The day after Urara's victory at the February Stakes.
I was in the clubroom, drinking coffee and reading the sports newspaper I'd bought from a convenience store. This had become my routine the morning after a race; it's a great way to objectively see the results of the UMA I'm raising.
Today, though, the sports newspaper was a little thicker than usual. I saw why when I found an extra edition tucked inside the paper.
— Smart Falcon Defeated in Saudi Cup, Finishes Second.
A huge photo of the moment Smart Falcon crossed the finish line was emblazoned across the paper with that headline.
When the Saudi Cup was held, it was late Saturday night in Japan, or rather, just before 2 AM on Sunday. The paper likely didn't make it in time for the morning edition, so it was slipped into Monday's paper.
Or maybe it was because the news was already circulating on TV and the internet, and the information was released as a bulletin immediately after the race. Even so, the fact that they'd include an extra edition for information that was already out shows how big of a deal Smart Falcon's second-place finish was to the public.
I sipped my coffee and first read the article about Smart Falcon. There was no more information than what I had seen in the race video on TV, except for one thing I didn't know: Smart Falcon was returning to Japan today.
Seeing that, I turned on the TV and used the remote to check the program guide.
"Wow... the coverage is on a different level."
Looking at the program guide, I saw that several TV stations had special programs planned to live broadcast Smart Falcon's arrival at the airport.
And... wait, what? There's a program about yesterday's February Stakes right now. Click.
『...And so, an incredible crowd of over 200,000 spectators gathered at the Tokyo Racecourse yesterday. Including fans who couldn't get in, the number is said to be as high as 250,000.』
『Is that a lot? I heard that over 500,000 UMA fans gathered for last year's Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.』
『For a G1 turf race, it's not so rare. However, yesterday's February Stakes was a G1 dirt race. In recent years... or rather, in all of dirt racing history, it's the first time it has drawn such a large crowd.』
The show featured a middle-aged man in a suit and a young female announcer. The program seemed to be structured with the female announcer asking questions and the middle-aged man providing answers. In the studio, a large TV showed the race video from yesterday's February Stakes, and a whiteboard used for explanations had "Over 250,000!" scrawled on it.
『I see... So, is this because of Smart Falcon-san, who finished second in the Saudi Cup?』
『That's part of it. She was the only one in the Classic class last year to win three G1s, and she finished second in her first international race. And that race was the Saudi Cup, with the highest prize money in the world. The competitors were all formidable, and she still finished second.』
『First place was 10 million dollars... wait? You said that's "part of it," which means there's another reason, right?』
『Yes. And that is...』
Saying this, the middle-aged man pulled something out. It was a stuffed animal... or rather, a plush of Urara, a cute UMA girl with pink hair and a pink racing uniform.
『The presence of Haru Urara. Oh, this is a piece of merchandise that was released recently. It's my personal item, but it's perfect for this, so I brought it.』
『Your personal item.』
The female announcer's face went blank for a moment. It was a look that said, "You brought that?"
The TV screen in the studio switched from yesterday's February Stakes to a shot of Urara. It was a video of her immediately after winning the race yesterday, happily jumping up and down with both hands raised.
『This is Haru Urara. Her victory in yesterday's February Stakes was her second G1 win, bringing her total record to 6 wins in 13 races. She's also known as the "Record Breaker" because she set a new race record in four of those six wins.』
『Wow... she's so cute. Her racing uniform is adorable, and her smile is so sweet... She's like an idol...』
『Yes, she's a very charming UMA girl. But she's also strong.』
『Really? She's won 6 out of 13 races, so she's lost 7 times, right?』
The female announcer looked puzzled. But it felt a bit like an act. It was probably a gimmick for viewers who weren't very familiar with UMA races. Even though UMA races are a national pastime, there are naturally people who aren't interested.
『In UMA races, anything other than first place is considered a loss, so 7 losses... losing more than half of her races is not uncommon. In fact, most of the UMA girls who retire undefeated are those who retire after winning a small number of races... The only one in recent years who has retired undefeated after winning many races is Maruzensky-san.』
The middle-aged man added that there were also Tokino Minoru-san and Kurifuji-san from a little while back.
『I see... So, is this Haru Urara-san really strong?』
『Yes, please look at this.』
With that, the middle-aged man put a large piece of paper on the whiteboard. It showed a detailed record of Urara's past race results.
『Haru Urara was 9th out of 9 in her debut, but that was an accident... a lot of sand got into her eyes just before she was about to take the lead in the final stretch, which caused that result. However, since then, she's been on the board every time... she has only finished in the money. She has 6 first-place finishes, 4 third-place finishes, and 2 fifth-place finishes.』
『That's amazing... right? Is that the secret to Haru Urara's popularity?』
『No, it's not.』
『Oh, it's not?』
The female announcer looked taken aback.
『Haru Urara is strong, but her popularity is more due to her demeanor outside of the race. Many fans love her smile, which gives them a sense of hope when they watch her race.』
The middle-aged man operated a remote control in his hand. The TV screen in the studio changed again.
『This is a video from before the start of yesterday's February Stakes... before she entered the gate. Look. She's waving to the fans in the stands with a smile, isn't she?』
『Wow... her smile is great, but her gestures are so cute too.』
『Exactly. But once she enters the gate...』
The video was fast-forwarded. It showed Urara, who had been smiling and waving, entering the gate. She closed her eyes for a moment, and her expression became serious.
『Ah... wow... her whole aura just changed.』
『Yes. Her usual innocent smile is good, but many fans love this contrast. She's serious about the race, but she also has a certain childlike innocence. Before, she would sometimes smile even during a race, but seeing her so serious makes me feel like she's growing up.』
And that's why, the middle-aged man emphasized,
『She has a charm that makes you want to cheer for her. She's the most popular among UMA girls who primarily run dirt races, and she's one of the most popular in the Senior class even including those who primarily run turf races. The merchandise that was released the other day sold out immediately and is currently being mass-produced.』
『Sold out immediately... the one you have?』
『I reserved it the moment it became available online. After that, the reservation site was down for several hours due to concentrated access. It was a small piece of news, don't you know?』
Huh? Seriously? I didn't know that. I did a quick search on my computer and confirmed that Urara's merchandise had indeed sold out instantly. Hmm... I had heard from the merchandise manufacturer that sales were going incredibly well, but I didn't know it was to this extent...
By the way, King's merchandise was also selling quite well, with about 60% of the initial batch already sold. It seems they will mass-produce it before it runs out.
Incidentally, among the three members of Team Kitalpha, Rice's merchandise is selling the best. This is understandable; even Urara can't beat Rice, who has a record of six G1 wins and more... but Urara had a better initial sales start, so the possibility of her surpassing Rice in the future is not zero.
I heard that there are some UMA girls who have excellent racing records but whose merchandise doesn't sell well. The person in charge at the manufacturer spoke about it in a smoky voice, so it's probably true.
I lowered the TV volume so it wouldn't distract me and looked down at the sports newspaper. I had read the extra edition about Smart Falcon, but I hadn't read the main article.
『Haru Urara Wins Second G1 Dirt Race!』
『Haru Urara is the First to Win a Senior G1!』
『Is It the Smart Falcon Effect?! 250,000 People Turn Out at the Tokyo Racecourse』
Headlines and sensational phrases like these were plastered all over the paper. The newspaper featured color photos of the moment Urara crossed the finish line and her dancing in the winning live. There were also black-and-white photos of her being patted on the shoulder by the second-place Slaín and the third-place Mini Daisy just after the race results were announced. She had lost to Slaín in the Champions Cup, so this was a great result.
『In today's race... if Falco-chan had been in it, do you think I would have won?』
I remembered Urara asking me that after the race. I thought she would have won even if Smart Falcon had been there, but I wondered if Urara was truly convinced.
(I want a rematch at the Teio Sho... but it feels like the timing is off, and I might have to force a confrontation...)
However, if she had run the Saudi Cup for the prize money—to put it harshly, if it was for the money—3.5 million dollars for second place would be enough for her to retire. From what I've seen, Smart Falcon doesn't seem to be running for the money, so I think this is an unnecessary worry...
(I guess it's up to her and her trainer to decide.)
It's not something for an outsider to meddle in. But if something were to happen to Smart Falcon, who I see as Urara's rival, I wanted to help her in any way I could.
And at lunchtime that day.
I was eating a bento I had ordered and watching the news on TV when I saw the same middle-aged man and female announcer from the morning. I decided to keep the channel on. They had praised Urara, and I thought I should pay attention to the news.
Suddenly, the middle-aged man's expression became serious, and he spoke with an equally serious tone.
『We have a news flash. Smart Falcon, who recently competed in the Saudi Cup, has arrived at the airport. We'll go live to the scene.』
"Oh..."
I stopped eating my bento and turned up the TV volume. The screen switched to the airport lobby.
『As you can see, a large number of reporters have gathered here at Haneda Airport lobby because Smart Falcon, who finished second in the Saudi Cup, has arrived.』
The male reporter on-site said this, and indeed, the screen showed many reporters and TV cameras.
(Hmm... This much coverage for a second-place finish... As expected of the Saudi Cup, even though it's not a G1. A race with the world's highest prize money is no joke.)
The Saudi Cup is such a high-profile race, and she finished second. And it was a narrow defeat by a neck, a margin where she might have won. TV stations were showing a fierce interest. And perhaps because of Smart Falcon's performance, yesterday's February Stakes was more bustling than ever before. That's probably why so many TV cameras and reporters had gathered.
(From Saudi Arabia to Japan is about... 16 hours, right? She probably had a layover in Hong Kong... Maybe she stayed somewhere last night and came back on the first flight this morning.)
Thinking this, I drank the coffee that King had given me for Valentine's Day. I couldn't help but frown.
"Hmm... it really tastes better when King brews it..."
I think I'm pretty good at making coffee, but I just can't beat King. She's a high-class young lady, after all. On the other hand, Rice, who should be an even more refined lady than King, can't make coffee. She says she doesn't like it because it's bitter.
『Ah, here she comes! I can see Smart Falcon-san!』
When the male reporter said this, a flurry of camera flashes made the TV screen go white for a moment. Ah, that's not good for your eyes.
I thought this, but Smart Falcon didn't flinch, even from the TV screen. She received the full barrage of camera flashes with a bright smile, tilting her head.
『Hello, I'm Smart Falcon.』
(...Hmm?)
Something's off about her vibe... is she just putting on an act?
『Hehe☆ Call me Falco, okay?』
And just as I thought that, Smart Falcon struck a pose while looking at the camera. Flashes fired again to capture her pose, but Smart Falcon continued to smile.
『Excuse me! Smart Falcon-san! Can we have a quick chat?!』
『Of course☆ You all came here for Falco, so I'd love to talk for as long as you want—but☆』
After saying that, Smart Falcon put her hands together in front of her chest apologetically.
『It'll be a bother to the airport staff and other users, so just for a little while... okay?』
『Thank you! So, to get started, can you share your thoughts on finishing second in the Saudi Cup?!』
Wait, did Smart Falcon's eyebrow just twitch for a second...?
『Hmm... Falco's disappointed. I thought I could win, but she got me at the last minute☆ Her finishing speed was just like Urara-chan's, and I was so surprisedー☆』
『Urara-chan... do you mean Haru Urara-san?』
『Yes, that's right☆』
Smart Falcon answered, striking another pose. She was in plain clothes today, but her pose was oddly perfect.
『I thought the only one Falco would lose to was Urara-chan... but the world is so big☆』
Smart Falcon smiled cheerfully as she said this. She was praising Urara quite a bit, but...
『Speaking of Haru Urara-san, she won the February Stakes yesterday.』
『Oh, really? Falco was on a plane, so I couldn't watch the race... I was tired, so I went to sleep as soon as I got to the hotel. But I believed Urara-chan would win☆』
Hearing Smart Falcon's words, the reporter likely assumed they were friends. One of the reporters told her about Urara's victory in the February Stakes, but Smart Falcon's reaction was... hmm... there's something off about it. I watched the TV.
『Do you have any plans for your next race?』
『Hmm... First, I'll recover from the Saudi Cup, and then, we'll seeー☆ Oh, it's not a race, but I also do street lives, so please come see Falco if you'd like☆』
Saying this, Smart Falcon blew a kiss to the TV camera. She didn't say anything meaningful about her next race, but... what is she planning to do?
『If you do race, would it be the Teio Sho? A whopping 250,000 spectators gathered at the Tokyo Racecourse for the February Stakes, but if you and Haru Urara-san were to clash, it seems even more UMA fans would gather.』
『Oh... 250,000.』
Smart Falcon's voice dropped slightly. But her expression remained a smile as she teased the reporter who asked the question.
『Oh, Mr. Reporter☆ 250,000 would be tough at the Ohi Racecourse where the Teio Sho is held☆ But—it would be great if that many people gathered when Urara-chan and I race.』
『Huh?』
『Falco thinks so too☆ Ah, I can't stay here any longer, so please ask the rest somewhere else☆』
With that, Smart Falcon smiled and waved as she walked away. Indeed, it was probably about time, considering the other airport users.
『And that was the live broadcast from the scene. We'll hand it back to the studio.』
The TV camera followed Smart Falcon's back, but as the on-site reporter said that, the screen switched back to the studio. The middle-aged man and the female announcer from before were back on screen and began talking.
『That was from the scene. Wow, there was a huge number of reporters. You can really feel the public's attention on her.』
『You're right. Smart Falcon-san was a charming UMA girl. But...』
The female announcer trailed off. She looked around, and the middle-aged man tilted his head.
『Is something wrong?』
『...No, it's nothing. She's just very enthusiastic about fan service. Now, for the next news—』
I turned off the TV as the female announcer changed the subject with a wry smile.
(When I race Urara, huh... It feels like she's latching onto the misalignment herself... but the Teio Sho is still far away. What should I do...)
I was concerned about the relationship between Urara and Smart Falcon, but now that the February Stakes was over, as a trainer, I had something I needed to focus on.
(It's a little over a month until King's Osaka Hai... Rice's recovery will still take some time, so I guess I'll just continue with training as usual.)
Aside from Taiki Shuttle, who's not good at middle or long distances, Oguri Cap is also out with a long-term injury. El Condor Pasa has announced her international debut, and Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen have said they'll move to the Dream Series.
Still, there are many rivals, so I can't let my guard down.
I resumed my meal and started to re-examine King's training plan for the Osaka Hai.
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