"—Ore no aiba!"
"Thump-thump, my heart steps out!"
"One step, two steps, I gallop away~"
"A race like this—it's a first for me~"
On stage, horse girls in gorgeous performance outfits focused on the winners' stage show. Whether Tokai Teio, Fine Motion, or Electro Snowflake, everyone looked glamorous under the stage apparatus.
Everyone but her.
"Good thing I didn't go up," Stardust Mirage said with hood and sunglasses on, letting out a big breath of relief.
Just watching her rivals in floaty skirts bouncing around up there—if she imagined herself doing it—she shuddered.
Too humiliating.
Luckily, she'd found a pretext—told staff that because she'd used Shukuchi twice, her legs were under heavy strain and needed rest.
Since she wasn't the winner, and given the JRA's professional assessment that the move indeed put heavy stress on a horse girl's body, they approved her request.
Watching from below, as long as she didn't picture herself up there dancing, she could admit: it's dazzling—Tokai Teio.
Though she didn't want to sing and dance like an idol, it didn't mean she wasn't envious of how Teio shone.
I want first.
In Stardust Mirage's heart, that thought was becoming clearer—not for prize money or out of pique, but simply to beat everyone through running, to shine herself…
"Oh, Stardust Mirage? Your leg okay?!"
While she stood staring up in a daze, the show ended. Fine Motion, in a black dress, happened to come out from backstage and spotted her.
"Leg…? Ah, it's nothing serious," Stardust quickly said.
"Not feeling great?"
Neicha (Fine Motion) patted Stardust's shoulder, gently asking.
On stage, Neicha had already noticed—Stardust had been standing there the whole time, head up, staring blankly at the dancing Tokai Teio.
She must feel truly unwilling, right?
To fight Teio to that extent, even run your debut to the point your leg was too battered for the winners' stage—yet still only take second.
Come to think of it, how did a third like me, who didn't even catch them, end up consoling her?
With that thought, Neicha couldn't help sighing.
"We both have to do our debut over," she said helplessly. "Get your head straight—don't brood on this. Teio isn't like us; she's a genius."
She ruffled her brown short hair, looking a little resentful.
"What do you think about the upcoming maidens? I'll probably choose short or mile to re-debut—after this run, the stamina pressure was too much."
"I…" Stardust felt awful hearing it.
It sounded like admitting from the outset that they couldn't match Teio. But since Neicha was trying to comfort her, she couldn't refute it outright—still less interfere in her choice of next race.
"Eh, Stardust Mirage and Fine Motion~!"
Speak of Teio and she appears; that familiar cute voice came from behind them.
"Hehe, if it's heart-to-heart time, Teio wants in too!"
The petite Tokai Teio bounced up to them and took both of their hands.
Though sweat still clung to her face from dancing, in front of her second and third she showed no pride—just a hint of coquettishness in her movements.
"We were just chatting about Stardust's legs," Fine Motion said when Teio arrived, her expression not great.
Clearly, as Stardust could see, Neicha didn't truly believe what she'd said about Teio; otherwise, she wouldn't have stiffened at the sight of the winner.
"Legs?"
Teio lowered her head to look at Stardust's legs.
Compared to Teio's, these looked longer and more slender; that was why Stardust could keep an edge in speed. In power and stamina, though, the long-trained Teio was stronger—something the race had borne out.
"My legs are fine—just not great for dancing right now," Stardust had to lie again. To skip past the topic, she quickly asked, "Teio, what are your plans next?"
"My next race?"
At the question, Teio planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin, thrilled. "Isn't it obvious? The same as the President-level horse girls—only one goal."
"And that's an U! N! D! E! F! E! A! T! E! D! T! R! I! P! L! E! C! R! O! W! N!"
As she said it, Stardust could see Teio's eyes shining, practically glowing. Longing overflowed her face—like she was born for it.
But.
But…!
"Teio," Stardust said.
"Eh, what?"
"Today was my first race—my first time standing on the course against other horse girls."
She lowered her head; her voice had a shade of heaviness. "From start to finish, it was only a few minutes—so short it was gone in a blink. After, I couldn't help thinking: is that it?"
"But in those few minutes, I came to understand one thing."
"No matter how many excuses you make, no matter what reasons you have—losing is losing. In the end, only the one who crosses the line first counts as victory."
"This time… you won."
Stardust stared earnestly into Tokai Teio's eyes and went on:
"You really are amazing, Teio. But if your goal is the Classic Triple Crown, then I'll absolutely enter it too and do everything to beat you!"
"Ah?" Fine Motion went slack-jawed.
What was happening?
Lose a debut to a genius, then throw down a challenge, declaring you'll win next time—what hot-blooded manga did she escape from?
"Oh?"
Teio's smile grew even brighter.
"Looks like we're thinking the same. If you weren't my rival, I'd be disappointed."
"The President told me, to accomplish an undefeated Triple Crown, you have to be the strongest horse girl who can beat everyone."
"So if you want to take that honor from me, Stardust Mirage, then bring it on. Let me see who will stand above every horse girl next year and stand at the apex of the Triple Crown!"
She held out a gloved hand.
Stardust threw up hers to smack it. "Then it's a promise. I'll make sure you see my true strength!"
What about me?!
On the side, Neicha howled silently.
These two suddenly started a hot-blooded pact as if no one else existed, totally forgetting the third place still standing here.
"Honestly—two people I just can't figure out," she muttered, touching her ear.
"If I see this kind of thing, how do I have the face to persuade myself to pick an easier race…?"
Let's try hard once more. Stick with a middle-distance maiden.
Neicha resolved inwardly.
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