Chapter 38: To the Lands of Nakayama

G1—the highest tier of the Twinkle Series races. It’s the ultimate honor, the pinnacle that every horse girl aspires to. Just participating in one is enough to secure a lifetime’s worth of livelihood. That’s how monumental it is.

The Satsuki Sho, as the first leg of the Classic G1 races, is a championship event designed to determine the fastest and most exceptional horse girls.

However, only about a hundred horse girls per year earn the right to compete in these top-tier G1 races. For the thousands—no, tens of thousands—of horse girls vying to pass through that narrow gate, it takes innate talent, extraordinary luck, and an unyielding spirit.

—Third week of April.

The long-awaited Satsuki Sho had finally arrived. The stage was set at Nakayama Racecourse: 2000 meters on turf, right-handed—the same conditions as last year’s Hopeful Stakes.

When we arrived first thing in the morning, the place was still sparsely populated… but by 10 AM, the crowds had swelled to near-overflowing. Guess everyone decided, "Might as well have lunch at Nakayama Racecourse!" The stands were already filling up with enthusiastic fans, to the point where it was hard to spot an empty seat.

A big reason for this surge was likely last week’s Oka Sho. The showdown between Green Titarn and Happy Meek had electrified the public, and the resulting media frenzy seemed to have spilled over into the Satsuki Sho. A quick ego-search on social media revealed that Titarn’s mud-splattered racing outfit and her ground-scraping running form had gained recognition beyond just her fans, even reaching the general public. Part of it was probably due to how strikingly photogenic she was, but hearing about my friend’s skyrocketing popularity made me genuinely happy.

So-called "trends" are born when they manage to pull in people outside their usual audience. Whether it’s manga and anime that occasionally explode in popularity, fitness crazes, or idol booms—it’s all the same.

The Twinkle Series, already a national pastime, had been expanding even further after the breathtaking Kikuka Sho and the fiercely contested Oka Sho. Even the general public, who usually couldn’t care less, had started flocking to the races.

With last year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Hopeful Stakes, and this year’s Silence Suzuka’s winning streak followed by the brutal Oka Sho—star horse girls had been emerging one after another, creating an unprecedented wave of excitement. From an insider’s perspective, it probably felt like, "Finally, it’s happening."

The URA, riding the high, was pumping out ads left and right, and in response, incredible races kept unfolding. This boom wasn’t ending anytime soon.

As I sighed at the roar of the crowd, loud enough to reach the waiting room, I skimmed through online news. The article I tapped on was from Monthly Twinkle’s web edition.

The headline blared: "The Four Titans Gather at Nakayama!" At a glance, it seemed like a shallow, surface-level piece—but since it was written by Reporter Otona Fumi, I knew it’d be worth reading. Their articles always delivered.

The piece focused on Special Week, King Halo, Seiun Sky, and me, Apollo Rainbow.

First up: Special Week. The overwhelming favorite. Just as Trainer Okino had confidently stated in the article—"I have full confidence in her."—the media was hyping her up the most. Her dominant win in the Yayoi Sho and expert analyses had cemented her position.

Her weight had increased slightly. The article listed her training lap times, expert comments, and even her favorite food (carrots—Spe-chan loves carrots), then moved on.

Next was Seiun Sky. Despite her loss in the Yayoi Sho, the quality of her performance earned her the second-highest favor. The article highlighted her meticulous lap times in the Keisei Hai and her tenacity in the Yayoi Sho, proving the reporter had a keen eye for races.

Her weight? Unknown (refused measurement). Lap times? Also unknown (refused measurement). Favorite food? Carrots. …Wow, that was completely useless.

In third place was me, Apollo Rainbow. The article reviewed my past races and included comments from Tomio, who had apparently given an interview without my knowledge.

"Apollo Rainbow will win."

I almost squealed aloud but held it in so Tomio, fidgeting behind me, wouldn’t notice. Scrolling further, I found myself described with ominous nicknames like "The Mad Escape Runner" and "The Murderous Lap Carver." I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or disturbed. Ever since overcoming my trauma, I’d avoided forums, but maybe this level of hype was justified. Still, it didn’t feel real yet.

My weight? No change. Lap times? Still record-class. Favorite food? Sweet treats. …Was the "favorite food" section just for the fans?

Fourth place went to King Halo. Though her Yayoi Sho performance fell flat, no one could deny her explosive late-speed was the best in our generation. The praise heaped on her didn’t match her ranking.

Her weight? No change (her own comment: "A first-class proportion!"). Lap times? Insane closing speed. Favorite food? Carrot hamburg steak. Huh. Guess "carrots" was the safe answer for horse girls.

With that, the article wrapped up its rundown of the contenders. No groundbreaking info, but then again, why would the media spill anything that good? Good enough.

I exhaled, only for Tomio to nervously pipe up.

"Apollo, what time is it now?"

"About noon."

"Ugh, still that early… Should we eat now? Bathroom break? Or maybe change into your racing gear already?"

Technically, this was my second G1, but Tomio was fussing like a parent sending their kid off to school for the first time.

"You’re overthinking it. We’ve got nearly four hours left."

"For me, that’s ONLY four hours until the starting gate… Ugh, I’m gonna puke."

He loosened his tie and started unbuttoning his suit. The light-blue tie I’d given him last Christmas caught my eye. He’d taken such good care of it—not a single wrinkle.

But coming to the Satsuki Sho in a fancy suit only to ruin it now was pointless. I grabbed his hand before he could take off his jacket and started straightening him up instead.

"Hey, no loosening the tie. Staff might come in any minute."

"I’m suffocating… Have mercy…"

"No. C’mon, tighten it. Or should I do it for you?"

"N-no… I’ll do it."

Pity. I kinda wanted to fix it for him. I mumbled to myself and glanced back at my device. The screen lit up briefly—12:06—before dimming again.

—It was really happening. The Satsuki Sho was about to begin. Maybe his nerves were contagious, because a shiver ran up my spine. That pre-race jitter—musha-burui, they call it. A mix of gut-stabbing tension and blazing fighting spirit, all tangled together. The urge to run right now was overwhelming, so to suppress it, I started pacing circles around the waiting room.

"…I kinda wanna go for a light run. But with this crowd, no way I can head outside."

"Too bad, but yeah. Guess the warm-up jog will have to be our last run before the Satsuki Sho."

Checking online, it seemed Nakayama Racecourse had already descended into chaos. The crowds were overwhelming—not just the stands, but the walkways, concourses, and even the route to the nearest station were packed to absurd levels. There were even reports of a horse girl (probably Gold Ship) hawking yakisoba in the stands. Wait, why did that matter again…?

My mind almost wandered to that eccentric mare, but today was the Satsuki Sho. Normally, I’d be laughing my head off, but with the race just hours away, I needed to focus. I shoved my phone into my bag, shaking off distractions.

"Tomio. Help me with stretches?"

"Oh, sure."

Trying to mask my rising nerves, I started my routine—loosening my Achilles tendons, wrists, and ankles before sitting down to let him push my back forward. A familiar sequence. His hands guided me as I bent forward, chest nearly touching the floor without a hint of pain.

"...You’ve gotten flexible."

"Daily practice~"

"...Right. Daily—you’ve been working nonstop."

"…………"

I felt his grip tighten slightly. Straightening up, I turned to face him.

"It’s not just me who’s been working hard. You’ve been right there too. Haven’t you?"

"...I just did my job supporting you."

But I knew better. Every scrap of data on rival horse girls drilled into my head was built on his blood, sweat, and tears. Half my grueling training was just to live up to that effort.

"I knew you’d downplay it, but come on."

"Bragging about effort is against my principles."

"Haha, fair enough."

We shared a quiet laugh, but beneath it, our eyes burned with the same hunger. I want to win. The feeling connected us, deeper than words.

"...Let’s go over the strategy again. Stretching’s fine."

"Yeah. Good idea."

Breaking eye contact, I spread my legs into a full split—180 degrees, leaning forward until my torso pressed against the floor. Flexibility earned through relentless daily work.

"First, the start. You drew Gate 8, Number 17—a brutal position."

"...Yeah."

"The outer turf’s been roughed up from past races, but the inner rail’s pristine. Do not miss the break. Hug that rail and take the shortest path. Not that I’m worried—you’re a frontrunner. Starts are your specialty."

"Obviously. A runaway lives or dies by the gate."

Nodding as I stretched toward each foot, I mentally reviewed the Satsuki Sho lineup:

Gate 1, Horse 1: 11th favorite, Shadow Stalker.

Gate 1, Horse 2: 9th favorite, Gimme One Love.

Gate 2, Horse 3: 2nd favorite, Seiun Sky.

Gate 2, Horse 4: 14th favorite, Mini Orchid.

Gate 3, Horse 5: 7th favorite, Little Trattoria.

Gate 3, Horse 6: 12th favorite, Tutunui.

Gate 4, Horse 7: 13th favorite, Frilled Banana.

Gate 4, Horse 8: 8th favorite, Pink Chouchou.

Gate 5, Horse 9: 16th favorite, Colorful Pastel.

Gate 5, Horse 10: 15th favorite, Black Dipped.

Gate 6, Horse 11: 10th favorite, Destinate.

Gate 6, Horse 12: 4th favorite, King Halo.

Gate 7, Horse 13: 17th favorite, Contest Rival.

Gate 7, Horse 14: 5th favorite, Jewel Azurite.

Gate 7, Horse 15: 6th favorite, Choco Choco.

Gate 8, Horse 16: 18th favorite, Frilled Grape.

Gate 8, Horse 17: 3rd favorite, Apollo Rainbow.

Gate 8, Horse 18: 1st favorite, Special Week.

It turned out that Special Week and I had drawn the outermost gates, the worst possible luck. For a front-runner like me, being stuck on the outside was already a huge disadvantage, but because of a certain "situation," it became an even bigger problem.

And what was that situation?

—URA, in an effort to protect the turf, had shifted the inner rail three meters outward when they set up the course. However, two days before the Satsuki Sho, they moved it back to the inside, so the track now felt the same as when we ran the Hopeful Stakes.

According to Tomio's intel, a "green belt" had formed along the innermost three meters—a strip of lush, untouched grass. What does that mean? Well, before explaining, I need to talk a little about turf conditions and horse girls.

First, turf conditions vary. In the opening weeks of racing, the grass is pristine and untouched, which gives better cushioning and makes it easier for front-runners to hold their lead without tiring. In short, it's an advantage for those who take the lead early.

On the flip side, after several races tear up the course, the ground gets rough and loses its cushioning. Front-runners tire more easily, and horses who come from behind tend to have the upper hand. Of course, some are naturally better or worse on rough ground, but generally speaking, late runners are favored. Also, cutting wide around the worn-out inside turf costs stamina, and race developments can get tricky.

Now, with all that in mind, this track is... pretty special. The very inside—just about wide enough for one and a half horse girls—is pristine turf. But just a little to the outside, the turf is already chewed up. And if you swing even wider, you'll find fresh turf again—but at the cost of a huge distance loss.

This setup favors the girls who draw inside gates and front-runners. But if you try a half-hearted front-running strategy, you'll be forced onto the rough turf, draining your stamina badly.

In short—if I don't beat Seiun Sky off the line and take the lead right away, I'll be stuck running on the rough turf. I’m confident in my stamina, but I've been training to perfectly burn through my reserves over exactly 2,001 meters. I don’t have raw speed, so I was planning to pour out the massive stamina I was born with, even if inefficiently. In other words, there’s no way I’ll have enough left over to survive running extra distance on torn-up ground. Honestly, if I get shoved into that mess, there's no chance I'll win.

In other words, the Satsuki Sho today is going to be decided at the start. The first 200 meters will set the whole flow for the remaining 1,800 meters. I have to be even sharper than usual with my break out of the gate.

Honestly, I almost wanted to curse URA for this. I get why they made the decision, but for me, it’s like they stirred up a headwind just for kicks. Sure, they officially announced it and all, and it's our job to adapt our strategies accordingly... but for someone like me, whose only trick is to run away in front, I couldn't come up with any clever way to turn this situation to my advantage.

"We’re gonna mark Seiun Sky—the one most likely to run a front strategy like us. If someone like Special Week or King Halo or anyone else comes charging past at the end, you can blame me."

"I won't blame you. We talked it over and made the decision together, right?"

"Yeah... you're right. Besides, Apollo’s probably going to win anyway, so no point worrying about what happens if we lose."

"Aren't you being a little too confident...?"

"I've done everything I possibly could to prepare. If I still can't win after all this, then something's seriously wrong."

And after several meetings following the gate assignments, it was finally decided that the one I would mark was Seiun Sky. There was a solid reason for that choice.

First off, Special Week, starting from the far outside gate, had almost no chance of taking the risk to go for a front-running strategy. Back in the Hopeful Stakes, when there was only one major front-runner, she had gone after them aggressively, but... this time, both the inner and outer gates were packed with strong front-runners.

It was impossible to predict whether the race would turn out fast-paced or slow-paced. Given the risks, it was highly unlikely she'd choose to push up to the front. Therefore, it was safe to assume she'd settle calmly at the back of the pack, and I could mentally remove her from my list of threats. Plus, thanks to the turf conditions today, even horses who specialize in coming from behind were at a disadvantage starting from the far outside, something Tomio emphasized heavily.

Next, King Halo. She drew gate 12 in the sixth row. Nothing particularly good or bad about her draw, but judging from her run in the Yayoi Sho, it was clear King Halo had no intention of adjusting her racing tactics based on her gate position. In short, she would be running from behind again this time.

Since that would naturally keep some distance between her and me, she was also removed from my list of marks. Also, my trainer pointed out that at Nakayama—where the turf conditions were totally different from Hopeful Stakes—keeping a flawless, steady pace was incredibly difficult. King-chan would likely face way tougher race conditions today. Honestly, if she managed to run through the Satsuki Sho without getting flustered at all, then all we'd be able to do was admit she was just that strong.

In the end, the only one left for me to mark was Seiun Sky. A front-runner can only fight another front-runner. Seiun Sky wasn’t particularly great at starts, so I'd have to snatch the lead from her—take the front and run, run, and run some more. If Seichan tried to mess with my pace, I would just ramp up the speed even more.

I'd flip the tables on her. It's fine... I've already withstood the all-out charges of Guriko, the Oka Sho horse girl, and Mejiron MacQueen, the “great actress.” I’m not going to get rattled over something like this.

When our strategy meeting-slash-warm-up exercises finished, a knock came at the door of the waiting room. "Excuse me," a staff member peeked in and announced that it was now two hours before race time. Sensing that it was time for me to get changed, Tomio quickly made himself scarce and left the room.

Once he was gone, the staff member gave a small, gentle smile.

"Apollo Rainbow-san, after you change into your racing outfit, we'll do your makeup."

...It’s finally here. I picked up my pure white racing outfit and shrugged off my tracksuit.