Hachiman's Perspective
It had been a month since Rice Shower officially entered the Classic class. Her training was progressing at a pace that could only be described as "optimal," fueled by a newfound surge of motivation. It was a good sign. If we could maintain this momentum through the Yayoi Sho, we'd be in prime position for the Satsuki Sho.
Currently, Rice was running a tandem set, but she wasn't alone. Well, that's not exactly right. "Accompanied" isn't the word. "Intruded upon" is more accurate.
"Hah... hah... She's... she's so fast..." Rice panted, her chest heaving as she tried to keep pace.
"Nice, nice! You're looking good, Rice!" Mr. C.B. chirped, barely sounding winded despite the blistering speed. "You're starting to keep up with my rhythm. I like where this is going."
Yes, that Mr. C.B. Lately, she had developed a habit of dropping into our training sessions whenever the whim struck her. It was a bizarrely focused behavior for someone as famously free-spirited as her. Then again, she'd mentioned before that if she were going to take training from anyone, she wanted it to be from me. While I was flattered in a distant, "I-don't-want-this-responsibility" kind of way, the fact that she wasn't my official trainee made the situation... complicated.
And of course, complexity in this school usually looks like this:
The other Trainers: (Staring intently with soul-crushing envy)
I sighed. It was a fact that I'd given her permission to join, but honestly, if those guys wanted to train her so badly, they should have just scouted her more effectively. I'd appreciate it if they'd stop directing their visceral jealousy toward me like a physical weight.
"Mm, this is the life," C.B. said, strolling over after the set. "Training with Hachiman really is something special."
"Is it now? By the way, you have a fan club over there," I said, jerking my thumb toward the fence. "Why don't you go entertain them for a bit?"
"Huh? Where... Oh, them." C.B. glanced over and gave a dismissive wave. "Yeah, they've tried to scout me. I turned them all down."
"Why?"
"Because they all say the same thing. 'The Triple Crown this,' 'The G1 titles that.' It's all they care about."
"Isn't that... normal?" I asked. "For a Horse Girl, the Classics only happen once. The G1 stage is the ultimate dream. I'd think you'd be dying to get there."
C.B. leaned back, looking up at the sky with a languid smile. "Hachiman, you know my personality. You get it, don't you? I just want to run free. If I'm not having fun, what's the point?"
"And you're saying those trainers wouldn't let you be free?"
"Something like that."
"And you think I'm different? I'm a Trainer too, you know."
"You are different," she said, her eyes snapping back to mine with a sudden, sharp clarity. "You don't just look at the trophies. You look at us. I can feel it. You prioritize the girl, not the record."
She wasn't wrong. While I kept an eye on the stats, my absolute priority was the physical condition of the girl. In any sport, the body is the capital. If there's even a hint of a hairline fracture in that capital, my first job is to protect the investment. Training can always wait; health cannot.
"Plus," C.B. added, her mischievous grin returning, "Hachiman is such a reliable 'Big Brother' type. And I just love dependable older brothers~♪"
"I'm nobody's brother," I snapped. "Rice, you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine!" Rice said, though she was still wiping sweat from her brow. "But C.B.-senpai is so fast... I can barely stay in her slipstream. I need to work on my top speed even more!"
"Speed is fine, but don't overcook it," I warned. "Getting an injury right before the big day is the fastest way to the bottom of a dark hole. Keep your head on straight."
"I know," Rice nodded earnestly. "I haven't done any extra morning running since that day. I don't want to make Big Brother worry."
"Good. Now, you two, hit the showers. Rice, make sure you stretch thoroughly. No cutting corners."
"Got it!" they chimed in unison.
As I watched them head off, I checked my clipboard. If we kept this pace, the adjustments for the Yayoi Sho would be perfect. I'd caught a glimpse of Trainer Kuronuma's session earlier—he's been pushing Mihono Bourbon hard on the hill climbs. She's probably relayed my "advice" to him. Kuronuma likely already knew, but the Spring Stakes will be the moment of truth. We'll see then if Bourbon has the stamina to survive the Satsuki Sho.
"C.B. is gatecrashing again, I see," a dignified voice remarked. "I must say, I'm quite envious."
"Symboli Rudolf," I muttered, not looking up. "She just shows up whenever she wants. You're the Student Council President—can't you tell her to knock it off?"
"You know as well as I do that telling C.B. what to do is an exercise in futility," Rudolf replied, standing beside me. "Besides... I find myself wanting to experience your training for myself. Would you mind if I joined the next session?"
"Absolutely not. Did you see the guys standing behind me when you walked up? Those were all Trainers targeting C.B. I am currently being bathed in a concentrated aura of professional spite."
Rudolf chuckled softly. "My, you're quite popular."
"It's a curse. If I let you join too, the crowd will double. And eventually, they'll get tired of just glaring and start moving on to actual sabotage."
Rudolf's expression sobered. "Do you truly think they would go that far?"
"Human jealousy is a terrifying thing, Rudolf. Once it hits the critical mass, people stop caring about 'fair play' and start looking for ways to drag you down to their level. I can handle the heat for now... but the moment this starts affecting Rice, I'll have to take drastic measures."
Rudolf tilted her head. "The way you say that... it sounds as if you don't care what happens to yourself."
"I don't. I'm fine being the pariah," I said, finally closing my clipboard. "But it's a Trainer's duty to ensure the environment for their student is protected. I haven't abandoned my humanity quite enough to let her suffer for my reputation."
The glaring was already bordering on harassment, honestly. I wanted to tell them that if they had time to stare, they had time to write a better training menu, but I was too busy for that kind of drama.
"Life really is a series of inconveniences," I muttered.
Rudolf didn't answer. She just stood there, watching the empty track where Rice had been running moments ago, her eyes reflecting a complicated mix of respect and something that looked almost like longing.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"