Rice's POV
The crowd… it's incredible. I suppose everyone wants to witness this race in person. The Japan Derby—the festival of Horse Girls, the highest-status event in the URA, a race of absolute prestige. Out of nearly 7,000 girls in my generation across the country, only eighteen are allowed to stand at this starting gate. It's a title every runner dreams of, a weight far heavier than the Satsuki Sho.
I'm one of those eighteen. The gravity of it feels like it might crush me, but I'm okay. I have Big Brother by my side.
"I watched Teio's Derby from the stands last year, but the atmosphere today is on a different level," Hachiman muttered, scanning the sea of spectators. "The draw of Bourbon's undefeated Triple Crown bid is a powerful thing."
"Big Brother? Is something wrong?" I asked, noticing the tension in his shoulders.
"No, it's nothing. Let's get inside the paddock area. If we stay out here, we're just going to draw unnecessary attention. Let's get you prepped early."
"Trainer. Rice-san. Good morning."
I turned to see Mihono Bourbon and her trainer, Kuronuma-san, approaching.
"Ah, Bourbon-san. Good morning!"
"Yo, Hikigaya," Kuronuma-san said, his voice low and gravelly. "The Derby is finally here."
Hachiman adjusted his tie, his gaze sharpening until it was like a blade. "Yeah. And today, we're the ones taking the win."
Kuronuma smirked. "Not a chance. My Bourbon is taking her second crown today."
"Then let's settle it," Hachiman countered, his voice dripping with a quiet, icy intensity. "Let's see whose training was superior over the last month."
"Fine by me."
H-hawaaa… Big Brother and Kuronuma-san are practically glaring holes through each other! Big Brother is usually so calm and collected, but when it comes to a real challenge, his whole personality seems to sharpen into something else entirely.
"...Detection of an abnormal thermal source between Master and Rice-san's trainer," Bourbon-san noted, her eyes scanning the two men. "I predict temperatures high enough to cause visible sparks. Rice-san, we should evacuate for our own safety."
"Eh? But… can we really just leave them there? They're our trainers!"
"Given their current state, they will likely find their way to the waiting rooms by instinct eventually," Bourbon-san said, gently taking my hand. "Let us depart before the situation becomes irreversible."
"O-okay…!"
Irreversible? What does she mean by that?
— Rice's Waiting Room —
"Having said that," Bourbon-san began, sitting down with perfect posture, "there is still significant time before the paddock begins. Shall we occupy ourselves until then?"
"U-um, yeah… good idea."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
I-I can't think of anything to say! I've never really talked to Bourbon-san about what she likes or dislikes. Asking about her training or her conditioning for today feels… I don't know, pointless!
"...Bang!" Bourbon-san said suddenly, pointing her fingers like a small gun.
"EEK!" I jumped nearly a foot into the air.
"...My apologies. I attempted to lighten the atmosphere. It appears I have failed."
"O-oh, was that a joke?"
"Yes. I had no other intent."
"No, it's okay! Don't worry about it. I was… um, I was a little stuck for words too."
"I see…" Bourbon-san looked toward the door. "I wonder if the Masters are still emitting high-intensity heat?"
"They should be here soon, though. We all need to have our final strategy meetings before we head out."
"True."
I wonder what Big Brother is actually doing right now…?
"However," Bourbon-san said, her tone shifting. I could feel her aura beginning to change. "You appear to be in peak condition today, Rice-san. It is good to see you are capable of your best performance. But I am the same. I have no intention of losing my lead, just as I did at the Satsuki Sho. I will escape again today."
"Bourbon-san…" I looked her in the eye, my own resolve flaring up like a blue flame. "I won't let you get away this time. I promise. This time, Rice is going to catch you!"
"..."
"..."
Knock, knock, knock. The door opened slightly.
"Sorry, Rice, we're late—" Hachiman started, then froze.
"What's the holdup, Hikigaya? Move out of the—" Kuronuma stopped right behind him.
Hachiman's POV
...What is this? I'm looking at two girls who are practically radiating blue fire and shooting sparks from their eyes. This feels like a private moment of intense rival development. Maybe we should just… back away slowly.
Kuronuma's POV
Hmph… it's rare to see Bourbon this fired up. She's finally found a rival she can't ignore. Hikigaya clearly feels the same way about not interrupting. We're better off letting them simmer for a bit.
...Click. The door closed quietly.
"...Where should we kill time?" I asked Kuronuma.
"Come to my room," he grunted. "Bourbon will show up there eventually once the fire dies down."
"Those two really have something special going on, don't they?" I noted as we walked down the hall. "I guess that's what a real rivalry looks like."
"Yeah," Kuronuma agreed. "They're going to give us a hell of a show today. I can't wait."
"Me neither."
Rice's POV
"Um… Big Brother?" I called out to the closed door. "They're… they're really late, aren't they?"
"Indeed," Bourbon-san said, her eyes returning to their usual calm state. "Master is never late; he is incredibly strict with time. Perhaps their discussion became… overly heated?"
"But would they really leave us here like this? I thought they'd burst into the room the second they remembered we were waiting…"
"Let's wait a few more minutes," Bourbon-san suggested. "If they don't arrive by then, we shall investigate the room next door."
"Right!"
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