Little Bun cried out agitatedly again. Just as she was about to continue defending her idol, she suddenly heard a gentle voice offering comfort from behind her.
"You mustn't say that, little one."
She froze for a moment, then instinctively turned around. Her eyes instantly widened, her face filled with shock and delight.
"Eh? Is this real? Fake? Emperor President—McQueen President—?"
The ones who had come over were none other than Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, and it was Tokai Teio who had spoken.
Little Chuu, the Chestnut Haired Horse Girl, also spotted the two famous Seniors. She was equally startled before stammering, "Eh? R-really—it's the two famous seniors... You're actually here watching the race?!"
"Hehe, can't the Student Council President watch a race?"
Tokai Teio teased her with a smile, then swiftly turned her gaze toward the track, her eyes becoming sharp and focused.
"This is the Tenno Sho Autumn. There isn't a single contestant who doesn't crave victory.
"And precisely because of that, they'll give it their full effort. From the very first second of the race—no, even before that—they'll fight to secure the most advantageous situation for themselves."
"So it isn't that they're deliberately targeting Little Kita—Kitasan Black.
"Rather, as long as they want to win and respect their opponent's strength, they'll inevitably make the moves they're making now—fighting for favorable positions and limiting the other side's performance."
She rattled it all off in one breath, then smiled at the dazed Little Bun.
"That's what you were thinking, right?
"You thought the opponents beside Little Kita were deliberately targeting her, maybe even working together against her, right?
"That's not it. We Horse Girls wouldn't do something so boring.
"If you want to win, you have to win fair and square. Otherwise, never mind what people might say—even