Rice Shower, having fully anticipated Shiro no Lily's strategy, took the unusual approach of marking her from the very rear. It wasn't just Shiro no Lily who was surprised by this move—everyone who had come to cheer was equally astonished: her elder sister, Honda, Nakamura, Ash Stone, and Kyoei Bogan.
"...Wow, Rice-chan is really ruthless. But… can she even come from behind like that?"
"No, she's known for her front-running tactics. I don't recall her ever making a late surge, even when running alongside others. Did Aoji-san come up with this strategy for the two of them?"
"No, I didn't help at all. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. I just loaded in the data of the other runners besides Rice and Lily."
"How impolite… but why would Rice-san use this strategy… or rather, why did she think she had to do this to win?"
"...I wondered that too, but this seems to be the best way to counter Shiro. She's trying to deplete Lily's stamina so she can't use her final burst. But if this fails, she'll lose—just like that."
The source of Rice Shower's pressure is a fanatical, almost obsessive love for Lily. By unleashing it, she exerts a force around her that saps her opponent's stamina. This effect diminishes the further apart they are, which coincides with Lily's assumption that "distance weakens it." Rice Shower therefore planned her strategy assuming her pressure could be seen through.
She had considered many strategies, but nothing seemed likely to defeat Shiro no Lily. Simply running ahead as usual wouldn't exhaust her stamina enough, and simulations always led to the same result.
So, what to do? Rice Shower's conclusion was clear: "Never, ever let her get away." Expecting Lily to attempt a late surge, she marked her closely to sap her stamina and prevent her from unleashing her final burst.
Shiro no Lily's finishing kick is unbeatable for now. No matter how poor the track conditions, or how far back she is, if she has stamina left, she will accelerate with extraordinary speed. Terrifying. Therefore, it must be crushed—thoroughly, decisively… that leg must be stopped.
"Lily-chan, you'll be okay, right? …Take all of Rice's feelings in."
"...Strange? The pressure isn't coming?"
Machikane Tanhoizer was confused. The pressure Rice Shower had unleashed at the Kyoto Junior Stakes was absent. She felt a little relieved, but kept her guard up, wary that it could strike suddenly.
Glancing back to see Rice Shower, she immediately regretted it.
"...They're… smiling… both of them."
She realized at a glance that Rice Shower had focused her pressure solely on Shiro no Lily. The already immense strain was being applied to only one person—it was terrifying. Yet Lily… was smiling. Her beautiful face contorted with pain, her body sweating profusely, but her eyes shone, cheeks flushed, and fangs bared in a smile. Witnessing both suffering and joy at once, Machikane Tanhoizer thought, "Are they masochists?" Then she noticed Rice Shower running behind with a look of ecstasy and realized it wasn't entirely wrong.
"Could you not do this kind of play outside the race!?"
She moved her gaze forward, noticing other horse girls were also bewildered by the scene. Effective for unsettling others, perhaps—but she didn't want them lost in the couple's world. Everyone here is a protagonist; this isn't your public date! Machikane Tanhoizer squared her shoulders. If this pair dictated the pace, her race would be ruined. She had to focus ahead—not because it was embarrassing, of course.
"...I see, so this is Rice-chan's pressure. …It's not as bad as I imagined, but… it's a bit taxing."
Shiro no Lily felt that running middle distances consumed more stamina than her usual miles. And on top of that, there was this pressure. Her stamina was draining at an alarming rate, but panicking wouldn't restore it, so she stayed composed.
The pressure drained her at a terrifying speed, yet in reality, it was less effective on Lily. Not that Rice Shower was holding back—it was that this "debuff" was actually her love for Lily. Thus, it made sense that Lily, who had equally intense feelings for Rice Shower, could withstand it.
"...But… even though it's painful, this pressure… feels fulfilling? …It's hard to put into words… but it's not bad. In fact… I'm happy!"
Despite the pain, despite the suffering… Lily smiled. Her small body bore the weight of a love too great to carry alone. The heart of the white girl was dyed by the black girl's heart.
"...I'm happy. She's looking only at me. My beloved Rice-chan… she's looking at only me. My face, my body… my heart is on fire. …Ah, I feel like I might melt."
Suppressing the swelling emotion, Lily ran. She wanted to immerse herself further in Rice's heart… yet her brilliant mind sounded alarms.
"...Ah, at this rate… my stamina won't last."
Approaching the second corner from the first, she calculated her remaining stamina and realized that if she kept being drained by Rice Shower, she would run out by the third corner.
"...I have no choice."
This was probably Rice Shower's intention, but it didn't matter. Passing the backstretch and readying herself mid-straight, Lily increased her speed. Would she break free and reach the finish line first, or would Rice Shower wear her down completely? The race moved.
"Shiro no Lily makes her move! Quickly gaining positions! Rice Shower closely marking her! Machikane Tanhoizer follows suit! Lily takes the lead! Second place, Rice Shower right behind! Three lengths back, Machikane Tanhoizer! Two lengths back from there—"
"...Amazing, Lily-chan. Rice's giving it her all, and she can still run…"
Her breathing grew labored, her strides weakening. The strength she had shown, the resounding steps, gradually disappeared. Exiting the straight and entering the third corner, her speed clearly dropped.
Push closer, get nearer. Apply pressure, leave no room for rest. Approaching the final straight after the fourth corner, Lily summoned her last strength to strike the turf with her hooves—
"...But, she's at her limit, right?"
────She couldn't accelerate.
"Rice Shower overtakes Shiro no Lily! Breaking away! Lily can't extend! Will Rice Shower run away solo!?"
Rice Shower passed the limp Lily. Her breath was ragged, her form collapsed, her strength gone. Leaving the nearly collapsed Lily behind, Rice Shower ran ahead. Yet for a brief instant, she noticed something—Lily's eyes were far from extinguished. A chill ran down Rice Shower's spine. That flicker of light in her nearly lifeless eyes sparked fear and… anticipation, curling the corners of her mouth.
Rice Shower knew. Lily would never give up. She had a strong will capable of defying limits and injustice.
Remaining 200… 150 meters. Behind the black streak that was Rice Shower, the weak little presence of Lily… exploded with thunderous force.
────She came… after all!
Lily's face was no longer beautiful. Clenching her teeth in desperation to seize victory, forcing her screaming body silent, she moved forward relentlessly. Bones ached, heart raced, vision blurred… yet her legs didn't stop.
"Shirono Lily!? She revives after seeming exhausted! With incredible acceleration, she claws back at Rice Shower! What tenacity! And… she overtakes! Shirono Lily takes the lead again! 50 meters to go! Who will win!?"
"Lily-chan… Lily-chan… Lily-chan!!"
Before they knew it, they were standing in a pure white world. Close enough to touch each other. Where they were, why they were here… didn't matter. What mattered was one question for the Lily before them, hearts pounding with excitement.
"Hey, Lily-chan. Rice… drained everything. Your stamina… your spirit… everything. And yet… why can you still run? You shouldn't be able to… why?"
Lily tilted her head as if she didn't understand. After a brief silence, she looked straight at Rice with a bright, warm smile and answered:
"Because Rice-chan is here. I can run."
──Ah…
──Ah…!
──Ah!!
She could no longer contain it. This burning emotion, this hidden passion… why did she shake Rice Shower's heart so much? Why was she so dear? A sun-burning impulse overflowed from Rice Shower.
"Fu, fufu… fufufu… ahahahahaha!!!"
The white world… was dyed by Rice Shower. Her feelings, her heart enveloped their shared world. The raging heart and emotions invaded this world… and Lily's heart.
"...Ah…? …Hii!? …!?"
The sweet, overwhelming impact invaded Lily's brain, body, and soul. The unprecedented pleasure left her trembling, unable to stand. Collapsing to the turf, she could only stare at the world through tearful eyes. The pure white world was completely replaced by Rice Shower.
Now, where once stood a white void, there was a majestic chapel glittering with stained glass. In front of a stained glass depicting a single white lily, Rice Shower held a bouquet of blue roses and slowly approached.
"──I love you."
From Rice Shower's left eye, a blue flame of love erupted.
Domain: "Blue Rose Chaser"
"──What's this!? Rice Shower overtakes again! Passing the determined Lily, she takes the lead again! Incredible acceleration! Too strong! Lead: 1 length! Rice Shower wins!! First star shining, taking the first step toward the classics! Second: Shiro no Lily, Third: Machikane Tanhoizer—"
"──!! …Haa… haa…"
Having used every ounce of energy, Rice Shower slowly stopped. Disbelieving her victory, she lightly tapped her cheeks with trembling hands, staring blankly at the reality around her.
"...Haa… hyuu… haa… ah…"
Simultaneously, a fully exhausted Shiro no Lily, wobbling like a newborn fawn, made her way over.
"...Hyuhii… hhh… fuhii…"
Her feeble breathing reached Rice Shower, who tried to support her, but neither could exert any strength. Both collapsed onto the turf.
"Ah!?"
"Wahh!?"
They tried to get up, but laughter bubbled uncontrollably—they couldn't rise.
""...Pff… fufu… fufufu… ahahaha!!""
What was happening? The fierce expressions of the race were gone. They laughed until they cried. After some time, they looked at each other, smiled, and shouted in unison:
"────That was fun!!"
"Hey, what was that last thing!? That huge chapel-looking thing!? I don't get it!! Incredible!! Wahhh!!"
"I don't know either, but it came out when I thought of Lily-chan!!"
"What's that!? Happy, but… I don't understand!! Ah!! Congrats, Rice-chan!!"
"Thanks, Lily-chan!! I'm too tired to understand anything!!"
Cheers rained down upon the girls. Trying to respond, they couldn't stand on their own—unless…
"...Lily-chan"
"──Together, we can stand, right?"
Supporting each other, they slowly rose. Rice Shower waved proudly to the cheering audience. The grand cheers shook the turf.
"...Lily-chan"
"...Yes?"
To the beloved girl beside her, the message surely reached. Rice Shower placed her hand on Lily's cheek, gently stroking it. Sweat-moistened hair and skin were no bother—they were proof they had run their all. She wrapped her other hand around Lily's slender waist, drawing them close, their breaths mingling.
"Kyaa!" The girl gave a cute little scream. They looked into each other's eyes. Heartbeats aligned. Intoxicated by the sweet scent… smiling at Lily's slightly nervous gaze, Rice Shower kissed her forehead.
"──I love you."
...Huh? Soft…? …Warm? …What is this? …Lips? …Rice-chan's lips???
At that moment, Shiro no Lily's brilliant mind awakened.
──The almost-kiss at the summer festival.
──The racing heartbeat that wouldn't stop.
──Regret for not kissing.
──"I love you" and "I love you"
──Rice Shower's heart and feelings entering hers.
──The special feeling she could only sense from Rice Shower.
──This moment's "I love you."
──Could it be… my "love" for Rice-chan…
────…is "romance"?
She understood. These feelings… this heat… this emotion. Her face flushed bright red at the explosive mix of embarrassment and joy. At that instant, a roar of cheers unlike anything before swept the stadium.
Yes… they were watching. Everyone here… and beyond, through broadcasts, the whole world was seeing. It was too late. Mixed shouts of all kinds turned the stadium into a cauldron of madness.
"...Wow… this is insane."
She muttered as if it were someone else's problem, but, this is your doing, isn't it?
"──Did you get it?"
Nodding faintly, face flushed red. Rice Shower smiled, satisfied.
"You understand now what my 'I love you' means, right?"
"Uh… um… yes…"
"I'm so happy… it's been so long… fufu… hey, Lily-chan."
"...Nya… what?"
"From now on, I'll make you… love me… even more, okay?"
Rice Shower gently embraced Shiro no Lily. Ah… how warm it was. She had realized… she had understood… these feelings. The white girl bloomed. Pure, delicate… the flower of "love."