Hachiman's POV

Alright, good work, everyone. Somehow, I, Hachiman Hikitani, am overseeing the warm-up (or is it training?) of nine Uma Musume who aren't even my charges. How'd it come to this? I'll skip the details, but warm-ups are done, and it's race time.

Rudolf said it's a 2400m left-handed course, gates drawn by me. Not my imagination—post-warm-up, their drive is unreal. What's with that aura? They're radiating intensity they usually hold back. Seriously? That eager to hang out with me? I'm boring! No fun! Zero demand! It's a loss, not a win!

…Saying this makes me sad. Let's stop.

"Phew…" Rudolf exhaled. "Feels like ages since I've run this seriously."

"Oh?" Super Creek said. "You don't always race full-out, President-san?"

"Depends on the moment," Rudolf said. "But this time, the stakes are non-negotiable. I won't lose."

"Same here, Rudolf," Oguri Cap said. "Today, I'm taking the win."

Rudolf chuckled. "Bring it."

"I'll borrow your strength," Mihono Bourbon said, "but I'm aiming to win. No holding back, Rice-san."

"Of course!" Rice Shower said. "Rice wants to go out with Onii-sama, so I can't lose!"

"…Right," Bourbon said.

"Please go easy on me," Mejiro Ardan said.

"Haha, sure," Fuji Kiseki said. "But in a race, I'm not losing."

"No way I'm giving up my date with Eight," CB said. "I'm winning this."

"Hehe," Ardan said. "I'm eager for a trip with Anii-sama, so I'll try hard."

They're insanely fired up… Save that for the race! Also…

"Café, what's going on?" I asked.

"…Who knows?" Manhattan Café said.

"Don't turn that back on me," I said. "I'm pinned by you and your friend here."

"We haven't seen you lately, Trainer-san," Café said. "This is catch-up time. My friend likes being around you too."

"Am I a ghost magnet or something?" I said. "Is that a thing?"

"Who knows?" Café said.

"Stop with the 'who knows'…" I muttered. "Manhattan Café, it's almost time."

"Understood," she said. "I'm off."

"Yeah," I said. "Your friend's sticking around, huh?"

"—!!" the friend said.

"No clue what you're saying, but you're having fun, I get it," I said.

"www~!!" Giggle

…Laughing? No idea.

"Alright," Rudolf said. "As Hachiman-kun explained, it's a 2400m left-handed course, suited for everyone here. Gates were drawn by him. Any questions?"

"Nope!" CB said. "Just gotta run!"

"A foolish question," Rudolf said. "To the gates, then. It's a serious showdown."

They're heading to the gates—guess it's go-time. Let's do this.

"No starting signal," I said. "Gate opens, you go. Keeps it simple. Here we go!"

Clang!!

And they're off… Bourbon takes the lead, as expected. Creek and Rice follow, then Ardan. Fuji and Rudolf are neck-and-neck, with Oguri, Café, and CB trailing. About what I figured. But who'll pull ahead? No clue…

"Who's your pick?" Brian asked.

"No idea," I said. "Normally, Rudolf, but with mixed strategies and no prep time, it's anyone's game. The winner's the one with sharp instincts and awareness. It's about sense, not raw power."

"So, even the president's odds are even?" Air Groove said.

"Half-right," I said. "Everyone's got equal odds. These are the academy's elites—they know each other's strengths, but not perfectly. That's the key. It's about when they use their power. You get it, Air Groove—final straights are raw strength, but before that, it's tactics and mind games. That's what matters. Oh, they're coming back… Whoa, an unexpected leader…"

"I'm confident in my staying power!" Super Creek shouted, pushing forward.

"Not yet!" Bourbon gritted.

"Here I come!" CB yelled.

"Here's the real fight!" Rudolf roared.

As expected, Rudolf and CB's raw power surges them forward. Wait—who's that? Ardan!?

Ardan (This moment… I'm betting everything!!)

"!" Rudolf gasped.

"No way! I can't pass her!" CB shouted.

"Not… done yet!" Café said.

"No easy win!" Fuji called.

"Rice won't give up…!" Rice said.

"Still… got more!" Oguri grunted.

Ardan (More… more… I can still do this!!)

They lined up, Creek holding strong with her tenacity. But Ardan's unbelievable surge from nowhere clinched it.

"Hah… hah… I won!!" Ardan panted.

"Ughhh!! I lost!!" CB wailed.

"Ardan-san… that was incredible," Creek said.

"Yeah!" Rice said. "She zoomed up so fast!"

"I chased from behind," Café said. "Couldn't catch her."

"Status: [Shock] detected," Bourbon said. "That surge was masterful."

"Didn't expect to be the one shocked," Fuji said. "Impressive."

"I never imagined she'd match our speed," Rudolf said. "Total defeat."

"Ugh, I couldn't shine," Oguri said. "Should've eaten more…"

Mejiro Ardan took it, matching Rudolf and CB's speed in the final straight and charging to the finish. That hidden strength was unreal…

Afterword

Mejiro Ardan stuns the field, outpacing Rudolf and CB to claim the mock race and Hachiman's "date"! Air Groove watches, her quiet longing tying to her Osaka Hai struggles and Takarazuka Kinen resolve. The Yahari crossover fuels Hachiman's "Tengan" chaos, with Haruno's shadow lingering. Fuji's flair shines—her arc's on the horizon!

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