"Tamamo, I want to eat takoyaki..."
"I'll make it for you! Ah! So troublesome! I'm not like you, Oguri. I'm not his charge! Why do I have to take care of you like this?!"
Two years had passed, and Oguri Cap had to say that she had to take back her prejudice against Tamamo Cross. She was now certain that Tamamo was not her enemy, but her good friend, the best friend in her heart, second only to him and her mother.
Two years ago, she had met Tamamo and had become roommates and rivals. At that time, she had had a great deal of fighting spirit towards this ash-haired senior whom he had known in a time she did not know. She had thought that Tamamo was the same as Fujimasa March, who had met him earlier than her and wanted to take away her "father" from her.
However, after getting along for so long, she no longer had such thoughts. The reason was the close but not-over-the-line relationship between Tamamo, him, and her during this long period of time.
First, Tamamo had indeed met him without her knowledge. Although she had asked for the reason several times, Tamamo had always been evasive. But she also knew very well that he must have helped her family a great deal. Every time she mentioned this matter, her tone was filled with unconcealed excitement and joy.
But even so, Tamamo had not, like her, chosen to become a member of his team. She and he were not quite sure why she had made this choice, and her explanation for this matter was:
"Ah... I'm actually not very fond of being tied down. Besides, if I join, then no matter if it's you or me who wins the race, you will be very conflicted, right? I don't want to cause you any trouble."
"So, I won't join in the fun, right? Haha, anyway... I haven't fulfilled my promise with him, so I don't have the face to join... or something."
She didn't know what promise she had made with him, but at least she had kept her promise and had not joined his team to this day. This became an important reason for the easing of the relationship between her and Tamamo. And because of this, not only did the two not confront each other, but because they were roommates, they even established a relationship that was both rivals and friends.
And another important reason... was that after Fujimasa March had taken the initiative to leave and no longer returned to this "sad place," he and she had lost the object who could take care of their daily lives. Especially the inconvenient him, although he could barely take care of himself, he could hardly take care of her.
And just when she had just made up her mind to take over from Fujimasa and take on the important task of taking care of him, Tamamo Cross had noticed this and had immediately taken over the important task of taking care of him.
"Don't look at me like this. I'm the older sister at home. And my parents are not in good health, so I've been learning to take care of my younger siblings since I was a child."
"He has helped my family so much. Just leave this small matter to me! I will take care of you as I would my own family."
—But that being said, she actually didn't have many opportunities to take care of him. After all, he was an adult. Although his physical condition was worrying, he still did not want to trouble her with everything.
"If I affect your future races and training because of me, it wouldn't be good." He had, after receiving her enthusiastic care for a week at that time, finally found a chance to reveal his true thoughts to her. "Most of the things on my side can be handled by myself. Tamamo, I would rather ask you a favor... to take care of Oguri Cap for me."
"After getting along during this period, you also know that she, um... in areas other than racing, she is relatively lacking in common sense. I can't always be by her side, so in many places, I can't take care of her."
"But you and she are roommates, and you usually train together. So if possible, please take more care of her when I can't. Can you?"
According to her, that's what he had said to her at the time. Although she had later, whether out of sourness or helplessness, complained, "Are you her real dad?", she had ultimately shouldered the important task of taking care of her. This was also an important reason for the rapid warming of their friendship.
However, if she could go back two years, she would have definitely rejected his "half-said" request!
"You only said she had no common sense! Why didn't you tell me she eats so much every day?!" In the kitchen, the still-busy but extremely skilled Tamamo, operating the takoyaki machine, also couldn't help but complain to him, who was helping to cut vegetables on the side. "Do you know how long I have to use the dormitory kitchen when she cries out that she's hungry in the middle of the night? How much effort have I spent to feed her, do you know?"
"You should teach her how to feed herself!"
"I wanted to, but she never seems to learn." And on the side, he, who had been free from his wheelchair for some time, also turned his gaze slightly to her behind him, who was now holding chopsticks and ready to pounce. After his gaze softened a little, he also answered helplessly, "It's probably because she has no talent in areas other than running. It seems I should have asked you to take care of her for the rest of her life."
"Besides, you've been taking care of her very well, haven't you? Before her last Arima Kinen, it was you who helped her control her diet, so she didn't get fat, right?"
"That was just a casual remark, but because of that, I actually lost to her in the Arima Kinen. I'm very unhappy about that." And thinking of her defeat in the Arima Kinen in the past, the now-retired Tamamo also couldn't help but sigh, but not because of past regrets, but because of the man in front of her, who had recovered a lot compared to before.
"You... don't spoil her so much. What if one day you're gone? It's not realistic for me to take care of her all the time."
"—Kitano won't leave, Tamamo."
However, at her casual mention of this heavy topic, the originally drooling Oguri immediately changed her expression, and as if her deepest nerve had been touched, she turned her head and answered her, word by word, "He is much healthier than before. He will definitely not leave."
"Oguri, you... alright, I won't say it."
Originally wanting to say something, Tamamo Cross, also under his slight shake of the head, chose not to bring up this topic again. Instead, she placed a plate of freshly baked, genuine octopus balls on a plate and walked towards the dining table with him.
"So, congratulations, Oguri! You won the Japan Cup this time! You have become a genuine popular king and the new general!"
"Mm, thank you, Tamamo, Kitano..."
Two years had passed. Tamamo, as a senior, had achieved excellent results of winning the Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō consecutively and three consecutive G1 victories, and had retired with glory last year. And with the retirement of one of the "Ash-Haired Monsters," her legend did not end there.
Everything was proceeding as he had paved the way for her. A few months after they had met at Tracen, good news came from Rudolf—the JRA had agreed to his proposal to add a registration strategy for the Classic Triple Crown and had implemented it in the same year. This agreed to provide an opportunity for horse girls who met the registration conditions but had missed the registration time.
And because of this, she had participated in the Japanese Derby as she had wished that year. On the racetrack, she had competed with powerful horse girls such as Ardan, Yaeno Muteki, and Sakura Chiyono O. In the end, she had almost without suspense won her first G1 in her life. From a country "Cinderella," she had been promoted to a much-watched "Derby horse."
From that day on, her existence was like a shot in the arm, igniting the passion of the sluggish Japanese horse girl world! Her appearance broke the law of the horse girl world, which had always emphasized bloodline. Her humble birth, from the local area, had climbed to the peak of the central horse girls. Such an inspiring story made her the real "popularity king" of Japan now!
After experiencing the "Ash-Haired Monster dispute" with Tamamo Cross, the "Heisei Three Strongs dispute" with Inari One and Super Creek, and a series of disputes and victories, her achievements now had reached a peak in Japan.
"One of the Heisei Three Strongs, breaking Speed Symboli's record of twelve major prize victories, and breaking Japan's highest prize money record..."
"Oguri, you're really so strong that there's nothing to say."
Tamamo looked at her in front of her and couldn't help but be filled with emotion. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have been able to equate that "ash-haired monster" with the living incompetent in front of her, who couldn't do anything without her and him.
And her sigh did not attract the attention of the now-buried-in-food her. She was used to this. And she also suddenly remembered something and turned to him on the side and couldn't help but ask:
"By the way, Kitano, I heard before that after the Japan Cup, you went to find that horse girl team called Osaichi George? I heard you wanted her to stay in Japan?"
"What's up? Could it be that you've also taken a fancy to this New Zealand horse girl? I have to remind you, she is the queen of New Zealand. Even if she is willing to stay, the people of New Zealand will not allow you to fleece them like this."
"What are you talking about? I just hope she can stay in Japan for a while longer."
And her words undoubtedly also attracted her attention. As if noticing her "daughter's" particularly concerned gaze, he, after a light laugh, turned his gaze to her and said with a teasing tone:
"After all, I feel that she seems to be very interested in you. If possible, I also hope she can have a good relationship with you."
"I didn't say it wrong, did I, Oguri? I heard from the New Zealand staff that when she was eating, you didn't even move your chopsticks and just stared at her until you couldn't see her anymore, right?"
"Eh? Really? You're interested in that New Zealand queen?"
And his words also immediately aroused her curiosity. And under his and her gaze, the normal-looking her, after swallowing the food in her mouth, nodded with a serious look and said in a tone that was without any ripples:
"She is very powerful. I felt so from the first time I met her."
"And... I feel that she seems to be carrying a very heavy obsession on her back. After I defeated her this time, her attitude has been very depressed. So I hope you can go and help her. After all, what you are best at is solving these difficulties, right?"
Saying this, she also turned her curious gaze to him. After blinking her bright and spirited eyes a few times, she asked with expectation:
"So, how is she? Kitano?"
"Not bad. I talked with her. She seems to have figured some things out. Her team has not yet agreed to let her stay in Japan, but I think in the future, she should come to Japan to visit you often."
Faced with his light smile, which was mixed with a hint of inexplicable ambiguity, her mood also improved a little. Then she continued to eat with her head down. She did not know that all her reactions were within his expectations. And even "Osaichi George," this New Zealand queen, was a part of the path he had prepared for her from the beginning.
He didn't know why, but since a certain day, she, who had always been clingy to him and had revered him as a father, had stopped calling him "Dad" in private and had started to call him by his first name. But she herself knew very well what the change in her address for him meant.
As for Osaichi George, it was not as he had thought. She was not really just curious about her super strength, and felt sorry for her being trapped in an obsession, so she hoped he would help her. She knew that he might have misunderstood her meaning, but she did not want to refute anything now because she was also thinking.
She was thinking about what kind of feelings she had for him.
Faced with him, who had always been obedient to her, she could not tell whether her feelings for him were the care for a family member, the respect for a father, or... a preference for a member of the opposite sex.
She, who could not distinguish between these feelings, her feelings for him could be said to be mixed. It seemed that any one of them was correct, but it also seemed that any one of them was not appropriate. But she knew very well that her heart would absolutely not be satisfied with stopping at the relationship of "father and daughter" with him.
As for what this feeling was in the end... she planned to tell him her complicated feelings after she retired.
She believed that he would give her an answer. Whether he treated her as a daughter, a younger sister, or as a member of the opposite sex... no matter what the result was, she could accept it. She would be happy from the bottom of her heart—as long as he stayed by her side forever.
As long as he was there, her life would be full of happiness, because she could be sure that he "loved" her... as long as that was the case, it was enough.
But at that time, she could not have imagined that she, who had just won the Japan Cup and was in high spirits, would usher in a huge change in her life a month later—her gear of fate had begun to turn again. This time, she would be like a bird whose wings had been broken in mid-air, falling into what could be called a bottomless abyss.
A month later, on the track of the Arima Kinen, the number one favorite, Oguri Cap, competed in a G1 again under the watchful eyes of thousands. But the final result was a big surprise...
"What?! Oguri Cap! She's only in fifth place! What on earth happened? Her condition seems to be very bad. She can't exert her strength!"
What's wrong... I can't breathe? This feeling—what on earth is it?
On the Arima Kinen track, Oguri, who had fallen to fifth place for the first time in her life, was panting heavily, her pupils vacant as she stared at the results on the several boards. She couldn't help but feel a panic in her heart, for her poor performance this time, and even more so for the man who was silently applauding her not far away...
He... didn't show any surprise at all, as if all of this was within his expectations. What on earth was going on?
Her heart tightened, and she couldn't help but beat faster again. Once again, a familiar sense of crisis enveloped her. She felt that something very important... seemed to be... step by step, quietly leaving her...
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