At the training grounds where Team Spica practiced, Nishizaki Ryu was enthusiastically directing his trainees. Judging from the fact that he did not even have time to savor the lollipop in his mouth, this star trainer—who had been basking in the limelight all year—was at the height of his confidence.
Offside Trap appeared carefully at the edge of the grounds. The oversized black sunglasses she wore had been borrowed from Narita Brian through Biwa Hayahide, and they looked absurdly large on her small head.
But all she needed from them was concealment.
She made her way slowly into the spectator stands. Of course, nobody at Spica would notice that one more horse girl had appeared among the onlookers. Nishizaki Ryu was still shouting at the runners on the far side of the track.
"Hold your speed! Keep the formation!"
This was not the first time Offside Trap had watched another trainer conduct practice. Ever since her debut, when she had failed to find a trainer, she had gotten into the habit of observing famous trainers working with their horse girls. It had helped her find direction for improving herself.
But ever since she had started training under Terazumi Shinji, she had stopped watching anyone else.
Compared to Trainer… this feels so crude.
That was her honest evaluation of Nishizaki Ryu's training plan. Then her gaze drifted toward the very front of the stands.
There stood Silence Suzuka.
Fresh off her dominating victory in the Mainichi Okan, Silence Suzuka was in the very prime of her career. Even though the Autumn Tenno Sho was still nearly a month away, no one doubted that she would be the overwhelming favorite.
The pounding of Offside Trap's heartbeat grew louder in her ears.
After thinking it through last night, she had decided she ought to tell Silence Suzuka.
Not only because of Suzuka's leg, but also because she believed the two of them should settle things fairly on the track.
Offside Trap took a deep breath. She lingered at the edge of the spectator area for a moment, then forced herself forward.
Step by step, she approached Silence Suzuka.
When she got within six or seven steps, she could already see Suzuka's profile clearly. Suzuka wore a quiet smile on her face, and as she watched the short-haired horse girl on the field, her eyes were full of affection.
Offside Trap's feet stopped dead.
A sudden thought struck her: If only the man standing at the edge of the track could ever look at me like that.
"True strength will never belong to those who were simply born stronger, quicker, or smarter than others. It belongs only to those willing to pay any price to achieve their goal."
Shinji's words echoed through her mind again.
The step she had intended to take halted in place, and she could only watch as two of Silence Suzuka's little fans, having finally gathered their courage, hurried up to Suzuka.
"Senpai, could I get your autograph?"
They held out autograph boards and pens. Silence Suzuka blinked in surprise, then smiled and nodded.
That smile left the two little fans positively dazed, their eyes swimming.
"All done."
There was a sweet, lightly musical note in Suzuka's voice. Her smile was so inviting that the two girls, even after getting their autographs, could not bear to leave. They simply stood there, gazing foolishly at her face.
"Suzuka!"
Special Week came jogging over too, having just finished a round of training. She was obviously very close to Silence Suzuka, and when Suzuka handed her a towel, the grin on her face nearly split her cheeks.
Offside Trap watched all of it from nearby.
She could see clearly the admiration in other people's eyes when they looked at Silence Suzuka. She could also see every bit of the warmth in Suzuka's responses.
That looks a little dumb…
Offside Trap blinked and, instinctively, tried to ignore Suzuka's face altogether, focusing only on the silly happiness on Special Week's face.
But how could she really avoid looking?
As Special Week excitedly shared what she had learned in training that day, Offside Trap found that even while watching Special Week, she could still see Silence Suzuka reflected in the other girl's eyes—smiling, gentle, perfect.
Just like the polite little smile Suzuka had given Shinji the night before.
That thought made Offside Trap feel unreasonably irritated.
Her gaze drifted back to Suzuka's face.
The kindness Suzuka showed Special Week was obvious in her eyes. At that point, Offside Trap had to admit it: even just half of Suzuka's profile was flawless. The care and gentleness in her expression made her seem like a horse girl who was nearly perfect in every possible way.
The turmoil in Offside Trap's chest rose again.
The comments she had read last night flooded back into her mind. If she took off these sunglasses borrowed from Biwa Hayahide, the dark circles from a sleepless night would surely show.
The grand declarations from Silence Suzuka's fans were always stirring, full of fiery conviction. Even racing fans who did not particularly support anyone would probably find themselves swept up in that passion.
But Offside Trap could not.
By nature, she had been shoved onto the opposite side of the ring from Silence Suzuka, and the reason was simply her victory—her victory had been too good, too dazzling.
The Autumn Tenno Sho was another G1 she would challenge. Silence Suzuka was certain to be her greatest rival. Offside Trap had watched every one of Suzuka's races that year. Suzuka's overwhelming front-running style, her terrifying finishing speed, and her effortless domination of graded races all made Offside Trap painfully aware of the anxiety still hidden deep in her heart.
She was afraid she would not be able to win the Autumn Tenno Sho.
And she had already promised herself that this race would be the offering she presented to Terazumi Shinji.
Shinji had been right. A long career full of failure had given Offside Trap the precious virtues of hard work and humility.
But it had also left behind something else: an inferiority complex that still lingered.
Her hand at her side clenched, then loosened, then clenched again.
Suddenly, it felt as though another voice had appeared in her heart.
Wouldn't it be better if she just withdrew from the race?
Her fans' arrogance has already pushed you onto the opposite side of the ring. What are you still hesitating for?
You have no confidence you can beat her. This is the best decision.
Each time that voice sounded, Offside Trap's body gave a small shudder.
She did not know what was happening to her, but she knew one thing: her heart was telling her that she wanted to win the Autumn Tenno Sho.
She did not want to meet Silence Suzuka there.
If Silence Suzuka just never appeared in that race, wouldn't that be perfect? Your Kyoto Daishoten victory was enough to bring you into everyone's sight. You would become one of the favorites for the Autumn Tenno Sho. You would become Trainer's pride. You would prove that you and your trainer are not some forgotten extras at Tracen and on the track—you are the protagonists!
A glimmer surfaced in Offside Trap's eyes.
The sheer force of that voice gave her the urge to turn and run.
Then—
"Excuse me. Is something wrong? You've been watching me from behind for quite a while now."
Horse girls were always sharp. Even through the thick lenses of the oversized sunglasses, Silence Suzuka had sensed that someone had been staring at her from behind for quite some time.
That gaze had been far too complex—admiration, caution, envy, malice, all mixed together. In the end, Silence Suzuka could not help but ask.
Offside Trap snapped back to herself. She instinctively turned, intending to flee—only to realize a shadow had fallen over her.
A tall horse girl had appeared behind her without her noticing. Her snow-white hair contrasted sharply with the ferocious look on her face.
"An intruder? Watch the great Gold Ship handle this with ease!"
"..."
The shout was so thunderous that Offside Trap physically flinched.
And then, almost at once, a petite grey-haired horse girl—nothing like Gold Ship in build—grabbed Gold Ship by the ear.
"Ahhh! That hurts, that hurts, that hurts!"
The horse girl who had just been acting fierce immediately changed expression. Tears even sprang to her eyes, proof that the other girl had not held back in the slightest.
Gold Ship's little farce drew the attention of the rest of Spica. It spared Offside Trap from immediate disaster, but at the same time left her with nowhere to retreat.
She was already tense enough that there was no chance she could smoothly invent a lie now.
"Huh? Aren't you…" Nishizaki Ryu approached and looked more closely at her silhouette. The more he looked, the more familiar she seemed. "You're Shinji's horse girl, aren't you?"
"Yes, hello…"
She answered in a low voice, head dipping slightly.
The moment Nishizaki Ryu recognized her, he was bound to misunderstand the purpose of her visit.
Just as she expected, he frowned. He did not say anything immediately, but the look in his eyes told her enough.
His mood, which had been so high moments earlier, had clearly taken a turn.
"I came on my own without telling him," Offside Trap said quietly. "Please don't tell Trainer."
Nishizaki Ryu sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Of course he had no intention of reporting this to Shinji, but he still felt that Offside Trap's way of "scouting" crossed a line.
Who scouted the competition by standing just a few meters behind them? By all unwritten rules of the trade, if you were going to spy, you were supposed to stand somewhere unseen and use binoculars. Even Tōjō Hana, when she observed him coaching his horse girls, always did so from a distant platform with binoculars.
Even Rudolf Symboli, at most, would stand at the edge of the field—and even then only after considering whether any of Rigil's girls might clash with his trainees in an upcoming race.
And the most important point of all was this:
Offside Trap and Silence Suzuka were going to meet head-on in the Autumn Tenno Sho.
Nishizaki Ryu had just opened his mouth, intending to explain at least a little of this etiquette, when Gold Ship suddenly shoved him aside.
"Ha↘ ha↘ ha↗!"
At last freed from restraint, Gold Ship burst into a mocking laugh after sending him staggering away.
"What exactly do you think you're gonna learn by scouting the day after a race? Obviously the day after a race is for rest!"
This time, Mejiro McQueen did not stop Gold Ship.
The elegance of the Mejiro family radiated from her. The fine young lady tilted her chin up slightly, exposing a pale, graceful throat and jawline. Her flawless lines flowed down to exquisitely shaped collarbones.
Special Week, meanwhile, had moved protectively in front of Silence Suzuka. The mare who had looked so harmless and simple a moment ago was now openly wary. She had not done anything overtly aggressive, but the dividing line between sides was unmistakable, and it made Offside Trap unconsciously take a step back.
The full presence of the team now pressed down on her.
This gathering of so many talented horse girls, once they had decided why Offside Trap had come, had formed a clear line between her and Silence Suzuka, pushing her outside it. Even Vodka, usually loud and brash, and Tokai Teio, who normally seemed endlessly cheerful, now wore flat, guarded expressions.
Offside Trap said nothing.
She only looked at Silence Suzuka.
She could see the little fans standing nearby, their expressions openly hostile now that they understood what was happening, but suddenly she realized she did not care that much anymore.
These were not the first people to look at her with hostility.
Nor would they be the last.
She fixed her gaze tightly on Silence Suzuka's face.
Suzuka's expression was still as gentle as ever, but in that gentle gaze Offside Trap sensed something else—a kind of indifference.
Silence Suzuka had never truly taken her seriously.
This horse girl loved the freedom of running. This horse girl cared about her fans' dreams. She wanted to chase the wind and see the leading scenery where no one ran before her. She wanted to repay the hopes and yearning of the people who supported her.
She was born to be a legend.
She had every quality a great horse girl ought to possess.
But from Offside Trap's perspective, Silence Suzuka did not truly look at her at all—not even as a rival.
There was no place for Offside Trap on the road Suzuka focused on. No matter how highly insiders praised the Kyoto Daishoten, it had never truly entered Silence Suzuka's field of concern.
Like Rudolf Symboli and Narita Brian—mares who had already become legends—Silence Suzuka was proud to her bones.
She was certain she would win.
That pride was not wrong.
If Narita Brian had not been her close friend from the same generation, then perhaps Offside Trap too would have remained beneath the sweep of Brian's proud gaze.
And unlike Brian, she and Silence Suzuka did not even know one another.
Offside Trap bit her lip.
Suddenly she felt at a loss. It was not hatred she felt—but in that moment, she did not want to tell Silence Suzuka that her leg had already started to fail.
If someone were just about to step onto the altar and become a goddess, only to fall from it halfway there…
That would hurt, wouldn't it?
The pressure gathering in front of her only grew stronger. It grew so strong that even though reason kept telling her she should say the words, she found she could not force them out.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nishizaki Ryu climbing back up, concern written on his face. But when he noticed Gold Ship's aggressive posture, he hesitated and held himself back.
Perhaps leading a team full of brilliant, strong-willed, unruly talents was not easy after all.
Seen that way, it almost became possible to understand why Silence Suzuka had transferred to Spica.
Once Tōjō Hana had proven unable to draw out Suzuka's full potential, the outcome had probably been inevitable.
What mattered was not that Nishizaki Ryu had recognized Suzuka's talent and running style.
What mattered was that Silence Suzuka had chosen Nishizaki Ryu in the end.
Just as the Three Goddesses had chosen Silence Suzuka, and not her.
Her effort and perseverance had not mattered.
"Hey, Little Yue, are you done yet?"
The sudden voice from behind jolted Offside Trap completely out of her thoughts. She turned sharply.
The sun was blinding overhead, and against that glare a tall figure stood, blocking part of the light. She narrowed her eyes.
There, high on the steps, stood Terazumi Shinji with both hands in his pockets, a casual smile on his face.
"If you're done talking, then it's time to go."
All the tangled, chaotic thoughts in Offside Trap's mind shattered at once.
Only then did she realize just how far down the rabbit hole her thinking had gone.
When she turned back around, the oppressive atmosphere in front of her had already loosened considerably thanks to Shinji's arrival. Nishizaki Ryu let out a breath and finally moved to the front of his team.
"...Silence Suzuka."
After a brief silence, Offside Trap's voice rang out again—this time steady and firm.
For the first time, a ripple passed through Suzuka's calm eyes.
The girl who had seemed too insignificant to matter now somehow carried a presence that demanded to be acknowledged.
"Take good care of your leg. I'll see you at the Autumn Tenno Sho."
Then she spun around and hurried up toward Shinji in three quick bounds.
The two little fans beside Suzuka were already furious on her behalf, but Silence Suzuka, curiously enough, shifted lightly on the balls of her feet as if she had truly taken those words to heart.
"Hey, Shinji, this is going a bit far, don't you think? You come, watch, and leave without even saying hello?"
Hearing what Offside Trap had said, Nishizaki Ryu's eyes flickered before he called out jokingly to Shinji.
Shinji waved a hand dismissively. When Offside Trap reached his side, he very naturally took hold of her hand.
"I'm afraid we'd get caught in the crossfire if we stuck around. Tōjō Hana heard you've been going around shouting nonsense like 'Cut the grass, eliminate the eagle,' and she's already on her way here with Rigil. Apparently she wants to have a good proper match with your Spica team. I wonder whether all your geniuses can handle it."
He said it in the same joking tone, but Nishizaki Ryu's expression froze.
"?"
"You're on your own," Shinji said.
Then he smiled—the exact same kind of smile Gold Ship had worn a moment earlier.
"And one more thing…"
Shinji's eyes swept across every horse girl standing there, including even the two little Suzuka fans.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade, and both girls shrank back under it.
[So you did end up feeling sorry for her?]
That is a lie.
[You're really going with that line now?]
Shinji ignored the system.
He fixed his gaze on Silence Suzuka.
Suzuka, just as she had the previous night, watched him in calm silence.
"She came here out of kindness to warn you. I'm the sort of person who usually enjoys a good tragedy and can't resist gawking at the things other people can't bear to look at. But Little Yue is too kind for that."
At last, Silence Suzuka's brow drew together.
"Get your leg checked thoroughly. As for the promise between Nishizaki Ryu and me—we'll settle who's stronger at the Autumn Tenno Sho."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 32
Uma Musume: From Beginner 26
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