It Starts Here

From the front stage came the host's impassioned voice, amplified through a microphone, introducing the historical significance of the Osaka Hai's elevation to G1 status and building up the pre-race atmosphere.

Filtered through the walls, those words became vague and distant, like background sound drifting in from another world.

Amid this deliberately created swell of excitement, she heard a faint, slightly trembling deep breath from beside her.

Kitasan Black opened her eyes and turned her head.

Mikki Rocket stood a short distance away, her chestnut ponytail hanging somewhat stiffly, as though tension had seized it too.

Unconsciously, she kept rubbing her fingers together, staring fixedly at the entrance to the press hall, her lips pressed into a straight line.

Without much thought, Kitasan Black naturally raised a hand and gently patted Rocket's shoulder.

As her palm landed, she could feel the muscles beneath the other's Victory Outfit twitch slightly with tension.

"It's okay, Rocket."

Kitasan Black's voice was quiet, steady as though she were stating a fact. "Just run like you do in training. Treat this place," her gaze swept over the surroundings, "as part of the training ground too."

There was none of the air of a senior instructing a junior in her tone. It was more like the most ordinary encouragement between partners.

Mikki Rocket suddenly snapped back to herself, turning to meet Kitasan Black's calm red eyes.

She froze for a moment, then, as if infected by that calmness, her tense shoulders relaxed a little.

She sniffed hard and nodded firmly, her usual fiery light returning to her eyes. "Yeah! Thank you, Senior Little Kita!"

Just then, a staff member quietly appeared and signaled for the competitors to prepare to enter.

Kitasan Black withdrew her hand and calmly swept her gaze over the opponents waiting alongside her.