Chapter 36: Spring’s Breath, Awakening Rivals

—April had finally arrived. When you think of April, it’s undeniably the season of beginnings. School enrollments, class reshuffles, new hires at companies… In terms of the changes among the people involved, it’s a season where fresh winds blow in.

Tracen Academy had also welcomed new faces—first-year students, of course, as well as newly added faculty and trainers. Back when I was a male student, I secretly used to settle in for a nap during the sluggish, drawn-out ceremonies. But now, I could make it through the entrance ceremony with a composed mind. Maybe it was because I’d matured mentally… or maybe it was because I wanted to size up the promising horse girls who’d likely become my rivals next year. …No, perhaps it was a mix of both that sharpened my focus.

This year, the cherry blossoms bloomed unusually late, coinciding perfectly with the entrance ceremony. If I recall correctly, it’s that El Niño phenomenon Tomio mentioned. …Right? Eh, whatever.

As I walked along the riverside, I watched the new students taking commemorative photos beneath the cherry trees. The cold had completely vanished, making this stroll a nice change of pace. Training on a pleasantly warm day like this would’ve been fine too, but there was something uniquely satisfying about sprawling out on the riverside grass and zoning out.

Good thing today was my day off. I’d worn my tracksuit just in case it got dirty, so I lay flat on my back, arms crossed behind my head. Alright, nap time ready— Oh, a butterfly. Cute~.

"Mmph."

As I followed the white butterfly with my eyes, it fluttered right up to the tip of my nose and settled there. No way… But then again, I am a horse girl. Maybe things like this happened more often than I thought.

If a girl who hated bugs were here, she’d probably faint~, I mused before closing my eyes. Unless ants or flies swarmed me, I’d let myself drift off for a bit. Taking a deep breath, I let my consciousness sink into the darkness.

Still half-dreaming, I felt the warmth of sunlight on my closed eyelids. A breeze—neither cold nor hot, just the perfect temperature—brushed against my skin. My horse ears caught the gentle murmur of the flowing river. My nose picked up the faint scent of cherry blossoms and fresh grass. Ah… this is why spring is irresistible. Every sense wrapped in warmth, like returning to nature itself. Unable to tell dream from reality, I kept my eyes shut, simply soaking it all in.

How much time had passed? Amid distant laughter, I heard footsteps unmistakably approaching me. Peeking through half-lidded eyes, I saw a horse girl in Tracen’s uniform—Grass Wonder.

Holding down the hem of her skirt and taming her chestnut hair against the breeze, she moved with such refined grace that I couldn’t help but stare. Yet she, too, was gazing intently at me.

"...Hm? Grass-chan, what’s up?"

"Oh, did I wake you?"

"Nah, I wasn’t really sleeping. …Wanna sit?"

"Yes. Pardon me."

She settled beside me as I stretched with a big yawn. Her slender right leg was wrapped in bandages—painful to look at. An injury that still hadn’t fully healed. But from what I’d heard, she was scheduled for a comeback race soon.

…Still, diving straight into that topic felt awkward, so I stayed quiet, watching the river glisten under the sunlight. Grass-chan, sitting beside me, gently touched her bandages before whispering:

"...Apollo-chan, you’re worried about this leg, aren’t you?"

"Eek—! You noticed me staring?"

"Fufu~."

Of course Grass-chan would pick up on that. That sharp intuition of hers was a rare gift. Smiling wryly in defeat, I was met with her soft, knowing smile.

"When’s your comeback race?"

"Hmm… who knows? I won’t make it for the Satsuki Sho, but I’m technically already fit to run."

"Wait, so those bandages are…?"

"Just a precaution~ ♪"

Covering her mouth, she laughed. Originally, she was supposed to sit out spring entirely, with the Autumn Tenno Sho (Emperor’s Cup) as her Classic debut. But as expected, contradictions and deviations from the original timeline were piling up. Still, that didn’t make this world’s history fake. Everything here—the people, their burning passions—was undeniably real, shining too brightly to doubt. If anything, it might even surpass the original.

Call it a wild guess, but if Grass-chan was already race-ready… her comeback would likely be in May, right? A bold move would be entering the NHK Mile Cup—a G1 featuring El Condor Pasa and Green Titten. Alternatively, aiming for the Derby, she could start in the G2 Aoba Sho or the Open-class Principal Stakes.

Rotation-wise, the "Aoba Sho → Derby" path (starting with a G2) would be ideal. The Aoba Sho is 2400m, while the Principal Stakes is 2000m—a risky gap when prepping for the Derby’s 2400m.

That said, her record speaks for itself: she’s the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) champion, a top-tier miler. Targeting the shorter NHK Mile Cup wouldn’t be strange at all. Either way, it’d come down to conditioning.

When I peered into Grass-chan’s sapphire eyes, she met my gaze with a faint smile.

"I—will run in the Aoba Sho."

"!"

"And after I win the Aoba Sho—I’ll challenge you, you, Spe-chan, and Sei-chan in the Derby."

A sharp, combative aura, unbefitting the spring warmth, spills from Grass Wonder’s back. So… she’s aiming for the Derby, huh? Another rival to add to the list. I’ll need to start planning countermeasures.

"...Well then, I’ll be counting on you when the time comes, Grass-chan."

I flash her a toothy grin. Grass-chan responds with a soft, knowing "Ufufu~" before letting out a quiet sigh.

"There’s another reason I’ve been so conscious of you, you know. Lately, I’ve been hearing Apollo-chan’s name brought up quite often."

"W-what? Why me? That’s kinda scary…"

"Oh, it’s nothing serious. Maruzensky-san just talks about you all the time. 'Apollo-chan’s running is choberigu~!'"

Grass-chan’s dead-on impression of Maruzensky’s voice and mannerisms sends me into stifled laughter. Who knew she’d be so good at this? And weirdly enough, it’s scarily accurate—which just makes it funnier.

So it’s not just me—Grass-chan’s one of Maruzensky’s favorites too. No wonder I feel this odd kinship with her.

Not to be outdone, I mimic Maruzensky’s signature "BATCHIGU!" pose and voice. Grass-chan completely loses it, bursting into laughter. It’s kinda rude to mock her like this, but… apparently, her sense of humor leans toward the dangerously edgy.

For a while, our conversation blooms—Maruzensky, spring, the new students, our trainers, and, of course, the topic inseparable from us horse girls: racing.

The discussion shifts to the Yayoi Sho and the Wakaba Stakes, and soon enough, the arrows of Grass Wonder’s focus land squarely on Special Week and me. Her words suddenly surge with intensity.

"I… I was so frustrated that I couldn’t race alongside everyone in the Yayoi Sho or the Wakaba Stakes."

"…………"

"Spe-chan’s victory in the Yayoi Sho… and your win in the Wakaba Stakes… It truly, truly—struck something deep inside me."

As she speaks, Grass Wonder’s fingers slither around and lace tightly with mine, her grip climbing up my wrists like serpents. Her expression—resolute, almost relishing the pressure—is unforgettable.

Her presence alone is overwhelming. As she leans closer, I find myself pushed backward, tumbling onto the grass. In an instant, she’s on top of me, pinning me down. Struggling is pointless.

"Ahh, I can’t wait to fight."

"H-hey, Grass-chan—!"

"You and me—seriously—"

Her piercing blue eyes lock onto mine at point-blank range. I try to wrench my hands free, but her strength is monstrous.

She’s every bit the "monster" they say she is. Like a horse girl before a race, Grass Wonder bares her fighting spirit, daring me—though she probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. Her desire to compete is just that overwhelming.

After all, Grass-chan’s specialty is marking her rivals. Whether consciously or not, she’s always pushing forward.

"GRASS-CHAN! SERIOUSLY, STOP!"

The moment I shout directly into her ear, she jerks back in shock, finally releasing me. Scrambling off me, she stares in horror, as if waking from a dream.

"—S-sorry! I-I didn’t—what was I doing?!"

Her eyes and expression have returned to the usual "gentle Grass Wonder." Trembling, she covers her mouth with both hands, clearly shaken by her own actions.

I gesture that it’s fine, really, but her face stays pale. She even starts bowing deeply, as if ready to prostrate herself in apology.

"...I can’t possibly atone. I’ll commit seppuku."

"No no NO! It’s fine, I swear!"

"But…"

"I’ve totally gotten carried away like that too! We’re even, okay?"

...Like that time I misunderstood and thought To-mi-o was being taken by Kiriinyan-san. I completely lost it. Ugh, just remembering makes me cringe…

Back then, my mind was drowned in something dark, and I nearly did something awful to Kiriinyan-chan. Just like Grass-chan right now. The sheer obsession—the competitive fury—of a horse girl is terrifying. It’s a madness I never knew as a man, one that erases reason. Even those born as horse girls sometimes lose control.

After reassuring Grass-chan with every trick in the book, I flop back onto the riverbank. Still guilt-ridden, she eventually heads off toward the shopping district.

"See ya, Grass-chan! That was fun!"

"Yes. Apollo-chan, about earlier—"

"Enough! Say one more word and I’ll get mad! Go on, shoo!"

"...Thank you, Apollo-chan. Until next time."

Rising gracefully, she brushes off her skirt and walks away—though not without glancing back at me a few times. I wave cheerfully from my spot on the grass.

Man, it’s been ages since we talked like that. She was so fired up it almost scared me… but that just makes me happy.

After watching Grass-chan’s figure shrink into the distance, I stretch under the still-high sun. My mind’s full of her. She’s never been one for long speeches, but her refined movements leave a lasting impression. That effortless femininity—the elegance ingrained in her every motion—is something I could never replicate. She’s foreign-born, yet more of a Yamato Nadeshiko than I’ll ever be. It’s… kinda inspiring.

...Anyway.

"Grass-chan… you’ve definitely awakened to the ‘Zone,’ haven’t you?"

I pressed a hand over my racing heart through my uniform. When Grass Wonder pinned me down earlier, I could’ve sworn I saw that light—even though we weren’t mid-race. Either way, this indescribable dread (not just ordinary fear) proves it: Grass Wonder had definitely brushed against the edges of the "Territory Zone" back then. …Not that she’d realized it herself, probably.

The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes had been a one-sided domination, just as her specs suggested. But now, something unmistakably akin to the Territory Zone has taken root in her.

The despair and frustration of being sidelined by injury, the restless envy as her rivals kept achieving results during her hiatus—I can’t even imagine how much it tortured her. But one thing’s clear: pushed to her mental limits, she’s been forging her own path toward the Territory Zone, in ways I can’t comprehend.

"The Japan Derby’s gonna be a nightmare…"

I straightened my disheveled uniform and stood up. Somehow, I could feel Grass Wonder’s gaze on me—no, more like a blade pressed against my throat—and hurried back to Tracen Academy.

Back at Tracen, I nearly bumped into Seiun Sky near the main gate.

"Ah—"

"Hm?"

Sei-chan quickly hid her fishing gear behind her back and tried to stroll away like nothing happened. I grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back.

"Sei~i~chan? Skipping again?"

We’re the same height, with nearly identical builds. I spun her around and confiscated the fishing rod. The only real differences between us? Ear size, tail fluffiness, and coat color. Well, side by side, I guess we do look pretty distinct.

Still, I’ve always felt a weird kinship with her. Maybe it’s the shared gray coat and front-running style—honestly, I’m full of sympathy for her. That, and the way she often mutters things like "I’ve got no talent." It stings a little, but it’s also where I relate most.

Seiun Sky scrapes victories through sheer racecraft and brains; I brute-forced my way up with merciless training to compensate for my weaker body. The way we both claw at our limits to keep up? Yeah, I’m low-key rooting for her.

"Your trainer was looking for you. Though, uh… he kinda gave up halfway."

And soon, we’ll finally clash—at the G1 Satsuki Sho, the opening act of the Classics. I’ve been secretly looking forward to it. We’ve never raced in the Classics, let alone the junior division. Sure, her pace control is terrifying, but the excitement outweighs the fear.

"Huh~? Pretty sure I told my trainer ’I’m gonna skip properly today’…"

"‘Skip properly’—oh, come on!"

She tugged my sleeve, spinning some half-believable excuse, clearly angling for her gear back. Not happening. Her trainer’s already stressed. And those big, watery eyes won’t work on me—dammit, you’re too cute, you little—

"N-no, those puppy-dog eyes won’t save you! I’m handing this rod to your trainer. …Not that he’ll keep it long, softie that he is…"

"…Lately, Apollo, you’re kinda acting like Grass-chan."

"Wha—what’s that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothiiing~?"

We traded jokes all the way to the trainer’s building. Seiun Sky’s trainer, Kisaragi Tenkakeru, is this perpetually spacey guy. Hard to read, but secretly sharp. Guess trainers rub off on their charges—like some hardheaded umamusume paired with a drill-sergeant trainer.

And just like Tomi-o’s office, Kisaragi’s training room was exiled to the boonies. Fine for chats, but a trek for daily use. Given his track record, you’d think he’d rate better digs… but maybe his personality’s the issue? Or maybe he refused to move, insisting "Seiun Sky prefers quiet places."

To kill time, we reminisced about our last fishing trip. I didn’t catch squat, but Sei-chan hauled in one big catch after another. The way her face lit up with each one? Unforgettable.

"When we’re older, let’s rent a boat and go deep-sea fishing with everyone! Y’know, if the stars align. Wanna try it someday?"

"Oh, Sei-chan, I kinda agree with that idea! We might catch something huge—way bigger than anything on land~"

"Think we could hook a whale or something?"

"……Apollo, is this what they call ‘playing the fool’? My, my, I can’t compete with that…"

"Huh?"

Seiun Sky gave a wry smile. Gazing through the window at the sinking sun, she murmured in a nostalgic tone:

"A big catch… Yeah, a big catch…"

—Big catch. The phrase seemed to carry a different weight, so I studied Sei-chan’s face. Her expression brimmed with quiet intensity and confidence. She spun around abruptly and declared:

"Sei-chan might wanna reel in a big catch too—one that’ll shock everyone! Kehah☆"

Was this a declaration? Or just a throwaway line following our chat? Only she knew the truth—but I didn’t miss the glint in Seiun Sky’s eyes as they sharpened.

She laughed her usual carefree laugh, yet couldn’t hide the fighting spirit surging beneath. Seeing it, I flashed a grin—different from my earlier casual smile.

"……Well, I’ll land a bigger catch than yours, Sei-chan. Just watch me."

Seiun Sky’s lips curled, either startled or smug. Her theatrical gestures couldn’t mask her fervor.

"Oho~? Apollo’s fired up too?"

"……Right back at you. Consider this mutual declaration of war."

"Not really my style, but guess I’m getting pumped."

"I’m burning up right now."

—A silent message passed between us: At the Satsuki Sho, I won’t lose to you.

Seiun Sky—one of my greatest rivals standing in my way. She’s a precious friend and adversary. That’s exactly why I refuse to lose. Kindred spirits clash hardest.

Special Week, King Halo, Seiun Sky—I’ll crush them all. No matter their strategies, I’ll grind them to dust under a blistering front-run charge. Let Seiun Sky analyze, theorize, and scheme all she wants—I’ll be the one to seize the ultimate big catch: victory.

Bathed in the scarlet sunset over Tracen Academy, we secretly pledged our coming battle.