Chapter 14: Please Give Me Your Autograph

The place called Nakayama Racecourse had been charged with a strange kind of energy since morning.

It was cold. It’s December, so of course it was cold. You can even see your breath.

Yet, there are lots of people, they’re all shouting loudly, they’re hands gripping their racing newspapers with an unusual intensity, and even the racecourse itself somehow looked like it was saying, ”Today’s the day.”

I had no idea why.

“Yo, kid. Came to watch, huh?”

Just like the last time I’d visited, Okabe-san had brought me over when it was time to put the saddle on. Stone Break’s first words to me were exactly that.

“Well, yeah. More or less. How are you feeling?”

Stone snorted.

“You saw me win the prep race, didn’t you? I’m in perfect shape.”

“Perfect shape, huh?”

“Yep.”

Stone proudly tossed her head.

At that moment, a light set of footsteps approached, accompanied by a cheerful voice.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

The person who appeared was tall and slender, with the kind of build that practically screamed, ”I can ride.”

Honestly, I’d been really looking forward to meeting her.

Smiling broadly, Okabe-san said,

“Let me introduce you. This is Chloe-san, who’ll be riding today.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Chloe-san casually raised a hand and smiled at me.

Whoa. That’s the face from the commercials.

She was probably famous enough that anyone interested in horse racing or Uma Musume would know who she was.

“Um, Chloe-san, I’ve seen your commercials. Could I get your autograph later?”

I mean, come on. It was the real thing.

For a moment Chloe-san blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing.

“Sure! I’ll sign it later, horse-owner boy.”

Horse-owner boy.

That was a new one.

“Thank you so much!!”

Was she a goddess?

“So you knew who Chloe-san was too, Saku-kun. I put in a little effort to get her.”

Okabe-san laughed happily.

Thank you so much.

…Though I wondered if “a little effort” really covered it.

“Well, the horse looks fired up.”

When Chloe gently stroked Stone’s back, she snorted.

“Hmph. You’ve got a good eye.”

She’s really arrogant…

Though to everyone else, it probably just sounded like a horse snorting.

After looking at Stone, Chloe-san lowered her voice slightly.

“So, I want to ask you two something.”

I instinctively straightened up.

Chloe-san looked back and forth between me and Okabe-san.

“How do you want me to ride today?”

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help asking.

Wasn’t that something the jockey decided?

Wait.

Was this like in the games where you somehow choose your strategy right before the race?

Chloe-san held up two fingers.

“Option one: if it works, we win. If it doesn’t, we lose badly.”

“A crushing defeat…”

“That’s right. Option two: if this horse listens to me, I can probably get us third or fourth.”

“…”

She’d just dropped something pretty huge on me.

I immediately looked at Okabe-san.

A desperate help me look.

For some reason, he seemed amused.

“You can decide, Saku-kun.”

“No, no, no, no.”

“You’re the owner.”

“it’s a heavy responsibility!”

I swallowed hard.

“Any risk of injury?”

That was the first thing I needed to know.

Chloe-san shook her head immediately.

“Nope. Nothing like that.”

No hesitation at all.

A thousand thoughts crossed my mind.

Even third or fourth place is quite impressive.

This was a G3 race after all.

Finishing third or fourth here would be a tremendous accomplishment.

As a retirement race, it might even be the perfect ending.

But—

“…Stone, what do you want?”

When I asked, Stone looked at me as though I were an idiot.

“Was there ever any point in asking, half-baked kid?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Honestly, I already knew the answer.

“Okay. Chloe-san, I’ve decided.”

Chloe-san narrowed her eyes, clearly amused.

“Which one?”

The moment she asked, Stone and I answered in perfect unison.

“Obviously, we’re going for first.”

“Obviously, we’re going for first.”

A smile spread across Chloe-san’s face.

“I like it. You’re interesting, boy.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I’m only agreeing because it sounds fun.”

Chloe then patted Stone on the back of the neck.

“Then you. Make sure you listen to me today, okay?”

Stone snorted.

“Hey, kid. Tell that jockey something.”

“Hm?”

“Tell her she’d better not end up getting thrown off.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Stone.”

My voice rose involuntarily.

“This woman is one of the best jockeys in Japan, maybe even the best.”

“Just tell her.”

“No, no, no.”

“Tell her.”

“That’s a lot of pressure!”

But Stone wasn’t backing down at all.

she was completely serious.

And when she got like this, she never yielded.

With a sigh, I turned toward Chloe-san.

“Haah… Um, Chloe-san?”

“What is it, boy who wouldn’t say I was the best?”

“Sorry.”

She actually picked up on that?

“Well… Stone says…”

“Mm-hmm.”

She was definitely enjoying this.

I resigned myself and said it.

“He says, ‘Make sure you’re not the one who gets thrown off.’”

A moment of silence.

Then Chloe-san doubled over laughing.

“HAHAHAHAHA!!!”

She laughed so hard.

Hard enough that the people nearby looked over to see what was going on.

“That’s great!! That’s real funny, you’re hilarious!!”

Good.

At least she wasn’t angry.

Okabe-san scratched his head awkwardly.

“Uh, Chloe-san, you see…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Still laughing, Chloe-san waved her hand.

“Yeah, the horse said it, right? I get it.”

I reflexively shot back:

“You get it!?”

Tilting her head, Chloe-san gave a mischievous wink.

“Sort of. I think everyone does.”

Huh?

Everyone?

“…So leave it to me.”

That single sentence carried a different weight than her earlier joking tone.

At that moment, I realized:

This person really is an incredible jockey.

I don’t think she can actually “hear” what the horses are saying.

But she must have had an extraordinary ability to sense things like a horse’s mood, momentum, determination, and spirit.

Stone gave a satisfied snort.

“I like this one.”

I chuckled and bowed my head.

“Please take care of her.”

“Yep. Leave it to me.”

Chloe-san patted Stone’s neck.

The saddle was secured, and Chloe-san swung effortlessly into the saddle.

Her movements were so light. Seriously, did gravity not apply to her?

For a while, I silently watched as the jockey and horse disappeared toward the track.

Chloe-san glanced back once and gave a small wave.

Stone didn’t look back.

But even without turning around, I was pretty sure she looked smug right now.

“…Well then.”

I let out a small breath.

I should’ve bought an autograph board.

But then again…

“It’ll be luckier if she signs it after we win.”