Unlike Chitose Meiji, who achieved victory and is now considered the strongest in Japan.
Katsuragi Ace, who fell into the Horse Girl' ranks at the last moment and only finished fifth, did not receive much applause.
Who is stronger, who is weaker, and who can wave the banner of Japan's general commander, seems to have already been answered.
People's attention is now focused on the new four-time champion, eagerly anticipating her impressive performance in the Japan Cup a month later, where she is expected to defeat strong overseas rivals and defend the homeland's honor.
However, contrary to everyone's expectations, after Chitose Meiji felt the condition of her legs, a sense of worry gradually emerged in her heart.
She could say she had bet everything on this Autumn Tenno Sho.
Whether it was the preparation before the race began, or the activation of her domain towards the end of the race.
Everything she could do, everything she should do, she had already done.
Because of this, she achieved victory, securing her fourth G1 championship in her racing career, becoming a four-time champion Horse Girl.
But... everything comes with a price...
Unleashing her full power, running to her utmost ability, resulted in yet another increase in the burden on her legs.
Her legs, which had already started to feel heavy after last year's Kikuka-shō (菊花赏), were now even more so.
“CB, you are indeed very strong.”
After the audience's cheers had mostly died down, Katsuragi Ace came to Chitose Meiji's side:
“This time, I was completely defeated, truly convinced.”
She paused slightly.
“But in next month's Japan Cup, I will definitely beat you, just you wait.”
Upon hearing this, a smile slowly appeared at the corner of Chitose Meiji's lips; she did not look at the other party, but rather tilted her head slightly to look at the blue sky:
“Ah, I will wait.”
Even if her physical peak had faded, even if the burden on her legs worsened, she would continue to run.
Just as she had decided when she returned to the academy.
This time, no matter what happened, she would fight to the very last moment.
Her era had not yet...
Not yet...
“No, perhaps it has already ended.”
As she murmured to herself, the figures of Rudolph Symboli and Polaris Glacier suddenly appeared in her mind.
The undefeated Emperor, Han Hime who ruled the new generation.
If it were them...
“Whoa?! CB, what’s wrong?! Why are you suddenly crying?!”
Katsuragi Ace was initially wondering why the other party hadn't exchanged a few more words with her this time.
But when she looked up, she saw tears streaming from Chitose Meiji's eyes, about to fall down her cheeks onto the ground.
“Hmm? Oh, oh, I’m fine, I just wanted to try what it feels like to cry excitedly after winning a race.”
Chitose Meiji said this, immediately raising her hand to wipe away the tears.
“Alright, Rudolf and the others should already be waiting at the athlete's passage, let's hurry over.”
After saying something with a bit of carefree abandon, a smile reappeared on her face.
Without giving Katsuragi Ace a chance to inquire further, she pulled her towards the athlete's passage.
It must be said that the particularly noteworthy races this month and next month are truly frequent.
First the Autumn Tenno Sho, then the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏), and then the Japan Cup.
These three G1-level races have basically set the tone for the upcoming daily routine.
Whether it's junior Horse Girl, classic-grade Horse Girl, or senior Horse Girl, all are intensifying their training.
At this time, nearing the end of the year, everyone wants to become as strong as possible, and everyone wants to stand at the top of their generation.
Even Rudolph Symboli has not been sitting in the student council room much recently; she can often be seen on the training ground.
As for the accumulated paperwork, it is said that she temporarily entrusted it to Maruzensky to handle.
Polaris Glacier is also systematically undergoing various types of training with the assistance of Kumi Trainer.
Time slowly passed, and after entering November, the temperature gradually dropped.
That evening, Polaris Glacier walked out of the bathroom in her nightgown, and sensing that something unusual was happening to her, she inexplicably walked to the full-length mirror.
And as if in response to her, text gradually appeared on the mirror's surface:
【Activated: From November to January, Polaris Glare's chilling aura consumes stamina twice as efficiently.】
As if in response, frost unconsciously condensed in her eyes, turning towards a deep black.
“This is truly... surprising.”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, narrowing her eyes slightly.
After a moment of thought, she raised her right hand and placed it on the mirror, releasing her aura.
And in just a moment, a visible layer of thin ice condensed.
She could feel that Polaris Glare's chilling aura was indeed stronger than usual.
However, it had not reached the point of being completely uncontrollable and uncontainable, like when she wore her winning uniform last time.
It was a good thing, after all, she didn't want to emit Polaris Glare's chilling aura all day; that would affect her daily life.
Withdrawing her aura, she turned and walked to the bed, sat down, and picked up her phone to open Jun Yu Circle and browse topics.
“Hmm? New message?”
Before clicking, she suddenly noticed a message notification on the LINE app icon.
She then opened LINE and found a message from Tokai Teio, whom she hadn't seen in a while:
【Polaris, Rudolph Symboli is competing in the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏) next Sunday, want to go watch with me?】
As mentioned before, the particularly noteworthy races are frequent in these two months.
After the Autumn Tenno Sho, it would only be 14 days until the opening day of the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏).
Now that it was already a new week in November, the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏) was just next Sunday.
“Teio? I remember she's like Rudolf's little fan, right?”
She hadn't expected the other party to think of her, and even invite her to the racecourse to watch together.
【Sure, by the way, Teio, do you want to meet Rudolph Symboli? I can arrange for you to meet her.】
As Polaris Glacier's fingers moved, the reply message was sent to the other party.
The reason for this reply was that she suddenly remembered a question she had wondered about before.
That is, would Rudolph Symboli still maintain that condescending Emperor demeanor in front of her little fan?
Since Teio had actively sent a message, she might as well mention it.
She believed Teio would be very happy to agree, and she could also satisfy her curiosity, making both of them happy.
And in less than a few minutes, Teio, as expected, very happily agreed:
【Really?! I want to! I want to! I want to meet Rudolph Symboli! I want to talk to her face to face! Polaris, please, please, take me to meet Rudolph Symboli!!】
“Pfft...”
Looking at the long string of exclamation marks in the chat interface, Polaris Glacier deeply understood Teio's obsession with Rudolph Symboli.
“Rudolf, do you know you have such a little fan?”
And when you meet such a little fan, will you continue to maintain the Emperor's proud demeanor...
“Next weekend, let me observe closely.”
The nature of the matter seemed to have changed slightly; Polaris Glacier was initially just curious, but now it had turned into amusement.
【Okay, next weekend I'll go to the park early, can you get up early and meet me?】
【No problem! I'll definitely get up very early, so Polaris, I'm counting on you!】
Thus, the two made this agreement, waiting for next Sunday with different thoughts.
However, considering the possibility of unpleasant situations, Polaris Glacier thought for a moment and decided to call Rudolph Symboli to give her a heads-up.
“Moshi moshi? Polaris? Is there something wrong with calling so late?”
It was already nine o'clock in the evening, and Rudolph Symboli was still sitting in the student council room processing documents.
She felt a little puzzled by the sudden vibration of her phone, but after glancing at the caller ID, she answered without hesitation.
“Ah, Rudolf, it's like this, next weekend I want to bring a child to meet you.”
Polaris Glacier wasted no time and went straight to the point.
“Next weekend? The day the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏) starts? And a child is...?”
Rudolph Symboli was wondering about this, while Maruzensky, who was also helping in the room, had just brewed and brought tea. Hearing the faint voice, she also tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
“Yes, it's the day the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏) starts, as for the child...”
Polaris Glacier paused, and for some reason, blurted out:
“It's your child.”
“???”
On the other end, Rudolph Symboli's ears twitched. She was clearly stunned for a moment, then reacted, saying with an unclear tone:
“That joke isn't funny, Polaris.”
“If that's all you have to say, then we'd better end the call soon.”
Hearing that tone, Polaris Glacier immediately knew the other party was angry and quickly said:
“Rudolf, wait, I'm not kidding, that child really wants to see you.”
“Next Sunday, she'll come with me to find you. You can talk on the way to the racecourse.”
Upon hearing this, Rudolph Symboli closed her eyes slightly, and the tail at her lower back wagged gently.
After a brief moment of thought, she reopened her eyes and said:
“I understand, but Polaris, you have to promise me, don't make that kind of joke again next time.”
“No problem, I promise you.”
Polaris Glacier also breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, she had suddenly compared Teio's and Rudolf's appearances in her mind.
The same brown hair, the same white crescent-shaped highlights, and even similar face shapes—they really did look alike.
But telling Rudolf she had a child was indeed a bit much.
Rudolph Symboli, so young, still a student, how could it be possible...
Hanging up the phone, Rudolph Symboli suddenly let out a light sigh.
“What's wrong, Rudolf? I rarely see you sigh.”
Maruzensky, sitting on the sofa, cast a curious glance.
“Nothing, I was just a bit startled by Polaris's absurd remark.”
Although she was happy that the other party didn't treat her with only reverence like other junior Horse Girl, but could joke like a normal friend, that one just now was truly a bit unexpected.
“Polaris? What did she say?”
“That... let's not talk about it. I need to finish these documents quickly so I can rest early.”
“Hmm... alright, Rudolf, if you don't want to say, then don't.”
