CB's Perspective
"Man, that was a blast! Yesterday's Satsuki Sho was just… mwah! Perfect!" I cheered, practically vibrating with leftover excitement. "Hachiman, your plan was spot on. Picking up the pace on the backstretch just like you said—it was amazing how I just sailed past everyone. It was a total rush!"
"I'll admit," Hachiman said, a rare note of genuine pride in his voice, "I've never been more struck by just how much raw talent you have until that moment."
"It was a spectacle of sheer brilliance," Rudolf added. "A victory that truly made the heavens and earth rejoice."
To sum up yesterday's Satsuki Sho: I crushed it. It had been pouring rain, and the track was a muddy, torn-up mess. Usually, for a 'chaser' like me who relies on a late-stage sprint, those are the worst possible conditions. But Hachiman didn't flinch. He kept the strategy as a deep hold and told me: 'Once you hit the backstretch, start shaving off the distance bit by bit. Then, let 'em have it at the fourth corner.'
I did exactly that, and… well, I blew them away. I crossed the wire three full lengths ahead of second place. Victory never tasted so sweet!
"That training with Rice really paid off," Hachiman continued. "You could only pull off a move like that because you've built up the stamina to handle a heavy track. We're carrying this momentum straight into the Derby."
"Leave it to me!" I chirped.
"Right. Next up is Rice." Hachiman's expression shifted, becoming more focused. "We have less than two weeks. The Tenno Sho Spring is breathing down our necks."
"Y-yes…" Rice murmured, her shoulders tensing.
"Even with Mejiro McQueen out of the picture, the field is dangerous. You know the names. Biwa Hayahide is coming off a win at the Kyoto Kinen, and then there's Narita Taishin. Plus Stage Champ, whom you just raced, and a whole new wave of Seniors who are hungry for a win. Not to mention veterans like Nature and Tannhauser. It's going to be just as brutal as last year. We're going to spend these last two weeks perfecting your form."
"Okay! Rice will do her best!"
"Rudolf, CB—I need you two to assist with Rice's training. CB, you've got the Derby coming up, but working on your base conditioning will only help your kick in the final straight."
"Got it, loud and clear!" I said, then paused. "Uh… just checking, but you aren't going to put her through what you did last year, right?"
Hachiman shook his head. "I'm not a demon. I'm not putting her through that kind of hell with only two weeks left. Besides, that training only happened because Rice insisted on it. You saw the toll it took on her—the backlash was too much. I have no intention of ever making her go that far again."
"A wise decision," Rudolf noted. "At this stage, we should focus on performance tuning and mental adjustment, not raw overwork."
Phew. That's a relief. Honestly, I never want to see Rice like she was last year again—it was a little scary. Though, I wonder if she'll turn back into an apex predator once race day actually hits...
"You're thinking about something weird again, aren't you?" Hachiman asked, squinting at me.
"How rude! I was just worried that Rice might turn back into a 'carnivore' like last year!"
"Fueh?!" Rice squeaked. "A-A carnivore?!"
Hachiman leaned back, a dark look crossing his face. "Actually… I can relate to that concern."
"What?! Why, Big Brother?!"
"Listen, Rice. I don't know how much you remember from last year, but when we walked into that waiting room… the pressure coming off you was so intense it made these two break out in a cold sweat. You were so 'dialed in' it was terrifying. Making girls like CB and Rudolf shake is no small feat."
"Wh-whaaaaat?!" Rice cried, her face turning bright red. "Rice did that?!"
"It wasn't intentional," Rudolf said, her voice unusually grave. "But I remember it vividly. Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine."
"If Hachiman hadn't been standing right in front of us, I don't think I could have kept my feet," I teased, though I was only half-joking. "So please, Rice, when the Tenno Sho rolls around… try to go easy on us, okay? No 'Predator Mode'?"
"I-I won't! I promise!"
I wonder about that... Rice has a habit of doing the impossible when her back is against the wall.
— Near the School Gates —
"Look! It's the Student Council President! And that's her trainer, Mr. Hikigaya, right?"
"Wow, they have such an aura! And look behind them—it's Mister C.B. and Rice Shower!"
"The Triple Crown favorite and the strongest Senior… what a lineup!"
"I'm so jealous… I wish I could be in that Trainer's stable."
"Total goals!"
I couldn't help it—my chest puffed out a little. Heh heh.
"Hear that, Hachiman? They're all admiring us!"
"Yeah, yeah. Good for you. Just means you have to work harder so you don't let them down."
"So dismissive!" I pouted.
"Awawa… is it really okay for people to say such nice things about Rice?"
"Of course it is," Hachiman said firmly. "If anything, it's weird they haven't said it sooner. Rudolf is the one I'm worried about. Once she makes her debut and shows everyone what she can do, the attention is going to get even crazier."
"I will do my best to live up to your expectations, Brother," Rudolf said with a polite bow.
"But they were talking about you too, Big Brother," Rice pointed out. "They said they wanted you to be their Trainer."
"Indeed," Rudolf added. "It is proof of how highly you are regarded. As your student, it brings me great joy."
"Alright!" I shouted, throwing an arm around Hachiman's shoulder. "Let's just keep this momentum going and officially form our Team!"
"Quiet down," Hachiman hissed, looking around nervously. "Don't shout. The fact that we're forming a team isn't public knowledge yet."
"Right, we're waiting until after the Derby to start recruiting," Rice said, her eyes sparkling. "I'm getting so excited!"
Hachiman looked at her and gave a small, genuine smile. "Heh. Looks like our Leader is looking forward to having some juniors to look after."
"...Huh? L-Leader?" Rice blinked.
"Hmm? What about it?"
"Rice is… the Leader?"
"Well, yeah. You've been my student the longest. Besides, is there anyone in this group with a better track record than you right now?"
"B-but… surely the President would be better…"
"I haven't even debuted yet," Rudolf said smoothly. "The responsibility would be ill-placed on me. Rice, you are the only choice."
"Look, I'm not asking you to do anything difficult," Hachiman said, patting her head. "Just think of it as a natural title. You're the big sister of the group."
"O-okay…"
"What about me?" I asked, leaning in. "Can't I be the Leader?"
"If you were the leader, the team would collapse within a week," Hachiman said flatly.
"It would certainly be a… 'free-spirited' environment," Rudolf added dryly.
Hey! Everyone's a critic! Fine, I know I'm not 'leader material,' but they didn't have to agree so fast!
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