“It’s rare to see you not in the Student Council room today.”
Polaris Glacier approached, her tone a little surprised, as the other party was doing warm-up exercises.
Rudolph Symboli heard her words and knew who had arrived before even turning around. She tilted her head slightly and replied, “After sitting for too long, my body becomes sluggish. I still need to maintain regular training.”
In truth, her right leg injury had finally healed, and she had received the doctor’s permission to resume training.
“So, what do you say? Want to run together?”
Polaris Glacier still remembered the disdainful look on Rudolph Symboli’s face the first time she suggested it, and a desire to thoroughly defeat her had always lingered in her heart.
Preferably, she wanted to see Rudolph Symboli lost in the wind and snow, frozen into an ice block, no longer able to maintain her arrogant demeanor.
“No, let’s save our run for an official race.”
After watching Polaris Glacier’s debut race, her simulated race, and numerous practice runs with other Horse Girl, Rudolph Symboli had long acknowledged her strength, and a confrontation was not impossible.
But she still wanted to save it for an official race, not on a training track like this, but in a racecourse where the cheers of the audience resounded.
Sensing the change in Rudolph Symboli’s attitude, Polaris Glacier closed her eyes slightly, then nodded after a moment, “Alright then, it sounds quite interesting to defeat a Triple Crown Horse Girls head-on in a race.”
With that, she walked towards another training area, preparing to train.
“What are you saying? I’m not a Triple Crown Horse Girls yet. But just as you and Chitose Meiji hope, I will achieve the Triple Crown at the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏).”
A smile appeared on Rudolph Symboli’s lips. Although for the Emperor, saying this might be unnecessary, she, bearing her convictions, would absolutely not lose.
On Polaris Glacier’s side, Kumi Trainer had gone to the Trainer’s office to retrieve documents and had just arrived.
“Young Miss, the next race has been decided.”
The first words after they met were spoken by Kumi Trainer.
The content made Polaris Glacier perk up her ears slightly, and she turned around, giving a look that signaled her to continue.
“According to your previous continuous race plan, Young Miss, I’ve registered for these two races as warm-ups.”
Kumi Trainer said, displaying the organized race information on the tablet in her hand.
Polaris Glacier looked on curiously, continuing to listen to her explanation:
“Both races start in late July. The first is the Chukyo Kinen, an OP-Grade race, and the second is the Hakodate Kinen, a G3-Grade Races.”
“The interval between the two races is very short. After the first one, we’ll basically have to prepare for the second immediately.”
Kumi Trainer paused, observing her Young Miss’s expression, and couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat. Two races back-to-back, with training time in between, meant virtually no possibility of rest.
Young Miss’s body…
Madam, please forgive me for going along with this recklessness. I will definitely come to you to atone for my sins then.
“Young Miss, what do you think of this?”
“…It’s excellent.”
“Eh?”
“I think this race schedule is very good, and it’s also a great warm-up, Kumi Trainer. Let’s start preparing.”
Polaris Glacier stated her opinion calmly, but if one observed closely, they would find that her eyes had already frozen over with ice, containing a hint of excitement.
Polaris Glacier spent the entire first half of July training.
However, considering that too much training might affect her condition, she still followed Kumi Trainer’s advice and gradually reduced her training volume as the race date approached.
Three days before the race, she only needed to jog.
But even when jogging, she still ran for a very long time. Aside from half an hour before and after meals, and after eight in the evening, she was basically always running.
The first pair of sports shoes she wore was already very worn out. When the Head Maid noticed, she went to the mall that same day and bought a new pair.
Sirius Symboli must have gone home, as Polaris Glacier hadn’t seen her at the academy these past few days.
However, Mihono Bourbon was seen daily, and her training volume also seemed very high. According to Rudolph Symboli, who returned to the dormitory after finishing Student Council affairs in the evening, Mihono Bourbon was even on the training ground at ten at night.
It felt like… everyone was getting more competitive.
The night before the race, Polaris Glacier sat on her bed in her room and sent a message to that Horse Girl senior.
This was agreed upon: as thanks for her help in promoting Polaris Glacier, she would send her own race time so that she could arrive at the racecourse on time to watch.
Regrettably, the senior was currently on a summer training camp and found it inconvenient to rush over, so she could only regretfully miss it.
The next morning, after another discussion, the Old Butler drove the three of them, including the Head Maid and Kumi Trainer, to the train station.
Then the three of them transferred to a train and headed to Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture—the location of the Chukyo Racecourse.
On the train, Polaris Glacier was still sitting in the middle of the two.
There weren’t many people on the train, and the surrounding atmosphere was quiet.
Compared to last time, she still held anticipation for the race, but there was no longer any nervousness.
After realizing that her strength had nothing to do with weakness, she felt that as long as she followed her usual strategy of taking the lead at full speed, there would definitely be no problems.
Moreover, compared to her debut race, this race was scheduled for four in the afternoon, which was much more relaxed in terms of time, allowing for a slower pace.
“Young Miss, we’ve arrived.”
After an unknown period of resting with her eyes closed, the Head Maid beside her suddenly spoke up to remind her.
Polaris Glacier opened her eyes. Once the train had completely stopped, she exited the station with the Head Maid and Kumi Trainer, then took a taxi to the hotel they had pre-booked.
They would stay there, and after the race and the winner’s stage performance, they would rest for a night before returning to Fuchu.
Incidentally, the winner’s stage performance this time was scheduled for eight in the evening.
As soon as she sat down on the hotel room bed and took out her phone, a message from Maruzensky suddenly popped up.
“Polaris, Rudolf and I will be there around noon~”
Yes, these two senior Horse Girl were also not absent this time. It could be said that as long as they weren’t dealing with Student Council affairs, they were the ones with the most free time in the academy.
After lunch, with no intention of going out for a stroll, Polaris Glacier stayed in the room until the afternoon.
Feeling that it was about time, she called the Head Maid and Kumi Trainer, and together they took a taxi to the racecourse.
Upon arriving, Polaris Glacier, having experienced the process once before, calmly headed to the athlete’s lounge. This time, both the Head Maid and Kumi Trainer accompanied her.
“Young Miss, here are your clothes for changing.”
Polaris Glacier took the gym uniform from the Head Maid, nodded, and entered the changing room within the lounge, beginning to change out of her casual clothes.
During the change, she suddenly noticed a small detail: the lower halves of the gym uniforms for female and male Horse Girl were different.
Female Horse Girl’ were triangular in style, while male Horse Girl’ were rectangular. She wondered if there was any special meaning to this.
After changing, she walked out of the changing room and hung her casual clothes on the nearby rack. The Head Maid, understanding her unspoken wish, stepped forward and fastened the bib number onto Polaris Glacier.
This time, she had drawn gate number one, the innermost lane, which was an excellent position for a Horse Girl like her with a strong advantage in competing for the lead.
“Head Maid, and Kumi Trainer, I will win beautifully.”
“Yes, we believe in you, Young Miss.”
After a brief exchange of words, Polaris Glacier pulled open the door and walked out of the lounge, heading towards the track on the ground through the athlete’s passage.