Chapter 54 – Tokyo Yushun

Tokyo Racecourse was roaring.

No, it wasn’t merely the cheers and applause.

Today, the very air itself seemed to roar.

Tokyo Racecourse. Two thousand four hundred meters on turf.

The Tokyo Yushun-the Japanese Derby.

Humans constantly called this race special.

Some even said, “The luckiest horse wins.”

I had always thought that sounded ridiculous.

And yet…

This place truly was special.

We waited behind the gates for our turn to enter.

Every horse wore a formidable expression.

This was one level above even the Satsuki Sho.

Naturally.

Every horse here believed that whoever won today would be the best of the generation.

Amid that atmosphere, I-Sakurai Rudolf-wore a perfectly composed expression.

I was fine.

I was calm.

That was the face I made.

After all, shouting, “OOOOOOH!” like Crown would be childish.

Besides, Grandpa was watching today.

I knew Saku, Yayoi, and everyone at the ranch were watching on television as well.

But Grandpa had come all the way to the racecourse.

That alone meant I couldn’t possibly lose.

Absolutely not.

“You certainly look like an emperor.”

A voice came from behind me.

I didn’t need to turn around.

“Did you need something, Golden Beer?”

I answered in my formal voice.

Calmly and politely.

No matter what I felt inside, I wasn’t going to let anyone tease me in a place like this.

“You look awfully relaxed.”

“Naturally.”

I answered immediately.

“I came here to win.”

“Ha!”

Beer snorted with amusement.

“That attitude of yours hasn’t changed.”

“I’m pleased to see your arrogance remains alive and well too.”

“Keh!”

Beer laughed deep in his throat.

“That sort of thing really pisses me off.”

“What a coincidence. I was thinking the same of you.”

The horses around us laughed.

“Here they go again.”

“Won’t those two ever shut up?”

“Try to take second again. I’ll laugh at you.”

“They must have nerves of steel to provoke each other before the Derby.”

“Shut up.”

Beer growled, and the atmosphere tightened slightly.

Good.

As expected, he was an excellent rival.

He wasn’t merely strong.

He possessed the presence of a leading actor.

There was a little more heat in Beer’s voice when he spoke again.

“Hey, Rudolf.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t lose.”

“To whom?”

“Anyone except me.”

For once, his words were strangely straightforward.

“Of course.”

Beer was strong.

I knew that.

That was precisely why I would defeat him.

At that moment, I felt a light pat on my neck.

Chloe.

“Okay, okay. You two really are good friends.”

Did we look like friends?

Her voice was light, but her balance on my back was razor sharp.

She might smile on the surface, but she never lost sight of her objective.

I gave a small snort.

Neigh.

To me, it carried a clear meaning.

-We’ll win today too.

I sensed Chloe laugh softly.

As expected, she understood.

Unlike Saku, she couldn’t hear my words.

But she could still read my mood and my readiness.

The horses began entering the gates.

One after another, each concealed his tension and excitement.

The metal frame narrowed my view.

I took a breath.

Beer stood in the neighboring gate.

I looked ahead.

There was no turning back now.

That was what made it good.

From here on, only one question mattered: Who was strongest?

Every horse settled into position.

The world drew taut.

The murmur of the crowd receded.

For a single beat, Tokyo Racecourse held its breath.

CLANG!

The world exploded.

A good start.

The instant we broke, Chloe’s balance told me where she wanted us today.

All I had to do was obey.

Humans talked about settling a horse and the shape of a race.

For me, it was simple.

What did I need to do to be in front at the end?

That was all.

I looked around.

Every horse bore the expression of one running in the Derby.

Not one of them would surrender an easy position.

I sensed Beer beginning to move a little earlier.

His jockey was riding him perfectly.

Fine.

That was how it should be.

Third turn.

Chloe signaled, Not yet.

Still not yet?

I obeyed.

Being selfish here would be second-rate.

My strength alone hadn’t won the Satsuki Sho.

This woman had strength too.

So I would trust her again.

For some reason, Grandpa’s hand crossed my mind.

The day I left the ranch, he’d stroked me once.

That alone had given me the courage to board the transporter.

So today, I would win and have him stroke me again.

Fourth turn.

The feel of Chloe’s reins changed.

There it was.

The signal.

-Now.

I shifted up a gear.

My view opened.

I could see the horses ahead.

Go.

The home stretch.

Tokyo’s long straight.

The crowd’s roar swelled at once.

“The field enters the stretch!”

The announcer’s voice rang out.

It didn’t matter.

I ran.

I moved forward.

I caught the horses in front.

One.

Two.

I passed them.

My stride lengthened.

I wouldn’t stop.

Then-

“Move!”

Beer roared.

He was coming too.

Naturally.

I shifted my gaze ever so slightly.

Beer’s eyes burned.

Good!

Excellent!

Four hundred meters left.

The cheers erupted.

-A duel.

Humans might give it a beautiful name like that.

But no such pretty word suited us now.

I only wanted to crush the horse beside me.

I wanted to move ahead.

That was all.

Three hundred fifty left.

Beer drew level.

Our breaths aligned.

Our hoofbeats overlapped.

“I’ll make you repay your debt from the Satsuki Sho!”

Beer barked.

“I refuse!”

I barked right back.

Three hundred left.

Tokyo’s stretch was long.

To humans, that length probably made the race dramatic.

To me, it only made hell last longer.

Beer quickened again.

Strong.

He truly was strong.

Even side by side, I couldn’t shake him.

What was with this horse?

Wasn’t this interesting!?

The instant I thought that, I grew angry.

Close races being fun was nonsense.

In my plan, I had won far more easily.

Beer apparently felt the same.

“Why won’t you go away!?”

“I could ask you the same thing!”

Two hundred left.

Still side by side.

The grandstands exploded.

Beer shouted,

“I’m the one who’ll win!”

“No, I am!”

I answered without thinking.

My composed facade hadn’t broken.

But inside, I was already screaming.

OOOOOOOOOH!

“Go!”

Passion filled Chloe’s voice.

The whip came down sharply.

That single strike ignited something deep within me.

I forced my leg forward one more step.

But Beer came with me.

“Not yet!”

His jockey was serious too.

Of course he was.

Revenge for the Satsuki Sho.

Gold Farm’s banner.

The will of the two-year-old champion.

Beer carried all of it.

One hundred fifty left.

Beer edged ahead.

What?

Where had those legs come from?

He was strong.

Obviously stronger than he’d been in the Satsuki Sho.

Was I going to lose?

Here?

In the Derby?

While Grandpa watched?

“…!”

Don’t make me laugh!

One hundred left.

I fought back.

I could no longer understand the announcer.

But he seemed to be screaming our names in turn.

Grandpa.

Are you watching? I’m doing my best, so praise me.

Saku.

Watch. I’ll win and make you proud.

Yayoi.

You may spoil me a little.

Mother.

Will you be happy if I win?

Crown.

I’ll become that undefeated Triple Crown winner for you.

Little ones.

I’ll make you proud to know me.

Fifty meters left.

“Like hell I’ll lose!”

Beer’s roar echoed through my chest.

I felt the same.

I was Sakurai Rudolf.

Me!

Stonebreak’s son!

A horse from Sakurai Ranch!

I would win!

I wanted to see the tiny smile Grandpa showed when he was happy!

I summoned the last of my strength.

But the horse beside me refused to disappear.

What was this?

I was going to win!

So why were you still there, Golden Beer!?

The final instant.

Stretch my neck.

Push my nose forward.

Even a fraction farther.

Forward!

Me!

Win!

…

…

Cheers.

The announcer screamed.

My body still wouldn’t stop. After running with everything I had, momentum carried me onward.

I breathed hard.

My lungs burned.

My legs felt heavy.

I looked to the side.

“…”

“…”

Several seconds of silence.

Then we spoke at exactly the same time.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Surely not…”

We voiced the same frustration.

Still breathing heavily, Beer spoke.

“…Hey.”

“What is it?”

“Which of us won?”

“I don’t know.”

Beer snorted, looking frustrated and amused at once.

“I had a winning plan.”

“So did I.”

“Disgusting.”

“Extremely.”

I looked at the results board, but nothing appeared.

Had it truly been that close?

Chloe patted my neck.

“Okay. You two were incredible.”

Don’t settle this with “incredible.”

The other jockey was soothing Beer too.

Both humans looked exhausted.

We stared at the board.

Photo finish.

Beyond some thin line, humans were desperately examining which horse’s nose had touched first.

And they were only deciding that now?

Damn it. Which one of us was it?

I narrowed my eyes.

It had been fun.

So painful I could have died, and so frustrating I could have died-and yet it had been the most fun I’d ever had.

Facing forward, I gave a quiet snort.

“Beer.”

“Hm?”

“If I lose after a photo finish, I will be extremely angry.”

“What a coincidence. So will I.”

“But…”

“But?”

“I wouldn’t mind racing you again.”

Beer paused before answering.

“That’s not something you say immediately after the Derby.”

“I believe the feeling is mutual.”

“No argument there.”

We walked side by side.

Then the quality of the noise around us changed.

The decision…

Had appeared.