Chapter 73: Stayers Stakes – Part 2

A roaring cheer—no, it was more than that. An overwhelming wave of voices poured down upon Double Trigger.

"Go, Double Trigger!!"

"Apollo-chan, don’t lose to Double Trigger!!"

The horse girls they cheered for were as diverse as their voices. Most seemed to be rooting for Apollo Rainbow’s success, but—

(How long has it been since I last heard such deafening cheers? And not just at the climax of a photo finish, but during the warm-up lap… I’d heard Japanese fans were passionate, but this is beyond what I expected…)

Double Trigger absorbed the cheers from the stands with a mix of surprise and delight as she eased into her warm-up. Thanks to meticulous training and simulations, she had adapted somewhat to Japan’s turf. Now, she ran the course while gauging her own condition.

(The grass still feels unfamiliar, but the track layout is straightforward and well-designed…)

Japanese turf was lighter than Europe’s. European grass was longer, with denser root systems beneath the surface, creating a springier, more stamina-demanding course. Japan’s turf wasn’t sparse by any means, but European courses were tougher, built for endurance.

Moreover, Japanese racetracks were far more uniform in design compared to Europe’s. European courses were carved straight into natural landscapes—rough, uneven, and wild. In contrast, Japanese tracks formed perfect geometric circles, visible from above.

Because of this, Japan’s courses were among the fastest in the world. But the increased strain on the legs made the adjustment a major hurdle for Double Trigger.

Up ahead, a pinkish-gray horse girl jogged lightly—Apollo Rainbow. Seeing her, Double Trigger smirked at the strange twist of fate. She’d initially taken interest because her admired senior had praised Apollo, but the girl clearly had the strength to back it up.

Racing her European rivals one last time wouldn’t have been bad… but right now, she couldn’t imagine facing anyone but Apollo Rainbow.

As the foreign girl strained her ears, the crisp voice of the race commentator reached her. She had studied enough Japanese—especially racing terminology—to understand most of what was being said.

『Oh? Apollo Rainbow’s warm-up is as restrained as ever today.』
『Well, of course. Going all out in practice would leave no stamina for the actual race.』

Double Trigger slowed to a near-walk, returning to the gates ahead of the others. She couldn’t take her eyes off Apollo’s every move. The chestnut-haired girl glared at the approaching gray horse girl, her mind racing.

She’d reviewed footage of Apollo’s past races—even during the Kikuka-shō, her warm-up had been similarly light. Apollo must have been conserving energy, deceiving her body when running shorter distances.

But this warm-up seemed even more relaxed than back then. Only one conclusion made sense: "3,600 meters is slightly beyond Apollo Rainbow’s comfort zone." She likely had exceptional stamina by Japanese standards, but Japan’s longest G1 was the 3,200-meter Tenno-sho (Spring). Compared to Europe’s elite stayers, it wasn’t even close.

Double Trigger turned back toward the gate, steadying her breathing—but a nagging doubt tugged at her.

(…No, this assumption could be wrong. If I’m right, then someone like Lemos would never have said she felt ‘something fateful’ about Apollo… She’s definitely strong enough for 3,600 meters. Don’t underestimate her just because she’s younger. If I don’t fight to kill, I’ll be the one who dies. Calm down… calm down…)

She shook her head, taking a deep breath. The foreign girl was slightly flustered—understandably so. Everything was different: the language, the track, the turf, the fans, the pressure of her final race.

No matter how mature she seemed, inside, she was still just a girl. Alone in a foreign land, with no one to rely on—it was impossible to act as usual.

As she furrowed her brow, trying to steady herself, the gray-haired horse girl approached in halting English.

"Double Trigger… are you okay?"

"…Apollo."

"You look a little pale."

Somehow, Apollo had already finished her warm-up and returned to the gates. Smiling warmly, she added:

"When everything’s a confusing mess, talking to someone helps a lot, y’know?"

"…Hmph."

Double Trigger snorted and turned back toward the gate. Though brief, the exchange had genuinely eased her tension—a surprising discovery. Even with someone who was more than an acquaintance but less than a friend, just sharing words could ground her.

Muttering self-deprecatingly about how much she still had to learn, Double Trigger shot back a taunt.

"My doubts are gone—thanks for that. But mark my words, after this race, you’ll deeply regret showing kindness to your enemy."

"…No, I won’t. Because I want to beat the real Double Trigger!"

"Oh?"

She was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such fighting spirit from Apollo. The dark, competitive fire she hadn’t felt in three months was… thrilling.

The more they spoke, the more she liked this girl. Sincere, kind, adorable—and all the more satisfying to crush. That unyielding spirit was exactly what she’d expect from someone her admired senior had praised. Double Trigger’s excitement surged, reaching its peak alongside the blaring fanfare.

After that, no more words were exchanged. As the earth-shaking cheers followed the fanfare, the sixteen horse girls stepped into their steel gates.

『The cold winter air hangs heavy over Nakayama Racecourse as sixteen horse girls prepare to battle over Japan’s longest distance—3,600 meters! From seasoned veterans to rising stars, and above all, Europe’s long-distance Triple Crown winner, this field is as varied as it gets!』

『A full gate for the Stayers Stakes is rare these days, and the crowd turnout is astonishing!』

『All competitors are loaded—the year-end battle for long-distance supremacy begins now!』

Double Trigger settled into Gate 2-4, swaying slightly as she waited for the start. Apollo Rainbow was in 3-6. Front-runners favored inside posts, so the gray girl would likely swing wide to seize the lead. For Double Trigger, confident in her stamina, the ideal scenario was forcing Apollo to burn hers early in the pace battle.

As silence fell, the sixteen horse girls sharpened their gazes, bracing for the start. Then, in unison, the gates burst open—

The Stayers Stakes had begun.

『AND THEY’RE OFF! As expected, Number 6, Apollo Rainbow, charges forward, surging to the front in an instant! But pressing right against her is Number 4, Double Trigger! The two front-runners are already locked in battle!』

A steep 2.2-meter slope right after the start kept Apollo from hitting full speed. But Double Trigger was different. Years of racing on Europe’s grueling courses had honed raw power unmatched by anyone here.

Effortlessly, she closed the gap on Apollo, who should have been building an insurmountable lead. Unfazed by the slope—no, accelerating down it as if gravity meant nothing—she glued herself to the gray girl’s flank. From the start to the first corner, Apollo couldn’t shake her off.

"Tch…!"

(I'll thoroughly drain your stamina...)

They say Double Trigger's mark exerts such overwhelming pressure it could even induce nausea. Goosebumps are inevitable, the suffocating sensation makes you genuinely fear for your life, leaving you unable to breathe properly - let alone race... It's an utterly ruthless display of pure, concentrated pressure.

Apollo Rainbow shows signs of distress as Double Trigger presses her dappled gray frame uncomfortably close, unleashing terrifying intimidation against the silver-haired girl.

This was Double Trigger's strategy. Unless she caught Apollo Rainbow immediately, the silver-haired demon would run wild at speeds impossible to match until the very end. To prevent that hopeless scenario, she had to harass Apollo right from the start.

Take this year's Satsuki Sho. From Double Trigger's analysis, Seiun Sky's strategy against Apollo had been textbook perfect. Of course, to contain the now-strengthened Apollo Rainbow, she'd need even better luck than Seiun Sky had that day—but there was no time for complaints. The key to victory lay in how much stamina she could drain from Apollo during these critical early moments.

From the opening stages, the two elite racehorses engaged in a fierce battle for dominance. While not outright explosive in speed, the psychological warfare unfolding was far more brutal than appearances suggested.

『"As the umamusume reach the uphill straight, Apollo Rainbow—the race favorite—regains the lead after some difficulty! Meanwhile Double Trigger maintains second position, continuing to pressure the leader!"』

『"The chasing pack remains tightly bunched behind these two frontrunners. Apollo Rainbow's pace appears somewhat restrained—perhaps already concerned about stamina conservation?"』

Through relentless marking and disruptive tactics, Double Trigger systematically dismantled Apollo's rhythm. Six years of racing experience told her exactly how to disrupt an umamusume's pace and sap their stamina.

("From race footage, Apollo clearly weakens under pressure. The Kikuka Sho didn't matter because she'd built such an insurmountable lead—but all I need is to create a situation where she can't ignore it.")

While blocking paths was technically prohibited, Double Trigger's inside position forced Apollo off the optimal racing line. The need to avoid interference made Apollo hyper-aware of Double Trigger's movements, amplifying every trick and intimidation tactic.

Unlike Apollo's free-running front style, Double Trigger specialized in controlled dominance—manipulating pace, draining rivals' stamina, and creating favorable conditions. Her meticulously calculated pacing, psychological warfare, and instinctive positioning were arguably the best in the world.

Through narrowed eyes, Double Trigger could see the silver-haired beauty's refined features contort in distress. Yet she'd also expended more stamina than planned—Apollo's speed had exceeded expectations.

("The real battle begins on the downhill after the second corner's midpoint. Once that slope hits, Apollo will shift into her unstoppable runaway mode... But if she saps any more of my stamina now, I'm finished.")

Adjusting strategy, Double Trigger veered outward just before the first corner—creating just enough space for Jewel Neflight in third position to surge forward. The confused racer hesitated only momentarily.

(Wh-what? She's letting me through...!?)

(You want to advance? Be my guest.)

(...Tch. I hate owing her, but I'm a frontrunner! No choice but to go!)

As Jewel Neflight slipped past to harass Apollo Rainbow, Double Trigger smirked. Perfect. Apollo remained the true threat—everyone knew letting her run freely meant certain defeat. This was simply leveraging that universal understanding.

『"Midway through the first corner, Apollo Rainbow accelerates! Jewel Neflight boldly challenges the leader while Double Trigger trails comfortably in third!"』

『"By drafting behind Jewel Neflight, Double Trigger conserves stamina brilliantly. Such calculated racing!"』

Entering the corner, Apollo began her signature acceleration. Having secured the inside lane, the silver-haired girl gained speed through perfect cornering. Though Jewel matched the pace, she wisely avoided overextending to catch Apollo completely. All while Double Trigger—having predicted even Jewel's caution—enjoyed a perfect slipstream.

("She won't last long... but I'll take this breather while I can.")

By the downhill midpoint of the second corner, positions stabilized: Apollo led by five lengths after her explosive breakaway, followed by frontrunner Jewel Neflight, with Double Trigger lurking dangerously close behind.

The early pressure tactic had worked—somewhat. Between Double Trigger and Jewel's efforts, Apollo's stamina reserves had taken significant damage. The chestnut-haired strategist studied her rival's form as they entered the backstretch.

("...That relieved expression after escaping my pressure won't last. Even for a stamina monster like you, this level of early strain guarantees you'll falter later.")

3600 meters proved longer than imagined. The brutal opening exchanges combined with Nakayama Racecourse's three notorious steep slopes would break even the strongest. Two climbs alone pushed most to their physiological limits. No matter how confident, attempting a Kikuka Sho-style performance here would be suicide—this was Double Trigger's ironclad calculation.

Not wishful thinking, but experience-hardened certainty. Apollo Rainbow would collapse—she staked everything on this belief.

However, as they entered the third turn after passing the opposite straight—if the gap between first and second place stretched beyond twelve lengths—even Double Trigger couldn't help but doubt her own reasoning.

『Apollo Rainbow is flying ahead at an incredible pace once again!! The start was chaotic, but by the third turn, she's already built a massive lead!! Just how wide will the gap be by the time she reaches the finish line?!』

The distant sight of Apollo Rainbow's back was unsettling—not just for Double Trigger, but for Jewel Neflight and the other horse girls as well.

(Wh-what? How?! She burned so much stamina in the early stages, so how can she still be running this fast? No way! There's no way she can keep this up!!)

The veteran horse girls watching from behind knew just how brutally Double Trigger and Jewel Neflight had drained Apollo Rainbow's stamina. At the same time, they understood the overwhelming pressure those two had exerted.

Jewel Neflight's pressure alone was one thing, but Double Trigger—Europe's champion—was a monster when it came to stamina drain. Even the battle-hardened horse girls standing behind them had their breathing ragged, their hearts pounding hard enough to waste precious energy.

And yet, despite knowing firsthand that Apollo Rainbow couldn't possibly endure Double Trigger's relentless assault, the gray-haired girl only laughed at that common sense, accelerating further as she kicked into her final spurt.

(There's no way she can maintain that pace.)

(She's bluffing.)

(Apollo Rainbow is going to burn out like Twin Turbo's reverse thrusters.)

One by one, the chasing horse girls began to think this way.

No matter how impressive her world-record victory in the Kikuka Shō had been, that was achieved without this kind of pressure. There was no way she could replicate that performance under such suffocating force—they knew the terror and effectiveness of disruption tactics all too well.

Precisely because they were veterans with countless battles under their belts, Apollo Rainbow's actions made no sense.

Under normal circumstances, she should have slowed down, conserving stamina for the final stretch.

Yet here they were, every single one of them a senior-class racer or higher, and instead of easing up, Apollo Rainbow only pushed harder—stirring not just doubt, but outright fear as they entered the homestretch.

(This isn't right...)

(No, it can't be.)

(She can't keep this up—calm down. Hold back, save your legs.)

(We've only just passed the halfway point! Just wait—Apollo Rainbow will falter!)

The gap between Apollo Rainbow and the rest only grew, as did the gnawing uncertainty. The distance between her and second-place Jewel Neflight had stretched to seventeen lengths. The race had passed the 1800-meter mark, and the latter half was now underway.

The turf vision screen displayed an absurdly stretched-out field, some spectators gripping their seats in excitement while others feared a Twin Turbo-esque burnout.

Even if Apollo Rainbow's bold front-running had yielded stable results before, the audience couldn't help but doubt—could she really maintain this top speed all the way to the finish after enduring such visible pressure?

Cheers and applause roared as the sixteen horse girls charged down the homestretch, each unconsciously picking up the pace. In a stamina-heavy race like the Stayers Stakes, this usually wasn't an issue—but this time, many found themselves willingly matching the rising tempo.

Because Apollo Rainbow had already left all fifteen rivals behind in the homestretch as she began rounding the first turn.

With 1600 meters still remaining, the horse girls pushing at 70 km/h were clearly losing their composure.

『Apollo Rainbow is running away with this!! The crowd isn't cheering—it's a stunned murmur spreading through Nakayama!! Can anyone, even Double Trigger, possibly catch up to her now?!』

(Apollo... she's not slowing down at all...)

(No—she's speeding up even more!)

(Don't tell me...)

(No way. Falter already—please falter!)

The fifteen pursuers' thoughts gradually aligned, their unease seeking refuge in shared desperation. As they rounded the first turn and entered the second, the gap to Apollo Rainbow widened to twenty lengths—and their doubts reached a breaking point.

"What if... Apollo Rainbow doesn't falter at all?"

All fifteen arrived at the same conclusion. That despite Double Trigger's early onslaught, Apollo Rainbow might just keep running without ever slowing down.

Acknowledging that possibility was dangerous. Even considering such an impossible scenario would only fuel their panic, wasting stamina in the process.

Yet right before their eyes, the impossible was unfolding. They had to think about it. Even as their bodies began screaming in protest with less than 1200 meters left, Apollo Rainbow showed no signs of relenting.

Paranoia took hold, and one by one, the horse girls lost control.

Double Trigger clung to her confidence, trying to rein in her pace—but the other fourteen?

Their internal clocks had already shattered.

The horse girls ahead surged forward, but Double Trigger took deep, desperate breaths, her mind racing at full speed.

Common sense dictates—absolutely, without a doubt—Apollo Rainbow will falter. They hadn’t even reached the final 1000 meters yet, but she had to slow down soon. Charging now would be a mistake. If she held back and unleashed her final sprint properly from the final turn, she would catch her. Ignore it. She had to ignore it. The correct move was to shut out the faltering horse girls and stick to the optimal pace.

But just as Double Trigger tried to push Apollo Rainbow from her sight—their eyes met.

Apollo Rainbow glanced back for just an instant, flashing a grin.

That was all it took.

Doubt had already reached its limit. The fifteen pursuers, consumed by desperation, began their final sprints far too early. Even Double Trigger found herself bracing for an 800-meter long spurt.

She’s going to get away with it. That fear, that twenty-length gap staring them in the face, drove them forward. But even for seasoned stayers, an 800-meter sprint was impossible to sustain.

Yet the momentum couldn’t be stopped. The horse girls weren’t exploding in a burst of speed—they were extending their sprints, pushing themselves into unsustainable territory.

Amid the chaos, Double Trigger suddenly snapped back to reality.

Why did she look back at that exact moment?

If Apollo Rainbow wanted to provoke them, she could’ve done it earlier—at the 1000-meter mark, or even at the start of the second lap.

Unless—

Unless she needed them to panic at this precise distance.

800 meters. Just far enough to force a long sprint—but just short enough to break them.

『They’ve passed the 800-meter mark, and the pack is charging forward!! The twenty-length gap between them and Apollo Rainbow is shrinking rapidly!!』

By the time Double Trigger realized the trap, it was too late. All fifteen horse girls, herself included, had already committed to their long sprints.

And then—they saw it.

Apollo Rainbow was slowing down.

Past the 400-meter mark, her form was crumbling. Her body was upright, her breathing ragged, her steps clumsy. Sweat drenched her as she gasped for air. A brief, impossible burst of speed flickered—her Zone—but it vanished as quickly as it came.

She was out of stamina.

No—this was a gamble. A desperate, all-or-nothing bluff. She had forced them to burn out early.

If this had been a pure final sprint… could we have caught her?

The thought crossed all fifteen minds. And now, with their stamina already spent, they pushed harder.

『Wait—Apollo Rainbow’s form is breaking!! Her face is pale, her arms flailing—she’s completely out of gas!! Between Double Trigger’s relentless pressure and the grueling 3600-meter distance, she’s hit the wall!! She’s slowing down, struggling to even run straight!! The pack is closing in, but will it be enough?!』

They had been played.

Double Trigger’s lips curled into a fierce grin as she gritted her teeth and leaned forward.

Apollo Rainbow was trying to tough it out on sheer willpower. And for a horse girl of her caliber, that might’ve been enough—

But Double Trigger had her own Zone.

As they entered the final stretch, she locked onto the gray-haired girl’s back. Apollo Rainbow was fading fast.

Double Trigger pulled the trigger.

Her Zone erupted—a monstrous surge of power that rooted the other fifteen to the turf. The remnants of Apollo Rainbow’s shattered Zone flickered weakly in response.

"I don’t have the strength of my prime—but so what?! I’m grateful just to have met a rival like you in this country!! This final race—I’m pouring everything into this moment!!"

As her mental landscape unfolded, Double Trigger unleashed her final sprint.

Memories flashed—her peak, her decline, the European races where her fame withered. The nights she spent trapped in despair, even losing the will to run.

But Japan—and Apollo Rainbow—had reignited that fire.

Madness and euphoria surged through her as she accelerated further.

『Double Trigger is breaking through!! With less than 200 meters left, Apollo Rainbow is struggling!! The gap is closing fast!!』

Double Trigger was loving this.

This race made no sense. It was chaotic, reckless, defying all conventional strategy. A style unthinkable in pace-focused European racing.

And it thrilled her to her core.

200 meters left.

Double Trigger gained ground with every stride.

Apollo Rainbow was barely moving now—more of a fast walk than a run.

The gap shrank—10 lengths… 9… 8…

The finish line loomed.

One last push.

The roar that engulfed Nakayama Racecourse wasn't the jubilant cheers of a one-sided victory—it was something fiercer, more primal. Fists pumped in the air as the crowd screamed—"Hang in there, Apollo!" "Stay ahead, Apollo Rainbow!"—while others bellowed, "Crush her, Double Trigger!"

A bizarre dead heat unfolded before them.

The frontrunner who had completely burned out versus the charging contender who had erased a twenty-length gap—now converging at the finish line in perfect synchronization.

A race between a stumbling walk and an all-out sprint.

Apollo Rainbow, running on sheer grit alone, her face deathly pale, eyes rolling back as she gasped for air—on the verge of collapse, yet still stretching her neck forward with a soul-deep cry of "I will win!"

Double Trigger, her passion for racing reignited, charging with reckless abandon—no trace of a champion's composure left, only raw, desperate hunger for victory. Though her expression was fierce, a smile tugged at her lips—yet her eyes burned with something akin to bloodlust.

Appearances didn't matter anymore.

Both of them—all they wanted was to beat the rival before them.

Different speeds, same intensity.

And at last—after 3600 grueling meters—the end arrived.

『Can Apollo Rainbow hold on?! Double Trigger surging forward with an incredible final sprint!! Apollo Rainbow's eyes are rolled back—but she won't stop!! Double Trigger's closing in—!! But—BUT—APOLLO RAINBOW CROSSES THE LINE BY A HAIR'S BREADTH!!』

Double Trigger drew even—

But Apollo Rainbow did not stop.

The gray-haired girl collapsed the moment she crossed the finish line—

And as she fell, she was smiling.