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When the newborn sun finally leapt free of the cloud sea and poured ten-thousand shafts of gold across heaven and earth, the vast force that had spurred the girls' breakthrough settled back into stillness.
Summit winds combed their hair. That power that had nearly burst from their bodies was now fully sheathed—sinking into them as deeper foundation, resting in their eyes and breath.
Unlike the weight and focus of the climb up, their steps down felt almost ready to take flight. It wasn't only because the pace was easy on their bodies—but because their hearts were lighter and higher.
The vastness of the world had entered their gaze; the road ahead stood clear.
Maruzensky walked beside Kuroha, looking at the juniors ahead whose auras had changed beyond recognition, and couldn't help murmuring:
"You really are a Trainer who makes miracles, huh~
If the Emperor had come too, she'd be laughing herself silly right now."
Symboli Rudolf truly wanted a brighter future—stronger juniors everywhere. Even being surpassed didn't bother her.
That genuine heart had won her the respect and admiration of every Central horse girl. If she could see the strides these juniors had made, she'd be all smiles.
"I only opened a window," Kuroha replied with a small laugh. "They're the ones who looked out—and turned what they saw into their own strength."
At that, Maruzensky studied his profile for a beat, then smiled knowingly and turned her head, thoughts drifting.
They rode the cable car down.
Descent isn't ascent—knees take the beating. Kuroha wasn't about to trade away his girls' bodies for a few extra minutes of "training."
Besides, the cable car gave them another angle on Mount Tai's grandeur; not a bad use of the ticket at all.
At the base, there was no lingering. They caught up on sleep at a hotel, held a hearty celebration dinner—and began the journey home.
The airport thrummed. The girls wheeled their luggage through the crowd like a little world of their own. They didn't gawk like first-time visitors anymore; a calm poise had settled in.
Soon they were on a plane back to Tokyo.
When the wheels kissed Narita's runway and the familiar chime sounded, everyone understood—vacation was over.
Outside, breathing that familiar, faintly humid air, the expressions on their faces had shifted. The tourist's ease and relaxation had been replaced by a sharp, quiet fighting spirit.
Kuroha stopped at the head of the line, turned, and looked over the team that had shed its skin. Confidence tugged at his lips.
"Alright, everyone—welcome home."
His voice carried to every ear.
"Now—get ready for your autumn season!"
...
Central Tracen Academy.
On a training ground.
Da-da-da—!
On the track, several horse girls ran shoulder to shoulder. Not far away, Fumino Nanse held a stopwatch, eyes intent on the sleek figures.
"Since losing to Inari One last time, Bay has been rising and rising," she thought, flipping open her notebook to scan past metrics before nodding slightly.
Super Creek's numbers were climbing step by steady step—especially in stamina sustain and that final burst at the end. Failure is often the finest catalyst. For a gentle, steel-willed horse girl like Super Creek, that Tenno Sho (Spring) defeat hadn't broken her—it had stoked a hotter fire deep inside.
"And… is Bay trying something on her own? Her movements have been a bit odd lately…"
Her phone buzzed.
Fumino glanced down—it was a new post from her "close follow": Maruzensky's UmaNet feed.
Caption: Back in Tokyo at last.
Photo: her with Kuroha and the six girls of Chasing the Light.
"Maruzensky-san can use UmaNet now?" A flicker of surprise crossed Fumino's eyes. A few years ago the most she did was email—and texts had been a late victory… and now she'd picked up a social app barely a year old?
"But…"
Fumino's gaze shifted to the figures behind Maruzensky—the Chasing the Light girls radiating an aura she could hardly put into words.
"They're back…" she whispered, eyes turning grave. "Kuroha…"
Word was they'd headed to Tōkō for a study trip a month ago. She hadn't expected them back so soon. Clearly, he was taking this autumn season with… extreme seriousness.
"Bay's current strength is excellent—one of the best even in today's Central."
She exhaled. "But Chasing the Light… is a little too tricky…"
Her mind flashed back to spring's Tenno Sho—after Super Creek's heavy loss to Inari, she'd gathered a full pack of race films for every Chasing the Light girl. It had been absurdly easy; within half a day the same replays were on every Trainer's desk across Central—and in Fumino's computer as well.
Only… the more she studied, the heavier the weight on her chest.
Those girls' technique and race sense were terrifying. And there were no obvious weak points. Left or right turns, climbs or drops, any distance—they adapted perfectly. Even targeted interference mid-race barely nudged them. Their running craft felt like it belonged to another dimension. It was unbelievable.
Watching them, Fumino sometimes wondered if her father—and even Ginjirou Musaka, those so-called veteran Trainers—might have reputations that outpaced their reality.
After all, Oguri Cap's strength had a visible path to it. Fumino could confidently claim Bay's ground technique could surpass that in places.
But when she imagined facing those Chasing the Light girls—she didn't dare guarantee anything at all.
(End of Chapter)
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