Qualifier Assessment
2000m Middle-Distance Turf Race.
It had finally arrived.
On this morning, the crucial race that would determine Daijin's future was held as scheduled.
Aside from the Uma Musume making their final preparations outside the starting gates, nearly half of the Trainers from Tracen Academy came to witness it.
After all, this resolution was initiated by a vote within their ranks, and as part of the assessment, they were required to attend.
It was just that—
"The refined theoretical faction, Biwa Hayahide, who emphasizes the combination of skill, speed, and strength, or Victory Ticket, who is full of explosive power and stands out purely with her absolute physique and talent. Even the Uma Musume participating in this race seem to have made significant progress compared to the race a week ago…"
"Well, isn't the outcome obvious? For her, it's merely a matter of whether she leaves gracefully or not…"
The crowd present seemed to have no confidence, or rather, their attention was entirely focused on the other two.
"You lot!"
Toujou Hana appeared there at some point, her eyes glaring coldly as she reprimanded them. These people instantly stood ramrod straight like wooden figures, not daring to move.
"If you keep talking so carelessly, you'll run twenty laps around the track and then do one hundred push-ups. Understand!?"
"Eeek—Yes, yes!"
These Trainers immediately fell silent, like cicadas in winter, and scurried off to another side.
Toujou Hana, standing there, sighed helplessly and rubbed her throbbing temples.
Yoshida slowly walked over, looking at her with some curiosity, saying:
"I rarely see you this angry…"
"To be honest, I think the atmosphere in the Academy now has some issues, and it might even be necessary to conduct another quality assessment for the Trainers. This incident, frankly, I cannot accept."
She stood still, her gaze fixed on the small Uma Musume standing in the corner, whom no one favored.
At this moment, Daijin was engrossed in her stretching exercises, making her final preparations.
"If this resolution is implemented and established, it means that Tracen Academy will completely become an elite institution on the surface, but this is also stifling potential…"
Toujou Hana deeply hoped such a thing would not happen, especially for those who loved this profession and loved the Uma Musume.
However, no matter how capable she was, at the end of the day, she was just a Trainer.
Therefore, all she could do was constantly prod the people around her.
Yoshida sighed: "Yes… To be honest, this also goes against my original intention when founding this Academy…"
"The Academy is currently undergoing some changes, but the opportunities that arise from it might also give birth to new stars…"
Toujou Hana's brows furrowed slightly, seemingly not understanding the meaning behind Yoshida's words.
"Times create heroes. People are always pushed forward by the rolling wheel of history. At least, Narita Daijin still holds a glimmer of possibility, doesn't she?"
Toujou Hana was silent at these words. After a long silence, she slowly shook her head and said: "Although deep down I hope Narita Daijin can stay… I don't think she can defeat Biwa Hayahide."
As Biwa Hayahide's Trainer, her progress over this week of training could be described as rapid.
Compared to her performance during the self-selection race, Biwa Hayahide at this moment was like a monster.
This was the advantage of an ace Trainer; when two people with excellent compatibility come together, the break out is far more than a simple 1+1=2.
Precisely because of this, she, who knew Biwa Hayahide's strength best, did not believe Daijin could defeat her… Let alone Daijin, even Victory Ticket might only be left far behind her now… However, facing Toujou Hana's view, Yoshida laughed heartily as if he had heard something amusing.
"Ahua… You remind me of you back in the day…"
"You sometimes think things too simply. In the world of Uma Musume, is everything truly so absolute?"
"…Mr. Yoshida, even you just said it, didn't you? There's only a sliver of possibility of her winning?"
Since only the two of them were present, Tojo didn't hide anything. As Yoshida's student, Toujou Hana clearly believed her judgment was not wrong.
"Heh heh… Yes, I did say that. Her possibility alone is only a sliver… But when did I ever say she couldn't be two people fighting side by side?"
Tojo was first speechless, unsure how to answer, but then she suddenly reacted, her eyes widening.
"Are you saying… him?"
"Otherwise, where do you think that kid has been all this time?"
Yoshida chuckled, looking at everything on the track, and threw this question to Tojo.
"But… he's not even considered a Trainer, is he?"
"But he, who is not a Trainer, has already made a temporary contract with an excellent Uma Musume. Times create heroes. Those who stand out from the current are ordinary, but never common…"
If he can truly win all of this—
What do you think this means?
Yoshida always liked to pose questions to his students, making them think.
However, this time, without waiting for Tojo to answer, he answered himself:
"As a newcomer with zero experience and a blank resume, if he leads Daijin to victory, then what are these textbook-trained, book-smart guys? Among a group of people with solidified ideas who don't understand progress, someone with different values exists. The series of effects this will cause is that even those people will begin to rethink, because the impact of differences will change ideologies… Who is right and who is wrong? What will become of those things that were previously taken for granted?"
For those who no longer knew how to think, wasn't this a good remedy?
Tojo merely lowered her head at the words; perhaps she herself needed to seriously reflect, and maybe her own way of thinking had become rigid without her knowing when... With about ten minutes left until the race, Daijin was doing her warm-up exercises, yet her eyes were searching for that figure in the stands.
For some reason, she almost instinctively wanted to do this... But after looking repeatedly among the crowd several times, she still couldn't find that kind-hearted person... This somehow made her heart feel empty.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Tracen Academy, Hayakawa and Kazuo, who was uncharacteristically dressed formally, stood in front of the school gate.
And the two they were waiting for also appeared here at this moment—
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