"Alright, spill. Where did a good-looking cousin like that suddenly pop out from?"
Just as he was returning from the student dorms, Fujiwara Chiya ran into Katsumura Yota, who was just getting off work. His colleague immediately pulled him aside.
As colleagues and Chiya's first friend at Tracen, the two spoke bluntly.
"You're just jealous."
"She's just your cousin. What's there to be jealous of?"
"As if you have one."
"I actually do."
"Huh?"
"My aunt's kid. She's a little filly too, but she's only four."
"Somebody help! There's a perverted lolicon over here!"
"What the hell!" Yota clamped a hand over his mouth. "I just mentioned my aunt's kid, what are you shouting for?"
"You misunderstood me this morning. I had to get you back."
"Is that how this works? An eye for an eye?"
"You know it."
Yota looked like he had a toothache.
"So, what do you want with my cousin?" Chiya asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I was just going to ask. On the field earlier, I think I heard you say you were going all out this year?"
"That's right. Aiming for a Graded Race victory. Any problem with that?"
"Actually, I've got a little inside scoop..."
Yota looked around mysteriously.
"This year's races are going to be a bit different from previous years."
"How so?"
"We're going to participate in the European circuit."
Hearing that, Chiya froze for a moment.
"The European circuit? Don't tell me..."
"That's right." Yota nodded. "The Chairwoman has set her sights on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She hopes someone can conquer the Arc this year."
As one of the top three international races, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a competition that every Horse Girl dreamed of. A victory in that race would bestow the highest honor in the world: the title of 'World-Class Horse Girl.'
However, looking back at Japan's history, not a single person had ever won the Arc.
The race had become a long-held, unfulfilled wish in the history of Japanese racing.
"No wonder the Chairwoman said this year was special. So that's what she meant."
Is Tracen finally mustering the courage to launch a grand challenge for this race?
It sounded thrilling!
But what did that have to do with them?
"Do you have a Horse Girl on your team who can compete in the Arc?"
"Nope."
"Do I have one on mine?"
"Nope."
"Then why are you telling me this?"
Why get excited over something that has nothing to do with us? There's no meat in our pot.
"Now that's where you're wrong." Yota wagged a finger. "Just because we don't have one now doesn't mean we won't in the future. As long as we can train a talented Horse Girl this year, we'll have a chance to compete in the Arc."
"You mean, train a Horse Girl for the Arc within a year?"
"No, we have two years. This year is obviously a lost cause, but what about next year?"
Even next year might be a long shot.
The conditions of the Arc's track were extremely demanding and uneven, placing strict requirements on a Horse Girl's stamina and balance. If their foundation wasn't solid, even two years might not be enough to win.
Just as Chiya was shaking his head internally, the image of a beautiful dance outfit appeared in his mind. At the same time, his voice paused.
"...While I don't have the confidence to win the Arc," he began again, "if anyone on my team wishes to become the champion of the Arc, I will do everything in my power to help her."
"That's the spirit. Oh, by the way, I heard that the trainer of a Horse Girl who wins the Arc can unconditionally receive a Senior Trainer certificate from the central association."
"What?" Chiya's ears perked up instantly.
"For rookie trainers like us, it takes at least seven or eight years, maybe even over a decade, to get a senior certificate. If we get lucky and win the Arc, it's a gamble that could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle."
"Let's do it! It's just the Arc, what's stopping us?!"
Chiya was instantly motivated.
A Senior Trainer certificate meant publicly funded overseas study and a pass to any Horse Girl academy in the world. With that certificate, he could teach anywhere. As long as Horse Girls existed, a Senior Trainer would always be in demand. It was the ultimate life goal at this stage.
However, just as Chiya was gearing up to charge towards the Arc, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. He turned to Yota.
"Um... if we go to the Arc, does that mean it's going to cost a lot of money?"
"Probably. You have to go two weeks early to acclimate to the track. Spending half a month in Paris won't be cheap."
"Will the Chairwoman reimburse us?"
"If the Horse Girl qualifies, the travel and accommodation expenses will be covered. As for other costs, probably not... What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Chiya shook his head miserably. "Just now, I suddenly found myself in a severe financial crisis. I might not be able to support myself anymore..."
"Huh?"
Yota stared at Chiya's fluctuating emotions, completely bewildered.
"Let me calm down and contemplate my life choices for a bit."
With that, Chiya found a cool spot to sit down, his attention shifting to Fujiwara Shirayuki.
Just as she was kneeling on the ground in despair, the dorm room door suddenly opened. A brown-haired girl emerged from within. Clearly not expecting to find someone kneeling at her doorstep, she let out a small shriek upon seeing Shirayuki and slammed the door shut.
"..."
Strange. Am I really that scary?
From Chiya's perspective, Shirayuki was a classic beauty. Her curvaceous body and delicate features perfectly embodied the term 'beautiful girl.' Even Chiya himself would feel his heart race if he looked at her for too long.
Why isn't it working here? Don't you Horse Girls care about looks?
Shirayuki felt a little hurt by her reaction. The closed door then creaked open again, and a fair, delicate face peeked out, a pair of beautiful purple eyes looking at her.
"Excuse me... are you Fujiwara Shirayuki?"
"Yes, that's me."
Hearing this, the girl's ears twitched, and she opened the door fully.
"My name is Mejiro Dober. I'm your roommate. Sorry, you startled me just now. Why were you kneeling outside?"
"I had too much luggage and tripped," Shirayuki said, gesturing to the large bag behind her.
She hadn't realized she had already made it to her dorm room.
"I see..."
Mejiro Dober's eyes darted around nervously.
"Your knees... are they hurt?"
"I'm fine. I'm pretty tough."
"That's good."
She looked relieved.
"I've already cleared a bed for you. You just need to put down your bedding. That desk over there is yours, and I've divided the bathroom cabinet into two sections."
Listening to her list of rules, Shirayuki narrowed her eyes.
I have a feeling this girl is going to be hard to get along with.
-------
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