And this seemingly drastic change, which would have brought about a huge turmoil, was unexpectedly a lot of thunder but little rain. His uneasy emotions had lasted for several months, but nothing had happened that was beyond his tolerance.
Rudolf was still the same as before. Besides occasionally needing to release pressure here and opening her [Luna Mode], she had not done any other extra actions, as if what C.B. had said before, the things she had said in front of Palmer and Invincible, such as "I'm pursuing him" and "Tokai Teio is our crystallization," had not happened at all.
Of course, regarding her [Luna Mode], in these few months, the interval between each time seemed to have shortened a bit, and the duration of her acting spoiled had secretly increased. I wonder if it was because her secret actions were always very successful, or because his attention was not here, he did not notice these subtle changes.
But it was also a good thing that this news, besides these few people, did not seem to have reached the ears of the other people in the team. He did not want to be asked about "is Tokai Teio his and Rudolf's illegitimate daughter"...
Speaking of her, this horse girl, who was now suspected by Palmer, Invincible, and even the horse girls of the Mejiro family to be his and her crystallization of love, had not had much contact with him in these few months. Most of her time had been spent preparing for the Kikuka Sho.
Because his plan to give her a part of his lifespan as a guarantee had failed, and with the obstruction of her potential other soul, he did not try to make any more efforts... what he could do now was to do his best to train Gold Ship, who was participating in the Kikuka Sho.
As for Nakayama Festa, of course, Oguri was fully responsible for her.
He did not interfere in her special training for her, not only because he couldn't bear to, but also because in front of him, she was habitually not serious. She had no respect for him as a horse girl to a trainer. The two of them had known each other for too long and lacked a sense of distance. With such a high-intensity special training arrangement, unless there was no way out, her attitude was basically "slacking off."
In this point of slacking off, Gold Ship was also the same. But what was different was that in front of him, she would be a little more honest. If he was not there to supervise, she probably would not know which corner to squat in to slack off.
And for her, he had already secretly communicated with Oguri and had given her the special training plan he had arranged, letting her implement it according to this plan.
And he had also given his compensation to the "bad guy" Oguri—he had promised her a request.
"After October, when I have free time, I will specially take out a day. On this day, no matter what you want to do, what you want to eat, I can satisfy you. How about it?"
"No matter what I want to do, what I want to eat..." And after hearing this condition, her calm pupils also flashed with a bright light. Without thinking, she immediately agreed.
At this point, all the matters of his two charges had been dealt with. It seemed that everything had returned to calm. And the only thing that made him a little troubled, but helpless... came from Invincible and Ardan.
Undoubtedly, during this period, their relationship had fallen back to a freezing point because of Rudolf's declaration. But to be honest, even if she had not helped him block this, and had let her see him and Teio sleeping together, she would probably have been able to guess their relationship and would have had an outburst anyway.
Of course, he understood her thoughts. This father of his had indeed not been competent enough in the past. And Tokai Teio, this adopted daughter who had been doted on by him and Rudolf, would naturally be hostile to her, his biological daughter.
Especially since the relationship between her and Ardan, this mother and daughter, could be said to be quite harmonious. After he knew that his days were numbered, he had painstakingly given all his life force to her, just to prevent the fragile her from dying young like him and to be able to stay by her side.
Undoubtedly, she, who had taken her mother as her only spiritual pillar in the future, upon seeing her long-dead father being so closely involved with so many horse girls in another world, being unfaithful to his marriage... he felt quite disgusted just thinking about it.
But what surprised him was that he had thought that their relationship had dropped to a freezing point, but in these few months, her attitude towards him had not changed much. Every day's training was honest and proper. Although there was not much contact with him, she was not resistant.
And what made him notice her unusual movements the most was naturally that in these few months, she had always been pulling her along, and had been very deliberately creating a space for the two of them to be alone.
"I'm going to train. You two can just chat about anything." "You just stay here and don't move. I'll be back after I buy a drink."—Such very clumsy acting and excuses, she thought she had done a very good job, but in fact, it had made both of them, the parties involved, extremely embarrassed, not knowing what to talk about.
And in the end, they had not been able to talk much as they had wished.
After all, the purpose of the Mejiro family's family mission, he felt that she must have known. This, on the contrary, also made him understand why she always had a sense of resistance towards him... this kind of family mission, it was hard not to resist, right?
So after figuring out the truth, his heart was actually a little more relaxed because of the reason that "it turns out Ardan doesn't hate me, but it's a family mission." He did not, as before, rush to get closer to her and increase her resistance and psychological burden.
Her heart was also relieved. To this day, she had not successfully digested the truth that "Invincible is her biological daughter from another world," let alone "reuniting" with him. She and he had no emotional foundation. To rashly reunite as she had said... it was possible, but if she said she was willing, that would be a lie.
But her words had undoubtedly shaken the hint of rejection in her heart. Especially since even though she had misunderstood him at the beginning, but during this period of time with him, she had confirmed that her father definitely loved them, mother and daughter, deeply. She also began to re-examine this not-so-familiar "husband" of hers.
...Indeed, she actually felt from the bottom of her heart that if she really had to choose a husband, he was very in line with her mate selection criteria. Not only did they have similar interests, but he also had excellent experience and knew how to take care of people. If she got along with him normally, she believed that after three or four years, she would definitely choose him.
However, now, whether it was her family or her own daughter's matchmaking, it had all disrupted her thoughts, making it impossible for her to treat him with a normal heart anymore—and at present, the only way she could deepen her understanding of him was through "dreams."
In the "dream," it recorded her and his past life... although she didn't know why she would travel to a dream and interact with the him of her past life, this was indeed the only way for her and him to communicate normally.
And so, she decided to leave everything to time. She would slowly get to know him through dreams until she no longer resisted getting along with him in reality.
And this also made her, who thought she had used all her abilities to matchmake the two, successfully angry to death.
More than once, in the dormitory, she couldn't help but complain to her mother, Ardan, so angry that she was jumping and shouting, venting her full heart of unwillingness and anger.
"How on earth did you two get together?! You're two pieces of wood!"
"Mom, you're also a member of the Mejiro family?! Isn't your family the fastest to get through the legend with one heart and one body? What on earth are you doing?!"
"If this continues, won't you be surpassed? Surpassed by Dad's other wild daughter!"
...It's just a pity that her wails and anger could not be successfully conveyed to her parents. As the days passed, day by day, time quickly came to the latter half of October.
And with the beginning of October, it represented the most exciting three months of the Japanese horse girls, the "Autumn Triple Crown," an achievement that, since its concept was established, besides a certain "overlord of the turn of the century," no one has ever been able to complete.
And in this late October, it could be said to be the most watched time for the horse girls and fans all over Japan! Because they would have a great possibility of witnessing the re-enactment of two major achievements in the Japanese horse girl world!
The first one was the most promising to become the second horse girl to dominate the Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō after Tamamo Cross, Mejiro McQueen's challenge to the Tennō Shō (Autumn)!
The second one was the most promising to become an undefeated Triple Crown horse girl after Symboli Rudolf, Tokai Teio's challenge to the Kikuka Sho!
And the interval between the two races was only two or three days. And these two races had naturally become the races that countless horse girl fans were eagerly watching! And it might even surpass the G1 Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen in the next two months.
And as if to warm up for the birth of the second undefeated Triple Crown horse girl, the Tennō Shō (Autumn) opened first! And this "all-star" Tennō Shō (Autumn), from the entrance of the horse girls, the atmosphere of the strong had already begun to infect the entire racetrack.
"Now entering the field is the third favorite, Silence Suzuka. And entering the field with her is the winner of this year's Takarazuka Kinen, the second favorite, Mejiro Ryan."
"Although in the last Takarazuka Kinen, both she and Mejiro McQueen had narrowly lost to her, but this time in the Tennō Shō (Autumn), can the favorite for the championship, Silence Suzuka, avenge her shame and win this victory?"
"Go for it! Suzuka-san!"
In the stands, Special Week, who had been cheering for her with extra effort since she had entered the field, also cheered for her with all her might. On the track, she, upon her gaze touching the crowd on his side, also showed a gentle smile and waved her hand gently.
"The second consecutive Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō winner after me... Mejiro McQueen's chances of winning are indeed quite high. The conditions of the racecourse today are indeed not very good. It's a heavy track."
And at the same time, Tamamo Cross, beside him, was also lying on the railing. Faced with this Tennō Shō (Autumn), which was announcing the popularity ranking, and looking at the horse girls stepping onto the track one by one, she also couldn't help but smile, "But I think the chances of winning this race are quite high. Besides Nakayama, Silence Suzuka is also in this race. Although she lost the last Takarazuka Kinen, I think the 2000-meter track is no problem for her."
"Yes... her chances of winning are very high." In the stands, he also nodded without thinking. He naturally believed that she had the strength to win the Tennō Shō (Autumn). It's just that this time, the object of his greatest concern was not her.
And beside him, Gold Ship, who was going to participate in the Kikuka Sho in two days, had quietly seen through his thoughts. At this moment, she also asked with a smiling face, "But what you're most concerned about is still Nakayama-nee's performance! After all, she is the only classic year horse girl in this race! Yet she has to challenge a large group of senior year seniors!"
"And McQueen is still the number one favorite. There's no dispute about this. The difficulty for her to counterattack is very high, but she will definitely not back down!"
"Yes... she will never back down. On the contrary, this is the race in a desperate situation that she has always been pursuing." He also let out a long breath. But he, who was still a little uneasy, couldn't help but turn his gaze to the calm and composed Oguri on the side.
In these few months, he had arranged all of her training for her. And before the start of the Tennō Shō (Autumn), she had made an unusual move, that is, not to let him go to the rest room to observe her condition, but to let her handle it herself.
"...Kitano, if you show your face now, she will be discouraged." And she also tasted his worry on the side. However, she herself was particularly confident in the her she had been training for these few months. She answered softly, "During this period, I have thought for a long time. The best way to push her into a desperate situation is to force her into a beast that has almost no reason."
"Kitano, your ability can match 99% of the horse girls, but only this child, her style really doesn't match you... only a beast that has been forced into a desperate battle is her most ferocious and terrifying posture."
"A beast..."
And her words also made him and the horse girls around him can't help but be slightly taken aback. And at this very moment, the voice from the commentary pulled everyone's thoughts back to reality.
"Next to appear is the undisputed number one favorite—Mejiro McQueen!"
With the announcer's impassioned voice, finally, dressed in a racing silks as white as snow, full of exquisite and aesthetic beauty, she slowly entered the field under the earth-shattering cheers and applause of the entire racecourse. This "protagonist of autumn" enjoyed the popularity that matched her strength and fame and graced this Tennō Shō (Autumn)!
"McQueen... as long as she wins this race, she can achieve consecutive wins in the Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō."
And on the other side of the stands, this time, not staying with him and the others, Ardan, with her biological daughter, Invincible, and her older sister, Palmer, stood together, looking down at the dazzling McQueen on the track, and also said with a hint of pride, "It seems that the long-cherished wish of the Mejiro family, whether it is spring or autumn, she has a chance to realize."
"It's just... why hasn't Nakayama Festa-san appeared yet?"
Saying this, she also couldn't help but start to worry about her. This charge of his, her condition had been very bad during this period. She was still very clear about this.
"...Could it be that she's having trouble entering the gate? Is she having trouble entering the field now?" Invincible, after observing the number of horse girls on the track and confirming that she was still missing, her emotions also couldn't help but become anxious. And this anxious mother and daughter did not notice the smiling but silent expression of Mejiro Palmer beside them.
However, just as the number one favorite, Mejiro McQueen, had already entered the field and was already impatient for the race to start and to witness the achievement of consecutive wins in the Spring and Autumn Tennō Shō, the audience was also becoming anxious for the last horse girl who had not yet entered the field.
Even the commentator felt a little abnormal, but out of professionalism, as long as it did not exceed the time and there was no news of a temporary withdrawal, she could not say anything recklessly. She could only wait for the staff to pull the last horse girl onto the field and start the race as soon as possible.
And just as the audience, the commentator, and the horse girls were all getting anxious, not far away, the last figure finally appeared from the dark tunnel. And the commentator, while breathing a sigh of relief, also quickly announced, "So, the last one to appear is the only classic year horse girl who has achieved excellent results in the previous Japanese Derby and Satsuki Sho, but has chosen to come to the track of the Tennō Shō (Autumn) to compete with her seniors!"
And with the announcer's voice falling, not far away, the horse girls who were entering the field one by one all felt a cold malice from behind! Many horse girls only felt a chill rush straight to their brains along their spines, making them shiver all over, but they didn't even dare to look back.
And even Mejiro McQueen felt the danger from behind, her face slightly changing. And Mejiro Ryan and Silence Suzuka also keenly felt this malice and subconsciously tensed their nerves!
This feeling—what's going on?! A drop of cold sweat couldn't help but seep from her forehead and slowly fall...
This feeling of being stared at by a carnivore, what's going on? Is there such a fierce and formidable enemy hidden in this race?
But she was worthy of being the number one favorite, and even more so, the pride of the Mejiro family. The steady her, although she felt the threat, still had the courage to turn her head and go. Even if she knew that what was coming from behind was a beast, she still had the courage to face it directly!
"So, let's welcome the ninth favorite of our race—the gambler with infinite possibilities! Nakayama Festa!"
"Bang."
Finally, with the announcer's words falling, Nakayama Festa, with her hands in her pockets and a half-eaten lollipop in her mouth, as if she was nonchalant about this race, finally stepped onto the track. However, the horse girls, who were now in silence with the audience of the racetrack, did not see this person as an "ninth favorite" existence at all.
The reason was simple. The thick black aura that was enveloping her, which was almost tangible, and her seemingly lazy but actually hiding a chillingly fierce wine-red eyes, made her even more ferocious like a carnivore.
At this moment, all the horse girls looked at her as if they were not looking at their own kind, but at a cheetah wearing a horse girl's skin!
This scene made people can't help but think of her elder—that equally notorious "carnivore" in the Japanese horse girl world, Stay Gold!
The horse girls of the Gold Family! Are they finally showing their true nature?! This was the consensus and first reaction of all the horse girls present at this moment.
"This is..." In the stands, even horse girls like Tamamo Cross and Special Week could so intuitively feel the dangerous aura on her. Special Week was even a little worried as she looked at the solemn-faced Kitano and asked uneasily, "Um, Trainer Kitano... is her condition very bad?"
"Yes." And he, upon seeing this scene, finally nodded with understanding. He had also seen her in this state for the first time, but he could still clearly distinguish her current state.
"Under the long-term, squeezing-style training, in these five months, she has hardly met with me. She sleeps during the day and does devilish training at night. Her current appearance is absolutely [絶不調] (in a terrible condition)."
However, the moment he said this, whether it was Oguri, who had personally coached her, or Special Week, who had fought with Stay Gold before and knew her terror, or Gold Ship, who was also a member of the Gold Family, everyone completely understood that this was the biggest winning rate of her in this race!
Being in a terrible condition, for most horse girls, might be the worst situation. But for the horse girls of the Gold Family, it might be the best way to stimulate all their potential!
One of the members of the Gold Family, who was most easily driven by her beastly side and became a beast feared on the racetrack, the out-of-condition her could be said to have put out all her last bets, adjusted everything she had to the most extreme posture, and was about to have a showdown with her senior horse girls!
This race began, and she would not have any backup plans. This time, she had gone all-in!
....
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