A week later, at the simulation track.
"Today's the day."
Stardust Mirage and Miho Bourbon entered side by side, both in fresh kit and new spikes, spirits high. sportswear
To avoid affecting the race, Hushan had halved their training yesterday.
"Plenty of spectators."
Walking behind them, Hushan smiled at the packed stands.
This was an internal academy event, closed to the public. But Central Tracen was a small city, full of staff and horse girls—and the spectators came from there.
"Because it's a fun one."
Ryu Nishizaki emerged from behind, smiling too:
"Stardust Mirage—the 'Oguri Cap II' named by that monster runner herself at her retirement ceremony.
"Taiki Shuttle, hailed 'the King of the Mile'; Narita Brian, 'the Shadowed Runner' with Triple Crown-level power; Hishi Amazon, disciple of the Student Council Vice President, 'the Empress'—herself titled 'the Heroine'… they're all headline makers. Everyone wants to see them."
He finished and, seeing Hushan's contempt, could only keep smiling:
"Also Mejiro McQueen and Gold Ship from our side. Pity Teio is only doing rehab and hot-spring therapy, so we kept her out to avoid mishaps."
"But I'm here to cheer!"
Tokai Teio popped her head from behind him and waved hard at Stardust Mirage, little ears flick-flicking.
"I'm cheering McQueen and Gold Ship today. Stardust, take care of yourself!"
No sooner had she said it than her face reddened—something remembered. She ducked back behind Ryu, hiding thoroughly.
But as Ryu had said, every opponent was nasty—each a former G1 powerhouse.
Taiki Shuttle was still thought of as the top mile ruler; Narita Brian had taken the Triple Crown; Hishi Amazon had vied with Brian; plus the mercurial Gold Ship and long-distance ace McQueen…
"Ah, Stardust, why are you shaking?!"
Teio poked her head out again, shocked.
Stardust Mirage was trembling all over as if scared…
"That's not fear, Teio."
Hushan patted Teio's head and looked at her horse girl, eyes full of satisfaction:
"Since she's called 'Oguri Cap II,' this reaction makes sense."
"That tremor upon facing the strong—warrior's tremor."
"Let's go, Stardust Mirage, Miho Bourbon. Together… let's snatch the title from that lot!"
Stardust Mirage didn't answer. Her eyes burned as she headed into the track.
——————————
"We've got to show them the absolute gap in strength today."
Hishi Amazon, a dark-skinned athletic girl, checked the horseshoe spikes on her shoes. sportswear
In a prior sim she'd lost to Stardust Mirage because she wasn't good at short distance, so she already looked at Stardust differently.
Given this chance at revenge, Amazon told her two teammates:
"Let's settle it in the last 200 meters. We'll pull three lengths this time!"
"The last 200?"
Tall Taiki Shuttle looked puzzled. She adjusted the bib number squashed on her chest until it was neat, then smiled brightly:
"Two hundred is too short. I'll start my run at six hundred to go and pass the front-runners!"
"What about you, Brian?" Amazon nodded at Shuttle's confidence and turned to the third.
But Narita Brian sat in a corner, eyes closed, lips moving soundlessly.
"What, meditating?"
Amazon gave up on interrupting and prepped in earnest.
Brian wasn't meditating at all. She couldn't shake the horror movie from last night out of her head.
Damn you, Zenno Rob Roy—you and Helios tricked me into a horror flick!
It's fine. It's all acting…
No way a chainsaw girl will suddenly burst from the rail. Calm down. Calm…
Not far away, Spica's Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen were getting final instructions:
"Listen, short distance isn't your specialty. But that doesn't mean your odds are that much worse."
Ryu Nishizaki dropped his usual slouch and spoke seriously:
"The most important thing in sprints is the back half. You can save some early. When you hit the back half, launch early and get the speed on."
"So it's closing from behind again," Gold Ship said, eyes locked on her Rubik's cube.
"Choose the pressing-to-closing style. Let the front-runners break the wind for you. The key point will be the final three furlongs—McQueen, Gold Ship, got it?"
"Yes, Trainer." Aristocratic Mejiro McQueen answered with elegant poise.
Gold Ship nodded. The cube spun faster in her hands.
"Let's do a group cheer."
Ryu thrust out his right hand.
Teammates who'd come to support—Tokai Teio, Special Week, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka—piled their hands on, along with McQueen and Gold Ship.
Seven met each other's eyes, took a deep breath, and shouted:
"Team Spica—Victory…"
"Team Draco—Kill!!!!!!"
Behind them, Hushan Feihong and her two horse girls suddenly bellowed, drowning them out.
Ryu facepalmed. He knew exactly what Hushan was up to—trying to rattle his girls with volume.
[The matchup that decides Central Tracen's representative for the French exchange will begin shortly! Runners, please load the gates in order!!!]
The announcer's voice—an academy student from the broadcasting course—echoed.
"Spica or Rigil, who takes it?"
In the stands, Air Groove looked toward the loading runners. "In any case, we absolutely cannot let Hushan Feihong's team win—or who knows what trouble she'll bring the French."
"Air Groove, you worry too much. The other two teams' runners have at least a year under them. Against Stardust Mirage and Miho Bourbon, there's a ninety percent chance."
Symboli Rudolf crossed her arms and offered her read.
She was also trying hard not to stare at Tokai Teio in the rest area—diverting her attention by analyzing runners.
"Only ninety?" Air Groove turned, surprised. "Those two newbies still have a chance?!"
"If I hadn't seen Stardust Mirage's detailed file, I'd think like you."
Rudolf looked at the brown-haired horse girl on the track and recalled the data and training footage.
"But Stardust Mirage… I give that remaining ten percent to her growth."
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Furlong: a unique unit in horse racing. It comes from Britain; one furlong ≈ 201 meters. Roughly, think 200 m.
The "first three furlongs" and "final three furlongs" refer to the opening 600 meters and the closing 600 meters of a race—that is, the early and late phases in the horse-girl game's race flow.
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