"What're you thinking about, Legend?"
Lollipop in mouth, the Trainer looked helplessly at the distant Gold Legend.
"You've been spaced out since we met up. The race is about to start."
"...Sorry, something's on my mind."
Snapping back, Gold Legend shook her head and glanced around.
"Where is everyone?"
"Only just noticed?" The Trainer shrugged. "Those guys said they wanted to find a spot closer—no, the closest possible—to watch this race."
"They're that fired up? How rare." Gold Legend sounded surprised.
"It's the Arima Kinen, and it's Oguri Cap's retirement race," the Trainer said with feeling. "Look at this crowd—they're all here for her."
Gold Legend looked around. Today Nakayama Racecourse was packed wall-to-wall; fans pressed shoulder-to-shoulder, many waving banners cheering for Oguri Cap.
"...She's unbelievably popular." Legend exclaimed.
"Well, it's Oguri Cap we're talking about." The Trainer nodded. "So, where do you want to watch?"
"Right up front." Gold Legend pointed just before the finish line.
"...We'll never squeeze through." The Trainer eyed the dense crowd uneasily.
"No worries—Trainer, you'll just have to work a bit harder."
"...What are you planning? Stop! People could die!"
Gold Legend used the Trainer as a human plow, carving a path through the throng!
"...Thought I was going to die."
At the finish-line stands the Trainer rubbed his bruised spots, groaning.
"Have confidence, Trainer. After all those Horse Girls trained on you, you're still kicking—this is nothing." Gold Legend showed no remorse.
"That's completely different!" the Trainer shot back. "Also, are you sure we should stay here?"
"This is where a race is finally decided, isn't it?"
Does this race have any Great Escape runners?
Gold Legend said indifferently.
Makes sense.
The Trainer nodded.
Who do you think will win?
Gold Legend asked suddenly.
Huh? That's hard to say." The Trainer tilted his head, thinking. "But personally, I'd give Yaeno Muteki the best odds—she won the Tenno Sho in autumn, after all.
Yet her Japan Cup record wasn't great, was it?
Still, her win rate is high, and the Mejiro Family has two Horse Girls in this race: both Mejiro Ardan and Lene are top-tier. That said, the likeliest winner is Shirota—she's the fan favorite.
Any chance Oguri Cap could take it?" Gold Legend's tone was odd.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Look—Oguri Cap is only fourth in popularity. Judging by her recent runs, her chances are slim." The Trainer was emphatic.
…Didn't Oguri Cap top the fan vote for the Arima Kinen?
People voted with their hearts, not their heads.
I still think Oguri Cap can win.
Hah! That would be a miracle. Listen—Oguri Cap's odds are as low as mine of confessing to anyone. If she wins, I'll confess to Hana on the spot! I'm a professional Trainer—I can read this stuff."
I didn't ask for anything; you said it yourself.
Gold Legend had no reply.
A sudden commotion arose.
Huh? Yaeno Muteki's refusing to load?" Gold Legend arched a brow at the Commentator's words.
Probably spooked by the crowd—that kid's shy," the Trainer muttered, rubbing his nose.
A moment later
The crowd cheered.
Oguri Cap loaded.
Gold Legend stared unblinking at the gate.
Show me—what is it you want to prove?
The Trainer glanced at Gold Legend, who had never worn such an expression, seemed to understand, and fell silent.
The final chapter of this Horse-Girl season—the Arima Kinen, Oguri Cap's retirement race! Her last run ever!" the Commentator's voice rose.
Clack—the gates sprang open.
They're off!
All sixteen Horse Girls broke almost as one.
…No one's lunging wildly," Gold Legend observed.
Everyone here is elite—they're saving strength," the Trainer explained.
Around turn four of lap one, Chōsaji leads slightly, Yaeno Muteki sits second, Mejiro Ardan runs the outside, and Oguri Cap—Oguri Cap is mid-pack!…" the Commentator rattled off.
Gold Legend focused; the next straight ran past the stands, giving her a perfect view.
The field swept past.
…
Oguri Cap's sitting fifth or sixth… feels different," the Trainer murmured, sensing something.
Yaeno Muteki's off," Gold Legend said.
She's second right now."
Her aura's hollow—strong look, weak core. After-effects of the autumn Tenno Sho?" Gold Legend glanced back at Oguri Cap.
Seriously? What about Mejiro Ardan?" the Trainer asked, recalling Ardan's close loss to Muteki in the autumn Tenno Sho.
Ardan's been flat from the start.
Gold Legend had sensed it ever since their gallery outing: Ardan wasn't poor, just… detached, as though she'd set something down.
So who do you like?
By my read—Shirota, Lene, and—"
Got it.
They spoke as the field hit turn three.
We're into the third sector! The back-runners are closing—this is the final fight!" the Commentator cried. Oguri Cap held sixth, serene.
Hoofbeats surrounded her; stands roared.
Yet Oguri Cap felt silence.
Odd contradiction, she mused.
Caught a glimpse of Legend—can't miss her.
Rare to see Legend so serious.
A fleeting image, but Oguri Cap smiled.
This is the last time… doesn't feel real.
Feeling the turf beneath her hooves, Oguri Cap thought to herself.
So much time has passed without my noticing.
Memories of the past flashed through her mind—meeting Kitahara in Kasamatsu, and now living at Central Tresen; every moment felt as vivid as yesterday.
Our era has ended. Letters from fans urge me to retire, even Super Creek and Inari have stepped down. A new generation of Horse Girls has risen, their strength so dazzling it leaves me ashamed. You feel the same, don't you?
Watching Yaeno Muteki and Ardan, two old rivals just ahead, Oguri Cap mused.
Rudolf once told me that every age brings its own champions; times always change, and one day finer juniors will surpass us. That's simply how it is—and now I truly understand.
Oguri Cap sensed two formidable auras behind her: one was that junior called Shiraishi, the other the Aldan family's heir called Rein.
But I still refuse to admit defeat! Even if my era has passed, I won't give in. Even if it's just once, I want to prove it!
I, Oguri Cap, am still standing!
I will transcend the era itself!
"Go, Oguri Cap!"
"Hang in there, Oguri Cap!"
Voices of support rose from the grandstands.
Among them Oguri Cap recognized many familiar cheers.
"Hah."
She drew a quiet breath.
Turning everyone's hopes into strength… "Here I go!"
"Oguri Cap is coming—Oguri Cap is sprinting! They're entering the fourth leg, the final straight!"
"What… is that?"
Gold Legend stared in shock at the light erupting from Oguri Cap and murmured.
"What?" The Trainer was bewildered.
"You can't see it?"
Gold Legend gave the Trainer a startled glance, then snapped her gaze back to the track.
"Of course you can't; that's normal."
"What are you talking about?"
Gold Legend said no more, her eyes fixed ahead.
On the course, the dashing Oguri Cap accelerated again; every stride kicked up clods of earth.
Gold Legend watched the radiance cloaking Oguri Cap. She could sense it—something similar to, yet different from, a Zone.
"Two hundred meters left! Oguri Cap leads! Oguri Cap leads!"
"Rein is closing behind—but Oguri still leads! Oguri leads!"
The Commentator's voice still rang in her ears as Gold Legend stared, entranced, at Oguri Cap's glowing form. She could see the light-slicked sweat on her face—and the smile on her lips.
"Oguri Cap hits the line first—Oguri Cap is the champion!"
"Superstar Horse Girl Oguri Cap has decorated this final race with a miraculous victory!"
Gold Legend took in the scene, transfixed.
Though she had known the outcome, the moment—the instant the miracle arrived—left Gold Legend unable to look away.
"Amazing—so incredible—she actually won!" The Trainer's excited shout brought Gold Legend back to her senses.
"Yes… she won," Gold Legend whispered. "So this is your proof?"
Gold Legend seemed to understand something at last.
"Oguri!! Oguri!!"
A roar loud enough to shake the entire course thundered through the air.
Facing the crowd, Oguri Cap raised her left hand high.
Gold Legend would remember this sight forever—the instant the miracle was born.
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