Near the finish line.
After venting the very last of her emotions, Inari One stood in the muddy grass with her hands on her hips, laughing loudly. That wild, unrestrained laughter was overflowing with the joy of victory.
Supported by Fujimasa March, Obey Your Master finally managed to stand up from the ground. She glanced at Inari One, who was still grinning like an idiot, and said, half exasperated and half amused:
"All right, that's enough yelling. Go get some proper rest. There's still the winner's stage later, you're the center this time, so don't you dare embarrass yourself."
"Hmph!"
At those words, Inari One immediately reined in her laughter, puffed her chest out proudly, and snorted in a deliberately cool tone.
"You guys just wait and admire Inari-sama's gorgeous dance!"
"Then we'll make sure to admire it properly."
The five girls of Chasing Light exchanged smiles. Somehow, even in their exhausted bodies, a bit more strength welled up.
They supported one another as they walked toward the athletes' tunnel, laughing as they went.
Inari One was, of course, still walking at the very front, her steps light, as if the battle just now had been nothing more than a relaxed, meaningless scuffle.
Just as she reached the mouth of the tunnel, her sharp eyes homed in on a familiar figure she had been thinking about the whole time.
Her steps paused for an instant, then she turned around with a smug little twist, raising her brows at the four behind her. The pride and show-off shine in her eyes were basically overflowing.
Fujimasa March and the others exchanged a helpless look. In the end, they still waved a hand, gesturing for her to hurry over.
"Heehee."
Suddenly bursting with energy from who-knows-where, Inari One kicked off the ground and sprinted a few quick steps, flying toward that figure in the tunnel like a cheerful little bird.
"Trainer——!"
Her clear voice echoed through the passage.
Kuroha watched that adorable face rapidly zoom in within his field of vision. A faintly helpless smile tugged at his lips as he opened his arms.
The next second, that petite body fitted itself perfectly into his chest.
Her rain- and sweat-damp face rubbed back and forth against the fabric of his shirt with all its might.
With a gentle smile on his face, Kuroha let Inari One cling to him as much as she liked, patting her back softly.
At the same time, a glint of sharpness flashed through his eyes—something an ordinary person would never notice.
Right now, in Kuroha's eyes under Body and Breath Perception…
It wasn't just Inari One in his arms.
On Obey Your Master and Sakura Chiyono O, who were walking over with smiles not far away, there were also wisps of black air coiling around them, like ominous smoke.
Of them all, Sakura Chiyono O's black air was the thickest.
It clung to her like maggots on bone, and some of the seven-colored radiance within her was already leaking out, dissipating into the air.
"…So we're already at the limit, huh?"
Kuroha sighed inwardly.
He knew that the blessings from the Three Goddesses on these three horse girls of his were reaching their end.
Sakura Chiyono O's situation was something he had long expected.
When she decided to run in this Arima Kinen, she had already resolved that this would be her retirement race.
Her career had already been brilliant enough.
To be able to share the stage one last time with the strongest—and best—opponents, and to shine with her brightest light on that final stage…
For her, that was the greatest consolation.
As for Inari One and Obey Your Master…
Looking at these two ace horse girls who had been by his side for so long, Kuroha's gaze softened.
The two of them were horse girls who had lived through the same era as Tamamo Cross.
Time flies. The ones who had been pursuing from behind in those days now stood on the pinnacle of their era.
If they continued racing after this Arima Kinen, then next year would be their fifth year as active competitors.
According to the basic rules of this world, a normal horse girl's peak usually comes around her third year to the end of her fourth.
Once she enters her fifth year, as time passes, that peak gradually fades, and the blessings of the Three Goddesses will begin to slowly dissipate.
It's a process that cannot be reversed.
The signs they were showing now were, if anything, perfectly normal.
Even with knowledge and ability far beyond the norm, Kuroha could not resist the most fundamental logic of this world.
After all, this power called the "Blessings of the Three Goddesses" was a miracle bestowed by real, existing deities, granted so that the horse girls could run with all their might.
The power of the gods had its own rules for how it was allowed to flow through the human world.
All he could do was make their careers as free from regret as possible, and fill them with more laughter and glory.
With that thought, Kuroha smoothed away the wandering threads in his heart. His smile once again became warm and dazzling.
He gently ruffled Inari One's hair, then lifted his gaze to the other four girls who had walked up, all exhausted, yet all with bright eyes.
"Let's go," he said with a smile, his voice carrying a reassuring strength. "Go change into something dry and get some rest."
"Mm!"
"Got it!"
The girls answered in unison. Their voices carried fatigue, but even more than that, they carried firmness and trust.
Inari One finally reluctantly wriggled out of Kuroha's arms.
She took the towel he handed her and scrubbed her face roughly a few times. Then she perked right back up, looking at him with sparkling eyes that all but spelled out, 'Hurry up and praise me.'
Kuroha couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile as he passed out the other towels to the rest.
"Go to the lounge and get out of those wet clothes first," he said, already strolling ahead at an easy pace to lead the way. "I've prepared hot drinks."
Back in the prep room.
Warm air rushed out to meet them, chasing the chill from their bodies.
Kuroha had, of course, already adjusted the room temperature to the most comfortable level.
"How was it, how was it, Trainer!"
The moment they entered, Inari One darted up to him, tilting her little face up, stubbornly chasing after praise.
"Wasn't Inari-sama's performance the best?!"
"All right, enough chatter."
Kuroha gave Inari One a pat on the head.
"Hurry and take a hot shower, then get changed. You can't be late for the winner's stage. You're the star of the show today."
Naturally they couldn't have the horse girls dancing on stage all dirty, sweaty, and muddy after the race.
So the prep rooms were always equipped with showers and changing areas.
"Heh heh, but of course!"
With a proud flick of her head, Inari One was the first to dash toward the bathroom.
"Let's go too," Mejiro Ardan called out.
The girls got up one after another and headed for the changing room and showers.
Watching their backs, Kuroha's gaze naturally came to rest on Sakura Chiyono O, who was walking at the very end.
Sensing his eyes on her, she paused and turned back.
Their eyes met.
No words were exchanged.
Sakura Chiyono O smiled at Kuroha—bright and free.
Within that smile was gratitude, reluctance, and, more than anything, a carefree peace with not a single regret.
"Trainer, let's hang out again tomorrow~"
She gave him a brilliant smile and a playful wink, then turned to catch up with her companions.
Kuroha stood quietly where he was until the bathroom door shut behind them, sealing away the laughter and splashing from inside.
The smile on his face slowly settled, turning into a delicate, shining wistfulness.
"Okay."
…
Night at Nakayama Racecourse.
The winner's stage blazed with light, bright as day.
"Oooooooh——!!!"
"Live! Live! Live!"
A sea of people filled the space below, waving their glowsticks, turning the stands into a multicolored ocean.
Flags bearing names like "Inari One," other horse girls, and the word "Chasing Light" were stretched out across the crowd, snapping in the wind.
The waves of roaring cheers seemed like they might ignite the whole night sky.
With the opening of an all-too-familiar intro, the stage spotlights flared to life!
Hand in hand, Inari One, Fujimasa March, and Obey Your Master appeared at center stage.
They wore gorgeous race outfits, glittering under the lights like goddesses descended to the mortal world.
The music rolling across the stands was that song Kuroha knew like the back of his hand—
"Umapyoi Densetsu!"
On stage, the three girls danced with all their hearts, their movements perfectly in sync, overflowing with strength and beauty.
Inari One stood at center.
Her smile was brimming with confidence and swagger, and every motion seemed to declare her victory to the entire world.
Even the usually cool Fujimasa March and the languid Obey Your Master were now fully swept up in the stage's feverish atmosphere, showing off overwhelming idol charisma.
Kuroha stood by a high railing, looking down over everything, a gentle smile on his face.
He watched those radiant girls on stage, watched the crowd going wild for them below, and couldn't help the wave of emotion stirring in his chest.
Time really had flown.
It had been nearly two years since he had graduated, a brand-new local trainer back then, and taken Fujimasa March on as the very first horse girl of his life.
From local to Central. From unknown to the center of attention.
Now, they had finally, truly reached the summit of Central.
Winning the Arima Kinen was not only Inari One's victory.
It was the best possible proof of all the effort Kuroha had poured into these two years.
"So very youthful~"
Just then, a clear, pleasant voice sounded at his ear.
Kuroha blinked and turned toward it.
He saw a brown-haired girl had somehow appeared at his side without him noticing, wearing a small cap with the letters "CB" on it.
She was bending slightly at the waist, slender hands on the railing as she eagerly watched the brilliant stage below.
When she noticed Kuroha had seen her, the girl turned her head just a little, meeting his eyes.
Then she narrowed her own with a smile.
"Good evening, Kuroha-san~"
"…Good evening, Mr. C.B."
Kuroha was a bit surprised, but still greeted her politely.
The newcomer was none other than the third legendary horse girl from Tracen Academy's student council—the one who came and went like the wind, alongside Symboli Rudolf and Maruzensky—
Mr. C.B.
Although Kuroha had run into her a few times, they couldn't really be called close.
This "Triple Crown horse girl" was always as free and unfettered as the wind, impossible to pin down.
"Just call me C.B., okay?" Mr. C.B. said with a playful blink.
"…"
Kuroha didn't really understand what she was thinking, but he still nodded.
"…C.B."
"Heehee."
Mr. C.B. giggled happily at that, then tilted her head and said:
"Kuroha-san, your coaching skills have all the trainers in Central staring these days, you know~"
Kuroha only smiled gently.
"I'm just doing what any trainer ought to do."
"Aah, you don't have to be so modest."
Mr. C.B. flicked a hand as if brushing that off.
She turned her back to the railing like Kuroha, leaning against it while her eyes stayed locked on the stage below.
Her tone, however, was as casual as if they were chatting over tea.
"Actually, I came today because there are three personal questions I wanted to ask you."
"Personal?"
Kuroha looked at her, puzzled.
"Mm."
Mr. C.B. nodded, then turned her face slightly, a sly smile appearing there.
"I was wondering… have you ever considered… taking in retired horse girls?"
"Eh?"
Kuroha froze at that.
Taking in retired horse girls?
What did that even mean?
For retired horse girls, aside from next year's URA Finals, there were basically no more races they could enter.
And their potential was already nearing its limit, so there wouldn't be much point anymore.
Whether for Kuroha, or for the horse girl in question, there didn't seem to be much benefit in such a thing.
While Kuroha was still dazed, Mr. C.B.'s smile only grew brighter.
Under his startled gaze, she lifted one forefinger and lightly tapped her own chest.
"For example…"
"Someone like… me~!"
(End of Chapter)
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