As that date drew near, Tokyo—no, the entire nation—began to boil.
While Central's powerhouses sharpened their fangs and prepared in every way for the coming clash, public opinion outside had already turned into a prairie fire. Nearly every media house went on full assault, frantically digging up anything and everything about the entrants. The desks that sniffed out first-hand scoops practically lost their minds with excitement.
"Print! Print! Run another print!!"
In a pressroom, the manager waved a still-wet stack of fresh papers and roared over the din: "Strike first! If someone else breaks this before we do, we're done for!"
"'Only one strongest'? That framing's way too small!"
In a cramped office, a reporter hammered at his keyboard, eyes blazing. "When even the G1 tune-ups are already monsters beating the life out of monsters, I can't begin to picture what the real showdown will look like!"
His draft flew into shape under his fingertips, ending as a cry that shook the room:
"—This is a golden era where the strongest clash and no one stands clearly above the rest!"
"And the talents who rise above will meet in their first battle of the autumn: the Tenno Sho (Autumn)!"
"Just thinking about it—my frenzy, my muse—it's surging, pounding, exploding!!"
On the front page of the latest issue, three horse girls filled the entire spread. Their gazes—serene, razor-keen, or wild—almost tore through the paper.
[Kikuka Sho Winner — Super Creek!]
[Satsuki Sho Winner — Yaeno Muteki!]
[Tenno Sho (Spring) Winner — Inari One!]
Three G1 champions, three who stand at the peak of Central's power today—about to collide on the turf of Tokyo!
…
With reporters and paparazzi working around the clock, the atmosphere for the autumn Tenno Sho hit full boil. On the streets, pedestrians stopped to read the latest pushes on their phones. In cafés, people held up newspapers and chatted in small clusters; the air itself seemed to vibrate with a bright, feverish heat.
"Did you watch the Mainichi Okan the other day?"
"Of course! Oguri Cap is insane!"
"I love Oguri! Too bad she's only confirmed for the Mile Championship—no Tenno Sho for her."
"What about the Kyoto Daishoten that same day? Super Creek was scary good too! She looked like she didn't spend a drop—clearly kept something in reserve!"
"On true staying trips, can anyone beat her?"
"Don't forget—the Tenno Sho (Spring), Inari One dusted her by a full six lengths."
"Right! Inari's a monster too—'the Tyrant of Oi' for a reason!"
"By the way, I'm a huge fan of Trainer Fumino! Gorgeous and cool—like some ice-queen heroine."
"Trainer Kuroha's handsome too, okay? And young! I see him jogging sometimes—got an ab-shot saved on my phone!"
"What?! Show me, now!"
In a corner of the café, two figures sat bundled to the eyes in masks and hoodies. Listening to the chatter veer into stranger and stranger waters, Fumino Naze and Kuroha sighed at the same time.
Fumino carefully lifted her mask for a sip; a faint smile flickered in those cool eyes as she teased in a low voice, "The famous Trainer Kuroha sure has a lot of little fangirls now, hm?"
Kuroha shot her a look and took a pull of his honey drink. (Credit where due: Tokai Teio's flavor recommendation really was on point.) He swallowed and shot back, "Look who's talking. Isn't Trainer Kuroha also 'a beautiful and cool ice-queen' in the fans' mouths?"
They traded barbs once, then both fell silent. Stoked by the fervor of those overheated comments, both felt goosebumps prickle up unbidden.
"…Let's head back," Kuroha suggested first.
"Mm." Fumino nodded.
As for how the two ended up together…
It was simple. That morning, after Kuroha finished his run and saw Inari and the others off to class, he was about to leave—when Inari ran into Super Creek at the school gate. With the Tenno Sho only days away, the air between rivals was already gunpowder-thick. On normal days they could be friends, classmates.
But if they were to meet on the track—
In an instant they'd turn into Caesars of Hell; apologies, horse girls only bow to victory!
So Kuroha stood a short way off and listened to his Inari and Super Creek deliver their respective declarations of certain victory. To his bemusement, he noticed Fumino doing exactly what he was—hiding off in another corner, watching her own girl's wild, swaggering posture.
They caught each other's eyes at a distance and read the same helpless amusement there. Without a word, they slipped out together to take a walk and breathe.
And promptly stumbled into fans' takes even stranger than their girls' battle cries.
They left the café at speed, as if some beast was chasing them, and only slowed in sync after turning the corner. An autumn breeze, cool with the season, blew away some of the awkwardness. Side by side, they walked down the sidewalk, quiet for a while.
Fumino spoke first, voice back to its usual calm. "Inari's adjustment looks excellent."
It wasn't politeness—it was a top trainer's precise read on another top horse girl's state. Even if Kuroha's team trained mostly at the Mejiro grounds, the mornings were still at the academy. If you wanted to gather a little data, you could.
Kuroha blinked at the praise, then answered frankly, "Creek isn't behind either. I watched that Kyoto Daishoten—she broke the race record and looked like she had plenty in hand. Honestly impressive."
"In hand… perhaps." Her tone gave nothing away.
Sensing something on her mind, Kuroha quipped, "What's wrong? Realized you can't beat me and want to surrender before the race?"
"As if!" Fumino snapped to attention and bit down on a glinting retort. "We—Creek and I—will win."
Victory—for her, and for Creek—was the most important proof. She didn't say the rest aloud.
Before they knew it, Tracen Academy's gates came into view. The familiar buildings felt like a silent reminder: this brief "truce" was at its end. The two stopped in tacit agreement a short distance from the entrance.
"Well then, Kuroha." Fumino turned, those frosted eyes reflecting him—a pure gaze that belonged to a rival. "Today… was an interesting walk."
"It was," Kuroha nodded, face turning serious. "See you soon."
No further words were needed.
"See you at the Tenno Sho."
"See you at the Tenno Sho."
A simple farewell—but heavier than any written challenge.
Just as Inari and Super Creek had crossed swords with their words, so too would their trainers stand as the firmest shields behind them. They turned and walked in different directions. The brief peace in the air vanished, replaced by the breath-holding stillness before a storm.
Soon enough—October 29—
the Tenno Sho (Autumn) arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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