Weather: Sunny. Track condition: Good. It's a good day for running.
Standing in the spectator stands, the trainer silently observed Legend warming up.
"Just as Gold Ship said, her Izao Izao is unlike anything I've seen before. But Izao Izao doesn't determine the outcome of a race. Let me see what kind of strength you possess to be evaluated so highly by that Gold Ship!"
The trainer waited in silent anticipation.
"Hmm? Okino? I can't believe you'd come here. That's rare."
A reliable-sounding female voice came from behind. The trainer turned around and saw a familiar figure.
"Ah, Hana. I haven't seen you at the boss's place lately. How have you been?"
The trainer replied in his usual frivolous tone.
The newcomer was his colleague and drinking buddy, the trainer of the academy's strongest team, 'Rigil'—Tojo Hana.
"Thanks to you, I'm fine. But for you to appear here... what, are you finally planning to stand up from your decadence?"
Miss Hana asked in a cold tone.
"Ah, well, I can't let the team members who believe in me down. Even at this stage, there are still Horse Girls willing to trust me, so I can't keep going like this. At least I have to pull myself together in front of these kids. This is one of the few bits of dignity I have left as a terrible adult."
Recalling the child who hadn't given up on him yet, the trainer gave a smile.
"I see. That's a pity then." Miss Hana's tone was somewhat mysterious.
"What about you, Hana? Why are you here? Rigil shouldn't need to scout for newcomers here, right?"
The trainer took the opportunity to ask his own question.
"I'm here to handle the team entry procedures for a newcomer. A very excellent prospect."
As she spoke, Miss Hana stepped aside, and the trainer finally noticed a Horse Girl behind her.
"Let me introduce you. This is Silence Suzuka / Silent Suzuka, a newcomer to Rigil. Her trainer went back to his hometown to get married and entrusted her to me before he left, asking me to take good care of her."
Then she pointed at the trainer and introduced him to the Horse Girl: "This is Trainer Okino. As you can see, he's a frivolous and decadent uncle. However, he's still qualified as a trainer. If I'm not around and you have questions in the future, you can ask him."
"Hey, hey, Hana, we're the same age..."
"Hmm?"
"I mean, hello, Miss Silence Suzuka / Silent Suzuka. You can come to me if you have any questions in the future."
Silence Suzuka / Silent Suzuka nodded without speaking. She felt like there was an atmosphere between these two that she couldn't intrude upon, so she decided to stay silent.
"What a quiet Horse Girl. That's rare."
Thinking of that headache-inducing fellow in his own team, the trainer's tone unconsciously carried a bit of envy.
"Since you've come here, do you have someone you've set your sights on?" Miss Hana changed the subject.
"Of course! Look, the most conspicuous one on the field is the one." The trainer pointed behind him with his thumb.
Miss Hana looked over and immediately saw that beautiful figure warming up.
"So pretty!" Silence Suzuka / Silent Suzuka, who also saw the figure, exclaimed in admiration.
"White-maned Chestnut Coat, outstanding looks. She is indeed eye-catching," Miss Hana agreed. "Where did you find this child? With such an appearance, even if her results are poor, she would still have a large number of fans."
"I can only say it's an arrangement of fate. By the way, her name is Legend." The trainer put a lollipop back in his mouth, his tone carrying a hint of showing off.
"Gold? That Gold family? Was she recommended by that fellow in your team?" Miss Hana showed a subtle expression.
"Not exactly. I met her here, but that fellow Gold Ship did mention her."
"What did she say?"
"She is the most talented among the Gold family's generation of Horse Girls."
...I was careless and didn't dodge.
Legend, who was warming up, felt a bit of regret.
She had entered Sage Mode earlier and agreed to the trainer's request without thinking. Now that she had come to her senses, she only felt trouble looming over her.
I don't know the first thing about racing. If I mess up, it'll be a total social death.
Recalling Special Week's clumsy performance in the anime, Legend covered her face.
"Will the Horse Girls participating in the next practice race please enter the gates? The race is about to begin."
A staff member shouted from a distance.
Whatever, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. At worst, I'll just stop thinking.
Legend made up her mind and walked toward the gates with a determined expression.
The distance is 2400m, a classic middle-distance race.
The staff closed the entrance, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
The cramped space gave off a sense of loneliness.
No wonder there were racehorses in my previous life that refused to enter the gates, Legend couldn't help but think.
Taking a deep breath, Legend began to adjust her posture.
She had no racing experience and had never undergone professional training, so she didn't know what kind of posture was suitable for starting.
However, her body naturally assumed a comfortable position.
It seems I'm not without a cheat. After Legend realized this, she suddenly had a thought.
This body of hers is her greatest cheat.
After understanding this, Legend had an idea.
Maybe I can leave everything to instinct.
No sooner said than done. Legend tried to clear her mind, and then she heard a heartbeat—something had awakened.
The surrounding Horse Girls felt a chill down their spines... "Is the Izao Izao of this batch of Horse Girls this high?"
Watching the Horse Girls who rushed out almost the instant the gates opened, Tojo Hana couldn't help but ask.
"Not really. Look, isn't our Miss Legend a half-beat slow?"
The trainer looked at Legend, who had a late start, and couldn't help but make a joke.
"No, they didn't just exit the gates. It's more like they are... fleeing from something?"
Silence Suzuka / Silent Suzuka, who had been very quiet, spoke up.
It's as if something is chasing them... A late start, huh? But it's not a big deal.
Miss Legend, at the back of the pack, thought easily.
After zoning out, she slipped into a strange state—her body moved on its own while her mind watched from a third-person view. Contradictory, yet perfectly harmonious.
Looks like I'm really suited to being a closer.
Thinking that, she studied the track.
Something's off.
She had no race experience, but even she could tell this wasn't normal running. The Horse Girls ahead weren't saving stamina; every one of them was sprinting flat-out.
They looked frantic, as if fleeing from something.
Whatever.
Another stretch and the race hit mid-way.
Time to pick up speed.
The game said closers accelerate from here. The final burst is the core, but first you have to keep up.
It was easier than expected. A few cries of "Oyster!" and she had slipped into the middle of the pack.
The leaders seemed to have cooled down. They began blocking, clumsily but effectively, protecting their places. The field froze into a stalemate.
Legend didn't care; this wasn't the point that decided anything.
At last, the final turn.
Here. She dropped her weight and surged.
She darted through gaps in the leaders, clean and swift—time itself seemed to part for her.
Only one runner remained ahead.
That Horse Girl sensed it and glanced back, eyes wide with terror.
She tried to accelerate, but her exhausted body had no burst left.
Sorry, but I'm about to whip you with total defeat.
Legend's mouth curved into a dangerous grin.
Another push, and she left the despairing rival behind, vanishing into the distance.
Winner: Legend, by a crushing five lengths!
Easy.
Legend stretched, signing off on the practice race.