The Tokyo Racecourse was massive, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people. In this world, every official race drew widespread attention, even if it was just a debut race for new horse girls.
Thus, by the next day, even before the race had begun, the racecourse was already packed with a bustling crowd, the noise unceasing.
Fixed stalls were like stones settled at the bottom of a river, while the pedestrians were the flowing water, stopping and going, looking around everywhere.
"Tokyo Race 11!"
"Next up on the track is this horse girl, Lane 8, Number 12 Silence Suzuka!"
"Ranked first in popularity!"
...
As soon as the announcement ended, the racecourse erupted with enthusiastic cheers.
At this moment, a horse girl in the stands who had witnessed the scene also gasped in surprise. "First in popularity... that's amazing."
"Ooh~ Her leg muscles look really well-trained~"
An abrupt voice sounded behind her.
She turned around to see a middle-aged man in a yellow shirt and vest who had somehow circled behind her.
Beside this man stood a tall, handsome young man.
Special Week couldn't help but glance at Lucian a few more times.
"Nishizaki-senpai, don't scare people like that," Lucian said, already prepared as he grabbed Nishizaki Ryo's hand, which was about to reach out to touch the legs.
He hadn't even touched them himself no way was he letting Nishizaki Ryo do it.
"Who are you two?" The girl snapped back to reality, looking at Lucian and the other man with wariness. "Mom said there are a lot of perverts in the city... You two aren't...?"
Special Week, Nishizaki Ryo...
Special Week slowly backed away from the crowd, remaining vigilant against the two.
Though the handsome guy didn't seem like a bad person, that other uncle looked really sketchy...
No, she had to protect herself!
"Excuse me, goodbye!" With that, Special Week turned and fled as fast as she could.
Lively, cute, with a slightly chubby face that made people want to pinch it, and a little plump overall... That was Lucian's first impression of Special Week.
"But... did she just lump me in with the bad guys too?" Lucian's lips twitched as he glanced at Nishizaki Ryo, who looked regretful.
"Lucian-kun, why'd you stop me?"
"Nishizaki-senpai, you don't want to get kicked by a horse girl's hind legs, do you?"
"Alright, fine. When I see a horse girl with potential, I just can't help myself."
Nishizaki Ryo spread his hands, looking completely unbothered.
Seemed like he was already a repeat offender—no stranger to getting kicked by horse girls or ending up with a bloody nose.
"Lucian-kun, what brings you here? Hana-san must be here too, right?" Nishizaki Ryo still didn't know about Silence Suzuka leaving the team.
"I'm here to watch Suzuka's race. As for Hana-nee, she's probably here too."
Actually, Lucian had come to find Special Week.
But in such a vast racecourse, how could he easily locate the relatively petite Special Week?
So he simply sought out Nishizaki Ryo instead.
If Nishizaki Ryo would follow the scent to find Special Week, then Lucian would just... use that to his advantage and find her that way.
"Alright, Lucian-kun, the race is about to start. Let's go."
"Sure."
Lucian had known Nishizaki Ryo for a long time.
After all, they used the same training grounds and often ran into each other, so they'd naturally grown familiar over time.
...
Meanwhile.
Special Week, seeing that the two hadn't chased after her, let out a sigh of relief and squeezed back into the crowd of spectators.
"The 'Twinkle Series' is a massive event participated in by the entire nation."
"Which horse girl will ultimately claim the championship?"
...
The commentator's voice happened to ring out just then.
After pushing her way in, Special Week saw all the contestants finishing their warm-ups and entering the starting gates. "Where's that super popular racer from earlier?"
Then, with a clang, the gates opened.
The race began, and all the horse girls shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow.
"Silence Suzuka takes the lead immediately, pulling ahead by five lengths in no time!" the commentator announced.
Special Week's mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg. "So fast!"
The image of Silence Suzuka racing ahead left a deep impression on her heart.
Special Week was gradually becoming Silence Suzuka's little fan.
...
"That running style... There's no way Hana taught her that, right?" Nishizaki Ryo watched Silence Suzuka's figure with surprise.
"Definitely not," Lucian replied.
In the anime, the one who taught Silence Suzuka the "runaway" strategy was none other than Nishizaki Ryo.
But after Lucian got involved, Silence Suzuka's mentor was no longer Nishizaki Ryo.
"Did she figure it out on her own, then?" Nishizaki Ryo stroked his goatee. "I tried to recruit Suzuka for 'Spica' before, but she turned me down."
Lucian feigned ignorance. "Turned you down? Why?"
"She didn't give a reason, but I was risking an earful from Hana for trying to poach her." Nishizaki Ryo sighed again as he watched Suzuka on the big screen. "Such a promising talent, ah~"
Seeing Nishizaki Ryo's frustration, Lucian felt a little smug inside, though outwardly he offered consolation. "It's alright, Nishizaki-senpai. You deserve someone even better."
"Thanks, Lucian-kun."
See? He even thanked him.
"But I remember your team's recruitment method is pretty... straightforward, isn't it?"
In the anime, the horse girls Nishizaki Ryo took a liking to would often be "recruited" by his team members by literally bagging them and hauling them to the training room.
Did Suzuka manage to avoid that?
"Haha, that's just a joke. If Suzuka wasn't willing, I couldn't force her."
"Oh, I see." Lucian nodded.
Nishizaki Ryo was also an outstanding trainer in his own right.
Then again, the world of horse girls didn't have many outright villains to begin with.
...
The two chatted for a while longer before turning their attention back to the race.
By now, it had reached the final straight sprint.
Silence Suzuka was still leading, while the other horse girls lagged too far behind, managing only to close the gap by a few lengths without ever threatening to overtake her.
"Silence Suzuka crosses the finish line!"
"She wins this race with an overwhelming lead!"
"Woo!!!"
...
As soon as the commentator finished speaking, the stands erupted into thunderous cheers.
Silence Suzuka walked to a patch of grass facing the audience and gave a slight bow.
Instantly, the crowd roared back to life with another wave of enthusiastic applause.
"Senpai, I need to go meet Suzuka now."
"Sure, I should head back too."
Halfway there, Lucian suddenly turned back. "Oh, senpai, I forgot to tell you Suzuka already left 'Rigil' a while ago."
Nishizaki Ryo froze for a moment, only snapping out of it after Lucian had walked away. He chuckled. "So it was you, you little..."