Tokyo Racecourse.
A sea of people. A tidal wave of sound.
The heat whipped up earlier by the tabloids now surged in solid form. Every seat in the grandstands was filled; the air itself felt near to a rolling boil. Those who couldn't get tickets hadn't gone home—they packed the perimeter and clustered beneath the giant outer screens, waiting for the live feed to begin.
"Ladies and gentlemen—welcome to Tokyo Racecourse!"
The caller's voice boomed from speakers across the grounds and lit the crowd like a match to dry tinder.
"At last—this race! Today's main event: the Tenno Sho (Autumn)!"
"Ooooooooooo—!!"
A roar like mountains collapsing and seas heaving tore into the sky. People stood as one and showed the absolute limit of their passion.
After a brief warm-up, the broadcast hit the heart of the program.
"Now—introducing our entrants! First on track—"
With the announcer's rising cadence, the horse girls, dressed in their victory outfits, walked out from the tunnel one by one and stepped into a stadium that belonged to legend. Every entrance sparked a fresh surge of ecstasy.
…
On the highest luxury terrace, two long silhouettes leaned over the rail, smiling faintly at the boiling frenzy below.
"My, what a star-studded cast. It's just a shame Oguri isn't here."
A brown-haired beauty with mature charm—Maruzensky—gazed across the unprecedented scene, eyes laughing.
"Oguri Cap seems set on her own path… And 'star-studded'…" Beside her, Symboli Rudolf spoke without change in expression. "Isn't every G1 like this?"
Maruzensky wagged a delicate finger. "No, no—more glamorous than before! Because…"
She paused, teasing. "In your words, this is a race between two horse girls who 'make an era.'"
Rudolf folded her arms, ignoring the jest. Her eyes stayed steady on the turf, something deep turning beneath their calm.
Just then—the caller's voice spiked with fire.
"Next—she once flowed from the Kikuka Sho like a stream; now she's a mighty river! Can the dominance of the Kyoto Daishoten carry to the Tenno Sho stage?!"
"Second choice—Super Creek!!!"
Even a spring defeat in the Tenno Sho (Spring) couldn't dim that girl's brilliance. Creek walked out with her hands intertwined before her, wearing her usual gentle smile. Her ornate outfit fluttered; composure and confidence radiated from her like a halo.
"Creek drew the far outside," Rudolf noted softly from the stands.
"The wide outside's fine," a clear, lilting voice cut in.
A black-haired beauty had arrived without a sound, propping her cheek on one hand and leaning casually on the rail between Maruzensky and Rudolf.
Seeing they'd noticed her, the girl waved. "Long time no see, Rudolf—Maru."
"Chiaki?" Rudolf blinked, a shade surprised, and her tone twisted wryly. "It has been a while. Are you actually attending classes? The faculty says you've gone missing."
The newcomer was the student council's elusive third member—one of Central Tracen Academy's legends who had opened a Domain:
"Pegasus Beyond" — Chiaki Representative.
Since the last time she'd watched a race with Rudolf, Kuroha, and the others, she'd vanished to who-knows-where—only to drop back into view today.
Chiaki scratched her head, sheepish. "Ahaha, credits are fine, don't worry."
They traded a few casual lines. Maruzensky cocked her head. "So, Chiaki—what did you mean by 'it's fine,' about that outside gate?"
Rudolf added, puzzled, "I don't quite get it. The Tenno Sho (Autumn) opens straight into a turn; the far outside is clearly unfavorable."
Chiaki chuckled. "Rudolf, you're not as diligent as I remember."
"Mm…" Rudolf could only stare at her friend's incorrigible grin, unsure what to say.
After teasing a moment, Chiaki's gaze settled on Creek below. In her eyes, every step Creek took seemed to land upon an invisible ocean, titanic swells gathering at her back to move when she moved.
"'Unfavorable'… sometimes that's just the world's self-serving common sense."
"In a race, anything can happen…"
She didn't finish—the announcer detonated, hotter than before.
"—Our final entrant! The Edo child who came as last year's champion!! The spring double—Tenno Sho and Takarazuka Kinen—back-to-back G1s!"
"Now—tear this course apart again with that tyrant's late kick!!!!"
"—First choice! From Ōi—Inari One!!!!"
Vvvvmm—!!
With that name unleashed, an unseen blast ripped across the racecourse. Everyone felt it: a phantom prickling burned across their skins. A crushing pressure fell like a meteor and hammered every chest at once.
Chiaki's words died; surprise flashed in her eyes. Rudolf's folded arms dropped without her noticing, and even she stared forward, newly solemn.
Only Maruzensky looked unsurprised. A hand stroked her cheek; excitement glinted as she whispered, smiling, "Well, well—little Inari is here."
High atop the Five Sacred Peaks on that East-Emisphere journey months ago, she'd seen Inari's present realm with her own eyes: half a step beyond everyone here—the true summit.
Even the "Emperor" might struggle to stand with her today.
Maruzensky's eyes shone—with joy that there were two more of that level in this field.
On the course.
Thump.
One heavy footfall.
Twelve horse girls already on the grass turned, faces taut. A chill crept from marrow to nape and pricked their spines.
"So that's… the spring Tenno Sho's overlord."
"What terrifying presence."
Someone spoke under her breath, fists tightening.
Inari stepped into the center in her victory outfit. Her gaze swept the ring of wary, guarded eyes.
She stopped.
"—Bear witness!!"
In an instant—
Invisible flame roared outward from her like a volcano, and Domain light—endless crimson—poured to fill the course, a tide that would burn the whole world clean.
"Are you here to be the stepping stones on which Lady Inari walks to the peak?"
The words thundered like a demon king's edict—and echoed in every heart.
No one answered. Thirteen Central horse girls stood silent, as if the force had sealed their voices. A few among the weaker bent their heads; they couldn't look straight into that blaze.
At the rail, Creek pressed her lips tight.
Stronger—again…
But the wavering lasted only an instant. She curled her fingers slowly into a fist; the gentleness in her eyes kindled into a firm, unbending will.
…
In the stands—
Click.
The door swung open. A handsome young man entered with two horse girls—one tall, one small. He spotted Rudolf and blinked, then lifted a hand with a grin.
"Rudolf, Maru—and Chiaki. Long time."
The three legends turned. Maruzensky, as ever, wore a soft smile. The other two were grave.
An intangible pressure rolled off the three; beside them, Mejiro McQueen, only recently debuted, frowned slightly.
"Oh my, Kuroha—long time," Maruzensky chirped, and trotted over to him. On reflex, she took his hand and tugged him to the front rail.
"Maru, don't rush," Kuroha laughed helplessly.
"The race is about to start—you're late," she scolded lightly.
"Better lucky than early," he said, amused, and beckoned McQueen and Tokai Teio to join him.
As a veteran Central trainer, Kuroha no longer needed Rudolf's back door to enter this luxury terrace; he came and went as he pleased. None of his other girls were slated to run the Tenno Sho today, so he'd brought McQueen to see the world—and with the afternoon post, Teio had finished class and tagged along to learn what a G1 felt like.
"Kaichō, I wanna watch too—!"
Teio circled Kuroha's feet, then scooted over to Rudolf and tried to scramble up her leg.
"Teio, no." Rudolf plucked the little rascal up by the scruff of her jacket and set her down again.
"Kaichō's mean…"
Ignored, Teio trotted back to Kuroha with both hands up. "Trainer—"
Kuroha crouched, slipped his hands under her arms, and hefted her high—drawing peals of laughter from the tiny empress.
Beside them, McQueen glanced at Teio in Kuroha's arms, then at herself.
She's just small. I've grown up. I don't need you to carry me anymore.
Next to Rudolf, Chiaki tilted her head at Kuroha, then felt the furnace-wind rolling off the course and smiled at the taste of it. "Such an interesting trainer."
…
Below, the fanfare swelled.
"Thirteen horse girls who adorn an era—now moving into the gates!"
The caller's voice rang like a bell.
"Tenno Sho (Autumn)—the race—"
Clack!
The gates sprang wide.
"Is OFF!!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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