As the Senior Year powerhouses took to the stage one after another, a new era's stars also began to shine.
For this brand-new era, some Central media outlets used a single phrase to describe these rising stars:
"One top, three strong."
The "one top" naturally referred to Chasing Light's Mejiro McQueen.
Throughout her debut and Classic years so far, she had consistently shown a difference in "dimensional level" between herself and the rest of her generation.
As for the "three strong," they were: Mejiro Ryan, Ines Fujin, and Hakutaisei.
The three of them had also shown strength clearly above most of their same-generation peers during this period.
Originally, people had wanted to call it "one top, five strong,"
Adding in Mill Farm Wakaba and White Shining Rock, who were performing decently as well.
But there was still some gap between those two and the three named above.
So the "five strong" phrase only stayed popular for a short while before it reverted back to "three strong."
…
Early April, in the corridor of the Central Tracen Academy middle division building.
"Damn it—!"
An exasperated shout rang out.
A black-haired, violet-eyed girl was clutching her head and howling up at the ceiling. "What do they mean I still have a bit of a gap compared to the others so I don't qualify for the 'five strong'?!"
Beside her, a white-haired Uma with narrow eyes stood there sweating helplessly.
"Hey, at least acknowledge me, would you… I got left out too, same as you."
"You and I are not the same!"
Wakaba bared her teeth and grumbled.
"…What's different?"
At her friend's question, the black-haired girl puffed up proudly and jabbed a thumb at herself.
"Because I'm going to challenge those so-called Chasing Light monsters!"
"..."
Rock fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "You really plan to run in the Yasuda Kinen?"
"What else?"
Wakaba replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ardan is challenging the Tenno Sho (Spring). I can't get into that, so the only race where I can challenge the Chasing Light girls is the Yasuda Kinen."
Rock frowned in puzzlement. "Those monsters, whether they're from Chasing Light or not, they're all Senior Year veterans by now."
"So what? Didn't that gray monster Oguri Cap beat Senior Year opponents already in her Classic year?"
"..."
You really dare compare yourself to Oguri Cap…
"Isn't McQueen a Chasing Light girl too?" Rock asked. "Why aren't you challenging her instead of going after the Senior Year seniors?"
"That's obviously different!"
A chilling resolve flashed through Wakaba's eyes, her voice dropping low and firm.
"She's still just a growing Uma. Only beating these older ones at their strongest counts as proving myself!"
"Otherwise, are we really going to let our entire generation live under that one team 'Chasing Light' for the rest of our lives? What kind of joke is that?"
"..."
Rock gave her friend a sidelong look but didn't keep arguing.
Her usually narrowed eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of amber irises tinged with gloom.
What do you mean, "still growing"…
Have you forgotten how badly you lost last year?
She thought silently.
And besides…
Losing to Senior Year seniors is pretty much expected. At worst, it counts as a respectable defeat.
But Wakaba, you did say one thing right.
Chasing Light really is standing over our entire generation…
Rock's gaze shifted downward.
There, a girl with long purple hair over her shoulders and impeccably elegant manners was just stepping into the teaching building.
Mejiro McQueen.
Every step she took was so composed and unhurried, as if all the noise around her had nothing to do with her.
Those amethyst eyes were as calm as still water, yet as deep as an abyss.
So this is… the one they call the "one top."
Rock clenched her fists.
Mejiro McQueen…
I absolutely, absolutely won't lose to you!
Sunlight streamed into the corridor through the windows.
It fell across the girls' bodies, and also across the flames of fighting spirit burning in their hearts.
…
As time passed, April arrived right on schedule.
The first leg of the Classic Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho, was about to begin.
This was the stage where the new generation would prove themselves.
At Nakayama Racecourse, in the competitors' ready room.
Kuroha stood in front of a tall, slender figure, his expression a touch complicated as he helped smooth out the creases in her winning outfit.
"What's wrong, Trainer?"
The girl in front of him asked with a light laugh. "Does it look bad?"
"Exactly!"
A crisp voice chimed in from the side at the same time.
Teio had her arms folded, her expression full of righteous indignation. "How can your outfit be so ugly!"
"Trainer, I need to be even cooler than this in the future!"
"All right, I got it."
Kuroha answered helplessly.
In front of him, a graceful, dignified girl was sitting with perfect posture.
On her head, a small, pure white mini-hat with a black floral ornament swayed slightly as Kuroha's hand passed by. Her purple horse ears stood upright, making the cascade of violet hair down her back look even softer and shinier by contrast.
She wore a short white-and-blue dress with gold embroidery. The layered skirt spread like butterfly wings, and her lace-gloved fingertips rested lightly at her waist, her bearing both reserved and composed.
This was the alternate winning outfit McQueen and Teio had worn in their showdown on the original world line.
In last year's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, McQueen had already worn the Chihiro winning outfit once.
That one had been commissioned by McQueen and her mother from a craftsman, with no involvement from Kuroha.
So the design there had simply been the original base-game winning outfit.
But now, with one sweeping decision, Kuroha had arranged a second winning outfit for McQueen.
From now on, she could switch between the two.
That was how this new winning outfit came to be.
"I've raised a lot of girls, but this is actually the first time I'm entering the Classic Triple Crown."
Kuroha withdrew his hand and asked gently, "So, are you ready?"
"Of course."
At his words, McQueen smiled calmly. She took the lead in walking to the door, then turned slightly back over her shoulder.
"I will spread my wings and move toward victory with unwavering resolve."
"Just as you, my Trainer, hope for… and as my heart desires…"
Buzz—!
A pure white radiance filled the girl's eyes. As she turned her head, it left a streak of blinding lightning in its wake.
"I will never stop, until I reach the very edge of the sky."
(End of Chapter)
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