"Senpai! It really is you!" A girl with brown short hair and golden earrings yelled excitedly, rushing over.
"Senpai, I saw it! I finally understood what you meant by 'cool'! Seeing you running on the track, that powerful form—every time I remember it, I get so excited! Especially the way you left the track at the end, it was just so—cool!"
The moment she saw the girl's eyes shining, Manhattan Cafe knew.
It had to be 'Friend' who'd done something again.
"But how did you do it, Senpai? I was right there, but I completely missed seeing you enter the starting gate. Was there some kind of trick?"
Just as she was speaking in her excited voice, the girl standing beside Manhattan Cafe immediately covered her mouth.
"Shh—! Vodka, you're too loud!"
Only then did Vodka notice the other girl.
"Spe-chan, you know Senpai too?"
As Special Week''s classmate, Vodka was naturally very familiar with her; they trained together all the time.
She never expected that Special Week had known Senpai all along.
"Of course I know—wait, no, I don't know the 'Senpai' you're talking about, but I do know Cafe-senpai."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying, the person you saw on the track isn't the same person as Cafe-senpai."
"Huh?" The girl lowered her head, squinting at the face identical to the one in her memory.
Yep, exactly the same.
And now you're telling me they're not the same person?
"Haha! Spe-chan, stop joking! You know me, right, Senpai? I'm Vodka, the one who's been learning from you so earnestly!"
As she spoke, Vodka tightly grasped her hand.
"Well…"
Manhattan Cafe frowned.
Why did 'Friend' always get involved with people who were so different from her own personality?
Not only that, but judging by her way of addressing her, she seemed quite close to 'Friend'?
What has 'Friend' been doing while I wasn't around?
Watching the girl's eyes sparkle as she held her hand, an inexplicable irritation welled up in Manhattan Cafe's heart.
She quietly withdrew her hand and shook her head. "This is our first time meeting. You've mistaken me for someone else…"
"What!? How can that be, but…"
"Vodka." Special Week patted her shoulder. "I know it's hard to believe—it was hard for me too—but that's the truth."
"Seriously?" Vodka still looked unconvinced.
"Two people who look alike can really exist! And they're right here among us."
Under Special Week's sincere gaze, Vodka finally accepted that Cafe was not the 'Senpai' she had seen. On closer reflection, their auras were completely different.
The black-haired girl before her lacked a certain sharpness.
But Vodka wasn't discouraged by this.
She believed that the 'Senpai' capable of crashing the Derby wouldn't miss other races.
"Right! The red thread connecting me to Senpai isn't broken yet! Fate is guiding me. That Senpai is definitely going to lead me onto the path of 'coolness'!"
Vodka clenched her fist. "Cool people and those who want to be cool—there's a gravitational pull between them!"
"She's not at all what you think…"
Manhattan Cafe couldn't help but interrupt, her hand pressed against her chest.
Hearing the words 'red thread' put her in an extremely foul mood.
In the past, she had truly wished for her 'Friend' to be seen. She wanted others to know that a truly amazing Uma Musume was always helping her.
But now that this wish had come true, and people were talking about her everywhere, and more and more people were interacting with 'Friend', Manhattan Cafe's heart grew restless.
You all have no idea what 'Friend' is really doing, what she really wants, yet you act as if you understand her perfectly.
For 'Friend', winning or losing doesn't matter at all.
All she wants is simply to run ahead of everyone. What she pursues is ultimate speed.
None of those complicated reasons you talk about exist.
"S-Senpai?"
"I am not… your Senpai…"
After saying this, Manhattan Cafe walked away, her mind heavy with thoughts.
"..."
"...Spe-chan."
After a long pause, Vodka spoke, clutching Special Week's shoulder tightly.
"What do I do! I think I made her angry!"
Even if she wasn't the 'Senpai', she was still an upperclassman at the academy. Vodka's heart sank, wondering what she had said wrong to upset her.
"Spe-chan, is my life at Tracen over?"
"I really don't think it's that serious…"
"If the older senpais find out, they'll definitely label me as 'incredibly rude'! They'll never speak to me again, won't help me during training!"
The girl covered her head, knelt on the ground, her eyes filled with despair as if her future had turned grey.
"I'm finished—"
"Vodka, Vodka, please stand up first, okay?" Flustered by the strange looks from people around them, Special Week waved her hands nervously.
"I also mistook that Uma Musume on the track for Cafe-senpai before, and it made her really unhappy. Just apologize, alright? Let's go apologize together!"
"Really?"
Vodka looked at Special Week with tearful eyes.
"Really. And Cafe-senpai isn't the type to hold a grudge."
"Wah—! Thank you, Spe-chan!"
"Ahaha…" Patting the head of Vodka, who was hugging her, Special Week let out a slightly awkward laugh under the bewildered gazes of the crowd.
--+--
Meanwhile, aside from the incident in the spectator stands, the staff at Tokyo Racecourse were also bustling with activity.
"Have the athletes' details been verified?"
"Yes, all participants' numbers are correct."
"Any suspicion of substitution?"
"Absolutely not. The makeup artists confirmed before the race; no Uma Musume was wearing any kind of mask or disguise."
"What about the venue?"
"Staff are stationed in the participants' tunnel. Any unauthorized personnel will be intercepted immediately."
After the incident not long ago that put Tokyo Racecourse in the spotlight, the director, who nearly lost his job, had raised security to a level even stricter than during the Derby. He was determined to prevent any outsiders from entering, even banning trainers and other Uma Musume from the same year from entering the participants' tunnel.
All this to stop that black Uma Musume from mixing in with the competitors.
The previous investigation hadn't yielded results, but the director had a plausible theory. For instance, that black-haired Uma Musume might have disguised herself and slipped in while other Uma Musume were entering the starting gates.
Before the race, the participants would warm up outside the gates. At that time, the audience's attention wasn't focused on any single participant, making it possible for two participants to enter the same gate simultaneously.
Yes, it was a premeditated, organized operation. There must have been an accomplice among the Derby participants aiding the black Uma Musume, with the goal of disrupting the race!
Thinking this, the director felt relieved. He felt his sharp observational skills were almost detective-level.
The person the black Uma Musume disguised herself as was either a trainer or a classmate there to cheer on a participant!
By keeping these people out and strictly monitoring the participants entering the venue, she wouldn't be able to pull off her tricks, no matter how skilled she was.
This time, the director was confident of victory.
Come on! Whether you're a black Uma Musume, a white Uma Musume, or whatever Uma Musume, bring it on! My defenses are impregnable!
He puffed out his chest, the walkie-talkie on his belt emitting a static crackle.
"All participants have entered the gates. Total of nine."
"Good. Inform the control room: the race may begin!"
--+--
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.