"Big brother…"
At last, the tiny horse girl snapped out of it. She tilted her face up, voice trembling with awe and boundless longing.
"Just now… what was that? March-senpai, she was… so fast…"
She couldn't see that silver radiance that seemed ready to flood all heaven and earth, but that ultimate speed—she had seen with her own eyes.
Kuroha lowered his head. Seeing those eyes glittering with curiosity and hunger, he smiled gently.
"That's the most dazzling light a horse girl can shine when she pours her everything into running."
He didn't explain the arcana of the Domain. He answered in words easier to grasp—and more poetic.
"Suzuka-san."
Kuroha's voice carried a quiet conviction. "Someday, you'll release a light of your own."
A light… that belongs to me?
Silence Suzuka repeated the words in a daze. Her small fists clenched without her noticing.
In her heart, the seed just planted broke the soil—and sprouted a tender shoot named dream.
Right then, riding the last of her momentum, the silver figure ran straight toward them.
Because Kuroha and Silence Suzuka were near the finish, it took only seconds for Fujimasa March to hop the rail and reach their side.
"M-M-March-senpai…?"
Stars practically spun in the little filly's eyes as she stared at the chic victory outfit and the graceful idol who had walked right up to her.
She nearly lost her composure, but held firm and looked straight at Fujimasa March.
Up close.
March swung over the rail and, when she stood before her own trainer, she suddenly noticed a small, unfamiliar filly at his side.
And that filly was staring at her with a… curious look.
Tilting her head, the silver girl looked a bit puzzled, but still came to her trainer beaming.
"Trainer, I won!"
Her voice was hoarse from utter exhaustion, but the joy and pride spilled over. In those ruby eyes, starlight danced, as if saying, "Hurry up and praise me."
This slightly spoiled air was the polar opposite of the imperious figure she'd cut on the course.
Kuroha's smile warmed even more. He reached out, like always, and gently ruffled March's silky silver hair.
"I saw it."
He spoke softly. "You did great, March."
With the affirmation she wanted most, March's smile bloomed—bright as sunlight after rain.
"Mm!"
She nodded hard. All her fatigue seemed to vanish in that instant. "It's thanks to you, Trainer…"
Saying so, March paused—then looked at the little filly who had been inching closer since a moment ago.
"Trainer, she is…?"
"Her? Right—let me introduce you."
Kuroha blinked, then, catching the tiny, fidgeting motions beside him, couldn't help a chuckle. He drew the little deer of a girl gently to the front.
"This is Silence Suzuka, an elementary-division filly at Central Tracen Academy—so, I suppose, your junior."
"And she just watched your entire race without blinking."
Only then did March's gaze properly land on the tag-along little Suzuka.
"Ah! Y-Yes! March-senpai!"
Under her idol's eyes, Silence Suzuka felt her heart thumping out of her chest. She snapped into a perfect ninety-degree bow.
"Hello! I'm Silence Suzuka! That race just now was—really, really amazing! You ran like… like… like—"
Overwhelmed, she tripped over her words, unable to find anything that matched the shock in her heart.
Seeing her like this, March blinked—then smiled.
"Thank you, Suzuka-san."
She said it softly; then, copying Kuroha, she reached out and set her hand lightly atop Suzuka's head.
"Do your best from here on. I'll be looking forward to seeing you run on the track."
"…Yes!"
Suzuka's head popped up. In her blue eyes, March's gentle smile was reflected clear and bright.
"All right, March," Kuroha cut in at the right time. "Go enjoy the victory that's yours. Also…"
He pointed toward the course—where Cap was still staring up at the sky, lost in who-knows-what thoughts.
"That rascal Cap…"
March glanced back—then let out a light laugh. She gave Suzuka a small nod and turned to head for Oguri Cap.
"…"
Silence Suzuka stood there dazed, her right hand unconsciously rubbing the crown of her head where her idol had touched. Her eyes chased that silver back for a long, long moment.
At last, the little reader card in her heart flipped, and she whispered: "Um, big brother, March-senpai called you 'Trainer'…"
Kuroha smiled. "That's right—March is my charge."
"Charge… so that means big brother is… March's trainer…"
Suzuka looked up at Kuroha in a stupor—then suddenly bent at the waist. Her childlike voice rang with absolute earnestness.
"…T-Trainer-san, I'll work hard at my studies and training from now on!"
"When I reach True Blooming, Fujimasa March will join my team!"
Facing that sudden, solemn declaration, Kuroha blinked—then broke into a laugh.
He crouched so his eyes were level with hers. "I'll remember that, Suzuka-san."
"But the road to that stage is a hard one."
"If your eyes are still shining like today when that time comes, the door to my team will always be open."
Silence Suzuka right now was simply too small.
It would be at least six years until True Blooming. Her body hadn't even finished growing.
She couldn't be trained like McQueen or Tokai Teio had been—basic physical-ability work even pre-Blooming was out of the question.
Even so, Kuroha offered a promise.
"…Okay!"
Silence Suzuka nodded so hard it looked like she was stamping the vow into her soul.
…
Meanwhile, on the track.
Fujimasa March walked up to Oguri Cap.
The gray-roaned monster had already straightened up. She only looked at March—those gray eyes calm as still water, yet deep enough to mirror the whole sky.
"I lost."
Cap spoke first. There wasn't a trace of bitterness in her voice—only a pure acceptance of the result.
"That last thing… what was it?"
"It was proof of my belief."
March answered earnestly—then smiled lightly. "Cap[I beat you~"
Staring at March's smile, Cap froze a beat, then clenched her fist and said seriously, "I'll win it back!"
"Will you?"
March held out her hand with an easy grin. "Can you still dance? We've got a stage to hit in a bit."
At that, Cap jolted; stars sprang into her eyes.
"Y-Yeah—of course!"
With the race over, the gray-roan girl slipped right back into her natural airhead self.
She'd remembered it was her first time singing and dancing on the same stage with March.
The aftertaste of defeat and regret vanished on the spot—replaced by pure excitement.
"March, ever since I came to Central, my dancing's gotten really good."
"Mm-hm."
Hauling Cap up, March planted a hand on her hip and listened helplessly as her friend's chatter suddenly switched on.
And then—three voices cut in.
"I'm great at dancing too!"
Bamboo Memory poked out a little head, giggling, "Hee-hee."
"Ah! It's the cops!"
"I told you, it's cosplay, geez!"
(End of Chapter)
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