"Time!" Kitahara called out just as I crossed the finish line. He glanced at his stopwatch and grinned. "Nice! A new record!"
I nodded slowly as I took a breath. "That's good." I gave my legs a quick stretch, and then blinked when Kitahara walked over and gave me a bottle of water. "Ah, thanks."
He smiled as he watched me down the entire bottle in one go, before he sighed. "It's a little embarrassing, you know?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What is?"
He sighed again. "It hasn't even been a month since you began training under Kongo-san, and you've already improved so much." He chuckled as he scratched his cheek. "I guess all the things I tried out back in Kasamatsu just didn't amount to much in the end-, ouch!"
"Stop it." I said, ready to flick his forehead again. "Bad."
Kitahara hissed as he defended his forehead. "Okay, okay! I got it!"
"I'm not a robot, you know?" I grinned. "Sure, we don't mesh very well as trainer and trainee, but I don't mind." My expression softened to a fond smile. "You were the one who gave me my dream back then."
"...did I?" He said, looking like a confused puppy as he scratched his head.
I just shook my head, refusing to explain further. "Anyway, things are heating up, huh?" I said, shifting the topic as I turned to look at the other side of the track.
I could faintly see Oguri and Belno over there, and they were both surrounded by a large group of umamusume. They were either fans who'd been blown away by their recent performance, or fellow rivals who wanted to test themselves by racing against one of them.
Kitahara snorted as he saw the panicked look Belno had. "That's how it should be." He smiled as he tipped down his cap. "They're stars that are always meant to shrine here."
My lips curved. "So you're saying I'm not?" I teased, pretending to look sad. "How cruel, Kitahara."
"You-, I mean-!" His face flushed pink as I laughed, and he sighed as he shook his head. "Just you wait. Once you win the [Tulip Sho], I'm sure Central will be clambering for your attention as well."
"Oh~?" My eyes narrowed slightly. "That confident I'll win?"
Kitahara just returned a grin. "Always."
I huffed at his easy confidence. "Flatterer." I said, though my tail began swaying slightly. I then smirked. "Then I guess I'll just have to deliver."
And truth be told, Kitahara's confidence wasn't misplaced. We already knew the other umamusume I'd be running against, and none of them had seemed particularly dangerous. At most, the umamusume named Shiyono Roman seemed to be the most competent, having already won 2 OP-level races after her debut.
Still, there was about 2 weeks left before the [Tulip Sho], and there was no reason to become complacent.
"By the way," Kitahara began frowning slightly. "Was it just me, but are you…running differently?"
"Oh, you noticed?" I smiled. "You're not wrong. I got some…advice, I guess."
"Advice? From who?"
I stared at the confused man.
"Wait, from who!?"
I continued to stare at him, and then gave him a playful wink. "It's a secret~"
"Hah…" Kitahara pressed his palm onto his cap. "Well, if you want to keep it a secret, then I don't mind. Just-" His expression mellowed with concern. "Make sure you're not sabotaging yourself, okay?"
I huffed, though I couldn't help but smile at his concern. "It's fine. I'm just keeping a promise, that's all." I said.
Kitahara sighed before he smiled slightly. "If you say so."
I grinned, before glancing back to the track. "So," I jabbed my thumb towards the starting line of the short segment I'd been using for the past several runs. "Another run?"
Kitahara smiled as his finger hovered over his stopwatch. "Ready when you are." With that I made my way back to the starting line. I took a deep breath as I gave my legs a quick stretch. "Ready…" I bent my knee forward, ready to surge forward at a moment's notice. "Start!"
I forced as much power as I could, and I ran.
The world blended together as I charged forward at speeds that would've been impossible just a month ago. The training I undertook under Kondo's guidance was hellish, but the effects were clear to see. Muscles I didn't even know I had warmed as I accelerated forward.
At that moment, the world became simple. My System, my upcoming race, my future goals—none of them mattered compared to the simple euphoria I felt as the winds blew past my ears.
At that moment, though my circumstances were more than unique, I felt I could grasp that one universal fact:
That umamusume are born to run.
So,
As I gazed forward, the evening sunlight seemed to bend, and I could've sworn I could see Oguri running in front of me. I knew it couldn't be real—I'd seen Oguri and Belno on the other side of the track just minutes ago—yet I could feel that familiar chilling sensation I felt whenever she and I ran together.
My throat seized for a moment.
Oguri Cap. The Gray Monster. The Cinderella of Kasamatsu. It was so easy to forget at times since we were friends, but she was an umamusume destined for legends. Her acceleration unrivalled, her power monstrous—her steps would cause the ground to tremble, as if the continent they were upon screamed whenever she ran.
So fast. So strong.
I grit my teeth.
From that moment when we first met, I always dreamed of racing with her. And one day, inevitably, we'd race against each other in a race. Perhaps it'd happen later this year. Perhaps the next. Perhaps later on when our senior years have passed, when the dreamlike Twinkle Series would officially be created,
But until then-!
At that moment, I felt a fire burn in my chest, and I charged forward with all my might. All my Skills activated in response to my emotions; {Homestretch Haste}, {Front Runner Savvy ◎}—even {Competitive Spirit ◎} activated, seemingly having recognized Oguri's phantom as a genuine competitor.
She ran. Ran after the phantom that remained in front of her. Chased at that fleeting dream that would inevitably-!
"Time!"
Kitahara's call snapped me out of my thoughts, and I quickly slowed down to take a breath. Once I did, I stared forward and found the phantom I'd been chasing was no longer there. No-, I guess it'd be more appropriate to say that it'd never been there in the first place."
Kitahara grinned widely. "Another new record!" He said happily. "At this point, no one in the [Tulip Sho] can even pose a challenge!"
I snorted at his childlike enthusiasm. "Another step towards world domination." I said in joking solemnity.
Kitahara's face flushed pink. "Agh-, that stupid-" He sighed heavily. "Tch, can't believe that actually became our team's slogan. So embarrassing…"
I laughed heartily, though I couldn't help but glance back to where Oguri's phantom had been.
I pursed my lips. Had that truly been a figment of my own mind, or had it been something more? I knew that the world of umamusume was no stranger to the supernatural—you needn't look any further than Matikanefukukitaru and the goddess that looks over her.
A possible hint from the Three Goddesses, maybe?
…I guess it doesn't matter anymore.
While I was busy with my own thoughts, I didn't notice the way Kitahara was fanning himself using his clipboard. "Why is it suddenly so hot…?" He whispered, confused. It was already the evening, and today hadn't been particularly warm. So where was all this heat coming from?
Neither of us noticed that the air around the soles of my shoes seemed to be warping, as if some great source of heat was nearby.
…
Meanwhile, at the stands, two familiar umamusume sat at the top row.
"She's gotten faster." Rudolf lightly commented, before glancing at her companion. "I assume you've played a part in that?"
"No, no~" Maruzensky said, her voice airy and playful. "I just noticed our way of running are similar, that's all." She giggled as she placed a hand on her cheek. "I couldn't resist giving her a few tips here and there."
Rudolf hummed lightly, though she was inwardly quite surprised. For her friend to be so taken by Blossom Star was…interesting.
If she was to rate the members of Team Kitahara, she would've placed Blossom Star as the least interesting of the three. Oguri Cap carried with her a beastly ferocity, and she'd shown that not even someone like Blacky Yell was overcoming her. Belno Light's mind was a weapon of its own, and Sakura Chiyono O had been entangled in the web she spun during their race.
In comparison, Blossom Star was ordinary. Faster than Belno but slower than Oguri, lacking the usual skills and instincts an umamusume would normally possess. It was only her incredible stamina that allowed her to consistently perform her now-famous Great Escapes.
But if Maruzensky had taken an interest-
"Now, now. Don't get your brain all fried up, Rudolf~"
She sighed. "Apologies."
Maruzensky giggled. "But you're curious, aren't you?"
Rudolf was silent for a moment, before she closed her eyes. "I admit that I am."
Maruzensky hummed. "It's nothing too serious, really. She's so playful and friendly that it's hard to not be friends with her." She smiled. "She's quite daring too~! Not many students would've been able to look us in the eye, much less go against you!"
"And more than that,"
Her eyes softened, as if lost in memory.
"I want to witness the era she'll shape."
"...!" Rudolf turned to her in shock. Those were not words Maruzensky would've said lightly. So for her to have such confidence could only mean-!
Her hand trembled slightly, though not from fear. "...is that so?" She eventually said, managing to keep her tone composed. Though from the rueful glance Maruzensky sent her way, it seemed her discipline was rather lacking. "How fascina-!?" Her composure was immediately broken when Maruzensky patted her head.
"Aiya, always so uptight, Rudolf-chan." She whispered gently as if Rudolf was a child. "It's not good to always be so serious, you know? You'll develop early wrinkles!"
Rudolf sighed wearily. "It seems you've picked up quite the troublesome habit."
Maruzensky giggled.
.
.
.
"Good morning everyone! Today marks the beginning of the [Tulip Sho]"
"I'm Akasaka, once again joined by commentator Igawa to provide live commentary!"
That day, the stadium of Hanshin Racecourse had been entirely filled by an enthusiastic crowd. The number of people who'd come to watch easily numbered in the tens of thousands, easily triumphing over any G3 race.
There were several reasons for this:
For one, Japan viewed the Tulip Sho as the prelude to the Triple Tiara, with those who previously won the race having either placed or even attained victory in one of the three legs of the Triple Tiara. Due to this, the race had only recently been elevated into a G2-level race, and the very first victor after this change was Mejiro Ramonu!
But there was another reason, one that seemed even more excited to most of the crowd who'd gathered that day.
"Here comes the top favorite!"
"A part of the incredible Team Kitahara, and having achieved an incredible 11-win streak. Known as 'The Comet' of Kasamatsu-"
"Blossom Star!"