"Ah, I see! You came to me, the Class Rep, because you want to improve your speed, right? Hmm! I completely understand!"
"Please, Class Rep King, grace us with your guidance!"
Sakura Bakushin O beamed with delight. "Class Rep! What a wonderful title! Leave it to me!"
Kousei pulled out her notebook, ready to take notes. Sakura Bakushin O was the gold standard for sprint races, her speed unmatched even by fellow sprinters. She had won her debut race by five lengths and dominated the 1200m Sprint Championship by a staggering four lengths.
Possessing such intoxicating speed, she had already captivated a massive audience shortly after her debut.
"Listen up! The most important thing for improving your speed is... Bakushin!"
"Huh?"
Sakura Bakushin O (with a goofy grin): "Bakushin!"
The Speed King struck a running pose. "Just Bakushin, no matter what! That's all you need!"
Her explanation was so vague it was practically useless.
"R-right! Though I don't fully understand, this must be the secret, right?!"
Ever since Kousei learned about the innate instincts of Umamusume from McQueen, she had been completely convinced. The Speed King's smug expression, as if she were guiding a promising student, combined with Kousei's starry-eyed admiration, proved one thing beyond doubt:
Stay away from idiots, or you'll catch it.
"To truly understand what Bakushin means, I'll demonstrate it myself!" Bakushin declared, brimming with enthusiasm.
"Eh? I get to see The Speed King's running form?" Kousei gasped, her eyes widening.
Sakura stood eagerly at the starting line, poised for action. This was a rare opportunity, and Kousei focused intently, determined not to miss a single detail.
Suddenly, a petal of pink sakura brushed against Kousei's bangs. "Sakura? Did the wind pick up?" she murmured, her gaze following the drifting petal. In her peripheral vision, she noticed The Speed King had vanished from the starting line. Ahead of the sakura, a flash of pink sped across the track, her sunlit smile and confident stride radiating like a clear summer day.
The wind carried the sakura onward. At the finish line, The Speed King stood facing away from Kousei, glancing back with calm assurance as a gust of wind nudged the sakura closer.
"What just happened?" Kousei wondered aloud.
Even McQueen, sprinting at full speed, could barely catch a glimpse of Sakura Bakushin O's dazzling form. Against the Speed King, Kousei didn't even realize she had started running—the race was over before the cherry blossoms could fall. Unlike McQueen's powerful, ground-shaking strides, Sakura Bakushin O moved like a gust of wind sweeping across the earth, leaving onlookers stunned and trailing behind. By the time they felt the breeze, the race was already over.
Crowned with the name Sakura, she was the Light Speed Sakura Princess.
This foolish Class Rep was even more formidable than the rumors suggested. Tracen Academy truly harbored hidden talents.
"Hah! Hah! Wh-What?! Bakushin is the only way!"
Sakura Bakushin O suddenly gasped for breath, her divine composure shattered. After just 1200 meters, she was already visibly exhausted, her breathing ragged and sweat pouring down her face in an absurd amount.
This, it seemed, was the price she paid for her extraordinary talent. Her body had evolved specifically for short-distance sprints, sacrificing everything else for speed. Her acceleration was unparalleled, reaching peak performance in an instant. Her pure bloodline granted her unparalleled natural gifts, and her speed inspired awe—even the Emperor had never attained such heights.
"Thank you, Senior Speed King. I've learned a great deal."
"As long as you go full Bakushin, even the Arima Kinen will be no problem!"
Kousei smiled faintly, thinking to herself, That's exactly the problem.
Although the Speed King's extreme personality made her an unreliable role model, Kousei still found valuable insights, such as how to forge her own path.
"Heh heh! The strongest, most invincible Emperor has arrived!"
A thunderous roar split the sky as Teio made her dazzling entrance. With a graceful front flip, she landed perfectly.
"Wasn't my entrance spectacular?" Teio demanded praise like a child.
Kousei & the Speed King: ...
"Alright, this Emperor must now depart," Tokai Teio said wistfully, her enthusiasm fading as quickly as it had ignited.
"G-great... that was wonderful!" Kousei stammered, unsure what had just happened but deciding to offer encouragement anyway.
As expected, the praise revived Teio's spirits. "This Emperor always waits for the perfect moment to reveal herself. Such awe is entirely within this Emperor's calculations!"
Teio beamed with pride. Kousei, never particularly adept at communication, was rendered speechless by this eccentric Umamusume.
"You must be Kousei," Teio began. "Beating McQueen was quite impressive."
Kousei knew her victory had caused a stir, but was it really necessary for Tokai Teio herself to seek her out?
"Shall we talk somewhere else?" Kousei glanced at the Speed King, who gave her a reassuring smile and a thumbs-up.
"Sure," Kousei replied.
She followed Teio to a secluded corner. To be honest, Kousei was a little nervous. The title "The Emperor Returns" carried such immense weight. Yet Tokai Teio, standing before her, was surprisingly petite—not the imposing figure Kousei had imagined.
"You get flustered easily, don't you?" Teio asked out of the blue. "Which is the real you—the one here or the one on the track?"
"Is that all the famous genius came to say to me?" Kousei's tone was a bit sharp, but Teio's smile only grew more intrigued as she scrutinized her. "You're planning to challenge the President, aren't you?"
Kousei froze. She had only confided in McQueen about this. How could Teio possibly know?
"I was nearby when you and the President were talking at the school gate. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help overhearing everything."
"So what if I did?"
"Hmph~," Teio's eyes turned deadly serious. "I'm the one who will defeat the President."
"Huh?"
Kousei was taken aback. From everything she knew about Teio, she had always believed Teio held Rudolf in the highest regard and admiration.
"Why?" Kousei blurted out involuntarily.
"For my ideal. To become an Umamusume like the President. I know it, and you know it. I can sense the same resolve in you."
Teio didn't elaborate, but Kousei already understood her meaning. From their very first encounter, the two had seemed remarkably similar, yet each possessed their own unique qualities.
Teio's petite frame radiated boundless fighting spirit, her piercing gaze dissecting every inch of Kousei's skin. "Hey, want to race me right here, right now?"
Though spoken as a challenge, the words held an irresistible allure.
Is that... the legendary Tokai Teio, challenging me?
Logically, Kousei should refuse. But this was Tokai Teio—the most celebrated prodigy of their time. The opportunity to race against her was simply too good to pass up.
Kousei swallowed hard, her lips parting slightly.