“That’s the same for everyone, isn’t it? After all, that’s the Triple Crown.”
Mihono Bourbon also spoke up at the right time, her eyes openly revealing her yearning and longing for the Triple Crown.
“That’s next year’s business. For us, what we need to do now is complete our debut race and accumulate racing experience.”
Sirius Symboli shook her head slightly, as if remembering something, and then added:
“Of course, Polaris, you’re an exception. You’re truly terrifyingly strong. After watching the replay of that debut race, I even felt a bit of sympathy for the Horse Girl chasing you from behind.”
The three of them had experienced several joint runs, and Sirius Symboli and Mihono Bourbon knew best—that unpleasant feeling of running behind Polaris Absolute Speed.
“I’ll take that as you praising me, Sirius.”
Polaris Absolute Speed smiled, no longer looking in the direction Chitose Meiji had left, and instead headed to the cafeteria as originally planned.
Over at the teaching building, Chitose Meiji purposefully arrived outside the student council room, raising her hand to knock on the door.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
“Come in.”
Soon, a response came from inside the room. Chitose Meiji smiled, pushed open the door, and entered.
The two people in the room—Rudolph Symboli and Maruzensky—were originally processing documents. Upon hearing a knock, their attention immediately shifted.
As the door was pushed open, they saw the visitor and were both slightly stunned.
“Yo, Rudolf, and Maruzensky, I’m back.”
Chitose Meiji put her right index and middle fingers together at her forehead, gave a slight flick, and smiled as she made a greeting gesture.
Upon hearing this, Rudolph Symboli and Maruzensky also came back to their senses, with Rudolph Symboli responding first:
“Should I say welcome back? After leaving for more than half a year, you still remember to come back to the academy.”
“Well…”
“Alright, alright, Rudolf, really. It’s rare for CB-chan to come back, so don’t make that face.”
Maruzensky got up from the sofa, interrupting their not-so-reliable conversation.
“Welcome back, CB-chan! Was your trip enjoyable?”
She pulled Chitose Meiji’s hand, inviting her to sit together on the sofa.
Rudolph Symboli shook her head slightly at this, put down the documents in her hand, and got up to make tea with the teapot.
“It was very enjoyable! I saw many beautiful sights and met many interesting people and things,” Chitose Meiji said, a look of reminiscence on her face.
Since winning the Triple Crown, she had temporarily set aside racing and chosen to travel.
On one hand, it was for physical reasons; the burden on her legs after running the Triple Crown was already quite severe.
On the other hand, it was because she didn’t want to just be idle and wanted to do other things, whether it was broadening her horizons or experiencing more wonderful things.
“Mm-hmm, seeing CB-chan so energetic, this big sister also relaxed without realizing it.”
As they chatted, Chitose Meiji suddenly remembered something, turned her head to look at Rudolph Symboli, who was making tea, and congratulated her:
“Although it’s a bit late to say this, congratulations on winning two Crowns, Rudolf.”
Rudolph Symboli had her back to them, her ears on her head twitched, and after a while, she responded:
“Thank you, Chitose Meiji.”
“If it’s you, you can definitely do it, a Triple Crown Horse Girls. I’m looking forward to it.”
Rudolph Symboli’s ears twitched again. She didn’t accept it but instead asked in return:
“What about you? You missed the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen last year, and you didn’t participate in any races this spring. When do you plan to return to the track?”
Chitose Meiji was silent for a moment, or rather, thought for a moment, before replying:
“That’s true. Luna, you must be looking forward to our showdown, and I’m looking forward to it just as much.”
“If that’s the case, why would you…”
“Mainichi Okan.”
Before Rudolph Symboli could finish speaking, Chitose Meiji interrupted her and continued:
“I will make my comeback at the Mainichi Okan in October, followed by the Autumn Tenno Sho, and then the Japan Cup.”
This time, as a Triple Crown Horse Girls, no matter what happened, she would fight to the very last moment.
“The Mainichi Okan in October, I understand.”
Rudolph Symboli turned around, a smile having appeared on her lips at some point.
After that, the three of them sat on the sofa, drinking hot tea and chatting about interesting things that had happened in the past few months.
“By the way, when I first entered the academy, I saw a blue-haired Horse Girl. Looking at her, I felt like she had already touched that realm. Do you have any idea?”
When they had chatted enough, Chitose Meiji suddenly remembered the frost in the blue eyes she had seen and immediately asked in confusion.
“A blue-haired Horse Girl? Is CB-chan talking about Polaris?” Maruzensky put down her teacup when she heard this, joining the conversation with some uncertainty.
“It can only be her. Speaking of those who can touch the realm, besides us, she’s the only one in the academy who is relatively certain.”
Rudolph Symboli lowered her brows slightly, recalling the process of their aura confrontation with Polaris Absolute Speed in the student council room at that time.
“Polaris?”
Hearing their words, Chitose Meiji’s interest also soared.
“What do you both know? Tell me quickly.”
Seeing this, Rudolph Symboli and Maruzensky exchanged smiles and gradually recounted the events of these past few days based on what they knew.
On the other side, Polaris Absolute Speed finished lunch, took a walk around the academy with Sirius Symboli and Mihono Bourbon, and then returned to the classroom for class.
As the afternoon arrived, Polaris Absolute Speed went to the training ground to warm up. Kumi Trainer, as her Trainer, naturally followed her, as usual.
Sirius Symboli and Mihono Bourbon stayed together. The two seemed to have reached some unspoken consensus, and their training volume was significantly higher than before.
“Polaris~ Can you come over for a bit~?”
While running, a familiar shout suddenly came from the side of the track.
She slowed her steps, turned her head, and saw Maruzensky, with Rudolph Symboli and Chitose Meiji, whom she had only met at noon, standing beside her.
With the doubt in her heart, Polaris Absolute Speed changed direction and ran towards the side of the track. The two parties soon met.
“Let me introduce.”
Maruzensky extended a hand, indicating:
“Polaris, this is Chitose Meiji. She’s a Triple Crown Horse Girls, the very powerful kind.”
“After she learned some things about you from me and Rudolf, she said she wanted to have a mock race with you, so I, your big sister, brought her to find you.”
“Polaris junior, may I call you that? Of course, you can also directly call me Chitose Meiji.”
Chitose Meiji spoke up at the right time. She had already changed into her sportswear, looking prepared.
“My purpose in finding you is just as Maruzensky said: I want to have a mock race with you. What do you think?”
“A mock race…” Polaris Absolute Speed was first stunned after hearing this, then lowered her brows in thought.
“Alright, but it’s a bit too few people with just the two of us.”
She paused, then looked at Maruzensky, and then at the two Horse Girl training together not far away.
“How about you come too, Maruzensky, and also call Sirius Symboli and Mihono Bourbon?”
As for Rudolph Symboli?
If she wanted to join, she should have spoken up proactively at this moment, instead of waiting for Polaris Absolute Speed to ask her.
The actual situation was that Rudolph Symboli didn’t speak up in the end, Maruzensky readily agreed, Sirius Symboli expressed great interest and joined accordingly, and Mihono Bourbon simply wanted to run another race with Polaris Absolute Speed.
The matter was thus settled. Kumi Trainer would still be the referee, and the Horse Girl immediately began to warm up.
While everyone was warming up, Rudolph Symboli called a few Horse Girl to drag the starting gates from the equipment room and set them up on the grass.
With the starting gates, the race suddenly became more official.
Other Horse Girl gradually gathered around, all looking very interested.
“Is that Chitose Meiji? Is she planning a mock race as soon as she returns to the academy?”
“Ah, that’s Polaris Absolute Speed. It seems I’ll get to admire her running again.”
“Even Maruzensky is here? What kind of lineup is this?”
Maruzensky glanced at the surrounding Horse Girl, then leaned closer to Chitose Meiji and whispered:
“CB-chan, this is just a mock race, you understand, right?”
“Yes, I understand what you mean, Maruzensky.”
Chitose Meiji nodded, her gaze shifting to the blue-haired Horse Girl not far away.
“I won’t use my domain, for the sake of my body.”
The domain, when used well, was indeed a very powerful winning move, but this power came with side effects.
Specifically, it overdraws the body’s potential, consumes the racing lifespan of the legs, and after forcibly activating it, it might even cause a Horse Girl to fall completely into a slump and never recover.
If possible, it was best not to use it.
“Mm-hmm, but Polaris might use it. That child’s physique is truly special.”
Maruzensky also followed Chitose Meiji’s gaze, looking towards Polaris Absolute Speed.
“Oh? You and Rudolf never told me about this. Does her body not feel uncomfortable after using her domain?”
Chitose Meiji was greatly surprised. There was actually such a special physique. Was this what they called a monster?
“She never mentioned it, nor did she specifically ask us. It should be fine, right?”
Maruzensky thought for a moment and decided it would be best to confirm it when she had the chance.
On Polaris Absolute Speed’s side, she could feel the gazes of the two Horse Girl behind her, but she didn’t pay attention, just warming up by herself.
This was an opportunity to compete with a Triple Crown Horse Girls. She had to cherish it and, at the same time, give her all to let the other party witness her running.
Thinking this, Polaris Glare's chilling aura once again familiarized itself around her.
Although she had just finished her debut race two days ago, the blue-haired Horse Girl showed no signs of decline; instead, her condition grew even stronger.
Kumi Trainer, who was beside her, had originally wanted to advise her young lady to just do what she could.
But now, looking at her, she suddenly felt it wasn’t necessary. She just needed to watch over her young lady and believe that she would win.