...
The Takarazuka Kinen, like the Arima Kinen, features participants selected through fan voting.
In this race, Silence Suzuka wasn't the most popular choice.
This was understandable, as before this, Silence Suzuka had never won a G1-level race.
Another participant from "Rigil" raced alongside Silence Suzuka—the Empress, Air Groove.
"Dammit... there's just no catching up."
Air Groove made her sprint in the final three furlongs, managing to close the gap with Silence Suzuka, but overtaking her was utterly beyond her capabilities.
Silence Suzuka didn't play with them in the early stages, nor in the late stages—she dominated the entire race.
Because of this, the other horse girls in the race had to constantly monitor Silence Suzuka's position while maintaining their own pace to avoid being thrown off.
Several horse girls couldn't hold on until the finish line, completely losing their speed.
The outcome held no surprises—Silence Suzuka won the Takarazuka Kinen with a five-length lead over the second-place finisher.
...
"Bang—"
Brilliant fireworks shot into the sky with a muffled sound before scattering down, raining over Silence Suzuka's head.
"I prepared fireworks for you this time. Congratulations on winning your first G1 title."
Making up for the fireworks he'd missed during their first meeting.
"Thank you." Silence Suzuka was delighted by Lucian's little surprise, covering her lips with a smile as she glanced at Special Week. "Spe-chan, maybe you should just give up. Don't bother moving it."
"No way." It turned out Special Week was also holding a firework tube, hunched over as she struggled to adjust the launcher, her face straining with effort.
She aimed the tube at Silence Suzuka, who took a nervous step back.
"Bang—"
Another loud sound, but instead of raining from above, the fireworks shot straight into Special Week's own stomach.
"Spe-chan!?" Silence Suzuka cried out in concern.
"Ah, I held it backwards." Lucian quickly reached out to steady Special Week. "Spe-chan, are you okay?"
"Trainer-san... I'm fine." Special Week was utterly embarrassed.
Haru Urara, carefree as ever, clutched her stomach and burst into laughter. "Pffft—HAHAHA! Spe-chan, you're so dumb!"
"Urara, stop laughing!" Special Week's face flushed red.
Seiun Sky pulled out another firework tube. "Spe-chan, I've got another one here. Want to shoot it at Urara?"
"Seiun-chan, you're so mean!" Urara quickly hid behind Lucian, peeking out with half her face.
"Alright, enough messing around. Suzuka still has the Winner's Ceremony to attend. Suzuka, what kind of meme face should I make out of you this time?"
Lucian stopped everyone's antics... only to start his own.
Silence Suzuka's pretty face fell. "Lucian-kun, I really don't recommend that."
"So there's room for negotiation?"
"Absolutely not~ I'm heading to the restroom first."
...
The excitement of the Winner's Ceremony was no less intense than the race itself.
Lucian, standing below the stage, pulled out his phone to record the performance, holding it steadily for a long time.
"Trainer! Trainer!" The noise of the venue was overwhelming, so Urara had to shout to get Lucian's attention.
"What's up?" Lucian bent down, tilting his ear toward her.
"Is the Autumn Festival stage even bigger than this one?"
"It should be." Lucian recalled clips of the stage from his past life. "There might be dozens of horse girls performing. Are you nervous, Urara?"
"Just a little..." Urara gestured with her fingers. "But only this much!"
"I've been training too, and if I win my debut race in Kochi, I'll get another chance to perform for real."
Lucian knew Urara was getting nervous in advance—otherwise, why would she suddenly start rambling to herself?
He gently patted her head. "Yeah, I'm really looking forward to your dance, Urara."
"Hehe~"
Urara went back to watching the performance, and Lucian turned his attention back to the stage.
...
A short while later, he suddenly felt his hand being lightly squeezed.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seiun Sky standing beside him, mischievously poking the back of his hand one moment and pinching him the next.
"Are you causing trouble again?"
"Me? No way, I'm not." Seiun Sky smiled sweetly, but her fingers didn't stop moving.
The venue was packed, and the lighting in the audience area wasn't very bright.
With such perfect timing and setting, Seiun Sky couldn't help but entertain some thoughts.
She wanted to hold Lucian's hand, but she felt their relationship hadn't reached that point yet. After hesitating for a long time, she only dared to touch him lightly.
"Trainer." Seiun Sky suddenly leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against Lucian's ear. "The condition you promised me... what if it's here?"
"Uh..." Lucian slowly lowered his phone.
It wasn't that he was being coy—it was just that there were so many people around.
Plus, they were in the front row, and he had a feeling Silence Suzuka's gaze kept drifting their way from the stage.
Not to mention Urara and Special Week were right beside them... any unusual movement would definitely be noticed.
Lucian didn't refuse, though. His rapidly beating heart told him this was... a bit stimulating.
"Does it have to be here?"
"Mhm..." Seiun Sky appeared calm and composed, but one of her shoulders was slightly raised, and her arm was stiffly extended.
Lucian hesitated before finally making up his mind.
A quick touch should be fine, right?
But the moment he shifted toward her, Seiun Sky chickened out first.
"W-Wait... there are too many people here. Never mind, I was just joking earlier."
Lucian gave her a deadpan look but also sighed in relief. "Then this doesn't count. You still owe me."
"Of course it doesn't count! We didn't even... actually touch." Seiun Sky protested softly, admitting she'd acted impulsively without being mentally prepared.
As she spoke, she suddenly looked up toward the stage, as if sensing something.
It seemed... Silence Suzuka was looking right at her.
Or maybe not.
Either way, Seiun Sky put on an indifferent expression and began waving her glow stick with one hand while continuing to tease Lucian with the other.
...