By the afternoon, at Tracen's training field, Chiya stood staring at the two Uma Musume already waiting in the center.
His body gave a slight twitch.
Tazuna had said she would find a few upperclassmen to help Shirayuki adapt to Tracen's training environment. He had wanted that too, especially to test how well Shirayuki's body could hold up.
But still…
Chiya covered his face.
Miss Tazuna… you could've picked anyone. Did you really have to bring the student council president and vice president?
"Good afternoon, Trainer Chiya."
A calm voice greeted him.
Symboli Rudolf stood there with a gentle smile, her light brown hair swaying slightly in the breeze. Her presence was composed, almost regal.
"President Rudolf…" Chiya forced a polite smile. "What brings you here?"
As the student council president, she held the highest authority in Tracen aside from the chairwoman. But what truly defined her wasn't her position.
She was a legend.
The fourth Triple Crown winner in history. Undefeated.
There had once been a saying: there are no absolutes on the track… except Rudolf.
And now that same "Emperor" stood in front of him, speaking as if this were nothing unusual.
"Tazuna asked me to help guide a new student. I heard she comes from a regular school and hasn't raced before. Is that correct?"
"…Yes."
Chiya instinctively glanced down for a split second, then immediately looked away.
Best not to stare.
"In that case, it's worth helping her," Rudolf continued calmly. "The difference between a regular school and Tracen is quite significant. Helping new students adapt is part of my responsibility."
"Or we could stop talking and just start already."
The voice beside her cut in bluntly.
Narita Brian stood there, arms relaxed but presence overwhelming. Long black hair tied back, a strip of tape across her nose, and an intensity that made people instinctively keep their distance.
She was the student council vice president. The fifth Triple Crown winner.
Known as the Shadow Roll Monster.
Even standing still, she radiated pressure.
Chiya couldn't help but think.
Tazuna really went all out.
Out of the five Triple Crown winners at Tracen, she had brought two… just to help with training.
Who even gets that kind of treatment?
"Alright, please give me a moment. I'll go call Shirayuki."
"…'Give me a moment'?" Brian frowned slightly at the wording, but didn't dwell on it. After waiting a few seconds, she looked at Chiya, who hadn't moved an inch.
"…Aren't you going?"
"I already did."
"…You already did?"
"Just now, I ran to the cafeteria and came back."
Chiya smiled mysteriously.
"I was just too fast for your eyes to follow."
"…Huh?" Brian raised an eyebrow.
"You're saying you're fast?"
"Of course."
"…Want to prove it?" Brian cracked her knuckles, joints popping audibly. "I've been bored lately. Wouldn't mind blowing off some steam."
"…Why are you picking a fight with me? Go race an Uma Musume."
Brian clicked her tongue.
If she could, she already would have.
Whether it was her reputation or just her intimidating presence, very few students were willing to train with her. With no races recently, she had been bored out of her mind.
So when Tazuna mentioned a clueless new student needing help, she agreed just to pass the time.
"Enough talk. Just call her over already. How are we supposed to train otherwise?"
Brian scratched her head impatiently.
"Relax. She's here."
Chiya turned toward the edge of the field.
A flash of white.
Shirayuki sprinted in at high speed, planted her foot, and launched herself into the air, clearing nearly three meters before landing cleanly in the center.
Perfect form.
After eating properly, her body felt full of energy. Her movements were sharper, more responsive. With better control, maybe he could finally run seriously in this body.
"Enough talk. Just call her over already. How are we supposed to train otherwise?"
Brian scratched her head impatiently.
"Relax. She's here."
Chiya turned toward the edge of the field.
A flash of white.
Shirayuki sprinted in at high speed, planted her foot, and launched herself into the air, clearing nearly three meters before landing cleanly in the center.
Perfect form.
After eating properly, her body felt full of energy. Her movements were sharper, more responsive. With better control, maybe he could finally run seriously in this body.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, senpai."
Rudolf clapped lightly.
"That was a beautiful landing, Shirayuki."
"Thank you, President Rudolf."
Shirayuki lowered her head politely, then turned.
"Please take care of me, Brian-senpai."
Brian smirked.
"Don't bore me, kid."
"I'll give it everything I've got."
Shirayuki met her gaze without hesitation.
"…Not bad."
From a normal perspective, Brian looked intimidating. Almost scary.
But to Chiya?
She was just a sharp, cool beauty. The kind you could stare at all day.
"President Rudolf?!"
"N-Narita Brian?!"
"Why are they here?!"
The team immediately erupted.
Chiya cleared his throat.
"Quiet."
"These two are here to help with today's joint training. After Shirayuki finishes, the rest of you are up too. No exceptions."
""What?!""
The reaction was immediate.
Training with the student council president and vice president?
That wasn't training. That was survival.
Rice Shower and Doto already looked like they might freeze on the spot.
"What are you panicking for? This is a rare opportunity. Learn something from them."
While Chiya tried to keep things under control, Brian noticed Rudolf writing something in a notebook.
"…What are you doing?"
"Fulfilling Miss Tazuna's request."
"Tazuna?"
Brian leaned over and glanced at the page.
[Appearance: 8/10][Discipline: 7/10][Execution: 9/10]
…and a whole list more.
"…What is this, some kind of trainer evaluation?"
"Probably not. She asked me to do this personally."
"…Why are you grading him?"
"I'm not entirely sure. She just asked me to give an objective assessment and record it."
"…Huh."
Brian glanced back at Chiya.
"…What did you write on the first page?"
Rudolf flipped back.
At the top of the notebook, neatly written:
[Fujiwara Chiya Development Plan]