Just keep spinning those grand tales—it's not like Big Red or Dahlia are actually gonna get a taste, right?
Secretariat's on dirt, Dahlia's on turf—there's no way they can actually become the "strongest," can they?
That kind of thing… impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Lin Anran firmly believed: a dead fish can't flip over, and small fries? They stay small fries.
Back in America, Dahlia couldn't even beat Scarlet in dirt training matches, and then Secretariat went and washed out in the simplest debut race!
Well, okay, you can't exactly form a direct equation like [Average American Uma Musume > Secretariat> Dahlia]… and Dirt and Turf are completely different systems anyway.
But Lin Anran had a pretty good idea just how terrifying European turf racing could be. I mean, come on—the entire nation of Japan had been striving for decades and still struggled to win even a single middle-distance G1 race over there!
Secretariat's spectacular failure left a deep, regrettable stereotype etched in the mind of this highly expectant—and utterly ruthless—doctor, leading him to conclude… total bunch of small fries, the whole lot!
Even though Secretariat had now managed to win a G3 stakes race, it still wasn't enough to shake that ingrained prejudice anytime soon.
"Don't worry about a thing. Just give her the same answer next time."
Lin Anran was the picture of calm composure. His ice-cold expression served as proof of one thing…
'He's a total meta-slave, I tell ya!'
In the eyes of this despicable doctor, there was no seat at the table for the weak!
Just be good and listen to his CPU-ing—er, gaslighting—and forget about any promises actually coming true. That'd be harder than scaling the heavens.
Little did Lin Anran know, he'd just uttered words that his future self would come to deeply, deeply regret…
--+--
The next day, inside the Mejiro household.
Several Mejiro horse girls had gathered in the living room. On the large screen before them played clips from the post-race interviews of the Oaks, which had concluded just yesterday.
Specifically, the interview given by Pegasus Platinum.
The interview's popularity had exploded, rivaling that of a standard G1 race itself, landing on numerous news feeds and trending lists!
This was partly due to the sheer shock of that Oaks performance—a "Look Back" move in a G1 race? Unheard of anywhere in the world! It was also thanks to the current URA treating Platinum like their "Golden Child," promoting her relentlessly!
And… well, the answers Platinum gave in the interview were incredibly provocative all on their own.
So today, these Mejiro girls were watching the interview clips, planning to discuss them once they finished.
[Miss Platinum, what races are you targeting next?]
"The Japanese Derby. The Irregular Triple Crown."
--+--
["Has any other horse girl left a particular impression on you?"]
"I haven't been particularly impressed by any horse girl."
["Any message for your rivals?"]
"—Walk away now, and no one gets hurt."
--+--
["Then, who has left the deepest impression on you?"]
"The Shining Knight, [Margaret Nearl]!"
On the large screen, the girl with shining silver-white hair accepted the interview with an unnervingly placid demeanor.
It seemed that winning with a historic, record-setting "Look Back" maneuver hadn't stirred any excitement, elation, or passion in the young Pegasus.
A victory destined for the history books was, in her eyes, merely… meh. As if she'd already witnessed things far more thrilling and dangerous, making this seem utterly routine!
After watching the short interview recording, the expressions of Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Ardan, and Mejiro Dober had all noticeably shifted.
"Challenging the Japanese Derby next week? That's a brutal level of consecutive races!"
"And… she's aiming for the legendary, arguably unrepeatable Irregular Triple Crown?!"
Mejiro McQueen, hailed as Japan's current strongest long-distance queen, wore a rare look of profound disturbance on her features.
Ever since defeating Tokai Teio in long-distance races, McQueen had found few rivals left in Japan. Rivals from the classic generation usually shouldn't warrant her attention.
Normally, any real challenge to McQueen shouldn't come until year-end events like the Arima Kinen, or after entering the peak aged mare season next year.
But that Pegasus Platinum alone made McQueen feel… [Threatened]!!
It was the same feeling she'd had facing top-tier horse girl Tokai Teio in the Spring Tenno Sho.
And yet, this Platinum was just a super rookie, barely a month into her debut, with only one GI win to her name!
"I will never yield the long-distance throne to you!"
At this moment, McQueen no longer saw Platinum as just a "promising junior," but rather…
An opponent! A terrifyingly formidable opponent!
If it's Platinum, she genuinely might win the Irregular Triple Crown, then meet McQueen in the Spring Tenno Sho for a brutally bloody showdown!
Meanwhile, the wise and elegant strategist of the Mejiro family, Mejiro Ardan, was pondering with great interest the name Platinum had seriously mentioned.
The Shining Knight, [Margaret Nearl]!
Just how strong must someone be to earn the awe of a horse girl like Platinum?
"What a shame, based on Platinum's words, it seems this Nearl won't be appearing in Japan."
"It seems we won't get to witness the glory of the Shining Knight."
The aspects that concerned Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Ardan were precisely the most buzzworthy parts of the interview.
As for Mejiro Dober—
She suddenly seemed dazed, spaced out, as if caught in an Infinite Tsukuyomi.
As a certified "victim of the Pegasus," Dober's mind was stuck on a relentless replay of that final stretch: the moment the dazzling silver-white girl looked back over her shoulder, gazing down at her from atop the field.
It was like standing on dark, deep ruins; that silver-white Pegasus, capable of surpassing everything, stood dominant on the battlefield, coldly delivering her evaluation.
["This was truly a wonderful race. I don't think I'll ever forget you."]
Hearing those words after the race, Dober had felt a faint glimmer of comfort and relief.
After all, she'd been utterly dominated by a monster who'd won a G1 by a massive margin. Being remembered firmly by such a being… couldn't that be considered an honor in itself?
But—!!!
What was with this post-race interview??
["I haven't been particularly impressed by any horse girl."]
["I don't think I'll ever forget you..."]
What happened to never forgetting?!
Even someone as composed as Dober gritted her silver teeth, her heart clenching painfully!
'This is basically… she forgot about me right after the winner's ceremony, didn't she?'
Liar!!
(Platinum, you liar!)
(This grudge… I'll remember it!!)
--+--
Noon.
The infirmary.
Lin Anran was compiling notes on the opponents for the [Japanese Derby].
The contents were as follows…
[List of formidable rivals to be wary of:]
[Jungle Pocket (Very Strong), Kurofune (Very Strong), Manhattan Cafe (?? Possibly Strong)]
He was halfway through when a knock sounded at the door.
It was the voice of Agnes Tachyon.
"Hey, gu… Ahem. Doctor Lin, are you off work yet?"