[Sorry for the inconsistant update guys, I am currently in my Uni Exam arc. So there will period of irregular update. After the exam it will go back to regular update]
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In truth, Kitahara didn't need to deliberately emphasize it—the changes on the racetrack were simply far too obvious.
The summer afternoon sun was blazing and brilliant, shining directly onto the wide, flat asphalt road, the jet-black surface reflecting an unusual deep bluish-green sheen.
Against the stark contrast of black and deep green, that roaring figure surging forward was like a crimson supercar that had suddenly shifted gears—instantly capturing the gaze of everyone watching the race.
Countless spectators inside and outside the venue held their breath, their pupils contracting.
It wasn't because they had witnessed something terrifying—quite the opposite. It was a scene the audience had imagined countless times before.
Throughout the roughly 500-meter opening phase, the race's steady state hadn't disappointed anyone, but what everyone truly longed for was an even more spectacular performance from those legendary figures.
Among the five horse girls, the engine-like roar of the "phantom supercar" with an eight-race, eight-win record resounded once more across the track—the dreamlike, unimaginable shift in speed that countless people had been waiting to hear and see again.
At this moment, the change on the track and the long-awaited scene arrived simultaneously.
When two anticipated events overlapped, they instantly swept away all rationality—the atmosphere in the open-air grandstands exploded.
Not only at the venue, but everywhere—before televisions, computers, and mobile phone screens broadcasting the race live—exclamations and cheers erupted nonstop.
Far away in northern Japan, in a corner of the Shirakami Mountains of Akita Prefecture—
"Did you see that, everyone?!"
The long ears beneath white earmuffs trembled excitedly as Sakura Chiyono O sprinted with excitement, pointing with shaking fingers and vigorously shaking the companion beside her as she exclaimed incoherently:
"I told you! Didn't I tell you?!"
"Maruzensky-senpai would never give up the lead position—she must have been observing her opponents during the opening phase!"
"Now the timing is perfect—she's going to overtake them all at once!"
"Just watch—this is exactly how it'll turn out!"
Having always admired Maruzensky, Sakura Chiyono O naturally wouldn't miss her idol's rare appearance on the track.
Like many others, she had once believed such a moment would never happen again.
That was precisely why, after learning the participants of this race, she had barely been able to eat or sleep, endlessly anticipating this moment.
Because of that, she had even made several mistakes during her team's training camp and been scolded many times.
Overwhelmed by excitement as she finally saw the scene she had dreamed of on the TV broadcast, she hadn't even noticed who she was shaking.
"…Y-yes… Chiyono O is right…"
The one being shaken was Yaeno Muteki. Even though she had practiced martial arts since childhood and had excellent balance, being shaken so violently left her dizzy, her vision nearly blurred.
That wasn't an exaggeration. Most of the Shirakami Mountains were still undeveloped wilderness, and even the developed areas lacked modern equipment.
The natural environment was perfect for training horse girls, but television reception wasn't exactly ideal.
With the intermittent signal, the television already showed static and flickering.
Now, being shaken like that, Yaeno Muteki felt she had already missed several moments amid the dizzy blur.
"S-stop shaking… focus on the race…"
Struggling to free herself, she said helplessly, "Didn't you say you cared a lot about this race, Chiyono O? Then you should watch it properly…"
"Oh! Right, right!"
Reminded of that, Sakura Chiyono O instinctively let go, obediently placing both hands on her knees.
Sitting in a kneeling posture, she now looked unusually composed and proper.
Yaeno Muteki did the same. Seeing Sakura Chiyono O calm down slightly, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly refocused all her attention on the TV screen.
She also didn't want to miss this race.
Relay races and official races differed greatly—not just in running styles, tactics, or course structure, but most importantly in intensity.
But this relay race was different.
When she first heard about it, she hadn't focused solely on Maruzensky like Sakura Chiyono O had.
She admitted that the return of Maruzensky and the other seniors surprised and excited her immensely.
She had studied their experience and real-world performances countless times during training.
But past recordings and live matches were completely different. Many details couldn't be clearly recreated after the race except by the trainers and competitors present at the time.
Now that she could witness the seniors' heroic performance firsthand again, she absolutely wouldn't miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And that was only one reason for her interest—and not the most important one.
The most important reason was that the horse girls she regarded as her targets and powerful rivals were also competing.
Namely, the Eisei Team horse girls of her generation.
Especially Oguri Cap.
From initially viewing her as an equal opponent to now seeing her as someone to chase, she had already acknowledged the visible gap between them.
Giving up the chance to face her again was impossible—but before truly competing again, she needed to pay close attention to everything about her target.
So even while watching the first leg of the race, she found herself secretly anticipating the second.
Still, she didn't let that anticipation distract her from the screen.
"…It doesn't seem to be going the way you expected, Chiyono O."
Focused on the race, Yaeno Muteki forgot about being shaken earlier. She frowned slightly, touching her chin as she said in surprise:
"I also find it strange, but…"
"It looks like Maruzensky-senpai really doesn't intend to fight for the lead."
"Compared to competing for position, I feel like…"
She hesitated. "It seems like she's trying to force Katsuragi-senpai to accelerate…?"
"Is that some kind of tactic…?"
On the TV screen, the positions of the top two horse girls were exactly as Yaeno Muteki described—Katsuragi Ace in front, Maruzensky behind.
It wasn't that nothing had changed. Compared to the opening phase, the distance between them had visibly narrowed.
With only half a horse length separating them, the intensity of the race had clearly increased.
Especially since both horse girls were highly recognizable.
This relay race wasn't G1-level, so all participants wore identical short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and running shoes.
However, Katsuragi Ace had short black hair with a long black ponytail, while Maruzensky's long hair and tail were reddish-brown.
At high speed, when the camera pulled back even slightly, the screen showed a tangled blur of black and red shadows.
With the leaders running at such speed, the three horse girls behind didn't attempt to catch up, instead maintaining their previous distance.
This meant they had noticed the speed change ahead, adjusted accordingly, but hadn't altered their original running styles or tactics.
The commentary from the TV confirmed this.
"Intense! As expected of hall-of-fame-level horse girls!"
Akikawa Yayoi's naturally high-pitched voice was easily recognizable. Like Kitahara, she didn't imitate professional commentary but had a distinctive style.
"Katsuragi Ace and Maruzensky are both running incredibly fast, but their unusual acceleration hasn't affected the teams behind them."
"Rudolf Symboli, Mejiro Ramonu, and CB have only slightly increased their pace without changing their original strategies."
"Very calm responses!"
Kitahara's steady voice followed.
"Just as Chairwoman Akikawa said, although Maruzensky suddenly accelerated, the overall formation hasn't changed."
"Katsuragi Ace is still leading steadily."
"Maruzensky has closed the gap significantly but remains in second place. That chase may simply be a tactical maneuver."
"With the reduced distance, the horse girls behind can better utilize the slipstream, reducing air resistance and running more comfortably."
"Of course, there's also the intent to force acceleration."
"Although she hasn't raced in a long time, viewers probably haven't forgotten Maruzensky's extraordinary acceleration technique."
"It requires exceptional rhythm control and explosive power—perhaps she's preparing for her decisive finishing move in advance."
"So far, the tactic has had some effect, but it may not turn out exactly as she intends."
"Because although the overall pace has increased…"
"Neither Katsuragi Ace in front, nor Rudolf Symboli and Mejiro Ramonu in mid-pack, nor CB behind have shown any disruption in stride or form."
"I completely agree with Chairwoman Akikawa—truly hall-of-fame-level horse girls."
"For many competitors, adapting to such a change would take time, but the racers in this segment adjusted almost instantly."
"That alone shows how spectacular the upcoming contest will be."
With a 4,000-meter distance—longer than most races—there was plenty of time for commentary, allowing Kitahara's explanations to be particularly clear.
But at Shirakami Mountain, the horse girls watching the race felt confused.
Besides Sakura Chiyono O and Yaeno Muteki, their teammates Bamboo Memory and Dicta Striker were also watching.
Like the others, Bamboo Memory sat upright before the TV with a puzzled expression.
"It's strange… I mean, I also thought Maruzensky-senpai was trying to take the lead."
Scratching her head, her brows knitted deeply. "Although Naise-san said Maruzensky-senpai actually specializes in Pace Chasing rather than Front Running…"
"But with so few participants, wouldn't taking the lead be an option?"
"So if she didn't intend to do that, why accelerate earlier?"
Just like Kitahara's team, Bamboo Memory's Chouetsu Team also had a chief trainer and technical staff.
The chief trainer, Naisee Fumino, had been well-known even during her school days.
Before graduating, she had already received many invitations from industry professionals.
Much of that reputation came from her father, the famous trainer Naise Hidetō.
For the same reason, despite her youth, Naise Fumino's insight and experience far surpassed most peers.
Like Kitahara, she had analyzed Maruzensky's true running style and discussed it with her horse girls.
She wasn't watching the race with them now—she was in another room analyzing the relay race with the team's trainers.
But her previous guidance was clearly influencing their thinking.
"…I'm not completely sure, but I have an idea."
Unlike the others, Dicta Striker had been leaning against the wall with her hands in her pockets, hood up, quietly watching the race from the start.
She hadn't spoken before, her expression indifferent. When she suddenly spoke, she immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Huh? What did you think of, Dicta?"
"They… I mean, Maruzensky-senpai and the others… might not be running the same race."
Facing Bamboo Memory's astonished gaze, Dicta Striker hesitated before answering uncertainly.
Her response only deepened her friends' confusion.
"Not running the same race? What do you mean, Dicta?"
Sakura Chiyono O stared between Dido Shooter and the TV, pointing at the red figure in disbelief.
"Maruzensky-senpai… isn't she running together with the other senpais?"
"Yeah, what do you mean…?"
Bamboo Memory and Yaeno Muteki were equally puzzled.
"I don't mean physically. I mean here."
Her tone became firmer as she pushed off the wall, stood upright, clenched her fist, and tapped her chest.
"Their hearts aren't on the same track."
Her three friends froze, exchanging glances before turning back to the screen, gradually showing thoughtful expressions.
None of the horse girls there were ordinary. Dicta Striker might have realized it faster, but that didn't mean the others couldn't understand.
"Looks like you're thinking the same thing."
Nodding while staring at the TV, Dicta Striker said quietly:
"Katsuragi-senpai, Rudolf-senpai, and CB-senpai are running the same race."
"But Maruzensky-senpai and Ramonu-senpai aren't."
"I even suspect those two aren't running the same race either."
What she said matched what Sakura Chiyono O and the others were thinking.
The three senpais she mentioned were extremely famous, and their rivalries were no secret.
Triple Crown versus Triple Crown, defeating two Triple Crown winners at the Japan Cup, the final showdown at the Arima Kinen—those legendary stories were still talked about endlessly.
In such an atmosphere, it was impossible for the three of them not to feel competitive again.
And as horse girls, Dicta Striker understood clearly—no one could truly let go of winning or losing.
Past results could be accepted or moved on from, but once stepping onto the track again, the desire not to lose would never disappear.
"I'm not doubting the senpais' strength or mentality. I'm just worried they haven't all realized one thing."
Staring at the TV, Dicta Striker said quietly:
"That this is a relay race—not the Arima Kinen."
"They might have prepared for the relay, but a relay-specific mindset isn't something you can develop overnight—especially since relays and official races are fundamentally different."
"I think Katsuragi-senpai choosing the lead, Rudolf-senpai choosing mid-pack, and CB-senpai choosing late-run styles—besides being their specialties—also means…"
"They might be treating this race as a continuation of that Arima Kinen."
Her gaze lingered on the three seniors before shifting to the reddish-brown-haired figure ahead.
"In contrast, it's almost certain that Maruzensky-senpai is running with the overall relay victory in mind."
"Just like she did back in her prime."
"She doesn't need to worry about what her opponents are doing or thinking—she only needs to run her own speed."
"Whatever speed and power were required for races like the Asahi Cup or the Short Wave Award—that's the speed and power she delivered."
"Whatever speed and power this 4,000-meter first leg of the relay requires—that's the speed and power she'll deliver."
"Do you remember, everyone…?"
The topic shifted abruptly. Ignoring the surprised looks her companions cast her way, Dicta Striker suddenly spoke with a hint of emotion:
"After Maruzensky-senpai missed the Japan Derby back then, some words seemed to circulate within her team."
"The rough idea was that even if she participated without prize money or anything like that, it didn't matter—she just wanted to race, just wanted to let the world know who truly was the strongest."
"So maybe that sudden acceleration just now, or fulfilling part of her dream in a race completely different from the Japan Derby…"
"Maruzensky-senpai—she truly understands what kind of race she's running."
This clear and direct speculation made the realization on Sakura Chiyono O's face even more evident, and she cried out in excitement.
"If that's her mindset, then doesn't that mean in this first leg… Maruzensky-senpai has the highest chance of winning?!"
"Ah—I don't mean to underestimate President Rudolf or the others, it's just…"
After her burst of excitement, she hurriedly waved her hands, flustered as she tried to explain:
"If you care too much about settling things with your opponents, wouldn't your race rhythm be worse than Maruzensky-senpai's?"
"Like that acceleration just now—if Maruzensky-senpai is running with the entire relay in mind, then she should be able to control the rhythm of the whole first leg better, right?"
"As expected of Maruzensky-senpai—even without taking the lead, she can still seize the pace as if she were front-running!"
"She's just… amazing!"
Like an overexcited fangirl, Sakura Chiyono O once again reached out instinctively, grabbing someone beside her without looking and shaking them wildly.
"Not necessarily. I don't think Ramonu-senpai's chances are that small either."
This time, the one she grabbed was no longer Yaeno Muteki—having already suffered once, she had wisely shifted away.
And so the unsuspecting Bamboo Memory became the substitute victim. Still, she naturally stroked her chin, stared at the screen, and began thinking seriously.
"Ramonu-senpai's long-distance adaptability isn't great. Four thousand meters should be a lot of pressure for her."
"But in a relay format, as long as she controls the overall state of the first leg and doesn't fall behind, there shouldn't be too much trouble."
"After all, the next runner is Tamamo Cross."
"If you ask me… I think she might be the strongest active horse girl right now—especially since she won the 3200-meter Spring Tenno Sho."
Her brows furrowed unconsciously as she murmured to herself.
"If she's running with that as her goal, then maybe…"
"This part I can't be too certain about, but maybe…"
Hearing Yae no Muteki's words, Dicta Striker also pondered aloud:
"Maybe her thoughts aren't that complicated—or maybe they aren't that deep either."
"I'm not an older sister myself, but having two younger sisters competing in the same race…"
"Perhaps the race she's running right now has something to do with Ardan and McQueen…"
While the horse girls in front of the TV each formed their own guesses, the race on the screen continued in parallel.
A 4000-meter race was a distance unseen in any URA Twinkle series event, and it was run on asphalt roadways entirely different from traditional tracks.
If it were any active horse girl, it would be extremely difficult to handle such a course as smoothly as turf.
Yet every horse girl in this segment was of top-tier caliber. The distance, surface, curves, and straightaways—none of these differences caused the slightest hesitation in their strides.
Just as they were thinking—
Yes, yes, yes—hahahaha!
This is it!
This is exactly the kind of race it should be!
Charging at the very front, Katsuragi Ace felt her heart boiling like magma.
The cheers of the spectators were closer now, right outside the railings on both sides.
A fierce headwind slammed into her ears, as if trying desperately to shove her backward.
The solid impact of her feet pounding the ground.
The blood-pumping pursuit behind her—the footsteps, breathing, and gazes.
All of it made her feel as if she had returned to the long-distant past.
Back then, there were victories, many defeats, and reckless surges caused by being too intoxicated by the heat and passion of the race—forgetting her trainer's instructions.
The reckless charge she felt now was just like those days—wild, unrestrained, and utterly free.
She hadn't agreed to this race merely to clash once more with Rudolf Symboli and CB.
That was only one reason.
What truly stirred her heart was everything she was feeling right now.
And beyond that, the race itself was special.
She had always hated boring conventions and the suffocating, inexplicable atmosphere they created.
And yet, during her active years, the racing world had been filled with exactly that.
Bloodlines, rules, regulations—everything felt prearranged, as if whatever was decreed had to be accepted, with no possibility of surpassing it.
But wasn't that exactly why I stepped onto the track?!
To break them—to shatter so-called common sense, barriers, and dull constraints—and become the ace of the track…
Isn't that why I, Katsuragi Ace, ran?!
This is incredible!
That trainer—what a refreshingly straightforward race!
It suits me perfectly!
I should swear brotherhood with him sometime!
So, to make that proposal properly, just like back then…
Try to catch me, Rudolf! CB!
"Surprising! Just like Maruzensky earlier, Katsuragi Ace has suddenly accelerated!"
At the very moment Katsuragi Ace's figure changed, Akikawa Yayoi's timely, astonished voice rang out from the temporary loudspeakers along the track and from screens inside and outside the venue.
In terms of professional ability, the chairwoman of Tracen Academy rivaled most trainers.
And as a horse girl herself, her observational acuity was even sharper.
She noticed Katsuragi Ace's acceleration almost before Kitahara's data feed arrived.
"Extremely unpredictable—just like back then, Katsuragi Ace is full of the unexpected."
"Conventional wisdom and established norms have never worked on her. Rules and regulations seem inherently incompatible with her."
"This is already the middle of the first leg, and it's been sustained for quite some time."
"Normally, a front-runner would slow down here to conserve energy for the final sprint."
"But—"
"Katsuragi Ace hasn't done that at all!"
"She's chosen to accelerate while still far from the exchange zone, as if she intends to charge straight to the finish from here!"
"If this is her tactic, then as long as Katsuragi Ace can maintain her stamina, the horse girls behind must respond."
"Otherwise, once the gap widens, even the strongest finishing kick won't be enough to make up for it!"
Akikawa Yayoi was visibly excited. As she analyzed the race, her folding fan swished back and forth rapidly, the bold brush-written characters for "Chairwoman" blurring into black afterimages.
She wasn't alone—the spectators had also gone wild, swept into the same feverish excitement.
Katsuragi Ace's acceleration may have exceeded everyone's expectations, but remembering her legendary past performances, the surprise quickly turned into approval and roaring cheers.
Front-running was one of the most thrilling racing styles—leading the pack and leaving all others in the dust was a creed among horse girls.
No one in the audience could stay calm.
For a moment, even Kitahara wanted to shout.
But not because of excitement—out of concern for safety.
The speed on the track was already astonishing. Even the initial acceleration had exceeded the finishing speed of most Twinkle races.
After the midsection, although the runners had entered a cruising phase typical of normal racing, their speed was still far beyond that of ordinary horse girls.
Now, with Katsuragi Ace accelerating again, the data Kitahara received showed the race had returned to that "abnormal" state from the opening phase.
He worried about the physical strain such speed might cause.
But that concern quickly proved unnecessary.
The transmitted data included not only speed, distance, and vibration, but also infrared measurements of body temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
Drawing on his professional training, Kitahara quickly judged that Katsuragi Ace—and Maruzensky and the others behind her—were all in perfectly normal physical condition.
In other words, this "high speed" was simply their normal speed at this level.
…So this is what a constant-level domain looks like…?
Kitahara understood that the race's intensity—beyond normal competitions—was due to certain horse girls entering a domain state almost immediately.
But now he realized that assumption was slightly off.
For Katsuragi Ace and the others, the domain was no longer a temporary ability to enter and exit—it was a permanent state.
To put it simply, for someone like Oguri Cap, the domain was an "active skill" that needed to be triggered.
For the horse girls currently sprinting down the track, it had already become a "passive."
So maybe… there was no need to worry about them.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to check afterward.
With his thoughts settled, Kitahara returned to his duties and continued the commentary after Akikawa Yayoi.
"Katsuragi Ace's acceleration is very clear. In just a few seconds, she's widened the gap again."
"Maruzensky, currently in second place, is now more than two lengths behind."
"But she isn't deliberately giving chase."
"She accelerated during the opening phase, and now it appears she used that time to observe her opponents and adjust her speed to something more suitable for the entire relay."
"That's right, everyone—I think it's important to remind you that this is a relay race."
"Except for the final leg, the other segments aren't just about who reaches the exchange zone first."
"They're also about which lane can complete the exchange most smoothly."
"If the speed isn't appropriate, pure speed and a lead can actually cause difficult-to-handle accidents at the handoff."
"At the moment, it seems that Katsuragi Ace may have… ahem… may have forgotten that."
"I hope she remembers that teammates are waiting for her."
"This kind of oversight may be due to her opponent."
"After all, the one she's competing against is a former rival—this!"
For a split second, forgetting he was in a helicopter, Kitahara suddenly stood up, nearly hitting the ceiling.
"She's going for it!"
"As if responding to Katsuragi Ace's acceleration—"
"CB has surged forward!"
Oh my…
Little Katsuragi…
Still as reckless and bold as ever—have you completely forgotten this is a relay…?
But…
Maybe forgetting is fine.
Because if I "accidentally forget too," I can say it was your fault.
For CBi, it felt as though time froze—or as if the scene before her had turned into an unfamiliar montage.
In an instant, the four figures ahead had become just one.
That familiar back sprinting down an unfamiliar track—clearly wearing the rarely seen short sleeves and shorts.
Yet in her eyes, she was wearing the unforgettable trench coat, the one she could never forget even in dreams.
Black as the base, red and blue decorations crossing the shoulders, the same colors at the hem.
When the hem flared up, faint golden patterns could be seen on the inside.
But more than the red, blue, or gold, what drew her gaze was the four vertically arranged white characters on the back.
"Katsuragi Ace."
Ah… it's been so long since I chased this woman like this.
And just as long since I saw that flashy winning outfit…
How long has it been?
I don't remember.
And…
It doesn't matter.
Being able to chase you like this again, just like before—it's wonderful.
Especially doing it together with Rudolf… huh?
As her heart filled with emotions both unfamiliar and nostalgic, both fervent and calm, CB suddenly sensed something strange.
The odd feeling nearly made her slow down—but even as she kept chasing Katsuragi Ace, she couldn't help glancing sideways.
Maruzensky-senpai…
The one chasing Katsuragi isn't Rudolf?
Where is Rudolf…?
"You three…"
Keeping close behind CB maintaining the optimal speed she'd judged from the opening phase, Maruzensky expended little extra energy and never lost her rhythm.
Meeting CB's gaze with ease, she even smiled lightly and murmured:
"I knew this would happen…"
"You teach the juniors so carefully in training, but once you're on the track, all you see is each other."
"Looking for Rudolf? She's probably the most conflicted one in this race right now."
"Well… what a tangled, complicated love triangle."
"Really so obsessed with the title of 'strongest'…"
She suddenly fell silent.
Because as the word strongest slipped out, three figures—once so close, yet so distant—surfaced inexplicably in her mind.
If…
If Ten Point, Tosho Boy, and Green Grass were the ones racing…
Well—so I shouldn't say that.
Because I'm the same as them.
Rudolf Symboli truly was conflicted.
Though her running form, arm swing, breathing, and rhythm were unaffected, her ideal vision of the race was completely disturbed.
Possessing the greatest talent and strength of her generation, even after retiring and spending her days immersed in student council duties, she had never fully abandoned her training.
The intensity couldn't compare to her active days, but her professionalism had only grown stronger.
Back in her team, although it lacked the rigid systems of Eisei, there were still discussions.
Or perhaps it wasn't discussion—it was more like her unilateral speech, much like her addresses at entrance ceremonies now.
If one truly used the nickname "Emperor," it would be more accurate to call it issuing decrees.
Her talent extended beyond racing—her training insight rivaled any trainer's.
And after observing countless horse girls' training and races during her time as student council president, that talent had only sharpened.
That was why she could take full responsibility for her team's relay preparation.
So… this is a relay race.
You two…
She clenched her teeth.
Do you even realize that?!
Katsuragi is one thing—that reckless personality has always been like that…
But CB—you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!
Only thinking about winning the first leg…
At this speed, how are you going to complete the exchange within twenty meters?!
But… should she let them win like this?
She clenched her teeth again.
"This is really unsightly, President."
Suddenly, Rudolf Symboli heard a light, floating voice beside her and turned in surprise.
In stark contrast to Rudolf's conflicted expression, Mejiro Ramonu looked as relaxed as if she were enjoying afternoon tea in her family garden.
Yet her posture was anything but relaxed.
She had already overtaken Rudolf Symboli.
After Katsuragi Ace and CB accelerated in succession, the overall positions had largely stabilized.
Katsuragi Ace still led from start to finish.
Second place had shifted from Maruzensky to CB, with Maruzensky now third.
Rudolf Symboli and Mejiro Ramonu continued to follow closely, one behind the other.
And now, having passed Rudolf Symboli, Mejiro Ramonu spoke softly:
"You bear the title of Emperor, yet even I can surpass the strength you're showing now—can't I?"
"You're worried about giving the juniors a poor start. That's indeed the responsibility of a senior, of a president—of an emperor."
"But trust them."
"Just as I trust Ardan and McQueen—trust all the juniors."
"If it's a race even you can't win, how do you expect us to win it?"
"If you still don't give it your all, they might think just that."
(End of Chapter)