Under a cloudy sky that occasionally threatens to rain but manages to hold on, the 11th race at Hanshin Racecourse is about to begin. It's the Takarazuka Kinen, a Grade 1 race on the turf over 2200 meters. The track condition is officially declared "good."
"The culmination of the first half of the year, the race carrying the fans' dreams is finally about to start," the race announcer and commentator say to each other. One by one, the horse girls are introduced and enter the gates at the end of the home stretch, near the fourth corner.
"Gate 2, Ikuno Dictus. She's the 7th favorite."
"She has an unprecedented fire in her eyes today. We can expect a great performance from her."
It seems even to the commentator, Ikuno Dictus's excellent condition is obvious. Ikuno Dictus calmly enters the gate, but her eyes seem to be burning.
"Gate 4, Mejiro McQueen. She's the 3rd favorite."
"...This horse girl also has an intense spirit. In this year's Senior Spring Triple Crown, she, Toukai Teio, and Rice Shower have been fighting for a top 3 finish. We have high hopes for her."
The commentator lets out a confused sound for a moment. I can tell why just by looking at Mejiro McQueen's face. Mejiro McQueen, who entered the gate as calmly as Ikuno Dictus, gives off an intimidating aura, as if she's radiating it. She has always shown her well-conditioned body and excellent form in previous races, but never to this extent. I unconsciously gulp.
"Gate 5, Toukai Teio. She's the top favorite."
"With a 1st place in the Osaka Hai and a 3rd place in the Spring Tenno Sho, this is a middle-distance race, which is Toukai Teio's specialty. That must be why she's the top favorite. Will we get to see the Teio Step in the winner's circle?"
As the top favorite, the crowd's cheers are immense. Toukai Teio raises her right hand in response but immediately puts on a serious expression and enters the gate. She must have felt the intense aura from her teammate and rival, Mejiro McQueen.
"Gate 5, Mejiro Palmer. She's the 4th favorite."
"The 'Big Runaway' horse girl has appeared. Let's look forward to seeing her explosive speed today."
Mejiro Palmer also seems calm... or is her condition just a bit off? It's hard to tell, and her condition feels ambiguous.
"Gate 8, Rice Shower. She's the 2nd favorite."
"With a 3rd place in the Osaka Hai and a 1st place in the Spring Tenno Sho, she's the 2nd favorite. But can she win this middle-distance Takarazuka Kinen? We have high hopes for her."
Finally, Rice, in the outermost gate, is called. The crowd's cheers are no less than they were for Toukai Teio. Rice gives a small smile to the crowd before entering the gate. All the horse girls have entered their gates, and the noise at Hanshin Racecourse slowly and steadily dies down.
"Will your dreams and my dreams come true? All horse girls are in their gates—they're off!"
With the clatter of the gates opening, the horse girls start off all at once. Even from a distance, I can see that the inner track is rough, but none of the horse girls in the inner gates seemed to have a slow start. The turf is torn up in places, but it doesn't seem to be having much of an effect. It might just be that the roughness is not as bad since the start is near the exit of the outer fourth corner.
"All the horse girls are off to a clean start. The first ones to vie for the lead are number 9, Mejiro Palmer, number 3, Bravely Co, and number 1, Frilled Peach. Following them, number 6, Mejiro McQueen, number 5, Mini Cactus, number 8, Toukai Teio, number 14, Rice Shower, number 10, Custawi, and number 11, Quartet Accord, form a pack."
"As expected, Mejiro Palmer is starting to run away."
"Following the pack are number 2, Ikuno Dictus, number 4, Soir Celeste, number 7, Grand Feast, and number 13, Long Caravan. Bringing up the rear is Oishii Parfait, about two horse lengths behind."
"The horse girls are running down the home stretch. First, the Hanshin slope awaits them, but what kind of race will it be?"
Since they were chosen by fan vote, the cheers from the crowd are immense. The course is a single lap around the inner track to the finish line, but the cheers are so loud as the horse girls run past the stands that they seem to blow away the light rain falling from the sky. The horse girls are too focused to notice, but my eardrums, in the front row of the stands, feel like they're about to burst. Urara is holding my right hand up to cover my left ear, and King is holding my left hand up to cover my right. It must be very loud. King's horse ears are flattened against her head in a perfect defensive posture.
"Now, the horse girls are going up the slope on the first lap. The leader is number 9, Mejiro Palmer. A little behind are number 1, Frilled Peach, and number 3, Bravely Co. With the exception of Frilled Peach, the other horse girls are running in a way that avoids the inner rail."
"The turf is torn up in places. They must have decided to run on a safer course, even if it meant avoiding the inside."
It's not uncommon for the track to get rough by the 11th race. But the inner rail being this rough is on a different level.
"The first to crest the hill is number 9, Mejiro Palmer. As always, she's the 'Big Runaway.' She's heading into the first corner alone. Two horse lengths behind are number 1, Frilled Peach, and number 3, Bravely Co. A single horse length behind them are number 6, Mejiro McQueen, followed by number 8, Toukai Teio, and number 14, Rice Shower, the familiar 'TMR' trio."
By the time they enter the first corner, Rice has already moved up considerably. However, Toukai Teio is running between Rice and Mejiro McQueen, who Rice wants to mark, and occasionally makes a move to keep Rice in check.
"The leading pack is followed by number 5, Mini Cactus, number 10, Custawi, and number 11, Quartet Accord. About one horse length behind them is number 2, Ikuno Dictus. Another horse length behind are number 4, Soir Celeste, number 7, Grand Feast, and number 13, Long Caravan. The rear is far behind, with Oishii Parfait."
"Is the pace a little slow? The gaps are starting to form."
"The leader is still Mejiro Palmer. She's past the first corner and heading to the second. The race is proceeding quietly so far. Is this the calm before the storm, or will she continue to run away like this?"
The horse girls running the course seem to be having a bit of trouble. If the entire course were dirt, they could just give up, but with the turf torn up and small holes everywhere from the series of races, it's dangerous. As per my instructions, Rice is running in a way that avoids the rough inner track. The other horse girls are doing the same. Only Frilled Peach, in the number 1 gate, seems to have decided that the shortest distance is better than the rough track, and she's running along the inner rail...
"The horse girls are passing the second corner and entering the backstretch. The leader is still Mejiro Palmer. She's running at a good pace. Is the gap between her and the other runaway horse girls about three lengths? Is it a bit more conservative than her usual runaway pace? They've just passed the 1000-meter mark."
"The time at the 1000-meter mark is a slow 1 minute and 2.4 seconds. Are they worried about the rough footing?"
Hearing the commentator's words, I tilt my head. As he says, the time at the 1000-meter mark is quite slow. Mejiro Palmer is leading, but the pace is slower than in her previous races. Is she saving her energy for the second half, is the footing bad, or is this all she's got today?
Still, after they pass the backstretch and enter the third corner, it becomes a gentle downhill slope. The race will be decided from the fourth corner to the final straight.
"The horse girls are running as if pulled along by Mejiro Palmer. From the lead to the rear, the gap is about 10... no, maybe 8 horse lengths. The race is getting a bit tighter."
"But the real race starts now. Let's see who makes a move."
"Mejiro Palmer is still in the lead. But number 1, Frilled Peach, is moving up a bit from the inside. The gap is less than two horse lengths. Bravely Co is following. One horse length behind them are Mejiro McQueen, Toukai Teio, Rice Shower, and Mini Cactus. And Ikuno Dictus has moved up a bit."
As they pass the 1000-meter mark, the race slowly starts to change. The entire pack is moving up, but... is it that they're moving up, or is Mejiro Palmer slowing down?
"Passing the backstretch and into the third corner. They'll soon reach the gentle downhill slope. Mejiro Palmer might be struggling a bit. The gap between her and the pack is steadily closing. In her place, Frilled Peach and Bravely Co are picking up speed."
"This is where the race will be decided."
"It's not just the runaway horse girls who are making a move. Mejiro McQueen is also moving up. She's moving up past Frilled Peach and Bravely Co. Toukai Teio and Rice Shower are following her."
The horse girls are getting closer and closer to the home stretch. On the rough track, they are slowly accelerating around the corner to move up.
"Mejiro McQueen passes Bravely Co! She's now trying to catch Frilled Peach! Mejiro McQueen is moving up in the third corner! Toukai Teio and Rice Shower are chasing her!"
"Here they come, the TMR trio. What about the rest of the pack? Mini Cactus and Ikuno Dictus are moving up!"
"Mejiro McQueen passes Frilled Peach and comes out of the third corner! Toukai Teio and Rice Shower are right behind her—"
It was just as they were about to exit the third corner. I leaned forward and let out a small gasp.
"Oh no, she fell! There's an accident! An accident before the fourth corner!"
"She missed the turn... no, she seemed to have lost her footing on the rough track. The one who fell is..."
The crowd screams as the horse girl falls on the corner. I hear it, but I shout anyway.
"Look ahead, Rice!"
I shout, but it's too late. The moment Frilled Peach, whom she was trying to pass, fell, Rice instinctively looked at her. Toukai Teio, who was running in front of Rice, did the same, and her eyes widen in surprise.
Rice and Toukai Teio were focused on the race, but it's natural for them to be distracted when a horse girl running right in front of them suddenly falls. Frilled Peach, who had a lot of momentum, rolled on the ground as she scattered turf and dirt everywhere.
In that moment, Mejiro McQueen, who had ALREADY passed Frilled Peach, gains a step, then two.
Rice was only distracted for a few moments. But noticing the gap, she immediately accelerates and passes Toukai Teio to move forward. Toukai Teio tries to accelerate to overtake her, but Rice accelerates even more to catch up to Mejiro McQueen, who is now two horse lengths ahead.
"The one who fell is number 1, Frilled Peach! Is she okay...?"
"It's a good thing she was the only one running on the inside. She didn't collide with the other horse girls... and she's getting up and starting to run. It seems she's okay."
A slight deceleration, a slight distraction. It's only natural for Rice to look at the other horse girl who fell right in front of her. It's commendable that she recovered and passed Toukai Teio in just a few seconds.
—But against Mejiro McQueen today, that was a painful mistake.
"Mejiro Palmer is running away! Mejiro McQueen is chasing her! Mejiro Palmer is holding on as they run down the fourth corner! But there's still a long way to go! They just passed the 400-meter mark!"
"Rice Shower and Toukai Teio are also moving up. How much longer can Mejiro Palmer hold on... oh, she's caught!"
"Mejiro McQueen passes Mejiro Palmer! And she's now heading for the final straight! A little behind, Rice Shower and Toukai Teio also pass Mejiro Palmer! Is this the end for Mejiro Palmer?! She's falling back!"
The screams that rose when Frilled Peach fell change pitch as the horse girls charge into the home stretch. Spectators sitting in their seats also stand up and cheer.
With 400 meters left, the gap between Rice and Mejiro McQueen is about three horse lengths. The accident was painful, but it's not an insurmountable gap. Rice and Toukai Teio must know this. As they enter the straight, they suddenly pick up speed.
"As expected, it's the TMR trio! Are these three the stars of the Senior division?! Chasing Mejiro McQueen, who is leading the pack, are Rice Shower and Toukai Teio!"
"The last showdown between these three is becoming a staple of the Senior races. Who will win today... oh?"
"But here she comes! She's here! She's moving up! Here comes Ikuno Dictus! She's diving into the TMR fight as if to say, 'Include me, too!' Mini Cactus is also chasing Ikuno Dictus!"
The last straight has a gentle slope that continues to the 200-meter mark. I can see Ikuno Dictus, a great finisher, suddenly moving up.
But the real straight at Hanshin Racecourse starts from here. After running 200 meters, they have to run up a slope of about 100 meters with a 2-meter height difference.
"Passing the 200-meter mark! Mejiro McQueen is the first to go up the final slope! One horse length behind, Rice Shower and Toukai Teio are also taking on the slope! And even further! Ikuno Dictus has moved up to a position two horse lengths behind! Mini Cactus is right behind her!"
Rice, Mejiro McQueen, and Toukai Teio. Not only the group the world calls "TMR," but Ikuno Dictus, with her glittering eyes, is also charging up the slope.
"Go, go, goooo! Just a little more! Overtake them!"
"You can do it, Rice-chan!"
"Do your best, Rice-senpai!"
I shout, not to be outdone by the roar of the crowd. Urara and King also shout with me, giving Rice all the support they can.
"Can Rice Shower overtake her?! Toukai Teio is also closing in! Ikuno Dictus is also closing in! Mini Cactus is also closing in—is this the end?! The gap is widening!"
"Go, go! Go! Gooooooooooooo!"
I pound the fence separating the course from the stands as I desperately shout. She has enough stamina! Then all she has to do is pass Mejiro McQueen! So go, go!
"Even after the slope! Mejiro McQueen is holding on! She's holding on, no, she's pulling away... is she pulling away?! Just a little, but surely! Mejiro McQueen is pulling away from the pack!"
"!"
"Less than 100 meters to go! Mejiro McQueen is accelerating! What amazing speed! Mejiro McQueen has amazing speed! She's slowly pulling away from the pack! One horse length! No, two!"
Mejiro McQueen, who has found her rhythm, is running on the turf at an incredible speed. Rice desperately chases her, but the distance is...
"And now! Mejiro McQueen crosses the finish line! Mejiro McQueen showed incredible finishing speed in the end! 1st place is Mejiro McQueen! In 2nd place, it's a tie between Rice Shower and Toukai Teio! And Ikuno Dictus jumps in, but she's at a slight disadvantage?!"
Rice couldn't make it. Seeing that, I lose my words and fall to my knees. If the accident hadn't happened... no, even so, I don't know if she could have caught that last burst of speed. And accidents are a part of racing. I slowly lift my head and look at the fallen Frilled Peach. She fell in a dramatic way... but while she's scraped and covered in mud, she doesn't seem to have any serious injuries, like broken bones or torn muscles. I let out a sigh of relief.
She must have decided that if she competed normally, she would lose, which is why she ran alone on the inner rail. She lost her footing and fell as a result, but she did hold a good position for a while. I can't blame her, thinking that she gave her all to win.
"The results are final. 1st place, number 6, Mejiro McQueen. Her time is 2 minutes and 15.3 seconds. 2nd place, 2 horse lengths behind, number 8, Toukai Teio. 3rd place, a nose length behind, number 14, Rice Shower. 4th place, a nose length behind, number 2, Ikuno Dictus. 5th place, 3 horse lengths behind, Mini Cactus."
"And with that, the TMR trio each won a Senior Grade 1 race in the spring. But Ikuno Dictus's final spurt was also amazing. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the Senior races."
"The crowd is sending applause and cheers to Mejiro McQueen, who won 1st place. Toukai Teio, who got 2nd place, is hugging her. Oh? Rice Shower, who got 3rd place, is going over to Frilled Peach..."
"It looks like... she's checking to see if Frilled Peach is okay. She must have been concerned since she fell so hard."
Following the announcer's voice, I look at Frilled Peach again and see that Rice is indeed checking her knees and legs. Rice then says something to her with a look of relief.
"It's a good thing you're not badly hurt," she's probably saying. Frilled Peach's eyes widen at her words, and she bows her head to Rice as big tears stream down her face. Is it out of gratitude, or is she apologizing for the accident? It was impressive to see Rice, despite the frustration of losing and getting 3rd place, kindly speak to her without showing her emotions.
I slowly stand up and brush the mud and rain from my knees. I don't think I'll ever get used to this feeling of frustration whenever a horse girl I've raised loses. But Rice did not give up and ran a race that she should be proud of to the very end.
(If I look gloomy while comforting her, she'll just be hesitant to show her true feelings...)
With that thought, I shake my head and look behind me—and for some reason, King is there with her hand raised.
"You get it. I was about to smack you on the back if you didn't."
She says that, but King also looks at Rice with a hint of frustration on her face. Urara's horse ears are also flattened, and she's staring at Rice.
(No matter how strong a horse girl is, they win and they lose. The question is, what do you do after you lose?)
As the commentator said, Rice, Mejiro McQueen, and Toukai Teio have all won a Grade 1 race in the Senior division. Their next clash will be... in the Senior Autumn Triple Crown.
The Tenno Sho (Autumn) in late October. The Japan Cup in late November. And the Arima Kinen in late December. They might run in Grade 2 or Grade 3 races in between, but Rice will have another chance to fight for a Grade 1 title against Mejiro McQueen and Toukai Teio.
(Next is King's race, and then Urara's first Grade 1... after that, summer will come...)
To not lose to their rivals and to finally win against the one they lost to, I have to make Urara, Rice, and King even stronger. I firmly believe that as I see the tears glistening in Rice's eyes as she smiles and congratulates Mejiro McQueen from a distance.
And so, the curtain falls on the Takarazuka Kinen. This marks the end of the first half of the year for Team Kitalfa, and the second half is about to begin.
—Summer is coming. A very hot and passionate summer.
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