On the eve of the Japan Cup.
The meeting room of the Student Council at Tracen Academy was requisitioned once again for emergency use.
But this time, the atmosphere of the meeting no longer had the solemnity of a "courtroom," but rather resembled a meeting of the "United Nations Security Council"... permeated with the smell of gunpowder.
The huge round conference table was currently cluttered with all kinds of strange and ridiculous "support items"
The Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, was sitting in the main seat, with one hand on her forehead, trying to maintain control of the situation that was rapidly spiraling out of control.
To the left of the table was a gigantic, shiny banner designed by Gold City, embroidered with 24-karat gold thread, featuring chibi portraits of herself and Kaito.
Next to it was a scroll brought by TM Opera O, several meters long, a magnificent scroll full of hymns of praise to Kaito written in elaborate calligraphy.
Further ahead was a new invention presented by Agnes Tachyon: a high-tech LED support sign that supposedly connected via Bluetooth to show Kaito's heart rate and emotional fluctuation index in real time.
On the right side of the table, Rice Shower and Manhattan Cafe timidly presented their contributions: a hand-sewn "Victory Lucky Charm" filled with various herbs, and an antique-style fan adorned with a charcoal sketch of Kaito's profile, respectively.
The newest member, Taiki Shuttle, drew the most attention.
She had brought a huge American flag, large enough to be used as a bedsheet.
In the center of the flag, painted in oil, was a huge cheeseburger.
Atop the burger was a chibi portrait of Kaito, who also wore aviator sunglasses and was smiling at her.
The entire conference room was permeated with an extremely strange "pre-war mobilization" atmosphere, a mixture of kindergarten-style rivalry, almost divine sincerity, and intense, sickly jealousy.
"The meeting has already begun"
Symboli Rudolf tapped the table weakly.
"The theme of this meeting is how to design a 'final support plan' that can embody the team spirit of Tracen, highlight the individual style of each of you and, most importantly, maximize the chances of catching Boss Kaito's attention from the sidelines"
The moment she finished speaking...
"I'll start!"
Gold City pointed to the scroll with TM Opera O's excessively sentimental poem and immediately launched her attack.
"What is the use of writing this cheesy stuff? Support must be direct! It must be dominant! That scoundrel must be able to see my brilliant banner instantly in a stadium with thirty thousand people!"
"Rude!"
Exclaimed TM Opera O, snapping her fan open and narrowing her eyes at Gold City with the look reserved for barbarians.
"True affection is an art contained between the lines, which requires being savored with delicacy. How could a simple mortal like you, whose brain is full of muscles, understand it?"
"It completely lacks a scientific basis"
Agnes Tachyon pointed to Taiki Shuttle's calorie-laden burger flag and analyzed calmly:
"According to color psychology and visual communication theory, a burger motif only stimulates the public's appetite; it does not effectively increase the adrenaline secretion level of the Uma on the track"
"Instead, my heart rate support sign can reach the deepest level of 'soul resonance' between the Boss and us on the field through quantum entanglement... (a thousand words of scientific explanation omitted)..."
"Love is eating! Understand? Love is eating!"
Taiki Shuttle took a good bite of a french fry, launching the simplest and most irrefutable counterattack with a muffled voice full of food flavor.
The meeting, which began with a debate on "how to provide support," quickly degenerated into a "mutual chain of disdain regarding support tastes" and a "philosophical debate on the nature of love"
Each person firmly believed that...
Only her method constituted the best and truest "love" for Kaito!
Just as they were arguing heatedly, even going as far as trying to physically snatch each other's "heretical" support objects, the door to the meeting room creaked open.
Kaito entered relaxed, wearing an elegant black and white trainer tracksuit and whistling a cheerful tune.
"Ladies, it seems you are having a very heated discussion"
He smiled, observing the group of top-tier Umas who looked like frightened, puffed-up cats.
"It seems my 'exclusive support group' is already taking shape"
Upon seeing the protagonist appear, everyone acted as if the pause button had been pressed.
All arguments ceased immediately.
They quickly fixed their appearance and abandoned their murderous expressions, trying to show their "man" their kindest, most beautiful, and most intelligent side in the shortest time possible.
Kaito completely ignored their subtle and calculating movements.
Instead, he went straight to the whiteboard and dropped a bombshell.
"For the Japan Cup, I will be the 'Special Representative on the Sidelines and Exclusive Tactical Advisor' for all of you, following the race from start to finish"
!!!
This announcement made the eyes of every Uma present light up instantly with a wolfish glow!
—This meant receiving his guidance from the closest distance!
—This meant receiving his most direct attention!
—This meant victory!
Seeing their burning eyes full of expectation, Kaito changed the subject.
A dark and devilish smile appeared on his lips.
"However"
"My energy is limited, my tactical board will only be deployed for one person. My binoculars will only follow the figure of one person"
"On the race track, upon whom will my gaze rest?"
"For whom will my breath be directed?"
"And who will receive my warm and victorious embrace...?"
"All of this will depend on your own performance"
He took eight exquisitely crafted and lightly scented numbered tags out of his pocket (including the one for Narita Taishin, who had not attended the meeting due to her self-isolation).
Each one had her name engraved in gold letters and a number from 1 to 8.
He handed these "signs of fate" to them one by one.
"These are... your 'Love Number Tags'"
"Your final ranking in the Japan Cup will directly determine..."
"Your supreme right next month under the framework of the Harem Basic Law..."
"...to the 'Rotating Week System,' which includes priority selection and exclusive duration"
He turned around and used a red marker to write the damn "reward" rules on the white board: rules enough to drive any Uma crazy!
"[Champion: Exclusive! The first full seven-day 'Lead Assistant Rotating Week' next month! Additionally, an extra right to a deep rehabilitation treatment session at the level of 'The Final Secret: The Blessing of the Hand of God', with no time limits, no rules, and no limitations on any part of the body!]"
"[Second place: Receives the right to the second rotating week, with a duration of six days.]"
"[Third place: Receives the right to the third rotating week, with a duration of five days.]"
"[...Et cetera...]"
"[Eighth place: Receives only a pitiful and seemingly charitable... one day...]"
This rule was absolutely devilish!
They blatantly and shamelessly linked their cold results on the track, directly and closely, with the amount of time they could "possess" Kaito.
This would no longer be a race fought for glory or dreams!
This would be the most primitive and cruel war, fought to compete for "mating rights" with their man!
After hearing these devilish rules, every Uma present.
A burning, tangible, and unheard-of hell ignited in their eyes, capable of melting steel!
"The championship... is mine!"
Gold City clenched her fists, her knuckles cracked loudly, and golden electric sparks began to flash around her body!
"Heh heh... it seems it is time for the whole world to witness this protagonist's most magnificent 'Victory Solo,' a performance where everything is at stake"
TM Opera O slowly opened her fan, covering half of her face, but the visible phoenix eyes outside shone with an incredibly sharp light.
"A very interesting rule"
Symboli Rudolf showed an emperor's smile, full of absolute confidence.
"I accept this challenge"
"OH MY GOD!"
Taiki Shuttle was so excited she jumped out of her chair.
"If I win the championship, can I eat dishes prepared by the Hand of God every day? I WILL WIN! I MUST WIN!"
All the childish discussions about "support plans" from before suddenly seemed ridiculous and meaningless at that moment.
Because everyone understood.
The best way to support that man was...
Win the championship!
And then, personally present that gleaming trophy, along with their own triumphant and radiant selves, as "spoils of war" to the only man who was on the sidelines, smiling at them all.
Just as everyone was consumed by that fanatical desire for the "championship"
Only Narita Taishin.
She crept up to Kaito.
She didn't look at anyone else; she simply lowered her head and spoke in a low voice, a voice that only Kaito could hear, but which was incredibly firm:
"I don't need the champion's reward"
Kaito looked at her, slightly surprised.
Narita Taishin slowly raised her head.
Her single eye, clear and persistent like that of a lone wolf, shone with a light that made even Kaito's heart tremble.
"All I want is..."
"...for you to look at me..."
"...to get a result that makes you feel proud of me..."
"...that is enough for me"
This love, pure to the extreme, which asks for no reward and exists only to please one person.
Instantly, she dealt the most heartless dimensional blow of "True Love" to the highly motivated "mortals" around her who were still fighting for "rewards" and "exclusive rights"
Undoubtedly, Narita Taishin's words have cast a stone large enough to cause monstrous waves in the already turbulent lake of this battlefield.
The gazes of the other female protagonists instantly became incredibly complex.
There was a small, subtle hint of respect for her purity.
But there was also an extremely intense distrust: "Damn you! Are you trying to use this 'retreat to advance' tactic to win his sympathy and favoritism? What deep cunning!"
Her words moved Kaito deeply.
He knew that his "incentive" plan, originally designed to motivate everyone, might have accidentally created the sweetest yet deadliest "emotional bug"
...
The day of the Japan Cup.
At the entrance of the racecourse.
The eight members of Kaito's Harem Legion, belonging to the "hell level," entered the track side by side, impeccably dressed in their magnificent and distinctive racing silks.
Each of them radiated a terrifying aura, strong enough to suffocate any other opponent.
A burning and undisguised fighting spirit was reflected in their eyes, directed toward each other.
And there was also that shared love, burning and melting everything, when they looked toward that man who was on the sidelines smiling at them all.
An unprecedented event.
The Japan Cup Harem... a mixture of love, competition, cooperation, and betrayal... has officially raised its curtain!
And for the first time, the eyes of the whole world focused on this mysterious and young trainer, the Hand of God, who was rumored to be capable of working miracles.