5th place.
She had come to the [Japan Cup] assuming little. The country of Japan had yet to show the world anything interesting in recent years, and with Symboli Rudolf having retired years back, she believed there would be little value in attending the [Japan Cup]. But as it was the wish of her trainer and her fans, she had little choice but to go.
Ah, she couldn't have been more wrong.
First was Tamamo Cross; The White Lightning. Japan spoke of her strength as legendary, and she now saw that it was deserved. Even though she'd only awakened her Domain for the first time during the [Japan Cup], that god of lightning had been so overwhelming that her Domain had nearly been crushed entirely.
Then there was Obey Your Master; the American Assassin. There had been little information about her before the race began, and she could only lament that fact. She was completely blind to the strength she held, and she'd been completely outclassed.
And lastly were Oguri Cap and Blossom Star; two rising stars that'd swept across Japan like a storm. Amongst the competitors, they were the only umamusume still in their Classic Years, and yet they'd attained 1st and 3rd place respectively. Somehow, despite facing the pressure of three Domains, they'd not only endured but thrived.
Alas, put up against such a roster of legendary figures, perhaps it wasn't surprising that she could only place 5th.
…It did not lessen the regret she felt.
「Bianca?」
Tony Bianca blinked, and she found Moonlight Lunacy watching her with worry in her eyes.「Apologies.」She whispered, her hands clenched beneath the pure white blanket of her hospital bed.「I've had a lot of things to ponder of, as of late.」
「...About the [Japan Cup]?」Moonlight eventually asked.
Bianca smiled tiredly.「What else?」
Moonlight sighed.「It was amazing, wasn't it?」She smiled slightly, remembering the amazing sight she'd seen during the final moments of the [Japan Cup].「To think I would bear witness to something so incredible. I am incredibly blessed, in that regard.」She frowned sadly.「I just wished you hadn't pushed yourself so hard.」
Bianca closed her eyes in slight embarrassment.「Not placing my all during that moment would have been a disservice to them all.」She said, though she didn't disagree. Perhaps if she'd relaxed a little, she wouldn't have broken her bones like she did. She would recover of course, but there would still be months of healing that would need to pass before she could once more run across the racetracks.
「...what an unfair statement.」Moonlight eventually said, her expression complicated. After all, she herself hadn't placed on the podium.
Bianca realized what it was she'd just said and quickly went into damage-control.「Ah-, I meant-, I had simply been swept up by the excitement. You performed admirably yourself, it was just that-!」
Moonlight giggled.「There is no need to placate me, Bianca.」She smiled in acceptance.「I have lost. I could not be compared to you or the other 4 runners you ran against during those final moments.」
「Moon…」
Moonlight smiled.「There is no need for sadness, Bianca. I am sad, yes, but I am satisfied.」She gently held her hands over her chest.「On that day, I raced against umamusume who would certainly be remembered as legends, and you are included in that.」She giggled.「That is an honor that I will never forget.」
Bianca stared for a moment, before she smiled.「I…thank you for your kind words, Moon.」She gazed out the window, if only to hide the slight blush on her cheeks.「You are as kind as always.」
Moonlight giggled gently.
Just then, the random news that'd been playing on the television in the background suddenly switched, and the announcer's enthusiastic Japanese echoed loudly from the television's speakers.
"It's time for this year's [Champions Cup]!"
「Oh? Is a race happening today?」Moonlight said, not quite able to fully decipher the announcer's words.
「I believe so.」Bianca said, humming slightly as she turned to the television. She wasn't adept at the Japanese language either, but she could at least pick up little bits and pieces.
"And now, our top favorite-!"
"Having shown a dominant victory in the [Japan Dirt Derby], the Tactician now fights for another Dirt G1!"
"No.7, Belno Light!"
Bianca narrowed her eyes. She hadn't understood much of what the announcer said, but she recognized that name. Was Belno Light not the third member of Team Kitahara—the same Team Kitahara that Oguri Cap and Blossom Star belonged to? If so, then this Belno was certainly someone she could not ignore.
And her assumptions were further solidified as the television showed Belno step onto the track, dressed in her G1 outfit. Her confident gait, that burning gaze in her eyes—she carried herself with strength that was more befitting of a Senior racer.
Moonlight blinked when she saw the slight smile on her lips.「You know her?」
Bianca hummed.「I know of her, at least.」She took a small breath.「She belongs to Team Kitahara, a recent team of newcomers that had swept through this country.」She smiled.「Oguri Cap and Blossom Star are her fellow teammates.」
Moonlight's eyes went wide.「She is a peer to those two!?」She watched Belno for a few moments, before her shocked expression turned to one of understanding.「Hmm, I could certainly see it. She carries herself with grace.」She hummed.「Is she perhaps a member of some prestigious family? Her demeanour wouldn't be out of place in that case.」
Bianca blinked.「Not…that I know of.」She eventually said, somehow regretting that she hadn't looked any further.
"All runners are to head to their gates!"
「But, a race on Dirt…」Moonlight whispered.
Bianca nodded.「All of Team Kitahara are capable of running on both Turf and Dirt.」She tilted her head slightly as she recalled something she read a while back.「I believe most of Japan was quite shocked when the members of Team Kitahara first ran across Turf. They displayed such affinity for it that it was difficult to believe they'd spent most of their Junior Years racing across Dirt alone.」
「Is that so?」Moonlight smiled.「How envious. With such talent, it would not be surprising if they continued their careers beyond the scope of Japan.」
Bianca paused, contemplative.「Going international…」She whispered. The possibility made a frightening amount of sense. Even from that short display Oguri and Star had shown during the [Japan Cup], it was clear that both of them were incredible talents. And as they were competent on both Turf and Dirt, it would be no surprise if they ever began racing in other countries.
How incredible that would be.
"All runners have entered their gates!"
"The race will soon begin!"
「Ah, but we better cease our ponderings for now.」Bianca said, taking the nearby remote and quickly increasing the speaker's volume.「Let us witness the outcome of this race, shall we?」
Moonlight nodded with a smile.「Yes. Let us.」
Just as she said that, the speakers grew quiet as a quiet tension simmered across the live audience. Seconds ticked by as everyone eagerly waited for the moment when the gates would open.
The view then began switching from one runner to the next, showing their expressions as they prepared to race. It eventually switched to Belno Light for a moment, and they could both see the sharp gaze she held as she stared forth. There was not a trace of fear in her eyes.
And then--
BANG!
"And they're off!"