03. Announcement:
01.02. - 16:00 - Snow Princesses

01.02.

A small tournament was planned for the following day, in which all school classes that were in the vicinity should take part. - The main prize: The glass copies of the two Snow Princesses. - What only four people in the whole world knew: These "glass copies" were in reality the real ivory statues!

Shortly after lunch, the participants should split up into different pairs in order to cover a certain route as quickly as possible.
This route was made up of 3 sections: the first was sledding, then there was cross-country skiing and at the end there was ice skating.

In order to avoid a "war of the schools", the class teachers decided that the couples had to come from different schools. - The teachers didn't really care who ran with whom in the end, the main thing was that their students had fun.

Rose and Kaito looked at each other in shock when they realized that the other wanted to take part in the tournament too.- They approached each other and Rose asked: "What are YOU doing here again?" Kaito replied with a thieving smile: "I could ask YOU the same thing ..."
For a brief moment both thought the same thing: * Surely he / she must not have exchanged the statue at that time, too? * - And both were right! - Because they weren't one hundred percent sure at the time, they swapped the statues for the copies and took them with them. - However, the copies were intended for the tournament that took place every 4 years. - And this year it was her only chance to get the originals.

Aoko looked a little sadly at Kaito when he was talking to the German.
Robin saw this and therefore spoke to her in Japanese with a smile on his face: "He seems to be already taken." - Aoko paused. - "For the tournament, I mean." The Japanese sighed: "Well ... We're in a class anyway. - That wouldn't have worked anyway ..." "Aha ..." said Robin thoughtfully.But then she held out her hand to Aoko and said: "My name is Robin. - Shall we run together?" Aoko looked at her in amazement. "Don't worry," Robin assured her. “I'm not that bad at it.” Aoko said, somewhat unsettled: “But I do.” “Oh, that's not bad! We just do our best and it's good,” said Robin, with a wink. Aoko smiled: "Okay!"

Since Rose was busy with Kaito, Robin simply registered the two as a couple and then communicated this to both of them. - But they weren't exactly happy about it. "WAAAS ??? - Are you crazy?" it came from both at the same time.
With an expression on his face that did not allow any contradiction, Robin said sternly: "What do you actually want? - If I understand correctly, you both want the statues. - If you win, each of you will get one. - And have together you have the best chances of all, don't you? "
From both of them came a grim "Hm."With a thieving smile, Robin said: "Well then, I wish you the best of luck!" - Then she left the two of them alone to look for Aoko.

But no sooner had she disappeared into the crowd than she collided with Saguru. - Both instinctively took a step backwards. "You again!" was the first reaction from the blonde detective.
Robin smiled a little uncertainly: “I could just as easily say THAT!” His eyes darkened: “What are you up to now?” Robin grinned: “Do we always have to aim for something when we meet? " "Yes!" was the quick reply from the Japanese. Robin smiled: "Our teacher dragged us here to take part in the tournament. - Just like yours!" But inwardly she thought: * My goodness! But we are easy to see through! *
When Saguru eyed her suspiciously, her thoughts were: * He won't believe me! - I feared THAT ... *Suddenly the detective started to grin and said: "Well, if that's the case, you certainly don't mind if WE both take part in the tournament ..."
Robin grinned just as arrogantly and replied: "Well, I'm so sorry. - Because that is unfortunately not possible." "Oh?" "Yes. - I already have a partner." "So? And who is that supposed to be? "" One of the girls who go to class with you. - Oh, there she is, "said Robin when she saw Aoko walking towards her. "Well then: I have to go! Bye-bye!"
"Hmpf! - I'll keep an eye on you anyway!" said Hakuba as she passed him. "Just as you think ... do what you can't help ..." were her words as she walked up to Aoko and then walked with her to the starting line.

A total of 20 teams were at the start at the same time. - To make it a little more difficult for the participants, a 70 cm long rope was tied to each wrist of the couple so that they could only reach the finish line together.Team 8 consisted of Kaito and Rose, while Team 9 consisted of Robin & Aoko. - Saguru did not care much about sporting activities, which is why he preferred to stand apart and watch the others. - He kept an eye on Kaito and Rose in particular.

First stage: sledding
Before the starting gun was fired, everything was calm. - Except for the 8th pair ...
Kaito was sitting behind Rose and had to hold her upper body so that she wouldn't fall off. Rose hissed softly: "Don't touch me!" "Would you rather fall off the sled?" it came back from Kaito also in a whisper. "I just do NOT want to be groped by you!"
But even before Robin could get involved in the argument, the loud voice of the announcer could be heard: "ON YOUR SEATS ... READY ... GO!" The bang of the starter pistol was almost lost with the cheering of the crowd, but all teams started at the same time.

Aoko left the steering to Robin, as she was in front of her and was able to better navigate the sled through the rope.Team 8 sped past them shortly before the first stage goal, although Rose was just ramming her partner's elbow in the side because, in her opinion, he was reaching too high to "just" hold her.
But Team 15 was the first to arrive at the next stage. - Followed by teams 20, 8 and 9.
Now it was time to quickly strap on your skis to start the ascent.

Second stage: cross-country skiing:
"I have to tell you something ..." said Aoko with a dog-eyed look. - Robin almost suspected what was coming next. - "I can't ski ..." The German made a good face to the bad game and finally said: "All right ... Then we just have to start differently than normal ..."

Kaito and Rose were the first to reach the stage this time. - The audience was impressed how the two descended the slope in perfect sync.
Team 8 initially smiled, but when they crossed the finish line half a minute later (without falling once), there was even applause.Saguru whistled in amazement at so much talent for improvisation.
Akako stood next to him and started a conversation: "It's interesting ..." "Yes," the detective admitted. “I didn't think that the two would actually make it to the finish…” “You mean because Aoko can't keep on skis at all?” He nodded: “Exactly. "" I find it more amazing that - what was her name? Robin? - that she actually piggybacked Aoko and they made it to the finish without even wavering ... "Saguru grinned:" Yes, that's it ... "
"Where are the other student detectives actually?" Akako asked, looking around the crowd. "They went back to Japan last night," waved Hakuba off. "Why is that?" "They only took the one day off from school." "Hmmm ... And yet you couldn't catch the thieves ..." Akako mused aloud. - There was only a grumble to be heard from the blonde detective."Why are you even watching them?" Akako suddenly wanted to know. He grinned again: "Oh ... I definitely didn't want to miss this last stage!" She also grinned: "So-so ... The glee is written on your face." Saguru's grin widened: "Oh? Do you think so? "Akako laughed:" Oh yes! - Just to come here to watch poor Kaito how he embarrassed himself ... THAT I call malicious joy! "
The detective was still grinning when he asked her: "And why, here you go, are YOU here?" She was still smiling: "I also didn't want to miss the last stage."

Third stage: ice skating
Rose was already standing on the ice while Kaito still held on to the outside railing to carefully venture onto the ice. "What are you doing there?" she hissed at him. "Come on now, the others will catch up!" But Kaito just made a pained face and slowly shuffled around the railing onto the ice surface."Please don't tell me that you ..." Rose began slowly. But Kaito didn't have to say anything. - She could already see it when he stood shakily on the ice surface.
The German really didn't know whether to laugh or cry about it: "That ... can't ... be serious ..."

Just at the sight of Kaito holding onto the railing wobbly, Saguru had to smile.

Rose tugged on the rope, which connected them both and said: "Come on now!" - But that way all she managed to do was that Kaito lost her balance and fell at her feet. "I can't believe it ..." was her only comment.
The German wanted to pull her partner up, which, however, had the consequence that she also landed on all fours on the ice surface.

The blonde detective had to resist laughing out loud. - Akako was also very amused by the two of them.

However, the thief quickly got back on her feet. - Only Kaito was still on the ice.- So she pulled the rope up and hissed: “Up with you!” “I would like to” came the dejected answer.
With a scowl, Rose finally said: "I'll drag you after me too, if I have to!" - Kaito then crouched down and held on to her hand.
And so Rose started running, really pulling him behind her. - But the thief could not hold himself in this position for too long. - And so came what had to come: He slid the runners backwards, landed roughly on his buttocks and pulled Rose back with him so that she landed on him.

Both the Japanese detective and Akako had tears in their eyes from laughing.

Rose leaned on Kaito in order to be able to get up, who therefore yelped briefly. "Oh, don't feel like that! - It's your fault after all!" "That's why you don't have to want to crush my bowels right away!" he gave back