In the rest area in the grove behind the campus—recently assigned to them—P stared at Rice with a headache. She was insisting on entering the Japan Cup.
About the Japan Cup...
Honestly, he didn't want Rice to participate.
At least after seeing this year's Japan Cup roster, he had absolutely no intention of having Rice compete.
And he'd only recently received news.
It turned out the Chairwoman's business trip had been to negotiate exchange student and exchange race arrangements with overseas Tracen Academies.
This meant this year's Japan Cup would be more competitive than ever.
Add in Symboli Rudolf's participation, and he saw no path to victory.
Rudolf, who had awakened ZONE, was in excellent condition and had accumulated winning momentum. She was destined to shine at this year's Japan Cup.
Rudolf in this state was far stronger than usual.
Meanwhile, Rice had just completed the Classic Triple Crown. The fatigue accumulated from training and racing would affect future competitions. She should rest and recover for a while.
Besides, he'd originally planned to use this time to study horse girl skill knowledge and research materials at the library, hoping to address Rice's shortcomings in this area as soon as possible.
But if they were competing in the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen, the scheduling would become quite tight.
"Rice, I don't recommend running these two races right now. Besides, you'll have chances to enter these races every year..."
P tried to talk Rice out of it.
But after seeing the popularity vote results, Rice had decided she absolutely had to compete.
Because a hero couldn't betray everyone's expectations—couldn't flee from battle!
Even if her opponents were strong, she should go challenge them.
"Trainer, I'm sorry. I know you're worried about me, but I still want to race!"
"Why?"
"Because Rice wants to answer everyone's expectations!"
Looking at the vote count that nearly matched first place, Rice clenched her small fists, her eyes determined as she answered.
P was starting to resent that popularity voting webpage. Rising popularity was a good thing, but not if it affected Rice's judgment!
"Then I'll be direct." P's usually gentle expression turned serious. "Rice, you have a very real chance of losing this race. Are you okay with that?"
He didn't know Rice's reasons, but he could tell she absolutely hated losing—or rather, couldn't accept defeat at all.
This child's desire for victory bordered on obsessive. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
But context mattered.
Why was he so seriously trying to keep Rice from this Japan Cup?
Because with Rice's current mentality, if she actually lost, something might break.
Rice was silent for a moment before speaking: "...No, Trainer. Rice won't lose. I can't lose."
Because once she lost, she would no longer be a shining "hero"—she could no longer carry everyone's expectations forward.
The "hero" Rice envisioned should be invincible in battle, forever standing in glory's light, forever facing the crowd's cheers and hopes.
That was what a true "hero" was. Losing meant she couldn't become a "hero."
So Rice had to win!
"Then give it up. Focus on next year's Spring Triple Crown. That's the race route best suited for you right now."
P wasn't the type of trainer who harshly rejected his horse girl's wishes, but Rice's situation demanded it.
Rice, who absolutely couldn't accept failure—if she lost now, he couldn't imagine what would happen afterward.
"No, Rice can't give up!"
Rice's obsession-filled eyes refused to yield as she faced her trainer.
P was startled by Rice's state.
Through his perception, he could feel the aura around Rice growing even more terrifying.
He couldn't help but sigh. He probably couldn't convince Rice.
Or rather, looking at Rice's expression now, he couldn't harden his heart enough to keep persuading her to give up.
"You absolutely have to compete?"
"Yes!"
"...Fine. But prepare yourself. Your upcoming opponents will be even harder to deal with than Mihono Bourbon. There's still a considerable gap between you and them right now!"
"I understand. Thank you, Trainer."
Rice bowed to P in gratitude.
P felt somewhat helpless.
The trainer's handbook published by the committee mentioned this.
Trainers shouldn't arrange race plans purely according to a horse girl's wishes, because trainers were responsible for their horse girl's future.
He actually agreed with this principle.
But at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to completely control a horse girl's life and thoughts for the sake of race results, like those excellent senior trainers did.
Because horse girls weren't racing tools.
They were people too—flesh and blood, laughing at happy things, crying at sad things.
Was it really right to suppress a horse girl's own thoughts for the sake of results?
P, who had only just advanced to high-level trainer, couldn't answer this question yet.
He didn't want to limit a horse girl's thoughts and dreams, but he also wanted to give them a happy, fulfilling future.
But how could such an ideal be achieved?
He was still searching for that answer.
But right now, facing Rice's request, he truly couldn't bear to refuse.
And he had a feeling that even if he refused, it would be useless.
Given Rice's personality, she might secretly enter on her own.
Rice, familiar with the registration process, had the ability to bypass him and make it happen.
So rather than letting Rice act recklessly alone, he might as well agree and then do his best to support her decision.
"Trainer, can we start today's training?"
"No, what you need next is rest. You need to restore your physical condition to perfect in the shortest time possible."
Since they'd decided to enter the Japan Cup, the training plan could be temporarily suspended.
Though Rice's body was very healthy, the previous training and races had accumulated considerable fatigue.
If she wasn't planning to compete, that fatigue could be gradually recovered while continuing to train.
But to participate in a race—especially the Japan Cup with its gathering of elites—she needed to restore her condition to peak as soon as possible.
Besides, with so little time remaining, continued training would be meaningless.
As a trainer who'd just been promoted from junior level, he didn't have access to advanced trainer manuals or inherited secret techniques. He couldn't improve Rice's ability through training in such a short time.
So he needed to change his approach: let Rice rest while he researched her opponents and devised tactics!
Hearing P's words, Rice blinked and said quietly: "But... Rice doesn't feel like she needs rest yet. And I want to train."
"No. High-intensity training now will only backfire."
P wouldn't let Rice have her way this time.
He didn't need to guess—he knew Rice was thinking of high-intensity training.
Because that's what she'd always done.
Facing strong opponents, Rice would certainly want another round of hellish training.
But that was far too risky.
Her body had already accumulated fatigue. Without recovery, continuing with high-intensity training and racing wouldn't just mean losing the race.
At worst, she might get injured during the race.
He absolutely wouldn't allow that!
"..."
Rice lowered her head in silence.
Seeing this, P immediately issued a warning.
"Don't even think about sneaking off to train alone. If I find out, the race is canceled. This isn't negotiable!"
Rice, whose thoughts had been exposed, looked up in surprise. After a long moment, she agreed with a wronged expression.
"Yes, I understand. I'll go back and rest properly."
"Good."
Though P said this, he'd already decided to make surprise checks on Rice later to see if she was actually resting.
Because he genuinely didn't trust this child. He had a feeling that despite saying she'd rest, Rice would secretly go train.
But Rice had predicted his prediction.
Because Rice knew him better than P realized.
And Rice had recently noticed that P's perception wasn't ordinary. She naturally wouldn't risk disqualification by going out to train.
Still, though she was supposed to rest, Rice didn't know what to do.
She hadn't properly rested since her debut.
Every day was either classes or training, never relaxing.
Walking to the cafeteria entrance, Rice touched her stomach. She wasn't hungry yet.
Standing before the vending machine, looking at all the densely packed beverage brands, Rice felt momentarily dazzled.
I remember McQueen's favorite coffee was this one, and Demon King's favorite carbonated drink...
She saw the familiar beverages from her memories but felt no desire to buy them.
Because she'd tried them all when she was young. None were to her taste.
Among the three predecessors' favorites, the only one she could accept was Rudolf's choice.
Because Honey Drink had been specially formulated for horse girls, so generally no horse girl disliked it.
In contrast, Demon King's favorite carbonated drinks felt a bit too intense.
McQueen's favorite coffee was simply too bitter—a flavor Rice couldn't accept.
Rice usually only drank salt soda, though she drank plain water more often. She had no particular preferences in this regard.
So she hesitated at the vending machine for a long time before making her decision and pulling out her wallet to insert a bill.
But then something unexpected happened.
After the machine swallowed her money, the buttons completely stopped responding. No beverage came out, and it showed no intention of returning her money.
Rice: "..."
This is bad.
Her misfortune constitution had activated again.
This was exactly why she didn't like buying from vending machines.
She should have realized sooner.
Rice knew her current state was somewhat off. Was it worry about the upcoming race? Anxiety from being unable to train?
Both.
She knew the trainer's instructions were correct. She couldn't beat Symboli Rudolf as she was now.
She should listen to her trainer. She should choose to avoid the race now, then challenge them next year after special training.
But... she couldn't do it.
Even knowing that was the right choice, she couldn't.
If it were her former self, she definitely could have. But not now.
Because she now carried too many expectations.
Even if she didn't compete, the fans who'd voted for her would surely understand.
But even so, some would still feel disappointed.
She didn't want that to happen.
And if it were her predecessors, they could definitely do it!
No matter what race or opponent they faced, they would calmly win.
They always answered their fans' expectations without fail.
So... Rice had to do the same.
Because that was her ideal, the goal she wanted to become!
Just as Rudolf had once said.
"Can't win"? I don't understand those words.
Rice would win. She had to win. No matter who the opponent was!
...
Mejiro McQueen, having just emerged from the cafeteria, spotted Rice and was about to go greet her when she suddenly felt a terrifying chill.
The source of that chill was Rice over there.
McQueen thought nervously: What's going on? This aura is way too abnormal. Is this also ZONE's influence?
But this was her first time encountering such a situation. Looking at the flames flickering before Rice's eyes, she felt tremendous fear.
That pitch-black aura embraced Rice's figure like a massive shadow.
Though McQueen felt it was strange to think this way, in that moment she felt something else might be hidden beneath Rice's shadow.
But how could that be possible? And ghosts were supposed to be fictional, right?
McQueen, who absolutely didn't believe in such things, unconsciously retreated several steps.
She definitely wasn't scared.
She just felt it would be rude to disturb Rice while she was thinking so seriously!
McQueen turned and quickly left, her face somewhat pale.
Nearby, Manhattan Cafe, who happened to be passing by, suddenly stopped.
The Overlord behind Rice also raised her head to look at the two figures across the way. With just a light glance, the terrifying aura that drifted over made both of them shiver.
"Don't approach. That one is dangerous."
Hearing her "friend's" warning, Manhattan Cafe abandoned her plan to go chat with Rice.
She was actually quite curious. She hadn't expected there to be someone else at this academy with a situation similar to her own.
The Overlord watched the two leave, then withdrew her gaze and turned toward the malfunctioning vending machine. With just a light touch, she dispelled the influence of Rice's misfortune.
Ka-clunk—the vending machine whirred back to life, dispensing Rice's drink and change.
Rice snapped back to attention, looking at this scene with some surprise.
Huh? Could the misfortune constitution's effects actually have a time limit?
...
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