Skypiea.
By bringing the island formerly known as Ohara into the sky, the inhabitants of the sky island moved there. The Shandia who had been driven from Jaya, had returned to their ancestral land, the "sacred land" known as Upper Yard.
There were many mysteries surrounding Upper Yard, valuable archeological artifacts were likely present, but negotiations for access were not going well.
The younger members of the Shandia were adamant about not allowing outsiders to enter their sacred land.
Fearing a potential attack, both Twilight and the Sky Island inhabitants avoided entering Upper Yard. They didn't need to, as the land on Ohara was more than enough for them to live on.
In the meantime, Kanata had been experimenting with various Dial Shells, hoping to find a use for them.
Milky Dial, Flame Dial, Impact Dial – there were many types of Dial Shells, but Kanata had taken an interest in the Breath Dial, and its application – the Waver.
More specifically – the Waver race.
"It's quite lively. Are people always this starved for entertainment?"
"Look, there's a food stall over there!"
"I want takoyaki!"
"Behave yourselves, kids!"
There was still time before the race began. George, tasked with observing the situation while transporting the "Valkyries" to Paradise, was heading towards the race headquarters with Hiyori and Chiyo in tow.
He had grabbed both of them by the scruff of their necks to prevent them from running off. Izo and Kawamatsu, who usually looked after them, tended to spoil them, so he couldn't rely on them.
"Damn, I feel like a father with two kids, even though I'm not even married…"
"Buy me some takoyaki, Daddy."
"Who's your daddy?! Ask Izo or Kawamatsu later!"
Dragging the two complaining girls, George entered the headquarters tent where Gan Fall was waiting.
The Shandia Chief was also present, apparently enjoying a friendly chat. While the younger members were hostile, the leaders seemed to be on good terms.
"Ah, George. Good to see you. Would you like some pumpkin juice?"
"I'll gladly accept it. I'm exhausted from looking after these kids…"
Hiyori and Chiyo were also enjoying the pumpkin juice. It seemed to be to their liking.
George took a sip and thought, "This could be sold as a specialty product." But it was a crop grown on Upper Yard. Mass production might be difficult.
The soil on Ohara was different. They couldn't replicate it.
"How are the Waver race preparations going?"
"Hmm, it was a strange idea at first, but everyone seems to be enjoying it. There's not much entertainment in the sky, so it's a welcome change," Gan Fall replied.
"The young Shandia warriors seem to be interested as well. I hope this will help bridge the gap between us," the Shandia Chief added.
It was a gamble. The animosity between them had accumulated like a snowdrift. Resolving it wouldn't be easy.
…But Kanata wasn't particularly interested in that. She had simply created a new form of entertainment.
"If it's successful here, we're planning to hold races in the Blue Sea as well. But I heard Wavers are difficult to ride."
"It's not uncommon for people to spend ten years learning how to ride them. It's a necessary skill for those who live in the sky, and since there's nothing else to do, most people eventually learn how to ride them," Gan Fall explained.
"Kanata rode it on her first try."
"I have no explanation for that."
Navigating the waves, reading the wind with sailing skills, possessing the physical ability to balance on a boat-shaped or skate-shaped Waver – all were skills Kanata possessed.
Samuel had tried and failed many times.
Kanata, on the other hand, had succeeded on her first try. She probably wasn't afraid of falling, as she could simply freeze the sea if she failed.
"It was easier than riding a dirt bike," she had said.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Are bets allowed in this race?"
"Small wagers are permitted. We consulted with Kanata, and she suggested limiting the stakes to prevent it from becoming addictive."
They had anticipated that people would become addicted to gambling if it was introduced to a place with limited entertainment options.
Introducing it gradually with restrictions was the best approach. But even then, some would become addicted. It was only a temporary solution.
As they talked, time flew by, and it was almost time for the race to begin.
"Alright, let's go watch the race."
"Chiyo, wake up. It's over."
"Huh?! Oh, it's over?"
"Sleeping soundly. How carefree."
Waking Chiyo from her slumber, they joined Gan Fall and the Shandia Chief and headed for the race venue.
Buoys marked the course on the sea of clouds, and the contestants competed to see who could complete the most laps in the shortest amount of time. The shape of the Waver didn't matter. They could use boat-shaped or skate-shaped ones, whatever they preferred. The rules were still being refined, as the race was still in its experimental phase.
Attacking other contestants was forbidden. Obstructing the race was also forbidden. It was basically a normal race.
A "Wild Class" with no restrictions on attacks or obstructions might be interesting, George thought.
"There are eight contestants per race. The number can be adjusted depending on the number of registered participants. A single race takes about thirty minutes to complete," Gan Fall explained.
"That long? It doesn't seem that large," Hiyori replied.
"Don't compare it to you, who can move at the speed of lightning. It's an oval course, so they have to slow down at the curves. And besides, they have to complete many laps," George said.
The course had been roughly measured. It couldn't be too short, or it would become a simple test of reflexes. A longer course allowed those with superior skills to catch up. The waves were also unpredictable, so the same techniques wouldn't always result in the same speed.
Hiyori gave a vague reply, unsure if she understood.
It was time. The race began.
"Look, that skate guy is fast."
"The bearded guy behind him is fast too! He's taking the curves without slowing down."
"Shouldn't we separate the boat-shaped and skate-shaped Wavers? The difference in maneuverability is too great."
"Kanata said 'A little chaos makes the race more interesting.'"
"I see…"
But it was true. The boat-shaped Wavers, using their weight to drift through the curves, and the skate-shaped Wavers, slicing through the curves at sharp angles, made for an exciting competition.
The speed on the straightaways was similar, so it came down to skill at the curves. The unpredictable waves also made it difficult to maintain a consistent speed.
George, caught up in the excitement, was cheering for the contestants when the race ended.
The bearded man on the boat-shaped Waver had won.
"Wow, that was amazing. I didn't think he could move so skillfully," George remarked.
"It's quite entertaining. Watching while drinking juice is a good way to spend the afternoon," the Shandia Chief added.
"I didn't know boats could move like that…" Hiyori was excited.
Chiyo giggled, while Hiyori seemed genuinely impressed. It was a successful form of entertainment.
…Perhaps it was because there wasn't much else to do.
They needed more contestants for it to truly become a competitive race. The difficulty of riding a Waver was the main obstacle.
More contestants meant more chaos, which would make the race more entertaining, but it would take time to train them.
It was a problem that needed to be addressed, George thought as he watched the next race with a cigarette in hand.