Chapter 45: The Final Piece

——The Tokyo Yushun, Japan Derby. A premier race (G1) in the Twinkle Series held at Tokyo Racecourse by the URA, and one of its most prestigious events.

In recent years, strict distance-based categorizations have shifted the system toward selecting champions for each division. Even so, the Derby retains its special status—when looking back on a year of the Twinkle Series, the Derby-winning horse girl is still the one who stands out.

The Derby is the ultimate race that everyone dreams of. Winning it is considered one of the highest honors any participant in the Twinkle Series could achieve—some even say that winning the Derby is harder than becoming a king.

On that fateful late May day, 170,000 spectators flooded Tokyo Racecourse. Though it would take us a while to process the sheer number after arriving first thing in the morning… this figure was close to the racecourse’s all-time attendance record.

This was likely due to the explosive "Third Twinkle Series Boom" ignited during the Oka Sho. If the first boom was led by Hishi Amazon and the second by Oguri Cap, then our generation was at the heart of the third.

Another factor was last week’s Oaks, the pinnacle of the filly division—a race where Happy Meek triumphed by four lengths, declaring she wouldn’t lose to anyone but Guriko. That dominant performance further electrified the public, pushing excitement to unprecedented, almost absurd levels.

Tokyo Racecourse’s attendance record was 196,517—a number heavily influenced by Oguri Cap’s transfer from local to central racing, marking the peak of the second boom. But the field itself was stacked: Hakutaisei, hailed as the "White Hishi Amazon"; Mejiro Ryan, the unfinished prodigy striving to fulfill the Mejiro family’s Derby dreams; the dependable supporting star White Stone; and Ines Fujin, the front-running Derby victor. With a lineup like that, how could the crowd not be fired up?

For today’s Derby to approach that record with 170,000 spectators was, to put it mildly, insane. Ines Fujin’s Derby didn’t even have attendance restrictions.

——The time now was just past noon. After lunch and a quick tea to soothe our throats, we began stretching, loosening up our bodies. Then, the muffled ringtone of my UmaPhone echoed from my bag. Wondering who it was, I pulled out the device—the screen displayed "Guriko." Puzzled, I tapped the receiver icon and turned on the speaker.

"Hello? What’s up, Guriko? Something wrong?"

"What’s up? That’s not the point! Why didn’t you wake me up first thing in the morning?! I had so much I wanted to say before the Derby!"

Her loud voice blared through the speaker. When I’d woken at 6 AM, Guriko had been sound asleep in the opposite bed—I figured it’d be rude to disturb her. Even if she had things to say, I couldn’t bring myself to yank her out of bed after how hard she’d been training…

"But you looked so comfortable sleeping. You didn’t even budge when your alarm went off—doubt you’d have woken up even if I’d tried."

"Ugh… d-don’t call me out like that, Apollo! …Whatever! I can’t waste any more of your time, so I’ll make this quick! Listen up!"

"Mm. Got it."

"—Don’t you dare get hurt in the Derby! And absolutely win! Got it?!"

"That’s kinda brutal, don’t you think?"

"I’m saying you gotta go in with that mindset! Oh, right—you better not lose to El-chan! Especially the part about not getting hurt—that’s a promise with me! Understood, Apollo?!"

"Ahaha, I’ll sear it into my soul."

"…Good. Glad I got to say this before the Derby. Sorry for taking up your time! Gonna hang up now!"

"Nah, this actually helped calm my nerves. Thanks, Guriko."

"No biggie! Later!"

"Mm, see you soon…"

I pressed the red receiver button and stuffed the UmaPhone back into my bag. The week after the Aoba Sho, Guriko had lost the NHK Mile Cup to El Condor Pasa by two lengths, finishing second.

I remember it like yesterday—how she’d cried openly, unable to hide her frustration. Even back at the dorm, her devastation was painful to watch; she barely spoke for three days. By the fourth, she’d bounced back to her usual self… but clearly, El Condor Pasa still weighed on her mind. For Guriko’s sake, I can’t lose this Derby.

As I called out to Tomio and resumed stretching, he muttered, "You’ve got a good friend." So I shot back, "Obviously." I mean, it’s Guriko—the girl who kindly looked after her amnesiac roommate, straightforward and reliable. Maybe it’s just me, but… (not that I’d ever say it to her face, it’s too embarrassing)… I think of us like sisters. That’s how much she means to me.

Another layer of resolve settled onto my shoulders. My excitement was at its peak. Exchanging sparse words with Tomio, I ran race simulations in my head.

Satsuki Sho winner Seiun Sky, the 6th favorite. Aoba Sho victor Grass Wonder, 5th favorite. Principal Stakes winner Coronet Rhythm, 12th favorite. NHK Mile Cup contender El Condor Pasa, 3rd favorite. And Kyoto Shimbun Hai winner Coincidence, 10th favorite—all arriving at the Derby with momentum from recent wins.

In racing—in anything—there’s such a thing as a "hot streak." Those coming off victories, especially El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder on winning streaks, demanded extra caution.

Once we finished stretching, the staff entered to help us into our racing silks. After being dressed and prepped, I watched Tomio leave before retrieving my pristine white uniform from its case.

"…Hm?"

——Then… was it an illusion? My racing uniform, styled like a wedding dress, seemed to shimmer with glittering particles. I rubbed my eyes several times and stared closely at the fabric.

…No mistake. Delicate blue embroidery flickered with snowflake-like motes, appearing and vanishing in a silent dance. Dumbfounded, I pointed at the uniform, but the staff member only tilted her head with a puzzled smile.

A hallucination only I could see? Or some hidden feature of the uniform? The cause of those dazzling crystals eluded me, but time was short—I stripped off my tracksuit and handed the uniform to her.

Once dressed and prepped, the mirror reflected a version of me that seemed wrapped in light. …Those snowflake particles still drifted around my uniform. Strangely, the fabric felt cooler against my skin than usual.

After thanking the staff, she left the waiting room with a satisfied nod. Tomio entered moments later—and immediately froze, eyes widening.

"…Apollo. You’re different today."

"Huh?"

"Hard to describe. You shone during the Hopeful Stakes and Satsuki Sho too, but this… it’s like you’re wrapped in an aura now."

"…………"

He leaned in, scrutinizing, forcing me to avert my gaze to the mirror. His eyes traced me from head to toe, burning with curiosity. Embarrassing… but if he noticed it too, maybe the glitter wasn’t just my imagination?

I almost asked him—then swallowed the words. Discussing mysteries right before the Derby felt pointless. Small talk to ease tension was one thing, but this? If the sparkles were real, the conversation would spiral.

"J-Just your imagination. Quit staring."

"Ah, sorry."

His eyes had lingered near my waist, so I squished his cheeks between my hands and forcibly turned his head away. He made a choked noise, but he’d survive.

A glance at the clock: 2:40 PM. The pre-Derby race—Tokyo Racecourse’s 9th, the Murasaki Stakes—would start soon. Distant roars rumbled through the walls. Thirty minutes until the paddock. One hour until the gate. Sixty minutes until the Japan Derby. Excitement and dread twisted my stomach into knots.

It was absurd. A year ago, I’d been a wreck. Now, despite clawing my way up, standing here felt unreal.

Tosen Gakuen gathered only the most gifted horse girls from across the nation. I’d fought among geniuses, honed myself against them—yet part of me still whispered: Is Apollo Rainbow truly worthy of this stage?

Imagine hearing, "A Derby contender’s visiting your local farm!" Any racing fan would rush to see them. That’s how monumental this felt. I knew I could rival Spe-chan and the others… but without a G1 victory, doubt gnawed at me. Had sheer grit—and a trainer who pushed me past limits—masked some fundamental inadequacy?

The Derby field was a handful plucked from a desert of sand. One in hundreds of thousands. Facing those monstrous talents now, objectivity crushed me.

I was the favorite. Yet here, at the threshold, I barely recognized myself.

The weight of a once-in-a-lifetime race pressed down. If I thought any harder, my skull might split—

"—…!"

Trembling, on the verge of collapse—the snowflakes around me exploded. Blinding light swallowed my vision.

I flinched, eyes slamming shut—and Tomio’s presence vanished. Whirling around, I found neither him nor the waiting room.

Instead: A snowfield under a kaleidoscope sky. Powdered snow fell, yet no clouds obscured the starscape. A moon brighter than the sun cast shadows across the tundra. None of this made sense.

"Wha—what is this…?"

I stepped back, heels crunching snow. The chill, the silence—this couldn’t be real. Had my mind snapped? Frantic, I scanned the endless white—

『————』

A voice. Warm. Familiar.

I spun—and there they stood: Maruzensky, Mejiro Palmer, Daitaku Helios, Green Titten, Silence Suzuka.

『It’s okay, Apollo. No room for doubt in the Derby!』 Maruzensky’s voice chimed like windchimes. 『Your big sis guarantees it—just enjoy the ride! Everything will fall into place—』

"Maru… zen…san?"

『Absolutely perfect!』

Maruzensky blew a kiss from the snowfield, winking before flashing twin thumbs-up. As her form dissolved into translucent light, her essence seeped into my racing silks—then deeper, into my very core. When I looked up, she was gone. No—not gone. Merged. An indescribable fire swelled in my chest.

『It took me ages to believe in myself—I leaned on others until I got there. So if you can’t find confidence today, we’ll be your confidence.』

『Front-running’s the only way! Go wild out there, Apollo-chan—give ’em a Derby to remember!』

『Already cheered for you once, but here’s another! Chin up, stride big!』

『Woo!』

"Palmer… Helios…"

Mejiro Palmer and Daitaku Helios high-fived before their forms too burst into light, diving into my heart. The warmth spread, amplifying.

『Couldn’t say this over the phone. At the NHK Mile Cup, you hung that dorky banner—"Go Guriko, Our Shining Star"—right?』 Guriko’s voice cut through, her grin audible. 『I almost cried from happiness. …Did cry after placing second, but whatever. Point is—I owed you one.』

"Guriko…"

『Nobody knows your struggles better than me—well, besides Trainer Momozawa. We’re roommates, dummy. So go win.』

As she crossed her arms, her figure shattered into light particles. Her stubborn spirit overlapped with mine, flooding my limbs with warmth that defied the blizzard.

Only Silence Suzuka remained. Snow suited her, I’d always thought. She spoke just once before fading:

『…Change your destiny, Apollo Rainbow.』

"Suzuka—"

Her words struck like lightning, igniting conviction—no, pride—so fierce it could only be called certainty.

As her light merged with me, my entire body blazed. I closed my eyes—

—And opened them to Tokyo Racecourse’s waiting room. No snowflakes. No winter dreamscape. But the frantic pounding in my chest had stillened into steel.

Grinning, I turned to Tomio.

"Hey. Think we can win the Derby today?"

"What kinda question is that?" He mirrored my smirk. "My Apollo—no, we’re gonna crush it."

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The fans. Maruzensky. Palmer. Helios. Green Titten. Suzuka. Guriko. Tomio.

Carrying them all, I stepped toward the Japan Derby.

—1 hour until destiny.