"This is the final 400 meters! The final 400 meters! Shenying has surged into the lead! The 200-meter sprint is on, and Shenying is flying — she tracked just behind the front all the way through, and now she's seized the initiative in one stroke. Can Good Dream come back on the inside? It doesn't look like it!"
"Shenying is still accelerating, and from the far outside — Shijiaji is finally building her rhythm! There's still a gap between them, but — but! Shijiaji's finishing kick! Shijiaji, who's shown phenomenal form all year, is closing fast! Shenying can already feel the pressure! This is the decisive moment now — they're approaching the 200-meter marker, Shenying is still fighting to hold on, while Shijiaji keeps cutting the gap!"
From the stands, Terizumi Shinji and Offside Trap watched the two horse girls up front, already on the verge of deciding the race.
Good Dream on the rail, and Tiger Mountain Walker sitting two lengths behind, had almost no hope left of threatening the top two. The winner of the Saint-Cloud Grand Prix would come from Shijiaji and Shenying alone.
As he watched the confidence on Shenying's face when she crossed the 200-meter marker, Offside Trap turned her head slightly, a glimmer of interest flashing in her eyes.
This horse girl — one she had once defeated back in Japan — was now putting on a truly world-class performance.
And Shijiaji, closing from behind, showed no change in expression after feeling Shenying's sudden burst of speed. The wind around her body howled, and her eyes locked on Shenying's back. Shinji also noticed the necklace at her throat glittering brilliantly under the sunlight.
A sharp cry seemed to tear through the air.
Shinji glanced sideways at Tōjō Hana — and saw that the woman's face, calm only moments ago, had already begun to show traces of worry.
This was Rigil's hope for the future, the strongest of the current generation.
After Offside Trap had won the Eclipse Stakes, Tōjō Hana naturally wanted Shenying to take this Saint-Cloud Grand Prix as well.
In Japan, the Saint-Cloud Grand Prix was often called France's Takarazuka Kinen. Even if it didn't quite measure up to the Eclipse Stakes, it was still a highly prestigious race. Offside Trap had already claimed her glory — and Hana wanted Shenying to stand on that same stage.
Only...
"I, Shijiaji, keep my word!"
The moment her domain fully bloomed, Shinji could even feel a pressure that seemed to exceed what a horse girl herself should possess. The Three Goddesses' blessing manifested itself with startling clarity in her. That aura — something almost no longer human — lifted her hair in the gale, and then, with shocking speed, she began reeling Shenying in.
The gap that had been stretching toward a length and a half was slashed down in an instant, and even Shinji's brows lifted.
If Shijiaji intended to defend her crown this year, then when the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe arrived, she would unquestionably be one of Offside Trap's greatest rivals.
"The final 200 meters! The final 200 meters! Shijiaji is still accelerating! Good Dream and Tiger Mountain Walker behind them can no longer threaten the front pair. Can Shenying hold out? Can she hold out? Shijiaji from behind has already cut it down to half a length — they're drawing level!"
"The final 100 meters! But Shenying doesn't look like she can accelerate again — from the outside, Shijiaji is already edging past! Shenying is still trying to hold off the challenge, but Shijiaji—!"
"This is the finishing blow of a Prix de l'Arc champion! A finishing burst radiant enough to carve a stunning new line into Saint-Cloud Grand Prix history! Even though Shenying's race plan had been brilliant, even though she had given herself a massive cushion at the critical moment — Shijiaji's strength is simply absolute!"
"France's star still burns bright as ever, setting sail toward her dream! Shenying second! Good Dream third!"
As the commentator's voice gradually fell away, Tōjō Hana beside him had already reddened around the eyes, her face filled with regret.
Shijiaji had accepted another divine blessing this spring. Not only had it pushed her strength even higher, it had also kept her in astonishing form. And if Shinji was being honest, he had no small hand in that.
Watching Shenying crying down on the track, Shinji also saw the tiny margin that still separated the two girls — not even a full half-length. Shenying herself could see it too.
That was what made it cruelest.
She had been so close she could practically touch victory, yet it was still forever out of reach. All she could do was watch that figure sweep past her shoulder.
Shinji sighed.
It wasn't Shenying he pitied — not really.
What caught his attention instead was the smug grin spreading across Shijiaji's face after she'd slowed down. The horse girl made no attempt to hide it. That arrogant, overbearing streak in her nature was as blatant as ever, and now that Shenying had lost, there was even a trace of gleeful malice in her smile.
This was her revenge on the fans who had once mocked the friend she cared about.
She had never forgotten her promise.
Offside Trap looked at Shijiaji's openly smug expression. She tried to hold it in, but in the end she still burst out laughing.
There were cameras everywhere around them, of course. Standing where she was, there was no way Offside Trap would be missed. One or two lenses had even been fixed on her expression this whole time.
That laugh would definitely be misunderstood by plenty of people.
But neither she nor Shinji cared anymore.
They had already lived through their hardest days. Whatever waves this might kick up now, neither of them would feel the slightest fear or anxiety over it.
"Only one day apart..." Tōjō Hana said quietly. "I really had hoped for a double celebration."
Behind them, the French fans were roaring their lungs out, and their conversation was nearly drowned beneath the tide of noise.
"The next time they meet," Hana murmured, "it'll be directly on the track..."
Watching Shenying still crying down below, a trace of pain surfaced in Hana's eyes.
The girl's teary face, those eyes red from crying — it made Hana want to go down there right now and pull her into an embrace.
Shenying had prepared for this race for a long time. To lose by only that tiny margin in the end — the regret and unwillingness inside her must have already reached their peak.
"Next time, she'll be even better," Hana said.
In truth, Hana and Shinji were close.
But when she thought of Offside Trap's record since the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Hana couldn't help feeling it all the more clearly:
That horse girl would be the target every horse girl in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would come to challenge.
Even Shenying — though she would be representing Japan alongside her.
That thought stirred Hana's competitive spirit. Proud as ever, the woman lifted her chin slightly.
"You know I've always believed in your ability, Hana," Shinji said, and he could already feel Offside Trap's gaze turning to him at his side. "But Offside Trap will shine even brighter."
"Shenying won't have a chance."
"No matter whose trainee she is."
join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 210)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Completed)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Completed)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa (Completed)
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 240
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (Completed.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume5/8
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 135
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 160
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 125
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 180
My Harem Is Indescribable 110
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 115
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 120
Still playing traditional Honk 105
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 120
What Should I Do After Switchi 70
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 140
Checking In in Demon Slayer 100
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 115
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 90
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (Completed)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 95
MYGO Beauties 80
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 100
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 135
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 150
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 70
The Uma Musume Who Became 75
I'm Definitely Not the King of 130
After Maxing Out Every Class 135
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 120
I, the Elden Sword Saint 70
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 65
No One Knows Pokémon Better 65
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 65
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 105
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 120
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 80
Honkai: The Fire Devil 115
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/70
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 85
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 80
At age 8, she co-starred with 80
Honkai: Schicksal Media 81
An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 70
Chainsaw Man, but I'm Aatrox 60
Honkai Apocrypha: Are the Valk 60
An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 45
Morgan Shirou's Journey in Dan 43
DanMachi: Get to Work, Dimensi 70
Honkai: Star Rail—Kiana Cried! 36
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