The Hearing the Day Before Heading to Kyoto

Within the team, this instead brought about an ultimate, single-minded focus.

All distractions were proactively shut out, and all attention converged on two clear goals: the training before them, and that "other battle" whose arrival was uncertain, yet inevitable.

The afternoon before their departure for Kyoto.

Like the Osaka Hai, the Tenno Sho Spring was not held in Tokyo, so they had to head to Kyoto, where the racecourse was located, in advance to acclimate.

In the team meeting room, more than half the luggage had already been packed and lined up neatly against the wall.

Everyone was checking the list to see whether there was anything else they needed to prepare.

Suddenly—

Knock, knock.

There came an unhurried knock at the door.

"Come in." Anjing Zhen looked up.

The door opened, and Mejiro McQueen walked in.

She was still wearing her Student Council uniform, poised and elegant as ever, but beneath her usual composure was a trace of barely perceptible gravity.

"Excuse me, Trainer Yasui, everyone."

She gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping across the room before settling on Anjing Zhen. "The Student Council has just forwarded an urgent formal notice from the URA Association and the business federation."

She stepped forward and gently placed an official letter bearing the joint letterhead of both organizations on the conference table.

The paper made a soft tap as it touched the tabletop, unusually distinct in the quiet room.

In an instant, everyone's eyes focused on the document.

"Regarding the special hearing on Kitasan Black's Overseas Expedition plan," Mejiro McQueen recited the contents of the letter in a calm voice, "it will be held tomorrow at two in the afternoon in the first conference room at Association headquarters. Kitasan Black and her trainer, Anjing Zhen, are required to attend on time."