Hachiman's POV
It was the third Sunday of April—the day of the Satsuki Sho, the first leg of the Triple Crown.
I had parted ways with Rice and was now standing at the edge of the paddock, watching the field. I was flanked by Kuronuma and my mentor, Taliato. The air was thick with anticipation as the announcer began introducing the girls.
"Next up, from Gate 4! The first favorite, Mihono Bourbon!" the loudspeaker blared.
I watched her walk. Her gait was steady, her expression unreadable.
"Hikigaya," Kuronuma said, not taking his eyes off his trainee. "What's your assessment?"
"…She's more than ready for 2000 meters," I admitted. "I can see it in her frame. You don't put a girl through four hill-climbs a day without results. She's turned into a powerhouse."
Taliato nodded slowly, a faint, impressed smile on her lips. "So, this is the one you've been molding, Kuronuma? You've certainly pushed her to the limit. Even from here, I can tell she's a sprinter by nature—yet here she stands, poised to conquer this stage. It's a remarkable feat of training."
"I appreciate the compliment," Kuronuma replied. "Though, I'll admit, I'm just as curious about your own identity as I am about Bourbon's condition."
"Forgive me," Taliato said smoothly. "I've never been one for name-dropping. It's a habit of mine."
"I won't pry. I'm happy to wait until the time is right. Ah—it's Rice Shower's turn."
"Bourbon looks like she's in peak condition, though," I noted, feeling a tightening in my chest.
"She is," Kuronuma confirmed. "Her goal is the Triple Crown: the Satsuki Sho, the Japan Derby, and the Kikka Sho. She has no intention of stumbling at the first hurdle."
I looked back at the paddock. "Well, then. My Rice isn't going to make it easy for her."
"And from Gate 9—Rice Shower! The other star of today's Satsuki Sho!" the announcer cried.
"Mihono Bourbon may have taken the top spot in the odds, but the gap is razor-thin! These two are effectively dual-favorites today!" the commentator added.
The stadium felt like it was on the verge of combusting. On one side, Rice Shower—the undefeated specialist of the 2000m. On the other, Mihono Bourbon—the undefeated cyborg who had climbed up from the short-distance ranks. The first leg of the Classics was starting with a literal explosion of hype.
"Hmph… Incredible," Kuronuma muttered. "She's in perfect form."
"Exquisite conditioning," Taliato agreed. "She's maintained the same level she had during the Yayoi Sho. Perhaps even sharpened it."
"Thanks," I said. "Rice has been looking forward to today more than anything. She's trained every day with the singular goal of not being left behind by Bourbon."
"Is that so? Then this should be a spectacle," Kuronuma said.
"Yeah. It really should…"
I blinked. I knew it was just my imagination, but for a second, I could swear I saw actual sparks flying through the air between the two girls. I hadn't expected to get this fired up myself.
Taliato chuckled. "You two have a wonderful dynamic. Hachiman, you're lucky to have such a dedicated senior to compete against."
"Yeah. I didn't think I'd be facing him this soon, but he's one of the few people around here who's actually been decent to me."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it," Taliato said. "Well, the introductions are over. It's time for you two to do your final duty. Go and give them your last words of encouragement."
"Right," Kuronuma said.
"I'm on it," I replied.
Time to give Rice the final push she needs to take down the Cyborg.
— The Waiting Area —
"Phew! Okay! Big Brother, I'm so ready!" Rice exclaims the moment she sees me. There's a fire in her eyes I've never seen before. "I want to run so badly—even more than usual!"
"I can see that. You're practically radiating aura," I said, trying to keep my voice grounded. "Listen, we're sticking to the plan. Run your race exactly like you did at the Hopeful and the Yayoi Sho. That's how we beat Bourbon."
"Mhm!"
"She's tough, but she's not invincible. If you play to your strengths, you've got this. And… one last piece of advice. This is the most important thing. If you forget this, nothing else matters."
Rice leaned in, her expression serious. "What is it?"
"Enjoy it."
"Enjoy… it?"
"Yeah. Running is supposed to be fun—for humans and Horse Girls alike. There will be times when it feels like a burden, or like pure pain, but you can never give your best performance when you're suffering. You've learned how to find the joy in training lately. Take that feeling with you onto the track. It's a big stage, and it's hard to stay relaxed, but the girl who enjoys the race the most is the one who wins."
Rice paused, then a bright, clear smile broke across her face. "…Right. I understand!"
"That's the face I wanted to see. Now, get out there."
"I will!"
The rest was up to them. All I could do now was watch—and maybe offer a quick prayer to whatever gods were listening.
Rice's POV
"Enjoy it… find the joy…"
I whispered the words to myself as I walked toward the track. I think… I think I had almost forgotten. When I first started, I loved the feeling of the wind. But since coming to Tracen, I've been so focused on being fast that I stopped thinking about being happy.
Alright, Rice! Let's do this!
"Rice-san."
I stopped. Mihono Bourbon was standing there, waiting.
"Bourbon-san."
"I am glad to see you kept your promise," she said, her voice like a cool breeze.
"You kept yours too. You made it here without losing once."
"Correct. I do not intend to lose now, either."
I took a deep breath and looked her right in the eye. "Well… today, Rice is going to be the one who wins!"
"No," Bourbon replied, her voice sharpening with competitive steel. "Today, I will be the victor once again."
There it was again—that feeling of sparks flying between us. It was so intense it almost felt hot against my skin.
"…Heh," Bourbon let out a tiny, rare sound—a laugh? "Let us make this a race to remember, Rice-san."
"Ehehe… yeah! Let's!"
"And now, the final two competitors emerge!" the announcer's voice boomed over the stadium. "The first and second favorites are entering the track together! Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower, standing side-by-side as they prepare for the battle of a lifetime!"
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