time in the w…

Sara: (distant) It’s here Yakumo!

Tamayo: (distant) Kotarou-chan, hurry up!

(The Jinnai’s are silent…and then resume searching fast…fortunately they’ve covered the store and find the last elusive 00:30 figurine (though they don’t realise it) near one of the higher shelves…)

Jinnai: Those ninja idiots blurted that out…we’re going places my sister!

JINNAI/NANAMI – LAST TEAM ON 00:30 COACH

(Team Jinnai scarper…Jinnai has a laugh at their expense as the two teams head inside and search…)

(Shot of Saga and Reggina at the electronics shop – using the PC is little Saga as she’s smiling…)

Saga: O.K, here we go…

Sara: Is this it?

(Sara has picked up one of the 3 01:00 ones…)

Yakumo: We’ve looked through this store twice Sara…everyone else is outside, they must have already…

Sara: (sighs) I know…

(Sara rips the tag…)

SARA/YAKUMO – 1^ST TEAM ON 01:00 COACH)

Sara: Come on…

(As they leave, Saga and Reggina run up. It brings a smile to Sara’s face for a moment before turning…)

Kotarou: O.K, everyone’s here now…

Tamayo: Damn, we’re at the ba…(she covers her mouth)…sorry…

Saga: It’s O.K, Greta says worse…

(Both pre-teens sweatdrop)

(Kotarou finds it first but Reggina collects the second…)

KOTAROU/TAMAYO – 2^ND TEAM ON 01:00 COACH

SAGA/REGGINA – LAST TEAM ON 01:00

Tamayo: Well, things couldn’t get any worse…

(As soon as she steps outside…)

Hughes: …and this is my daughter Alicia, isn’t she the cutest thing!

Sara: She is Mr. Hughes…but why does everyone around you look so…

(Cue montage shot of everyone else with the look of ‘we’ve heard this 10 times already’ look…only Roy is unaffected…)

Roy: Get used to this ladies and gents…

Rally: How do you stand it?

Roy: Practice…and the promise of promotion…

Rally: Ah.

(The 12 teams are all outside the coach stand…it’s now 3pm so still 9 hours to kill but they are getting the chance to know each other…those that want to that is…)

Bob: I’m wondering if we should rest up for a bit somewhere before the coaches come…

(We see Rally, May, Saga and Reggina speak in their native tongues to Sara, who is doing a speed job in translating to Yakumo, Lee, Gai, Tylor, Yamamoto (the German), Kotarou, Nanami and Tamayo…)

Sara: …so they come from Muhlenburg whilst Rally and May come from Chicago – Saga-chan is a young piano player and already works at a coffee shop at her young age…

Tamayo: She’s officially more mature than you Kotarou-chan…

Kotarou: You’re one to talk…

(Tamayo immediately puts Kotarou in an stretch hold, which Miyu rightly says…)

Miyu: That’s affection…

(Tamayo immediately blushes and let’s go…dropping Kotarou like a stone…)

Miyu: Told ya!

Tamayo: That’s not true Yamazaki-san!!!

Sara: So is.

Tylor: Yep.

Reggina: How sweet…

Yakumo: I…think so too…

Roy: Yep, I know that feeling…

(Tamayo is becoming a tomato, but on the outcast side, Jinnai is simply observing everyone, whilst Izumi and Keiko are on the side…)

Izumi: They are being way too friendly here…it’s something we need to disregard throughout our race…

Keiko: I don’t see that being a problem…just play the game we always do my dear.

Izumi: Indeed….

(Fast forward a few hours and we see a few teams have camped outside the coach area (Sousuke/Kaname, Bob/Nagi, Roy/Hughes and Lee/Gai. In a nearby hotel, we see Sara/Yakumo, Saga/Reggina and Kotarou/Tamayo share a room…for a few hours – the other teams however simply decide to either wait in the lobby or walk around the place for a bit of exploring…but it’s soon race face…)

11.55PM – COACH STOP

(Shot of the midnight coach arriving…)

Hughes: We can hopefully get a few hours sleep on the coach…

Bob: Well, time to kick rear Nagi?

Nagi: (cracks knuckles) Indeed…

Kaname: (yawns) Machismo…

Koizumi VO: All teams are now boarding a coach for a ‘mystery’ location. The first coaching, departing at 00:00 contains Sousuke and Kaname, Bob and Nagi, and Roy and Hughes…

00:30

(Shot of Rally/May, Keiko/Izumi, Lee/Gai, Nanami/Jinnai, Miyu/Yamato and Tylor/Yamamoto entering the second coach…)

…the second coach, departing at 00:30, contains Rally and Minnie May, Keiko and Izumi, Lee and Gai, Nanami and Jinnai, Miyu and Yamato, and Tylor and Yamamoto.

(Finally, after having a bit more rest and getting to know time than the others, we see Sara/Yakumo, Saga/Reggina and Kotarou/Tamayo board the final coach at 01:00.)

…the last coach, departing at 01:00, contains Sara and Yakumo, Saga and Reggina, and Kotarou and Tamayo. None of the teams know where they are heading…or when they arrive.

9.00AM FOLLOWING MORNING

(We see the coach come to a slow down…outside a familiar school. Outside, it stops as the first three teams stir from whatever tiredness they were feeling…)

Kaname: (yawns) Huh…we’re…(groans)…

(The three teams exit, with Sousuke and Bob getting ahead, with Nagi faster than the other three, making the Tenjho Tenge team the first to the route marker in front of the school…)

Bob: O.K…head into the school…

Nagi: …and find three high school students…

(Back to Koizumi-kun, still smiling as he explains this route marker…)

Koizumi: Teams must head into the school, the infamous North High, and search the halls and classes for three students, Tamiguchi, Kunikida and Tsuruya. The teams are given photos to help them, but once they have found them, they must get a part of a clue signifying the infamous SOS Brigade. Once they found them, they must head to the SOS Brigade clubroom itself…

(Shot of a beautiful girl in a maid outfit with long pinkish hair, fairly ample bust and a very nervous looking face…)

Koizumi: …and hand them to our resident beautiful girl character, Mikuru Asahina. Once you’ve handed them over, you will receive your next clue…

BOB/NAGI – BEST FRIENDS – 1^ST PLACE

Bob: We rush?

Nagi: Hell yeah…

(Just behind are Roy and Hughes, who got ahead of Kaname to the route marker…)

ROY/HUGHES – BEST FRIENDS/WORKING PARTNERS – 2^ND PLACE

(The officers move as Kaname and Sousuke head in shortly after…)

(Inside the school however it’s quickly becoming a wild goose chase as Bob and Nagi find out…)

Bob: This is where I wish we stuck around class long enough to know the way around…

(The FMA pair on the other hand…)

Roy: We’ll find her first.

Hughes: You scare me…

(Roy slow enters the rooms and attempt his legendary charm…as Sousuke and Kaname, used to running the hallways, try the direct approach…)

Sousuke: Are any of these people in here?

Kaname: Please…

(After Sousuke scouts the class in record time, he summises that they aren’t there, and they escape, looking for another class…and it isn’t long before this covert operation rewards itself…)

Tsuruya: That’s right, no problems, that’s me!

(The ever hyperactive Tsuruya, trademark fang and accent is the first found down the hall in what seems to be a cosplay club. Kaname hands over the photo and Tsuruya hands over the word ‘ESPER’)

Kaname: This is what we need?

Tsuruya: Indeedies! Don’t ask me, but Mikuru-chan said it was important towards that club she’s in, so that’s that!

Sousuke: Affirmative. Chidori, we must find these other two.

(The two classmates run like a bat out of hell, the navigation of the schools a lot easier for this two…)

Kaname: Those four are all tough guys, and Sousuke can match them in speed, and whilst I’m fast, I can’t beat them. But here, they are in MY domain…and they won’t beat me…

Kaname: Dare I ask….why?

(Kunikida is a bit embarrassed inside the Video Club’s room, it seems that the ‘Adventures of Mikuru Asahina’ had been slipped into the schedule again, and it seems Tamiguchi has decided to get another glimpse…)

Tamiguchi: But it’s hard to find the parts where I’m in, dammit!

Kunikida: You just wanted to see Asahina-san in that outfit again right?

Tamiguchi: YOU’RE ONE TO TALK!

Kunikida: I’m discreet.

Kaname: AHEM! IF YOU DON’T GIVE ME THE CLUES NOW, THIS SCARY MAN WILL DO SOMETHING…NOT…NICE!!!

Sousuke: I’m afraid my guns were taken Chidori, so it’s back to unarmed combat right?

Tamiguchi/Kunikida: WE’RE SORRY, HERE!!!!

(They hand over the two clues ‘TIME-TRAVELLER’ and ‘ALIEN’. Tamiguchi nearly gets a glimpse up Kaname’s skirt when he bows, but the glare of Kaname puts him in his place…fortunately the two don’t waste much more time…)

Kaname: Now we have to find this SOS Brigade…

(Roy and Mustang PASS BY Tsuruya though to find the two boys (they seemed to hear Kaname)…fortunately due to the fear put in them minutes earlier (and Mustang being a scary dude himself), they give up the clues quickly…)

Roy: So now…

SOS-BRIGADE ROOM

Kaname: Got it!

(9.24am)

(Barely minutes before the second coach brings in it’s unruly folk, Sousuke and Kaname complete the first part and enter the room…)

(…there they are greeted by Mikuru-chan, her angelic smile beaming through…)

Mikuru: (bows) Welcome!

(…Mikuru hands her the clue…)

Mikuru: Here you go!

Kaname: Thanks! (tears clue) Detour…Long Shot or Close Up…

(We change presenters now as we change to lead male character, only known as Kyon, known for being the only ‘normal’ human in the show, yet his infamous quite wit and sarcastic barbs make the show what it is as much as a few certain other characters. He’s our next host…)

Kyon: A detour is a choice between two tasks – each with it’s own pros and cons. In this detour, teams must choose between two tasks involving two popular yet opposite members of the SOS Brigade…Long Shot or Close Up.

(A shot of a girl in another room with some computers. She’s quietly reading with one hand and in the other is making movements like she’s typing on a keyboard. Short light blue hair, cute, a bit eerie, this is Yuki Nagato, the SOS Brigades resident quiet character, bookworm, near silent alien.)

Kyon: In Long Shot, teams must go to the nearby Computer Club and play a game of the ‘Day of Sagittarius II’ against SOS Member Yuki Nagato. To win, teams must score one hit against her fleet. Once they hit her, they will receive their next clue. The task is tough, due to fact that Yuki is insanely good at this, but it is two against one, and if teams can work together, they can finish quickly. HOWEVER…

(…shot of Yuki obliterating the ENTIRE computer club again…)

Kyon: …when they lose…(coughs)…I mean IF they lose, and if teams are waiting, they must log out as it’s first come first serve and go to the back of the queue. Up to two teams can play her at a time however.

(Back to the SOS Brigade room, where Mikuru is flicking through a photo album looking embarrassed. Kyon goes red a little before continuing…)

Kyon: …in Close Up, teams must remain in the club room and will be provided photo albums the lucky bastards…I mean get photo albums of our resident angel, Mikuru Asahina-san, in her cosplay glory, taken by her ‘illustrious’ leader. Teams must find a single picture of Asahina-san holding the next clue. Once they’ve found the picture they will get the real clue. The task isn’t near-impossible like Nagato’s, however…

(Mikuru at this point puts down the dozen album books…all of them extremely thick…)

Kyon: …it could take a LONG time. Not like I’d mind that though…

(Immediately after seeing the long thick books…)

Kaname: We’re doing the shooting…it’s what you’re good at.

Sousuke: I’m familiar with simulations, this will be fine.

(The two head over to the computer club…)

COMPUTER CLUB

(Yuki is there, still reading. The Computer Club President is also there, trying hard not to get caught ogling Yuki as Kaname and Sousuke enter…)

President: So you want to challenge Nagato-san? You’re brave that’s for sure…

Kaname: Just hook this up please…

(The President complies – Yuki seeing her latest challengers simply nods as Sousuke and Kaname go through the motions…)

President: The screen is mostly blank but you can move your fleets around the area – you can try and track down the opposition of course – you have two ships to Nagato-san’s one and you just need to hit the mothership once…your ships can take about 8 strong hits or 16 quick hits before being destroyed.

Kaname: So we only need to hit her once?

President: Yep…

Kaname: Either we lucked out or we’re screwed…

(She glanced at Yuki whose hands are moving like lightning, and the game hasn’t even started yet…)

Kaname: We’re screwed…

(9.28am)

Nagi: Finally, never been so glad to find a girl!

Tsuruya: Hey, that was a way’s rude ya know?

Bob: Forgive my friend, he’s an idiot.

(The good news is that Bob and Nagi have found Tsuruya…the bad news…)

Nagi: …especially when supposed military officers NEED TO FOLLOW US…

Roy: It’s simply logic – know your enemy and avoid been seen to strike…

Hughes: In other words, he didn’t have a clue where to go…

Nagi: Gah, best get used to it…

Roy: O.K, we’re done, come on Hughes!

(Nagi nearly pops a vein…)

Nagi: Dammit, they’re done! Hey, where’s…

(Too late…they run like hell…)

Nagi: Bastards…

COMPUTER CLUB

(The game against Yuki is pretty much as you expected. Kaname and Sousuke slowly getting used to the controls, managing to take out a few of Yuki’s fleet…before she utterly annihilates them…)

Kaname: You’re kidding me?

(Fortunately, no-one in queue and Sousuke begins to use his military skills to effect - despite his limited computer skills, his military knowledge is a must for this. This time they are extremely cautious and able to hide behind a rush and block tactic. Yuki is still completely dominant, but Sousuke manages to get one hit on her when Kaname was defeated, Sousuke had about 3 small hits to take but he got the hit…)

Sousuke: Miss Nagato, I commend you on your excellent skills, I shall recommend you to Mithrill.

(Yuki is emotionless as always but…)

Yuki: Thank you.

(Yuki hands over the clue as Kaname smiles…)

Kaname: Head over to the infamous Itsuki mansion off the cliff face by boat and head towards the pit stop!!!

(Back to Kyon, as he explains the last part of the leg…)

Kyon: Teams must now head over to the port which is about 3 miles away, and then travelling using one of Koizumi’s ‘connections’ to an infamous mansion where we had so much fun one fateful night…once there, they must navigate the route on the cliff face and head towards the mansion, the first Pit Stop. The last team there…may be eliminated.

(As Sousuke and Kaname dash…)

9.30AM – COACH 2

(…6 teams vie for the right for the head of the middle pack. Gai and Lee however always have the speed advantage and spot the route marker quickly…)

Gai: Let’s go Lee!

Lee: Sir!

GAI/LEE – MASTER/STUDENT – 4^TH PLACE

Gai: So…we need to find these three people right?

Lee: It’s a basic training mission Gai-sensei, let’s go!

Gai: Indeed!

(The two ninjas rush ahead as Miyu and Yamato (in 5^th) look on in awe as Miyu reads the clue…)

Yamato: How the heck can be beat that?

Miyu: Brains Yamato-kun. Come on…

(The police officer and student move ahead as Rally/May and Nanami/Jinnai fit for 6^th place, with Izumi/Keiko in 8^th and Tylor/Yamamoto 9^th)

Yamamoto: This is the result of you skipping fitness tryouts…

Tylor: As captain, it’s my duty to skip meaningless events!

Yamamoto: IT WOULD HAVE HELPED HERE!

(Inside, Roy and Hughes have found the SOS Brigade…)

Hughes: Either fight off a person in a computer game or find a picture through thousands…well, I know which one we’re…

(Hughes turns. His partner has sat down next to Mikuru, already looking through the pictures…)

Roy: I must say whoever took these has a real sense of style…

(Hughes sweatdrops…)

Hughes: Roy may complain about me at times, but when it comes to work, I always get the job done. It was obvious to me that the shooting game was the faster option, but he took charge there for an option he deemed…much better…

(Hughes, unwilling as he is begins searching as Mikuru looks embarrassed…)

Roy: Why must you disturb me?

Nagi: So nurse outfits and cat ears are your thing huh?

Roy: HEY, THIS IS FOR A CLUE!!!

Mikuru: Auggghhh…

Nagi: (to himself) Well…she is pretty cute…

(Bob snaps him out of it…)

Bob: One, Maya will kill you. Two, Aya will kill you. Three, I WILL KILL YOU IF WE DON’T HURRY UP…

(Nagi comprehends that and picks up the clue…)

Nagi: Well…we don’t want to be like this old pervs…

(Roy glares at him…)

Nagi: See ya losers!

(Roy growls but Hughes sighs…the two are beginning to see the length of the task…)

(Lee and Gai’s strategy is simple…run as fast as they can…)

Lee: Maybe we should spend a little more time in the rooms…

Gai: I have emblazed the nature of these people in my minds and thus, it shall be easy to find them!!!

(Gai runs into another room as Miyu and Yamato along with Rally and May are running a bit ahead…)

Rally: The speed up was necessary!!!

Miyu: For the race?

May: No, just to get away from that Jinnai!

Miyu: Fair point…

(The teams begin searching, knowing that Teams Jinnai, Himuro and Tylor aren’t too far behind…)

Rally: The fact that 6 teams were on that coach for a long time made it easy to see who we can get along with and who to watch out…or in Miyu’s case, BOTH. The Jinnai’s and the mom/daughter pair seem lone wolfs, the captain and admiral are a riot together despite the captain’s attempt to hit on May…she’s got a boyfriend dammit…and the ninjas…they’re nuts. Freakin’ nuts…but strong.

(Despite Lee and Gai’s speed, it’s Miyu and Yamato (thanks to Miyu’s navigating through the classroom who get the first clue from Tsuruya…)

Tsuruya: Thank youse!

Miyu: Welcome!

(…followed by Rally and May who noticed Miyu being slower in one room…)

Miyu: I knew you’d spot that…

Rally: HA!

(So Miyu and Yamato let them pass…)

Rally: Huh?

(Miyu and Yamato now FOLLOW THEM…)

Rally: Dammit…

May: This is called competition…get used to it…

(At the shooting, Bob and Nagi are on their second attempt already after the obligatory destruction Yuki brings. Neither of them are Warcraft players, but they have good battle instincts. Their second attempts manages to get them into Yuki’s playing field, but again Yuki blasts them out of the sky…)

Nagi: This chick is tough!

Bob: You shouldn’t be too surprised…

Nagi: Now that you mention it…

(Fortunately with everyone still behind they get to log on and try a third time. This time they use force from Nagi and Bob uses a fleet to the side and manages to get one good diagonal shot to scratch Yuki.)

President: Good enough. Nagato?

(Yuki nods and hands the two boys the clue…)

BOB/NAGI – BEST FRIENDS – 2^ND PLACE

Bob: Let’s see…(reads)…so we need to head over to the port…

(Suddenly, Rock Lee and Gai emerge in front of them…)

Nagi: GAH!

Bob: Already…

Lee: Actually…

(Suddenly Lee does a bowing pose)

Lee: …we need to find these people!!!

(Both facefault…Bob points in the random direction of where the three are and they move…)

Nagi: Why’d you help ‘em?

Bob: If they passed them by here and didn’t find them, they’re already screwed. Come on…

(Shot of Tylor and Yamamoto grabbing Tsuruya’s clue…)

Tylor: Always charmed, you would be a welcome addition on the Soyokaze…

Tsuruya: Ah, you make a girl blush y’know?

(…whilst the Himuro’s first find Kyon’s two stooges…)

Izumi: Two options. Clue or die.

(That works…meanwhile, team Jinnai…)

Nanami: I’m sorry for my brother, he’ll shut up for a while now so can I have the clue pretty please?

Tsuruya: No prob, no prob!

(Nanami’s headlock keeps Jinnai at bay as Lee and Gai pass the Himuro’s, and head into the video room…)

Izumi: They didn’t find it…but we need to find the other girl now…

Keiko: They must be back there…

Miyu: Thanks guys!

(Izumi and Keiko realise they’ve been standing outside the video room and Miyu, Yamato, Rally and May immediately make a bee line. Keiko shakes her head…)

Keiko: Mistake…

Izumi: Not now mom – let’s run!

MEANWHILE…

Roy: I never thought I’d get annoyed at looking at so many girls…

Hughes: Now can we do the other one?

Roy: Not yet, we’ve gone through half already and I would have spotted it…come on keep going…

OUTSIDE (9.50AM)

(Shot of Nagi and Bob getting a cab…whilst just ahead, Sousuke and Kaname are already on their way…)

Kaname: The port, just off here?

Driver: Yes ma’am.

(The two turn into the port and see the ferry stop. They head off, pay the man and look for the times…)

Kaname: Every 20 minutes from 10am…(she looks at the clock)…10 minutes left, we could get ahead of everyone good here, come on Sousuke!

(The two rush to purchase as a boat comes in. Fortunately, they are way on time…now they need to wait to see if anyone else will be joining them…)

SOS BRIGADE

Miyu: You guys are still here!!!

Roy: Give us a break!

Miyu: Well, that makes things easier…that and I don’t want Yamato-kun to look at another girl…

(Mikuru actually breathes a sigh of relief, even more so when Rally and May also choose Long Shot.)

Rally: Shooting game vs. girl ogling? Does the world think I’m a lesbian or something?

(Cue silence…)

(Tylor gets the final part from the two stooges, just as Izumi and Keiko run past them…)

Izumi: That brother and sister aren’t too far behind…faster mother!

Keiko: I will!

(Tylor and Yamamoto take that moment to also move fast and indeed, they do. Unfortunately, the Jinnai spot them leaving the room and enter as well…)

LONG SHOT DETOUR – MIYU/YAMATO AND RALLY/MAY

Rally: Heh, let’s see you two beat me at this…

Miyu: You forget that Yamato-kun is a police officer?

Rally: Police?! (shudders) Makes it even more fun…

(The two teams get to face Yuki, and as two teams can be played, it’s 4 on 1. However, that doesn’t mean Yuki is all the less awesome because of the handicap. In fact, it’s just as big as an annihilation as before, as Rally hadn’t countered on the fact she has to use OTHER things other than herself and her guns. )

Rally: Do you want to say it or shall I?

Miyu: Together?

Rally/Miyu: Crap.

(And following them…)

Izumi: The fact those two are still there means it’s not worth it, let’s shoot.

Jinnai: Perfect, the chance of mass destruction!!!

Yamamoto: Indeed, let’s…

(Tylor has already sat down next to Mikuru…)

Yamamoto: CAPTAIN!

Tylor: Hey, no big deal. Gorgeous girl, lots of pictures, what more do you want?

(Mikuru is (rightfully) frightened as Roy screams…)

Roy: Dammit, whoever took these pictures must have a real thing for you Mikuru…

(Mikuru is even MORE scared hearing that…)

Hughes: GOT IT!

(Hughes finally gets lucky and finds the picture of Mikuru as a cat-girl holding the clue…)

Hughes: Thank god!

(Mikuru hands them over the clue…)

Roy: I’ll leave you guys to search, ha!

Tylor: Well, I would have fun but…

(Shot of Tylor opening an album. He’s hit the page exactly where a clue is – this time Mikuru has her famous waitress outfit during the ‘God Bless’ ep. Hughes and Roy’s mouth drop…)

Roy: THAT TOOK US NEARLY AN HOUR!!!!

Tylor: Lucky or unlucky?

(Yamamoto’s mouth is also like a fish, but Mikuru hands them the clue as well…)

ROY/HUGHES AND TYLOR/YAMAMOTO – JOINT 3^RD

(Finally, everyone recovers – Roy and Hughes have the speed advantage, but here, it was obvious what came here…)

Roy: That guy…Tylor…is cursed with the best luck in the world! How the hell did he…

Yamamoto: As I always say, I can’t tell whether he’s a genius or an idiot…

Tylor: Nuts! Only got to look at two pages…

(9.55am)

(Shot of Rally/May getting their clue as Miyu and Yamato follow a couple of minutes later…)

Rally: That Yuki…she’s not Russian is she?

(Rally and May suddenly see the ninjas run towards the computer club, THEN they see Miyu and Yamato EXIT the club, and then ahead, both Himuros and Jinnai’s running towards the SOS Brigade…)

Rally: This is cutting everything close…

May: 3 Teams haven’t even made it here yet remember…

Rally: Oh yeah! Phew…

10.00AM

(PORT)

(Shot of Bob and Nagi in vain heading to the port to get the tickets for the 10am spot…instead, they watch in agony as Kaname and Sousuke increase their lead…)

Nagi: Dammit!

(On the boat, Kaname breathes a sigh of relief…)

Kaname: Dare I say it, we’re doing good so far…

Nagi: Dare I say it…our luck sucks…

OUTSIDE SCHOOL – COACH 3

(Shot of the three remaining teams heading out of the coach, all looking surprisingly calm despite the obvious problem…the three teams exit, Yakumo and Sara bow to both teams, Saga shakes hands with Kotarou and Tamayo, hugs Sara, and Reggina nods to all the younger members. With that, they start running…with Tamayo and Kotarou taking the lead…)

TAMAYO/KOTAROU – CHILDHOOD FRIENDS - 10^TH PLACE

Tamayo: Yakumo is faster than us, but the others are slower! Come on Kotarou-chan!

SARA/YAKUMO – BEST FRIENDS – 11^TH PLACE

Yakumo: Sara…

(Sara’s ears gain fire as she speeds up…the Layer duo get to the clue first though…)

Tamayo: Yosha! Time to mingle!

(Yakumo reads the clue…)

Yakumo: We need to get in there…

Sara: I’m O.K, let’s go!

(The two run in as Saga and Reggina arrive last. However…)

Saga: Grandma?

Reggina: Yes?

Saga: We’re are physically the weakest team in the race – at this point, there is no question we’re going to be eliminated.

(Reggina is about to speak, but sighs…)

Reggina: You never mince words do you dear?

(Saga smiles…)

Saga: So in that case, let’s make sure we stay as far ahead as we can and enjoy this.

(Saga picks up ANOTHER envelope as Reggina’s eyes widen slightly…)

Reggina: Already?

Saga: I’d rather get a chance to survive than die at the first hurdle…it may not be the smartest decision, but it’s better than the alternative…

(Reggina smiles…)

Reggina: Wise beyond your years aren’t you granddaughter?

Saga: (blushing) Oh grandma…

(They open the other envelope…the fast forward.)

(We now turn to quite possibly the most popular character in anime in the shortest amount of time since her debut, the legendary Haruhi Suzumiya herself. She’s in her regular hairstyle (cropped) wearing a casual yellow T-Shirt and shorts. She LOOKS like an ordinary school girl, but ordinary is the last thing you’d call this girl. Eccentric, persuasive, fussy – she has her own way of life. The leader of the SOS-dan, with the majority of members interested in her for their own agendas, she takes over from Kyon as the next host…)

Haruhi: There’s only one fast forward in each leg of the race you bozos! Teams that complete the fast forward can skip all tasks and head straight to the Pit Stop! However, teams can only use the fast forward once per race, so they must decide when it’s most advantageous to use it…

(Shot of a nearby house down the road, actually Kyon’s house. Here, we meet an adorable young girl with a cat perched on her head. Haruhi explains…)

Haruhi: In this fast forward, teams must head over to that minion Kyon’s house and find the cat called Shamisen used in our Oscar nominating…well, it should be…movie of the adventures of Mikuru-chan! Once they get the clue from the cat’s collar, Imouto-chan, a.k.a. Kyon’s little sister, will give you the fast forward!

(Reggina goes to a phone box, but realises that she has trouble reading Japanese to call a taxi. Fortunately, the numbers are easily readable to a taxi company in the business cards, and Saga speaks enough Japanese to get them by…)

COMPUTER CLUB

Jinnai: YA-HA! WE’RE INVINCIBLE!

Nanami: You can say that after 5 attempts?

Jinnai: We’re ahead of the ninjas aren’t we?!!!

Nanami: Those baseball girls got it on their first try!!!

Jinnai: Always nitpicking my dear sister…

(Shot of Izumi and Keiko with a good lead catching a taxi, all smiles.)

Izumi: It was obvious why people could struggle – head on doesn’t work against a strategist like this Nagato. I’m used to strategy, as is my mother. We were hit hard, but not hard enough…

(Back in the comp room, Lee and Gai’s strategy of hitting them as hard as possible is failing mightily. However, Gai and Lee are nothing if persistent, and they finally hit Yuki just from pure speed…and a bit of luck…)

Gai: So far, all our strengths have been neglected. It’s obvious this game requires much more than physical gifts…and we need to get that part of the game sorted before it costs us…

10.15AM – PORT

(Shot of Roy/Hughes and Tylor/Yamamoto emerging from separate cabs as Roy scowls seeing Bob and Nagi there…)

Roy: I dunno if I should be happy or not meeting you here…

Nagi: (smirks) I suggest you start thinking rather than bad mouthing…

(Hughes quickly sees the notice…plus the ferry coming up and Nagi and Bob in a queue to get on…)

Hughes: Roy, hurry up!!!

(Roy notices, but not before sharp eyed Yamamoto is already on his way to purchase his tickets. Nagi smirks again…)

Sara: Thank you very much!

SARA/YAKUMO – 10^TH PLACE

(The high school environment favours the 16 year old girls more than the 12 year old school chums, and they have discovered Tsuruya as well as the two guys (who made Yakumo move faster after reading their thoughts on her), however Tamayo and Kotarou are catching up…)

Tamayo: There’s Yakumon!!!

(Yakumo nearly facefaults at this but begin to run to find the SOS Brigade)

Kotarou: They must have found the last clues in these rooms…

(The childhood friends rush in, and on their second room (the video room) get the clues from Tamiguchi and Kunikida (much quicker pace, even Tamiguchi isn't that bad) and follow the two older girls…)

(Mikuru greets them as Sara and Yakumo grab the clue…)

Sara: Detour…close up or long shot…

Yakumo: Shooting game?

Sara: Well, I’m pretty good at shooting, but not at games…(looks at the other one)…looking at cosplay?

(Sara smiles slyly…)

Sara: You’d be in your element here Yakumo!

(Yakumo blushes as her part time job comes up, but she nods…)

Yakumo: Nee-san is the gamer…

Sara: Let’s search.

(Mikuru seems to be relieved two girls are looking through the pictures…)

Kotarou: Sara-san and Yakumo-san are…looking through photos?

(Tamayo takes one glance at the photos…)

Tamayo: Don’t care what it is…let’s do the other one…

Kotarou: Huh, why?

(Tamayo turns her head to avoid Kotarou seeing her face, but Sara sees it…)

Sara: It’s because, Kotarou-san…

Tamayo: SARA-SAN!!!

(Sara giggles, but Kotarou does agree with her…)

Kotarou: Yeah, let’s do the other one. Beat a girl at a video game…can’t be that hard…

Tamayo: Let’s go…please!!!!

(They leave as the race is on for last place…because…)

KYON’S HOUSE

(Kyon’s house wasn’t too far once the German girls got the taxi as a minute prior to 20 past they get there…)

Reggina: Wait here please…

(The taxi does as they knock the door…and greets by Kyon’s sister (she is called that, her real name is as of yet, not known), small, genki and cute in pig tails.)

Imouto-chan: Hi, you here for the fast forward?

Reggina: Yes dear…

Imouto-chan: O.K, go for it!

(Saga rushes in as they begin to search for the cat…)

Nagi: Lucky bast…

Hughes: As long as Alicia-chan is here with spirit, you will refrain from profanity!

Tylor: Yeah, no swearing either!

Yamamoto: Oh boy…

(All 3 teams managed to get onto the ferry, so currently tied for 2^nd place…as we see down the road, Miyu and Yamato along with Rally and May trying to get past each other…)

Rally: If this was a real race, they wouldn’t stand a chance…but here…

May: Ego stroke later, beat those two first…

Miyu: Remember Yamato-kun, here it’s O.K to go fast as long as it doesn’t break the law…

Yamato: It’s weird…I’m so used to riding my bike that this is a different type of territory for me…

(Miyu sweatdrops…)

(Shot of Lee and Gai entering a cab, trailing the El Hazard team…)

Jinnai: They caught up?

NANAMI/JINNAI AND LEE/GAI (8^TH AND 9^TH RESPECTIVELY)

Lee: The waiting game isn’t good for us Gai-sensei…

Gai: If we knew where we were going we’d be much better on foot…unfortunately that’s not the case…

(Just ahead of them…)

IZUMI/KEIKO – 7^TH PLACE

Izumi: O.K mother…I think we’re there…

(Indeed they’ve arrive at port – it’s 10.30…)

Izumi: (smiles) Looks like we’ve got competition…

(The mother and daughter escape as Miyu and Yamato with Rally and May already have their tickets for the port. Sharp eyed Izumi immediately notices and she and Keiko begin heading towards the ticket master…)

Rally: Great, the mom and daughter are here…

(Miyu looks a little sad about that…)

Miyu: (whispering) At least her mom is with her…

KYON’S HOUSE

(Shot of imouto-chan cheering on Saga who is doing all the running around the house trying to catch that darn cat. Reggina, not a runner simply waits outside the stairs as Saga chases Shamisen.)

Saga: Why am I used to this?

(Fairy chasing aside, the cat jumps down the rails to avoid Saga but straight into the arms of Reggina. Saga runs down and grabs the fast forward from it’s collar…)

Saga: Got it!

Imouto-chan: Congratulations! (she hands them the fast forward, Saga and Reggina open it…)

Saga: Congratulations, you’ve won the Fast Forward – head straight to Itsuki’s mansion via the port, the Pit Stop for this leg of the race.

(Cut back to our SOS dan leader…)

Haruhi: Having won the Fast Forward, Saga and Reggina can skip all tasks and head straight to the Pit Stop, Koizumi-kun’s mansion where we had a mysterious time!

Reggina: Let’s go dear!

(They run, but one quizzical comment…)

Saga: I could have sworn I heard that cat talk…

(Saga ignores that thought and runs…)

10.40AM

(Shot of Rally, May, Miyu, Yamato, Izumi and Keiko on the ferry…giving a smirk to the two cabs on their way in the distance…)

Rally: That has to be the ninjas and that brother/sister pair…

(Shot of Jinnai and Nanami escaping first, and see their fate…)

Jinnai: DAMMIT!

Nanami: (sighs) Now we have to hope that the other three teams don’t catch up, otherwise we’re screwed.

Gai: AH, YOU’RE ENJOYING YOUR YOUTH?!!!

(Gai’s ‘dynamic entry’ doesn’t seem to lift the spirit of the Jinnai’s…)

Nanami: Correction, we’re already screwed…

COMPUTER CLUB

Tamayo: …please tell me that just didn’t happen…

Kotarou: I could, but I would be lying.

(Yuki had already obliterated the two Layer reps twice…)

Tamayo: Enough moaning, Yakumon hasn’t passed us so start blasting!

(Kotarou does but against Yuki’s defence, just blasting through is no use…)

SOS-DAN ROOM

Sara: You’re good at this…

(Yakumo is going through the pages with great speed, her natural skill as a cosplayer at her job is making her seemingly know Mikuru who (not by choice) seems to have acquired the skills of a talented cosplay waitress herself…)

Yakumo: Let’s see…

(Yakumo keeps flipping through…)

10.45AM

CLIFF FACE – KOIZUMI’S MANSION

(Shot of Kaname and Chidori docking off, as they read the clue carefully…)

Kaname: We need to navigate the marked path and go through the cliff face…

(Kaname looks up…)

Kaname: Oh dear…

(Fortunately, two of Itsuki’s fellow workers are there and begin setting things up (Sousuke does his himself, Kaname isn’t too far behind though).)

Sousuke: Chidori, go on ahead…

Kaname: Sure…(pauses)…eh, why?

Sousuke: Just to be safe. Go.

(Kaname looks a little miffed, but then realises…)

Kaname: Sure.

(Kaname begins moving…)

10.55AM

(It’s all quiet at the Western front. It’s obvious the Jinnais don’t want to speak to Gai and Lee, which makes them shut up…but suddenly the sound of a vehicle catches them off guard…)

Jinnai: You’re kidding me?

(Indeed…a taxi comes up…containing…)

Saga: Thank you!

Reggina: Come on dear!

(Saga and Reggina see the port, the upcoming boat…put two and two together…)

Saga: I’ll get them grandma!

(Saga isn’t too fast, as Jinnai laughs…)

Jinnai: Despite your efforts, you will fail!

(Nanami grits her teeth…)

Nanami: (to herself) Sure, it’s for the money, but to a little girl…

(Suddenly, Saga squeals. Lee has picked her up and speed jumps to the ticketmaster…)

Saga: What are you d…

Lee: Young lady, it’s a competition…but I refuse to let a little time defeat you after getting this far after such adversity…

(Saga blushes…)

Saga: Th-thank you…

(Saga buys her ticket, hops on Lee’s back and makes it with time to spare…)

Reggina: Your student is really nice isn’t he?

Gai: He is, he is the handsome devil of Konoha village!

(Saga bows, thanking Lee as Lee just smiles. Jinnai is pissed…)

Jinnai: Those ninja idiots! This is a competition where adversaries need to be crushed, and they let two more bugs actually get in line with us when they could have been left behind…idiocy!

COMPUTER CLUB…

(6^th attempt…and Kotarou seems to have been getting the hand of it. Tamayo is used as a divertion and she rushes in and he slinks to the side…)

SOS-DAN

(…whilst Yakumo is again speed flicking…)

(Kotarou gets a hit…at the same time Yakumo gets a picture of Mikuru with a clue…)

Yakumo/Kotarou: GOT IT!

(In pretty much the same time, they get their clues off Yuki and Yakumo respectively…and run like hell…)

Tamayo: Did the girls get ahead?

Sara: (shouts) Not yet!

(They turn to see Sara and Yakumo…and closing fast…)

Tamayo: Ah nuts! Run like you’ve never run before Kotarou-chan!!!

(They do, as the elder girls follow up…)

Sara: Where’d Saga-chan and Reggina-san go?

Yakumo: I don’t know…

(Sara looks a little sad…but has no choice…she picks up speed…)

11.00AM

(Shot of Sousuke and Kaname on the cliff face…it’s a long climb, plus they have to navigate some narrow paths. Sousuke grabs Kaname’s hand as they move across the path…)

Sousuke: Chidori…another ferry is coming…

(The two move to a safe piece of rock, and see the familiar uniforms of Roy and Hughes…)

Kaname: At least that doting dad and that pervert officer are on there…let’s move…

(They climb up the next part, with about two faces to go before a run to the mansion. As they get closer, Bob, Nagi, Roy and Hughes run…)

Roy: Climbing?

Nagi: See you guys up top then!!!

(Nagi and Bob are first with their equipment on, as Roy and Hughes have a harder job and need a bit of help. Bob is a natural on the slopes, and Nagi isn’t too far behind…)

11.08AM

PIT STOP – ITSUKI MANSION

(Shot of Kaname and Sousuke running like hell. At the Pit Stop waiting are Yuko and Haruhi as the first pit stop mat with the words ‘MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA’ are showing. It seems Haruhi is in full conversation with Yuko…not surprising really…)

(Sousuke and Kaname land on the mat…)

Sousuke: We have arrived at our destination…

Yuko: Kaname and Sousuke…

(Pause…)

Yuko: …you are the first team to arrive.

(Kaname screams out loud to celebrate…but…)

Yuko: However…you have received a penalty for going above the speed limit – which has invoked a 30 minute penalty.

(Kaname looks stunned – we flashback to their early driving to the main square where Sousuke overstepped the speed limit on more than one occasion…she glares daggers at Sousuke as she did warn him.)

Haruhi: So we need you two idiots to move to the side and wait half an hour until your penalty has gone…

(Kaname looks at the cliff, knowing two teams were 20 minutes behind…)

Kaname: Crap…

(Crap is right as Bob and Nagi skillfully climb up within 10 minutes…Sousuke was as fast, but Kaname was a little behind, meaning the gap closed within a second…)

11.18AM

Kaname: Damn…

(Bob and Nagi run…and hit the Pit Stop mat…)

Yuko: Bob and Nagi…you’re the second team to arrive.

Nagi: (smiles) Good enough.

Yuko: However, due to a time penalty by Sousuke and Kaname, they were docked 30 minutes when they came in…and because of that…

Haruhi: …YOU’RE TEAM NUMBER ONE!

(Nagi looks stunned, but Bob smiles.)

Bob: Excellent!

Nagi: WE KICK ASS BOB!!!

(The two high five as Kaname stews in anger…)

Nagi: Not quite the way I wanted to get in first – rather just steamroller the opposition rather than win by someone’s lame ass mistakes. But I’ll take what I get, and what I got here was number one!

11.20AM

(Shot of the last two teams – unaware of Saga/Reggina’s FF – hopping aboard the last ferry…)

SARA/YAKUMO AND TAMAYO/KOTAROU – JOINT LAST PLACE

Sara: This is nervewracking…we were on the boat, feeling a little calm, but it suddenly struck me…

Tamayo: Looks guys, it sucks that the grandma and granddaughter are behind, but we need to win as much as anyone does…

Kotarou: Tamayo…

Sara: Y-yeah…I…I guess I’ll just miss Saga…we didn’t know each other long…

Tamayo: It sucks girlfriend, but we need to win…

(Sara looks nervously at them, then at Yakumo and whispers something to Yakumo. Yakumo nods as they resume looking for the island, as Kotarou and Tamayo jabber on…)

Hughes: We’re so out of shape!!!

11.25am

Roy: Excuse me, I’m near the top and you’re half way up…uh oh…

Hughes: That didn’t sound good…

Roy: We’ve got company…

(Shot of the next pack, namely the Gunslinger Girls (Rally/May) and the next Mrs Kotobuki (Miyu/Yamato)…and one team certainly isn’t liking this…)

Yamamoto: Captain, hurry up!

(Yamamoto is just ahead of Hughes, but Tylor is languishing behind…not used to physical trials like this, he’s very slowly moving…)

Yamamoto: Damn it, get motivated…

Tylor: This isn’t what I came for…

Miyu: (distant) Yamato-kun, we’re still in with a chance!

Rally: (distant) May, don’t let those two get ahead…

(Tylor hurries up…)

Tylor: Being chased by pretty girls and the prospect of doing well here…that will do it…

11.33AM

(Hughes finally craws his rear up…)

Kaname: Dammit…

Hughes: Now…you see…why I’m…more suited…to office work…

Yuko: (smiles) Roy Mustang…Maes Hughes…you’re the third team to arrive.

Roy: (smiles) That will do for starters.

Haruhi: However, due to those two being idiots, they had a 30 minute penalty, so you two are team number two!!!

Roy: (surprised) Really?

Hughes: Excellent! Now, Miss Suzumiya…

(Before Hughes can go into Alicia mode, Haruhi has already cornered Roy…)

Haruhi: So how do you do those tricks with fire? Magic? Technology? Are you an alien from Mars rebuilt as a human with the ability of flames to take over this world?

(Roy looks absolutely perplexed…)

Roy: First time ever I’ve wanted to be AWAY from a pretty girl…

(5 minutes later…)

Kaname: Almost worth it just to watch that girl scare Mustang…but not quite…

Sousuke: A minor setback Chidori…

Kaname: (growls) Better not be too many of those…

11.38am

Yuko: Sousuke and Kaname, you are team number three.

(Kaname huffs a bit but sighs…)

Kaname: Still pretty good in the end, but could have been so much better…

11.42am

Tylor: (out of breath) Those voices…chased me up…women are scary…

(Shot of the irresponsible captain exhausted as Yuko chuckles…)

Yuko: My my…tired are we?

Yamamoto: Don’t ask…

Haruhi: Old man Yamamoto and scrawny Tylor, you are team number 4…

Yamamoto: And that line officially made sure he didn’t hit on her…

Tylor: …so miss, name, address and phone number please?!!!

Yamamoto: Maybe not…

11.45am

(Shot of Miyu and Yamato nearly at the top with May struggling as Rally is keeping pace whilst Keiko is really struggling whilst Izumi is keeping with pace and then they hear…)

Jinnai: MWHAHAHAHAHAHA! We’re here!!!

Nanami: So, we hook up into those things?

(Lee and Gai however see it and smile…)

Gai: Can we just go on ahead?

Tech 1: Well, sure, if you can…

(Gai and Lee immediately jump up the cliff, making ninja jumps to catch up to Rally/May immediately, and Miyu and Yamato are about to be passed…)

Miyu: Holy…

Saga: Grandma, we can skip this right?

Reggina: It said skip ALL tasks…so…

Tech 2: Go around the cliff and across the hills there, if you took the fast forward…

Miyu: Not again!

Yamato: Hurry Miyu!!!

Izumi: Mother, if you needed any incentive, now will do!

Miyu: And if you need any more incentive to climb faster, that guys voice is chasing us!

Rally: Thanks for the warning!!!!

(Nanami has already taken a couple of paces up – Jinnai finally gets his act together and begins to move…)

11.50am

Gai: We made good time Lee!

Lee: Sensei!

(The two jump on the mat…)

Haruhi: You’ve got to teach me how you do that…

Yuko: Gai and Rock Lee, you are team number 5!!!

Gai: (thumbs up) Lee!

Lee: (Overemotional) GAI-SENSEI!

(Cue the hug and the sunset…)

11.54am

Saga: I…don’t think we can do that…

Reggina: I’m grateful they helped us, a few minutes ahead was less than what I was expecting…

Saga: (smiling) Oh grandma…

Haruhi: Reggina-obachan and Saga-imouto-chan, you are team number 6…

(They hug, not with the emotional scene in the background, but they are happy…)

11.58am

(Shot of Miyu and Yamato struggling onto the mat, but satisfied…)

Miyu: It would have been romantic in a different setting, rock climbing side by side…

Haruhi: Sentimental stuff…

Yuko: Miyu and Yamato, you are team number 7…

12.03PM

(Shot of Rally and May making it…)

May: That…was hard…

Rally: We need to get used to the physical side of the game May…just hang in there…

Yuko: I think she was…

Haruhi: Gunslinger duo, you are team number 8…

12.05PM

(Keiko has got into gear to try and keep ahead of Nanami and Jinnai. Izumi is on the top of the cliff and Keiko is still ahead, but she is slow, and the other two are catching up…)

(…and worse news…)

Izumi: Oh no…mother!!!

(Shot of the last ferry coming up, and docking off are Sara and Yakumo as well as Tamayo and Kotarou.)

Izumi: Everyone’s here now!!!

Jinnai: No, they can’t ruin this game now!!!

Nanami: Shut up and climb!

(The siblings do so, as Keiko inches higher. On the lines, the four trailing begin to hook up…)

Tamayo: We just need to keep in pace…

Kotarou: We should be alright…

Yakumo: Sara…

Sara: Go, I’ll catch up!

(Yakumo is already mounted and climbs at a fast pace. The sight of Yakumo’s speed makes Keiko and the Jinnais already nervous…)

Izumi: Mother, ignore them and just carry on!

(Keiko steadily moves up, as the Jinnai’s keep one eye on her and the other on a trailblazing Yakumo. Sara is hooked up on the same time as the Angelic Layer duo, and she immediately speeds up…)

Yakumo: Sara…

Sara: I can climb, don’t worry, just get up there!

(Kotarou and Tamayo see Sara moving fast as they begin to move…)

Kotarou: I don’t think we should go too fast…considering that Saga-chan and Reggina-san are…

(Izumi hears that…)

Izumi: Oh dear…

(Shot of the remaining 4 teams on the cliff, as Yakumo catches close to Jinnai, however Sara is still a bit behind – Keiko is really struggling as the youngest duo realise this requires a lot more strength and manoeuvre skills than they thought…)

(Finally, Izumi reaches a hand out and grabs her mother’s. Keiko tightly grips it and pulls it up…)

Keiko: I’m…sorry…Izumi…

Izumi: Just a little further mom…

(The two begin to run…)

12.11PM

(Izumi and an exhausted Keiko land on the mat…)

Yuko: Rough day?

Keiko: I…usually let my daughter prove herself on the physical aspects of competition…

Yuko: Well, Izumi and Keiko, you are…rather appropriately, team number 9.

(Izumi doesn’t say anything as Keiko sits down to rest…)

(Back on the cliff, Yakumo has nearly caught up with the Jinnais, but the time advantage was too much and they crawl themselves up the cliff and onto ground and begin to run. Sara has about a 2 metre lead ahead of Kotarou and Tamayo…)

Sara: Get to the top Yakumo and get ready to run!

(Yakumo nods as Tamayo suddenly feels something…)

Tamayo: Sara-chan is giving it her all, she’s getting ahead…is she afraid she’s going to go?

Kotarou: But Saga and Reggina are way behind…right?

(Hearing that, Sara speeds up as much as she can. The moment of pause then becomes reality as Tamayo realises…)

Tamayo: OH S***!

Kotarou: What?

Tamayo: Kotarou-chan, move fast, fast as you possibly can!

Kotarou: Why?!!!

Tamayo: Two words…FAST FORWARD! What if Saga-chan took it?!!!

(Kotarou looks like he’s seen – or in this case heard – a ghost…)

Kotarou: T-this early…

Tamayo: If they thought they’d lose, they’d take it…that’s why Sara-chan is going fast – she thinks they took the FF, so it’s down to us two Kotarou-chan if that’s true! Just pray it isn’t!!!

Kotarou: Moving on now Tamayo!!!

(Kotarou and Tamayo are more athletic than Sara, but the increased speed and gap is making this a losing battle…)

12.25PM

(The Jinnai’s arrive, exhausted…)

Jinnai: This…is all…for conquest…

Nanami: This…is all…about the money…

Haruhi: (mockingly) This is …all about…10^th place…

Yuko: As she said, Katsuhiko and Nanami, you are team number 10.

Jinnai: Start…from the back, and edge to the front…

(On the cliff, Yakumo is on the top as Tamayo and Kotarou slowly edge towards Sara…but…)

(…Tamayo slips.)

Tamayo: No!!!

(Tamayo puts her foot on the cliff and regains composure and climbs up, but that moment was enough. Sara takes a lead again, as she slowly edges up, and grabs her best friends’ hand.)

Yakumo: Let’s go…

Sara: Wait…

(Sara turns and makes the motion of the cross on her chest, kneels slowly in a praying step, and whispers ‘I’m sorry.’ She and Yakumo then tonzure…)

Tamayo: DAMMIT!!!

(Tamayo begins to cry…)

Kotarou: DON’T LOSE HOPE DAMMIT! SAGA AND REGGINA MAY NOT HAVE TAKEN THE FAST FORWARD!!!

Tamayo: Kotarou-chan…

Kotarou: Any hope works now…so don’t you dare fail me now!!!

(Kotarou reaches out his hand. Tamayo blushes as she grabs it and he slowly guides her back up the cliff…)

Kotarou: Now, let’s go…one step at a time.

Tamayo: O…O.K…

(They do so…)

12.35PM

Yakumo: It’s there…

Sara: Good…

(The two land on the mat, tired…)

Haruhi: OH MY GOD, IT’S YOU! HEY, YAKUMO-SAN, HOW YOU DO THAT TRICK WITH THE ESP?!!!

(Yakumo looks like a deer with headlights. Sara looks confused as Yakumo tries to hide. Yuko shakes her head…)

Yuko: I suggest you find somewhere to hide tonight, but Yakumo and Sara, you are team number 11.

Sara: (sighs) I knew it…I’m sorry you guys…

Haruhi: …SO IT WORKS JUST WITH BOYS THEN FOR YOU? STILL THAT’S BETTER THAN NOTHING…SO WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET THIS GIFT…

(…actually, feel sorry for Yakumo more…)

12.40PM

(Shot of Tamayo and Kotarou still holding hands as they run to the mat…)

Tamayo: O.K…let’s hear it…

Haruhi: Welcome to the end of the Haruhi Suzumiya leg…

Yuko: Tamayo and Kotarou…

(Dramatic pause…)

Yuko: …you’re the last team to arrive.

(Tamayo’s face turns pale, and she goes down to her knees. Tears form as Kotarou looks on stern but knowing.)

Yuko: I’m sorry to tell you both have been eliminated from the race.

(Tamayo begins to sob…Kotarou kneels down and hugs her. Tamayo immediately latches onto him as Kotarou smiles…)

Kotarou: It’s O.K…it’s O.K…

Tamayo: (crying) I…I thought we’d do so well…and right here…we go…I…I’m sorry Kotarou-chan…

Kotarou: What is there to be sorry about? We tried and we lost…that’s all. We had a good time whilst it lasted, and now we can go home and enjoy our lives as they are…

(Tamayo stops crying…)

Tamayo: Kotarou-chan…

(Yuko looks on chuckling…)

Yuko: As short as it was, I wonder if you found something between you two in this race…

Kotarou: W-what?!!!

Tamayo: (wipes her eyes and lets out a small giggle) Oh Kotarou-chan…

(She does a bear hug…)

Tamayo: …sometimes you say cool things!!!

Kotarou: C-can’t breathe…

(Laughter all round…)

Tamayo: I was upset…I never thought we’d be gone so soon. We made a stupid mental error, set ourselves to lose…and it happened. Yet, I don’t feel bad about it now.

Kotarou: It could happen to anyone, and I’m sure it will in the end, but the bond between childhood friends is hard to break. And…well…

Tamayo: Kotarou-chan, if you start flirting with me, I’ll tell Misakichi!

Kotarou: I-IT WASN’T LIKE THAT!!!

(Tamayo turns around and a small blush appears on her face…)

Tamayo: (quietly) Of course…

NEXT TIME ON THE ANIM-AZING RACE;

· A marked path into a beautiful world…or is it?

· A true test of teamwork when teams have to be in synch with each other and their ride – who can handle this tricky task…especially considering it’s needed for the WHOLE leg?

· And in a town where people are afraid where people can read their thoughts, and another where literature can be condemned, can some teams handle the toughness of a worlds where a journey can be both the best and worst things you can do?

1 down…

I’m going to not do too much with the notes other than explain the legs and the elimination. I’m sure eagle eyed readers will see many of the in-jokes in the chapter so I won’t explain them.

SO to start, what better leg than Haruhi? Quite easily the most anticipated show this year after it’s late licence last year – one of the most fun series in 2006 – funny, charming yet unusual characters, an hilarious lead in Kyon…or Haruhi, whichever you prefer they both crack me up – and a ‘plot’ which is so simple yet bloody weird at the same time (Hi, I’m Haruhi and I’m seeking espers, aliens and time travellers – I know, let’s form a club!!!)…great stuff.

As for why Kotarou and Tamayo the first victims? There is no doubt how much fun a character Tamayo is, and she always beats up her childhood friend (for no apparent reason, it’s just fun…) – however, as a team, they could communicate quite well when pushed, but despite knowing each other since childhood, they would struggle physically against many of the stronger teams due to their age despite being quite athletic. Also, a little mental wronging caused them to be less cautious, and it cost them big time.

Unfortunately, it means less Icchan as well. Icchan de yaroooooooooo!!!

Two voice notes to mention – on the English side, the ‘sound a like’ that Izumi was referring to of course in Tamayo are both Miss Monica Rial in English…the not so obvious one is the seiyuu refrence. During the Yuki fight with Bob/Nagi, Bob mentions Nagi shouldn’t be surprised that Yuki is tough. The reason aside that Yuki is ultra kick-ass is that the voice of Yuki, Minori Chihara, also voices Nagi’s bane of existence, Aya Natsume.

As this chapter is quiz free, please e-mail me if you want a quiz to happen this year because I don’t know how many people are reading this. If there are 15 or more people wanting to enter a quiz, I’ll set one up. Of course, if not, you can still send me an e-mail with feedback and predict what is going to happen the next legs.

Next leg, the clues were more than there…just get your bike ready. Until then!