After making their pact to meet again in the Autumn Tennō Sho, Dream Weaver waved goodbye to Narita Brian. As the champion of the Spring Tennō Sho, she still had the Winner's Stage ceremony to attend.
But now, Dream Weaver was no longer troubled by the Winner's Stage. After all, she had already competed in so many scripted worlds, she had long since accumulated plenty of experience.
She wouldn't say she was particularly skilled at it, but she certainly didn't find it difficult anymore.
And so, Dream Weaver, along with the second-place finisher, Rice Shower, and the fourth-place finisher, Stage Champ, completed the Spring Tennō Sho Winner's Stage ceremony.
Back in the preparation room, changing out of her victory outfit and preparing to leave, Dream Weaver couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
That Uma Musume named Stage Champ actually became one of the stars of the Winner's Stage because of Narita Brian's absence. Even now, thinking about it, it felt a little unbelievable.
It was as if everything had been predestined by her very name.
Still, Dream Weaver didn't find it all that miraculous. While it seemed coincidental, there were already traces leading to this outcome.
Stage Champ was simply the strongest Uma Musume aside from herself, Rice Shower, and Narita Brian.
Furthermore, Narita Brian had been injured for a while, so her absence from the Winner's Stage was predictable. It was just that Stage Champ's name was so fitting that it made Dream Weaver make the connection.
Just as her thoughts began to wander further, she noticed a crowd had gathered near the exit. Hearing the noise, they immediately raised their cameras and recorders, their eyes burning with intensity as they focused on Dream Weaver.
Seeing the reporters had been waiting for some time, Dream Weaver shook her head, clearing away the jumbled thoughts inside, composed herself, and walked towards them.
Her grandmother desired the revival of the Northern family. Besides achieving the Spring and Autumn Tennō Sho double, Dream Weaver needed to make the Northern surname renowned throughout the horse racing world once more.
Therefore, giving interviews to these reporters, who acted as messengers, was necessary.
In the middle of the crowd, jammed in tightly by reporters from various newspapers, Sugimoto Kentaro anxiously stood on his tiptoes, but could only see the red ribbon fluttering on Dream Weaver's head.
He had wanted to find Dream Weaver earlier, but he had hosting duties and couldn't get away. By the time he finally finished work, Dream Weaver had already stepped onto the Winner's Stage.
Sugimoto Kentaro hadn't even been able to watch Dream Weaver's performance, rushing to the entrance in hopes of catching her immediately, only to be swarmed by the horde of reporters the moment he arrived.
Now, forget having a private word with Dream Weaver, even getting a clear look at her was difficult.
"These reporters! Do they have to be this desperate?! Couldn't they let me talk to Dreams first?!"
Pressed chest-to-back in the stifling crowd, even the usually calm Sugimoto Kentaro was growing frustrated and angry.
He had never hated his own powerlessness as much as he did now. But there was nothing he could do except wait for the reporters to finish their interviews and then find an opportunity to approach Dream Weaver.
As Sugimoto Kentaro fumed, Dream Weaver had already reached the reporters. Facing the wave of cameras and microphones thrust towards her, she showed not a hint of panic. Instead, she randomly pointed at one reporter who looked somewhat familiar, signaling he could ask his question.
Tagami Kan, a rookie on field duty, was excited that his very first interview was with a G1 race champion.
He flipped through his little notebook and started with the first question.
"As the new Spring Tennō Sho champion, what are your thoughts?"
"The Spring Tennō Sho is a special race for me. I've strived this far for my family's glory, and being able to win is thanks to the blessings of my predecessors."
Dream Weaver answered fluently. She had pondered this statement for a long time. By steering the topic towards the Northern family, she could logically continue from there.
She was confident her story would spread throughout the horse racing world via the reporters' records. She had even thought of a title for her interview, something like 'The Last Scion of a Fading Noble Family's Glory'.
"What are your racing plans going forward? Do you intend to participate in the Takarazuka Kinen, which is just over a month away?"
"That's not under consideration for now."
"Are you certain? Just moments ago, Miss Rice Shower announced her withdrawal from the Takarazuka Kinen. With no rivals left for you there, how can you give up a G1 victory that's practically within your grasp?!"
Tagami Kan stopped writing in shock.
Rice Shower had left the Kyoto Racecourse before Dream Weaver and had naturally been interviewed by this very group of reporters. Just earlier, she had announced she would not participate in the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen.
So, Tagami Kan couldn't help but remind Dream Weaver—this was a readily available G1 victory! How many Uma Musume give their all, exhaust their entire careers, and still never attain the glory of a single G1 win.
Hearing this, Dream Weaver nodded. It seemed Rice Shower had followed the voice in her heart and made her decision. Perhaps this way, she wouldn't face risks on the track due to pressure.
She paused for a moment before continuing to address Tagami Kan.
"The Takarazuka Kinen isn't my goal. I didn't come to the racetrack to collect more G1 titles."
Hearing this, Tagami Kan put his pencil down again. He frowned, puzzled. He had never heard of an Uma Musume who didn't want a G1 championship.
"Then which race will you participate in next?"
Seeing that Tagami Kan had finally asked the question she wanted to hear, Dream Weaver immediately looked at the camera, her expression serious and earnest.
"Next, I will win the Autumn Tennō Sho."
Upon hearing Dream Weaver's words, a commotion immediately erupted among the reporters. Everyone started talking at once, and Tagami Kan's eyes widened as he exclaimed,
"You aim to achieve the Spring and Autumn Tennō Sho double?!"
"Correct. I will inherit my predecessors'—"
Before Dream Weaver could finish her sentence, the noise from the crowd grew even more intense.
People kept saying things like 'I knew it!' and 'I guessed it long ago!'
Before Dream Weaver could wonder how they had already guessed her goal, she saw Tagami Kan shift his gaze from the top of his notepad to the very bottom, an expression of sudden understanding dawning on his face.
"Of course! As an Uma Musume from the Mejiro family, you naturally want to accomplish the great feat of the Tennō Sho double!"
"Once, Mejiro Asama and Mejiro Titan achieved a mother-daughter double in the Autumn Tennō Sho! And a few years ago, Mejiro McQueen went a step further and completed the Spring and Autumn Tennō Sho double!"
"Now, is the Mejiro family finally aiming for the nearly impossible goal of achieving the Tennō Sho double again?!"
Watching Tagami Kan, whose face was flushed with excitement, Dream Weaver felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her mind. For a moment, she was at a complete loss for how to respond.
The Mejiro family? Me? What does the Northern family's Spring and Autumn Tennō Sho double have to do with the Mejiro family?
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.