u/Flashy_Description95

Kings are always chosen by fate and luck.

The Emperor, the lone wolf, the hero, the tyrant... They all had something in common.

They were fucking arrogant.

They were born with exceptional talent, had luck on their side, and worked hard to use the power granted by fate to dominate everyone else.

Their arrogance wasn't born out of insecurity. Quite the opposite... They believed in their own abilities more than anyone else.

They used those abilities to carve their names into history. Their dream crushed the dreams of all others. That's how racing is there can only be one winner. Only one dream comes true, and the rest are crushed.

I always believed they were predestined to be what they became. Like King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone, they were always destined to win those three races.

I'm not saying other runners weren't confident, but while others thought, "I'm good because I won," they always thought, "I won because I'm good." They didn't chase victory; victory was the one chasing them.

You won the Satsuki Shō and spoke your dream out loud.

"I'd like to win the Triple Crown... I have a bit of talent, so I think I can give it a shot, even though I'll probably fail."

"You know that's impossible, right? You weren't chosen the way they were."

"Maybe you're right, but if I can't trust in fate, then I'll believe in myself."

"Contrail, you really don't get it, do you?"

"Well... not really. But I still want to do it. Our generation is incredible... there's you, Salios, and also Aristoteles... There are others in past generetions like Almond Eye, too... I really can't compare myself to them."

Contrail was the quiet, gentle type. One of those who never put themselves above anyone else. He was someone too kind to be a king. Too kind to crush dreams.

"That's why you can't. Almond Eye was destined to be the goddess she is. She was born lucky, unlike you... I'm not saying you lack talent, but you..."

I went silent when I saw his face. Contrail's expression showed a look of determination I had never seen before.

"So I just have to push myself harder, right? If I wasn't born with the power to defeat everyone, then I just have to train harder until I gain that power. Maybe someone like me isn't worthy of being a king, but..."

A silence fell between us. But I knew what he wanted to say.

"You can't stop fighting."

"I guess you're right... I guess all I can do is fight... Against the crown that refuses to rest on my head, against fate, against the world, against myself... I just have to fight over and over again..."

"Like a warrior?"

"Yeah, I like how that sounds... Warriors don't need fate; they just need to fight until they reach victory."