After confirming the Student Council members' willingness to participate with Symboli Rudolf, during the break between Winning Live and the evening celebration, Kitahara briefly discussed it with Komiyama and the others.
Being able to hold such a relay race was somewhat unexpected to the other trainers on the team, but it also came with quite a few benefits.
First of all, being able to compete on the same track as racehorse girls of Symboli Rudolf's level was an extremely important experience for any racehorse girl.
Not only would it allow them to learn various abilities and techniques at close range, but the team's training camp plans also included the idea of "domain inheritance."
So far, aside from accidentally obtaining a few "new domains" in the past, no truly stable method of inheritance had been found. This relay race happened to be a perfect opportunity.
Cooperating with new teammates and experiencing a new type of race was also an important part of it.
Relay races differed from the Twinkle Series in stamina allocation and rhythm control, and using this new format to draw out one's abilities could very well stimulate hidden potential.
As a result, the relay race idea itself was quickly approved. What remained was how to design and arrange the event.
Designing the race itself was not complicated. Although relay races were not particularly major events in the industry, they did exist, and by referencing their formats, they could determine key details such as the start, baton handoffs, and the final sprint.
There were also no problems with the race monitoring systems — the equipment currently used by the Eisei team was already professional-grade.
As long as the schedule and venue were decided, setting everything up along the course would not be an issue.
The tricky parts, however, were precisely the schedule and the venue.
Ideally, the participants would include racehorse girls from three stages: pre-specialization, post-specialization, and those who had fully mastered their domains.
From a strength perspective, different racehorse girls needed different distances and track types in order to perform at their best.
They also differed in terrain adaptability. Since this was a relay race, it was necessary to ensure that each segment suited the characteristics of its runner as well as possible.
Moreover, with three stages in the relay, the total track length would be far longer than most races held in Japan.
So whether to hold it at certain venues, such as the Chukyo Racecourse in Nagoya, also needed discussion.
There was a lot to do. After the discussion, the trainers decided that during the next few rest days, they would separately handle race planning, venue confirmation, and communication with the relevant departments.
Of course, it was also necessary to confirm the racehorse girls' willingness to participate.
But neither Kitahara nor the others felt that any of their girls would refuse.
The confirmation was scheduled for breakfast after the next morning's training session. Just as the trainers had expected, the decision was unanimously approved.
Not only was it approved, the racehorse girls were far more enthusiastic than they had imagined.
"R-Really?! We can actually race together with the President?!"
Upon hearing that she could participate in a race with Symboli Rudolf, Tokai Teio — a devoted "President fan" — jumped up in excitement, nearly flipping the breakfast table.
"That's amazing, Uncle!"
"I've always thought how great it would be if I'd been born in the President's era, so I could chase after her on the racetrack!"
"Great! If I'm racing with the President, then I have to be on the same team as her!"
"I'll definitely win this race — I won't let the President down!"
At breakfast after morning training, Symboli Rudolf and the others were not eating with them.
It seemed the Student Council members really did have work to do in Nagoya. They had gotten up early, finished their own morning training, eaten a simple breakfast, then said their goodbyes and quickly left for the racecourses.
If Symboli Rudolf were still there, Tokai Teio's excitement would have been even greater.
Normally, Mejiro McQueen would already be teasing her overly excited friend, but this time she was too busy being excited herself.
"To race together with Ramonu-onee-san and Ardan-onee-san… that's just… that's just…"
She repeated herself twice without finishing the sentence, her shining eyes revealing how thrilled she was.
She did respond to Tokai Teio, though.
"Anyway…"
After pulling her gaze back from her "big sisters," she looked straight at the squirming Teio.
"Don't talk too big right now, Teio."
"Even though the race depends on the whole team, in our segment, with me there, it won't be so easy for you to win."
"President~ President~ racing with President-sama… huh?"
Tokai Teio froze, then laughed defiantly.
"Haha, I knew you'd say that, McQueen."
"That's fine. If you want to try to stop the President and me from winning, go ahead."
"Because in the end, the winners will definitely be us!"
"I told you not to talk so big… no matter how confident you are, you can't deny that in many past tests your results weren't as good as mine."
"So what? You're not always better than me in training either — I think I'm stronger!"
"W-What?! Then do you want to race right now?!"
"Sure! I'm almost done eating anyway!"
Their conversation quickly turned into arranging an impromptu match.
Meanwhile, the other racehorse girls, who had also agreed to participate, were much calmer.
"To race with undefeated Triple Crown winners, Triple Tiara winners, and undefeated Double Crown seniors…"
Narita Brian muttered quietly, chewing on a twig, her eyes gliding over the others at the table.
"Whether as teammates or opponents… that's…"
She didn't finish, but her eyes shone brighter.
Oguri Roman, sitting next to her, heard it clearly.
"It's a chance to grow, isn't it? That sounds like you, Brian."
Brian looked at her in surprise.
"You've always wanted to become stronger, haven't you? Back at school, and here at the seaside camp too."
"You're always quietly training, wherever you are."
"I was just a little curious why you work so hard… I'm not prying, just curious…"
Realizing she might be overstepping, Roman hurriedly waved her hands.
"Please forget I said anything…"
To her surprise, Brian didn't brush it off.
After a moment of silence, she smiled faintly.
"Why I want to become stronger… maybe I wouldn't have thought about it if you hadn't asked."
"…Eh?"
"Because no one's ever asked me that before," Brian said softly.
"Not my parents, not my sister, not my classmates."
"They all think I look scary or quick-tempered, so no one really talks to me."
"So you're probably the first."
"I see…"
Roman hesitated, then softly shared her own story about being shy and how she changed after joining the team.
Brian listened, then murmured:
"Maybe… it's because of my sister too."
"Your sister… Biwa Hayahide-senpai?"
Brian nodded.
She told the story of how she admired her brilliant sister, won her first race, felt conflicted about surpassing her, and how her sister reassured her:
"How could I ever hate you? If you surpass me, I'll just train harder and surpass you back."
"I'm your big sister, you know — I won't always let you win. So if you want to be stronger than me, you'll have to work really hard."
"That's our promise," Brian said.
"That's why I'll keep training and keep getting stronger."
"And if 'Triple Crown racehorse girl' means the strongest… then I'll definitely take that title."
"And until then, I'll give everything I have in every race."
(End of Chapter)