"Tokyo Racecourse, the tenth race of the day! A moment so many have been waiting for is finally upon us—the Oaks! The stage where the finest fillies gather to chase the crown of Queens! The weather is perfect, and the track has been declared 'Firm.' On this radiant stage, who will be the one to carve their name into the annals of history?!"
The atmosphere at the Tokyo Racecourse was electric. The crowd had swelled past 100,000, surging toward a staggering 140,000 people. Historically, the Triple Tiara route—the classic series for the girls—was often seen as less prestigious than the traditional Triple Crown. However, thanks to the influence of a certain "Tyrant Dictator" and a certain "Twin Turbo Engine," public interest had skyrocketed, rivaling or even surpassing the boys' classic races. This newfound spotlight acted as a potent stimulant for the runners, pushing their performances to heights never seen before.
"The quest for the Oak Crown begins here in Fuchu! Who will claim the throne today?!"
"Third favorite: Gate 18, Hishi Amazon of Team Canopus! Can she avenge her loss in the Oka Sho and reclaim her title as Queen?!"
"Second favorite: Gate 16, Oguri Roman! She tasted the bitterness of second place in the Oka Sho—can she turn those tears into triumph today?!"
"And finally, in Gate 1, the Queen who conquered the Oka Sho: Dragoon Lance! Today's overwhelming favorite! Can she follow in the hoofprints of Mejiro Rampage and Twin Turbo to claim the next leg of the Triple Tiara?!"
The narrative of this year's Tiara line mirrored the legendary "BNW" rivalry of the previous generation. It was a three-way deadlock. While most fans expected one of these three to seize the day, the beauty of the turf was its unpredictability. In a race like this, anything could happen.
"The girls are in their gates. The preparation is complete."
A heavy silence fell over the stands. The roar of 140,000 people died down into a breathless hush, waiting for the signal that would ignite the chaos. The air was thick with the weight of the moment. Who would emerge as the conqueror? The Oaks was about to begin—
"And they're off! A clean start for everyone! They're bunched together early, but wait—bolting out of the first gate is Dragoon Lance! She's moving with incredible purpose, as if her heart is already set on that second crown! She takes the lead to dictate the pace! But look at the outside—Hishi Amazon is moving up! Usually a closer who stays at the back, Amazon is aggressively pushing toward the front today! And as if sensing the danger, Oguri Roman is right there with her!"
Dragoon Lance had seized the lead to control the rhythm—a standard move. But the crowd gasped at Hishi Amazon. Known for her thunderous late-game charges from the back of the pack, seeing her move into a "Leading" position was unheard of. Roman, wary of being left behind, followed suit, the two of them stalking the leader like hungry wolves.
"Dragoon Lance holds the lead, followed closely by Oguri Roman and Hishi Amazon! The 'Big Three' are already locked in a fierce battle! Is Hishi Amazon over-excited? She's far more forward than her usual style!"
The announcer's confusion was palpable. It was a massive gamble.
"I'm not over-excited," Amazon muttered under her breath, her eyes locked on the girl in front. "This is the only way to win...!"
Rampage, watching from the stands, couldn't help but murmur to himself. "Amazon at the front, huh...?" Having trained alongside her during his Canopus days, he knew this was an extreme rarity. Was it a desperate move to negate the disadvantage of her outside gate, or something more? One thing was certain: Coach Minamisaka must have authorized this. Amazon wasn't the type to gamble her race on a whim.
"They're hitting the downhill slope of the third corner! Dragoon Lance still holds a three-length lead! Oguri Roman and Hishi Amazon are neck-and-neck behind her! Behind them are South Prince and Agnes Parade! Dragoon Lance is hugging the inner rail, taking the shortest possible route! She's looking to go wire-to-wire! They're hitting the final stretch! Dragoon Lance is still in front! Will she make it two for two?! No! Wait! Here comes Hishi Amazon! She's exploding from the outside!"
"Alright, let's do this! A real showdown!!" Amazon roared.
The moment they hit the straight, Amazon slammed the accelerator. Despite having stayed near the front for the entire race, she unleashed a terrifying burst of speed that left Roman in the dust. She closed the gap to Dragoon Lance in a heartbeat.
"I won't let you have it!" Dragoon screamed, teeth grit in desperation.
"It's mine now!!"
"Dragoon Lance is fighting to stay ahead, but Hishi Amazon's kick is incredible! Dragoon Lance is flagging—her legs are losing their reach! Amazon is level! They're side-by-side! It's a Team Canopus duel to the death! Who will take the Oaks?!"
Dragoon Lance had been forced into an "Escape" style because her inside gate made her fear being boxed in. She had secured the lead, but it had drained her. Amazon, having anticipated this, had saved just enough to strike. But as the two Canopus girls pushed each other to the limit, Dragoon's form wavered. Her legs were giving out, and she drifted slightly toward the rail.
In that fractional gap between them, a blur of motion appeared.
"The Oaks... belongs to me!"
"What?! Where did she—?!"
"Right behind you!" Oguri Roman shouted, her voice cutting through the wind. "Thanks for clearing the path, Ama-san!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Here comes Oguri Roman! She has literally split the difference between Dragoon Lance and Hishi Amazon! The three-way battle is—no! Oguri Roman is pulling away! Hishi Amazon is giving it everything, but Roman's closing speed is superior! Dragoon Lance has nothing left! It's Oguri Roman! Oguri Roman! Oguri Roman crosses the finish line!"
"The Queen of the Oaks is Team Spica's Oguri Roman! She has repaid her debt from the Oka Sho in full! Second place, Hishi Amazon! Third, Dragoon Lance!"
"YESSSSSSS!" Roman's victory cry echoed across the turf.
"Dammit...!" Amazon hissed, though she didn't look angry.
"I'm so... frustrated!" Dragoon gasped, leaning over her knees.
Despite their disappointment, there was no bitterness in their eyes. They looked at Roman—the girl who had surpassed them—with a spark of newfound respect.
"We lost, huh... Dragoon?"
"Yeah... maybe I got a little too cocky."
"Me too," Amazon admitted, wiping sweat from her brow. "I was so worried about you that I didn't give Roman enough credit. I've still got a long way to go..."
Because they were teammates, they had focused entirely on beating each other, inadvertently creating the perfect slipstream for Roman to exploit. The lesson was learned. They would take this fire to the summer training camp, rebuild themselves, and ensure that next time, the victory would stay with Canopus.
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