In the deserted Training Room, Kousei was preparing for her morning workout, bending down to tie her shoelaces, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere.
Hmm?
Without realizing it, the laces had become a tangled mess. Kousei frowned at the mess, pursed her lips, sighed, and retying them.
"I'm off."
At Ritto Dormitory, Kousei was the earliest riser, second only to Fuji Kiseki.
The damp morning air calmed her mind. Her habit of morning training stemmed partly from self-discipline and partly from her past circumstances; training when no one else was around meant she wouldn't hear any idle gossip.
Go for it, Kousei!
Try harder next time!
It's okay!
For some reason, these scenes kept flashing through her mind. Kousei frowned and stopped abruptly.
Didn't I already lose?
During adolescence, young girls are often plagued by all sorts of worries.
Keep going.
As if speaking to herself, she resumed jogging at a steady pace, pretending everything was normal.
Just when she thought she was alone in the early morning, a dark figure crouched ahead.
Kousei recognized her: Manhattan Cafe, the Umamusume she had briefly met before.
As if sensing Kousei's intense gaze, Manhattan Cafe turned her head and clearly recognized her.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Kousei replied, impressed. "I thought I was up early enough, but it seems someone's been here even earlier."
"You woke up early. I just stayed here all night," Manhattan Cafe replied languidly.
All night? Tracen Academy had strict regulations, and staying out overnight was forbidden. The Dorm Leaders and the Secretary ensured every Umamusume was in their room before locking the gates.
"Is that even possible?" Kousei asked without thinking.
"Mm-hmm. There's a secret passage. Tachyon does it all the time," Manhattan Cafe replied languidly.
Kousei immediately pictured Tachyon's gleeful, eccentric laughter. It came as no surprise that Tachyon would devise and execute such a scheme.
I guess I won't pry any further, Kousei thought.
"What are you doing here, Cafe?" she asked, her mind in a muddle. She decided to squat down and chat with Manhattan Cafe.
"Drinking coffee," Manhattan Cafe said, holding up her coffee cup. "Drinking coffee in the early morning makes me very happy."
A faint blush tinted Manhattan Cafe's cheeks, resembling the delicate foam art in a latte. It was clear she truly loved coffee.
Kousei glanced around at Manhattan Cafe's setup—bags of equipment were strewn about, and even a tent had been pitched nearby.
A wisp of steam curled from the coffee cup, carrying the rich aroma through the air and into Kousei's nostrils.
"Mmm, smells amazing! Cafe-san, you're truly impressive!"
"Hehe~" Manhattan Cafe chuckled softly. "I wouldn't call myself a master yet. There's still so much to learn. If you don't mind, would you like to join me for a cup of morning coffee?"
"Can I? I know absolutely nothing about coffee. I wouldn't want to offend you," Kousei hesitated, her tone cautious.
"Nonsense. If there were rules or requirements to enjoy coffee, it would defeat the purpose entirely."
Seeing Kousei's continued hesitation, Manhattan Cafe added, "Besides, a clear head could be helpful for training."
With such a direct invitation, Kousei couldn't refuse.
"Then, thank you for your trouble."
Manhattan Cafe smiled contentedly and began preparing coffee for Kousei. To Kousei, Cafe seemed like an Umamusume with exceptionally subtle expressions.
No matter the emotion, her expressions were always subtle—a faint smile, a slight irritation.
Speaking of Manhattan Cafe, she was a strange Umamusume renowned throughout Tracen, much like Tachyon. She had an "invisible friend," though no one believed her. Yet Cafe's demeanor never seemed to suggest she was lying. After thorough examination by Tracen, she was found to be completely normal.
For a time, no one could determine whether this so-called friend truly existed. At least, people had begun to doubt, hadn't they?
"Cafe, did you spend the whole night here alone?" Kousei asked tentatively.
"No, I was with my friend."
As expected, it's that invisible friend again.
"Is your friend here now? To be honest, I'm a bit curious about what they look like."
"Hmm..." Manhattan Cafe seemed slightly troubled. "Pitch-black? I'm not really sure. But if you just look at the outlines, we're practically identical."
An invisible friend? Kousei briefly imagined having a constant companion. That might be nice.
"Have you been troubled by anything lately?" Cafe suddenly asked.
Kousei was startled. Though she had indeed been feeling troubled, she prided herself on keeping her emotions hidden. How had Cafe seen through her?
"You noticed?"
"No, I didn't figure it out myself," Cafe replied, turning to look behind Kousei. "Your friend told me."
A friend? Kousei never imagined she had a friend.
"Can't you see her?" Cafe asked.
Kousei shook her head.
"I see... I thought we were the same."
After a moment's hesitation, Kousei asked, "What does my friend look like?"
Cafe stared intently for a long time. "Fire. Fierce, relentless, eternal flames."
The mention of flames gradually conjured an image in Kousei's mind.
"Are you talking about my mother?"
The mother in Kousei's heart was indeed a Umamusume who burned like fire.
"Your friend is your mother?" Cafe asked, now somewhat surprised herself.
"Well... I'm not entirely sure myself."
Kousei shared everything she had seen with Cafe, holding nothing back.
"So, I believe that's my mother."
After listening intently, Cafe nodded thoughtfully.
"A recording of your mother's races? You've only watched the first volume?"
"Yes. T told me my understanding wasn't sufficient to grasp the subsequent content, and that the most important thing is to follow the proper order."
"I see... Have you spoken to your friend?"
"No, I can't see her unless she wants me to. And she never responds to me."
It's understandable why Kousei would think that way. After all, the figure she saw was her mother's spitting image, so it's natural to assume that's who it was. Plus, anyone would think the same if their bloodline resonated with the figure.
Cafe glanced sideways, seeking help, but the black phantom turned away, clearly unwilling to intervene.
Cafe then looked at the red-clad figure, but they showed no intention of continuing the conversation.
Sighing in resignation, Cafe muttered, "Both of them have such short tempers."
Kousei found Cafe's words utterly baffling.
"Are you troubled?"
"Not really, just a bit puzzled for now. It's like getting stuck in a game—you just pay a little more attention afterward. I don't see it as a real problem."
"If that's the case, let's set it aside for now. Some answers reveal themselves naturally when the time is right."
Just then, the aroma of coffee interrupted their conversation.
Let's put aside these troublesome matters and savor this delicious coffee instead.
"Speaking of which, how's Tachyon doing these days?"
The last time Kousei saw Tachyon, she was in a wheelchair, which had startled Kousei badly. She hadn't seen Tachyon since.
Though Kousei's question was casual, Cafe stiffened momentarily.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, both of them feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.