What Symboli Rudolf said did not really surprise the other horse girls in the car. They had already heard similar things when they agreed to come to Nagoya with her.
They did not ask many follow-up questions either, because when they agreed, they had already asked Rudolf what she was thinking, and the answer she gave back then was very similar to what she had just said now.
She hadn't explicitly said she wanted their cooperation or assistance in anything.
However, based on years of knowing her, their friendship, and the fact that several of them had once faced Rudolf like this on the racetrack, Katsuragi Ace and the others had their own guesses.
They figured it was probably related to the development of the horse-girl racing world. Even if they weren't as good at these things as Rudolf, they still instinctively cared about them, so they agreed readily.
And now, even though they still hadn't gotten a more detailed answer, they all had even stronger suspicions.
"It looks like the reason you brought us here is probably related to that relay race the trainer mentioned, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have agreed so quickly — and even specially invited us to join."
Katsuragi Ace spoke in a speculative tone, clasping her fingers together and squeezing slightly until her knuckles cracked.
"Of course, I might be wrong. But it doesn't matter — as long as I can race you all again, I'm satisfied!"
"If it weren't for my physical condition, I definitely wouldn't have retired after that Arima Kinen. Maybe I could've raced CB a few more times, and even gone overseas like you, Rudolf."
"To be honest, it's a real shame that I can't race you anymore."
"But now it's fine — even if it's just a relay race, I won't hold back."
"So just look forward to the results of my training over these years!"
Whether it was her racing outfit or her usual clothes, Katsuragi Ace always wore a pair of boxer-style gloves, and her overall style was very sharp and practical.
This made her look less like a runner and more like a boxer or an ascetic martial artist.
Combined with her words, she radiated the feeling of someone who trained hard day after day.
The other horse girls knew her story well.
Before her debut, her physical condition hadn't been particularly outstanding — especially her lower-back strength — and her early training had been difficult.
At first, her trainer and team had even considered switching her to dirt races.
Only later, after intense training and discovering that she excelled at front-running and stalking styles, did she truly shine on the track.
"I won't hold back? That sounds impressive, Katsuragi. I'm really looking forward to seeing you."
CB responded.
Among friends, CB was famous for her free-spirited personality and her refusal to be bound by convention. When she disliked or rejected something, she could become unbelievably stubborn.
[Oh fun fact, CB's uma lore comes from the fact that in the early days, you weren't able to breed a horse from another farm, so CB's dam CB Queen was bought to Tosho Boy (CB's Sire) by CB Queen's farm manager and thus MrCB was born and caused a controversy but thankfully MrCB won the Triple Crown and he was forgiven]
That was why she usually looked lazy and casual.
But even now, although her tone was relaxed as always, the passion and fighting spirit in her voice were obvious to everyone in the car.
It wasn't hard to understand.
Back then, in eight races — the Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby, Kobe Shimbun Hai, Kikuka Sho, Mainichi Okan, Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen — she and Katsuragi Ace had faced each other all eight times.
To outsiders, the rivalry between the two Triple Crown winners, CB and Symboli Rudolf, was more famous.
But among those who knew them well, it was common knowledge that the truly fierce rivalry was between Katsuragi Ace and CB.
So even though Katsuragi Ace hadn't directly challenged anyone, CB's words were clearly aimed at her.
"Oh? You're looking forward to me? Hehe, don't worry — I won't disappoint you, CB!"
Cracking her knuckles again, Katsuragi Ace laughed.
"Not just you — I won't disappoint any of you!"
This made not only CB, but also Maruzensky and Mejiro Ramonu, who had been quietly smiling, pause slightly as their auras subtly shifted.
"Well then, I really would like to see whether such an excellent junior like you can finally let me run a proper Pace chasing race."
If someone else heard Maruzensky say that, they would be confused, because in her racing days she never really ran in a "Pace chasing" style.
But none of the horse girls here lacked talent or insight — they all knew that Maruzensky's true strength was precisely in orthodox stalking. She was just too fast.
Not only did they understand her real running style, they also heard in her words a rare longing, passion, and fighting spirit for racing.
"Even Maruzensky-senpai is this motivated…"
Mejiro Ramonu covered her mouth in mock surprise, then smiled brightly.
"Then I suppose I should be more motivated too."
"I just hope that you seniors haven't become rusty after being away from the track for so long."
Mejiro Ramonu was indeed a junior — she was a whole generation behind Rudolf, CB, and Katsuragi, and even further behind Maruzensky.
That was exactly what she was referring to.
After retirement, horse girls naturally had no official races and far less training.
Rudolf and the others were busy with student council work and could barely find time to train.
Mejiro Ramonu, on the other hand, had just retired as a Hall-of-Fame Triple Tiara winner and still kept up much of her training routine.
So from her perspective, she was the one most familiar with the track — and her confidence was obvious.
As the atmosphere in the car heated up over this informal relay race, Symboli Rudolf — who had spoken the most earlier — fell silent.
She gripped the steering wheel tightly, staring at the car a hundred meters ahead, feeling a quiet sense of relief.
If this could continue, then a world where all horse girls could live happily, and where Japanese horse girls could stand at the top of the world…
Those things might really be possible.
Perhaps I couldn't imagine how to reach that point before — but you, Kitahara, who have already changed so much without realizing it, you probably can.
So no matter what happens next… I hope you keep walking forward.
Kitahara had no experience with surveillance or counter-surveillance, so he didn't notice that Rudolf and the others were following him.
But if he had heard their conversation, especially Rudolf's thoughts, he would likely have given a confident answer.
In fact, over these few days — especially around the Meitetsu Cup — he himself had begun forming new ideas.
In another world, the one who forced the JRA to change its rules was Oguri Cap.
So in this world — why can't it be me?
The moment the thought appeared, it grew like a seed meeting spring rain.
In the other world, Oguri Cap was a once-in-a-generation genius, but even she had been limited by outdated rules.
Her regret led the JRA to reform those rules, benefiting future generations.
In this world, Oguri Cap had already entered the Triple Crown path thanks to his intervention.
So hadn't the rules already been changed?
And if Director Akikawa could do it, why couldn't he fight alongside her?
What about doctors, trainers, and others constrained by outdated systems?
Doctor Koku had advanced ideas but was limited by the times.
Yuzuhara Taro studied abroad for Inari One yet couldn't get proper recognition.
Even jockey Ando Katsumi had once been blocked by flawed exams.
[Oguri Cap's Jockey plus Daiwa Scarlet's and Win Variation's too I think]
Ando eventually became a legend — and the rules were changed because of him.
He was nicknamed "Ando Rule."
So why couldn't there be a "Kitahara Rule"?
His ambition had grown.
Not in direction — but in scale.
He wanted to do more.
Not just train horse girls.
But change the world they ran in.
And that ambition was why he wanted to organize the relay race.
To build a bigger stage.
Only later, after a long day at the Transportation Bureau, did he realize he had forgotten something important.
"…Ah, sorry, I was so focused on work that I forgot about you two…"
It was after 3 p.m. when he noticed Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower still following him quietly.
"Are you hungry? I think you have big appetites — didn't you get full at lunch? Let me treat you to something good."
They both said they were fine.
Then their stomachs growled.
Feeling guilty, Kitahara laughed awkwardly.
"…Then how about you come eat with me? I'm actually a little hungry myself."
(End of Chapter)