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The 3000-meter Kikuka Sho tests the comprehensive abilities of horse girls, including endurance, speed, strategy, and willpower.
The horse girl who emerges victorious in the Kikuka Sho is often regarded as the "strongest."
Thus, for this race gathering so many formidable competitors, Lucian couldn't help but feel nervous.
It was difficult for him to provide specific guidance for any single race. Amid his anxiety, he also looked forward to the performances of Seiun Sky and Special Week.
"Trainer." Rice Shower, standing beside him, tugged at Lucian's sleeve.
"What is it, Rice-chan?"
"Your banner is upside down."
Before the race, Urara had bought many blank banners and asked Lucian to write "Japan's Number One!" and "Seiun Sky is the Best!" on them—two for each person.
"Oh, my bad." Lucian quickly adjusted it. So he'd been holding it like an idiot all this time.
"Onii-sama..." Rice Shower whispered, "Are you worried? I called you so many times just now, but you didn't respond."
"Sorry, Rice." Lucian apologized, though he couldn't free his hands to pat her head. "I'm just a little nervous."
His gaze swept across the racetrack. "Though the trainer isn't on the field, I can still feel everything with you. When it's Mimi's turn to race, I'll definitely be just as nervous."
"A trainer doesn't just help you grow—they grow alongside you."
"Onii-sama... will you cheer for me then?"
"Rice, remember this." Lucian's eyes suddenly softened, like the warm March sun shining on Rice Shower's heart. "If there ever comes a day when no one applauds for you, just turn around and look. The trainer's embrace will always be open for you."
"Lucian-kun, what secrets are you sharing with Rice-chan?" Silence Suzuka's gaze had somehow drifted over.
Seiun Sky bullied her, and now Rice Shower was joining in? Well... not that she could do anything about it.
"Nothing, nothing." Lucian winked at Silence Suzuka before turning his attention back to the race.
Rice Shower, however, was still lost in thought over Lucian's words.
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"All competitors have entered the gates!"
"The race begins!"
By the time they entered the starting gates, the competitors were already highly focused, so everyone got off to a strong start.
Seiun Sky, in Lane 4, easily secured the inner track. At first, she ran neck-and-neck with a horse girl in Lane 6, but she soon pulled ahead with her speed.
Special Week, in Lane 17, stayed toward the rear of the middle pack, calmly keeping pace with the group.
Before even reaching the first turn, Seiun Sky had taken the lead."Is Seiun going for the 'Front running' this time?" Lucian frowned as he watched the race unfold.
A 3000-meter race... He was worried Seiun Sky might burn out halfway.
His little butterfly effect had already set things in motion, so the anime's events were merely a reference now.
The present Lucian only believed in himself and his horse girls.
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After the first turn, Seiun Sky remained in the lead, with the Lane 6 horse girl hot on her heels, trailing by about a length and a half.
"Seiun..."
Special Week was roughly ten lengths behind Seiun Sky at this point, and the many horse girls ahead blocked her view—she could no longer see Seiun Sky's figure.
"Stay calm, stay calm. Don't rush. Stick to your rhythm," Special Week repeated in her mind.
Soon, they entered the second turn.
About two-thirds through the turn, Seiun Sky bared her fangs and accelerated again.
At the curve, Special Week finally caught sight of Seiun Sky charging into the straight.
The other horse girls saw it too, which only made the already fast-paced race even faster!
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Before entering the third turn, Seiun Sky and the Lane 6 horse girl had opened a noticeable gap over the fastest pursuer, Lane 8.
"Hah, can you still keep up?" Seiun Sky smirked and pushed her legs even harder.
The Lane 6 horse girl, who had been clinging stubbornly, finally lost her rhythm and began falling behind visibly.
The two had been like a train with only one carriage—now the engine surged forward while the carriage gradually merged with the ones behind.
This was the "Front runner" tactic—a dominating one!
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"Now's the time!"
Special Week, having conserved her energy, began her charge at the third and final turn.
Her approach surprised even Lucian—she was making her move from the outermost lane, overtaking the horse girls ahead in one go!
Her target was only Seiun Sky at the front, while Seiun Sky's eyes were fixed on the finish line of the Kikuka Sho.
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As they entered the final straight, the crowd's cheers grew louder.
Who could have imagined that Special Week would surge from over a dozen positions back into the top five? And by the halfway point of the straight, she was nearly on par with the second, third, and fourth-place runners!
Her terrifying late-race speed and explosive power made her seem like a tsunami to the other horse girls—unstoppable, leaving them no choice but to be swallowed.
From the stands, Lucian could see it too. During the final sprint, he noticed several horse girls glowing with radiant energy.
But the moment Special Week overtook them, their light was snuffed out—like fireflies unable to outshine the moon's brilliance.
"Seiun, let's settle this!" Special Week roared in her heart, her aura erupting once more.
Had the track been a few hundred meters longer, Special Week might have had a real shot at victory with her endurance and explosive power.
But the strengths and weaknesses of strategy were laid bare in this moment.
Seiun Sky, like an arrow piercing through the tsunami, shot straight for the finish line of the Kikuka Sho!
The winner was decided!
"First place goes to Lane 4—Seiun Sky!"
"And... a new record! 3 minutes, 2.4 seconds!"
"Second place goes to Special Week, third to Burning Sincerity, fourth to Mejiro Rambert, and fifth to King Halo."
Most horse girls who enter Tracen Academy possess remarkable talent and potential.
But there can only be one champion. Beneath the feet of the one who stands atop the podium lie countless defeated horse girls, piled high like a mountain.
This is why Ines Fujin burned her life to win the Derby, why Seiun Sky executed her Frunt Running to seize the Kikuka Sho!
When one horse leads, ten thousand are left in the dark.
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