[Super Creek Officially Confirmed for the Spring Tenno Sho!]
"Once again facing the racehorse girls of Team Chasing Light… can Super Creek finally wash away her past defeat?!"
[Will this be the end of Ardan's path toward the Spring Triple Crown?]
The day after Super Creek's Hanshin Daishoten run concluded…
It seemed Munase Fumino had completely finalized her Spring Tenno Sho schedule and decisively announced that she would not be entering any other races.
In an instant, the entire Central circuit was thrown into a frenzy.
It was inevitable. The latest year of the Flash Series had been a gathering of stars, and the fans' enthusiasm was off the charts.
But the vast majority of them were all supporting the racehorse girls of Chasing Light.
In the eyes of some more extreme fans, this kind of alliance was fine, but still not respectful enough to Chasing Light.
They believed that the true wings of a racehorse girl only shone brightest when they were pressed by more and more powerful rivals, right to the point of exhaustion.
Yet now, both on the Classic front and among the older horses, it was almost entirely the world of Chasing Light.
Nichika really was like a "Pro Max" version of the Classic-year "little black cat." Over just a single month of 2,000 m races she had practically swapped out her entire power unit.
The key point was that she was a Nichi stable racehorse girl, and even though it was obvious she was actually a long-distance specialist, she still kept forcing herself to run mid-distance.
Anyone who had watched that insane eleven-horse-wide charge in the monthly 2,000 m race would hardly believe anyone could beat Nichika in the Classic year.
And the older-horse front was even more so.
At present, aside from the two Chasing Light horse girls, Fujimasa March and Mejiro Ardan…
The only ones who could be called true top-class racehorse girls were, in fact, those same two from Chasing Light.
Yet over these past four months, neither the little black cat nor Super Creek had actively crossed swords with the Chasing Light horse girls.
The four of them seemed to be playing in separate sandboxes, burying every other horse girl of their generation in whichever graded race they chose to enter.
Which was why this Spring Tenno Sho, from the very start of the year to this April, was set to be the first direct clash between the two top Central racehorse girls.
Naturally, it drew the gaze of countless people.
…
Central Tracen Academy.
At one of the training tracks.
"Ha—"
A deep green streak skimmed along the turf, the wind it kicked up whipping grass clippings into spirals in the air.
On the track, Super Creek was hurtling forward at a terrifying speed.
Her form was open and elegant, and her long legs were loaded with explosive power.
She looked like a meteor at the absolute peak of its arc, wringing every last bit of speed from her body.
On a nearby stand…
Munase Fumino gripped a stopwatch tightly in her hand, biting her lip as Super Creek thundered past.
She watched that flying form without looking down at the watch at all, because there was no need anymore.
As her trainer, she understood better than anyone just how fast Creek was right now, how perfect her rhythm was.
Perfect… like a magnificent dream.
So this is Creek's full power?
Does the work I've done this time… really measure up?
To think I actually believed Creek's body wasn't in bad shape at all.
Fumino exhaled slowly, silently praying in her heart.
You have to win, Creek…
Just then.
Tap, tap, tap.
The crisp, steady sound of leather shoes suddenly echoed up the empty stairway of the stand.
Fumino's shoulders tightened at once.
She knew that stride all too well.
She didn't turn around. The gentle lines of her face froze instantly, reverting to the cold, distant mask of an ice queen.
The footsteps stopped three steps behind her.
"Her condition looks very good."
A flat, emotionless male voice came from behind Fumino.
She stood there, shoulders stiff, gaze lowered as she watched the deep blue figure on the track.
"At the beginning of the year, I came to watch her condition once."
"At that time, her overall ability wasn't at the level she'd shown in the Arima Kinen. There was already clear decline."
"Normally, she should have been able to improve further, but her condition stalled at that stage, even dropped a little."
"In the end, she lost."
Super Creek suddenly accelerated on the track, tracing a perfect arc through the corner, her speed still building.
"But looking at her now, it seems I misjudged her."
"Her form hasn't declined. In fact, it's more stable than last year. Looks like she really has put in the work during this period."
…
Fumino took a deep breath and forced down the inexplicable irritation rising in her chest.
I did well?
I clearly… haven't done anything at all.
She turned her head and looked coldly at her father.
"So?"
"You came all the way here just to say that?"
Her voice carried a barb. "If you're here to give your opinion on my training plans, that's one thing. But I'm already a Star-class trainer."
Facing his daughter's hostility, Munase Fumito looked faintly puzzled.
She's angry when I give guidance, angry when I'm just being honest…
He'd been trying for over half a year, and still couldn't even get his own daughter to sit down for a meal with him.
Are girls all like this?
After a brief silence, he spoke again. "I'm only stating the facts."
He turned his gaze back to the track, his tone calm.
"Being able to keep Super Creek in this kind of condition at a time like this proves that your training plan is working."
"That's a good thing."
At those words, Fumino's hand clenched hard around the stopwatch.
"You don't know anything…"
She gritted her teeth and muttered.
"Hm?" Fumito tilted his head slightly, clearly waiting to hear more.
"Nothing."
Fumino spun on her heel, leaving her father with nothing but her cold back.
"If you're done watching, please go. It's work time. I don't have the leisure to chat with you."
…
Fumito stood silently for a moment.
He glanced at his daughter's stubborn back, then looked back at the figure on the track that had already begun its final sprint.
And suddenly, he felt he really should be going.
"I hope the result will be as you wish."
Leaving behind that one line that could be taken as either a blessing or a spur, he turned and walked away.
Only when the sound of those footsteps had completely faded…
Did Fumino's shoulders finally sag, as if all the strength had drained from her body.
"Idiot…"
She bit down hard on her lip, eyes locked on Creek on the track, her voice trembling.
"Just watch…"
"This time, we're going to make everyone understand—!"
"In this world, there absolutely is a racehorse girl who can beat Chasing Light!"
"We will be remembered by everyone!"
With a thunderous roar of wind…
Super Creek blasted through the finish line, a gale surging in her wake. In her deep blue eyes burned fighting spirit unlike anything before.
"We will be remembered by everyone!"
The great battle had officially begun.
…
From that moment on, it was as if someone had hit the fast-forward button on time.
Two days passed in a flash.
Spring Tenno Sho, race day.
Kyoto Racecourse.
As the most important long-distance event of the year, the atmosphere at the venue was blazing hot.
Tens of thousands of spectators packed the stands to bursting. The massive roar of the crowd crashed against the racecourse in waves like a raging sea.
Today in Kyoto, the sky was clear and the sun was bright. It was a blessed day.
For every long-distance specialist, this was the perfect stage.
After last year's long-distance queen Curren, today's race would decide a new "Long-distance Queen" to inherit that title.
"Hello, everyone in the audience!"
From the commentary booth, a warm, round female voice rang out with unquestionable energy.
"You're watching today's tenth race, and also the most anticipated one of all: the Spring Tenno Sho!"
"3,200 meters! This is the ultimate test of grit and stamina, and the supreme honor that every long-distance racehorse girl dreams of!"
"Today, we're going to witness history!"
"Will Super Creek shatter the recent rumors of a slump in her condition and return to her true self?"
"Or will it be the Chasing Light ace Mejiro Ardan, fresh off her victory in the Daiya Cup, who secures the second jewel of her Spring Triple Crown?"
"Or will some other racehorse girl steal the show? Let's wait and see!"
(End of Chapter)
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