Perspective: Hachiman
The result went far beyond my expectations.
I never imagined she would be capable of launching a long spurt before the third corner at this stage in her development. But that's exactly why it defies logic. Lately, we've been focusing almost exclusively on speed training; stamina training was limited to maintenance, barely twice a week. Thinking about it rationally, there is no way Rice should have been able to sustain that long spurt all the way to the finish line.
Even for a natural stayer like Rice, that shouldn't have been easy... Did she do something I didn't know about?
Rice: "Ah, Big Brother~!"
Hachiman: "Hey, Rice... Good work. That race was even better than I hoped for."
Rice: "Really!? Yay! ♪"
Hachiman: "But, that brings up a question. Rice, how were you able to pull off a spurt that long? We've been prioritizing speed recently, so your stamina should have just been at a maintenance level. How did you manage to keep running at top speed until the end? I honestly thought that if you made your move there, you'd crush yourself on the slope..."
Rice: "Umm... do you remember the day I asked you all those questions?"
Hachiman: "Yeah... when you asked how strong you had become, right?"
Rice: "Un. I had actually started doing speed training before that day, but I felt like that wasn't enough... So, I decided to do a 3000-meter run every morning, making sure not to tire myself out too much for our regular training."
Hachiman: "Seriously...? I had no idea... So that's why you could run like that."
I see. That explains it perfectly.
She started after the Fuyou Stakes, which means she's been running 3000 meters every morning for practically two months. And since we were doing stamina training twice a week to prevent decline, her base physical endurance must have skyrocketed... But two months? A rough calculation: 60 days times 3000 meters... that's 180,000 meters. 180 kilometers. And that's not even including her regular training.
I'm actually a little worried she didn't break her legs...
Rice: "Au... I-I'm sorry! I should have told you properly, Big Brother! I-I'm sorry for keeping it a secret!"
Hachiman: "Aaaah... well, I have a few things I want to say, but today is a celebratory day. You won a G1, after all. Besides, you did it because you thought it was best, so I won't scold you this time. But from now on, you tell me everything, got it?"
Rice: "Y-Yes!"
Hachiman: "Alright, then this matter is closed. But at least the mystery is solved. That explains everything. Listen, if you're at this level already, you'll be more than competitive in the Classic Class. In fact... you might just become the center of the entire Classic season."
Rice: "Eh? R-Rice will?"
Hachiman: "Yeah. Bourbon is definitely improving, too. I suspect the Classics will revolve around the 'Big Two'—you and Bourbon. It's going to get busy from here on out."
Rice: "Hawawawa..."
After that, we finished the interviews and the Winning Live, then headed back to the academy. Rice is holding the box containing her winner's trophy with both hands, clutching it like it's the most precious thing in the world. She must be incredibly happy; every so often, she peeks at the box and smiles, looking both delighted and shy.
Tazuna: "Good work today, Trainer Hikigaya, Rice Shower-san!"
Hachiman: "Thank you."
Rice: "G-Good work today!"
Tazuna: "And congratulations on your G1 victory! ♪ Hikigaya-san's strategy and Rice Shower-san's running were both absolutely magnificent!"
Hachiman: "Well, actually, I was the one who got magnificently fooled by Rice this time."
Rice: "O-Onii-sama, stooop~..."
Hachiman: "My bad, my bad. Anyway, Hayakawa-san, we'll be heading out as soon as we finish up here."
Tazuna: "Yes, understood. ♪"
[Club Room]
Rice: "Hngh... there. Un, that looks good!"
Hachiman: "Your first trophy."
Rice: "Un! I'm just so happy, I couldn't help it..."
Hachiman: "It's fine. Just don't get satisfied here. We're only getting started."
Rice: "I know. Rice thinks so too—I have to work even harder."
Hachiman: "That's the spirit."
Rice's morale is high. I want to keep this momentum going... However, slowly but surely, we are going to clash with our greatest enemy, Bourbon, in the Classics. Whether we like it or not, it's going to be a battle of winners and losers.
But if she runs like she did today, Rice has a real chance of winning.
Hachiman: "I'm giving you tomorrow and the day after off, so rest up properly. Even though you had one day off a week, you were running 3000 meters every single morning. Your legs need a break."
Rice: "Un, understood. What about you, Big Brother?"
Hachiman: "Me? ...What should I do?"
Rice: "Th-Then! Would you like to... go out somewhere? I... I want to know more about you, Big Brother... maybe."
Hachiman: "About me?"
Rice: "U-Un! What do you think?"
Hachiman: "Yeah, sure. Let's do it."
Rice: "Un! I'll be looking forward to it! ♪"
Rice looks like she's having fun. I suppose I can consider this a reward for today, too. I haven't decided if it'll be tomorrow or the day after, but I'll just pray the weather holds up.
...
Rice's secret to strength: The morning run!
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