The day of the selection exam arrived. Everyone was on the track, preparing.
The grading would be done by a few experienced trainers. In addition to time, this assessment also included acceleration timing and running form. Overall, it was a test of a Horse Girl's comprehensive abilities.
Standing at the edge of the track, Chiya looked at the massive crowd of over a hundred examinees, ten per group, for a total of twenty-two groups. The assessing trainers stood by the railing, chatting amongst themselves.
Under their sharp, hawk-like gazes, he couldn't help but start to feel nervous.
After all, he was also one of the examinees.
Or rather, she was. Fujiwara Shirayuki.
Looking at the groups of Horse Girls stretching and warming up, her heart pounded rapidly.
I still can't get used to this.
"Do your best, Rice... you have to do your best! For Onii-sama's reward," a small figure in the crowd muttered, psyching herself up.
Every time he saw Rice Shower's tenacious spirit, he felt his heart heal. This little one was just too cute. He decided to take her out somewhere fun after the exam.
As for the others...
Shirayuki looked for her own Horse Girls. She soon spotted Meisho Doto, who was spinning in circles in the crowd.
For this exam, they were wearing very loose T-shirts and shorts. No matter how magnificent Doto's assets were, there was no way she could burst this T-shirt!
As for her shoes, they had been checked several times before she came. Absolutely foolproof.
After confirming Doto's status, she saw the newest member of the team, Machikane Fukukitaru. She was in a relatively open space, kneeling and casting a spell.
"Lord Byakko, please grant me a successful exam~"
Fukukitaru chanted, then struck various strange poses.
"Heeyah~ Great fortune and great luck!"
This reminded her of how she had burned three sticks of incense in front of a picture of Detective Conan before her central exam.
Whether it worked or not, at least it provided some spiritual comfort.
That's right, the point of prayer was the mindset.
Without disturbing her, Shirayuki quietly left. Since Mejiro Dober was in the middle school division, their exam times were different, so she probably wouldn't see her today.
But she didn't need to worry about Dober.
Besides Rice Shower, she was the most hardworking child. After training, she would even practice on her own until it was dark. And every night, Shirayuki would make her a nutritional drink to help her recover from fatigue.
So, compared to before, Dober had made significant progress. An exam of this level shouldn't be a problem for her.
Leaving Fukukitaru, Shirayuki began to look for the last member of the team.
Gold Ship.
She looked around and around, but couldn't find her.
Where did she go? Did she oversleep?
She patted her pockets, looking for her phone. Just then, an out-of-place sound reached her ears.
"Sushi! Freshly made sushi!"
Hearing this, she did a 180-degree turn and ran towards the sound.
Sure enough, she saw the silver-haired girl she had been looking for.
Ship!
She was wearing a Japanese restaurant uniform, a hat on her head with the words [Gold Ship Sushi] written on it.
"What are you doing?"
"Yo, Shirayuki! Want some sushi?"
She gestured to the conveyor belt sushi she had gotten from somewhere.
Gold Ship manually rotated it.
"There's a discount if you buy more."
"No, do you know what day it is today?"
"The 'xam, right?" she answered matter-of-factly.
"If you know, then why are you selling this stuff...?"
"Because of the high foot traffic," she said, puffing out her chest. "Situations where everyone is gathered together like this only happen during races and school events. So you have to seize every opportunity."
Shirayuki facepalmed.
"I'm not asking for your reason for selling..."
"Give me five pieces of sushi."
Before she could argue, an ash-colored figure walked up to them.
"Oguri-senpai!"
"Hmm? Shirayuki... you're here too."
"Because I'm an examinee. Why are you here?"
She was even wearing her training uniform.
"An exam? I see. No wonder everyone's wearing the same clothes," Oguri Cap said, pinching her chin. "I smelled sushi and thought there was some kind of event going on, so I went back to my dorm to change. It seems I was mistaken."
She took the sushi from Gold Ship and began to eat.
"Do you want some, Shirayuki? I can give you half," she said, her mouth full.
"I think I'll pass..."
"You won't have the energy to run if you don't eat."
Hearing her chew, Shirayuki swallowed hard.
"Then maybe I'll have a little...?"
"Sushi! Give me another five pieces."
"Coming right up! Thank you for your patronage!"
Meanwhile, Chiya's mouth was chewing on empty air.
"Am I being a little too casual about this...?"
"Casual about what?"
"Ahem!"
"Sorry, did I startle you... Are you eating something?"
"Trainer Nase?"
Seeing the chic figure, he immediately stood up straight.
"Are your arms okay now?"
"They healed long ago. It wasn't a serious injury."
Compared to that, not being able to lift her chopsticks and having to be fed by Tokai Teio had been the real torture.
'This one's delicious, Trainer! This one's delicious too! Chili with honey has a unique taste! Try this one too!'
She had stuffed everything into her mouth. At the time, she hadn't thought she would survive until her arms healed.
After enduring that hellish care, her body had finally recovered.
"Are you here to watch Shirayuki today too?"
"Yes," Nase Fumino said without reservation. "I want to see how much she has grown."
"Her growth will surprise you."
"I certainly hope so."
"...Normally, wouldn't you be worried if your rival got stronger? Why do you seem to want her to get stronger?"
"No matter how strong she gets, I will train my Horse Girl to surpass her."
"You're very confident."
"That's just one aspect."
"Hmm?"
"Because she's your cousin, I want her to become stronger."
...
What does that mean?
"Chiya."
Before he could figure it out, another figure waved and ran over.
It was Kiryuuin Aoi.
"Aoi, are you here to watch the students' exams too?"
"Yes."
She ran up to him and noticed Nase beside him.
"And you are?"
"My colleague, Trainer Nase Fumino."
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kiryuuin Aoi."
She greeted her.
The two exchanged names.
"Trainer Chiya and... Trainer Kiryuuin, did you know each other before?" Nase asked, seeing how familiar they were.
"We were university classmates," Aoi replied. "And future rivals."
"Rivals?"
"Yes. I will have my Horse Girls spar with Chiya's, and we will improve together. We are fated rivals," she said, placing a hand on her chest, seemingly very satisfied with this statement.
What she didn't notice was that after she said this, Nase's gaze instantly turned icy.
Although she was usually emotionless, cold and icy were two different things.
"I see..." she said, turning to look at the track. "But the one who can defeat Trainer Chiya will not be you."
"Eh...?"
"Group A, get ready!" a voice called from the track, announcing the start of the exam.
-------
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