Inside the stage hall at Nakayama Racecourse.
Amid waves of heated, thunderous cheering, the winner's stage for this year's Arima Kinen finally came to an end.
This also marked the true conclusion of this year's "Shining Series."
Very soon, a new year would arrive—
And with it, a brand-new journey where a new generation would rise.
…
In the night, a spacious car cruised steadily along the road home.
Kuroha had his hands on the steering wheel.
In the seats behind him, six big and one small—for a total of seven horse girls—completely filled the car.
Fortunately, when he'd bought the car, he had already anticipated having a large team someday, and chosen this particular model.
Otherwise, one car really wouldn't have been enough to take everyone at once.
"Heehee, McQueen's gotten so big."
In the back seat, Tokai Teio was sitting quite naturally on Mejiro McQueen's lap.
Right now, her small head only just reached McQueen's chin.
"We used to be exactly the same height, you know," the little Teio grumbled in mild dissatisfaction.
McQueen's arms circled around from behind, resting at Tokai Teio's pale neck as she smiled gently.
"You'll grow up just like me soon enough, Teio."
"Hmph, of course!"
Teio puffed out her tiny chest in pride.
"I can feel it. Very soon I'm gonna get really, really big!"
She paused for a moment, then deliberately pressed her back harder, rubbing against McQueen's already quite impressive chest.
After hesitating just a little, she added:
"Mm, I'll definitely get even bigger than you, McQueen!"
"…"
McQueen's smile froze.
In a low murmur by Teio's ear, she said,
"I get the feeling… we're not talking about the same thing here, Teio."
"Ahahaha, no way, of course not!"
Tokai Teio scratched her head guiltily.
Their little two-person skit had heated the mood of the entire car.
The other girls in the back began chatting in soft, lively voices as well, excitedly recounting how they had felt during the race.
Amid that laughter, on the passenger seat next to Kuroha, Inari One, of all people, was unusually quiet.
She didn't join in the conversation in the back.
She just leaned her head toward the window, silently watching the dazzling city lights flashing by outside, lost in thoughts no one else could hear.
Seeing this, Kuroha chuckled softly and let go of the wheel with one hand to ruffle her hair.
"What's wrong, little Inari?" he asked gently. "You won the race; are you in a bad mood or something?"
"Ah? N-no, I'm fine!"
Inari One jolted as if woken from a dream, snapping back to herself.
Her cute horse ears twitched, and she tugged her lips into a grin.
"How could I be in a bad mood after winning? I'm not that delicate!"
She gave a little snort, but that bravado faded quickly.
She turned back to the window and said in a small voice:
"I'm just… thinking about something else."
Kuroha's fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel, then he asked quietly:
"The same thing as Chiyono?"
The atmosphere inside the car instantly shifted.
The chatter in the back cut off as if sliced by a knife.
Every horse girl fell silent, all eyes turning toward the small figure in the passenger seat.
Sakura Chiyono O's face showed a look of understanding.
Obey Your Master's expression, in contrast, dimmed noticeably.
Under everyone's quiet gaze, Inari One stayed silent for a long moment.
Then she slowly turned her head to look at Kuroha.
In those eyes of hers, usually so bold and brash, there was now a trace of helplessness and acceptance.
"Trainer, you really are sharp…"
She let out a wry little laugh.
"I only just started to feel it myself."
Through the rearview mirror, Kuroha glanced at Obey Your Master, who had her head slightly bowed.
"And you, Obey?"
"…Yeah."
Obey Your Master responded with a muffled sound, her voice even lower than usual.
"It's really annoying… it feels like the power in my body is slowly leaking out."
With that, the air in the car grew heavy.
"That's right."
Inari One shook off that hint of helplessness and straightened her back again, letting out a sharp huff.
"Just like Chiyono, I can feel it… I'm pretty much at the end of the road."
"But, it doesn't matter anymore!"
She turned fully this time.
Even in the night, her blue-green eyes were still sharp, shining with light.
"Trainer, I don't feel like dragging this out."
"Eh?"
The girls in the back all flinched in surprise at that.
With a proud thrust of her chest, Inari One declared at the top of her voice:
"Today's Arima Kinen—taking the win at the very strongest peak! That's my retirement race, for Inari One!"
"——?!"
The blunt declaration exploded like a bomb in the car that had been full of laughter just moments before.
"W-wait! Inari-senpai? You're retiring now?!"
McQueen's voice shot up in pitch with her shock.
"Of course!"
Hands on her hips, Inari One said,
"Taking a gorgeous bow at the very peak—that's the only ending that matches Inari-sama's aesthetics. Right? Letting it drag on would just look lame!"
"Then… what about Obey?" Sakura Chiyono O turned to ask.
"Ah, me?"
Obey Your Master let out a soft laugh.
"I'm not as energetic as Inari, doing that whole 'retire at the very top' thing… I get tired just thinking about it."
"As for me…" She squinted her eyes, thinking it through at her own, lazy pace.
"I'll just run one more race."
"One more race?" Tokai Teio asked curiously.
"Mm."
Obey Your Master nodded, slowly laying out her plan.
"In spring next year. I'll just pick some G2 with a nice-sounding name, jog through it as a warm-up, and then retire."
"A G2 with a nice-sounding name?!"
Fujimasa March couldn't help protesting.
"That's way too casual! At least pick a G1…"
"G1s are tiring," Obey Your Master said with a lazy smile, eyes half-closed.
"Don't feel like it…"
"…"
Listening to one retirement plan more decisive than the last, Kuroha couldn't help letting out a helpless sigh—then, somehow, he smiled.
"…That really is just like you two."
One wanted to bow out in the most dazzling way possible, at the absolute peak.
The other intended to live by her whims right up to the final second.
Right now, Kuroha could clearly see it.
A faint black vapor—symbolizing the end of a story—was quietly drifting out from Inari One, Obey Your Master… and from Sakura Chiyono O seated near them.
But in the back seat, from Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio, there was nothing but an ever-brightening halo of seven-colored light.
Inside the cramped little car, the two different radiances intertwined without mixing, each drawing its own clear line.
Looking at this scene, Kuroha couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
So this is… the passing of an era.
Hands steady on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road stretching out ahead, he said quietly:
"Yeah… you must be tired. I understand."
The car continued smoothly into the night, carrying with it the curtain call of one era—
And the dawning light of another.
(End of Chapter)
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