The Longchamp Racecourse – Afternoon
[Announcer]: "And now, the final G1 of the day is upon us! The heat from the world's longest distance test has yet to cool; if anything, the atmosphere is reaching a fever pitch! All eyes are on our international challengers today. We have the local favorites of France, the titans of Ireland and Great Britain, the pride of the UAE, and making her historic debut on this soil—the challenger from Japan! Who will claim the crown in today's main event, the Prix de Royallieu!?"
The odds reflected the tension: the local French favorite sat at 1st, followed by the UK's Krone at 2nd, Ireland's Clouroad at 3rd, and Rice Shower at 4th. For a girl's first race abroad in a field of fourteen, it was a respectable showing. But Rice was stiff, her eyes darting between rivals she had only ever seen on grainy screen recordings.
[Flashback]
Hachiman: "Listen, Rice. Like I said yesterday, stay on Krone's tail. She's a front-runner who likes to dictate a slow, suffocating pace. Keep the pressure on her. Don't let her find her rhythm. And then... strike the inside."
Rice: "The inside? That's where I should start my spurt?"
Hachiman: "Exactly. There's a gentle curve just as you exit the False Straight. That's your window. Cut into the rail and explode."
Rice: "Okay... I understand!"
Hachiman: "One more thing. If your legs feel light... if you feel like you've got more in the tank... then blow past them. I'm leaving the final call to you. You can play it safe, or you can make it a spectacle. It's your race, Rice. Run it however you want."
Rice: "But... what about your strategy, Big Brother?"
Hachiman: "Just follow my lead until the False Straight. After that? The stage is yours. Go out there and show them who you are."
[Flashback Ends]
"Big Brother... Rice will do her best," I whispered, clutching my silks.
"My, my. Such a grim look on such a pretty face," a voice teased.
"Fueh? K-Krone-san?"
"That won't do at all," Krone said, leaning over with a graceful smile. "Please, a smile for the fans. It suits you better."
I... I wonder what she's saying? I thought. Her English is so fluent, it's like music... I can't keep up.
"Ah... she looks so dazed. Even better," Krone murmured to herself.
"Leave her alone, she doesn't understand a word you're saying," Clouroad sighed, walking up to us. She looked at me and tried a slow, deliberate tone. "You. Face. Cute. Make... okay?"
"Eh!? W-Why would I do that right now!?" I stammered, my face heating up. "N-No! Race! Race first!"
"I see," Krone nodded solemnly. "She says it is difficult to smile while her mind is on the race. Very well—I shall request it after the finish line."
"You never give up, do you?" Clouroad muttered.
Trumpets blared across the turf.
"Time to go," Clouroad said, giving me a thumbs up. "Let's make this a good one, Rice. Good race!"
"Y-Yesh!"
Clouroad smirked. I think I'm starting to get why that Japanese trainer likes her.
[Announcer]: "The fifth fanfare of the day echoes across Longchamp! The final G1, the Prix de Royallieu, is about to begin! The girls are moving to the gates. The loading is proceeding smoothly... wait, it seems Krone, the second favorite, is being a bit difficult."
[Commentator]: "She's known for being a bit temperamental, but she doesn't look agitated. I wonder what she's waiting for?"
Krone stood at the entrance of her stall, looking back at me one last time. "I'll be waiting ahead, Rice. Don't forget that smile."
"...?" I tilted my head, confused.
[Announcer]: "Krone is finally in! Now Rice Shower, the pride of Japan, enters the gate without a hitch. If she wins this, she will be the first Japanese Horse Girl to ever conquer an overseas G1! The expectations are sky-high!"
Clouroad, in the outermost stall, narrowed her eyes. I'm not handing it over that easily!
[Announcer]: "And they're all in! The gates are set. The crowd is hushed. Who will take the glory!? The Prix de Royallieu... starts... NOW!"
CLACK-BOOM!
[Announcer]: "They're off! A beautiful, even break for the whole field! Krone immediately pushes for the lead—the St Leger champion is setting the pace! And right there, shadowing her like a ghost, is Japan's Rice Shower! The favorite, Roche, is biding her time at the back. We're on the backstretch now, fourteen girls charging down the long straight!"
Krone glanced over her shoulder. I didn't expect her to take the position directly behind me, but no matter. I'll just keep the pace to my—!
She felt a shiver.
Rice was right there. Silent. Unblinking.
This pressure... Krone thought, her breath hitching. Does she think she can pass me whenever she wants? Is that why she's lurking there?
[Announcer]: "Let's look at the order! Krone leads! Rice Shower is glued to her! A length and a half back, we have Anaheim and Portes running side-by-side. Clouroad is holding steady in fifth—that's the layout!"
Hey, hey, Clouroad thought, her brow furrowing. Is it just me, or is the pace picking up? We're only halfway through. It's way too early to turn up the heat!
Stay with her, I told myself. Stay with her until the False Straight!
I'll try to shake her off, Krone decided, shifting her weight. But if she follows me into a faster pace this early, she'll burn out. It's a rookie mistake!
[Announcer]: "The long straight ends, and they enter the gentle curve! Not yet! They have to hold their fire! One mistake here is fatal as the field tries to save their strength!"
Not yet... not yet... I'm okay, I whispered.
Now! Krone kicked into a higher gear just before the entrance to the False Straight.
I didn't hesitate. I dug in and followed. Behind us, the rest of the field remained committed to their original plan, waiting for the final stretch.
[Announcer]: "We're in the gauntlet! The famous Longchamp False Straight—the 'Fausse Ligne Droite'! It looks like the finish, but the real battle is still ahead! WAIT! Rice Shower is moving! Clouroad is moving up to fourth! Roche is launching a charge from the back! The field is splintering as they turn into the final stretch!"
Krone's eyes widened. She followed my lead... she should have nothing left! So how!? How can she still move like that!?
[Announcer]: "Rice Shower takes the lead! The Japanese challenger is out in front! She's opened a gap of two... no, three lengths! Roche and Clouroad are desperately giving chase! Krone is digging deep, but Rice Shower is pulling away! She's flying!"
I can still go! I screamed internally. Rice can still run!
[Announcer]: "She's in a league of her own! Rice Shower is too strong! She's leaving the world behind! AND SHE CROSSES THE LINE! RICE SHOWER! RICE SHOWER HAS DONE IT! A Japanese Horse Girl has conquered France! A breathtaking long spurt from the False Straight—no one could even get close! Rice Shower defeats thirteen of the world's best to claim her first international G1!"
"Yes!" Hachiman pumped his fist. "Wait... what is that?"
"Haa... haa..." I slowed to a walk, my lungs burning. I looked up at the stands.
I braced myself. I expected the cold silence of the Kikka-sho. I expected the resentful glares of the Tenno Sho.
But what I saw was... a miracle.
The stadium wasn't silent. It was a roar. People were standing, screaming, waving their hats. And then, something fell from the sky. Thousands of spectators began throwing blue rose petals and blue confetti into the air. A blizzard of blue swept across the track, shimmering in the afternoon sun.
"Bravo, Rice Shower!!" a French fan screamed.
"Merci! Thank you for the beautiful run!"
"Our Rice is the best! You were incredible!" the Japanese fans wailed.
"I saw it! The Blue Rose of Longchamp!"
"..."
My hands began to shake.
In Japan, when I won, I was the one who broke dreams. I was the one who ruined the "perfect" story. But here... they were celebrating. They were happy I won.
The dark, gloomy tunnel I had been running through for years... it was gone. In its place was a world so bright, so sparkling, it brought me to my knees.
"Big Brother..." Tears finally spilled over, carving tracks through the dust on my face. "Rice... Rice finally did it!"
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