"If I can't move, then let Aru and Salva switch classes instead! Sprint A, Sprint B, I don't care! Just not that class!"
"I told you already—you can't change your match after the drawing results are announced!"
Trainer tried his best to calm the girl arguing with him. The anxiety written across his face was impossible to hide; even he seemed overwhelmed by the tension.
It wasn't just Trainer. Everyone from Team Emerald gathered in the team room was trying to calm Gavi down. We were so unsure of what to do that we even called Thalassa-senpai to come.
"Don't you realize, Trainer-san?! Caraxes is definitely planning something bad for Aru and Salva!"
"Gavi, calm down," Thalassa-senpai urged gently.
"Calm down?! Aren't you worried about what might happen to Aru?! She might hurt her!"
"Gavi! That's going too far!"
"…!"
The moment Thalassa raised her voice, Gavi fell silent. She lowered her head and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Sorry."
The tension eased for the moment—but that didn't mean everything was fine. No one here really knew what to do after the drawing announcement earlier had shocked us all.
My sister beside me lowered her head as well. She must have been feeling guilty, knowing that—indirectly—this whole situation had started because of her.
The grudge directed at her had begun spreading to the people around her.
I knew this would happen sooner or later. What I didn't understand was this: why target Argentine and Salva?
If anything, Gavi should have been the one she went after because of how close she is to my sister.
Or at the very least… she could have targeted me again.
Just what the hell is that bastard planning?
"…Sorry."
With just that one quiet word, everyone's attention turned to her. My sister seemed unable to bear the weight of her guilt any longer.
"This happened because of me. You all got dragged into it," she continued.
No one refuted her—not even Gavi. The silence that followed was painfully uncomfortable.
That was when the man standing with his arms crossed finally spoke.
"You're not at fault, Sunny. Regardless of whatever happened between you in the past, things like this aren't uncommon. Battles don't happen only on the track—they happen in the mind as well. And the mind is the easiest place to attack."
"I agree," Thalassa-senpai added. "The way she flaunts her strength and defeats her opponents so effortlessly—that's part of her strategy too. Just watching her is enough to make you uneasy. Your subconscious begins to accept that she's the strongest one, and that you're meant to be dominated. It creates a tyrannical aura that overwhelms everything."
I agreed with that. After all, she herself was proof of it.
A horse girl who carried the title "Queen of Long Distance." That alone spoke of the dominance she possessed.
As those thoughts circled in my mind, I added,
"That's why people hesitate before the race even starts. Without realizing it, they already feel weaker than that person. Once that happens, you gain the psychological advantage—and beating them becomes easy."
"Oh? So that's why you provoke the other racers before a race?" Trainer chimed in.
"P-Please don't remind me about that. My heart still hurts. Yeah, I know my provocation was terrible, so please," I said, embarrassed.
"S-So… what should we do now, Trainer-san?" Salva asked.
Trainer let out a long sigh.
"We don't have much time to change our strategy. We'll proceed as usual. As for how to deal with Caraxes—we'll think about that later. What matters now is that you all stay focused and don't let this affect you."
"…Yeah. I understand," Gavi replied quietly.
"Alright then. Since it's already getting late, let's head home. The second series is coming up soon, so don't waste your time resting."
"Okay," we answered in unison.
That was the end of our discussion about the drawing results. Even though what happened was far from what we had expected.
Especially for me—who had been waiting for another chance to face that bastard again—only for it to disappear because we weren't placed in the same class.
I was furious.
Part of me wanted nothing more than to smash my fist straight into her face.
But that's not how we fight.
On the track, we give everything we have.
And if that chance ever comes to me again…
I'll crush the bastard who made my sister cry.
※※※(Chapter—10-A)※※※