The first day of the Pleiades training camp had been a whirlwind of indulgence—beach games, the barbecue, and a vibrant fireworks display to cap off the night. It was a dream of summer. But as the sun began to peek over the horizon the following morning, the "real" training camp bared its teeth.
"Move it! Every single one of you, I want to see you digging into that sand! We aren't here to turn you into dirt-track specialists, but learning to drive your power into an unstable surface has massive benefits. Don't see the point? Just look ahead of you—you've got the perfect examples right there."
In the pale light of dawn, before a single bite of breakfast had been served, the girls were already locked in a grueling sand-beach sprint.
"Man, this brings back memories of last year!" one of the veterans called out.
"No kidding. But I feel like I'm handling it so much better this time. I guess I really have grown," another replied, her breathing steady despite the resistance of the shore.
"The ones really feeling the burn are the newcomers, though," a third added, glancing back.
Those who had survived last year's camp were surging forward with practiced ease. Their previous "savings" of experience were paying dividends; the foundation they had built was holding firm even in the shifting grains.
"Hrngh…! It's… it's so hard to find my footing…!"
King Halo was struggling. Hard. Part of it was her low natural aptitude for dirt tracks, but the bigger issue was a simple lack of raw, fundamental power. She found herself at the very back of the pack, her elegant stride hampered by the treacherous sand.
"Nngh… compared to running through the snow in Hokkaido… this is nothing! Mom, watch me! I'm gonna give it my all!" Special Week yelled, pushing herself forward.
Spe wasn't a dirt specialist either, but her upbringing—training in the deep snows of her home—had given her a strange, gritty resilience against poor footing. Just ahead of her was Mayano Top Gun, who had a bit more natural talent for dirt but was still clearly battling the unfamiliar exhaustion of the beach.
"Spe-chan! King! Maya-senpai! El is taking the lead, si! I'm going to catch up to the seniors!"
Among the newcomers, El Condor Pasa was the clear standout. With her high natural aptitude for dirt surfaces, she practically skimmed over the sand. For her, this wasn't a struggle for survival; it was a workshop on how to refine her leg movements and polish her base stats.
"I won't lose… I refuse to lose!" King gasped, her teeth gritted. "That's right… I am blessed to have the greatest girls as my rivals! This King will not allow herself to be left behind! I will catch up! I will surpass you all!"
She reignited her spirit, forcing her legs to churn through the heavy sand. If King Halo had one defining trait, it was her indomitable willpower. She refused to bow to the reality of her current defeat, choosing instead to sprint toward a future victory.
Watching her, Rampage let out a sharp, encouraging laugh.
"That's the spirit, King! Keep that fire burning! You've got a massive dream, don't you? To conquer G1 races across every distance? Then run! That unbreakable heart of yours is your greatest weapon!"
"YES! I'LL DO MY BEST!"
An unbreakable spirit as a weapon—it might have seemed unrefined for a high-born lady, but King would have laughed off the critique. She would etch her name into history as a "Lady" unlike any other, a look of fierce, exhilarated determination on her face as she tore across the beach.
"Alright, breakfast is over. Today, the real camp begins," the Trainer announced.
After the sand sprints, they had been treated to a magnificent breakfast. To the chef's delight, the girls had practically inhaled the food. Special Week, in particular, had gone back for seconds and thirds, seemingly undeterred by the early hour. Watching her stomach—which had been visibly distended after the meal—shrink back down to a flat, toned line by the time practice started was a feat of Horse Girl metabolism that never ceased to amaze.
"I don't need to tell the veterans this, but let me be clear for the rest of you: the Pleiades training camp is not normal. It is significantly more grueling than anything you do at Tracen Academy. We've taken precautions to make sure no one collapses, but if you feel like you're hitting a dangerous wall, don't hesitate—speak up."
"We figured as much," the veterans said in unison, their expressions grim but ready.
The newcomers looked visibly shaken. As they wondered just how intense things were about to get, some of the older members couldn't help but chuckle. The Trainer clapped his hands to restore order.
"The reason it's 'not normal' is largely because I'm not normal. My connections are, frankly, on a different level than Hana-san from Rigil or Okinocci from Spica. I can bring in the big names. Last year, we had Silverstone, Stahl Armekor, and El Guit show up under the guise of 'adjusting to the Japanese racing environment.'"
"WHAAAAT?!"
"Those are world-class Horse Girls!"
"The ones who raced against Rampage-san abroad?!"
"No way! Is it… is it people like that again this year?!"
The newcomers were buzzing with excitement, and while they weren't entirely wrong about the "star power," the reality was going to be a bit more… personal. The Trainer felt a sudden urge to apologize to Special Week in advance.
"Hey, you Pleiades brats! Feeling 'happy' yet?! You'd better be grateful I'm carving out time for this camp! Especially you, Spe!"
"Gah?! S-S-Sunday Silence-san?!" Special Week shrieked.
"Wait… me?!"
There she stood: Sunday Silence, the legendary instructor from Team Nemesis. The Trainer hadn't lied; Sunday was an American star of the highest magnitude, just like the others. He just neglected to mention she was also the most terrifying coach in the academy. I didn't lie, he told himself. Technically.
"So… as I was saying," the Trainer continued, "Sunday Silence-san has a lot on her plate with Nemesis, but she'll be joining us as an official coach starting today."
"Hey, Rampage! You making it sound like I'm some kind of consolation prize? You wanna go, kid?!" Sunday barked.
"I'm just saying you're a familiar face. I see your mug every day at the Academy; the girls were hoping for a little more 'freshness,'" the Trainer shot back with a smirk.
While having Sunday Silence as a coach was an incredible opportunity, the girls' inflated expectations had clearly taken a bit of a hit. But the Trainer wasn't done yet.
"That's why I've invited a few other 'Big Sisters' to join us from day one."
"Hellooo! Did everyone eat a good breakfast?"
"Well, I could hardly say no to a request from Rampage, could I?"
The veterans gasped. Striding onto the field were none other than Maruzensky and Tamamo Cross. The girls had expected Katsuragi Ace to return, but this new lineup was a complete shock.
"Do you know why I let you play and eat your fill yesterday?" the Trainer's voice turned steel-cold. "It was to create a clear line. To let you adapt to the environment, build up the stamina to survive this camp, and recharge your spirits. Because from this second on, it's going to be hell. I'll keep an eye on your health, but none of it matters if you don't bring the will to win. Now, let's start by trimming the fat. Get your heads in the game!"
"The Pleiades Summer Camp starts NOW!"
"YES, SIR!!!"
As the other teams at the Academy were just beginning to unpack, Team Pleiades roared into action, their true training beginning under the watchful eyes of legends.
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