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Chapter 16 - Passionate Geniuses

Passionate Geniuses

Kaiya had barely finished speaking with Saint Light when another voice appeared behind him.

"Oh?"

A cheerful voice.

"Why didn't you try recruiting me first?"

Kaiya turned.

Minami More stood there.

The winner of today's race.

Confident.

Bright.

The exact opposite of Saint Light.

Beside her stood a well-dressed older man.

Calm.

Sharp eyes.

The kind of person who evaluated others before deciding whether they were worth speaking to.

Kaiya immediately straightened.

"Uh..."

He scratched his cheek.

"I didn't think I had a chance."

The older man nodded immediately.

"Correct."

Kaiya blinked.

"It is good that you understand your place."

"...Uh."

Kaiya paused.

"Thanks?"

Saint Light's shoulders twitched slightly.

Minami More looked amused.

"That's strange."

"Hm?"

"You don't sound like someone who lacks confidence."

Kaiya tilted his head.

"I don't?"

"No."

Minami More folded her arms.

"You talk like someone who knows exactly how strong Saint Light and I are."

She smiled.

"Even though I just beat her."

Kaiya immediately answered.

"Well, you aren't wrong."

The older trainer narrowed his eyes.

"Interesting."

Kaiya looked over.

The man continued calmly.

"The inability to distinguish future champions from ordinary runners is common among inexperienced trainers."

Saint Light looked bored.

Minami More looked entertained.

Ginjiro Musaka looked mildly disappointed.

"The difference between us is simply education."

Kaiya nodded.

"True."

Ginjiro Musaka blinked.

Kaiya continued.

"I'll keep that in mind when I see you later."

Silence.

The trainer's eyes narrowed.

"...Later?"

Kaiya smiled politely.

"Well, if everything goes right."

Minami More laughed.

Saint Light was openly smiling now.

Ginjiro Musaka looked entirely unconvinced.

Kaiya pointed.

"You're Minami More's trainer, right?"

"Yes."

The response was immediate.

Proud.

Certain.

Then came the dismissal.

"Unfortunately, you are not yet worthy of a proper introduction."

"...Oh."

Ginjiro Musaka turned away.

"Come, Minami More."

"Already?"

"We have training."

Minami More sighed dramatically.

Then waved at Kaiya.

"See you later, mysterious trainer."

Kaiya waved back.

Saint Light lazily lifted a hand as well.

The pair left.

Kaiya watched them disappear.

Then looked toward Saint Light.

Saint Light took a sip of tea.

"No."

"Really?"

"No."

A pause.

Then her smile returned.

"He basically declared war on you."

Kaiya froze.

"...He did?"

"Mm."

Saint Light looked surprisingly pleased about that.

"How exciting."

"...Was that bad?"

Saint Light took another bite of her carrot.

"No."

Kaiya relaxed slightly.

"Really?"

Saint Light smiled.

A small smile.

Dangerous in a way Kaiya couldn't quite identify.

"He's looking down on us."

Kaiya blinked.

"He... did?"

A pause.

"I guess he did."

Saint Light seemed amused by that answer.

She leaned back slightly, still holding her luxury carrot.

The sort of expensive produce Kaiya couldn't justify buying even if he skipped meals for a week.

"I knew having you around wouldn't be boring."

Her smile widened.

For the first time, Kaiya noticed something underneath the boredom.

Not excitement.

Not yet.

Something sleeping.

Something that had been waiting for a reason to wake up.

A faint flame flickered behind her eyes.

The expression of a genius who had finally encountered something unexpected.

Saint Light twirled the carrot lazily between her fingers.

Then looked directly at him.

Minami Mor

Racing Style: Front Runner

Era: 1940s Generation

Personality:

Aggressive, Passionate, Sensitive, Competitive, Honest, Emotional

Description:

A naturally gifted front-runner who races with her heart on full display. Minami Mor hates losing, loves competing, and throws herself into every challenge with complete commitment. 

Unlike Saint Light, who often appears detached from victory and defeat, Minami Mor treats every race as a personal challenge.

Strengths

Exceptional pace control from the front

Strong competitive instincts

Thrives under pressure

Inspires others through sheer effort

Weaknesses

Emotionally affected by losses

Can become impatient

Occasionally overcommits when challenged

Legacy

The only rival capable of consistently forcing Saint Light to reveal her true ability.

Famous Quote

"No one can beat me in a fair race."

Ginjiro Musaka

Occupation: Trainer

Era: Early Career

Personality

Proud

Disciplined

Traditional

Intelligent

Judgmental

Ambitious

Description

As a young trainer he possesses immense talent, but also a subtle arrogance toward trainers lacking pedigree or formal lineage.

Strengths

Elite tactical knowledge

Deep understanding of race preparation

Strong organizational ability

Exceptional eye for talent

Weaknesses

Underestimates unconventional people

Relies heavily on established methods

Can mistake experience for superiority

Dynamic with Kaiya

Initially views Kaiya as an amateur who does not understand the difference between ordinary runners and future champions.

Famous Quote

"It is good that you understand your place."

Saint Light

Racing Style: Adaptive Pack

Achievement: Triple Crown Winner

Personality

Patient

Perfectionist

Intelligent

Reserved

Dryly Humorous

Unmotivated

Description

A genius who rarely appears interested in proving it.

Saint Light possesses extraordinary talent, exceptional race sense, and remarkable adaptability. Yet before meeting Kaiya, she viewed racing as little more than another obligation.

She performs correctly.

She wins efficiently.

But rarely feels invested.

Many trainers see laziness.

Strengths

Elite race intelligence

Exceptional adaptability

Outstanding consistency

Near-perfect execution

Weaknesses

Lacks intrinsic motivation

Easily becomes bored

Requires meaningful stimulation to reach full potential

Dynamic with Kaiya

Kaiya is the first trainer who doesn't spend every conversation criticizing her lack of ambition.

Legacy

The future Triple Crown winner who may have quietly faded into history without someone giving her a reason to care.

Famous Quote

"Is there anything i lack?"

Kaiya Sora

Occupation: Newly Licensed Trainer

Mentor: Roppei

Personality

Shy

Introverted

Honest

Persistent

Awkward

Compassionate

Description

A newly licensed trainer with no famous family, no prestigious lineage, and almost no money.

Kaiya trained under Roppei only briefly before passing the Central Trainer Exam and setting out on his own.

Unlike most trainers, Kaiya approaches racing like a strategist trying to solve a constantly changing game. He instinctively searches for win conditions, alternative routes, and hidden possibilities others overlook.

Strengths

Exceptional pattern recognition

Psychological understanding of runners

Flexible problem-solving

Strong emotional support

Weaknesses

Inexperienced

Socially awkward

Poor self-confidence

Frequently forgets to take care of himself

Philosophy

Happy runners perform better.

Dynamic with Saint Light

He believes he recruited Saint Light.

Saint Light believes she found something entertaining.

Neither realizes how much they will change each other.

Famous Quote

"I use that later"

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