For the second group, Rice Shower looked up at the two Central trainees standing across from her. They were tall, with well-built physiques, both close to 180 cm. Among Uma Musume, who tended to be smaller, that height already felt overwhelming. Rice would have to stretch her arm fully just to barely reach their heads.
"Rice! Rice! It's our race today!"
Special Week clenched her fists excitedly. "We've trained together before, but racing is still the best!"
Back in the countryside, she had no other Uma Musume around her and could only run alone across open fields. After coming to Tracen, she could finally run together with others.
"Y-Yes…"
Rice responded nervously. After parting from Special Week, her gaze moved quickly through the crowd until she finally found the person she had been searching for.
"Onii-sama!"
Her eyes lit up as she ran toward him.
"Onii-sama, Rice has been waiting!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Chiya gently patted her head. "How are you feeling? Nervous?"
"I was… a little nervous before." She leaned into his hand, her eyes softening. "But now I'm not."
"That's good." Chiya pulled his hand back. "Give it your all out there, Rice."
"Yes! Rice will bring victory to Onii-sama!"
Since Shirayuki had already lost, then winning would have to be her job. Rice wanted to prove that she was better, that whatever Shirayuki could do, she could do as well, and what Shirayuki could not do, she could still accomplish. She wanted to be the better little sister, the one who could make Onii-sama happiest.
Looking at the tall Central trainees again, Rice gathered her courage and met their gaze head-on. Perhaps sensing her determination, the two girls turned toward her, and their trainer stepped forward beside them.
"Stick to your training. Your tactics, your running style, your responses. I've already taught you everything you need."
"…Is that really okay?"
The two girls hesitated. "Trainer… our opponent is just a small child…"
"On the track, no one cares about your height or age." The trainer's voice was firm. "The moment you step onto this turf, you have only one identity. You are enemies. And your job is to defeat them with everything you have."
He pulled out a document and continued, "This year, we're making a full push toward Europe. Their races are nothing like the gentle environment here. If you want to make a name for yourselves, you must throw away your sympathy. Use your bodies. Use your advantages. Force your opponents to submit."
The two girls exchanged glances, then nodded. "…Yes."
"Chiya."
After Rice left, Aoi approached, having just finished speaking with other trainers. "I heard this year's races are tougher than usual."
"Why?"
"Something about loosened conditions… they didn't explain it clearly."
Chiya frowned slightly. "So the challenge is bigger."
"Seems like it." Aoi leaned on the railing and glanced toward the track. "By the way, Rice seems to be your favorite, right?"
"I'm focusing on her for now."
"And the 'Onii-sama' thing… did you tell her to call you that?"
"No, she decided that herself."
Aoi let out a soft hum. "I was just wondering… do you have a thing for being called 'big brother'?"
"I absolutely do not!"
"Really?" Aoi leaned forward slightly, teasing. "Then if I called you Onii-sama, would you hate it?"
"…Aren't we the same age?"
"I'm one year younger."
"Please don't. If someone hears that, I'll die of embarrassment." Just imagining it was enough to make him want to disappear.
Aoi laughed. "Relax, I'm joking. Still, the bond between a trainer and an Uma Musume really is something special."
"…It depends."
Aoi's ears twitched slightly, but seeing that Chiya's attention had already returned to the track, she followed his gaze. "…Depends, huh."
On the track, the four runners moved into the starting gates. Rice quietly encouraged herself. This race mattered. It was her chance to prove her strength and her determination. She could not lose.
Just as she focused on the track, one of the Central runners glanced at her. After a brief moment of hesitation, the girl's expression hardened.
The track was a battlefield. Only one could win. There was no room for mercy.
The lights flashed.
Clank!
The gates opened, and all four surged forward at once. Special Week immediately took the lead, while Rice followed closely behind, securing a good position. The two Central runners stayed in third and fourth, conserving their energy.
"…Too fast."
Aoi frowned. Before the race, she had warned Special Week not to push too hard at the start, but clearly that advice had been ignored. Her race experience was still lacking.
In contrast, the two runners behind were calm and composed, completely unaffected by the pace of others.
Chiya watched silently. Central's training philosophy was far more realistic, and far more ruthless. But the real racing world was just as cruel. It was not only about physical ability, but also strategy, judgment, and mental strength.
As the race reached the middle section and they exited the second corner, the two trailing runners suddenly made their move.
What they did next shocked everyone.
They moved up beside Rice and began pressing in on her.
"What!?"
Aoi was stunned as she saw Rice get bumped hard from the side, nearly losing her balance.
"That's dirty!"
"No… it's not." Chiya tightened his grip on the railing. "That's legal positioning and contact."
There had been similar cases before. In races like the Japan Cup, runners had used their physical advantage to push others back, and it was ruled as a legitimate way of fighting for position.
Using your body to drain your opponent's stamina was part of racing strategy.
After taking several hits, pain flashed across Rice's face. She could not match them in direct physical strength. Her stamina began draining quickly as sweat poured down her body, her breathing growing heavier with each step.
In Japan, races were usually more controlled, with minimal contact. But in Europe, this kind of physical pressure was normal. Constant pushing, constant collisions.
So that's it…
Chiya's eyes sharpened.
Central is preparing for that level of racing.
He finally understood. This exchange event was not just about evaluation. It was about preparing these runners for a far more brutal environment.