As Kazuo walked with his sling bag towards the library on the east side of the academy, he couldn't help but stop at the slope in front of the Racecourse.
A few days ago, it was at this very spot that he had personally witnessed a girl's astonishing running style.
So, every time he passed this place, he unconsciously shifted his gaze towards it.
But this afternoon, the Racecourse was not as quiet as usual.
"Hmm…"
Not far from where his gaze landed, a group of Uma Musume stood in orderly lines, warming up by the track. The teacher responsible for basic physical education stood at the very front, clearly giving instructions.
"Hmm… Looking at this, I suddenly remember… I recall that these few days are supposed to be the Elementary School Division's class simulation training races, right?"
Although Kazuo had been completely isolated during this period, he hadn't been idle. At least in the mornings, he would attend basic teaching classes in various classes, so he had some impression of the new student classes' teaching arrangements.
After spending a week at the academy, newly enrolled Uma Musume would gradually begin to participate in various basic physical education classes, step by step, progressively preparing for their ultimate goal this semester: their debut race.
And in previous conversations with the Class Advisor, he also learned that the students would be having their first class simulation race in these few days.
Since it was a simulation race and a preliminary trial, the track chosen would not be too long. Most were short-distance 1200m turf races.
On one hand, this was due to the phased assessment of the new students' physical fitness, starting from the most basic short-distance races, then gradually increasing the distance, conducting various data tests, and finally determining the suitable race distance through analysis.
On the other hand, starting from the initial 1200m would also not put too much burden on the Uma Musume's bodies.
Of course, there was another point. Kazuo couldn't help but shift his gaze downwards, only to see that on the spectator stand closest to the track, a dozen professional Trainers were already ready, standing outside the Racecourse, intending to carefully observe the performance of each Uma Musume in this simulation training race.
Trainers like Ms. Tojo had also come to the site, and even, from the Middle School Division, the newly appointed Academy President, Symboli Rudolf, had also arrived.
Although it was just a small simulation test, since there were spectators, the Uma Musume standing on the grass had already ignited their fighting spirit… Standing on the viewing platform and watching all this, Kazuo couldn't help but stop again, leaning on the railing to observe everything.
There were about thirty people in one class… If he remembered correctly, this was Class A.
Oh, you're free to watch this too?
The voice that Kazuo desperately wanted to forget suddenly rang out, causing his body to tremble.
Mr. Yoshida appeared beside him like a ghost, without a sound.
"Uh, Mr. Yoshida…"
Though unwilling, Kazuo still tried his best to compose himself.
Yoshida stood next to him, his gaze also shifting to the distant racetrack.
"What do you think you can see from the race…?"
"Eh?"
Yoshida's unprovoked question stumped Kazuo.
What can he see… After pondering for a long time, Kazuo finally managed to blurt out: "I don't know…"
Yoshida merely smiled at this, saying nothing more, only adding, "It's about to start. Let's see the strength of these newcomers."
A sprint race, huh… Kazuo watched the upcoming race, his heart inexplicably gripped tightly.
.
"Now we will proceed with grouping. Today's test event is a 1200m short-distance turf race. We will be divided into two groups for the competition. Next, those whose names I call, please step forward. The rest will form Group B for the second round."
"Additionally, those whose names are called, please come over here in order to collect your bib numbers. After warming up, please enter your corresponding gates according to your numbers and await the start of the race. Understood?"
"Understood!!"
The P.E. teacher, holding the roster, stood at the front and shouted loudly:
"Group A, Super Creek, Tamamo Cross, Fine Motion, Eishin Flash…"
Seeing the two familiar figures appear in his sight, Kazuo was first stunned, but then a little excited.
So Xiao Hai Wan and Myou Motion are both in Class A. He had always attended classes in Class B and C before, no wonder he hadn't met them… Thinking of how he still had her handkerchief, Kazuo secretly resolved to go find her and thank her properly later.
The P.E. teacher called out ten names in one breath. Everyone came forward in order to receive their bib numbers, while the remaining students left the track and stood on the field to watch the upcoming race.
Tamamo Cross quickly put on her bib after receiving it, but at this moment, she was muttering to herself:
"I didn't expect my first mock race to be with Xiao Hai Wan. She's definitely the toughest opponent in this group… I need to pay close attention. My physique isn't advantageous, and while the difference in running styles for a 1200m sprint isn't significant, I should still choose to stay behind and look for opportunities…"
Although everyone is very strong, Tamamo Cross doesn't intend to give up first place so easily.
"Oh… Little Tamamo~ help me—"
She was about to enter the gate when Xiao Hai Wan, who was running in the first position, suddenly called out to Tamamo Cross for help, seemingly in great distress.
"Tsk, I told you not to call me Little Tamamo!! Xiao Hai Wan, what are you—"
The moment she turned her head, she was directly "slapped" in the face by a large, soft sphere.
Subsequently, Tamamo Cross stopped thinking.
It took her nearly 0.05 seconds to understand what had just happened.
Because Xiao Hai Wan was too big, the bib couldn't be fully put on, and she originally wanted Tamamo Cross to help her pull down the straps that were stuck on her back. But with that movement, the taut straps snapped, and coincidentally, Tamamo Cross, who is only 141cm tall, was struck by that massive object.
"Little Tamamo, are you okay?"
The person involved still looked as if nothing had happened, continuing to lean over and ask about Tamamo's condition with great concern. But the more she acted like this, the more Tamamo Cross's face, slowly understanding everything, changed from white to red to purple, and then to black—
"Ah… Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!"
After suffering such unfair treatment, the little runt finally erupted. The string of reason in her mind also snapped.
"You're mocking me, aren't you!!! Aren't you!!! Ah ah ah ah!!! I'm crying! I'm really crying!! You bastards ah ah ah ah!!!!"
Probably no one expected that because of this incident—
Tamamo Cross, the famous horse of Lumen, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, at this moment—
Awakened.