Symboli Rudolf's POV
The final Sunday of December had arrived—the day of the Arima Kinen. It was the Grand Prix, the race hailed as the ultimate showdown of the year. Teio was set to run, but after a full year's absence.
To be blunt, her chances of winning were less than fifty percent. There was no precedent for a horse returning from a year-long hiatus to claim victory—not in Japan, and not anywhere else in the world. On top of that, she had suffered through the heartbreak of three separate fractures before the Takarazuka Kinen. While she had managed to pull through back then thanks to Twin Turbo's inspiration, the circumstances today were entirely different.
"You look like you're about to vibrate out of your skin."
I started, looking up. "Hachiman."
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" he asked, his gaze level. "You're thinking about Teio. There's no way you wouldn't be."
"…Yes," I admitted with a heavy sigh. "This is her first race since last year's Arima Kinen. Logically speaking, there is no world in which she wins this."
"Probably not," Hachiman agreed. "Besides, we haven't been at the training centers to see the other camps, Team Spica included. We don't know their condition or their strategy. And Teio only just returned from a fracture; she hasn't had nearly enough time to train properly. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"
"..." I remained silent.
"But," Hachiman continued, "the look I saw on Teio's face last time… it wasn't the same as it was during the Derby or the Tenno Sho. I can't quite put my finger on it, but she wasn't her usual bubbly self. It was like she was possessed by something."
"Is that how she seemed to you?"
"Yeah. For better or worse. Who knows how it'll play out."
The race wasn't until 3:30 PM, and Teio wouldn't even be visible on screen until then. I had to kill time somehow, but… hrrk. My mind refused to drift from the track.
"I'm so excited for today's race!" Mr. C.B. chirped, leaning back with her usual carefree air.
"It is the Arima Kinen, after all," Rice Shower added softly. "My mother and father are looking forward to it, too!"
C.B. glanced over at me, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, looks like Rudolf here is too busy worrying to enjoy the buildup."
"I… I apologize," I stammered.
"You're worried about Teio-san, aren't you?" Rice asked gently. "Big Brother mentioned it, too."
Hachiman let out a dry huff. "It's probably Rudolf's biggest failure of the year."
"Haha… You're not wrong, Hachiman," I replied with a weary smile. "And Rice, please don't misunderstand—I don't regret coming here to your home. I simply wish I had been the only one to return early."
C.B. nudged me. "Why don't you just call your favorite student? Might make you feel a bit better."
"…Perhaps you're right. I'll try that."
15:20
I stared at my phone, the screen dark.
It was almost time. But would a call be a distraction now? Then again, I desperately wanted to give her a final word of encouragement. Ugh… why is this so difficult?
"What are you doing?"
I nearly jumped. "H-Hachiman…"
"Just call her," he said. "Your voice is probably the only thing that can truly light a fire under her right now. It has to be you—you're the one Tokai Teio looks up to more than anyone else."
"But, I haven't even—"
"This isn't about whether you've made your 'debut' or not," Hachiman interrupted, his voice firm. "It's simple: you have something you want to tell her. So tell her. Don't overthink it."
"..."
I took a breath and pressed the call button.
Ring… Ring… Ring… Click!
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"President?" Teio's voice came through, sounding surprised. "What's up? This is sudden!"
"My apologies, Teio. I thought I might be a nuisance, but… I wanted to give you a final push."
"No, not at all! I'm so happy to talk to you, President!"
"I see," I said, my voice softening as I looked at the video feed. "You're wearing those silks. I haven't seen them since the Derby."
"Yeah… I wanted to run in these today…"
"I see…!"
I noticed the camera shaking ever so slightly. It wasn't the "battle shivers" of an eager competitor. Teio was, at least in some small way, afraid.
"Hey… can I ask you something weird?" Teio whispered.
"What is it?"
"President… what did you do? When you felt like you absolutely had to win, no matter what?"
"That is… a difficult question," I replied carefully. "Every runner on that track feels the same. They hone their bodies, sharpen their focus, and throw everything they have into the fray. And yet, even if you are in perfect condition, the flow of a race is unpredictable. There are no 'absolutes' in racing."
On the screen, I could see Teio's eyes wavering.
"However…"
Teio gasped softly.
"The conviction within you… the feeling that you will never, ever waver… that is something no one can take from you."
"..."
The light returned to her eyes, a sharp, fierce spark. That would do. She was ready.
"Did that help at all?" I asked.
"Yeah! Thanks, President!"
"Well, I should let you go. As the Student Council President, I must remain impartial and cannot cheer for an individual. However… not as the 'President,' but as the fellow horse girl known as Symboli Rudolf—I am rooting for you with all my heart."
"Phew…" I let out a long, shaky breath as I hung up.
"Good work," Hachiman said, leaning against the wall. "That was a pretty stiff pep talk. You sounded like a worried father."
"…Please, don't say that."
"Well, it's up to her now. All we can do is watch. Right?"
"Yes," I started to agree, but then my head swam. "Ah…"
I stumbled, my knees feeling weak.
"Whoa—hey!" Hachiman caught me. "Are you serious? You got that nervous just from one phone call? I guess that's just like you, in a way…"
"Haha… I'm sorry. How pathetic of me," I murmured, leaning into him.
"The race is starting soon. Just relax for a second," Hachiman said, his voice unusually soft. "If you go back downstairs with wobbly legs, you're just going to make everyone else anxious."
"Then, Brother… I'll borrow your strength for just a moment."
"Yeah… sure."
I closed my eyes, letting my weight rest against him. Usually, I was the one people relied on; I had never really reached out to lean on anyone else like this. But with him, for some reason, I found I didn't have to be the "Emperor."
Today, in Rice's childhood home, we would watch Teio's miracle together.
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