Rain falling from an overcast sky, followed by thunder—it was weather bordering on the worst possible scenario. Yet, not a single soul at the Longchamp Racecourse even considered going home.
On the contrary, they felt a conviction that if they missed this race, they would regret it for the rest of their lives. And so, they refused to leave. This one battle... they would witness it to the end, no matter what.
Holding onto that thought, they remained. And the moment she appeared, they felt their patience rewarded.
"Kept you waiting, didn't I!!"
They had been kept waiting. But... it was worth the wait.
『Now, the Pride of Japan, the Representative of Japan—words fail to describe her adequately—our Tyrant has appeared! We have unfortunate rain, but dampening her spirits would be a feat next to impossible. The only thing that can cast a shadow over her is defeat itself. The living legend, continuing to write a myth of invincibility, has arrived at Longchamp!』
Even looking at it again, the crowd was absurd. Longchamp was packed to its absolute limit, on the verge of bursting. Those who couldn't get in were glued to hastily erected large monitors or watching on their smartphones. Rampage responded to the paddock spectators, and even as she began her warm-up run, she raised an arm to acknowledge them.
"Feels like I've finally made it to the end of the line. Shame about the weather... but I just have to run a race that blows it all away."
"Worst" was the only word to describe the track condition. Longchamp's turf was clay-based. Hard when dry, soft when wet. If Japan's turf was a 100, this place was often said to be a 70. But right now, it wasn't a 70; the ground was so soft she suspected it might be around a 50. Frankly, it was in a terrible state.
"I never thought the weather would be this bad... It's the worst."
"I got a new racing uniform made just for the Arc..."
"If I fall, I feel like I won't be able to get back up..."
Racing uniforms (battle clothes) were generally gorgeous and glittering. That didn't change overseas; if anything, the flamboyance was even more noticeable here. Many Horse Girls wore dress-like outfits that exposed skin every time they showed off their beautiful leg lines. For them, the current Longchamp was a nightmare. It was only natural that no one wanted their new or favorite clothes covered in mud.
"Is something wrong, Rampage-san?"
While many Horse Girls offered prayers that the rain wouldn't worsen, Rampage alone stood amidst the downpour without a frown, wearing an expression that suggested nostalgia. Seeing this, Alternative called out to her. It seemed the rain didn't bother her much either.
"Nothing. Just feeling a bit nostalgic about this rain."
"The rain...? I heard you hadn't been over here before."
"Not like that. Just some personal baggage."
"Private matters, then... I shouldn't have pried."
"Private" was one way to put it. Weather didn't matter when delivering newspapers. Unless a massive typhoon hit, she kept going. Whether it was a sudden guerrilla downpour or the rainy season, it didn't change a thing. Those memories flashed back. She hadn't been racing then, but she remembered she used to run quite a bit in these conditions.
"Rain, rain, fall, fall~♪"
Amidst the gloom, there was still an energetic Horse Girl. Otter Journey, whose name implied an otter. Her racing uniform was... a costume. A mascot costume (kigurumi). It was the type where her face was visible through the otter's mouth.
"What kind of nonsense outfit is that...? Can you even run in that thing?"
"I can run, you know? I've won a G1 wearing this!!"
"Are you a monster? In more ways than one."
"You can praise me more! Hunsu-Hunsu!!"
Seriously, how could she run...? Well, most Horse Girl racing uniforms were outlandish, so it wasn't something one could criticize too strongly... but her own outfit looked like practical street clothes, placing her at the polar opposite of this walking plushie.
Just as she was thinking that, a Horse Girl in a black and white dress, Nacht Vorhang, hugged Otter from behind.
"I thought so during the press conference, but you really are cute~ maybe I should have gone for an outfit like this too~♪"
"Fufun!! To understand this cuteness, you are no ordinary person!"
"We're at the Arc de Triomphe, and you're saying that? Are you playing dumb, or are you just naturally oblivious to a fatal degree...?"
They were about to load into the gates, yet the atmosphere was so loose. Was this mentality the proof of Otter and Nacht's strength...?
"To be fooling around in a place like this... You have quite the surplus of composure."
Interrupting their banter with a gaze as cold as ice was Deep Charge. The cool-type Horse Girl who had declared she would win, even against Rampage. Her eyes looked at them with something akin to contempt.
"If possible, could you stop counting me in with these two? I was putting in some fairly reasonable straight-man retorts."
"I'm totally serious, so don't count me!"
"Same here!!"
"That's a lie. What do you think, Alt?"
"No comment."
To Charge, this probably looked like a farce. She snorted unpleasantly. Since they were challenging this place, she wanted them to be serious. This was the Arc, the world's greatest race. Continuing to goof off felt like they were making a mockery of the competition.
"It matters not to me... You, who neglects racing to obsess over live streaming and the like, are exactly the same."
"Could you go tell that to the URA in Japan? I'm only doing it because they requested it. The Japan Training Center doesn't accept media for safety reasons, so nothing about the inside of the Academy gets out. I'm doing it so the next generation knows what Tracen is like."
"I see... Then I retract my comment about the streaming. However, I will still say that you are far too relaxed."
"I guess it looks that way to you, inside your head. But this is my best."
"—I look forward to you proving that in the race."
With that, Charge moved toward her gate. Otter and Nacht joined together to send her a light booing. From their perspective, they were taking it seriously. Well, to a normal observer, it didn't look that way at all... Charge was likely the serious, straight-laced type. Since she apologized once she understood the logic, she wasn't bad at heart.
"Alright. Time to load in. Preparations are complete—let's go."
Everyone seemed to nod at those words. They stood before their respective gates. Upon hearing the signal, they entered.
It was really beginning. The Arc de Triomphe, held in the midst of this storm. While relieved it wasn't canceled, the crowd watched with tense expressions, wondering what kind of race this would be. Amidst it all—El Gutts, in the neighboring gate, grinned. Rampage grinned back.
『The glory of being number one in the world. The highest honor. Which Horse Girl will hoist her victory at the Arc? Will it be the returning champion, El Gutts? Or the Myth, Mejiro Rampage, who defeated El Gutts at the Japan Cup and remains undefeated in Europe? Or perhaps Alternative Seven, also undefeated and a two-time winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes? It is a stage where it wouldn't be strange for any of these thoroughbreds to win! The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is about to begin! The loading is complete—and they're off!! The dream stage that Horse Girls and fans around the world have dreamed of has finally begun!!』
The Arc de Triomphe opened as lightning flashed and the rain began to intensify.
Taking the lead was—Mejiro Rampage.
She ran powerfully over the muddy turf, not caring in the slightest about the mud kicking up around her.
The Stormy Arc had truly begun.
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