A little while later, at the front of the spectator stands.
Looking at the horse girl beside him, with her pink-and-white bangs, Yasui Makoto asked with a strange expression,
"...So you were hiding there because you wanted to surprise Xiao Bei?"
"Hehehe, that's right..."
Rubbing her cheek, the horse girl gave an awkward, sheepish smile.
"I thought it might be inconvenient to bother her while she was preparing and getting into the starting gate, so I wanted to see her before she went out..."
Just then, a nervous yet admiring voice came from beside them.
"Sp-Special Week-senpai, h-hello! C-could I have your autograph? I've always admired you!"
The horse girl with the pink-and-white bangs was Special Week. Yasui Makoto had spotted her earlier by the underground passage exit. After she hurriedly explained why she was there, she had come with him to the spectator stands.
She was very popular in Japan. On the popularity rankings, she had hardly ever fallen below third place, earning her the title of "Most Popular Horse Girl."
So, once she arrived at the stands, plenty of spectators recognized her, and many came over to ask for autographs and photos.
Most of the people here were Trainers watching the races. Some had brought their horse girls along, and the one asking for an autograph now was one of them.
The horse girl looked about twelve or thirteen and hadn't reached Full Bloom yet. Her little face was still full of youthful innocence.
Three golden star-shaped earrings adorned her left ear. She had medium-length brown hair, a white streak in her bangs like a shooting star, and blue-and-white flowers on either side of her hair.
"Ah, sure, of course."
The little horse girl had interrupted her, but Special Week only smiled. Taking the autograph board and pen,