Chapter 42: Kikka-shō

Saturday was Grass-chan’s Argentinian Republic Cup. Fortunately, it was being held at the Tokyo Racecourse, so I went to watch it with El-chan. Grass-chan was incredibly happy to see us before the race. Well, of course she would be—having friends come to support you feels great.

Grass-chan is usually quiet, but before a race she radiates this unbelievable intensity. When that pressure is aimed at me it’s honestly terrifying, but watching from the outside? She just looks so cool. I wish I had that kind of presence too.

According to El-chan, that’s what happens when you practice naginata all the time. Wait, Grass-chan does that? …Actually, that explains a lot.

The race was a long-distance 2,500 meters—only 100 meters longer than the Derby, but apparently the uphill slope right after the start makes it tough.

Well, it didn’t seem to matter to Grass-chan. On the final stretch, she surged out from the center lane and charged proudly across the finish line in first place. The smile she showed afterward was the best one I’ve seen from her in a long time.

Sunday’s Kikka-shō I watched on TV, and honestly it felt like Sei-chan’s private show. Looking totally relaxed as she took the lead, she just followed the inside rail, running smoothly and slipping away from everyone. Before we knew it, she had breezed all the way past the 3,000-meter mark. It was like she was controlling the entire flow of the race—changing pace so fluidly that the others looked confused, as if they couldn’t catch her rhythm.

Meanwhile, King-chan and Spe-chan were running right next to each other, glaring at each other the whole time. But maybe they waited too long to start their final sprint, because they couldn’t catch Sei-chan at all.

According to Trainer-san, the two of them focused so much on marking each other that they failed to keep track of Sei-chan, letting her dictate the pace. That’s so like Sei-chan—she slips into the blind spots of your awareness and strikes before you notice.

I mean, what even is “controlling the race”? It sounds like a special attack. Kinda makes me want to try it too.

Oh, right—when I was watching the broadcast, my name kept coming up, which completely shocked me. It was like when a teacher who never calls on anyone suddenly points the sharp blade of a question straight at you. Well, I guess there was a lot of fuss about whether I’d run or not. If the race had been in Tokyo or at least Nakayama, I might’ve considered entering…

Also, the Kikka-shō fanfare was pretty good. Or maybe it was just refreshing—usually the races I run always use the same fanfare. I didn’t realize there were variations. I think the Spring Tennō-shō had something similar, so maybe it’s a long-distance thing?

Speaking of which, after Suzuka-san’s checkup, they said one of the tendons in her leg was in a pre-inflammation state, so she has to rest. She’s fine in everyday life, but running is basically forbidden, which she’s not happy about.

Since it looked inconvenient, I lent her my Segway—Good Kid-chan—that I got from Stay-senpai. She was happy, but… the battery doesn’t last at all. Just how far is she riding on it each day? I only need to charge it once every three days.

Even though she can’t enter the Japan Cup now, it seems she can still run together with El-chan and Spe-chan. And apparently Air Groove-senpai is entering too.

As for the Arima Kinen, Grass-chan will be there, and Sei-chan and King-chan as well. For the senior class, Bright-senpai and Fukukitaru-sama might show up too. If it were nothing but strangers, things would feel awkward, but with this many familiar faces it should be fun.

And Stay-senpai is entering both races. …I see. Right. Of course.

Also, it seems overseas Uma Musume will be coming for the Japan Cup. I’m sure they’ll include some ultra-beautiful, pheromone-dripping goddess of a runner. I can’t wait.

Time flies—after a little while, the whole academy became covered in Japan Cup decorations. Posters of me running, complete with flashy effects, were plastered everywhere. Whoever designed them has good taste.

I also found a poster of Stay-senpai, but she was being presented like some hardworking, earnest little Uma Musume. Yeah… whoever made that definitely doesn’t know what she’s actually like.

Spe-chan, apparently, has been tying on a headband and training with all her might. I can picture it way too easily. Suzuka-san, who I’ve been talking to a lot lately, told me all about it with a very happy smile.

And from what I hear, El-chan, King-chan, Grass-chan, and even Sei-chan are training with her too. They’re all getting along so well… Wait. Huh?

On a slightly chilly afternoon, I lay down—socks off—on the sofa in the old science room, which lately is almost always empty. Somehow, taking my socks off makes my legs feel like they recover faster.

It’s been a little over a year since I started entering races. Before I noticed, everything had become such a big deal.

I’m no longer fazed by the huge number of spectators that used to overwhelm me. I’ve even gotten way better at dealing with the reporters who constantly throw questions my way.

But what I do hasn’t changed at all. I burst out of that overly dramatic gate—which somehow never opens when you expect it to—and I run 1,600 meters, or 2,000, or whatever the prescribed distance is, reaching the finish line faster than anyone else.

Even if a race gains a flashy title and dramatic promotional lines, the ground beneath me is still just turf, and what kicks it up is the same old horseshoes.

And the more “prestigious” the race is supposed to be, the bigger everything becomes except for the running. To run for three minutes, there has to be a mountain of mysterious ceremonies and interviews.

How did things end up like this? Around this time last year, it was easier—I didn’t have people constantly talking about what races I should or shouldn’t run. As long as I talked it over with Trainer-san, that was enough.

It’s not like I even want to run huge races. I just hope for something where I don’t need to travel, where it’s not too hot or too cold, where I won’t get caked in mud, and ideally something on the shorter side.

Well… only two more races anyway. Not worth complaining over.

When everything’s over, I just want to relax and play games all day.