Between Glory and Sighs

After crossing the finish line, Yutaka Take did not make any exaggerated celebrations.

Although the rain had gradually eased, it was still a race run in the rain with Lian Dou.

The calm expression shown in the close-up on the big screen looked as though he was savoring the afterglow of the race, but also as though he felt relieved after completing some important task.

Then, he suddenly turned toward the grandstand and gave a thumbs-up.

Though his words could not penetrate the curtain of rain, his joy had already been conveyed.

Traveler had won this race fair and square, and the rain-soaked grandstand lavished him with praise.

A thunderous round of applause for the winner.

"If only Beyond the Horizon could have won."

As they walked down from the grandstand, a few sighs like that reached their ears.

Glory and frustration were separated by a razor-thin line—

Once again, he deeply felt the weight of those words.

"We won!"

Ahead of him, two people were embracing, their bodies pressed tightly together.

Is this really okay?

He cast that sort of look toward Ikee.

The breeding representative who had come all the way from New Zealand, and Yasuo Ikee, whose health had greatly declined but who had insisted on coming to watch the race in person.

The two celebrated in each other's arms for quite some time before reluctantly letting go.

Probably. Ikee answered with his eyes as well, and a somewhat subtle expression appeared on his face.

He nervously turned his gaze back toward them.

"Sorry for the trouble, Kou. Ju-chan must have caused you quite a bit of trouble, right?"

3

Upon hearing Yasuo Ikee say that, he hurriedly lowered his head in a bow.

They exchanged polite phrases like "not at all" all the way to the