𓃗 𓃗 𓃗
[POV: Milord]
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"Heeh~! I'm so tired..."
A long sigh marked the weight of my fatigue as I left the Team Room. I adjusted my bag from time to time, as if it kept slipping off my shoulder even though it wasn't heavy at all.
We were heading back to the dorm after a full day of high-intensity training. Just like me, the three girls walking ahead of me looked utterly drained.
Training on the track, building strength at the gym, swimming, and even trying out the Tegalwaton track over the past few days. That routine had been ongoing without pause. Before we realized it, Series-2 was only a week away.
And now, the day we had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The day the race drawing results would be announced.
As we made our way to the school's main garden, it wasn't just us—many other students were also heading in the same direction.
It didn't take long for us to arrive. A large videotron announcement board stood illuminated at the center of the garden. The lively buzz of female students filled the air. The benches were already packed. It felt as crowded as a major event.
Amid the sea of students, we spotted three familiar figures chatting beneath the shade of a large tree, sheltering themselves from the blazing sun.
We had arranged to meet there, so we headed straight toward them. As soon as we got close, they noticed us and greeted us.
"Ah, you're done already?" Big Sis asked. Trainer and Thalassa-senpai also welcomed us with warm smiles.
"We're done, Senpai," Gavi replied. "What time's the announcement?"
Big Sis glanced at her watch. "About a minute from now. Oh right, how was your training? I heard you even tried the Tegalwaton track."
"Yeah, it went pretty smoothly," I answered. "But that track is unbelievably brutal."
"Well, that's Tegalwaton for you," Trainer said.
"But I think it's better than last year," Thalassa-senpai added. "They made some pretty solid improvements. Though there are still a few shortcomings."
"I think so too," Big Sis said. "Remember the last time we raced at the Central Java Derby? Our legs went completely numb afterward, didn't they?"
"Ah, true. That brings back memories. You were incredibly strong leading at the front back then."
"Yeah, but that's why I ran out of stamina trying to hold my position. I didn't expect you to overtake me so quickly on a track that hard."
Thalassa-senpai smiled at the compliment.
"You were amazing too, Sunny. Being a front runner at long distance is no small feat."
That was the conversation of the veterans. We rookies could only listen quietly. Before we knew it, the moment we had been waiting for finally began.
The videotron flickered to life, multicolored lights dancing across the screen.
Background music played, followed by the voice of a female announcer.
["Good afternoon, everyone! Triple Crown Series-II is about to begin! The thunderous strides of the horse girls will shake the Tegalwaton track! Here are the final drawing results and the classes to be held!"]
"Ah, the drawing results are finally out!" I exclaimed.
"What race number are you in?" Thalassa-senpai asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, Milord-kun and I are in race number six," Gavi answered.
"A-And Argentine and I are in race number twelve," Salva added.
We waited as each race order was announced. The list of race classes appeared one after another. Eventually, it reached the class that Gavi and I were participating in.
["Race 6. Beginner Class C/D 1000m Division-1. 12 participants as listed below."]
The names appeared sequentially from top to bottom. Gavi was listed first, and I was right below her. However, something unexpected happened—until the very end, we couldn't find the name we were looking for.
"… Huh?" Argentine's eyes widened.
"She's… not there?" Gavi murmured.
"Wait a second! She just got promoted to Division-1 through a free pass. She's supposed to be racing, right?" I protested.
"O-Only the Onyx team leader is listed—Kamaka Eclipse. Could she be injured?" Salva continued.
"No. I'm sure she registered." Even Trainer hadn't anticipated this.
No one could answer this anomaly. None of us expected something like this to happen. Wild thoughts began swirling in our heads. Everything we had planned was suddenly different. I felt anger rising. My revenge had just been postponed.
But then I began sensing something worse—after noticing Big Sis's tense, pale expression. As if she had realized something we hadn't.
"Don't tell me… she…!"
At that moment, I realized something too. There was still one more Beginner Class in Division-1.
["Race 12. Beginner Class A/B 1200m Division-1. 8 participants as listed below."]
"Huh? Isn't that…?!"
"… This has to be a joke, right?"
We stared wide-eyed at the videotron. Our eyes locked onto the very first column, where we never expected to see her name. Reality struck hard. Right at the top, clearly displayed, was the name of the horse girl I hated most.
"… Impossible."
Just as we muttered our disbelief, my instincts suddenly flared in warning. An unsettling sensation churned behind me.
Slowly, I turned my face—my body stiffening instantly. I could feel an overwhelming dark aura.
"… Hee!"—That wicked grin I will never forget.
I truly will never forget it. Because of her, my sleep had been restless. I even snapped at my teammates. I made Big Sis worried and sad. Frustration wrapped in resentment haunted me every time I thought about that race.
And now, she had deceived us?!
Damn it!
Damn it all!
My teeth ground together like a rabid dog restraining its rage. My eyes burned red as I locked onto the one person I wanted to repay most—for what she had done to me in Series-1.
"Caraxes… Nagari!"
※ ※ ※ (Chapter - 09_B) ※ ※ ※