Chapter 54
"What should we do now? Team Draco has really become the representative team of Central Tracen."
Air Grove, looking crushed, asked Rudolf Symbol in front of her.
They had returned to the student council office. After arranging follow-up care and recovery for the competitors, Air Grove hurried back here to seek Rudolf's help.
Air Grove wasn't trying to renege on the match result, but objectively speaking, Toyama Hikaru's team only had two horse girls, both rookies, without even a classic-age competitor.
How could a team of this scale represent Tracen Academy in exchanges with the French exchange student team?
Just sending this news to the French side would be seen as disrespect.
They really shouldn't have agreed to make this qualification the prize for that training match in the first place!
"No need to worry so much. Since Stardust Mirage and the others won the match, it means their strength won't disappoint Montjeu and the others."
Rudolf was also quite helpless about this outcome.
Although she did think Stardust Mirage had about a ten percent chance of winning, she was still truly shocked when the result came—Stardust Mirage actually defeated that Taiki Shuttle in a head-on final sprint showdown…
But she wasn't as panicked as Air Grove: "We can send them the match recording to explain the situation. Then they won't think Tracen is going through the motions."
"Sigh, it's not just about strength."
Air Grove sighed. Since she usually handled these specific affairs, she understood the exchange program better.
"With only two rookie horse girls, we can't even pair them up one-on-one for companion training. Wouldn't the French exchange students just end up training by themselves here, just like in France?"
"That's true… I see. Now I understand what Trainer Toyama Hikaru was really thinking."
Halfway through her sentence, Rudolf suddenly realized what Toyama Hikaru had been aiming for back then.
Toyama Hikaru, this unconventional person, wasn't focused on the exchange opportunity with the French team at all. From the start, her goal was to secure various training matches for her charge, Stardust Mirage.
Using races to nurture training—this was the training method Toyama Hikaru chose for this special horse girl.
Having figured this out, Rudolf relaxed slightly, leaning back in her chair, a faint smile appearing on her face:
"Don't worry, Trainer Toyama will handle this matter properly. You don't need to worry too much, Air Grove."
"Trainer Toyama?!"
Hearing Rudolf's words, a flash of doubt crossed Air Grove's face.
But she didn't press Rudolf for further explanation. Though she didn't grasp the deeper meaning, Air Grove trusted Rudolf wouldn't joke about something this important.
Thinking this, Air Grove set aside her doubts and nodded, then began reporting on other work matters.
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At that very moment, in a small bar within the academy.
"My Stardust Mirage won this match! How do you feel, Hana? How do you feeeel? Gwahahahaha!"
In a corner seat of the bar, Toyama Hikaru was laughing with an utterly punchable expression.
She had an arm around the shoulder of Tojo Hana beside her, her eyes filled with smugness. Slowly leaning close to the other's ear, she whispered in an almost mocking tone:
"Where did that supremely confident Hana go? Wasn't it you who said even Ryu team was stronger than my kid? What happened? Say something?"
A flicker of embarrassment and helplessness crossed Tojo Hana's face, but she tried to maintain her composure. She knew any response now would only encourage this annoying woman further.
Ryu Nishizaki, sitting opposite the two, tried to intervene: "Alright, alright, the match result is settled, no need to keep bringing it up, right?"
"Everyone's charges gave their all in this race. We shouldn't mock anyone for it, should we?"
"I haven't said anything bad about any of the competitors! I'm only targeting Hana here. Who told her to say before the match that our team hosting the French exchange students would only bring shame to Japanese horse girl racing~"
"Regarding that, my stance remains unchanged." Tojo Hana suddenly took a deep breath and forcefully shook off Toyama Hikaru's arm. She looked directly into the other's eyes and said firmly:
"No matter what, we did lose this match. But the objective facts won't change. Your team only has two rookies. That simply won't satisfy that French tyrant, Montjeu."
Ryu Nishizaki, seeing Toyama Hikaru fall silent with a worried look at these words, quickly chimed in: "Right. What your team lacks is accumulation and time. That's hard to make up for. If something goes wrong later, even the URA might hold you accountable."
"Pfft, what accountability? I don't care as long as I don't care."
Toyama Hikaru suddenly broke into a wide smile, the worried look vanishing completely. Waving her hand lightly, she said without a care:
"Getting those two kids the benefits of the French exchange students' advanced training methods and their practice races—wouldn't that be good enough?"
Hearing her words, Tojo Hana was slightly taken aback.
She had thought Toyama Hikaru was really just competing out of stubbornness, not considering the horse girls' needs at all.
That's why she had been so angry. Tojo Hana had always believed that if a trainer didn't prioritize the horse girls' needs, they were completely unqualified.
But after watching that match and hearing Toyama Hikaru's words now, she fully understood.
Toyama Hikaru hadn't sought the exchange qualification for something as laughable as spite. She was genuinely thinking for her charges, wanting to secure more high-quality practice races for them. That's why she made such a decision.
She was even willing to accept the potential URA accountability—even the possible revocation of her Central Trainer license—for this.
Right, this woman was just like this last year, doing whatever it took to unleash the horse girls' will…
"You really are an idiot! You'd do something like this?! Couldn't you have discussed it with us?!" Realizing the gravity now, Tojo Hana slammed a fist on the table, instead getting even angrier.
"Tch, I don't know what you're getting mad about. Aren't I discussing it with you right now?"
After hearing this, she didn't seem to care. She chuckled softly, picked up a glass of wheat juice from the table, and downed it in one go. Seeing Touyama Hikaru's relaxed demeanor, Tojo Hana couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
As she drank her wheat juice, she continued, "How about lending me all the participants for this competition?"
"Lend them to you?!" Ryu Nishizaki and Tojo Hana repeated in unison, surprised.
"Yes, don't you think our team only has two newcomers, which isn't enough to satisfy the French exchange students? Then it's simple. Every participant in this competition was selected for exchanges, right? Why not have them all train with Team Draco? That way, we'll have seven people."
"Even someone from a prestigious family like that shouldn't be able to find fault with it."
"Temporary transfer? Well… I don't really have any objections, but we'll need to get consent from Tokai Teio and Gold Ship."
Ryu Nishizaki thought about it and actually found this idea quite good. After all, he didn't want the kids in his team to miss out on the opportunity to interact with top French racehorses.
"Are you an idiot?! What trainer would hand over their charge to someone else? Not even a temporary transfer is acceptable!!!"
Tojo Hana immediately objected vehemently. Handing over the racehorses she was responsible for to someone else was a matter of principle for her as a trainer, and she absolutely would not compromise.
"Then it's even simpler…" Toyama Hikaru paid no mind to Tojo Hana's anger and patted her shoulder. "Both of you come over and be my assistants!"
"Huh—?!"
"There has to be some punishment for losing the competition, right? It's settled then. Assistant Hana, remember to help everyone prepare the applications to submit to the student council. Gahahaha!"
At this moment, Toyama Hikaru's smile resembled Suneo from Doraemon, looking utterly smug.
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Sorry for not uploading yesterday I was playing canto 9 of Limbus Company
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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