Cool!
Maybe just getting the jump suffices, but I feel like it could really add an extra kick to that moment when it ups your speed too. Plus, since it would be your starting speed, you wouldn't know what you were missing. Long as it wasn't too much slower. It's something I'd definitely have to try out and tweak.
On the text, your way does sound good, but I've actually never experienced it that way before to my recollection. All the other games I've played have a Next button, and Speed-up button, and a Speed-Skip button (sometimes a double input). Could it be a Western vs. Eastern thing? EDIT: Oh wait, I can think of a few actually.
Cool Though doesn't seem like anyone's taken him up on his side-quest so far. I wonder how much that's not caring, forgetting, it being too well-hidden, or it's a Jam and people are just trying to get through at a brisk pace.