August 30th, heavy rain. The day that would determine the success or failure of Zhou Tai'an's summer finally arrived.
Although the race was at night, he took Oguri Cap and Brand New Shine to Monbetsu Racecourse after she had eaten lunch and taken a short nap.
Some of the Rigil girls also wanted to join in the fun and had bought tickets in advance. Some who didn't want to move or disliked going out in the rain chose to stay at the inn and watch the TV broadcast.
Therefore, when he set off with his team, Tojo Hana and a few members of Team Rigil were following behind, making for quite a grand procession.
However, when they arrived at Monbetsu Racecourse, he found that the local Horse Girls also had a lot of people who had come to cheer them on.
"The supporters' viewing area is quite spacious, so we don't have to worry about being squeezed in with the supporters of other Horse Girls," Tojo Hana said, scanning the surroundings. "It will save us from any arguments later."
"It won't come to that, will it?" his mouth twitched. "Everyone is just supporting their own Horse Girl. Could they really get into a fight?"
"It's not like it hasn't happened before—of course, only at the local level," Tojo Hana shrugged. "The URA later issued a special statement reprimanding this kind of behavior, which violates the spirit of the Twinkle Series."
"I still don't get it," he said, glancing at the clock on the tote board. "I'll be leaving for a moment. Oguri Cap's mother is also coming to watch today. This is her first time at Monbetsu Racecourse. I have to go pick her up, otherwise she might get lost."
"Oh? You've even met the parents?" Tojo Hana's eyes flickered, and she muttered to herself, "Then other trainers can forget about poaching her."
After Shiraishi was led to the supporters' viewing area, the Central girls, who had already learned of her identity from Tojo Hana, all greeted her proactively.
"Oguri's strength has been recognized by the Central Horse Girls," Brand New Shine thought to herself, witnessing this scene.
But she didn't feel that the distance between herself and Oguri Cap had widened.
Oguri Cap's battlefield was on the track, so her recognition by the Central Horse Girls was a side proof of her strength. But Brand New Shine's job was logistics. The only ones who could recognize her work were him and Oguri Cap. What the Central girls thought of her didn't matter to her at all.
Shiraishi folded her umbrella and asked her daughter's trainer with a worried look, "It's raining so heavily. Will it really be alright?"
"She'll definitely have to take good care of herself at the inn afterwards to avoid getting sick," he turned his head and answered honestly. "But we can't withdraw from the race here. It's just a bit of rain. Unless the organizers announce a postponement, we have to run."
"This is a hurdle Oguri Cap must overcome," Tojo Hana chimed in from the side. "Rainy, snowy, or even foggy races are things you can't train for, but you have to challenge them when you face them."
"I know," Mrs. Shiraishi sighed. "Since Oguri chose to become a Horse Girl, she can't run away from the track just because of a little rain."
"After the race, I'll have her soak in the hot spring and rest for a few days to avoid getting sick," he quickly took over.
"I'll have to trouble you to take good care of Oguri, Zhou-kun," Shiraishi bowed slightly to him, and the young man quickly sidestepped it.
After all, he still had designs on her daughter. He really didn't feel right accepting this bow.
…
Completely different from before her previous two races, Oguri Cap was now alone in a private waiting room.
"As expected of a national local exchange Graded Race," she thought, looking around the room. "There's an air conditioner, a TV where I can see what's happening on the track, and a refrigerator..."
At this, she bit her lip, resisting the urge to see what was in the refrigerator.
"If I can't resist eating, it will affect my race condition," she forcibly averted her gaze.
Her eyes fell on the TV screen, which was currently broadcasting the race outside. It had nothing to do with her, so her attention quickly wandered again.
"It's a good thing Shine prepared rain-specific shoes and horseshoes for me, specially strengthened for grip so they won't slip easily," she fiddled with the running shoes placed to the side. "Trainer is so thoughtful. Actually, just preparing ordinary running shoes would have been good enough for me."
"And Mom..." Oguri Cap sat up straight. "She'll be here in person."
Her body was trembling involuntarily—proof that she needed no encouragement. She was full of fighting spirit right now, and this trembling was a sign that she was completely focused.
The sky was getting dark, but the rain clouds showed no sign of clocking off. The lights along the side of the Monbetsu Racecourse track dutifully came on, illuminating the track to prevent the Horse Girls from running in the dark later.
The parade for the Hokkaido Yushun Championship was about to begin. As the innermost gate, she was the first to go on display.
She gave a simple wave to the stands and then walked down.
The other spectators in the stands also applauded, but it was much weaker than what the local Horse Girls received.
"She's not very popular," Shiraishi worried for her daughter.
"It's fine," he wasn't concerned about this. "After all, we are the challengers from Kasamatsu. Most of the audience here are from Monbetsu or nearby, so of course they'll support the Monbetsu Horse Girls more."
"Popularity doesn't decide the outcome of a race," Tojo Hana chimed in. "With Oguri Cap's strength, winning this race is a high probability. You don't have to worry too much, Mrs. Shiraishi."
"It would be for the best if she could win," Shiraishi said, while secretly observing his expression. "That way, it would be a way of repaying your kindness in training her, Zhou-kun."
"This race is not the end of Oguri Cap's career," he shook his head and continued to look at the track, which was being splattered with mud by the pouring rain under the lights. "Today will be the starting point of her national fame."
Just as he finished speaking, the parade for all 8 participating Horse Girls was over, and they all stepped onto the track.
"In 5 minutes, the strongest new star of the local regions this year will be decided here!" The Monbetsu Racecourse commentator raised his voice to be heard over the sound of the rain.
Hearing the commentator's words, the Rigil girls' expressions became serious. Even the few who had come just for fun now had a solemn look in their eyes.
"The 'strongest new star' of the local regions?" The chestnut-haired Horse Girl beside Taiki Shuttle muttered to herself. "That means she has a chance to become the 'King of the Locals', right? That sounds pretty good."
-------
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