Hachiman's POV
"..."
"U-um... Big Brother?"
"Don't say it. I know," I muttered, staring at the scene before us. "I get why they feel this way, especially after what happened last year... but the seventeen of us might as well be invisible. We're playing on foreign soil here."
Today was the day. The final leg of the Triple Crown: the Kikuka-sho. We had arrived at the Kyoto Racecourse yesterday, but the moment we stepped out today, it was clear that we were the outsiders. The reason was plastered everywhere you looked.
[MIHONO BOURBON: THE QUEST FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN!!!]
[THE BIRTH OF AN UNDEFEATED LEGEND!]
[MIHONO BOURBON: STANDING AT THE PINNACLE OF A GENERATION!]
The stadium was saturated in Bourbon's colors. You'd see a stray banner for another girl here or there, but compared to the sea of support for Bourbon, they were little more than background noise. Seriously, did these people not watch the Derby? Rice was breathing down her neck the entire time. And today's race was a long-distance haul—conditions that leaned heavily in our favor. I felt for Bourbon, I really did, but her chances of a comfortable win were far lower than the media was letting on.
"Let's head inside, Rice," I said, turning away from the spectacle. "The air out here is getting a little too thin for my liking."
"R-right!"
— The Waiting Room —
"Good grief," I exhaled, leaning against the wall. "I knew she was popular, but that's a bit much. A narrow loss in the Satsuki-sho, a dead heat in the Derby... you'd think they'd realize by now. You'd think someone would put two and two together and realize Rice has a real shot at winning this."
"I think I understand how they feel, though," Rice said softly. "Last year, Teio-san couldn't run the Kikuka-sho because of her injury. Everyone has been waiting for a Triple Crown winner... they're just putting all those hopes onto Bourbon-san."
"Well, it's a pain in the neck for the rest of us if it kills the other girls' motivation," I countered. "Rice, let's go over the plan one last time before we head to the paddock."
"Okay. Please!"
The Kikuka-sho was the perfect stage for Rice to show her true strength. She was focused, energized, and—surprisingly—actually looking forward to the challenge. I hadn't seen Bourbon yet today, so I didn't know her condition, but I knew she'd be at her peak. Kuronuma wasn't the type of trainer to let his star athlete slack off.
— A Few Minutes Later —
"...And that's the gist of it," I finished. "I'll give you a final word right before the gates open, but it's almost time for the paddock reveal. I'll head out first; you should get changed into your silks."
"Right... I'll see you in a bit, Big Brother."
"Yeah. See you out there."
I stepped out into the hall, figuring I'd kill some time by wandering around until—
"Ah, Hikigaya-kun. Checking in with your trainee?"
I stopped. It was Trainer Minamisaka... and he was accompanied by Machikane Tannhauser.
"Something like that," I replied. "The introductions are starting soon, so I left her to get changed."
"Is that so?" Tannhauser chimed in, practically vibrating with energy. "Well, I'm not losing today! I've got to show everyone what I'm made of!"
"You seem to be in high spirits," I noted.
"Indeed," Minamisaka agreed. "I'm expecting big things from her. Rice Shower and Mihono Bourbon are our biggest rivals today; how well she can keep up with those two will decide the race."
"Well, my Rice isn't going to make it easy for you," I said with a faint smirk. "I'm looking forward to it. Anyway, Tannhauser, shouldn't you be getting changed? You're running out of time."
"Gah! You're right!" she yelped, nearly tripping over her own feet. "Okay, Trainer! I'm going to go get ready!"
"Right," Minamisaka called after her. "And for heaven's sake, watch your nose!"
"I know, I know~!"
Watch her nose? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
"...Yo. You two got a minute?"
A new voice joined us. Kuronuma.
"Senior Kuronuma," Minamisaka greeted him. "We're free. How about you, Hikigaya-kun?"
"I'm good."
"Then come with me for a bit," Kuronuma said, his tone commanding. "It'll pass the time."
"I don't mind, but where are we going?" I asked.
"Simple. We're having afternoon tea."
— Racecourse Restaurant —
"I didn't expect to end up in a place like this," Minamisaka admitted, looking around the upscale cafe. "Did you have a reservation?"
"I did," Kuronuma replied coolly. "Our trainees are the top three favorites today. My Bourbon is first, Hikigaya's Rice is second, and your Tannhauser is third. I figured a little 'scouting' wouldn't hurt."
"You're really just gonna walk right into the enemy camp, huh?" I said, leaning back. "I'll open my wallet to split the bill, but don't expect me to open my mouth about my strategy."
Kuronuma let out a short, dry laugh. "Relax. I didn't bring you here to make you pay. This is on me. Don't worry about it."
"After a comment like that, I trust you even less," I muttered.
"Since we're here," Minamisaka intervened, pulling out a device, "I have my tablet. Why don't we monitor the paddock from here? It might be more efficient."
Usually, I'd be down there as close as possible. This was a new perspective.
"Fine by me," I said. "Kuronuma-san?"
"Yeah, works for me."
"I'll set it up then," Minamisaka said.
Kuronuma looked at me. "...Hikigaya, don't you use one of those? They're pretty useful for managing data."
"I'm a bit old-school," I admitted. "My teacher taught me to trust my eyes more than a spreadsheet. I still track everything, but I do it by hand in a notebook."
"You should give it a try sometime. You'd be surprised how much easier it makes things."
"Tell you what," I said. "Why don't you lend me yours? Buying one just to try it out seems like a risky investment."
Kuronuma stared at me for a beat. "...You're really something. You just walked right into my pocket, didn't you?"
"Fair's fair," I replied.
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