"The final hundred meters! Is it Fujimasa March? Is it Eperlan? Or is it Oguri Cap?!"
"Oguri Cap! Oguri Cap has the lead! What terrifying momentum! She's like a tiger bursting from its cage!"
At this stage of the race, the girls had no strength—and no desire—to say anything. On the track, there was only the sound of the wind, the roars of the crowd, the heavy, searing breaths of the Horse Girls, and their heart-wrenching bellows of effort.
Accompanied by the commentator's high-pitched scream of "CROSSING THE LINE!!!", the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun finally drew to a close.
In the stands, Maruzensky sat up slightly straighter. Her beautiful brows were furrowed, seemingly saddened by Eperlan's loss; however, a moment later, the corners of her mouth curled upward. For someone who truly loved Horse Girl racing, offering applause and cheers for the victor was the only right thing to do, regardless of whether their own favorite won or lost.
Unless, of course, the winner had used some dishonorable means. But Horse Girls didn't operate that way, making such a concern a complete non-factor.
Maruzensky let out a soft sigh of admiration. "It looks like Central is going to get a lot noisier next year. And then..."
Maruzensky lowered her eyes, looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka standing amidst the crowd. She murmured, "Fujimaru-kun, now you surely have no reason to refuse my invitation again, right?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka felt the gaze coming from behind him, but he didn't pay it much mind. He simply waved the plushies of the three Horse Girls and looked at them with a smile. In his view, all three girls had given their absolute all; regardless of the outcome, he would be proud of them.
As for Oguri Cap taking the championship, it was a development he had anticipated. He felt it was only natural.
After all, what had surged in the depths of that girl's eyes was a pitch-black flame powerful enough to set the world ablaze!
Ritsuka smiled slightly, a profound light swirling in his deep blue eyes that no one could decipher.
The three girls crossed the finish line one after another. They stood with their hands on their knees, gasping for air in great, heaving gulps. Sweat slid down their flushed faces, dripping onto the sand and leaving dark, blooming stains.
A single thought flashed through Oguri Cap's mind: Did I... did I win?
She wasn't entirely sure.
When she had been trailing slightly behind the other two, she felt she couldn't let it end that way. She wanted to win the race, to make Ritsuka proud of her. In that instant, a miraculous power seemed to surge through her body, allowing her to drive her legs with even greater force.
And then... and then...
She didn't see the other two girls anymore. All she saw before her eyes was the empty track ahead!
Only then did Oguri finally confirm her judgment: She had won!
Eperlan and Fujimasa March weren't as conflicted as Oguri. In the very final moments, they had watched Oguri Cap's silver-gray tail "slip away" right in front of them. They understood better than anyone: the winner of the regional circuit was Oguri Cap. She had claimed the most important honor of the year. She was this year's strongest regional Horse Girl.
Regional Horse of the Year? Who else could it be but her!
The audience's cheers erupted like a tsunami, nearly drowning the Horse Girls entirely. They shouted and roared Oguri Cap's name, some even moved to tears on the spot.
Someone even remarked, "Perhaps I will never forget this day for as long as I live."
And why wouldn't they? The moment Horse Girls give their all for victory is one of the most radiant sights in the world.
Oguri Cap straightened up, still breathing heavily, and looked toward the stands. She was searching for Fujimaru Ritsuka. She wanted to find him immediately and tell him: Trainer-san, I won. We can go to Central together and realize your ideals.
Although she didn't know why Ritsuka sought a balance between Central and the regions, or why he wanted to promote the regional Horse Girl industry, it didn't matter at all. Ritsuka's ideals were her ideals. She wanted to be by his side as he accomplished it all. That was enough.
Right then, the voices of the other girls rang out in a scramble.
"Oguri! That was amazing!"
"I knew you could do it!"
"That last burst was so cool! As expected of you, Oguri."
The trio from Kasamatsu rushed onto the track as one, surrounding Oguri. They cheered in a chaotic jumble, slapping her shoulders and back before starting to knead her muscles, seemingly trying to give her a massage to ease her fatigue.
However, massage is a technical skill. They had zero experience, resulting in Oguri wincing and grimacing under their clumsy hands.
One could only say that while Horse Girls only needed to focus on running with all their hearts, a Trainer had far more to consider.
Take this moment, for instance—not just anyone is allowed onto the track, not even other Horse Girls. Fujimaru Ritsuka had to intercept the arriving staff members to explain the situation. Double Bell Luster, showing her sharp wits, stayed by Ritsuka's side to help, ensuring that Le Glorieux didn't steal the spotlight at a time like this.
Still, Luster couldn't help but grumble in her heart: Honestly, you guys really know how to cause a scene. Can't you be a little more considerate of the Trainer?
Even though she was secretly criticizing them, she truly viewed them as teammates, which was why she thought that way. If she didn't care about the trio at all, she would have just let them act like troublemakers, which would have only made her own status as Ritsuka's "reliable right hand" stand out more.
After some commotion, Oguri Cap was infected by her friends' pure, burning joy and let out a brilliant smile. It was also because she saw Ritsuka was busy working that she suppressed her impulse to run to him, preparing to share her unique joy with him a little later.
Eperlan stood off to the side alone. She kept her head down, wiping away sweat. Her long, reddish-brown hair obscured her profile, hiding her expression. Her fingers curled slightly, as if she were about to clench her fist, then loosen it, struggling to keep something under control.
Noticing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka silently moved through the still-excited crowd to stand beside her.
"El."
Hearing Ritsuka's voice, Eperlan's shoulders gave an almost imperceptible tremble. She didn't turn around immediately; she first straightened her back, then turned, forcing her expression to look as though she weren't too disappointed.
"Trainer." Her voice was a bit raspy, but steady enough. After a pause, she squeezed out a smile, wanting to prevent Ritsuka from worrying about her. She succeeded in smiling, but failed in the execution—the smile was strained and awkward to look at.
Before the race, she knew Oguri Cap was powerful. She knew she might lose. She could even tell herself that there was no shame in losing to Oguri.
At the very least, this time, she had come close to winning. Compared to their first encounter, her performance today was something she should be proud of.
But... she still felt the bitterness of defeat.
Could any Horse Girl truly accept failure with a whole heart? If the gap had been massive, it might be different, but today... while a one-length gap is distinct, it wasn't as if she had no chance at all.
If only a single "if" had gone differently, she might have won.
That was why Eperlan felt so restless.
But there are no "ifs" in this world. A loss is a loss. Rather than dwelling on a temporary defeat, it was better to look up and move forward. Their careers had only just begun; there would surely be a chance to beat Oguri Cap in the future.
And then there was... no, this was actually the more important factor: Eperlan didn't want Ritsuka to worry.
Regarding her participation in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, she had already caused him trouble. Ritsuka hadn't held it against her and had even helped her come up with a winning tactic. In the end, losing was due to her own lack of skill; how could she let him worry for her again?
That wasn't how a mature Horse Girl should act.
So Eperlan fought to adjust her emotions, determined not to let him see her distress.
"You led for 1,400 meters and were only overtaken at the very last moment. You were incredible, El. I mean it. With that kind of tactical execution and willpower, you'll definitely shine in the future." Ritsuka didn't say words like "pity" or "so close." Instead, he directly validated her performance and looked toward her future.
Finally, he added, "Your control over the pace was perfect. You gave Oguri a massive amount of trouble. Honestly, I started to think I'd made a wrong judgment before the race."
He didn't say, "If Oguri weren't here, El would be the champion," but rather, "Even with Oguri in the race, El was one of the strongest Horse Girls on this track."
Hearing this, Eperlan felt a sting in her nose, and her eyes suddenly grew hot. She quickly turned her face away and took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to cry and the deeper sense of loss.
She felt that Ritsuka's words were sincere, because he was always someone who spoke his mind. But the gulf between "causing trouble" and "winning" was still wide enough to make his words feel heart-wrenching.
"I... I'm fine." Eperlan forced herself to speak, her voice still tight. "I'm just a little... frustrated. I prepared for so long..." She paused, looking toward Oguri Cap, who was surrounded by friends and smiling brightly. Her gaze became complicated. "But I also understand that it's a victory Oguri earned. She worked no less than I did for today. She is strong and diligent—a role model."
Acknowledging a rival's strength was a sign of grace and virtue.
"But Trainer, I won't give up. One day, I will defeat Oguri Cap!" Eperlan said with absolute conviction, a determined light returning to her eyes.
"Yes. I look forward to that day. Let's work hard together. We'll chase that possibility together."
Ritsuka nodded, offering no more empty comforts. He simply said, "On the track, you are rivals. Off the stage, you are friends. This kind of healthy competition will take you both further."
At the word "friends," Eperlan's tense shoulders seemed to relax a fraction. She nodded vigorously again, as if cheering herself on. "Yes. I understand." She smoothed out her expression, managing a decent smile. Though a bit stiff, her gaze was much firmer.
"Let's go greet her moment of glory together, Trainer."
On the other side, Fujimasa March had already congratulated Oguri Cap. She mentioned she needed to go cool down and quietly left through the tunnel.
Fujimaru Ritsuka wanted to follow her and offer some comfort, but next up was Oguri Cap's interview. How could he play favorites and leave Oguri to face the flashbulbs alone?
A moment later, the lighting crew was in position, and the spotlights illuminated the winner's podium.
Below the stage, Oguri Cap held the heavy championship trophy somewhat awkwardly. Her blue eyes were slightly narrowed with excitement, and her clear face wore an unabashed, brilliant, and almost silly smile.
"Trainer-san, I won! I won!" she shouted excitedly, sharing her joy with Ritsuka in her own clumsy way.
She had originally wanted to be the first to tell him, but first she was surrounded by her friends, then Ritsuka had work to handle, and then Eperlan was talking to him.
To be honest, she was a tiny bit unhappy. The Trainer was her Trainer; why was that Eperlan always looking for her Trainer?
Even though they were both receiving Ritsuka's instruction, and it might not make a difference to him...
She still felt a little grumpy about it.
She was Ritsuka's primary trainee; shouldn't she get a bit of special treatment? Why was she ranked behind Eperlan?
However, Oguri was a kind and honest girl at heart. Even though she thought those things, she didn't show it at all. Not only that, but she said quite generously, "El lost, so she's probably very sad. Trainer-san, you can look after her a bit more."
As a Horse Girl, Oguri naturally knew the pain of defeat, so she was willing to graciously "yield" Ritsuka so he could comfort Eperlan.
She thought: Having the Trainer by my side is happiness enough for me.
"Oguri is such a considerate, good girl. So gentle." Ritsuka stroked the top of Oguri's head, his praise unceasing. He truly loved this side of her.
Shortly after, Oguri took to the winner's podium. From the edge of the stage, Ritsuka spotted Fujimasa March.
Clearly, March wasn't a sore loser, though this time she mainly just didn't want Ritsuka to worry. But her heart was in a state of complex turmoil. She didn't want him to worry, but she was also embarrassed, not knowing how to face him.
She was terrified that he would be disappointed in her. After all, Eperlan was already so powerful—much more so than her—and Oguri was far beyond Eperlan. Compared to those two, she... she was almost nothing.
What right did she have to keep receiving Ritsuka's guidance? A person's energy is limited. Ritsuka should focus his primary efforts on Oguri and take her to Central, shouldn't he?
March felt that was the best outcome, and she believed Ritsuka should do exactly that, but she was also terrified—terrified of losing him. Only now did she realize that, without noticing it, she had become so dependent on Ritsuka that she never wanted to leave his side.
Ritsuka noticed that the corners of March's eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. Ritsuka was at his weakest when dealing with tears, so he took the initiative and walked toward her.
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Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (131 Chapters – Ongoing)
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