December 22, Chukyo Racecourse entrance.
This maiden had specs no worse than last time.
It was the final maiden of the year; many looking to make waves next year wanted to debut now.
Others had delayed to avoid Tokai Teio's previous debut, landing here instead.
That made sixteen entrants—the maximum field.
Clutching her stomach, Stardust Phantom showed her entry and jogged in.
She'd feasted with Oguri that morning—inevitable, when you live with Oguri. Her appetite had grown too.
The downside: her belly hurt now.
"Ugh, gotta hit the restroom before the start."
Trotting toward the bathrooms, she heard a brash voice inside growing closer:
"…Hmph. The strongest debut this year will be me—Daita Tiantong."
"Tokai Teio? That little pipsqueak? Just trash!"
The door banged open. A shadow fell over Stardust Phantom. She looked up into the face of a strapping horsegirl.
At least 190 cm, legs even longer than Stardust Phantom's.
Wild red short hair, a scowling face—pure delinquent aura.
"Why're you blocking the way? Move."
With a casual shove, she tried to push the smaller girl aside and stride out—
—No.
Her palm hit something like a boulder. The "little one" didn't budge; the push bounced the giant back two steps.
Stardust Phantom slowly raised her head and spoke, word by word:
"Tokai Teio should not be sneered at by a horsegirl like you. She'll step onto the Classic Triple Crown stage. And I will beat her there."
"Hah?!"
Veins popped on Daita Tiantong's forehead.
Failing to move this girl twenty centimeters shorter was humiliating enough—now the shrimp was mouthing off.
She lunged, reaching for Stardust Phantom.
Back!
Stardust Phantom hopped back twice—but the giant took one stride, closed in, and clamped a hand on her shoulder.
Her stride is huge!
First time facing someone this tall, Stardust Phantom was shocked that one step could cover so much ground.
"Say that again if you've got guts."
Daita Tiantong shoved her face right up to Stardust Phantom's, voice threatening:
"With your level, you dare talk Triple Crown? Huh?"
Before Stardust Phantom could answer, another horsegirl darted out and forced them apart.
"Okay, okay, both of you, relax."
A brown-haired, single-ponytailed girl with round glasses—bookish. Half a head shorter than Stardust Phantom and barely to the giant's shoulder.
Yet Daita Tiantong obediently withdrew at her arrival and stomped toward the exit.
"Tch. Boring. You're in the race too, right? I'll show you out there."
"I'm so sorry—she didn't mean it."
The glasses girl bowed repeatedly.
"I'm Victory Maple. Tiantong and I are horsegirls from Ise."
"Some things delayed us, so we missed Teio's debut and had to use a maiden to debut today. She's been stewing about it. I'm very sorry."
It's hard to hit a smiling face. Stardust Phantom couldn't stay angry.
"Whatever the reason, trash-talking others isn't right. Try to talk her down… Though honestly, missing that race might not be a bad thing."
"Not… a bad thing?" Victory Maple blinked.
"If you'd been there… you'd know just how strong Tokai Teio is. That Daita Tiantong wouldn't be so confident."
With that, Stardust Phantom hurried into the restroom, leaving Victory Maple thoughtful in the hall.
—————————————————————
[Sunlit skies today. Sixteen horsegirls are moving into the gates.]
[We have a full field of sixteen. The top pick: the 'Giant' even before debut—No. 8, Daita Tiantong!
Second choice: the horsegirl who used that wondrous technique last time, losing to Tokai Teio by half a length—No. 7, Stardust Phantom.
Third choice…]
In the gates, Stardust Phantom closed her eyes, shutting out the commentator's excited patter and focusing.
"So you lost to Tokai Teio? No wonder you fluff that midget," sneered Daita in Gate 8.
"Too bad—today makes two straight losses for you. And not just a loss… No matter what flashy tricks you've got, at the end of the day you're just a normal runner."
"I'll show you what innate advantage means, you Teio castoff."
Seeing Stardust Phantom standing still, eyes closed and trembling slightly, she smirked wider.
"Once you realize you're running flat-out and I still reel you in with ease, will you understand you never had a chance?"
"I'll tell you, shorty—"
"In running, long legs are an absolute advantage!"
None of it reached Stardust Phantom.
She'd pulled her mind into a point—shutting out the world, feeling the familiar track and air, her whole body quivering with excitement.
All she waited for was that sound—
—Beep.
The race began. Gates flew open!
Bang!
Sixteen horsegirls shot out like arrows—
[Skill: Concentration], activates.
[Skill: Odd-Distance ○], activates.
[Skill: Counterclockwise ○], activates.
Eyes snapping open on the first stride, Stardust Phantom's foot exploded turf and dirt into the air.
[Skill: Ground-Firm], activates!
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