The weeks flew by, and before anyone knew it, there was only a day before the [Kikuka Sho]. The excitement within Tracen Central was palpable—everyone was excited to see the outcome of the race. Either Oguri would win and become the next wearer of the Undefeated Triple Crown, or she would not.
But as for the person in question,
"Star…"
Blossom Star smiled wryly as she held onto Oguri's waist as tightly as she could, practically securing Oguri to the couch she was laying on. "Oi, stop it already. Do you want Musaka to get angry at you again?"
"But I wanna run…" Oguri whined as she tried to move away.
"Nope. Not happening. Can't let you get injured right before the race." She raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to miss your race, do you?"
"I-I don't, but…" She stared sadly at Star, beady little tears in the corner of her eyes. "I wanna run…"
"No."
With the rejection, Oguri's ears drooped as she finally ceased struggling. Seeing Oguri finally give up, Blossom Star sighed as she pulled Oguri closer, letting them both lay on the couch together. "You'll run eventually anyway. Just be patient." She said, idly messaging her arms.
Oguri grumbled softly, nuzzling into Star's neck. "You're horrible." She said, though with no actual heat.
Star shrugged. "Can't always be the good guy."
Of course, Oguri wasn't truly angry. She knew Star was just trying to keep her safe. And besides, her burning need to run was already beginning to ebb away as she laid next to Star, her ears occasionally sliding across Star's cheeks.
They were alone in the clubroom at the moment. Last she heard, Belno was out with Ardan, March was busy with her own training, while Musaka and Kitahara were doing something together. It left only the two of them here in Tracen Central, and since she was barred from training, the most she could do was amble around as the time slowly passed.
It wasn't all bad. Star was still here, and she liked being together with Star. The pangs of hunger in her stomach didn't feel as jagged, and she would always taste a fragrance of sweetness in the back of her tongue whenever they were together.
"You know, we should watch the [Autumn Tenno Sho] once we're free." Star suddenly suggested.
Oguri's ears perked up. "Why?"
"We're aiming for the [Japan Cup], right?" Oguri nodded, and Star smiled. "In that case, we'll definitely go up against Tamamo Cross."
Oguri blinked. "Tamama?"
Star snorted. "Tamamo Cross." She repeated with a grin. "She's called the White Lightning. Right now, she's the strongest umamusume of this generation." Her grin deepened. "If you're not careful, she'll blow right past you without you realizing."
Oguri's eyes narrowed. "Strong?"
"Well, you should just see it with your own eyes." She smiled. "The [Autumn Tenno Sho]'s just a few days after your [Kikuka Sho], after all. Might as well go while you're still resting, right?"
"Ooh." She tilted her head. "Should everyone go too?"
Star raised an eyebrow. "Of course. We're Team Kitahara, after all."
Oguri nodded, though silently, her stomach quenched slightly, and the sweetness she'd tasted turned somewhat sour for a moment. She wasn't sure what caused the sudden change, but her hand unconsciously wrapped around Star's shoulder, as if to keep her close. Star raised an eyebrow at the action, but didn't comment further.
As they laid there, a thought surfaced in her mind, and she couldn't help but ask. "Star, what happens to the team when you leave?"
Star paused for a moment, before she hummed. "Not sure, really. I mean, I guess it'd still be there, right? Not like I'm suddenly part of a different team just because I've gone abroad." She shrugged slightly. "Besides, it's not like I plan to go abroad any time soon. We've still only scratched the surface of Central—there's still much to do before we should even be considering heading out."
"Ooh." Oguri nodded, before she suddenly yawned.
Star grinned. "Getting sleepy?"
Oguri hummed softly as she rested her head on Star's chest. "A little."
Her grin softened to a smile as she gently patted Oguri's head. "Then sleep. Ain't like there's much for us to do right now." Star carefully shifted, doing her best to make sure Oguri didn't slip off as she slowly drifted to sleep.
Oguri smiled sleepily. "Good night, Star."
Star rolled her eyes. "It ain't night yet." She then smiled as she saw Oguri's eyes close. "Sleep well, Oguri."
Oguri managed one last nod before she fell asleep.
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"Welcome back to the Kyoto Racecourse!"
"After another year, it is time-!"
"Today commences the [Kikuka Sho]!"
The massive crowd of nearly 40,000 roared with cheers as a symphony of trumpets sounded. A marching band walked across the first few meters of the racetrack, playing a song of celebration as the announcer continued.
"A bright, clear day. 3000 meters of Turf. The track is perfectly firm."
"Today, nine umamusume shall run, and only one can be crowned its victor!"
Fujii Sensuke smirked. "Just nine, huh?" He laughed, remembering how the participants list kept getting shorter the closer the [Kikuka Sho] came. "Ha, this brings back memories…"
It sure did. It was rare for umamusume to opt out of running in a race due to reasons beyond injuries, but it did happen. Just recently, the racing scene had been torn asunder by the might of Symboli Rudolf, and it was common for the races she participated in to have fewer participants than normal—all because many had resigned from the race due to fearing Rudolf's strength.
And now it was happening again. He'd laughed like a loon when he first realized what was happening, and even now he struggled to remain professional as the announcer began calling up the runners.
"Now here comes our fifth favorite, the umamusume who'd made a miraculous return to the racecourse-"
"No.3, Super Creek!"
Nase Fumino took a small breath as she saw Super Creek walk onto the racetrack, dressed for the first time in her G1 outfit. Her white and baby-blue dress waved with her confident strides. Her eyes were bright, and behind her seemingly gentle smile was a burning determination.
"You can do it, Creek." She whispered, though who those words were for was unknown even to her.
She had promised to make her trainee a star. To make her stronger than any other umamusume. It hadn't been an easy journey; the path until this moment had been one she could never have imagined.
From their rocky beginnings, to the pains of recovery, to the promises they made once Creek's legs became strong enough for her to seriously run—now, Creek had finally made her first step. The [Kikuka Sho] would be her re-debut, and she would show the world that she wasn't someone they could forget.
If this was an era of miracles, then Creek too shall become one.
"Now comes our second favorite!"
"The Yellow Bullet herself. She's triumphed over many with her overwhelming speed! An umamusume that cannot be ignored, flashy like a speeding bullet-!"
"No.7, Dicta Striker!"
Mejiro Ardan smiled as she watched Dicta walk onto the track. There was a wild grin on her lips as she walked forward, and there was an undeniable pressure that surrounded her—akin to the weight of a predator.
"Dicta-san looks so strong!" Sakura Chiyono O said, smiling brightly as her knees bounced with excitement.
Yaeno Muteki nodded silently. She'd run with Dicta several times during her training for the [Kikuka Sho], and so she knew how much Dicta had improved since they last raced together.
Yet, despite the three's excitement, an undeniable question hung in the back of their minds:
Would it truly be enough?
"And finally,"
"The Beast of Kasamatsu herself! She has taken the [Satsuki Sho] and the [Japanese Derby]! Now she comes for the final leg of the Undefeated Triple Crown! It's today's favorite-!"
"No.1, OGURI CAP!"
Oguri Cap walked onto the racetrack, and the audience roared. To say that their excitement was palpable would be an understatement; because now, those that had arrived could possibly bear witness to the birth of a new legend. After years of declining enthusiasm, an umamusume who could rival Symboli Rudolf's domineering strength had finally shown herself, one that aimed for the exact same crown the Emperor had also taken.
Down at the ground, Oguri herself seemed rather uncaring of the excitement she'd incited. She walked towards her gate with cool nonchalance, uncaring of the terrified stares several of the runners sent her way. If anything, the Beast looked almost bored, though few believed that to actually be true.
Oguri stepped into the gate, and she hummed softly as the gate shut close behind her. Her ears flicked slightly as a small gust of wind blew over her, and she eventually shook her head, causing her grey hair to flail all over.
As the other runners began entering their own gates, Oguri cast a discreet glance to her left. There, a few brackets away, Super Creek had just entered, and Oguri slightly narrowed her eyes.
She remembered the advice Blossom Star had told her. Star had emphasized again and again that Creek would be her greatest foe. Though she hadn't run in many races, she was the one that had the greatest chance of snatching victory away from her. And while Star liked to joke, she would never lie when it came to matters such as this.
So she'd keep an eye out. Even if she remained unsure what made Creek special, she wouldn't dare dismiss her.
"And now all the runners have entered their gates!"
"Thus, it is time."
"The [Kikuka Sho] is ready to begin!"
The world went quiet. The audience went silent, tense with anticipation. The runners braced, preparing to surge forward the moment the gates slammed open. The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness.
Super Creek took a small breath as she bent her knee.
Dicta gave one last smirk as she leaned forward.
Oguri's eyes sharpened as a deep hunger grew within her.
And then, finally-
BANG!
"The gates have opened!"
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AN: Sorry about yesterday's lack of a chapter. I severely underestimated how busy I'd be. I'll try to make up for it in the future.