"That's probably the point. It's one of the most dangerous parts of the race, they want people to go into it unprepared," Yamato says wryly.

He cocks his head, thinking for a moment. "I'll think about it. Improvements, I mean," he says. A little more guardedly: "I'd like it if they attended, though. It's a big step, after all, having them in the audience would be -- nice."

He realises he sounds a little like a little kid about to take part in his first school play, and he supposes he sort of is. It's not like his old man was around enough to watch him play Christmas Tree #3 when he was actually a kid and actually in school plays, so this is the next best thing.