The cheers and applause of the audience echoed throughout the Tokyo Racecourse. The sheer volume of the crowd seemed powerful enough to shake the entire stadium apart.
Celestial Weave stood before the roaring crowd, hearing her own name in their cheers for the first time.
The joyous feeling of her hard work being recognized and encouraged filled her entire being. The reward for her victory, materialized in this moment through the thunderous applause, clearly told her one thing:
You are the winner of this race. You are the brightest star on this stage.
"If the track is a battlefield, then this moment of victory must be the triumphal arch of glory."
"Just a debut race can bring such honor. I can't even imagine what it's like for the legendary horse girls when they win the Triple Crown..."
Celestial Weave looked up at the sea of spectators that seemed to fill half the sky and murmured to herself.
"But, since I've been given such expectations, I have to respond in kind."
With that thought, the dazed expression on her face, born from being overwhelmed by the moment, softened into a smile. Celestial Weave waved her hands, responding to the audience that had placed their hopes in her.
"You're amazing! You look about my age, but you're so much stronger!"
Suddenly, a cheerful voice sounded beside her. She turned her head. As expected, it was Tokai Teio.
Tokai Teio's cheeks were flushed from the race, and her face was covered in a mix of sweat and rain. But her eyes were still as bright as the sun, without a trace of darkness, as if her defeat had never happened.
Before Celestial Weave could reply, the petite horse girl was already chattering away, circling her.
"I haven't seen you at Tracen before. Are you a new student this year? Hey, do you have a trainer yet? Do you want to join my team? We can train together!"
A barrage of questions was thrown at Celestial Weave. Her positive attitude, completely devoid of disappointment or discouragement, left her slightly dazed.
For Celestial Weave, Tokai Teio had first been an untouchable white moon on the racetrack, then a powerful, head-to-head rival.
In her mind, this opponent who had put immense pressure on her, the first rival of her life, should have a personality as aloof and brilliant as her performance on the track, like the moon high in the sky.
She had never expected that their very first conversation would shatter the image she had built in her mind.
What the heck, she's just a kid.
She seems like she's still at the age where she loves sweets.
"Your gaze is a little rude, you know..."
As if sensing Celestial Weave's thoughts, Tokai Teio's eyes sharpened.
Celestial Weave coughed, pretending not to hear, and extended her hand to Tokai Teio. "My name is Celestial Weave. I'm a new student in the high school division at Tracen this year. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, I'm Tokai Teio! The genius who's going to achieve the undefeated Triple Crown!"
Completely oblivious to the fact that the topic had been changed, Tokai Teio took her hand and puffed out her chest, introducing herself.
Definitely still a kid.
Celestial Weave couldn't help but think it again. But seeing Tokai Teio's eyes starting to sharpen once more, she quickly made an excuse and ran back to the locker room.
"Hmm, she doesn't seem like the type to give such a formal introduction. Is it just me?" Tokai Teio tilted her head in confusion as she watched Celestial Weave's retreating figure.
However, her doubts quickly dissipated. There were still people in the stands cheering for her. Even though she hadn't won this time, Tokai Teio was still full of enthusiasm as she responded to their cheers.
Back in the locker room, Celestial Weave was changing and folding her clothes to put in her backpack, muttering to herself.
"So perceptive. Are all kids like that? Not that she's annoying or anything."
Suddenly, her phone in her backpack lit up. She took it out, saw the notification, and her face immediately paled. Forgetting about packing, she stuffed everything into her backpack and ran out of the room.
As she ran towards the exit, she cursed inwardly. "Damn it, I reset too many times. I was so focused on winning the race, I almost forgot I have to pay the medical bills today."
In that moment, Celestial Weave was incredibly grateful to her past self for setting a bunch of reminders.
But as she was running towards the exit, a tall figure leaning against the wall called out to her.
"Aren't you going to prepare for the victory stage?"
I don't have time for that! Without even enough energy to reply, Celestial Weave hugged her backpack, kept her head down, and ran past her.
"Aren't you going to collect your prize money? The pressure from the medical bills is so great, it would make things a lot easier for you."
The tall horse girl didn't move. A single sentence was enough to stop the frantic Celestial Weave in her tracks.
"Who are you? How do you know about my situation?"
At her words, the horse girl walked closer to Celestial Weave. Smiling, she pulled a stack of envelopes from the file in her hand and gave them to her.
"I am Symboli Rudolf, the student council president of Tracen Academy."
Celestial Weave frowned as she took the envelopes. The heavy weight made her suspicious. She looked up at Symboli Rudolf, and seeing her nod with a smile, she opened them.
Looking at the stacks of cash in the envelopes, enough to keep her mother in the hospital for a long time, Celestial Weave was silent for a moment before asking, "I don't remember the prize money for the debut race being this much."
Symboli Rudolf chuckled. "There's also the subsidy from Tracen Academy for horse girls in need. You're a new student, so you probably don't know about it yet."
"I don't remember applying for such a subsidy."
Celestial Weave counted the money in the envelopes, took out the amount for the debut race champion, and handed the rest back to Symboli Rudolf.
"But thank you for getting the prize money for me."
Looking at the envelopes being handed back to her, Symboli Rudolf raised an eyebrow, confused. "I'll take care of the paperwork for you. This money is very important to you right now, isn't it?"
But Celestial Weave just shook her head and pushed the envelopes forward again. "I'll earn the money for the medical bills by winning other races myself."
"There are many other horse girls in difficult situations who have no other options. The subsidy funds can't be infinite. It's better to leave it for them."
After saying that, Celestial Weave bowed to Symboli Rudolf in thanks, then hugged her worn-out black backpack and ran towards the exit.
Symboli Rudolf watched her retreating figure and murmured to herself, "Is it pride...?"
"Or... does she simply not want to be helped by others..."
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (330 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (130 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (140 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (330 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (160 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (170 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (90 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (130 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (140 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (140 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (150 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (120 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (90 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (50 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.