It was the day after the Satsuki Sho, a little past eight in the morning.
Inside a certain hospital in Fuchu, Tokyo.
Sirius Symboli was holding a fruit basket, gently opening the door to a private room, preparing to enter.
"Oh, you're already awake? I thought you'd sleep in longer..."
Her gaze fell inside, discovering that the figure who should have been lying down was already sitting up. She smiled and spoke:
"Mihono Bourbon."
Mihono Bourbon was sitting up in the hospital bed, smiling as she looked over:
"Good morning, sirius."
"Good morning."
The curtains in the hospital room were open, and the sunlight outside continuously streamed in.
In April, the spring sunlight was not too intense, just the right amount.
Closing the door, Sirius Symboli walked to the bedside and suddenly noticed a bouquet of sunflowers already on the nightstand.
She couldn't help but ask with some confusion:
"Mihono Bourbon, are these sunflowers for you?"
"Polaris brought them. She visited about half an hour ago."
"Polaris... I see."
Switching perspectives, in the airport hall on the other side.
Polaris Glacier was boarding with the Head Maid and Kumi Trainer, among others, about to depart for the United States.
The purpose of their trip, naturally, was to achieve victory.
Back inside the hospital room.
Sirius Symboli placed the fruit basket next to the flowers and sat down in a chair:
"So, what's your situation now? How's the injury to your leg?"
Upon hearing this, Mihono Bourbon still smiled, lowering her brows slightly:
"The doctor diagnosed it as a fracture, but it's not particularly severe. It only requires three months of recovery."
"A fracture... three months...?"
Sirius Symboli's eyes widened slightly, her expression somewhat frozen:
"Which means... the Derby... you..."
Knowing what the other person wanted to say, Mihono Bourbon softly continued:
"Yes, it's impossible to compete in the Derby..."
That grand stage, the Derby, that all Horse Girl in Japan dream of and aspire to...
It's impossible to compete...
It was as if fate's cruel joke had manifested in reality.
"Is that so? That's truly a shame."
Sirius Symboli took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm as she said:
"Do you feel regret? For pushing yourself too hard in the Satsuki Sho?"
"No, on the contrary, I'm glad I did."
Mihono Bourbon smiled, turning her head to look out the window, then continued:
"The scenery beyond that cold snow was simply too beautiful, so much so that I couldn't feel any regret."
"If I could do it again, I think I would still do the same."
Surpassing Polaris Glacier, one of her greatest obsessions, was finally resolved.
Although she didn't win in the end, that was enough.
Sirius Symboli watched and listened, then still asked, after some thought:
"Hey, Mihono Bourbon, can I ask you why you were so determined to surpass Polaris?"
"Why... is that right?"
The smile on Mihono Bourbon's lips faded, and her eyes flickered with thought as she said:
"That's naturally because I was unwilling to accept it..."
She paused slightly.
"My mother is Sanzan, a Triple Crown Horse Girls who made history. As her daughter, I was a gifted and highly anticipated existence from a young age."
"Other children my age would always be left far behind when we ran together, which unknowingly gave birth to my own pride."
"However, on that day... the day Polaris first came to our class... everything changed."
A few gentle breezes suddenly blew in through the window, slightly stirring her hair.
"That cold aura, I, who considered myself a genius, was completely unable to resist."
"That powerful leg strength, that extraordinary endurance, I couldn't compare at all."
"Even though everyone was just a beginner Horse Girl, Polaris seemed like a being from a different dimension."
"At that time, I realized that so-called pride was utterly insignificant in the face of a true genius."
As Mihono Bourbon spoke, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
"Unwilling, absolutely unwilling. I used to be a genius too, I used to be the one other Horse Girl chased..."
"So... I must catch up..."
"I must overcome it..."
"I must reclaim the scenery that once belonged to me in front..."
Sirius Symboli listened quietly, her head slightly lowered, her long bangs obscuring her eyes, making it impossible to discern her expression.
"I remember now."
She suddenly spoke, and Mihono Bourbon also looked at her.
"I was once a genius too, and I was once a proud Horse Girl who only focused on the finish line..."
"But unknowingly, I changed, becoming fragile, becoming afraid to charge forward..."
Because she had already decided in her heart that she couldn't surpass Polaris, she couldn't block out all the cold snow.
To only realize this now...
She really was far behind... in many aspects...
"Thank you, Mihono Bourbon. Thanks to you, I finally understand."
Sirius Symboli looked up, smiling confidently:
"Just watch, Mihono Bourbon, I will surpass Polaris, definitely!"
Seeing this, Mihono Bourbon was slightly stunned, then also smiled and nodded:
"Yes, sirius, you can definitely do it. I will witness it well."
Go and overcome the cold snow coming from ahead, and reach the realm beyond.
Time advanced to Louisville, Kentucky.
Inside a large luxury hotel.
"Phew, this jet lag, it almost makes it impossible to tell if it's day or night."
Kumi Trainer slumped onto the sofa, speaking with fatigue.
"Would you like a cup of coffee? I'll ask the hotel staff to bring some."
The Head Maid, tidying up luggage, chuckled at this.
"Yes, please do."
Long flights were truly difficult to get used to; she needed to adjust her condition first.
"By the way, where is Young Lady? She's been gone since just now."
"Young Lady went to visit the racecourse with Katsuhogi and Oguri Cap."
Switching perspectives, on the street.
Polaris Glacier walked slowly, holding her phone, with a language translation app running, looking around everywhere.
Kita no Shori Homare and Oguri Cap, who were accompanying her, followed a little behind, dressed in suits and wearing sunglasses, looking like bodyguards.
It was morning, so they weren't in a hurry. They were sightseeing while heading towards the racecourse.
Next month, on the fourth, the Kentucky Derby would take place at Churchill Downs in this city.
It was actually a bit late to come and adapt to the environment and atmosphere now, as it could easily cause mental stress.
However, this was nothing for Polaris Glacier.
Compared to that insignificant pressure, she was more excited about the race now.
As the first step onto the world stage, she naturally had to win beautifully.
The local Horse Girl were also about to experience the feeling of being invaded by cold snow. She believed they would surely be deeply impressed.
