"So, Fuji? It has already been a year. What do you intend to do about your relationship with Hachiman?"
"S-Suddenly? What brought this on?"
"As a friend, I simply wish to inquire about your love life. It seems you've been closing the distance more aggressively than before."
"...I do have a plan, strictly speaking. But there is an absolute condition attached to it: victory in my next race. I thought of it after the Tenno Sho, so I couldn't execute it back then."
"Oh? Am I allowed to hear it?"
"Umm... that's a bit..."
"...Well, if you have a plan, then fine. Letting time pass without any strategy isn't exactly praiseworthy, after all. Whether you can actually pull it off is up to you, but I shall believe that you can."
"I feel like you don't trust me much... Th-Though, considering my track record, I suppose that's only natural."
It is entirely natural. I never thought she would be this of a late bloomer when it comes to love. I've watched her be frustratingly roundabout countless times; she has no idea how relieved I am to hear she's finally making a move.
"The next race is the Arima Kinen... If you win that, you can put your plan into action. In that case, you had better race with the intent to win, understood?"
"Of course. I will adorn my victory with a performance that captivates the audience."
"Come to think of it, I have a race around that time as well... the first round of the WDT. I managed to win in the summer, but the details for the winter race are only revealed two weeks prior, so flexibility is required. In my case, if it turns out to be a short sprint or a long-distance endurance run, I intend to pass on entering."
"Your aptitude lies in the Mile and Intermediate distances, after all. Still, it really is amazing. You've been undefeated even after retiring from the Twinkle Series and transferring to the Dream Trophy league."
"It is a race held only twice a year, but consecutive victories are at stake. I can only pray that a distance suited to my strengths is chosen."
"I heard Hachiman-san has you training to increase your speed, centering around Intermediate distances?"
"That is correct. Though I suspect the regimen will change again once we enter December. However, I pride myself on the fact that with my current speed, I could even reach CB-senpai."
"Heh~, that's quite the confidence!"
"If it's a Long distance race, as long as it's within 2500 meters, I have a chance. I must do my best."
The next WDT. I look forward to seeing what kind of track condition, course venue, and distance aptitude will be thrown at us.
Click—
"Yo. You two."
"Ah, Hachiman-san. Hello."
"Good work today."
"Just the two of you? That's kind of rare. The clubroom has turned into a pretty big household with the team formed and all."
"Certainly. To think that until two years ago, this room was just us two and you, Hachiman-san."
"This is a testament to your achievements. And perhaps, come the new school term next year, our numbers might increase again? We can't count last year since that's when we formed, but the team's track record this year is impeccable. In fact, our scouted CB-senpai took the Irish Triple Crown; Maurice was the Junior Mile King and will now challenge Seniors; Aldan won a Graded stakes recently and will challenge the Hopeful Stakes in December; Rice achieved the double crown with this year's Derby and Kikuka Sho; needless to say, Arrow achieved the first-ever Japanese victory at the Breeders' Cup; and finally, Bakushin O is showing great promise for the future."
"...Hearing it all listed out like that, you really are amazing. Since entering this year, including overseas races... umm, you've won 10 G1 races."
"Let's see... First was Maurice's NHK Mile Cup, then Rice's Derby. Fuji's Yasuda Kinen wrapped up the spring. Then Fuji took the Sprinters Stakes, Rice took the Kikuka Sho, and Fuji won the Tenno Sho (Autumn). Those are the domestic results."
"And overseas, we had CB-senpai's Irish Triple Crown and Arrow's BC Juvenile. Hmph. Winning this much can no longer be called anything but abnormal."
No, we knew from the start that he was abnormal. It is simply a matter of that abnormality rubbing off on us.
"Well, I'm sure everyone will keep it up from here on out. You guys have no intention of losing either, right?"
"Ah, naturally."
"Of course. For your sake, as well."
"No, seriously, you can stop doing it 'for my sake,' alright? Running for your own sake should be the default, you know."
"Ahaha, old habits die hard."
"Sigh... Well, you're free to think whatever you want, so I can't exactly force you."
"In that case, let us continue to run for your sake. It makes it easier to draw out our strength."
"Fufufu, that's right. Running for Hachiman-san is what gives us the most power. Yup, it can't be helped."
"...Does that really give you power?"
"I asked CB-senpai about it, too. apparently, she thinks about you, Hachiman-san, once or twice even during the race. Amazing, isn't it?"
"No, focus on the race..."
"There is logic to that, but isn't that just CB-senpai's style? It is hardly something to meddle with. Besides, she is not the type to listen even if you told her."
"...That's a fair point."
...Fuji. There is no need to hold back just because I am here, you know? You should just attack him with everything you have.
Fuji has a plan?
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