The chime rings, signaling the end of classes and the start of after-school hours. At 4 p.m., the mock race kicks off. This is my biggest moment yet. I need to study the Uma Musume—their running styles, forms, footwork—and pick out any standouts. But keeping the lineup and running order secret until the day of? That's some next-level planning.
"Hikigaya-kun, it's time," Aoi Kiryuin says. "Shall we get ready?"
"Yeah," I say. "Stopwatch, entry list, pen… that's about it."
"Entry list?" Aoi asks. "Was there one?"
"Nah, I made it on the PC earlier," I say. "Nothing fancy—just an Excel sheet with name slots and space to write. The course probably fits ten runners max, so I made ten slots. I'll jot down names and only time the ones who catch my eye."
"You're not just picking the winner?" Aoi asks.
"No point in only eyeing the first-place runner," I say. "Some might think, 'Winning a mock race is meaningless' and hold back. Sure, the Uma Musume world is all about competition, but that only matters in real races. Nailing it here doesn't mean squat if they flop on the big stage. Some might not even show their full strength today."
"Wow, I'm always learning from you, Hikigaya-kun," Aoi says.
"Really? It's just my take," I say.
"Still, it's enlightening," she insists.
"…If you say so," I mutter.
"Oh, Hikigaya-kun!" Aoi says. "Can I have a copy of that sheet?"
"It's ten slots front and back, so use it wisely," I say. "Don't mess it up."
"I know what I'm doing! I'm a trainer too, you know!" she huffs.
With that, Aoi and I head to the Tressen Academy track.
The track's already packed with trainers.
"Lots of them here," Aoi says.
"Yup," I say. "But mid-tier and veteran trainers probably have their picks locked in. They'll perk up once the runners hit the course."
"You made it, Trainer Hikigaya," a voice says.
I turn. "Oh, Symboli Rudolf… you're racing? That outfit's not your usual uniform."
It's Rudolf, but instead of her student council getup, she's in a tracksuit.
"Yup, I don't have a trainer yet," Rudolf says. "I'm using this race to find a dedicated one. You might have a shot, you know."
"We'll see after I watch you run," I say. "By the way, no entry list floating around? It'd help."
"I've got one you can borrow," Rudolf says. "Need it for long?"
"Nah, just need the names and slots," I say. "I'll memorize faces by sight. Let me see it for a bit, Symboli Rudolf."
"No problem," she says. "And call me Rudolf. Full name's a mouthful, right?"
"Not really, but if you insist, I'll try to remember," I say, scribbling.
"President, there you are," Air Groove says, then spots me. "Hmph, figures you'd show up."
"A rookie like me has to show up to get any Uma Musume," I say, still writing. "You're racing too, huh?"
"What, surprised?" Air Groove snaps.
"Not really," I say, scribbling.
"By the way, Trainer Hikigaya," Rudolf says, "I heard a rumor. They say Biwa Hayahide copied a rookie trainer's menu into her notebook."
"Oh, that cafeteria thing? Yeah, that was me," I say. "Is that really rumor-worthy? And is it such a big deal?"
"She's not just a racer—she uses theory for diet and training too," Rudolf explains. "Her smarts are probably unmatched here. For her to copy someone's menu into her notebook? That's unheard of. Get what that means?"
"Dunno, why?" I say, still writing.
Air Groove huffs. "Think about it. It means your menu's better than ones from mid-tier or veteran trainers."
"Who knows?" I say. "Maybe she just found it interesting. Alright, done. Thanks for the list."
"No big deal," Rudolf says. "But, Trainer Hikigaya, a word of advice. I like your personality, but your humility can come off as sarcasm to some. Be careful."
"I'll keep that in mind," I say.
"We're off to warm up," Rudolf says. "See you."
"Later," Air Groove mutters.
Humility as sarcasm, huh? Guess I'll watch it. Speaking of…
"Kiryuin, how long you gonna stand there frozen?" I say. "Get moving."
"Huh?!" Aoi snaps out of it. "W-what happened to me…?"
"Here, I filled out your entry list," I say. "Write it down now before the race starts."
"Thanks! That's a huge help!" she says.
Man, I'm feeling eyes from all over. Mostly Uma Musume, but some trainers too. Focus on the runners, people. They're the main event today, not me.