And so, the [Arima Kinen] ended with an explosive finale—a literal bolt of lightning that crashed forward with the might befitting of a god. Tamamo Cross stood tall down at the racetrack, her signature grin on her lips as she waved at the cheering audience, faint fragments of lightning still burning around her like the fading rings of a star.
I smiled slightly as I watched the audience below erupt into cheers, though I then had to cover my ears when Belno's father began cheering loudly as well.
I'd be lying if I said that I was surprised by the results. Super Creek and Dicta Striker were talented by their own rights, but talent alone wasn't enough to bridge the gap between them and Tamamo Cross. She was just too strong, too experienced—and now her Limits had been broken after she awakened her Domain.
Honestly, if Oguri and Tamamo were to race against each other right now, I wasn't sure who'd win. Back in the [Japan Cup], Tamamo had only awakened her Domain for the first time and was already tired after enduring the clash between Tony Bianca and Obey Your Master's Domains, which was why she'd only taken 4th. The Tamamo Cross of today was an entirely different beast.
…speaking of her Domain, now that I'd seen it from a different point of view, I couldn't help but compare her Domain to the ability of a certain clan of ninjas. I mean, come on; creating an armor-like being from pure energy? I couldn't not make the comparison!
That aside,
I sighed softly as my gaze turned to the person Tamamo Cross and Dicta Striker were subtly blocking from view. I couldn't get a good look, but from the way Super Creek was looking away from the audience, it wasn't hard to guess that she was probably feeling the full force of being 2nd place.
In my head, I knew Creek would be fine. Despite having been 2nd place, the fact that she'd kept up for so long was a testament to her strength. Not only that, but during that final spurt, both she and Tamamo had stretched the lead so far that even Dicta Striker was completely left behind.
But still…
「She'll be fine.」Secretariat said, her voice softer than usual.「She put up a good fight, that girl. Give her a year and she'll be a force to reckon with.」She grinned fondly, recalling an old memory.「Kinda surprised, though. The way she runs reminds me of that damned fossil.」
I blinked.「Fossil?」
Secretariat clicked her tongue, looking both annoyed and fond.「I'm speakin' of Man O' War. Damned granny just won't pass on despite how old she is.」
I stared. That…certainly wasn't a name I was expecting to hear. Secretariat might hold the moniker of 'The Big Red', but she was technically the second holder. Man O' War was the first to be granted that title, and just like Secretariat, she was an absolute beast that had terrorized the American racing scene all throughout her career.
For Secretariat to compare Creek to a legendary figure like that--
I smiled.「That's some big praise.」My eyes narrowed playfully.「Don't tell me you're planning on snagging another umamusume from Tracen Central?」
Secretariat laughed loudly.「Nah, nah. I'm good.」She grinned slightly.「That Yayoi's going to cut me open if I tried again. Her painties were already gettin' twisted when we talked about our little arrangement—no need to make her hat pop off.」
I rolled my eyes. I could easily hear the words she didn't say.
"Now, let us head to the stadium for the Winning Concert!"
「Man, the Winning Lives here are weird as hell.」Secretariat lightly shook her head.「I mean-, idols of all things? Back in the States, we'd just have a Rockergirl concert and be done with it.」
I shrugged.「That's just how it is here.」I said, similarly confused.
「Huh.」
Anyway, since the race was over, it was time to watch Tamamo's Winning Concert. Though I wouldn't get there in time if I tried to walk by myself—the Nakayama Racecourse wasn't as accommodating as I'd initially hoped.
Thankfully, I wasn't alone.
"Let's go, Star." Oguri said as she stood up from her chair and grabbed onto the handles of my wheelchair. I smiled and gave her a thumbs up, and Oguri returned a nod as she turned me around and began wheeling me out of the room.
Secretariat watched us go for a moment before she smiled slightly.「Ah, to be young.」
.
.
.
She'd lost.
"Tamamo Cross crosses the finish line first!"
Super Creek could still hear those haunting words, echoing in the back of her mind. Even now, after her ears had become numb from the song played during the Winning Live, she could still hear the announcer's words bouncing in her head.
It was the exact same as last time—back during the [Kikuka Sho]. Even after giving it everything she had, she could only watch as Oguri Cap's shadow blurred past her, her monstrous steps tearing across the turf like a predator on the hunt.
She'd given the [Kikuka Sho] all she had back then, and she lost. And now here she was at the concluding moments of the [Arima Kinen], once again taking 2nd place after giving it her all.
Ha.
Haha.
What a fool she was. And an insane fool, at that. Was the definition of insanity not doing the exact same thing and expecting a different outcome? What did it matter that she'd tried her best? Why should she care that others believed her strong!? Still lost! She still failed to fulfil the promise she'd made to her trainer!
Her breathing grew shallow, and unnoticed, her blue eyes began dimming, their shine slowly overtaken by a swirling blackness.
For a moment, her thoughts slipped.
She should never have never come to Tracen Central. She was just wasting everyone's time—her trainer's time. But more than anything, she was wasting her trainer's trust in her. Her trainer already had so much to deal with, and now she had Creek as another problem.
Haha. She should've never come here. She should've just stayed home like her parents wanted her to. She should've just stayed back and been a good little girl like she was meant to be. She should've--
"Creek."
She flinched, and her eyes went wide when she turned around. "T-Trainer-san?"
Nase Fumino slowly stepped out of the shadow, having somehow entered the backstage. She seemed slightly out of breath, as if she'd been running, but she stood tall regardless. "I'm here, Creek." She said softly, carefully.
Creek pursed her lips. "How…are you even here?"
At that, Fumino smiled wryly. "I had some advice from someone."
Creek stared for a moment, before her eyes lit up slightly. "Ah, it must be Blossom-san, right?"
Fumino blinked. "Wait-, you know?"
Creek giggled softly. "Ah, it's just-, Blossom-san's ability to somehow slip into areas she isn't allowed to enter has become quite legendary."
Fumino stared. "I…see." She said, before she shook her head. "No, that's besides the point."
"Creek, you've worked hard." She then said, her eyes soft.
Creek pursed her lips as she looked down, harshly gripping onto the skirt of her G1 outfit. "I lost, trainer." She whispered, her voice low with shame. "I promised you I'd win, and I lost." She hicupped, but she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall. "I-I'm a failure, and now everyone's going to look at trainer like-"
"And why should I care, Creek?"
"Eh?"
Before Creek could say anything else, Fumino walked forward and swept her into a hug. Her cheeks burnt red from embarrassment, and her body began to fidget, but she forced herself to remain there. "My father, the other trainers—they don't matter compared to you." She took a shaky breath, trying to steady her rapid heartbeat. "Super Creek; you are my trainee. And I'm so, so proud."
Silently, the tears she'd been holding back began to fall. "T-Trainer-san…" She whispered, and whimpering, she swept her beloved trainer into a deep hug. "T-Thank you. For c-caring for someone like me."
Fumino's heart nearly exploded from her chest when Creek hugged her back, but she forced herself to remain conscious as she gently patted her back. "It's fine, Creek." She looked down slightly, if only to hide the intense blush on her cheeks. "It's okay. Let it out."
So Creek cried. She wept for her failures, but that feeling had greatly lessened. Instead, she now wept because her trainer was still here. Because despite everything, her trainer would still brave the world together with her.
And she couldn't be any happier.