Chapter 34: Let’s Go, Wakaba Stakes!

The live broadcast of the Yayoi Sho ended without clarifying whose "Territory Zone" had awakened—Special Week’s or Seiun Sky’s.

"The live performance was so cute!"

"Their dancing and singing were amazing. …Speaking of which, Apollo, you’re perfect at both singing and dancing. Do you practice somewhere?"

"Hmm, I do go to karaoke a lot."

"Ohhh."

"Oh, I know! Let’s go to karaoke together next time! I’ve been wanting to go for ages~"

"Huh? No, I’m terrible, so I’ll pass…"

"Moo! Come on, just once! It’s not fair if only I’m the one singing!"

"O-okay… But seriously, I’m bad at it…"

While chatting with the Trainer, we returned to the Trainer’s office.

Next week would bring the G2 Kinko Sho, featuring Silence Suzuka, and the week after that, my Open-class race—the Wakaba Stakes. There was no telling when we’d actually have time for karaoke, but without little joys like that, this life would be unbearable.

Now, with the Yayoi Sho over and our return to the office, there was only one thing left to do—rewatch the recorded race footage.

Specifically, I wanted to confirm the truth behind that light we saw in the final corner. Had Seiun Sky’s Territory Zone awakened, or was it Special Week’s? I needed to know right away.

Perhaps Tomio already guessed what I was thinking, because he eagerly started setting up the monitor. While waiting, I boiled water and tore open an instant coffee packet.

"Apollo, it’s ready over here."

"Coming~!"

Carrying two coffee cups from the kitchen, I hurried to the sofa. As we fast-forwarded to the crucial stretch, I glanced sideways at Tomio’s hand holding the stopwatch.

From the point the runaway began—the 1200-meter mark to the 1600-meter mark—their time was an absurd 23-second range. It was a miracle they’d managed to stay neck-and-neck all the way to the final stretch.

Then, the footage showed Seiun Sky entering the final straight, with Special Week right behind her. This was it. This was where that blinding light had engulfed my vision, where the Territory Zone had unfolded.

I pressed my face against the screen, eyes wide open, refusing to miss a single frame. "H-Hey, you’re in the way," the Trainer said, reaching over, but I couldn’t back down now. The cameras probably hadn’t captured the light, but I had to see it.

—But then.

At the exact moment the light should’ve appeared, the one who accelerated wasn’t just one of them.

Both Seiun Sky and Special Week had surged forward with unnatural speed.

"…………"

The footage continued, showing Special Week overtaking to claim first place. Behind me, someone muttered, "Their overall time was only slightly faster than average."

I must’ve been mistaken. I’d assumed only one of them—either Seiun Sky or Special Week—had awakened the Territory Zone there. But judging by this footage, both of them had gained it. Unbelievably, they’d awakened it at the same time.

As Tomio rewound the footage repeatedly to analyze it, I was left with a complicated feeling in my chest.

The day before the Wakaba Stakes, I lay in bed, replaying race footage on UmaHo over and over. Not just the Yayoi Sho, where my rivals had awakened, but also the Kinko Sho from the previous week.

…Actually, if we’re talking about the past week, I’d probably rewatched Silence Suzuka’s Kinko Sho even more. That’s how shocking her performance had been.

The G2 Kinko Sho, held on the third week of March at Chukyo Racecourse—a 2000-meter race for seniors, serving as a trial for the Osaka Hai. The competitors included Midnight Bet, on a five-win streak with two graded stakes victories; Toyo Rainbow, smoothly climbing the ranks after an easy G3 win; TM Ooarashi, with two G3 wins under her belt; Taiki El Dorado, aiming for the Osaka Hai; and last year’s Kikuka Sho winner, Machikane Fukukitaru—the very rival who had handed Silence Suzuka a bitter defeat in the Kobe Shimbun Hai.

Only nine runners, but every one was a powerhouse.

And yet—

Just as everyone expected, Silence Suzuka went for a bold, all-out front-running strategy.

Her 1000-meter split? 58.1 seconds. A blistering pace. "Even Suzuka will have to ease up at some point," everyone thought—the other racers, the spectators, all of them. Like Seiun Sky in the Yayoi Sho, who had been caught after burning out from her own reckless speed, Suzuka’s endurance would surely be tested.

But even after the third and fourth corners, the gap behind her didn’t shrink.

Instead, as she hit the final stretch, her posture leaned even further forward. From mid-stretch onward, she tore away from the pack with overwhelming force. These were strong racers—yet they were left in the dust like it was nothing. The sheer impact was beyond words.

Even through the broadcast, I could feel the crowd’s stunned murmurs. The commentator’s voice wavered in disbelief.

—She led. She pulled away.

It was the perfect race, the ideal everyone dreamed of.

The margin? 11 lengths.

A new Japanese record for 2000 meters on left-handed turf.

The energy at Chukyo Racecourse that day dwarfed even the fever of the G2 Yayoi Sho the week before.

Even before she crossed the finish line, Silence Suzuka was already wrapped in applause. When she stepped into the winner’s circle, Chukyo Racecourse erupted into a melting pot of enthusiasm and cheers—so much that the broadcast camera shook from the sheer energy. I remember it so clearly, how my own excitement spiraled out of control, making me spin in place.

The crowd adored her—the way she shyly handled post-race interviews only tightened their grip on everyone’s hearts. But what truly moved them first was that devastating final stretch. With her slender body leaning forward, her sleek chestnut mane streaming behind her as she tore down the lead, she looked like something out of a painting—utterly stealing the spotlight from the entire world.

I’ll never forget what I saw on that broadcast. No one wanted to leave. The crowd lingered around the winner’s circle, chanting her name. I even heard voices calling out, "Thank you!"

In that Kinko Sho, Silence Suzuka had achieved the ultimate ideal—"lead from the front and widen the gap." She’d stepped into a realm even legends like Symboli Rudolf, Mr. C.B., and Maruzensky had never reached. Ah—Silence Suzuka had become everyone’s beloved.

Could anything be more magnificent? She’d won over fans who’d come to cheer for Machikane Fukukitaru and Midnight Bet.

Maybe… she was aiming for something even greater. To become the strong, idolized horse girl who could execute the perfect front-run strategy—the one everyone dreamed of. The media couldn’t stop talking about her. Outside the heated Classic-level races, a "Silence Suzuka boom" was brewing.

"…………"

I closed UmaHo and curled up under the covers, squeezing my eyes shut and taking a deep breath.

I should be tossing all thoughts of Suzuka aside and sleeping early to prepare for tomorrow’s Wakaba Stakes… but rewatching the Kinko Sho footage had left me too wired. Reliving that live broadcast had my heart racing.

Fine. If I couldn’t shake it off, I’d lean in—think about Suzuka and the Kinko Sho as hard as I could, then sleep.

"Mmm… Silence Suzuka…"

Silence Suzuka—a chestnut-haired horse girl. A natural front-runner, though in a different way from me. Whenever I spotted her around campus, my first thought was always, "Oh, it’s Suzuka-chan. She looks kinda spacey~."

She’s the senpai my rival, Special Week, admires so much that "Suzuka-san" inevitably comes up in every conversation with Spe-chan.

…But impressions aside, what really stuck with me was her Territory Zone.

That final stretch in the Kinko Sho—she’d clearly tapped into it. Yet… something about hers felt different from the others.

Most carry the weight of others’ expectations on their backs. But Suzuka’s performance didn’t feel like a honed masterpiece forged from others’ hopes. No, her Territory Zone seemed born from her own extraordinary talent.

Was I wrong? TV footage isn’t the most reliable, but… if my gut’s right, does that mean the awakening process varies, just like unique skills? Conventional wisdom says it’s triggered in the heat of battle, but Suzuka’s? Hers felt like it sprung from her own otherworldly essence—

…No, this is getting too philosophical. And way too deep into the mysteries of horse girls. If I keep this up, I’ll never sleep. Tomorrow’s an early day…

In the darkened room, I reached out and tapped UmaHo awake. 23:16. Trainer would scold me for staying up this late.

Finally feeling drowsy, I burrowed under the blankets and let out a big yawn.

…Goodnight.

Tomorrow… I’ll give it my all.

—Saturday, 4th Week of March – Hanshin Racecourse

Having arrived on the day itself due to classes the previous afternoon, we began strategizing in the waiting room right away.

The entry list for Hanshin’s 10th Race, the Wakaba Stakes, was as follows:

Gate 1, No. 1: #9 Heroine Adventure

Gate 1, No. 2: #1 Apollo Rainbow

Gate 2, No. 3: #10 Byproduction

Gate 2, No. 4: #7 Dispatcher

Gate 3, No. 5: #14 Summer Bonfire

Gate 3, No. 6: #15 Sharp Attract

Gate 4, No. 7: #8 Biw Takehide

Gate 4, No. 8: #4 Outstand Gig

Gate 5, No. 9: #5 Great House

Gate 5, No. 10: #2 Green Presence

Gate 6, No. 11: #6 Ribbon Slenod

Gate 6, No. 12: #16 Reflector

Gate 7, No. 13: #12 Wise Manager

Gate 7, No. 14: #13 During Stella

Gate 8, No. 15: #3 Destinate

Gate 8, No. 16: #11 Grin Tanni

The Wakaba Stakes would begin with a full gate of 16 runners.

The ones to watch were Biw Takehide and Green Presence. Historically, Biw Takehide’s siblings included Biw Hayahide and Narita Brian, while Green Presence’s younger brother was Narita Top Road. And if I recalled correctly, Green Presence was the actual winner of this race.

Then, of course—Destinate had shown up. A filly known only for finishing either first or dead last, her volatility was extreme. To think an open race like this could attract so many elites… This generation was something else. It almost made me sigh. Well, not that I minded—weak rivals wouldn’t get my blood pumping.

That said, my focus wasn’t on Destinate—it was Green Presence. She’d climbed her way up through conditioned races, and her explosive late-speed surpassed even Destinate’s.

Since Green Presence was a closer, she likely wouldn’t engage until the final stretch… Still, Tomio had warned me to keep an eye on her, so I’d obey.

As we headed to the paddock for introductions, the spring warmth had drawn a sizable crowd to Hanshin Racecourse. Then again, today also featured the G3 Flower Cup and the G3 Chunichi Sports Cup Falcon Stakes (albeit at different venues)—so many spectators were probably here for the live broadcasts.

The Wakaba Stakes had gathered plenty of strong fillies, but the crowd’s energy rivaled the Yayoi Sho’s. Or maybe it was just the vibe of Hanshin Racecourse in Hyogo. Fans hurled rowdy cheers—thick with Kansai dialect—straight at me, their aggressive tone making me flinch.

"Uh, haha… I’ll do my best…"

Regional flavor was part of Twinkle Series’ charm, I supposed. Their support was heartfelt, but the sheer intensity was a bit much.

"Gate 1, No. 2—Apollo Rainbow, the top favorite! After misfortune struck in January’s Wakagoma Stakes, she returns following a six-week break. Will we see her signature daring front-running today? While distinct from Silence Suzuka’s style, her speed demands attention!"

When the commentary called my name, I stretched my numbered sash, adjusted my track suit, and flashed a practiced smile. Spotting a fan waving an "I ♡ Apollo Rainbow" uchiwa, I gave a light wave—only for him to dramatically faint and get hauled off by URA staff.

"A minor incident, but let’s proceed! Next up—"

Was this normal at Hanshin? Uneasy, I trotted back to Tomio.

"Green Presence looks sharp. On the flip side, Destinate and Biw Takehide seem off their game."

"So Apollo’s real rival here is Green Presence, huh?"

The chestnut-furred filly—Green Presence—flicked her ponytail briskly, her ears and tail alert unlike Destinate’s drooping demeanor. Her petite frame hid lethal late-acceleration. Never judge a horse girl by size; strength wasn’t measured in bulk, at least not in racing.

"Apollo Rainbow—today, she’ll give us a Silence Suzuka-level performance."

"What’s with the sudden confidence?"

"She’s got a score to settle after missing the Yayoi Sho. Social media’s flooded with pics of her staring blankly from the stands that day. Plus, last week’s Golden Karp Cup showed Silence Suzuka’s legendary front-running. If Apollo saw that, as another speed demon, it had to ignite something. Mark my words—she’ll unleash a rage-fueled blitz today!"

"Now that you mention it… Her trainer’s radiating confidence too. They must’ve made insane progress behind the scenes!"

"Damn right. Let’s cheer her on—and pray no one gets hurt."

"The 10th Race at Hanshin, the Wakaba Stakes—the horses are approaching the gate!""Apollo Rainbow and Green Presence brim with energy, while Destinate and Biw Takehide seem sluggish. Quite the contrast!"

After the paddock inspection, the horses began entering the main track and warming up. As I ran at about 80% of full speed to get my body ready, I overtook Biwa Takehide and Destinate, who were running along the inner rail.

Sure enough, both Biwa Takehide and Destinate seemed to be off their game. Even during the warm-up run, their movements were sluggish. Managing a horsegirl’s condition is an incredibly delicate task… Could it be that their trainers messed up the adjustments?

Green Presence was loitering around the first corner, keeping her warm-up to a light jog.

When I returned to the home stretch at considerable speed, I was greeted by a thunderous roar from the crowd, peppered with jeers. The Hanshin Racecourse erupted in excitement. Ugh, yeah… this might actually be tougher than I thought. Maybe Biwa Takehide-chan and Destinate-chan aren’t great with this kind of atmosphere either?

Once the warm-up was over, sixteen horsegirls stood before the gate set up on the track. None of us met each other’s gaze. Everyone had retreated into their own world, sharpening their focus.

To center myself, I looked up at the blue spring sky, placed a hand on my chest, and took a deep breath. My vision narrowed, and I felt the blood rush to my head. I’d just held Tomio’s hands back there, so I’d already converted my feelings of love into sheer fighting spirit. All that’s left in my heart now is a chilling, burning intensity.

—Alright, time to let out all the frustration I’ve been holding in since I couldn’t race in the Wakakoma Stakes back in January!

I bared my canines and grinned wickedly.

And in this Wakaba Stakes… I was about to witness an outcome I never could have expected.