Chapter 1933: line with translation of chapter title

NO. 553: Grasping the crux

It is worth mentioning that scheming is not without effect.

It can even be said that the most gripping four‑way melee scene on this final stretch of the track stems from the dragging strategy achieved through the 'cooperation' of Ailisuzhi and Manchester Chazuo.

This tried‑and‑true stratagem easily raised the temperature of the track; although it hadn't yet scorched the later runners to death, it also made it difficult in the final stretch's home straight to summon enough speed to intervene in the four‑way race.

But even if she secured the highest KDA of the match, Ailisuzhi's battle plan ultimately reverts to the primal and pure domain:

Speed showdown.

This is the sole rule governing the final straight of every track; all prior effort, planning, and skill are merely to put oneself in the best condition to meet this domain's arrival.

And the most ideal condition, without doubt, is to have sufficient stamina to support a challenge toward even greater speed.

Furthermore, when this condition is fully met, a runner's gaze often turns not to another competitor but to their former self on the track.

That is the original yearning, and also the purest running. Yearning to be faster and stronger, to become a more dazzling figure in others' eyes, and then, as a side effect, to grasp glory in hand.

But regrettably, such conditions are extraordinarily rare throughout the Federation's entire horse‑racing history.

Thus, many horse girls in the final stretch chase victory itself, their eyes fixed either on the finish line or on the figure blocking it.

Frankly speaking, there is really no superiority or inferiority to be found among them.

The meaning of running on the track is like Hamlet in ten thousand hearts. Pursuing oneself is a breakthrough; pursuing others can likewise yield a breakthrough, the difference being merely a matter of purity, and whether purity exists usually only matters in argument; what is truly etched in the heart remains the scenery ahead itself.

So come on!

An open and aboveboard final showdown!

My ideal condition versus your superb talent!

My wish upon the converging stars versus your absolute faith!

Decide the outcome with the final home straight!

In the midst of the tense four‑way clash on the whole track, when all fell silent and held their breath, even the criminals who ought to have caused intermittent disturbances and the law‑enforcers busy with arrests, in this quiet air, focused on transmitting the track scene.

All of heaven and earth resounded only with the earth‑shaking thunder of footsteps, forging each other's roaring will!

One side pursues the other, but the latter is ever more focused on the finish line.

Even after many twists that let outsiders enter the field of view, the precise steps that trample all and the soul‑shaking footfalls that awe others merely wish to dedicate that victory to someone.

But who is different in this goal, this wish?

At this moment, in the spectator stands, amid the twitching eyebrows and furtive glances of a female companion who could still 'detach' herself from the tension beside someone, the face of that person straining to frown still showed a slight twitch of the brow.

Even ordinary difficulty in frowning would not reach this level.

When some people pulled out their cameras and others, still guided by the atmosphere, widened their eyes to watch the long‑haired horse girl cross the line by a neck, the person whose mood had been complex instead gave a slight start, then in an instant turned their gaze elsewhere.

"Neck‑and‑neck! Mihara Wave! Sprint!"

"Congratulations to her! With a slight neck‑and‑neck advantage, she hard‑won victory, clinching the Kikuka Sho!"

"3:24.73, although it didn't break past records, it is also the first time after the reform for the Kikuka Sho……"

The words that followed, though they rang in the ears, were no longer important.

However, his brief glance of diverted attention was just that—a moment; after all, a successful prediction really isn't a big deal. As the host said, a neck‑and‑neck is a slight advantage. Its appearance means that if the runner‑up had a bit more luck, the outcome would be different.

In other words, the luck component of victory cannot be ignored, which also makes a successful prediction seem less authoritative, so there's no need to pay too much heed.

What truly ought to be prioritized in the present decision is that calm, serene gaze that would smile even from a kilometer away.

Whether facing the chestnut‑red‑haired figure or the nearby speck composed of brown, tan, and black, a sufficiently distant view easily allows one to treat them equally.

Then one should go with the venue's fervent mood, responding to the congratulations and teasing of those nearby, and also to the text, MP4, and JPG sent from the terminal.

Always thus.

Although saying this might sound a bit boastful, under his command the horse girls' unbroken string of victories has made him utterly familiar with this procedure.

But if one insists, there are still some minor differences.

For example, in such occasions in the past there was no faint song echoing in the mind.

It makes it seem as if the victor's stage has just opened, and I don't know whose victor's stage playlist is this soothing, with an exotic flavor.

Likewise, such occasions would not have an emergency communication from the net‑detection channel telling you that the activity of the Gate of Great Sin has temporarily waned.

The chance of 'no problem' is dwindling toward zero…… Even the occasion that ought to be joyous does not forget Aomo's inscrutable guesswork at the situation, managing expressions while urging everyone to keep up.

Next up is the victor's stage.

Of course, if necessary, the trainer will rush to visit before the end of the athlete's relatively brief routine of touch‑up, washing, changing clothes, makeup, and condition adjustment.

So…… does my team have this necessity?

emmm……

Most likely, yes.

However, such speculative attempts usually lean toward comforting the loser, whereas Aomo's actual line heads toward the winner's number.

Yes, this is the actually excessive Ophiuchus team.

Claiming to have medical functions yet not healing the losers' wounds is pure empty talk—if you say that, Aomo will bluntly tell you: not every little scrape requires a dedicated hospital registration and consultation.

Although the world is vast and perhaps could produce a few such ultimate self‑lovers and extreme cases, the horse girls under Aomo's command would not be that fragile.

And precisely for that reason, this kind of handling is becoming a tradition.

Losers lick their own wounds; if after treatment they still need help, the trainer will then come over to talk.

Otherwise, the demon would only go on to praise the victors, stoking the losers' desire for victory in the next race.

A utilitarian operational strategy. jpg

Suited only for a team structure with strong pressure resistance, stable mentality, and many competitive members.

However, the situation of this Kikuka Sho right now still has some special aspects.

The specialness lies in losing to Mihara Wave by a neck, while Manchester Chazuo, only a nose ahead of third‑place Ailisuzhi, saw all three Triple Crowns fail. Consequently, both the pressure at heart and the bias in upcoming classic‑race discussions about her are visibly worrisome.

By comparison, another plainly visible trouble—Zhouri Ningjing's rally to question guilt—amounts to nothing worth mentioning.

A trainer is just a trainer, huh? A trainer can't become a psychologist—can they, can they?

So……

Since it's a special situation, is there a way for Aomo to praise the winner while also comforting the loser?

Of course there is!

What's the use of learning puppetry! What's the use of being able to read people's expressions and make inferences?

Quickly bring out your multithreading ability!

Also bring your demon card!

You should know what method can heal that child.

(End of chapter)