After inheriting the racehorse “Royal Family” as an inheritance-restricted owner from his late father Kozo, Koichi visits the Hokuryo Farm horse auction with Kurisu. There, he meets Nobuyuki, the son of Shiina, after Nobuyuki buys the horse Koichi had his eye on. The two become friends, and Koichi finds himself drawn to Nobuyuki’s progressive ideas aimed at breaking traditional rules in the horse racing world.
Meanwhile, although Royal Family wins its debut race, his performance soon slumps. Trying to turn things around, Koichi makes a bold proposal, but Hironaka opposes it, causing divisions within Team Royal. Kurisu begins to sense an unprecedented challenge in managing the situation.
Amid this tension, Koichi receives an invitation from Nobuyuki to join a “Young Owners Association.” There, he becomes increasingly influenced by the modern, forward-thinking attitudes of these young racehorse owners—pulling him even further away from his original team.
