"Haah… haah… haah…!!"
The sight of a Horse Girl tearing across the turf was not uncommon in this world. Yet, this particular run was undeniably special—a fleeting, finite masterpiece. It was a display of brilliance that only a true champion could achieve, her hooves seemingly skipping over the grass rather than striking it. Her form was a paradox: light yet powerful, robust yet flexible, a perfect fusion of opposing forces.
As if signaling the start of her final spurt, she surged forward on the home straight. Her acceleration was on a different level from anything she had shown thus far. As she blurred past the finish line, a woman holding a stopwatch checked the time.
"…Yes, that's it. Goal achieved."
"Finally…!"
The Horse Girl collapsed onto the grass the moment she heard those words, her voice pitching high as she groaned in exhaustion. Watching her, the older woman let out a refined chuckle and reached out a hand.
"At this rate, you're still a long way off from catching Ran-chan, Tei-chan."
"Hmph… don't compare me to Rampage! I'm my own person. Besides, Rampage is the only one who can get away with calling you 'Sue-chan.'"
"Oh, I don't mind if you call me that too. Come on, give it a try. Call me Sue-chan ♪"
"Don't ask for the impossible!"
The girl who had just finished her gallop was Tokai Teio. The woman offering her hand was Speed Symboli. Teio was currently in the midst of an overseas challenge, based in the United States to prepare for the upcoming Breeders' Cup. As for why Speed Symboli—or "Sue-chan"—was here with her… she was acting as a proxy for Teio's trainer, Okino.
"I know it's a bit late to say this, but… I'm really glad you came," Teio admitted.
"Fufu. I can be quite flexible when I want to be. You have Ran-chan to thank for that."
When Teio's overseas campaign was decided, Okino had desperately wanted to accompany her as her trainer. However, his responsibilities to the team made that impossible. They had searched for a substitute, but the search hit a deadlock—few trainers had extensive overseas experience, and Rampage (who had won abroad) was busy with her own training duties. That was when Rampage herself intervened.
"Ah, then I'll just pull some strings with Sue-chan."
""Wait, what?!""
"...Ah, Sue-chan? You got a minute? Yeah, sorry for the sudden call. Hey, you know Teio? Yeah, Tokai Teio. The one from the school festival. Right, right. Well, she's heading overseas, and I was thinking you could be her trainer… Oh, is that so? Stop it, don't flatter me, Sue-chan. Yeah, yeah, okay—thanks. Love you too, Sue-chan. Talk later… There, she's in."
""How on earth did you get an 'OK' out of that?!""
Rampage had dropped a bombshell. Normally, no matter how much Rampage asked, Speed Symboli wouldn't agree to an overseas trip so easily. But when the subject was Teio—whom she doted on like a second granddaughter—it was a different story. Furthermore, Speed Symboli was a trainer who had conquered the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Classic; the URA saw it as a massive net positive for her to lead a promising girl abroad. In fact, Uranus had given the thumbs-up and sent them off with a "Go get 'em."
"But this means I'm officially cleared for the Breeders' Cup Turf, right?!" Teio asked, her spirit reigniting.
"Yes, a promise is a promise. Your times are excellent, and I'm relieved to see you've adapted so well to the American environment."
"Yesss!!!"
Now I can keep my promise to Turbo! Teio thought, firing herself up. It was no exaggeration to say that American dirt racing had already been overrun by Japanese Horse Girls. This year alone, Saber and Dyna were in the thick of a fierce campaign, and the American fans were in a frenzy, shouting that it was time to pay back old debts.
If they lose on the turf too, I wonder what will happen, Speed Symboli mused, though she found herself once again marveling at Teio's staggering potential.
"You've already won prestigious overseas G1s like the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes… yet you're still not satisfied?"
"It's not so much about being unsatisfied. It's more like… I haven't proven it to myself yet," Teio said, looking down at her own legs.
"My style is the same as Rampage's—the 'whole-body' style taught to us by Monsun. But I still can't beat her. That's why I want to forge a style that can win. And I don't want to lose to Turbo, either. I just don't want to compromise—I still haven't surpassed the Emperor."
The look in Speed Symboli's eyes shifted slightly. It was rare for Teio, who respected and adored Symboli Rudolf from the bottom of her heart, to speak this way. It wasn't just admiration anymore; it was proof that she now viewed Rudolf as an opponent to be defeated. Teio was truly intent on winning.
"You have ten G1 wins. Surely that surpasses 'Lu-chan'?"
"If it were that simple, I wouldn't be struggling like this. I want to compete with Turbo with everything I've got, and I want to show the Chairman: this is who I am."
"I'm going to become a strong, cool Horse Girl just like Symboli Rudolf!!"
It all began at that Derby. She had come so far since that day, yet she still wasn't content. The score with her greatest rival hadn't been settled, and she couldn't yet stand before "that person" with her head held high. She had decided that when she finally gave her report, she would be stronger and "cooler" than ever before.
"I'm going to show her what it means to be Tokai Teio."
As Teio looked up at the sky and declared her intent, Speed Symboli rested a hand against her cheek, watching with a fond smile. She knew how magnificent Teio had become, yet she couldn't help but see her as a precious granddaughter—a girl she wanted to stay beside in a way that differed from her bond with Rampage.
In that case, she thought, I will give her everything I have.
"Well then, Tei-chan. To make Lu-chan proud, shall we work even harder?"
"Yeah! Oh, that's right—since we're at it, let me use the Shinzan Irons! I mean, why won't you let me use them?!"
"Because they don't suit your gait at all."
"I want to try them!"
"If you call me 'Sue-chan,' I might consider it ♪"
"Pshhh! That's playing dirty!"
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