A victory of 24 lengths was not one that could easily be forgotten. It was a victory of such domination that it practically cast a shadow over every other runner that'd participated in that same race. A prime showing of the motto found in many different Traces; that it would be an「Eclipse First, the Rest Nowhere.」
And exactly that had happened just recently at the [Spring Tenno Sho].
No one could've expected that they would witness history being made that day. The [Spring Tenno Sho] would be the first Japanese race Blossom Star would be partaking in after her injury back in the [Japan Cup], and while many feared that this injury had weakened her, they still believed she would take home the crown despite her hiatus.
The thing was, many were excited to see the clash between Blossom Star and Super Creek. After all, both were umamusume with stamina as their strongest domain—the [Spring Tenno Sho] was one of the few races that could serve as the perfect stage for their confrontation.
Yet no one could've imagined that Super Creek would be completely left behind. Star won with a staggering lead of 24 lengths, and showed just how all the shorter distances she'd run had been acting as a shackle to her true potential.
That was before considering that Super Creek was by no means weak herself. By the time the race ended, there were over 12 lengths between her and the 3rd place—Fraser Stride. She too had shown her dominance during the [Spring Tenno Sho]. It was just unlucky that Blossom Star was far too bright to be ignored.
And knowing this, it can no longer be denied; just how strong was Blossom Star truly? What would happen if she were to run in the G2 [Stayers' Stakes], which provided a distance of 3600 meters. Or, if one dared to believe, what would she present if she ran in the [Prix Du Cadran] and its 4000 meters?
Would there be anyone capable of toppling the White Comet if she was ever given a proper sky to fly across? Could there be anyone?
No one knew.
—Fujii Sensuke, reporter from Tokyo News
…
I lowered the newspaper with a small smile. "Not bad." I eventually concluded, my eyes roaming towards the signed author of the piece I'd just read. "Fujii-san's surprisingly conservative this time around."
Kitahara snorted as he continued working through his homework. "Probably because Roppei-san threatened to disembowel him if he tried anything else." He said, quietly thanking Belno Light as she gave him another cup of coffee.
"Well, he is someone Director Akikawa is trying to scout." Belno also added in as she sat down. She hummed as she began flipping through her notebook. "It'd probably reflect poorly on himself if he didn't hold himself back." She smiled wryly as she recalled his usual attitude. "After all, Fujii-san can be a little…"
"Yeesh, so even the Divine General can't stand him, huh?" I playfully finished, and while Belno sent me a glare for it, she didn't disagree. "How about you, Oguri? What do you think of him?"
Oguri paused just as she reached her hand into her bag of chips. She stared at me for a moment, before she tilted her head. "...who?"
I snorted. "It's nothing." I said as I patted her head. Oguri still seemed confused, but she smiled softly as she resumed eating her bag of chips.
I smiled as well, and I sighed softly as I relaxed into the couch.
A week had gone by since the [Spring Tenno Sho], and the entire country was still buzzing after that performance I did. I wasn't too surprised—leading a race by 24 lengths was already incredible enough, but doing it in the G1 [Spring Tenno Sho] was guaranteed to generate some discourse. Hell, I even heard that my victory even got picked up by some overseas news outlet, though I didn't bother trying to find out if that was true.
Since then, my life's…been pretty normal, actually. I went out to class in the mornings, spent the afternoons training, and then relaxed during the evenings. A pretty normal routine overall, and practically a vacation after the hellish training I endured under Secretariat's instructions.
But, while most of Team Kitahara were lounging about–
"So this was where y'all were skulking at." Musaka said as he entered their clubroom, scowling slightly as he kicked the door close behind him.
I silently apologized for the poor door hinges, though I then smirked as I saw the sharp suit Musaka was wearing. "Lookin' good, Musaka-san." I whistled, my eyes twinkling. "Went out to see someone?"
His eyes twitched. "As if, you idiot." He sighed deeply as he fixed his tie. "That damn thing goes on for too long."
I smiled faintly.
Of course, the thing he was talking about was the nominations for the URA Hall of Fame, though the name didn't really fit anymore considering the URA no longer existed. Regardless, as the name implied, it was an event to commemorate the addition of an umamusume to Japan's hall of fame, permanently cementing them into the annals of history.
"But hey, it's not like the Fairy Godfather can just not be invited to that kind'of thing, y'know?" I said.
He scoffed as he sat down at one of the couches. "Tch. What reason is there? Better just keep me out—ain't like I got any reason to be there."
I smiled, though I disagree. After all, it wasn't as if any of us could be nominated into the Hall of Fame right now. Sure, we had more than enough achievements to get us in, but the Hall of Fame was reserved for umamusume who'd already retired from racing. We were very much still in the prime of our careers, so there genuinely wasn't any reason for someone like Musaka to be invited to the event.
And besides, it wasn't like there was going to be anyone nominated anyway—the era before we arrived had been called an 'Era without Heroes' for a reason.
"So why did you go? Oguri bluntly asked.
"...just tying up some loose ends." Was Musaka's eventual answer. It earned an odd look from both Belno and Kitahara, but he remained quiet. I remained quiet as well, knowing that he wasn't willing to share his plans just yet.
Oguri didn't look suspicious at all, only nodding before she returned to her chips.
Classic Oguri.
After that, the clubroom returned to silence once again. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but a tranquil quiet—a moment of respite against the storm currently happening outside these walls.
I closed my eyes as I leaned into the couch.
With the [Spring Tenno Sho] over, Team Kitahara had now officially made its return to Japan. It was an explosive return, showing just how much all three of us had improved in our time in America.
But it also meant that our time here in Japan was coming to an end.
The [Takarazuka Kinen] was only a couple months away. All three of us would participate there, alongside basically everyone from the Generation of Miracles. Tamamo Cross would be there as well, and if the rumors I'd been hearing were true, then Obey Your Master would also be there.
After that, the [Autumn Tenno Sho]. I still hadn't checked who we'd be running against, though we'd probably face some new faces this time around. My mind immediately jumped to Bamboo Memory and Inari One, but I'd need to do some research to confirm that.
Then came the [Japan Cup]. No one knew who'd actually be participating—registration was determined by the government, after all. But considering that was the Destined race the Three Goddesses had been warning me about, I was confident that at least Oguri and I would be running in it.
Lastly, the [Arima Kinen]. Since registration was determined by votes, it was practically guaranteed that the participants would pretty much include everyone from the Generation of Miracles. And assuming nothing went wrong, then Tamamo Cross and Obey Your Master would be included in that as well.
And after that, our time here in Japan would come to an end.
We'd basically migrate to America to fulfil the promise I made to Secretariat. Or-, well, technically only I needed to do, but no one was willing to let Team Kitahara separate so quickly. And besides, Oguri would probably turn the world upside down if she wasn't allowed to join me.
Regardless, we'd be running in America for an entire year. We didn't have any concrete plans, but we'd make it up as we went.
And after that?
Who knows.
We would return to Japan to continue racing here, or maybe we'd continue travelling overseas. Maybe we'd even be retired by that point. No one knew what the future held at that point. After all, the Fate of this world had been irreversibly altered even before I came into this world.
All I could do was bear witness to this new future that was soon to come.
…
Hmm?
When I next blinked, I suddenly found my head resting on something soft, and it took me a moment to realize that Oguri had pulled my head onto her lap. I stared at her for a good moment, and she stared back.
And then I just chuckled as I relaxed, and Oguri returned a soft smile as she gently brushed my bangs away from my eyes.