Victory of the Honor Student

"Mr. Sugiyama, hang in there! The rain's about to come down!"

Just before the downpour began, the two owners who had gone out hurried back into the owners' lounge.

"Looks like it won't stop. At least it won't be over by the next race."

Leaning on his cane, Mr. Sugiyama turned back and glared at the sky.

"What a headache..."

The low-hanging clouds were dark gray. As Mr. Sugiyama had said, the rain probably would not stop anytime soon.

As they spoke, JRA staff brought over a full set of rain gear.

It was not quite a raging storm, but the rain outside was still far from light.

Their shoes would definitely get soaked, at least.

For that reason, most owners had remained in the indoor viewing area one floor above. Even the number of racing fans gathered at the paddock had dwindled.

Before long, every corner of the paddock had been stained dark brown.

What they had feared still happened.

The first horse in the Aoi Stakes emerged from the tunnel first. When it poked its head out, it seemed startled by the raindrops falling from the sky.

But soothed by the stable hands on either side, the chestnut horse cautiously took its first steps.

The second and third horses entered the paddock without incident.

Then came Noah, number four.

Watching the figure emerge from the tunnel diagonally ahead, tension suddenly crept into my heart.

Several seconds passed, yet the next figure still had not appeared from the tunnel.

Then a commotion suddenly broke out nearby.

"Oh, is that horse all right?"

"That's terrible condition!"

"This is bad..."

Voices like those drifted over.

The eyes of the fans by the rail all gathered on the bay horse with its head hanging low, then shifted to the trainer bowing toward