"Chapter 410: Shall We Have a Serious Race?"
After calmly and slowly describing how she felt about the zone, Duramente looked at Satono Crown in confusion.
"Why did you suddenly ask about the zone?"
As Duramente replied, Satono Crown unconsciously tightened her fingers again, squeezing the drink bottle until it made a soft crackling sound.
Hearing the question, she did not answer immediately. Instead, she involuntarily recalled Kitasan Black's figure on the Final Straight during the training race.
At the time, she had only felt that her Friend was unusually fast. Or perhaps it was not merely speed, but strength—strength so overwhelming that it gave her the faint sense that she was unbeatable.
After Duramente admitted that she, too, had touched the zone, even if only for an instant, that feeling surfaced once more.
That feeling left a sour ache in her heart.
They had come to Central Treisen Academy at roughly the same time. They had debuted at roughly the same time. They had all put in countless efforts.
Yet despite having run alongside her friends—and rivals—all this time, it seemed she had been left behind.
But now that it had been completely confirmed, the faint bitterness in her heart inexplicably vanished instead.
"Why I asked about the zone..."
Murmuring that, Satono Crown suddenly raised her head and downed the energy drink in one gulp. She then slowly screwed the cap back on, set the bottle by her feet, and continued.
"It's because I wanted to know what kind of opponent I'm fighting."
"I... had heard of the zone. Trainer told me that only the very best Horse Girls of every generation could set foot in it."
"How should I put it? As expected of Duramente and Little Kita. You've grown this strong without anyone even noticing."
"But—"
As