Standing atop the winner's podium of the Japan Derby is an honor beyond measure. Even among those hailed as "legendary," many trainers go their entire careers without a single Derby win; to claim the title multiple times is the ultimate testament to a trainer's skill. This year, the spotlight fell on two pairs: Hana Tojo and Narita Brian of Team Rigil, and Trainer Minamisaka and Sakura Laurel of Team Canopus. The crowd was in a frenzy, electrified by the rare spectacle of a dead heat. In such an atmosphere, the post-race interview was bound to be explosive.
"Trainer Tojo, Narita Brian! Congratulations on your victory in the Japan Derby! Tell us, what is going through your minds right now?"
"It may have been a tie, but it is an immense honor to stand on this stage once again," Tojo replied, her voice steady and proud. "I am certain that Brian is currently the most formidable girl in Rigil. I have every expectation that she may one day even surpass Symboli Rudolf. To be her trainer is a privilege beyond words."
The crowd stirred at the mention of surpassing Rudolf. Having secured two legs of the Triple Crown undefeated—the third to do so after Tokai Teio—expectations were skyrocketing that Brian would sweep the final leg. The microphone was then turned toward Brian herself. She leaned in, her eyes sharp as she spoke her mind.
"I... I came here with every intention of winning outright," Brian said. "Laurel, I've always seen you as a rival, but until today, I felt you only looked at me as an enemy to be defeated. Now, I know that has changed. I can't wait to face you on the next stage—and next time, I won't settle for a draw."
Her words were thick with a passion for victory. This was a Brian the public had never seen—overflowing with confidence, vitality, and a hunger for what came next. Her obsession with Laurel had, in the best way possible, forced her to evolve. Tojo watched her, hiding a sigh of relief; she was glad Brian hadn't ended up like Flora.
Next, the interviewer turned to Minamisaka of Team Canopus.
"Following Winning Ticket's victory last year, you've secured back-to-back Derby titles! Congratulations! How do you feel?"
"I want to praise Laurel for doing exactly what needed to be done," Minamisaka said with a modest smile. "She grew even more than I anticipated. In a different sense than Rampage, she's been quite the surprise."
A ripple of laughter went through the stands. Comparing a trainee to the likes of Rampage to get a laugh was a trick perhaps only Minamisaka could pull off. Finally, the microphone reached Sakura Laurel.
"Standing here is a profound honor," Laurel began. "It isn't an exaggeration to say that I've achieved one of my greatest goals today."
The audience nodded, assuming she was referring to the prestige of winning the Derby and conquering a leg of the Triple Crown. But Brian noticed it first—the look in Laurel's eyes. She wasn't looking at the trophy in her hands; she was already looking far into the distance.
"Next up is the Kikuka-sho," the interviewer continued, leading into the obvious question. "It will be a showdown to see if we witness an undefeated Triple Crown or a clash of Double Crown winners. What are your thoughts on—"
Laurel raised a hand, cutting the question short. She squared her shoulders, standing tall and regal as she made her declaration.
"I, Sakura Laurel, will be challenging the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Therefore, I will not be competing in the Kikuka-sho."
It was as if the world froze. Tojo and Brian stood paralyzed. The reporters were speechless. The only two people who remained unfazed were Minamisaka and Laurel herself.
"My goal was set from the very beginning," Laurel continued into the stunned silence. "To win the pinnacle of racing in France—the land where my parents first met. That has always been my ultimate ambition."
Whether the crowd was truly processing her words or not, Laurel pressed on.
"Initially, we planned for this challenge during my Senior year. However, Trainer Minamisaka promised that if I showed sufficient form in the Derby, he would allow me to make the challenge during my Classic year."
"I see..." Brian muttered, her voice trembling with a mix of realization and fury. "So that's it. You recognized me as an enemy, but you never truly looked at me. You used me... I was just the yardstick you used to measure your own strength, wasn't I!?"
"Yes," Laurel replied, her tone calm and factual. "Among our generation, your strength is an anomaly, Brian-chan. You already possess the caliber of a Senior-class runner. If I could run at a level that surpassed even you... then I would know I was ready."
Tojo realized the brilliance—and the cold logic—of the move. To convince Minamisaka she was ready for the world, Laurel needed the ultimate benchmark. Beating Brian was the only proof that mattered. Even the Satsuki-sho had likely been a part of this calculation.
"So, you're saying you have no use for the Kikuka-sho?" Brian hissed, teeth clenched against the humiliation. "You're saying you're done with me?"
"No," Laurel said, her eyes finally locking onto Brian's with unwavering intensity. "It's because I want to beat you that I'm going to the Arc."
Brian blinked, the heat of her anger meeting the coolness of Laurel's gaze.
"During the Derby today, I had no thought other than winning. I had even asked Rampage to push me in training; honestly, for half the race, I felt like I was still racing against Rampage's ghost. But... halfway through, I realized I was racing you. I want to defeat you in your perfect form. I want to become the kind of person capable of that. That is why I am going to the Arc—so I can become the Sakura Laurel who finally, truly defeats Narita Brian."
There was no Mistaking it. Laurel had called her name as a true rival. She wasn't running away from the Triple Crown; she was seeking the strength necessary to claim a total victory over the girl standing next to her.
Brian let out a sharp, sudden laugh. "Ha! You need the greatest race in the world just to find the strength to take me down? Fine. Have it your way. But let me declare this: I will take the Kikuka-sho and become an undefeated Triple Crown winner. And then, we settle this at the Arima Kinen in December. I'll be many times stronger than I am today. You'd better come back as someone worth defeating, Sakura Laurel. Give me everything you've got!"
"That's the plan," Laurel smiled. "A draw like today will never happen again. Next time, we make it clear once and for all: which of us is truly the strongest?"
Before they knew it, the entire venue was swept up in their momentum. The shock of the Arc de Triomphe announcement remained, but it was eclipsed by the fire of their rivalry. To be seen not just as a stepping stone, but as a wall that must be scaled through global conquest—it was the ultimate declaration of respect.
As the two rivals shook hands, the camera flashes merged into a single blinding light. The resolution between Narita Brian and Sakura Laurel had been deferred to December.
Narita Brian, promising to wait as an undefeated Triple Crown champion.
Sakura Laurel, vowing to find her strength on the world's greatest stage.
The collision of these two stars was destined to birth something magnificent, and the Classic season was only going to get hotter.
"She's finally looking at Brian, I see," a voice remarked behind the scenes. "It would have been a problem if she stayed obsessed with a retired runner like you forever."
Minamisaka turned to the speaker with a wry smile. "You're a wicked one, Minami-chan. You claimed you weren't interested in Brian, but you knew all along she'd become Laurel's ultimate rival, didn't you?"
"Of course," Minamisaka replied smoothly. "I knew that if Laurel realized she wasn't truly looking at her opponent, she would strive to become even stronger. And in turn, Brian would be forced to look upward as well. It took a little time, but we got there."
"Good grief... I don't know if you're a tactician or just a devil. You've got me beat, Minami-chan."
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