Early morning. At the Mejiro training ground.
Today, Oguri had already gone back with Berno Light to rejoin Ginjiro.
After all, the Arima Kinen would be held this afternoon.
As her original trainer, Ginjiro still needed to know Oguri's current condition in detail, then draw up race strategies based on all the recent data.
Though, when he came to pick her up and saw all the horse girls under Kuroha's wing out on the track, the old man's expression had been… very complicated.
On the track.
The members of Chasing Light weren't doing their usual group training or parallel runs. Instead, each of them was off to the side, loosening up their bodies and going through final pre-race stretches.
The atmosphere was quiet and focused. Suppressed chatter and soft laughter rippled faintly through the cold morning air.
Kuroha stood by the rail, leaning lightly against it as he watched his girls prepare for the decisive battle that afternoon.
"Sensei, Inari doesn't seem to be here for morning practice today."
Aoi Kiryuin stood beside him, a small notebook in hand as she gave a serious rundown of everyone's condition.
Her gaze was earnest, but whenever it landed on Kuroha there was a hint of warmth in it.
She'd been interning with Chasing Light for a year now, and knew perfectly well just how strong this trainer, who was practically the same age as her, really was.
In just one year, what she'd learned here had already put her ahead of the vast majority of official Central trainers.
And right now, she was only a second-year college student.
"Yeah. She's probably already on her way."
Kuroha nodded, looking off into the distance with a small smile. "She's chasing the summit in her own way too."
…
Tokyo, Ōi Racetrack district.
Anamori Inari Shrine.
A petite horse girl in a Central Tracen uniform, brown twin tails, and a fox mask hanging by her right ear was slowly climbing the stone steps toward the shrine.
Cute fox statues and little red torii gates lined the grounds, giving the place a warm, cozy atmosphere.
"It's been… a long time since I came here, huh."
Inari One looked up at the shrine's name plaque and murmured to herself.
She passed under the last small torii and stepped into the inner courtyard.
The morning air still carried the damp coolness of last night's rain and the rich scent of earth, completely different from the mix of grass juice and sweat that always hung over Tracen's fields.
There were no roaring cheers here, no pounding hooves.
Only the rustle of wind in the leaves and a few distant bird calls.
She walked up to the offertory box, flicked in a coin with practiced ease, and tugged on the bell rope.
"Ding-ling~"
The crisp chime echoed around the quiet courtyard.
Then she bowed deeply twice, clapped twice with a firm, ringing sound, closed her eyes, and bowed once more with her hands pressed together.
In her heart, there was no prayer. Only a declaration.
"Dear Kami-sama, Inari's here."
"Today, I'm heading to a really big stage, to throw down with a bunch of ridiculous monsters."
"Mm, they're all my teammates now, you know? Every last one of them is a total monster."
"When we train together, even I can't guarantee I'll win."
"But I'm not scared. Not one bit."
"I'm gonna show the whole country just how tough and stubborn an Edo kid's backbone really is!"
"So today's victory… I'll be taking it."
"You just sit right here and watch me!"
Her declaration done.
Inari snapped her eyes open.
The rare bit of calm from a moment ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a blazing, fire-hot fighting spirit and resolve.
Then she let out a small sigh and scratched her head in mild frustration.
"Coming here when I'm not even making a wish… I might as well have run another lap at the training ground. What am I doing…"
After teasing herself, she set one hand on her hip, turned to look up at the shrine's buildings again, and after a moment suddenly chuckled.
"Don't you go getting all moved by this, Inari."
"There's an Inari One in Edo—that's all I've been trying to tell everyone by running up to now."
"So you just sit tight and witness the moment I take the top, okay?"
"Still in the middle of youth, aren't we?"
All of a sudden, a voice as clear as a songbird rang out.
!
Inari blinked in surprise.
She'd been wrapped up in her own swirling emotions and hadn't noticed anyone approach.
Did she hear all that just now?
Her face grew a little hot.
Inari cleared her throat twice and looked toward the voice. A brown-haired, blue-eyed horse girl in a cap marked "CB" was waving at her casually, munching on a croquette as she did.
"Yahho~ Girl from Ōi~"
Inari stared for a second, taken aback.
Since they both went to Central Tracen, of course she knew who this was.
The third Triple Crown horse girl in history.
The one who awakened a Domain between Maruzensky and Symboli Rudolf, the one who literally created an era.
Who delivered race after race later called mythic by those who came after.
The one who changed the times—Mr. C.B.!
Back when she was still at Ōi, seeing a legend like this up close would've had Inari bouncing with excitement.
But things were different now.
These days, Inari One was undefeated since debut and had captured both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho, one of Central's strongest.
She could faintly feel, even if this legendary horse girl were to regain her full prime…
She still wouldn't be her match.
But that was one thing; respect was another. This horse girl was still her senpai, and Inari had never been the type to strut around and act smug.
"C.B.-senpai, what are you doing here?" Inari asked, puzzled.
"Oh, I was just out on a walk and happened to see you coming up, so I followed you." Mr. C.B. replied casually.
Then she took another bite of croquette, jerked her head lightly toward the road behind her, and said, "If you're not in a rush to get back to training, walk with me a bit?"
"…Huh?"
Inari let out a baffled sound.
But the way the other girl spoke was so laid-back and natural, like she was just inviting a friend out for an after-meal stroll, that Inari somehow ended up going along with her.
…
By the sea.
The salty winter wind swept over the two of them, bringing with it a sharp chill.
Mr. C.B. leaned against the railing of the breakwater, gazing out over the blue sky and sea in the distance.
"Today's Arima Kinen, you know."
Her voice drifted on the breeze, "End-of-year grand festival. Everyone's bound to be on edge."
Inari stood beside her, one hand on her hip. She snorted.
"Hah! Of course they are. But I'm not the one who's nervous—it's my opponents."
"Oh?"
Mr. C.B. turned, watching her with interest. "Pretty sure they're no joke, though. And your teammates are all ridiculous in their own right too."
"…So what?"
Inari's twin tails flicked in the wind. There wasn't a hint of wavering in her eyes as she answered quietly, "The stronger they are, the more fun it is to beat them."
"Doesn't matter who it is. I'm Inari One, born and bred in Edo. If I'm standing on that stage, I've never once thought about handing the win to anybody else."
Mr. C.B. watched her. In those clear blue eyes of hers, it was as if she could see right through people.
What she saw there was unmasked fighting spirit, absolute confidence without a single impurity in it.
No confusion, no doubt, not even the slightest fear of strong opponents.
In her eyes, those legendary rivals were nothing more and nothing less than "opponents."
"Oh…" Mr. C.B. suddenly laughed.
"What?" Inari frowned, feeling a bit lost as to what was so funny.
"Nothing."
Mr. C.B. turned back to the sea, voice light.
"I just saw you striking such a 'youthful' pose back at the shrine this morning and thought you might be nervous, or a little lost."
She mimicked Inari's tone just now in a joking voice: "'Watch me take the top with your own eyes!'—something like that?"
"Urgh…!" Inari's cheeks flushed scarlet at once. "Y-You heard all of that?! Don't copy me!"
"Hahaha, sorry, sorry."
Mr. C.B. waved a hand. "Anyway, I figured you might be the type who needs an older senpai to give you a bit of a pep talk, like 'believe in yourself' or 'run your own race' or something, before you can go compete in peace."
"Hah? Don't lump me in with those wishy-washy types!"
Inari shot back instantly, puffing out her chest. "When have I ever doubted myself? I'm Inari One! Of course I'm supposed to win!"
Looking at how righteously she said that, Mr. C.B.'s smile grew even brighter.
"Is that so? So that's how you see it."
There was a hint of relief and fondness in her voice.
"You, huh. You never needed anyone to tell you anything."
"You've known it all along."
"Hah? Known what?" Inari still didn't quite get it.
Mr. C.B. straightened up, opened her arms to the sea breeze, and flashed that trademark sun-bright smile.
"Obviously—"
"You've always been the one and only leading role in your own story!"
"…!"
Inari froze for a moment, staring at the legendary horse girl's back.
"Hmph…"
She turned away with a little huff, but the blush on her face deepened. "Th-That kind of thing is obvious! You don't need to say it out loud!"
"Haha, true enough!"
Mr. C.B. lowered her arms and turned back, winking at her. "Well then, Miss Protagonist, it's almost time for the festival. Off you go—show the whole world your performance."
"Even if you didn't say it, I was gonna do that anyway!"
Inari threw her head back proudly. She didn't linger any longer; she turned and broke into a long, powerful stride toward the Mejiro training ground.
"Senpai! Thanks for the croquette! Even though you never actually gave it to me!"
Her loud, cheerful farewell carried back on the wind.
Mr. C.B. stayed where she was, watching that fiery little figure vanish at the end of the street, the smile on her face lingering for a long time.
"What energy…" she sighed softly.
"Well then, dumpling-chan has finally gone to face herself."
…
December 24th. Light rain.
Nakayama Racecourse.
The grand finale of the year's Shining Series—
Arima Kinen.
Was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)
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