...
The next day, on the training field's grassy lawn.
"I'm really sorry. Something urgent came up, and I have to go home for a bit, so I'll have to cancel our appointment."
Lucian held his phone as Maruzensky on the screen bowed deeply in apology.
Silence Suzuka quickly reassured her, "It's alright, Maruzensky-senpai. Though it's a shame, I'll still look forward to our next meeting."
Seiun Sky chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! We can always reschedule with senpai later. No need to apologize."
Special Week added, "Maruzensky-senpai's urgent matter takes priority. We don't mind at all."
"Thank you all for understanding." After expressing her gratitude once more, Maruzensky bid everyone farewell and ended the call.
Lucian put away his phone. "That's how things are. Though it's sudden and a bit disappointing, don't think that just because Maruzensky isn't here, the pressure is any less."
"Honestly, your pressure should have increased instead."
The three horse girls were puzzled. With one less competitor, how could the pressure have grown?
Lucian patiently explained, "Think about it. With Maruzensky gone, Symboli Rudolf has one less source of pressure, right? So doesn't that mean your pressure has increased?"
"That makes sense." Special Week nodded in sudden realization.
"I have an idea!" Haru Urara raised both hands excitedly. "We can come up with a plan to surround the president—teamwork! Didn't Trainer teach us about teamwork during training?"
"How about we call it the 'Encirclement Plan'? Doesn't that sound cool?"
Only Rice Shower cheered her on. "Urara-chan, that's amazing."
Lucian: "I didn't teach you to use it like this. There are no teammates in a race."
As they spoke, Symboli Rudolf somehow appeared behind the group of horse girls. "I heard you're planning to encircle me?"
"President?!"
The horse girls turned in shock, all taking a step back and leaving Urara standing alone.
Tokai Teio was the first to sell her out. "President, it was Urara who wanted to encircle you. It has nothing to do with us."
"Eh?!" Urara looked left and right, but even Rice Shower could only shrug helplessly. "President, can you let me explain...?"
"Urara, are you joining the race too? You can still enter temporarily," Symboli Rudolf teased.
"Trainer..." Urara looked pleadingly at Lucian.
Lucian: "Temporary entry? If Urara wants to, I don't mind."
"Trainer~" Urara said in her usual coquettish tone.
"Alright, alright. But you know, I just thought about it, and Urara's idea isn't completely without merit." Lucian stroked his chin smugly. "What if the three of you work together to restrain Symboli Rudolf and then compete for the championship at the final moment?"
Symboli Rudolf slowly formed a question mark above her head. "Trainer Lucian, is it really appropriate to say this right in front of me?"
Lucian shrugged nonchalantly. "What's the big deal? Rudolf-san is a seven-time champion, and... well, I forgot the rest. Anyway, someone as amazing as you shouldn't have trouble against three little fillies, right?"
"A provocation? Interesting." Despite Lucian's sarcasm, Symboli Rudolf couldn't help but feel a hint of frustration. "If you think tactics alone can defeat me, then go ahead and try. Good luck."
After watching Symboli Rudolf leave, Lucian gave a pep talk and began training focused on Seiun Sky and the other two.
...
On the day of the race, someone had leaked the news, and the stands were packed with horse girls there to watch.
Members of both "Dream" and "Spica" had arrived, and the four competing horse girls were already warming up.
Nishizaki Ryo, Toujou Hana, and Lucian stood side by side.
"I didn't expect so many people to show up." Lucian withdrew his gaze from the distance. "Question: Who leaked the news, and why was it Grass?"
"Trainer Lucian... this time, it really wasn't me." Grass Wonder protested her innocence.
Toujou Hana coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, it was me."
"Hana-nee?" Lucian was surprised.
"The school selection races are coming up soon, right? Making this race more high-profile might attract some powerful new horse girls to join 'Rigil.'"
Hearing this, Lucian finally remembered.
Come to think of it, Meishou Doto hadn't contacted him since the school festival ended.
Lucian sighed inwardly. It seemed even his "tricks" had their limits.
"Hana, is 'Rigil' really worried about that? Then my team is doomed," Nishizaki Ryo said.
Toujou Hana shot him a disdainful look. "We're not like you. Horse girls will come to us for selections on their own. As for you... just don't harass them with your shady methods."
"Tch—" Nishizaki Ryo felt the sting of her words and rolled up his sleeves aggressively, directing his frustration at Toujou Hana but saying, "Lucian-kun, I kinda feel like hitting someone. Come here and let me hit you."
"Nishizaki-senpai, if you and Hana-nee want to fight..." Toujou Hana's cold gaze swept over, and Lucian quickly corrected himself, "Fight or argue, don't drag me into it, okay?"
"Trainer, stop arguing! The race is about to start!" Tokai Teio reminded them.
The three trainers turned their attention to the track, where the four horse girls had finished warming up and were now at the starting line.
...
As student council president and a legendary horse girl, Symboli Rudolf's popularity went without saying.
Many horse girls in the crowd cheered loudly for her.
However, Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and Seiun Sky were no longer unknowns either and had garnered plenty of support.
"Suzuka, if I win this race, I want Trainer to go to the beach with me again—this time just for fun... You should come too and take photos of me and Trainer. How about it?"
Seiun Sky issued her challenge.
Silence Suzuka narrowed her eyes. Did Seiun have some weird fetish or something?
She nodded but wasn't about to let Seiun Sky have the upper hand. "Fine. But if you lose, the roles reverse."
Silence Suzuka agreed readily because losing didn't matter—it was just taking photos, after all... If things got really bad, she could always force Lucian to say something like "Seiun Sky is no match for Silence Suzuka" and record it.
Seiun Sky snorted. "Deal."
Then, Special Week spoke up. "I want in on this bet too."
Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka both looked at her in surprise.
Special Week shrank under their gazes. "I-Is that not allowed?"
Aside from the championship, there was also the matter of Trainer... She absolutely wouldn't back down easily.
"Sure~ Spe-chan can join too~ Just don't cry if you lose~"
"Spe-chan, do your best."
Just then, another voice chimed in. "Your little bet sounds interesting. Mind if I join too?"
Silence Suzuka, Seiun Sky, and Special Week were taken aback at first—then their fighting spirits burned even brighter.
...