The first selection race of the year was held in June.
Trainer contracts typically peak during the third selection race in December, so few horse girls and trainers commit this early. The first race is more about gathering information—scouting potential partners and assessing compatibility.
Since I'm younger and already partnered with Rice Shower, I wasn't thinking about debuting or signing any new contracts. Instead, I focused on observing the race to find someone who could become Rice's future rival.
The one who caught my attention most was Mihono Bourbon.
From what I'd gathered, her father was a former trainer at a training center. Her physique—especially her thighs and glutes—showed the results of serious conditioning. What surprised me was her strategy: she ran as an escape-type.
Her goal, I'd heard, was to become a Triple Crown horse girl. But escape tactics are notoriously difficult in long-distance races, especially the Kikuka Sho. No horse girl has ever won that race with an escape strategy. I wondered if she had a deeper plan behind it.
Beside her was Nishino Flower, a horse girl with an impeccable reputation. She did skip a grade, but she was both academically gifted and athletically talented—a true all-rounder. Unlike me, who's seen as a genius only in theory.
She's petite, but her core strength is impressive. Watching her race, I could tell she was the real deal. I wasn't sure why she and Mihono Bourbon were so close—maybe they were classmates?
Scouts swarmed around both of them, but they skillfully dodged attention. Clearly, they were still in the information-gathering phase.
Or so I thought…
"Um, you're Viola Regina, right?"
"Yes, but…"
Nishino Flower approached me, with Mihono Bourbon at her side.
"I wanted to talk to you since we're both grade-skippers. Do you have a moment?"
"Y-Yeah, sure…"
She was poised, confident, and friendly—everything I wasn't. I was still the awkward girl who got head-patted by classmates.
"I'd like your advice on choosing a trainer."
"Hmm… I'm not sure if I'm qualified to give you advice…"
Honestly, trainer compatibility is tricky. Most trainers at the academy are proud professionals. They self-regulate well, and while some are eccentric, none are outright bad. But matching with one? That's a whole other challenge.
I answered a few of Nishino's questions, but I couldn't offer much.
"Did Mihono-san come to ask about trainers too?"
"No, I wanted to ask about the slope training you and Rice Shower do."
"Oh, like how many laps we run and how we space intervals?"
"Exactly."
Mihono Bourbon was clearly interested in our training regimen. In another world, she's known as the "Demon of the Slope," so it made sense.
As we talked, I got more talkative, explaining our routines and methods. Then Mihono made a suggestion.
"Would you mind putting it into practice with me?"
"Mihono-san, aren't you tired from the selection race?"
"One lap is fine."
"Rice, are you up for it?"
"I'm okay with it."
"What about you, Nishino-san?"
"I'd love to join!"
And just like that, the four of us headed off for slope training—an unexpected collaboration.