Tokai Teio had fully bounced back to her lively self—she was even more energetic and vibrant than before her injury.
Hmm, how to put it?
She'd found her purpose again, putting all her heart and soul into sprinting towards it.
Just watching her made people happy; even as her rival, Gotham Song genuinely felt this way.
Well...maybe it was akin to an adult watching a child enthusiastically chase after dreams.
Would the legendary Gotham Song actually feel pressured by Tokai Teio's challenge?
Maybe she would, but honestly only maybe.
Keep working hard, Tokai Teio-san!
After bidding goodbye to Tokai Teio, who was diligently rehabbing in the hospital, Gotham Song's thoughts were interrupted after just a few steps by the ringing of her phone.
When she picked it up, she hesitated briefly—an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.
Gotham Song actually had terrible phone habits; she never labeled her contacts, ever.
But precisely because of that, after a while she memorized nearly every number she regularly contacted.
Who could it be?
Gotham Song felt a surge of curiosity, but the moment she tapped to answer, she instinctively glanced nervously toward the school gates.
Of course, she couldn't see anything. But come to think of it, she probably knew exactly who was calling.
It couldn't be Secretariat, who'd just flown back to America the night before yesterday, handled the international promotion and relegation matters yesterday, and surely wouldn't fly all the way back just to ambush her outside the school gates today, right?
Even Secretariat wouldn't do something so utterly insane.
Hmm… who else had a history of flying across the Pacific Ocean, spending just a daytime back in their "hometown," only to immediately return?
Such a mysterious person—she couldn't think of anyone at all.
"Good day, Gotham Song. It looks like you've fully regained your spirit today. Wonderful."
"Uh...thank, thank you?"
Honestly, Gotham Song still didn't fully grasp Secretariat's attitude toward her.
Without a doubt, Secretariat had regrets in her heart; she'd expressed more than once her lingering disappointment at never having faced Twilight Song.
But surely that wasn't reason enough to pay such special attention to the entirely new person Gotham Song had become, right?
Hmm...
It couldn't possibly be genuine concern for a former American transfer student now studying in Japan, could it?
Or perhaps, was it due to Gotham Song's extraordinary strength? She really needed to find an opportunity to clarify this, or it would bother her endlessly.
Gotham Song had to admit she'd become rather paranoid—after Mejiro Manor left Tracen Academy, perhaps there really was no one in the world she could fully let her guard down around. Definitely nobody.
"Well then, I know you don't enjoy tedious small talk, so let's cut to the chase. Gotham Song, have you been following the news?"
"You mean, about URA?"
She had. She'd absolutely seen it—and she hadn't just watched, she'd laughed about it the entire day.
How to put this...
Those URA folks definitely had a hidden comedic talent; otherwise, they couldn't have made such hilarious announcements.
After enduring a day of brutal online backlash from across Japan, URA completely lost their composure, hastily holding an official press conference to vaguely suggest they were considering banning Gotham Song from competing.
And then...well...
Right in the middle of their press conference, Secretariat called, a phone call across the ocean.
But she hadn't called URA directly. Instead, she phoned an American journalist present at the scene.
And then, well...
Then Secretariat had that American reporter hold up their phone high, almost like a hero carrying the Olympic flame, and turned on the speakerphone.
Her first sentence had been—
"What's this? Could it be that the entire URA is afraid of a single Uma Musume who dropped out from America?"
Secretariat hadn't said anything more, but the message was unmistakably clear:
URA? What's that? Some worthless trash? Crush them underfoot.
Gotham Song could vividly imagine Secretariat's sneer as she said those words.
Well, still—since Secretariat herself had said it, maybe URA even secretly enjoyed being stomped on. Of course, they'd still have to put on a show of outrage and steadfast resistance.
URA would never yield to Secretariat!
Naturally, after that stunt, talk of banning Gotham Song vanished entirely.
Such tactics were merely an attempt, after all. Once it failed, they'd mobilize their entire national force to thoroughly crush this arrogant American Uma Musume beneath their feet!
Oh, of course, they wouldn't dare say that about Secretariat.
Not even daring to think it privately.
"Honestly, though, watching their disgusting faces turn into mush on live television was tremendously entertaining—at least, that's how I saw it."
"Er… that is very much a Secretariat-san style of speech and behavior."
Gotham Song could imagine it—clearly envisioning the madness in both their minds at once.
Secretariat leaned back comfortably in the dimly lit Chairman's Office at American Tracen Academy, feet propped casually on the desk, hands behind her head as she eyed the TV with undisguised disdain.
Yikes, that's a bit terrifying.
But indeed, it was exactly the kind of thing Secretariat would do.
After all, she was the sort who seemed noble when still, yet utterly unhinged when active.
"I'm genuinely curious what kind of image you have of me," Secretariat remarked drily. "I'm quite gentle, aren't I...?"
"Ah, yes, yes, of course you are."
"Alright, enough joking. Let's finally discuss something serious, Gotham Song. Congratulations on completely destroying the Yasuda Kinen. Keep up the momentum for your next target."
"You make me sound like some kind of final boss," Gotham Song replied lightly. "But I'll do my best."
Secretariat paused briefly, then asked with genuine astonishment, "Wait, you don't already see yourself as some kind of final boss? Gotham Song, what you did at Yasuda Kinen was far worse than anything I pulled during my Classic year."
Eh...? Really?!
It was only now that Gotham Song fully recalled Secretariat's previous comments.
At the racetrack, Secretariat had indeed said something to that effect.
It had just never fully registered until someone else pointed it out.
Hmm…how should she describe this peculiar realization?
Quite bizarre, to the point she momentarily lost her words.
"Well, in that case, there's no helping it, is there? I suppose I have no choice but to become this villain."
Perhaps the second coming of Gotham's villainous overlord?
"Excellent. I really do like you—especially your attitude and composure. Don't worry about any consequences. Even if you completely ruin Japan's international racing ambitions, the domestic scene won't be significantly harmed. Besides, I'm working on something of my own."
Secretariat briefly outlined her plans. Most notably, she wouldn't be returning to Japan anytime soon. Instead, she'd stay in America, rallying some old friends to push forward a new initiative.
The international community wasn't just disgusted with Japan's attitudes toward the legendary Twilight Song—it also found the URA's handling of overseas expeditions utterly baffling.
How to describe the URA's achievements in that regard?
To put it kindly, they practiced "free-range management." More bluntly?
Whether the URA existed or not barely made any difference during expeditions.
First, their most absurd policy:
Overseas Uma Musume only received URA subsidies one week before departure.
How to even describe that?
Just one week before racing abroad—and this was literally the only support the Uma Musume received from the URA.
Imagine an Uma Musume journeying alone to an unfamiliar foreign land, isolated and unsupported.
And all for the sake of bringing honor back to the URA?!
Those useless bastards considered this sufficient?
In any case, it was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
At least in America, thanks to Secretariat's personal intervention, every overseas competitor had companions and proper support. Most other countries did something similar. Indeed, this neglectful attitude toward Uma Musume was the core reason why the international community rejected the URA.
Twilight Song's passing had simply been the catalyst.
So, what did Secretariat intend to do?
Simple. If the URA wouldn't step up, she'd just have to handle it herself.
After all, the Uma Musume were innocent. This was the perfect opportunity to finally fulfill Secretariat's long-held aspiration:
Genuinely advancing Japan's Uma Musume onto the global stage.
Notice, it wasn't Japan's events she intended to internationalize, but rather Japan's Uma Musume themselves.
She wanted Japan's horse girls to compete internationally without any burden—not confined domestically due to URA's incompetence, desperately chasing only local glory.
As for internationalizing Japan's events?
Only when the URA truly repented would Secretariat even consider giving them that chance.
Honestly, Secretariat's plan was so bold that Gotham Song couldn't help but admire it.
It truly was something remarkable—helping Uma Musume who had nothing to do with her gain access to bigger global stages…
Perhaps future Japanese Uma Musume who made their names abroad would have Secretariat to thank for this effort?
"No, no, Gotham Song. Actually, they should thank you too. Japan's stagnant waters have rotted in isolation far too long—and it wasn't me who tore open that barrier."
It was you.
Secretariat genuinely appreciated Gotham Song appearing at this crucial time.
She had the strength to disrupt Japan's stagnant races, and more importantly—she trusted Secretariat.
The exact reason behind that trust? Irrelevant.
Secretariat considered every Uma Musume a potential rival. Likewise, she trusted every rival as she would trust any competitor on the track.
That was simply Secretariat's way.
They both fell into brief silence, clearly indicating their short phone call was nearing its end. But Gotham Song never had the habit of hanging up first.
As for Secretariat?
She obviously still had something left to say.
"Oh, right, Gotham Song. I'll likely be away from Japan for quite some time. Will you miss me?"
"Eww, gross, Secretariat-san. Since when did we have that kind of relationship?"
That kind of relationship? Certainly not. Yet, saying something like that to a total stranger wasn't exactly possible either.
Secretariat rarely teased others. But even though she'd initially planned to say something else, she reconsidered. She wouldn't be able to return to Japan after all—and truthfully, Secretariat wasn't the best choice to teach Gotham Song how to apply psychological pressure on the track.
This American director favored straightforward, overwhelming strength—the kind that openly crushed opponents. She wasn't Gotham Song's type, someone who controlled race rhythm with meticulous precision.
Luckily, Secretariat knew just the right person, an expert on rhythm control—someone with more than a little resentment towards Japan.
After the thought of assigning her "old friend" as Gotham Song's mentor crossed her mind yesterday, Secretariat immediately reached out. And the response?
Very simple. The answer had been…
"So, while I'm away, I've arranged a new teacher for you—someone who'll instruct you on controlling the pace in races, and handling opponents off the track."
Secretariat's voice carried a slight smile, genuinely curious—and excited—to see what "revenge" her old friend would enact against Japan.
But Gotham Song felt chills creep up her spine.
For some reason, Secretariat's description sounded disturbingly familiar.
An expert at rhythm control?
A master at analyzing opponents before the start?
Someone known for suddenly surging at the end of a race, decisively overtaking everyone with impossible, explosive speed?
Wait, I've seen this episode before! Isn't this… isn't this—?!
"Come to think of it, you might—no, you definitely know her name. Twilight Song's fame made her final opponent just as legendary."
Well, perhaps it was slightly disrespectful to say aloud, but honestly—she herself often fondly recalled that rainy night at Longchamp. So mentioning it behind her back wasn't really a problem.
Anyway, it wasn't Secretariat's first time referencing such matters around her.
But at this point, Gotham Song on the other end of the phone had gone completely silent.
"The plane lands at 9 pm tonight at Tokyo International Airport. Make sure you go pick her up, Gotham Song."
"Um...could you at least confirm her name for me?"
Her name? Of course. Secretariat's voice softened with unmistakable amusement.
"No problem at all, Gotham Song. Tonight, the person you'll be meeting is—"
"—the winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the true eyewitness of Twilight Song's race through that rainy night; the greatest challenge Twilight Song ever faced in her entire career; a master of controlling race rhythm; the miracle runner of closing bursts; and one of the acknowledged legends of our time—"
Her name?
"Dancing Brave."