"The Black Assassin is way too strong!"
"I can't believe the fastest competitor lost on the Satsuki Sho stage."
Up in the stands, a bespectacled man and his companion exchanged sighs.
Satsuki Sho had always carried a saying: the winner of Satsuki Sho was always the fastest horse girl.
But this race's result shattered that notion.
The fastest competitor, Mihono Bourbon, had lost. The victor was Rice, whose speed couldn't match hers.
"Breakaway really is a dangerous strategy."
The bespectacled man let out a sigh.
He believed the result came entirely from Mihono Bourbon's choice to use the breakaway tactic.
If she hadn't used that strategy, perhaps Rice and Mihono Bourbon would have been evenly matched.
Mihono Bourbon was already naturally stamina-deficient. Using a breakaway on a 2000-meter track seemed nothing but disadvantageous.
He couldn't understand what Mihono Bourbon's trainer had been thinking to make such a tactical decision.
...
Meanwhile, Team Spica was discussing the same thing while watching the broadcast.
Daiwa Scarlet spoke up: "If Mihono Bourbon hadn't run out of stamina at the end, she probably would've won, right? So why choose the breakaway?"
In the final straight, Rice's speed had been fairly ordinary too.
She felt that if Mihono Bourbon had still been in good condition, she never would have been overtaken.
Vodka held the opposite view.
"No, I think even if they raced again without the breakaway, Mihono Bourbon would still lose."
"Teio, what do you think?"
Symboli Rudolf's expression was grave as she nodded.
"Vodka's right."
"But let me add one thing: if Mihono Bourbon hadn't chosen the breakaway strategy, she would have lost this race for certain!"
On the other side, Mejiro McQueen offered the same assessment.
"If Mihono Bourbon hadn't used the breakaway, the gap between her and Rice would have been even larger by the final stretch."
Remember—Rice had burned stamina through ZONE for nearly the entire race. And that was only because Mihono Bourbon had used the breakaway. If Mihono Bourbon hadn't employed that tactic, Rice wouldn't have needed to burn stamina through ZONE.
In that scenario, by the final stretch...
Rice's condition would have been even more terrifying than it was now.
And Mihono Bourbon herself?
With her stamina deficiency, she'd still have significant depletion by that point.
So if Mihono Bourbon hadn't used the breakaway this race, her defeat would have been guaranteed.
If anything, it was precisely because she used the breakaway that she successfully forced Rice into having to burn stamina.
There was also something else Symboli Rudolf and Mejiro McQueen hadn't mentioned: up to this point, they still hadn't seen what Rice's ZONE effect actually was. In other words, this race might not even have been Rice at full power. Under these circumstances, Mihono Bourbon would have lost no matter what she did.
Even if they could start over, the result would likely be the same no matter how many times they tried. This outcome was no fluke.
It had nothing to do with external factors. This was purely a contest of ability.
Both Mihono Bourbon and Rice had been in excellent condition. The only difference was their strength.
And precisely because of this, they found it terrifying.
Mihono Bourbon's performance alone had been shocking enough, yet she'd still lost to Rice. Just how strong was Rice?
Thinking about how they might eventually face Rice in competition, they felt both excited and nervous.
...
At the race venue.
Mihono Bourbon walked silently toward the competitor area.
Though her face showed little expression, only she knew how complicated her feelings were.
So this was the taste of defeat.
As if something precious had been shattered.
Was it because she wasn't strong enough that she felt this way?
Mihono Bourbon thought about the look in Rice's eyes she'd seen at the end of the race. Her heart trembled.
Rice was truly strong.
She'd thought she didn't care who her opponent was, but in that moment, she couldn't ignore Rice's influence no matter what.
That presence that seemed ready to crush everything.
Even though they were both competitors running toward the finish line, she could feel a fundamental difference between herself and Rice.
In the obsession to win, she had lost to Rice.
So naturally.
She had lost the race.
At the locker room entrance, Trainer Kuronuma watched Mihono Bourbon with an expressionless face.
This was the first time he'd seen this child show such a vulnerable expression.
So even she felt unsettled after her first defeat.
"What's wrong? Is your career going to stop here?"
Kuronuma didn't comfort Mihono Bourbon.
Setting aside that it wasn't his personality, he didn't think now was the time for that.
It was just one loss. Win it back next time. Bourbon's performance during the race had reminded him of this obvious truth.
The honor of an undefeated Triple Crown—that didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that Bourbon had genuinely grown stronger through this race.
So don't hang your head. It's not time for tears yet.
Tears were something you could only shed after giving absolutely everything, at the very end, when there was truly nothing left.
But you haven't lost your potential yet. You can still win! I guarantee it as your trainer!
"Master, I deeply apologize. I lost."
The moment Mihono Bourbon saw her trainer, she immediately concealed her dejected emotions and opened with an apology.
Seeing Mihono Bourbon's apology, Kuronuma found his own prepared words suddenly interrupted.
Thinking about his own unreasonable training methods in the past, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more.
He'd been the one who forcibly demanded Bourbon become a Triple Crown champion. How could he now tell her that didn't matter?
"..." Though his expression was hidden behind sunglasses, Kuronuma was already breaking into a cold sweat.
"I'm truly sorry. I couldn't win. I couldn't achieve the undefeated Triple Crown. I've disappointed Master's expectations."
Mihono Bourbon seemed genuinely guilty about this, which made Kuronuma feel an intense suffocation.
Damn it, past me—get over here and clean up this mess! He desperately wanted to dissociate from his former self.
Because he truly felt Bourbon's performance in this race had been excellent. Beyond reproach.
The reason she'd lost wasn't that Bourbon had failed to meet his expectations. It was because her opponent was simply unreasonable.
But Bourbon hadn't realized this.
Right—because this child had always wanted to become the kind of competitor he'd envisioned.
He'd known this all along.
Yet the one who should be suffering most right now was Bourbon herself, and here she was, blaming herself for failing to fulfill his pipe dream.
How could he not feel terrible?
"Bourbon, enough. Instead of saying these things, tell me—you'll win next time."
Mihono Bourbon looked up at Master in surprise. Though she couldn't see his expression, she somehow sensed his expectations for her.
And these expectations felt different from before.
"New response detected. Unit recalibrating. Recalibration complete."
"Yes, Master. Next race, I will definitely win!"
Within the shattered pieces of her heart, something new seemed to sprout. Mihono Bourbon readjusted her emotions.
That recalibration was fast!
Kuronuma couldn't help but be surprised.
"Master, I need to prepare for the stage adjustment now. Please excuse me."
"Ah, yes."
Kuronuma nodded.
He could tell Bourbon's current state wasn't forced.
Was this also a result of training?
But even he, her trainer, hadn't anticipated this.
Watching Mihono Bourbon enter the changing room, Kuronuma stood silent for a moment, then turned and walked away, heading back outside.
Though the process differed from what he'd initially imagined, his goal had been achieved.
Bourbon had recovered. Now it was his turn as trainer.
New training plans, new race scheduling—these were what he needed to handle next.
He came outside and saw Rice talking with that rookie trainer.
Watching the competitor who had defeated Bourbon, Kuronuma fell into thought.
Should we continue the Classic route?
Since the Triple Crown challenge had already failed, was there any point in continuing?
But if they withdrew, that would undeniably be seen as avoiding competition.
Of course, he didn't care about outside opinions.
But he worried this might affect Bourbon's mindset. He could say with certainty that Bourbon wanted to continue competing against Rice.
Yet if they didn't withdraw, he saw little hope of winning the next two races.
The final long-distance race was out of the question.
They absolutely couldn't beat Rice in the Kikka Sho.
Long-distance events were far too disadvantageous for Bourbon's physical attributes.
Even if he was confident he could increase Bourbon's stamina through training, just being able to complete a long-distance race wasn't enough to compete with Rice.
And putting Bourbon through that training for the Kikka Sho carried injury risks.
If they'd won the first two races and had a shot at the crown, he might have considered taking the gamble.
But now, Kuronuma immediately wanted to remove the Kikka Sho from Bourbon's race schedule.
A race they couldn't win that also risked injury—better not to run it at all.
That leaves the Japan Derby...
Whether to participate—he'd leave that decision to Bourbon herself.
There was too little time before that race.
Having just gone through one round of intensive training, Bourbon couldn't undergo a second round so quickly.
Therefore, by the Japan Derby, Bourbon wouldn't be any stronger than today.
Entering the race under these conditions would most likely result in another loss.
After all, they'd lost even the Satsuki Sho. The Japan Derby's track distance favored their opponent even more. It would be a race where defeat was virtually certain.
After thinking through all this, Kuronuma suddenly let out a long breath.
He felt as if he'd set down some heavy burden. His whole being felt lighter.
Perhaps I've already failed.
The dream of nurturing a legendary racehorse—in this moment, it had probably died.
If this were the old him, he'd be considering abandoning Bourbon and selecting a new prospect.
But strangely, he had no such thoughts now.
Perhaps because he'd already known deep down.
There wouldn't be another.
No second competitor who could complete his training program. No second competitor who could bring him this close to his dream.
After all, as that saying of unknown origin went:
The meeting between trainer and horse girl was a kind of destiny.
A destined partner—a trainer was extremely lucky to encounter even one in their lifetime.
Hmph. I can't believe I've fallen so far as to believe such dubious sayings.
The corner of Kuronuma's mouth lifted slightly.
Without question, he considered himself an extremely lucky trainer.
Suddenly, his gaze behind his sunglasses fixed on Rice.
Black Assassin—we'll remember this defeat. Just wait for us up ahead.
This loss would become the catalyst for Bourbon to grow stronger.
Kuronuma was absolutely certain of this.
Now he had a new dream.
Even if they couldn't claim trophies, he would nurture Bourbon into a true legendary racehorse!
The Black Assassin—
Was merely a stepping stone toward that dream.
They would catch up. And when they did, victory would be theirs!
...
Rice sensed someone watching her from elsewhere. She turned to look at the man in the hat and sunglasses.
That's Bourbon's trainer?
She recognized him immediately. That outfit stood out far too much in this place.
Though she couldn't see the trainer's eyes behind his sunglasses, Rice could clearly perceive the fighting spirit emanating from him.
"That's Kuronuma-senpai. Rice, don't let your guard down. I'm sure he and Mihono Bourbon will catch up again. They're not the type to give up easily."
P gave Rice a word of warning.
"Mm, Rice knows."
She'd felt it at the end of the race.
Mihono Bourbon would never fall from just one defeat.
"Um, Trainer... Rice wants to officially sign a contract with you."
"Are you really sure, Rice? I'm only a junior trainer."
Returning to their earlier topic.
Hearing Rice's request, P felt happy but also uncertain about his own abilities.
"Mm, Rice has decided."
Rice nodded earnestly, then her gaze toward P grew somewhat hesitant.
"But... if Trainer finds it troublesome..."
"No, not at all. Rice, I look forward to working with you."
P decisively cut off what Rice was about to say and accepted without hesitation.
...
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