[9k words, there might be some mistakes, plese point it out, I will fix it. Also I found an amazing LOTM novel, anyone wish to translate it?]
The horse girls immediately grew noisier, and the stands were filled with a lively atmosphere.
Kitahara, who had subconsciously been paying attention to Oguri Cap and the others from the start, suddenly heard Fujii beside him chuckle obsequiously again.
"Heh-heh, Kitahara, look, aren't they pretty satisfied with those titles?"
Rubbing his hands ingratiatingly at Kitahara, who had turned his head, he continued,"Say, how about you let me tell them the origins of those titles?"
Kitahara almost laughed in exasperation. This reporter really was too fanatical—always seizing any chance to get close to the horse girls. He almost wanted to ask what was wrong with him.
Just then, the passionate voice of the announcer rang out.
"First up is the entrance ceremony! Let's welcome the most anticipated and most popular contestant of today's race—the young lady of the distinguished Mejiro family, the blazing new star of the Eisei Team—Mejiro Ardan!"
The moment he heard that, Kitahara immediately pushed aside his earlier thoughts and looked toward the parade ring.
From afar, on the semicircular stage several meters across, a tall horse girl with sky-blue hair and elegant bearing slowly stepped out from behind a crimson curtain. It was none other than Mejiro Ardan.
Click, click, click, click!
Before Kitahara could even watch Ardan's movements, the rapid succession of sounds beside him drew his attention.
Turning his head, he saw that Fujii Sensuke—who had been all smiles a moment ago—now wore an expression of utmost seriousness. His gaze even carried a shade of reverence.
He was holding a Canon camera as big as a brick, its thick lens extending and retracting as he kept snapping photos without pause.
Photographing Ardan in the parade ring, he climbed on chairs, leaned half his body out of the stands, and shifted his posture dramatically side to side, all without caring about others' stares.
In that moment, Fujii looked so earnest that Kitahara felt it would be wrong to interrupt him.
…Perhaps he had judged him too harshly earlier. Overzealous he might be, but such dedication truly deserved praise.
With a silent note of approval, Kitahara turned back—only to realize the next horse girl was already on stage.
Feeling a little regretful, and a bit embarrassed, he glanced at Fujii who was still poring over his screen. After a moment of thought, he asked,
"…Um, Fujii, could you show me the photos you just took?"
"Hm, this one looks a bit underexposed… that should've been wide-angle, but no matter, I can fix it later… eh?"
Muttering to himself as he fiddled with the camera, Fujii finally reacted and looked at Kitahara blankly before nodding.
"Oh, right, you want to see them. No problem."
He tapped around a bit, then held the camera up for Kitahara.
"Look, Kitahara, I think these shots turned out well. With a little touch-up, they'll be good for layout. Don't you think—oh, sorry!" Fujii smacked his forehead and laughed sheepishly. "That's something I should be saying to my editor. Just take a look."
Smiling, Kitahara nodded and examined the pictures. The sharp images of Mejiro Ardan impressed him, and after a pause, he said,
"I'm not stopping you from interviewing Oguri and the others. I just want their lives to stay simple."
Fujii blinked, and Kitahara added with a smile,
"Just like earlier—happy in a simple way, training and racing in a simple way."
"I understand you want to write your stories, and I can promise you that with our team's strength, you'll always have eye-catching, exclusive news to cover."
"For instance, the 'Moe Monster' press conference after today's race. Didn't I tell only you and your Flash News Agency about it?" Kitahara lowered his voice on the last sentence.
Fujii froze briefly, then chuckled.
"…Kitahara, I think you've misunderstood."
Kitahara raised his brows.
"Honestly, I just love the horse girls."
Looking toward Oguri Cap and the others, then toward the track where the contestants were entering the gates, Fujii's eyes burned with passion beneath restraint—like a volcano hidden under ice.
"If I had to start from the beginning… this is the story of a useless bum whose life was changed when he was captivated by the sight of a horse girl."
He spoke quietly yet fervently:"In short, horse girls changed me. Now, I just want to do something for them."
"Being a reporter is just one path to fulfill that wish. If it had been something else, I'd have chosen that instead."
Then, with a laugh, he looked at Kitahara.
"Funny thing is, I originally wanted to try being a trainer. But I wasn't physically fit enough—even the local Tracen Academy rejected me. That's how I ended up a journalist instead."
"So don't worry, Kitahara. I know I can be… over the top sometimes, but I'll watch myself."
"I believe we're the same—you and I both want to do something for these pure, kind-hearted horse girls."
…I really was too harsh on him before…
Kitahara was just about to apologize when the announcer's voice boomed again.
"All the horse girls are now in the gates…"
"Start!"
"They're off! What a beautiful start from all the contestants!"
Kitahara immediately snapped his attention back to the track, as did Fujii—camera flashing before his eyes in an instant.
The commentary rolled on:
"Leading the race is the No. 7 horse girl, Kyla, second in popularity! She's using the runaway tactic, bolting ahead right out of the gate! Already four lengths ahead—can she widen the gap further?"
"Second place belongs to Shishia, ranked sixth in popularity! Fans clearly underestimated her—she's sticking close to Kyla while suppressing other front-runners!"
"And here's the fan favorite, No. 1 in popularity—the most anticipated of them all, Mejiro Ardan! She sits in third, but—look carefully—her position is on the inside rail!"
"That's the most efficient, shortest path around!"
"Right from the start she's seized such an advantageous spot. As expected of the Mejiro heiress, as expected of an Eisei Team member!"
"What will she show us? A last-spurt burst like Oguri Cap or Inari One? Lightning unpredictability like Tamamo Cross? Or an outrageous runaway like Super Creek?"
"Let's wait and see!"
…No, none of those are her specialty.
Kitahara's lips curled in a faint smile, but his thoughts were cut off by Fujii's clicking camera and quiet remark:
"She's incredible… With such refined race tactics, she might be the most naturally gifted among the entire Mejiro family."
His voice, though directed at Kitahara, never wavered from the lens.
"Not just tactics—her composure, her situational awareness… her mindset. She's different from your other team members."
"I've studied your team, Kitahara. Every one of them has a unique specialty: Oguri's triple acceleration, Inari's explosive burst, Tamamo's unpredictable lightning sprints, Creek's monstrous stamina…"
Glancing briefly at Kitahara, Fujii quickly returned to his camera.
"But Mejiro Ardan is unlike any of them."
"At the start, when the track is most crowded and chaotic, nearly all horse girls act on instinct rather than calm reasoning. Even your four strongest aren't exceptions—I've reviewed their races dozens of times. Their faces always flash tension or panic in those opening seconds."
"But…"
Fujii zoomed in on his screen and showed Kitahara.
"Ardan's face was utterly calm. Not a ripple… no, that's not right. She wasn't expressionless. In that chaos—"
His face twisted oddly.
"—she was smiling."
Kitahara saw it clearly on the display: sky-blue hair flying, crystal amethyst eyes glancing toward the inner lane, pale lips curved ever so slightly.
Mejiro Ardan was indeed smiling.
…So she's already found it, Ardan—the rhythm of the "Racecourse Waltz."
Like her smile on screen, Kitahara's lips curved faintly as he whispered,
"…Yes, she is smiling."
Eyes fixed firmly on her graceful figure, he added softly,"She must have found the race that belongs to her."
By the mid-stage of the race, Ardan's amethyst eyes gleamed in rhythm, her smile brightening.
…So this is how the "Waltz" is truly meant to be.
Though her sensory training was unfinished, she gathered information from her unbroken gaze on her rivals, cross-referencing with her pre-race simulations.
…Predictions and data alone can't foresee every situation, but synthesizing them reveals what she must do.
Switching lanes right after the start to avoid crowding opponents.
Slowing slightly at turns to hold the inner lane—losing a spot briefly, but saving energy for later.
In other words, the "Waltz" isn't about predicting rivals—
It's about predicting herself!
Knowing her limits completely, then racing just beneath that line—this is her own unique tactic.
As its name suggests, after countless rehearsals, she can dance freely on the stage without care for rivals or audience—
This is the "Racecourse Waltz," my own tactic.
Thank you, Chief Kitahara, and everyone else. Please let me be selfish a little while longer and keep this tactic to myself—until I perfect it, and then share it with you all.
But the announcer's voice soon turned doubtful:
"The race has tightened up! Perhaps influenced by other Eisei Team members' performances, the other horse girls have all targeted Mejiro Ardan!"
"Though she hugs the inside rail with beautiful precision—"
"—she's surrounded! Opponents ahead, behind, and outside—locking her in like a bowl over her head!"
"Was this a miscalculation?! Mejiro Ardan and the Eisei Team?!"
"If this continues, she won't be able to break free!"
"Will she lose her debut race?!"
"Will this be the first defeat in the Eisei Team's history?!"
The crowd's cheers grew chaotic. Some still encouraged the racers, but voices of doubt spread like wildfire.
"What's with her? This Mejiro heiress doesn't seem on par with her teammates!"
"So strange, why isn't she reacting at all? Is she just going to stay trapped like that?"
"She'll never break out! Wait—I get it! She must have a last-spurt like Oguri or Inari! She's saving it for the final stretch!"
The doubts reached Kitahara's group. The horse girls shifted restlessly.
"This is bad…"
Oguri frowned. "Ardan's finishing kick is good, but not enough to break this wall. Inari, could you?"
"Hell no! Unless I turn into a fox and slip through gaps, there's no way out!" Inari grumbled behind her fox mask, puffing her cheeks. "This isn't how we planned it! We worked out a whole tactic for her—what's going on?!"
Tamamo bit her lip, glanced at them, then at Super Creek.
"Hey, Creek—you're the only one besides Ardan with a special tactic. What do you think's happening?"
"I… I can't say." Creek's expression was heavy, her eyes locked on the track.
"Ardan's style is nothing like mine, or any of ours. Her 'Race Waltz' is completely different in method and requirements. I can't figure it out…"
"Maybe it's because the tactic isn't perfected yet, so she didn't foresee this situation?"
That stunned Oguri and the others. Trainers like Komiyama and Yuzuhara also looked to Kitahara.
And froze.
For while the others looked anxious, Kitahara with binoculars and Fujii with his camera were both calm, even smiling faintly.
"…Kitahara-san?"
Creek edged closer, others following. Just as she was about to ask what he saw, Kitahara chuckled to Fujii:
"Seems I was right—Ardan's already mastering the 'Racecourse Waltz' through real combat. Otherwise, she wouldn't look so at ease."
"Exactly. Look at that smile—like she's at a ball, not a race." Fujii grinned, never lowering his camera. "Hey, Kitahara, that 'Racecourse Waltz'—is it unique to your team?"
"It is, but don't spread it."
"Relax, I know the rules. I'd never publish it—I don't want to lose my press pass."
The horse girls didn't care about that. What stuck with them was Kitahara's earlier words.
Ardan… is smiling?
All their ears twitched in unison. With a glance among themselves, they turned to Komiyama and Yuzuhara.
Binoculars were standard for trainers, though unnecessary for horse girls with sharp vision. Still, even with their eyesight, catching a teammate's subtle expression mid-race was tough. Only Komiyama and Yuzuhara had binoculars besides Kitahara.
So—
"Komiyama, let us borrow yours!"
"Let me look too, Tama!"
"Tarou—"
"Here, here… take this…"
"Super Creek, you use this side, I'll use this side."So, Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, along with Inari One and Super Creek, paired up in twos, each taking one side of the binoculars and peering far into the racetrack.
However, since they seldom used binoculars, they weren't very practiced, and operating them together only made things harder. Even after a long while, they still couldn't properly focus on the field or find Mejiro Ardan's figure.
Just then, the previously puzzled race commentary suddenly turned into astonishment.
"A huge change has occurred on the track!"
"The third corner! We've just passed the third corner! All the horse girls are charging toward the fourth!"
"The one still leading is No. 7, Kayla! She's ahead by two lengths! But that's a dangerous distance—she's at risk of being overtaken!"
"The first to make a move is No. 8, Shishia! Earlier, she fell back to fourth place! That position put her right outside of Mejiro Ardan!"
"But!"
"Shishia is accelerating! Her speed has clearly increased! The formation boxing in Mejiro Ardan has…"
"Mejiro Ardan has broken through!"
"My god! The moment Shishia tilted outward, just for an instant, Mejiro Ardan seized the opportunity and burst out!"
"Shishia is desperately cutting inward! But it's too late—Ardan is already free! She's accelerating now, breaking through in one breath! She's through!"
"She's left the third- and fourth-place horse girls behind! Mejiro Ardan has shaken them off and is charging straight at Kayla, the runaway leader!"
"The final stretch! The final stretch!"
"Will it turn into a duel?! Will it be Kayla versus Mejiro Ardan head-to-head?!"
"Kayla is running for her life! She still has stamina left—she's pushing on! But the distance is closing! With the naked eye you can see Mejiro Ardan closing in!"
"And now Shishia is coming back from the outside! She's giving chase! Can she catch up to the two in front?!"
The entire racetrack erupted in an instant.
In just a hundred or two meters, Shishia's acceleration and outward shift opened a gap, Ardan burst through it, and what looked like a duel suddenly became a three-way clash—all within a heartbeat!
Kitahara's side also exploded. Kitahara and Fujii, who had half-expected this, were calmer, but Komiyama and the others practically screamed in unison.
"Go! Ardan! Win your debut! Let's go on to the Classics together!"
Overcome with excitement, Oguri Cap tossed aside the still-unfocused binoculars, suddenly remembered the name "Triple Crown," and flung herself onto the spectator railing, leaning halfway out, one arm high in the air, fist clenched, shouting cheers at the top of her lungs.
Tamamo Cross bounced up too, springing right onto the railing Oguri Cap was pressing against. With her great balance she wasn't afraid of falling, cupped her hands around her mouth, bared her little sharp fangs, and shouted:
"Ardan! You can win this! Go for it!"
Inari One quickly imitated her, tossing her binoculars aside and rushing up next to Tamamo Cross, hands shaped like a megaphone as she cheered with all her strength.
Only Super Creek carefully set the binoculars on the seats, then turned—and was horrified by the dangerous antics of Tamamo and Inari. She hurried over and hauled them both down from the railing, one in each arm.
"Hey! Creek, what are you doing? We're cheering for Ardan!"
"Wah! You scared me, Creek!"
"Of course I know we're cheering for Ardan…" Creek gave a wry smile. "But you've got to stay safe too…"
She then looked at Oguri, who was still leaning half out over the railing."Oguri, that's way too dangerous. Get back in, or else next time I'm making curry, you won't get any."
On the track, Mejiro Ardan knew nothing of her companions' antics.
She only felt her stamina and leg strength fading, focused silently on Kayla's figure drawing closer ahead, while behind her she heard the faint slowing of Shishia's breath and steps.
Kayla… she's going to lose speed. Just like in the rehearsal.
Shishia still has the legs to accelerate. If I accelerate too, I could—but…
A smile tugged at her lips. She didn't speed up. Instead, she shifted inward as if avoiding.
The commentator gasped again.
"No. 7, Kayla, has clearly slowed down! Her speed has dropped! She's veering back toward Ardan—"
"But she didn't collide! No!"
"It's like she knew this would happen! Ardan shifted inward early, as if she predicted Kayla's slowdown!"
"And the one caught by it… is Shishia!"
"Shishia clearly wanted to pass Ardan, but Kayla's slowdown blocked her path! She has to go around, losing distance!"
"And that gap! That decides the race!"
"She can't catch up! Just over 100 meters left! None of the rivals can reach her! Mejiro Ardan is absolutely secure—"
"Ah! Ardan accelerates! Even though no one can catch her, she's still accelerating!"
"Two lengths!"
"Three lengths!"
"Four lengths!"
"The finish line!"
"Congratulations to Mejiro Ardan! A perfect debut victory by four lengths!"
"Perfect—absolutely perfect! That's the only word I can use!"
"From taking the inside at the start and conserving stamina, to seizing the exact moment to break free from the surround, to avoiding the slowing Kayla at the end while engaging her rivals with clever offense and defense, and finally that all-out sprint to the finish—every part of it…"
"Flawless! Worthy of the daughter of the Mejiro family, worthy of a member of Team Eisei!"
"Once again, let's congratulate Mejiro Ardan!"
As the stadium roared like a tsunami, Ardan felt that she was in an even better state now than during the race itself.
Not in stamina—she was gasping for breath, walking slowly along the track to recover. But her sprint in the final 100 meters had been the ideal conclusion she had calculated for this match.
She had mastered herself, her rivals, and the entire race. Even in the heat of competition, she kept a calm mind, reserving enough strength and speed to handle anything.
Those reserves could cover any scenario—if the front-runner hadn't slowed, or if she had to duel other leaders.
But since none of those happened, she poured everything into the last stretch.
…Because even if I can't win as brilliantly as Oguri and the others, I'll make sure that in every race, I give it my all.
Because this is my race—Mejiro Ardan's race.
As she silently reflected and steadied her breath, ready to head backstage for the Winning Live, a voice called from behind.
"E-excuse me, Miss Mejiro Ardan!"
Though only one person spoke, the chorus of hurried breaths revealed it wasn't just one.
Startled, Ardan turned to see nearly all the rivals she had just raced against crowding around her.
Faces flushed, still sweaty, breathing uneven, they all looked at her with eyes full of admiration.
"Hello, everyone. Is there something I can help you with?"
She gave a slight bow—never forgetting the dignity of the Mejiro family, her habit and upbringing.
"Ah, n-no, it's not help exactly. Actually, we—we'd like to trouble you with something!"
The speaker was Kayla, the one who had led early in the race.
"Please, Kayla. If it's within my ability, I'll consider it seriously." She bowed again.
"It's like this! We're all fans of Mejiro Ramonu-senpai! All of us here!"
Kayla gestured to the others, who all nodded eagerly.
"We've always wanted her autograph, but at school we didn't dare to ask. So when we knew we'd race against you today, we each brought Ramonu-senpai postcards!"
Kayla bowed deeply, and the others followed suit.
"Could we ask you to help us get her autograph? We'd be so grateful!"
…Asking for my sister's autograph? Hmm, she doesn't really like autograph sessions, so there aren't many of her signatures out there…
But if I ask her, it should be fine. Especially since I just won my debut…
After a moment's thought, Ardan smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I promise. I'll take your postcards to my sister. The only thing I can't guarantee is—if she refuses, I might not be able to do it."
Tilting her head in slight apology, she added with a smile:
"But I'll do my best to persuade her. Please rest assured—I promise."
The group shot upright, delighted smiles spreading across their faces.
"We—we're so grateful, Miss Mejiro Ardan! And, also…"
Kayla suddenly blushed, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Today's race made me so happy. Seeing you so elegant and perfect out there… so, um…"
Her eyes lit up with even more hope.
"Could we ask for your autograph too?"
Ardan froze. The other horse girls did too, but then quickly looked at her with the same eager eyes as Kayla.
As a Mejiro, being stared at like this was normal. Ardan wasn't unsettled by their gazes.
But she was unsettled for another reason.
"Ah, it's not that I want to refuse you…" She folded her hands at her waist, bowing slightly.
"It's just… have you forgotten? Until today's race, I was a debutante just like you. I don't even have proper promotional photos…"
The horse girls froze again, and disappointment clouded their faces one by one.
Seeing this, Ardan felt uneasy. Unlike her sister, she didn't dislike attention or fame—nor did she seek it out. But she believed that since the Mejiro family was famous, it was her duty to accept it gracefully and answer every expectation as best she could.
She was about to offer them some comfort when a thought struck her.
…Wait? Isn't there a "Moe Monster" project launch today?
Couldn't I use that opportunity to give them some postcards?
A project like that is bound to have photo cards and such.
With this in mind, Ardan smiled brightly.
"Don't be disappointed—I've thought of a solution."
As their faces lit up again, she bowed lightly.
"Thank you so much for supporting me, the Mejiro family, and Team Eisei. I'll make sure you all get postcards."
"Just give me the ones you've prepared of Ramonu, and once everything's arranged, I'll return them to you signed."
Having given her word, Ardan tucked the matter into her heart. After the Winning Live, she removed her stage makeup, changed into casual clothes, and instead of resting, went backstage and called Kitahara aside.
"…Eh? Ardan, you're out already? Don't you want to rest a while?"
Kitahara looked puzzled, then chuckled as if remembering something amusing.
"You've noticed too, right? Oguri and the others aren't very good at singing and dancing. They can dance decently, sure—but after every Winning Live they collapse like they've run three 3000-meter races in a row."
"I imagine dancing is exhausting, maybe even more than racing. Don't you need a break, Ardan?"
"Oguri… pfft—"
Ardan clapped a hand over her lips, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Fufu, now that you mention it, I remember. We once practiced dancing together in class."
"And somehow, Oguri said that if she won her debut race, she wouldn't dance the Winning Live. Instead, she danced the Kasamatsu Ondo."
"Then Inari said she did the same thing—she couldn't dance her first time either, so she danced the Edo Ondo instead."
"Tamamo got flustered and said it'd be a shame if she didn't dance a Kansai folk dance too, so she started right there."
"And when she did, Oguri and Inari joined in too."
"In the end, the whole class gathered to watch the three of them do a dance battle, leaving the teacher fuming on the side. She was so mad."
Kitahara hadn't heard this story before, but just listening to Ardan describe it, he could picture the hilarious scene of three horse girls dancing their local folk dances at the academy. He couldn't help but laugh too.
And hearing about Oguri's debut reminded him—it had already been nearly a year.
…Feels like just yesterday I decided to recruit Oguri, the day I first saw her.
But in a blink, here we are at the central stage.
And it's not just Oguri anymore—now there's Light, Tamamo, Inari, Creek, Ardan.
And Komiyama, Yuzuhara, Kyoko…
Time really does fly.
…Maybe I should go back to Kasamatsu sometime. Though, with all the upcoming races, especially the Classics, there's no way I'll find the time.
So this is what Uncle must have felt when he visited Kasamatsu after years away…
Melancholy tugged at him for a moment, but remembering Ardan probably had something to discuss, he refocused.
"Right, Ardan. Since you're not resting, you must have something on your mind?"
Still chuckling with her hand over her mouth, Ardan quickly rubbed her flushed cheeks with her knuckles and took a deep breath.
"Yes, I do. Here's the situation…"
She explained Kayla's request, then pulled a stack of palm-sized postcards from her pocket—all featuring Mejiro Ramonu.
"So, I want to know if Kitahara has anything like this. Then I could get Ramonu's autograph on them for Kayla and the others."
"Postcards, huh…" Kitahara thought. "Probably not. The 'Moe Monster' project press conference is only just about to begin. By procedure, things like postcards won't be produced until the project is ready to roll out. So it shouldn't have any right now."
Before Ardan could be disappointed, he smiled.
"But it's fine. We can use the original illustrations instead."
Ardan's eyes lit up.
"Original illustrations? You mean they have those?"
Kitahara nodded. "The Mesura character based on you was sent to the company a while ago. They'll definitely have complete artwork, including originals."
"Companies like that always make multiple versions, so getting a few won't be an issue. And originals have collectible value—Kayla and the others will probably be even happier."
He added, "If you absolutely need postcards, we could ask Kawawan Enterprises or another company to make them. But they'd just be for collecting, not mailing."
"Originals will be perfect."
Ardan beamed, forming a rectangle with her fingers.
"About this big, six or seven pieces will do. I don't want to trouble too many people."
Seeing Kitahara nod with a smile, she suddenly thought of something else.
"By the way, you said the press conference is starting soon—what time exactly?"
"Whenever you're ready." Kitahara chuckled. "The plan was for it to begin once your race and Winning Live ended and you'd had time to rest."
"Oguri and the others are already waiting. If you're all set, let's head over."
Since she had already settled Kayla's request, Ardan was ready. Nodding, she and Kitahara gathered Oguri and the others from the lounge and set off for the conference.
The venue was the Seishin Eizo Building, a massive skyscraper entirely owned by Seishinsha, used for meetings, offices, and filming.
The press event was held in a first-floor hall—not the largest, which was at the top floor with rooftop access reserved for the most important projects.
But the choice didn't mean the "Moe Monster" project was being downplayed. On the contrary, judging from the person who came to receive them, it was being given the highest attention.
Among the crowd of sharply dressed executives stood a man in a traditional white kimono, exuding a sense of old-fashioned formality.
He was quite young, barely in his thirties, with neatly slicked-back hair, gold-rimmed glasses, a calm and gentle smile, broad shoulders, and long legs—a figure radiating steadiness.
Kitahara recognized him at once. He hadn't expected the current president of Seishinsha, Masato Kurokawa, to come personally.
"Chief Kitahara, hello. I've long admired you and your Eisei Team. It's an honor to finally meet such an outstanding trainer in person."
Polite and warm words—but in the next moment, Kurokawa showed the authority of one who held the reins of Japan's top media company and a globally renowned corporation.
"Please, assist Team Eisei's members in familiarizing themselves with the venue and process. I'd like a private word with Chief Kitahara."
He didn't consult anyone else, nor did he wait for Kitahara's polite refusal. He simply gave the order, then turned to Kitahara with a smile, his eyes quietly asking:
"May I, Chief Kitahara?"
…Looks like refusing isn't an option anymore.
Kitahara really wanted to shrug, but this overly formal setting didn't allow it, so he just nodded slightly.
"To be able to meet President Kurokawa, the honor is mine."
Then he tilted his head a little, looked toward Tōra, and said,"Tōra, I'll trouble you to take Oguri Cap and the others and coordinate with this side. Once I've spoken with President Kurokawa, I'll come find you."
Kitahara had only ever seen figures like Kurokawa Masato from a distance before, and he knew very well: people like this don't necessarily enjoy making decisions, but since they run vast corporate groups, their most important ability often ends up being decisiveness. Over time, that kind of environment shapes a rather authoritarian personality.
In some sense, he himself was similar—though the matters he had to handle right now revolved mostly around training and competitions. That required communication with his team members, patiently working with Oguri Cap and the others. But if he were directly responsible for running Kawawan Enterprises, he might end up much like Kurokawa Masato.
Tōra had studied abroad and seen plenty of big scenes. Hearing Kitahara's instructions, he didn't say much. He simply nodded and then led Oguri Cap and the others toward the venue. The suited men behind Kurokawa did the same.
Once the others from both sides had left, Kurokawa Masato spread one hand to the side, slightly bowed, and then walked off in that direction first.
Kitahara followed, noticing that Kurokawa wasn't speaking. He sensed that the man probably wanted to find a quiet place before talking business, so he stayed silent as well.
Thus, the two of them tacitly left the grand first-floor lobby of the building, walked deeper down a side corridor, entered a rather plain-looking elevator, and descended to the third basement floor.
The first floor of the headquarters was lavishly decorated. Not ostentatiously gilded, but with a simple, modest elegance—where every piece of décor, even something that looked plain, was in fact extremely expensive. The craftsmanship alone exuded refinement. For example, the carpet along the corridor leading to the elevator: stepping on it felt like sinking into cotton. No doubt it was pure handwork.
The third basement, however, was genuinely plain. The space was smaller, and the carpet underfoot felt noticeably different—most likely a mass-produced welcome mat type, a very ordinary solid red.
Kurokawa Masato was clearly very familiar with the place. He moved with practiced ease until he reached a pure-black wooden door. He pushed it open and stepped inside, and at that moment his entire demeanor changed. His aura completely relaxed.
"I imagine Chief Kitahara isn't surprised."
He sat down on a sofa in the room, sinking all the way in. His clearly very expensive kimono wrinkled up, but he paid it no mind. He casually reached an arm toward a cabinet beside the sofa, feeling around.
"I've observed Chief Kitahara, and I feel we are the same kind of person."
He raised both hands and rubbed his face tiredly.
"Work is work, life is life. If possible, we'd both want to separate the two completely. But alas, with too many affairs to handle, we have no personal lives to speak of."
"In such circumstances, I believe Chief Kitahara, like me, would wish for a space like this…"
He raised his hand higher. His face indeed showed traces of weariness as he gestured toward the room.
"A space where one can simply relax and do what one enjoys, right?" He asked with a light chuckle, though it was more affirmation than a question.
Kitahara wasn't at all surprised by Kurokawa's change. A friend he once collaborated with had a similar personality. That friend had a little room in his house filled with manga, figures, and game consoles. Back in college, the guy often invited him there to read manga together, show off figurines, or play games.
So when Kurokawa sighed and spoke in that same tone, Kitahara just quietly observed the room—the man's "spiritual hideaway."
Then he was taken aback.
Everything in the room was related to horsegirls.
On the walls were photos of various horsegirls winning championships. The photos were preserved impeccably, framed in top-quality materials, some with autographed postcards or limited-edition stamps tucked behind the glass—no doubt signed by the horsegirls themselves.
Just a casual glance revealed countless legendary horsegirls and classic races.
There were both black-and-white and color shots. For example, St Lite, Mokurei, and Meisui appeared in the monochrome photos, captured in their most iconic races.
[I don't know who the other two is]
St Lite's photos, for instance, were arranged in sequence showing her Triple Crown victories—the Japanese Derby, the Oaks, and the Kikuka-shō.
Due to the timeline of this world, the later horsegirls' photos were in color.
Shizan, Speed Symbol, Takeshiba Adachi O, Tanigawa Muje… any horsegirl who had left a mark in URA's history had her name here.
[Who is the last one]
And then, in the later photos, it wasn't just the horsegirls themselves. A young woman began appearing beside them. Strangely, though, her face and much of her clothing were blurred, leaving only her outline recognizable as female.
Later still, a little boy appeared beside her. At first a baby, then a child, growing up gradually—until his features matched Kurokawa Masato's exactly.
…So that must be his mother. Both she and her son were such horsegirl fanatics that they took every possible commemorative photo…
Kitahara noticed that beyond that point, the woman stopped appearing. Photos of Kurokawa with horsegirls like Tokiten, Tenmasao, Midori Grass, or Maruzensky showed only him with them.
[Who aside from Maruzensky]
Judging from the state of preservation, the newest frames were of Kurokawa with modern figures—CB, Katsuragi Ace, Nihon Pillow Winner, as well as Symboli Rudolf, Sirius Symboli, Mejiro Ramonu.
After surveying the photos, Kitahara saw that the room also had shelves upon shelves filled with models, commemorative medals, stamp collections, plush dolls—all horsegirl-related, all meticulously protected against dust and wear.
In addition, in the corner stood an old-fashioned film projector, the kind that used cartridges. The rack beside it was packed with videotapes, and a few cases were scattered on the floor around it.
…He's even more of a horsegirl fanatic than Fujii Izunosuke. In fact, compared to this, Fujii's obsession looks like child's play.
Kitahara silently made his judgment—then realized he was getting too absorbed in looking around and had been ignoring Kurokawa. He quickly pulled his attention back and turned his head.
"Forgive me, President Kurokawa, I…"
Before he could finish, Kurokawa raised a hand to interrupt.
"It's fine. I believe anyone who loves horsegirls would be unable to resist looking around this room."
He chuckled. "In fact, the very fact that you haven't cried out in astonishment surprises me. Because until now, no one who entered this room managed to refrain from shouting in shock."
…So only true horsegirl lovers are allowed into this place? At the very least, that's one of the conditions?
While Kitahara pondered, Kurokawa continued.
"Let's not waste time on small talk. After today's press conference, our cooperation will officially begin. There will be plenty of chances for communication later."
He straightened from his slouched posture, stood up from the sofa, and began pacing around the room as if inspecting it.
"But while we still have a moment before the conference formally starts, I want to ask Chief Kitahara for a favor."
Hearing this, Kitahara immediately focused.
He had suspected all along that Kurokawa brought him here not only to relax, but also because there was serious business to discuss.
What exactly that business was, he hadn't known. Now that the preamble was over, he gave it his full attention.
"Chief Kitahara should have noticed the photos on the wall. To be honest, the person posing with those legendary horsegirls was my mother—and me."
He gestured at a row of pictures. His expression flickered with a complicated blend of admiration and sorrow. "It's true that Seijin's previous president was my father. But the rapid growth of our company over the decades was largely thanks to my mother."
"My mother was a brilliant filmmaker. She excelled in acting, directing, editing, producing—everything. In her youth, she created films that gained recognition even internationally."
Kitahara nodded inwardly.
Before coming to negotiate with Seijin, he had done his homework. Just as Kurokawa said, his mother, Kurokawa Miyu, had been a world-class filmmaker. Even without backing, she had produced outstanding works at her debut, winning the Japan Directors Guild Newcomer Award. Soon after, she was scouted by Seijin with a high salary and became one of their finest directors.
Later, after working closely with the company, she and the president at the time—Kurokawa's father—fell in love and married. The famous Ms. Miyu became Kurokawa Miyu, and eventually faded from the industry, likely to focus on family life.
As Kitahara recalled these details, Kurokawa sighed and continued:
"Originally, rather than becoming a businessman like my father, I wanted to be an artist like my mother. I think her achievements in film deserve to be called art, don't you?"
He looked to Kitahara as if seeking confirmation.
"Without question."
Meeting his gaze, Kitahara said sincerely, "I don't know much about film. The only ones I've seen were some Godzilla movies with Oguri Cap and the others. But even I, a layman, have heard of your mother's name. She was undoubtedly one of the greatest artists."
"Thank you, Chief Kitahara. In truth…"
Kurokawa nodded gratefully, then smiled. "The Godzilla series is Seijin's premier franchise. But very few know that the initial concept—and even several of the earliest, most classic films—were the work of my mother."
Kitahara froze for a moment. He hadn't known that. In this world, many details differed from his parallel-world knowledge. For example, Seijin Eizo didn't even exist in the other world. So even though he had researched, he hadn't seen any mention of Miyu being tied to Godzilla.
According to the publicly available records here, there was no reporting of any such connection.
"Then your mother truly had a boundless imagination," Kitahara said respectfully.
"Thank you, Chief Kitahara."
After thanking him again, Kurokawa's expression turned solemn. "And it's precisely because of her artistic gift that she immediately recognized the extraordinary potential of the 'Moe Monsters' project and urged me strongly to secure it."
"That's why this cooperation went so smoothly. Otherwise, following the usual process, it would have taken much longer."
That was news to Kitahara. Hearing it, he thought for a moment, then said gratefully, "Then I must thank Madam Kurokawa for her vision and support."
"Don't thank us yet. This is where my true request comes in."
Kurokawa's face grew serious. "After you hear it, you can decide whether to thank me."
"The truth is, my mother told me: in the 'Moe Monsters' proposal, whether it's Capzilla, Tamamo Ghidorah, Inari-don, Super Mothra, or the later-added Mesura, every single one is a brilliant and imaginative idea."
"In particular, your four-panel manga draft is itself a gem of an idea, one that could go straight into production."
"My mother said, such concepts could only come from a genius. And that genius must surely have even greater ideas—perhaps even a complete script."
"Now, your proposal mentioned that these ideas were things Chief Kitahara thought up in your spare time. Therefore, my mother, and I on behalf of Seijin, want to ask…"
Kurokawa's eyes shone with expectation.
"Chief Kitahara, do you in fact have an even greater script you haven't revealed yet?"
…So if I were to pull out a complete horsegirls script—especially the blockbuster that is Season 2 of the anime—Seijin wouldn't even be surprised…
Kitahara suddenly felt conflicted.
It was clear now: Kurokawa and Seijin seemed convinced he had more projects like "Moe Monsters," and they were interested in further collaboration.
Such cooperation would obviously benefit both Seijin and his own Eisei team. Even without considering his other horsegirl-related secondary creations, just the script for "Uma Musume Season 2"—a guaranteed hit—would be enough to shake Japan, if not the entire world.
If it launched successfully, Seijin had the capacity to turn it into a massive money-making machine. Both sides would profit enormously.
And that income could revolutionize Eisei's training environment.
Facilities like wind tunnels, gravity chambers, biomechanical simulation labs, OmegaWave systems—these could finally be developed. Strategies like Ardan's "Racecourse Waltz" could be further refined. There might even be surplus resources to build entirely new training facilities.
Yes—facilities, not just equipment.
For example, a full "natural turf training course," modeled after European tracks.
Kitahara thought of this almost instantly.
Because in Japan, where URA was founded relatively late, the turf tracks had been deliberately hardened so horsegirls' race times would look faster on paper. While not as extreme as "concrete with a thin layer of grass" like in his other world, they were still harder than Europe's. This made European horsegirls struggle here, and vice versa.
As a result, Japanese horsegirls had trouble adapting to natural European tracks. Sirius Symboli was a textbook example: she could post blazing times at home, but abroad her speed failed to translate—just hollow numbers on paper.
Kitahara had once considered changing this reality, but quickly shelved the idea.
Convincing the conservative URA board would be nearly impossible. Even just building a natural-turf training course in Japan would require new land, construction, upkeep, training—all huge investments, each costing billions of yen.
He had once thought: maybe if Kawawan grew for twenty years, he could at least build a smaller course for his own team. No need to dream bigger.
And now, Kurokawa had just given him a shortcut to make it happen.
Kitahara truly believed that with the profits from releasing "Horsegirls Season 2," even if a full European-style racetrack couldn't be built, a smaller one for Eisei's exclusive use was absolutely within reach.
…If that training ground could be ready by this year's end, Oguri Cap and the others could start adapting early.
His thoughts ran wild.
With their talent, adjusting to the new conditions and raising their performance was only a matter of time. If things went well, in just a year or two they might already be strong enough to test themselves on international tracks—right when their maturation period still remained.
Even if it took longer, it wouldn't matter. With guidance from a legendary like Maruzensky, plus their own innate gifts, they could master domains completely. Then, even without full maturation, they could face the fiercest competitions head-on.
It might really work… a deeper partnership with Seijin…
Just as he reached this point, Kurokawa spoke, almost impatiently:
"Well, Chief Kitahara? Have you thought of a script?"
As the head of a top film company, Kurokawa was highly perceptive. He'd clearly read Kitahara's expressions—hesitation, conflict, excitement, then thoughtful approval. He was convinced the man had just recalled some extraordinary idea.
"If so, we can discuss it in detail here. The press conference is already fully arranged, and even without us, professional staff will handle it smoothly. You needn't worry."
"And, as you saw from this room, both my mother and I are deeply fond of horsegirls. If there's a project of that caliber—like 'Moe Monsters'—we'll support it just as strongly."
His eyes shone with anticipation.
That pulled Kitahara back to reality. He realized that while the horsegirls anime idea was indeed strong and profitable, there were practical issues.
For one, his concept was for anime, while Seijin's main strength was film. He'd need to reframe it. Not that Seijin lacked anime talent—but films were more profitable, and since horsegirls existed in reality here, the project could even be made as live-action. That would mean even bigger revenue, but also more work to adapt the script.
For another, the protagonist of Season 2 was Tokai Teio. In this timeline, she was still just entering Tracen Academy's lower division, barely starting maturation.
That raised real-world questions: should he invent a fictional horsegirl, or find another approach? It all required thought.
There were many such factors. If he wanted this project to succeed here—and perhaps have even greater impact—he'd need time to carefully refine it.
"I fully understand Madam Kurokawa's and President Kurokawa's intentions. I will give this matter serious thought."
Choosing his words, Kitahara said earnestly, "It's not that I'm being stingy. In truth, I already have a rough idea—a horsegirl project."
Hearing this, Kurokawa's face lit up. But he waited patiently for Kitahara to continue.
"But as you know, I am first and foremost a trainer. Even if I have ideas, they might not immediately work as a film script. I'll need time to refine them."
Kitahara explained:
"Besides, I'm usually busy with training and arranging matches, so I can't say for sure how long it'll take me to really figure this out."
"So all I can promise is that I've accepted President Kurokawa's commission. I'll need you to wait a little longer, and when I'm confident, I'll naturally deliver the project plan to you."
Hearing this, Masato Kurokawa didn't feel discouraged. Instead, he nodded with satisfaction.
"It seems my mother was right after all. Chief Kitahara really does have ideas of his own… Oh, don't misunderstand me. I never doubted Chief Kitahara's abilities. I'm just once again amazed at my mother's sharp judgment."
He sighed. "Just from a single preliminary plan, she could conclude that Mr. Kitahara possessed enough talent… That sort of ability—honestly, I could only ever envy it."
"If I had that kind of foresight, I imagine Nishitomi Productions could have developed even further by now."
"There's no need for such humility, President Kurokawa. Forgive me if I overstep, but in my eyes, the fact that someone at your age can already manage a top-level conglomerate like Nishitomi is proof enough that you're a genius among thousands." Kitahara said sincerely.
"If it were anyone else, I doubt they'd even know where to begin in running a corporation."
Having once managed a much smaller company himself, Kitahara knew full well that someone like Kurokawa Masato was anything but ordinary.
Kurokawa chuckled. "And you as well, Chief Kitahara—you're one of the very few people I've seen in this country capable of leading an entire horse-girl team."
After returning the compliment, he laughed."Well then, let's stop flattering each other here. Since you've agreed, there's no point wasting more time."
"Let's head to the press conference and officially kick off our first round of collaboration."
Following Kurokawa Masato, Kitahara made his way from the third basement level back up to the first-floor venue. The place was already bustling.
Just like the "Transcendence Team" press event that day, a wide conference stage stood directly opposite the main doors. Below it was a tiered seating area like a cinema, packed to capacity. Every seat was filled with eager spectators. At the very front, media reporters and Nishitomi's official staff had set up their heavy equipment for shooting—and even representatives from Kawabayashi Enterprises were present.
Kitahara noticed that a special area had been arranged for Kawabayashi Enterprises as well. Tomomi Konan was there, busily leading a few journalists. With a glance, Kitahara recognized them as well-known figures who frequently appeared on TV programs in Nagoya and Kasamatsu.
These Tokyo and regional journalists alike were all facing the stage, where Oguri Cap and Kyoko Miyamura stood.
Miyamura and the others had been interviewed before, so while the scale of today's event surprised them somewhat, they weren't overly shocked.
What was surprising, however, was how calmly Oguri Cap and her group carried themselves. They had only ever met a single journalist—Fujii Sensuke—during their time at the academy, yet here, in front of a massive crowd, they showed no signs of panic. Instead, they were chatting leisurely among themselves.
…Was it because they'd already performed so many Winning Lives that they didn't get stage fright anymore? Or had they simply been influenced by Oguri Cap's natural airheadedness?
Kitahara was surprised by their demeanor, but after a moment of thought, he just chuckled and shook his head.
Then, something else caught his attention.
Or rather, a certain group of people.
At the far corner of the audience sat two tall, imposing figures. One wore a martial arts gi, hair and beard completely white, with a stern face. The other wore a suit, broad-shouldered and stocky, his expression grave.
With a single glance, Kitahara recognized them—Chouno Yoshitaka, the Transcendence Team's chief advisor, and Konai Tadashi, their head nutritionist.
Looking further, he saw more familiar faces: their head trainer, Fumino Naise; horse-girls Sakura Chiyono O, Bamboo Memory, Yaeno Muteki, and Dicta Striker—all seated quietly in that unassuming corner.
…Why are they here?
Momentarily stunned, Kitahara found himself staring blankly in their direction.
Perhaps because he stared too long, Naise Fumino, who had been stroking her chin with a serious look at Oguri Cap and the others on stage, suddenly shifted her gaze toward Kitahara.
Their eyes met. Kitahara froze—and so did she. Then Naise gave a slight nod, like a greeting, before tapping the horse-girls beside her and pointing in his direction. Immediately, the entire Transcendence Team turned to look. After a brief moment of surprise, they began responding one by one—some waving, some nodding.
Seeing this, Kitahara had no choice but to return the gesture politely. Then, after a short pause, he gave a wry smile and turned to Masato Kurokawa.
"President Kurokawa… Trainer Naise and her team… You invited them, didn't you?"
It was the only explanation that came to mind. Kitahara remembered attending the Transcendence Team's previous press conference with Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and Komiyama. Naise had given a sharp, concise introduction before leaving, but the excitement of journalists, media, and fans afterward had been overwhelming.
Fujii Sensuke had told him that back when only the Eisei Team existed, the press could still focus their coverage. But now that the Transcendence Team had emerged, horse-girl media across the board had been run ragged, desperate not to miss a story. The coverage was so overwhelming it was nearly inescapable.
Knowing Kurokawa's passion for horse-girls, there was no way he would've missed it. And considering how both the Eisei and Transcendence Teams had been subtly framed as rivals in that press conference and the following discourse, it wasn't surprising if Kurokawa had orchestrated today's event to bring them face to face.
Especially since each side had three horse-girls registered for the "Classic Triple Crown."
Yet, to Kitahara's surprise, Kurokawa just shook his head with a smile.
"You've misunderstood me, Chief Kitahara."
He explained with a light laugh:
"True, I personally look forward to seeing your team and the Transcendence Team clash—especially on the grand stage of the Triple Crown. But to deliberately invite Trainer Naise here would've been somewhat improper."
"After all, I'm just a filmmaker. I can love horse-girls all I want, but meddling directly in races would be stepping out of line."
"However…"
He glanced toward Naise, then back at Kitahara.
"Because Trainer Naise's father—Mr. Naise Hito, the man nicknamed 'The Magician'—had ties with my mother, I actually know Ms. Naise personally. We even went to the same middle school, so I'm technically her upperclassman."
"In that case, when she heard I was organizing today's press event, she reached out through certain channels and asked her senior to save her a spot."
His expression grew playful. "Now, tell me, Chief Kitahara—could I possibly refuse such a simple request?"
…Not only could you not refuse, you probably wanted this meeting as much as she did.
With a silent, bitter smile, Kitahara thought for a moment before sighing helplessly.
"All right, I understand. Many people are eager to see our teams face each other. I imagine President Kurokawa is no exception."
"And aside from a simple meeting, you must have other intentions too, right?" He looked at Kurokawa steadily.
Kurokawa's smirk deepened, though only briefly, before his tone grew serious.
"Indeed, I do. I believe Eisei and Transcendence may very well be the finest horse-girl teams of this generation in Japan."
"And precisely because of that, I don't just want to see what happens when you meet—I'd like to encourage you to talk to one another."
His tone became solemn."This may be meddling somewhat in trainers' affairs, but my mother, myself, and many who love horse-girls all want to see how far Japan can go on the world stage."
"I imagine you've thought about it too, Chief Kitahara. Beyond the Triple Crown that will last for the better part of this year, there is also the challenge of the 'Japan Cup' awaiting us."
"Eisei and Transcendence represent Japan's greatest hope in standing against the world's finest horse-girls at the Japan Cup."
This truly caught Kitahara off guard.
It wasn't the first time he'd heard mention of the Japan Cup. In fact, during a meeting with Symboli Rudolf, CB, and Maruzensky in the student council office, those legendary horse-girls had already warned him about it.
Later, while working with Maruzensky on research, and when Director Yayoi Akikawa gave him guidance, the Japan Cup and other international G1 races had come up repeatedly—like the Breeders' Cup, the British Champions Stakes, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The message was always clear: whether from Kitahara's team, the seniors like Maruzensky, or even Director Akikawa—everyone hoped Japanese horse-girls could catch up to international standards.
Now, to see Kurokawa Masato, a horse-girl enthusiast, place the same weight on it showed just how much of a national expectation this had become.
"…So the Transcendence Team wants to talk about that? About the Japan Cup?" Kitahara asked after some thought.
But Kurokawa only shook his head with a smile.
"Nothing so complicated. After all, you're all from Central Tracen Academy. If there's truly a need to discuss it, you'll have plenty of time and opportunities there."
His eyes wandered between the corner where Naise sat and Kitahara.
"So rather than a heavy talk about races, my junior likely just wanted to use this press conference as a chance to meet you in a more relaxed setting."
"Because if it were at the academy or the racetrack, the atmosphere might be a bit… tense, don't you think?"
"That's why, to keep things light, I've arranged a simple dinner party after the press conference. No other guests—just the two teams and myself as host. Would that be acceptable, Chief Kitahara?"
…Just to meet in a different setting? Somehow, Kitahara doubted that a genius trainer like her had such a simple motive.
Casting a quiet glance toward the corner of the venue, he pondered briefly. Then, without pressing the matter, he simply looked back at Kurokawa and smiled.
"No problem."
(End of Chapter)