...
...
Footsteps rustled across the turf as the pursuing horse girls leaned forward desperately, charging ahead.
Streams of radiant energy collided with each other, stirring up explosive whirlwinds across the field. Even from a distance, the furious roar of the turbulent currents seemed audible!
"Haa—"
"Win! Win! Win! Win!"
"Dammit... I have my own reasons not to lose either!"
The distance to the finish line was dwindling, and the gap between them and the two front-runners was visibly closing.
"Suzuka... I don't want to just watch your back anymore..."
"We're supposed to improve together, not just lag behind!"
Special Week had too many reasons to win—her long-standing goal, the idol she admired...
"SUZUKA!!!!!"
The moment of breaking through her limits was like a thin, inconspicuous white thread in a graying world. Special Week seized it, igniting the colors of the entire world.
Lucian gripped the railing tightly, his eyes widening in an instant. "Here it comes!"
No matter how bright the streams of energy shone, they were still just streams. The radiance emitted by that pink meteor was enough to eclipse everything.
Special Week's unique second stage!
...
"Special Week has broken free from the pack and pulled ahead!"
"She's overtaken Taiki Shuttle and is now closing in on Silence Suzuka!"
"Will the champion be Silence Suzuka? Or Special Week?"
El Condor Pasa, Seiun Sky, Air Groove, and Grass Wonder all gasped. At this moment, Special Week's figure seemed utterly unreachable.
...
"The race is over!"
"Special Week, coming from behind, has nearly crossed the line neck-and-neck with Silence Suzuka! The judges have decided to review the footage."
Everyone held their breath. The vast racecourse fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
"Special Week finished a neck behind—meaning the champion is Silence Suzuka!!!"
(Note: This Arima Kinen is not the one from the anime.)
With the final verdict, the crowd erupted like a boulder crashing into water, sending waves of excitement.
...
On the grass...
"Suzuka..." Special Week panted, hands on her knees. "I still couldn't beat you, huh?"
"Spe-chan, you've gotten stronger." Seiun Sky passed by, patting her shoulder. Even though the race was over, the intensity around her was still overwhelming.
Being overtaken by an evenly matched opponent was truly bitter...
"Next time! Next time... I'll definitely surpass you, I'll definitely defeat Suzuka!" Seiun Sky wiped her sweat and headed for the exit tunnel early. She was just one step away from her own second stage.
Grass Wonder also walked past Special Week. "Spe-chan, let's settle this next time."
El Condor Pasa: "Spe-chan, you've already taken one more step than me. Next year, I'll get even stronger!"
Special Week looked up, watching her rivals gradually fade into the distance, then suddenly broke into a smile.
She turned her gaze to Silence Suzuka, who stood triumphantly before the audience seats. "I won't stay stuck here either."
...
"Welcome back, you three." Lucian led the "Dream" team to greet the three horse girls returning from the race in the lounge.
Nice Nature had completely become Silence Suzuka's fangirl. "Suzuka, congratulations! I hope I can race you again someday."
Matikanetannhauser: "Suzuka-senpai, can you teach me some techniques? I'll treat you to tea—what kind do you like?"
Silence Suzuka glanced at Seiun Sky and instinctively replied, "Little green tea."
"Little green tea? There's a size for green tea?"
Silence Suzuka: "No, I misspoke. Just green tea."
"Suzuka-chan, you're amazing!" Haru Urara's eyes sparkled with admiration. "I wonder when I'll get to run in the Arima Kinen too."
"Urara-chan, I believe in you." Silence Suzuka then turned to Lucian. "No congratulations for winning the Arima Kinen?"
"How about I owe you a wish?" Lucian chuckled. "Not sure if I can even repay all of them at this point."
"I don't care. This is what Lucian-kun owes me."
"Fine, fine~ Go change first. There's still the award ceremony and interviews."
Silence Suzuka headed to the changing room.
Lucian then looked at Special Week. "Spe-chan, you've taken that step. Congratulations."
"Eh? How did Trainer know?"
"When you broke through—it was amazing, Spe-chan. You're not the little filly who used to cry after losing anymore."
"Trainer-san... I didn't cry after losing." Special Week turned away, muttering under her breath. "Why bring that up in front of everyone?"
"Alright, go change too. There's still the Winner's Stage tonight."
"Mm!" Special Week also took her clothes and headed to the changing room.
Seiun Sky planted her hands on her hips and stepped into Lucian's line of sight. "No award ceremony, no interviews, no Winner's Stage. So, Trainer, do I not need to change? And do you not have anything to say to me either?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Not changing will get you sick." Lucian knew this starry cat was puffing up again, ready to hiss at him.
...Speaking of clothes, Lucian suddenly remembered something from way back. "Urara, didn't you borrow a set of clothes from me and never return it?"
"What clothes?" Haru Urara's act of feigning ignorance was flawless. "I don't remember that at all."
"Trainer, don't change the subject. You still haven't answered my question."
Seiun Sky reached out and forcibly turned Lucian's face back toward her. "Does Trainer only give encouragement based on race rankings? Does that mean I'm behind Shuttle-chan too?"
Before the first question was resolved, Seiun Sky tacked on two more.
Lucian broke into a cold sweat. "You're the queen of questions, huh?"
"I don't care, answer me!"
"What question? I kinda forgot..."
"Trainer isn't taking this seriously at all." Seiun Sky also suffered a brief memory lapse. "Now I can't remember either. It's all Trainer's fault!"
...
The rest of the team watched the comedy unfold between Lucian and Seiun Sky, unable to hold back their laughter.
Twin Turbo tilted her head. "Teio, who's Shuttle-chan? Why did Seiun mention her?"
"Adult matters, double-sided tape. Don't worry about it."
"Who's double—it's Twin Turbo, Twin Turbo! Aah—"
Tokai Teio could always send Twin Turbo into a frenzy with ease.
Nearby, Mejiro McQueen stood gracefully, lost in thought. "Winning means a celebration tonight, right?... I kinda want dessert. Wonder if that's possible."
...