Chapter 478

NO. 61: She clatter-clatters!

Persian chrysanthemum, also called autumn hibiscus, usually blooms from June to August.

August is its final bloom.

Not only in fields and flower beds, but also displayed on that huge screen, showing a pinkish purple reminiscent of cherry blossoms.

Of course, there are also pure white and golden yellow accents.

Modern technology gives it a lifelike appearance, and can even freeze it into a metallic emblem, not inferior to real flowers, and even more magnificent.

The Persian chrysanthemum viewing is precisely an OP-class short-distance race held in the first half of August.

In August, a lull in horse racing, it serves as a bridge to major races alongside other minor events, and is one of the stepping stones to G3 races.

Indeed, burdened with negative tags such as 'hot weather', 'lack of famous horse girls', and 'second-rate racetrack', its viewership is destined to be less than ideal.

But as a debut for the horse girls, this stage is more than enough; indeed, one could say Aomo is quite satisfied with it.

Its race level, positioning, audience size, and the ideal fan count it could convert all meet Aomo's expectations for a steady start.

And the only, yet most important, problem remains……

"Chazuo, how do you feel?"

When Aomo led the team into Sapporo Racecourse, the first thing they saw was the huge screen and the densely packed circular stands around it.

Even though this race carries the many debuffs mentioned earlier, as a secondary racetrack with just over 120,000 seats, a glance shows it's still full to capacity—plus the concurrent online viewership keeps rising.

Thanks to the 'electronic audience' conducting deep infiltration and synchronous simulation of the racecourse.

And the viewers watching the broadcast on screen, whose numbers even far exceed the on-site audience; this also proves that the promotional segment of horse racing is sufficiently excellent.

"It seems our publicity department is doing well—even the Sunday committee member has leisure to come watch this OP-class race."

"Just came to have a look; any special competitors?"

"Yes, for example—ManhattanCafe (Chazuo), this one is actually a central competitor."

"Regardless of the rumors about her early years or the recent reputation of her problematic trainer, she has been thrust into the spotlight."

"How many people do you think are optimistic about her?"

Actually there are quite a few, and it seems many famous horse girls have come to the venue, saying they're here to cheer on that little girl, so when you, Sunday Committee member, graced us with your presence, I thought you also came for her.

That is obviously not a mistake.

When the black-haired horse girl walking toward the player passage lifted her head, and she and the similarly black-haired horse girl standing high up a hundred meters away faced each other from afar, the lower-level staff member of the URA Association finally realized……

This committee member from the Central Association seems to look somewhat…… too similar to the player shown on the big screen.

But this shouldn't be……

As staff, they repeatedly confirm the data of every player.

As for the registration of horse girls, the date, location, family structure, and whether there are any horse-girl relatives in the family are key points of attention, and these can all be used as part of popularity promotion.

Although the players may not necessarily agree, they always find out first.

And the family structure of that Manchester Chazuo player is as ordinary as it gets.

A human couple gives birth to a daughter who becomes possessed by a horse-racing spirit and turns into a horse girl, with no possibility of joining a horse-girl family……

Then… could it just be a pure coincidence?

This doubt can probably only end in such an inconclusive conclusion.

The Sunday Committee member is not one with a good temper, and this staff member is a 'won't cause trouble' local from Jidong, so they could only watch as those two seemed to have a remote gaze for a few seconds, then each looked away.

Immediately after that:

"I'm leaving."

"Eh eh eh? So sudden?"

That staff member had just been wondering whether the Sunday Committee member would cheer on that girl who looks extremely similar to her.

"I still have things to do; there's a really annoying person waiting for me, and if I keep her waiting too long, she'll become even more annoying."

"But a short-distance race usually only lasts a few minutes……"

"Sometimes, just a few minutes can feel long."

She said that, then directly turned into a mass of black vapor and vanished into midair, making the staff member once again feel a slight sense of creeping dread.

…There should clearly be devices in the audience seats that suppress the use of source energy……

And below, more than a hundred meters down.

The girl had already entered the player passage together with the trainer.

After entering backstage and making their way all the way to the front, the black-haired horse girl who had not answered the trainer's initial question walked on in silence.

Her silence was as deep and secluded as her long hair, but the trainer, who kept pace with her, carrying the girl's racing outfit and shoe bag, used his height advantage to look levelly at the girl's ears on her head and that wisp of milky-white cowlick.

He occasionally felt somewhat peculiar.

Although in this world, hairstyles are already quite a free domain, and one can even dye hair into the inside-out mixes that previously only existed in cartoons, even to colorful, changing hues.

But when it comes to fixed hairstyles……

The children's stubbornly upright cowlicks are perhaps proof of having trained in source energy.

But studying how the girl's hairstyle stays fixed cannot possibly take up all the time Aomo spends walking down the corridor; his thoughts will inevitably drift, and he can't help but think of Suzi and Bourbon, who have most likely already taken their seats in the audience and saved him a spot.

With tomorrow's race approaching, continuing training to maintain condition is one option, but relaxing and adjusting condition is also an option; the three horse girls of the agency obviously get along well, and on this day they all chose to come cheer on their roommate.

Besides that, there were also acquaintances met at the entrance of the racecourse.

Wanshan Siji, Huangmo Yingxiong, Dongshang Biange, Yuzhao Shizi, Chengtian Bai Ren, Miyu, Datuo Taiyangshen, and also the Chazuo roommate rarely mentioned: Xuezhi Meiren.

Rather than complaining about the horse girls' unique peculiar names, one might better lament how Yuzhao Shizi and the first three especially made the effort to come all the way to Sapporo to witness the painstaking effort behind Chazuo's first race.

But Aomo would rather marvel at how Desert Hero has a truly clever subtlety beside him.

As a trainer, perhaps he shouldn't resist the gathering of talent in the stands where his horse girls compete, especially since early this morning he also got a text from Ludolf asking whether his horse girls are making their debut today.

Although it isn't really a true debut, the other side still managed to struggle out of the sea of documents, and they are also in this very audience section.

Just as a staff member sighed, such a luxurious spectator lineup even turned the wind that had originally favored Chazuo—who was supposed to be the top popularity—into something not promising.

Even the Sapporo Racecourse felt, for the first time, such honored shabbiness.

But this is also a kind of pressure.

Aomo could completely regard Chazuo's silence as a form of pressure, and he could also quicken his steps, walk to Chazuo's front, turn back to confirm the other's demeanor and the tiny movements hidden beneath the long robe's hem.

But this time, he did not follow his usual habit of guessing the other's psychology.

Just the him following behind, he didn't even observe the other, merely gazing at some boundless things.

For example, Chazuo's ahoge, for example, the gloom of this corridor.

The trainer always gradually becomes familiar with the interiors of various racecourses by accompanying the horse girl's races, but Aomo is still visiting this kind of place for the first time.

This should be worth commemorating, but looking at it, it's not very likable.

This might also be proof of its status as a secondary racecourse.

Clearly there are not few lights in the corridor, but most are suppressed by dark spots, and some even flicker frequently.

In Aomo's eyes behind the lenses, reddened, one can see several standing figures.

Oh, then this is not a problem of the racecourse.

It's that Chazuo's friends nearby are rather mischievous.

Just that Chazuo and Aomo also didn't care about their mischief, after all there were no other players or trainers in this passage.

Gate one, number one: Chazuo's gate number, or rather the stall number, is the innermost path, the best choice to conserve stamina, and also arrives earlier than anyone else.

Unlike the draw for official G-level races, OP-level races have leeway in allocating athlete slots and gate numbers, which is also the best practical assistance Aomo can provide to the horse girl.

Fortunately, the only flawed thing is just the corridor's light bulb; when Chazuo pushes open the dressing room door marked Gate One, Number One, Aomo sees that the furnishings inside are at least quite good.

And Chazuo had already sat in the chair before the dressing table, uttering the first call after a long silence:

Trainer.

Huh?

Actually, after putting the thing in his hand on the table, Aomo had already prepared to leave.

Although there is a dressing table, the horse girl's race does not require elaborate makeup.

After all, she often encounters rainy days and strong winds.

The makeup cannot stay intact, and occasionally she even smudges her own face by crying.

The function of the dressing room is simply to change clothes; whether it's the race outfit or the formal victory attire required for G1 races, they are changed here.

Of course, more importantly, each participant's carefully prepared running shoes.

So after putting things down, Aomo, as an opposite-sex trainer, should also leave.

If he weren't called back.

... I feel, somewhat unreal.

Unreal?

Everything is nothing but a mirage-like dream... equally unreal...

I think this is because the 'friend' is not by my side.

Hmm... Chazuo nodded, affirming the trainer's offhand answer.

She has things to attend to, so... today's shadow lacks spirit... she said, lowering her gaze to look at the shadow behind her illuminated by the mirror's light.

So... walking to her side, looking at her in the mirror, Aomo asked, "Is there a way to lift spirits?"

Chazuo also turned her head, looking at herself in the mirror.

For students of the Spirit Summoning department, a mirror is never just a mirror; it can also reflect special things, which they rely on and even find reassurance in.

... I want to ask the trainer a question." She said, looking at herself in the mirror.

As long as it doesn't involve privacy." The mirror's Aomo replied.

Will the trainer leave later?

……" The youth in the mirror fell silent for a moment, not asking, merely saying, "I won't miss your run."

No... trainer, I just wanted to say...

The girl in the mirror, golden child radiant.

Don't worry too much about me...

No matter how, it's impossible not to care about the race of one's subordinate horse girl, right?" Aomo habitually smiled, taking it as the black-haired horse girl's usual thoughtfulness.

But... would there be such thoughtful behavior before a race?

Would there be a horse girl who formally summons motivation, steps onto the racecourse, and says to the trainer in her first public race, "Don't worry too much about me," that kind of thoughtfulness?

Aomo's smile stiffened slightly, one hand resting on Chazuo's chair back.

Then he leaned forward slightly, as if preparing for a photo pose.

The distance between their cheeks, reflected in the mirror, appears very close.

Is this your expectation?" he whispered, staring at the girl in the mirror, the indoor lighting also seeming to be patronized by the friends, flickering bright and dim.

Hmm.

If... the trainer could not conceal that appearance... then I could see clearly the shadow to chase.

……" Chewing on these words, which at first hearing sounded like asking him to seriously bring back Zhouri Ningjing, the youth fell silent for several seconds.

【A novel app that has run stably for years, comparable to the source-switching app that the old version of Chase Worms uses, huanyuanapp.】"

Then he laughed.

Good!

He replied, this voice carrying a mix-like tremor, belonging to a demon.

In the mirror surface also indeed is a leaning demon, silver-colored ferocious face, silver-colored spiral twin horns.

But the eye sockets and the tips of the horns overflowed with black flowing flame.

And the girl sitting upright beside him showed no trace of fear on her face.

In the dim lamplight, the dark-gold-eyed child possessed a captivating radiance.

The corner of his mouth curled up, as if he were a madman who found pleasure in danger.

If one were to ask about the condition.

That is obviously an excellent state.