Chapter 52: Toward the Mile Championship

The Kyoto Racecourse has a truly unique layout.

I groaned as I studied the flat course diagram and its elevation map.
"Ugh… yeah, that Yodo slope is definitely the problem here."

"Lux? You’re in early today."

"Yeah. Take a look at this, Trainer."

Right in the middle of what’s basically a flat course, a sudden mountain appears.
No, seriously—it’s practically a mountain. A four-meter uphill climb, immediately followed by a sharp downhill.
Many Uma Musume have shed tears over this so-called “Yodo Hill.”

"This is… Kyoto, huh? So you’re studying for the Mile Championship."

"Exactly. But doesn’t this gradient look ridiculous to you? Think we can still flatten it out with some heavy machinery?"

"I’d love to say slopes are your specialty, Lux, but even for you… that’s pushing it."

Come on, this incline is brutal.
Still, if I can figure out how to handle it, it’ll give me a definite edge in the race.
If I can use the downhill stretch to accelerate and launch my final sprint from that momentum, taking the lead shouldn’t be too hard.

"The key will be conserving stamina while climbing, and how much endurance you’ll have left for the final spurt."

"Yeah… If I start sprinting right after the downhill, that’s about 800 meters to the goal."

"That’s tough, even for you, Lux. Honestly, it’d be rough for just about any Uma Musume."

Only someone like Rice Shower—a true stayer—could probably pull that off.
Even with intense training, I wouldn’t manage it. Besides, anyone capable of that wouldn’t even be running a mile race.
No, wait—Bourbon totally would. Damn it, Mihono Bourbon, are you standing in my way again!?

"I can’t think of a single counter-strategy!"

"Hmm… maybe the best approach is to list potential rivals first and plan strategies for each. That’s how we handled things in the Sprinters Stakes too, remember?"

We started writing down likely participants on the whiteboard and picked out the notable ones.

"First up, Mihono Bourbon. Then King Halo and Bridge Comp… Wait a second, isn’t this the same lineup as the Sprinters Stakes?"

"Pretty much. Taiki Shuttle isn’t coming back from overseas, so naturally the roster looks similar."

"Right. The Mile Championship sometimes attracts foreign Uma Musume too, doesn’t it?"

Exactly—this race is basically the “Japan Cup” of mile races.
That said, I can’t imagine any overseas entries this time.

"They do join sometimes, but yeah… not this year, I think."

"Yeah… figures."

After what happened with Taiki Shuttle, of course not.
Undefeated in mile races, two overseas G1 wins—she’s a monster.
Foreign teams probably see Japan as a den of beasts right now. The bold ones who still want to challenge the best are heading for the “Breeders’ Cup Mile,” where Taiki Shuttle’s competing anyway.

"Alright, no more avoiding it. Let’s get serious about the Mile Championship. The most likely favorite—Mihono Bourbon—"

"She’ll definitely go for a front run, right? With the Yodo slope, that’s gonna be tough for any leader, though…"

"But Bourbon’s different. She’ll probably use it to her advantage instead."

The Trainer might not know this, but Mihono Bourbon can easily handle 2400 meters if she wants to.
Sure, the 3000 meters of the Kikka Sho was too much even for her—but if Rice Shower hadn’t been there, the result might’ve been different.
So counting on the Yodo slope to slow her down is just wishful thinking.

"That means the key is deciding where to make our move against her. Last time, we went wide on the final corner and somehow passed her."

"That’s not gonna work this time. The final straight here is long, but there’s almost no elevation change. Others might slow down from fatigue, so you could pass a few—but I doubt you’ll get past Bourbon."

Ugh… no matter how much I think about it, I can’t find an answer!
Honestly, the only reason we beat Bourbon in the Sprinters Stakes was because of distance suitability—and because I used a hidden ace.
That new technique, the “Teio Step,” which finally came together right before the race, was definitely the MVP. Thanks, Teio…

"So that means we’ll need to come up with a brand-new counter for Mihono Bourbon. As for the others—"

"Bridge Comp, I suppose. But she’s also a front-runner, so anything that works against Bourbon should work against her too."

"Then it’s time for data analysis. We’ll need to study everything carefully."

"I’m counting on you. Oh, and I got some data from Takion—could you check that too?"

"Got it. I’ll compile the key points and send you a summary later, Lux."

"Perfect."

Alright, that leaves… King Halo.

"King… yeah, King’s a tricky one."

"King Halo’s performance is hard to evaluate. She’s not weak at all, but for some reason, she just can’t seem to clinch a win."

"I wonder why that is. Every race, she gives me a heart attack. I can never relax when she’s on the track."

Yeah, in the last Sprinters Stakes too, there were plenty of moments that made my heart stop.
King Halo is constantly pressing a blade against my throat.
And that blade might just reach me in the next race.

"If you say so, Lux, then it must be true. You feel things during a race that we can’t pick up just from watching from the sidelines."

"Yeah. Honestly, the reason King hasn’t been able to win yet probably just comes down to bad luck. I talked about it with Rudolf too—luck really is a factor for Uma Musume."

And as for countering King Halo—there’s really only one way.

"So against King, I’m thinking I’ll mark her closely right from the start. Stick right behind her like last time, use her as a windbreak, and then overtake on the Yodo slope. That’s the plan."

"Sounds solid to me. For the finer details—like exactly when to make your move—you can go over the data we’ve compiled."

"Got it. Haaah, I feel weirdly exhausted already…"

"It’ll take me a while to finish summarizing the data anyway. Why don’t you head to the cafeteria for a bit of a break? It’s snack time, after all."

"Hm? You sure? In that case, maybe I’ll make us some coffee instead."

I glanced over at the coffee maker.
Honestly, the one in the trainer’s office probably gets more use than the one in my own room.

"…Lux’s coffee is a hard thing to turn down."

"Told you! Hehe, I even brought some snacks for you to have with it. They’re really popular lately, so I went out of my way to get them."

"Then I’ll take you up on that offer."

"Alright! Heheh, I’ll brew it with all my skill!"

If anyone’s been drinking my coffee the most lately, it’s definitely the Trainer.
He’s really gotten into it recently—whenever I mention I’m brewing a pot, he gets this quietly happy look on his face. Seriously… what a cute guy.

"Let’s see… for the beans, I’ll use these ones. Trainer, do you want paper-drip or siphon-style today?"

"Hmm… whichever you like. If it’s your coffee, I know it’ll be good."

"Then siphon it is. I’ve finally gotten consistent results lately—same flavor every time."

I took the tools from the shelf and started setting up with practiced hands.
The process and equipment are a bit intricate, but that’s what makes it fun—like solving a puzzle with no single right answer.
Pursuing the ideal taste through logic and precision… in a way, it’s a lot like refining my running.

I ground the beans, warmed the cups and flask, set up the filter—then it was go time.
I poured the grounds into the funnel, lit the flame, and gently stirred with the paddle, letting the water soak through evenly. Soon enough, a rich aroma filled the room.
When the timing felt just right, I cut the flame.

"Mm, that should do it."

Siphon brewing uses steam pressure to push the water upward through the grounds, then, once the heat is off, the brewed coffee drips back down into the flask.
As the flame went out, droplets began to fall, plip… plip… steadily gathering below.
There’s something so satisfying about watching that moment.

After a short wait, the last drops fell. Brew complete.

"Alright, all done, Trainer. I’ll pour it now."

"Smells wonderful. Looks like we’re in for another good cup."

"You always say that, huh? You sure know how to flatter."

Not that I mind being praised for my coffee.

I added the usual amount of sugar and a dash of milk. The moment that deep black turned to warm amber—ah, it never gets old.
I like it black sometimes, but there’s something comforting about mixing it up like this too.
I poured another cup for myself, added the snacks, and carried everything over to the desk.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Hehe, this batch turned out great!"

"Of course it did. If you made it, I never have to worry."

"Well, I used good beans this time too. It’s not just my skill, you know."

"Still, I like it. Lux’s coffee, I mean."

H-hey! Don’t say stuff like that so casually!
Ugh… I swear, I’ve gotten weaker to compliments lately.
It’s not that I hate being praised—it just… hits harder than it used to.

"A-anyway! Here—today’s snack! It pairs perfectly with the coffee, so enjoy it properly!"

"Oh—yeah. Mm, this is delicious. Just the right amount of bitterness."

Phew… I really need to cool off my overheated brain.

I took a slow sip of coffee and bit into the snack beside it. Yeah, this really does pair perfectly with coffee—all thanks to Lady Air Groove’s recommendation.

"Pretty good, right? By the way, out of all the snacks I’ve served so far, which one’s been your favorite? I’m trying to decide what to prepare next, so I wanted to get a sense of your preferences."

"My favorite, huh… hmm… well, my number one would have to be that one, but…"

"Huh? What’s with that hesitant tone? Come on, don’t keep me guessing like that."

What, did I ever serve something embarrassing? Or maybe he doesn’t remember the name?
I tilted my head, and the Trainer, looking a bit awkward, finally spoke up.

"Ah—probably that chocolate, I think."

"Chocolate? Yeah, I’ve served some a few times… but which one?"

Let’s see… the one from that shop by the station? Or the fancy boutique one?
Wait—don’t tell me he means that one. The one I bought from that limited-time counter in the department store basement. That one wasn’t cheap…

"I mean the one you gave me on Valentine’s Day. The handmade one."

"F-feh…?"

"That was definitely the best. It went perfectly with coffee, too."

Awa… awawawa…!

That’s cheating! Seriously, that’s totally unfair!
If you say stuff like that, now I have to make more, don’t I? Maybe I’ll whip up another batch secretly and surprise him next time…

Geez, I wish he’d think a bit more before saying things that get me all flustered!

"You know, flattery’s not gonna get you anything."

"I wasn’t flattering you. I meant it."

Ahh—my face feels so hot! Ugh, what the heck is this…

"D-don’t get your hopes up! Even if it turns out kinda mediocre, you’re not allowed to complain!"

"I won’t. If you made it, that’s enough for me."

"U-uuuuu…"

Unable to sit still any longer, I turned back to the siphon. I washed the equipment and started preparing for another brew.
Ahh… yeah. Siphon brewing really is soothing. Watching that dark liquid slowly drip down—just seeing it helps me relax.

As I watched the coffee fall, I took a deep breath and murmured softly,

"Maybe I’ll go buy some ingredients soon…"

Yeah. For the Trainer, I wouldn’t mind making something once in a while.
He’s always looking after me, after all.

As I started mentally drafting a recipe for chocolate that would go perfectly with coffee, I smiled to myself.

[Prix du Moulin de Longchamp] – The Mile Queen Taiki Shuttle’s Dominant Performance Captivates the World

August ○×, 14:19 JST – 329 views

Racing across the turf at Longchamp, Taiki Shuttle once again demonstrated her unrivaled brilliance on the international stage. Following her triumph in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, she has now claimed another overseas G1 crown — France’s prestigious mile race, the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Recognized as one of France’s most elite mile events, this victory marks a historic milestone — the first-ever win by a Japanese Uma Musume in the competition.

From the break, Taiki Shuttle positioned herself near the front and held that spot with measured confidence. When the field turned for home, she unleashed her trademark acceleration, surging clear of her rivals and crossing the finish line two lengths ahead — a performance that left no room for doubt.

Her next destination: the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the United States.
Once again, fans across the globe are watching with high expectations as the Mile Queen prepares to take on the world’s finest.

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