"You… seem a bit off lately? Should we go see that [Dr. Lin]?"
The dark-coated girl—her name was Manhattan Café.
She was one of the few friends who got along well with Agnes Tachyon, and at the same time… she was a contender in this year's Classic Triple Crown races.
But compared to Agnes Tachyon, she had almost no dominance in middle-distance races. Only in the long-distance run—the final 3000m of the Kikuka Shō—could she truly unleash her full strength.
Right now, Manhattan Café set down her coffee cup, gazing at Agnes Tachyon with a hint of concern.
Because they were close, she knew exactly how terrifying Agnes Tachyon's real ability was. Aiming for an Undefeated Triple Crown wasn't some joke or overestimation.
But… ever since the Satsuki Shō ended, Manhattan Café had noticed something off.
Agnes Tachyon's training had changed slightly. Often, in the latter half of her sessions, her speed would dip just a little compared to before.
Like that little pegasus next door, the one who challenged Agnes Tachyon—just after crushing super rookie Daiwa Scarlet in her debut race, she went on to dominate a stakes race by a landslide a mere seven days later.
Even if Agnes Tachyon needed recovery time after the Satsuki Shō, it shouldn't take this long. A week or two had passed, and she still wasn't back to normal training levels?
Could it be… that something was really wrong?
A faint unease gnawed at Manhattan Café. After taking a sip of coffee, she set her cup down and spoke up.
"That little one's no joke. She's not stupid—if she's challenging you, she must have some confidence."
"If you're not at your best, the Japanese Derby won't be so easy."
Her tone was calm, but the words carried a warning.
Agnes Tachyon paused slightly, her usual smirk fading as she nodded in agreement.
"Alright… I have been a bit off lately."
"Against that little pegasus, I should stay in top form. She'll definitely give me a good fight."
"Besides—"
For once, Agnes Tachyon's focus shifted—not from the pegasus, Platinum, but to someone else.
Considering how much of the mad scientist's research revolved around Platinum, for her to change the subject so abruptly…
"Dr. Lin. The one who even healed Tokai Teio's fracture in record time."
Even if Agnes Tachyon didn't think her issue was serious, she was willing to spare some time to meet this doctor who'd come all the way from America.
At most, it was probably just some minor foot discomfort. A few days of rest would fix it, right?
"He's… not ordinary, either."
"After all… he's the one even the [Crimson Monster] from America can't stop thinking about!"
"I'll make time in the next couple days. Let's see what this Dr. Lin is all about."
--+--
Meanwhile.
On the training field, Daiwa Scarlet was running drills alongside her senior, Tokai Teio.
Compared to the fiery, healthy Scarlet, Teio—still in rehab, not yet back to her peak—couldn't handle the same training volume yet.
So, Teio finished early, plopping down on a bench outside the track to rest.
As she wiped her sweat with a towel, boredom led her to pull out her phone.
And the moment she opened it—
Something flashed across the screen, making the undefeated double-crown champion's pupils shrink.
"Wait… why did the entry list for the Japanese Derby and the Oaks update after the deadline?"
"Let me see—"
A few seconds later, Teio's voice jolted up in shock.
"Huh?!?!"
Even Scarlet, still mid-sprint, whipped her head around. For someone like Teio—one of Japan's top racers—to lose her cool like this… that never happened.
"Teio-senpai, what's wrong?"
"Platinum! She—!!"
The moment Teio uttered that name, Scarlet's ears shot up.
"Platinum's giving up her shot at the Hopeful Stakes this year, and next year's undefeated Triple Crown! She's switching to this year's Classics!"
Teio's voice trembled as she read the news on her phone.
"She paid a huge late-entry fee to register for the Oaks and the Japanese Derby! She's aiming for at least one of them!"
Abandoning a shot at an undefeated Triple Crown to fight monsters like Agnes Tachyon for the remaining two Classics—or settling for the less prestigious Filly Triple Crown…
From any angle, it made no sense.
Why would Platinum do this?
Then, Teio remembered—yesterday, when she'd guided Platinum around, she'd asked what races the pegasus was aiming for.
Platinum had held up three fingers.
Was that the hint?
"Three fingers… does that mean the Classic Triple Crown? But no, she can't enter the Satsuki Shō now."
"Unless… the Irregular Triple Crown?"
An impossible feat—one that would never be replicated. Teio's first thought was no way.
But if—
If she could pull it off—
It would surpass even an Undefeated Triple Crown!
"Could it really be… the Irregular Triple Crown?"
Meanwhile, Scarlet stood frozen.
The honor student blinked rapidly, struggling to process it.
From her very debut, she'd lost to Platinum. She'd even asked if Platinum was aiming for next year's Classics or the Filly Triple Crown—she'd been burning for revenge!
But Platinum had just said, "I'm racing the Classics this year." Scarlet hadn't taken it seriously.
Yet now… it wasn't a joke? She meant it literally?
Wait, didn't that mean their "rivalry" just turned into a "mother-daughter" dynamic?
Platinum, who should've been her peer, was now her senior? And she was going up against Scarlet's idol, Agnes Tachyon?
"Kuh…"
"Senpai… you can't lose!"
One day later.
Clad in her white coat, Agnes Tachyon glanced at her phone's screen as she walked toward the foreign doctor's office.
[Daiwa Scarlet: Senpai… if you race Platinum, will you win?]
Just one day, and already so many people were hyped for her showdown with Platinum in the Derby?
A faint smirk curled on Agnes Tachyon's lips as she stepped into Dr. Lin's office, typing one last reply.
[Agnes Tachyon: If it's Platinum… it might be tough.]
[Agnes Tachyon: But—I will win!]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.