It was a victory whose margin was too large to display.
With her terrifying speed, Inari Kagura had left Scrum Dyna, the runner-up, far behind her. And according to the results the announcer read out after the race, she had also broken the course record, shaving more than two seconds off it.
The entire racecourse was still boiling over. Surrounded by thunderous cheers and screams, Inari Kagura waved to the audience as she left the field.
"What was that?"
After coming off the track, Inari Kagura kept feeling like something was not quite right. She had just heard quite a few strange titles mixed into the audience's cheering. She knew there had been an eclipse while she was running, but where exactly had this "chasing the light" thing come from?
[Ardan]:Congratulations! The way you ran across the field carrying the last ray of light was unbelievably cool, Kagura! You ran even faster than the shadow on the ground!
[Twin Turbo]:Kagura-senpai!! The way you led the race with the light at the end was so cool!! Aaaaaah!! Why wasn't I there in person!!
"?"
Full of question marks, Inari Kagura opened her DMs. They were all filled with congratulations like that. She propped up her chin and thought for a fraction of a second, then decisively opened a video site to look for footage of today's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.
And then, in the recording, she saw the bizarre sight of herself still running beneath the light while the shadow behind her slowly caught up.
There's no way an eclipse would have such a clear boundary… Don't tell me I was glowing on my own?
Puzzled, Inari Kagura opened the comments. The netizens below had long since exploded, all discussing how this spectacle had appeared. She scrolled back and forth, but not only did she fail to find an explanation, she became even more confused.
She went back and watched the video again. The shadow on the ground was clearly moving too slowly, so it obviously could not be the shadow of the eclipse. It felt more like a dark cloud had drifted over and blocked what little sunlight remained. After all, according to the netizens, this phenomenon had only appeared over Hanshin Racecourse. Other places had gone as dim as evening, but they had not become so dark people could not see anything like on the track.
But wasn't today completely clear? Where did a cloud come from?
With more and more question marks piling up over her head, Inari Kagura thought for ages and still could not understand how a dark cloud had randomly appeared out of nowhere on a clear day, and just happened to show up when the pack had come through the turn and entered the straight. If that cloud had come even a little earlier, she would have been swallowed by the shadow too.
After thinking and thinking without finding any answer, Inari Kagura, feeling as if her common sense about science had been run over several more times, ultimately gave up on figuring out where the cloud had come from.
Leaving aside how the cloud had appeared for now, because of this spectacle, this race had indeed brought her far more attention than originally expected. For her, aside from the foreseeable bombardment from the media and reporters later, the most troublesome thing was that she had gained another title: "Miko Princess Who Chased the Light."
——Tch. What even is all this… Why do I feel like I've been set up somehow…
What's wrong?
——Nothing, kid. Have you decided what you're going to perform at the Winner's Concert later?
I brought my kagura bells with me, so I'll do the kagura dance again later. I rearranged the steps a little, and a lot of fans were asking if I could do it one more time anyway.
Before this race, Inari Kagura had already prepared for the performance. It was not that she was confident she would definitely win; she was simply used to making extra preparations. As expected, this Winner's Concert would also be her solo dance, because she had opened a massive gap between herself and Scrum Dyna in second place.
Of course, before the Winner's Concert, she still had to do the thing that gave her the biggest headache first. By convention, after a race like this ended, there would be a reporter interview segment. Inari Kagura did not dislike racing. In fact, she quite liked running. But the moment she thought about having to face that pack of reporters after the race, she instantly felt a little drained.
Leaving the waiting room and stepping backstage, Inari Kagura immediately saw Rudolf, who had been waiting there for some time.
"Yo. Our star finally arrives~"
"Rudolf-ojousama? Why…"
"Something that big happened on the track today. I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle that many reporters by yourself. Thanks to the fans protecting us, I finally managed to squeeze through."
As she spoke, Rudolf took a step forward, placed a hand on Kagura's shoulder, patted it, and then naturally stroked her head.
"Your Race Outfit looks wonderful. You looked truly dashing today. As for that final run, I suppose even the goddess of victory was affirming your outstanding performance… The miko who chased the light. Hehe, it suits you rather well."
"Ugh! Rudolf-ojousama, don't tease me with that nickname!"
Hearing that embarrassing title come from someone so familiar made Inari Kagura's small face flush, and she lowered her head. She felt like she was about to fall apart.
After all, this had come from Rudolf, who was usually as serious as a stone slab. If even she was like this, Inari Kagura did not dare imagine what kind of treatment she would receive once she returned to school. Just thinking about it already made her scalp prickle.
"I think it's quite nice~ Kagura's performance really did live up to a title like that."
Seeing Inari Kagura's shy and adorable look, Rudolf could not resist reaching out and pinching Kagura's cheek. Perhaps because her hand was cold, she felt Kagura's face was warm to the touch.
"If possible, I'd still rather everyone just call me by my name normally…"
As she said that, Inari Kagura sighed helplessly, then lightly shifted aside to escape Rudolf's hand.
Of course, staying backstage forever was not an option. There was still a pile of reporters waiting outside, and Inari Kagura could already hear the noise out there. After thinking it over, since this was ultimately unavoidable, she took two deep breaths and walked forward together with Rudolf.
"Inari Kagura-san is here!! The Emperor is here too!!"
"Hey! I was here first! Don't shove your way in!!"
The Emperor and Inari Kagura, who had just shone so brilliantly, appearing together—for the reporters, this was absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime interview opportunity. By now, the hall was already packed into a tangled mass.
Inari Kagura picked up her microphone, cleared her throat, and spoke to the reporters below, who were still locked in a chaotic battle, in a calm and gentle voice.
"Everyone, please don't fight over this. If you have a question, please raise your hand and speak in order. I understand how you feel, but if this competition causes a stampede or accidental injury, both the Emperor and I will be very troubled."
Inari Kagura's voice was not especially loud. Even with the microphone amplifying it, it still could not be called particularly powerful. Yet it carried some kind of magic that made people instinctively want to obey her. The reporters present all heard Inari Kagura's voice, and very soon, they quieted down. Several reporters who had been fighting until they were covered in dust also obediently stood at attention, waiting for Inari Kagura's next words on the stage.
Oh? Kagura can actually hold this crowd of reporters down?
Rudolf had originally come along because today's popularity had exceeded all expectations, and with the added impact of that spectacle, she had worried that the young Kagura would not be able to keep the situation under control. She had not expected Kagura to behave even more calmly than usual under these circumstances. At least right now, Rudolf could not see even a trace of panic on Kagura's face, which surprised her somewhat.
As for Inari Kagura, she had already dealt with even more troublesome large-scale situations before. The scenes she had once faced had been even more uncontrollable than this. By comparison, this group of reporters who could still understand human speech was nothing to her.
"Then let's begin. First round… Whoever already has a question prepared, please raise your hand."
"Oi!!"
Inari Kagura saw a familiar female reporter practically raise her hand on reflex, before anyone else could react, accompanied by a strange cry full of force. In a sense, even among reporters, she could already be considered far ahead of the pack. Inari Kagura nodded, indicating for that reporter to speak.
"Competitor Inari Kagura, you claimed first place by an overwhelming margin in a race called the battle to determine the strongest newcomer Umamusume. How do you feel right now?"
"I proved my own strength and did not fail the expectations carried by so many people. I'm very happy. I suppose… it feels like a relief."
As she spoke, Inari Kagura smiled at the female reporter.
"Just before you crossed the line, the falling shadow obscured the other competitors, and only you, Inari Kagura, ran within the light. What did you feel at that moment?"
"To be honest, I was completely focused on the finish line at the time. If I hadn't watched the post-race replay, I wouldn't have known about it at all… It truly was a miraculous sight."
"Oh…"
Having received the answer she wanted, that strange reporter nodded and lowered her head to record it in her little notebook. The other reporters nearby looked as if they still had questions, but they could not worry about asking them right now. One after another, they all took out their own notebooks and began recording.
"Excuse me, do you have any other questions?"
"…No, not for now. Thank you for your answers, Competitor Inari Kagura."
Although the reporter still had quite a few questions she wanted to ask, with so many colleagues present, by certain unwritten rules, it really would not be proper for her to keep monopolizing the chance. So she temporarily stopped speaking.
"Then, second round… Reporters who wish to speak, please raise your hands."
This time, several reporters raised their hands very quickly. Inari Kagura chose the one who had moved the fastest.
"Thank you very much! …For this question, I'd like to ask the Emperor."
"Oh? Go ahead."
Hearing that the question had come to her, Rudolf calmly took a step forward and looked toward the reporter who was asking.
"The Emperor came to the racecourse specifically to watch today. Is that related to Inari Kagura-san? What is your relationship with Inari Kagura-san?"
Rudolf was always very busy, so she was usually never seen at other Tracen students' races. Even at races involving students like Mr. C.B., Rudolf was rarely seen making an appearance. Precisely because of that, her presence at Inari Kagura's race today was enough to make people curious. After all, now that she had appeared together with Kagura, saying she had no relationship with Kagura would obviously be false.
"That…"
Rudolf turned her head slightly and glanced at Kagura, seeking her opinion with her eyes. Kagura merely gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
"Kagura is my kouhai. She is helpful, has excellent grades, and many students at school have received her help. This time, I came with the other students to watch her race. When everyone heard this was her first G1 race, they all wanted to come cheer her on. And she answered everyone's expectations with the finest possible performance."
Rudolf's answer was watertight. It sounded like a very standard official response. Even Inari Kagura could not help marveling that, as expected of the Student Council spokesperson, Rudolf truly had perfect control when speaking. It was impossible to tell that she was the same person who had once told the reporters, "I have the best Support Umamusume in the world!"
"I see… Thank you for your answer."
For some reason, Inari Kagura felt that this reporter seemed somewhat disappointed, as if thinking, The truth is unexpectedly ordinary.
What? What were you expecting Rudolf to answer?
Kagura could not help muttering inwardly.
Only after watching that reporter lower their hand did Kagura raise her head and continue.
"Then, third round. Reporters who already have a question prepared, please raise your hand…"
...
——This eclipse today doesn't look like a natural phenomenon no matter how you look at it… You're watching me, aren't you?
...
——Stop playing dead. I know you can hear me. Although my kid was quite troubled today because of that little trick you cooked up, people… do need to go through some storms in order to grow. Overall, it was still a good thing. Thank you.
...
——What do you mean? What are you so shocked about? Do I look that dishonest to you?
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