BANG!
A shrill explosion echoed throughout the room, followed by a metallic screech as the chains that held up the sandbag snapped from the sheer force of the impact it just experienced. The sandbag went flying back and crashed into the wall, sharply bent by a fist-shaped crater left on its face.
Komiyama Masami stared at the fallen sandbag in awed terror, before her eyes slowly returned to the perpetrator.
Tamamo Cross slowly let loose the breath she'd been holding, eyes sharp and focused. Wearing only a tank top and a pair of slacks, the sculpted muscles on her arms and legs were now clear to see. Umamusume who raced often were usually muscular by default—such was the nature of the sport, but Tamamo Cross' musculature was especially impressive.
She gulped unconsciously, her fingers gently trembling as she held onto her clipboard.
A week's passed since the [Japan Cup], and they'd hardly left Tracen Central during that time. Tamamo had taken 4th place in the end, but neither of them were too caught up by it. The [Japan Cup] Tamamo had run in was certainly the most competitive the race had ever been since its inception decades ago; the fact that Tamamo even got 4th place was amazing.
But more than that was the whole Domain thing.
To say Masami was shocked to see Tamamo manifest what was essentially a god shaped by lightning would be an understatement. Like, people had called Tamamo the White Lightning, but to see that fantasy literally etched into Tamamo's Domain was incredible to witness.
Beyond allowing her to compete with the likes of Obey Your Master and Tony Bianca, there was also something else they discovered during the mandatory resting period she placed Tamamo under. Something shocking.
In truth, Tamamo Cross had already passed the peak of her career. Through several hospital visits, they discovered that Tamamo's period of Blooming was nearing its end, and before long, Tamamo would begin facing the decline in strength that every umamusume would experience. They'd even considered if the [Japan Cup] or the [Arima Kinen] should be their retirement race.
But that had changed. Somehow, awakening a Domain had quite literally rewrote her physiology. The signs that previously indicated the end of Tamamo's Blooming was suddenly gone, and her body seemed like it was almost a year younger.
It sounded impossible, but after she asked around, it was apparently something most veterans had known about. Director Akikawa had called it a form of 'Limit Break', allowing an umamusume to surpass their previous limits, and by proxy allowing their period of Blooming to extend.
…It sounded like some fantasy her little brother would come up with, but she wasn't going to question it.
Masami shook her head to clear her thoughts, before she smiled. "How do you feel, Tama-chan?"
Tamamo grinned as she clenched her fist. "Real good. Feels like I can'ga for days with'ut sleepin'!" She slammed her fists together, and for a moment, Masami could've sworn she could smell the scent of ozone. "Aah, I w'nna race more…!"
She then shrieked when Masami suddenly bonked her forehead. "Please don't. I don't want to see you in the infirmary." She said, smiling grimly.
Tamamo's expression dimmed. "Man, t'at ain't cool, trainer."
But Tamamo didn't disagree. She knew her trainer was right to stop her. Regardless of how great she felt, immediately going onto another race was just asking for her to get injured. Her body was still adjusting to awakening her Domain, and immediately using it mid-race was already pushing it.
…And she really didn't want to get injured. She'd seen how still Oguri Cap and Blossom Star were as they slept in the infirmary—she'd seen just how much that hurt everyone, herself included.
She didn't want that. Not at all.
She sighed. "But fine. I'll keep stayin' here or whatev'r."
Masami smiled. "Good."
Frowning slightly, Tamamo walked over and picked up the fallen sandbag. She rested it on a nearby bench, before she grabbed another one and latched it back onto the stand. She gave the hanging sandbag a firm knock, and she nodded. "Right, good 's new." She groaned as she stretched her arms. "Guess we should en' it 'ere."
Masami nodded, before she handed her a towel. "Here you go, Tama-chan."
Tamamo grinned back as she took the towel. "Ey, thanks, train'er."
Masami smiled fondly.
Being Tamamo's trainer had been…an adventure. In the beginning, Tamamo had been unruly, and her hands still bore a few marks from the times Tamamo got too angry and bit her hand. Their early days, when Tamamo had faced her 5-consecutive losses after her Maiden Race, had been rough.
But she was glad they'd endured. She was glad that she'd remained here, and she was beyond grateful that Tamamo had chosen to do the same.
And now their story would continue on. The deadline she'd been fearing had suddenly been pushed back. Their journey could continue a little farther.
Masami smiled playfully. "So, what's next, Tama-chan?"
Tamamo blinked as she stopped wiping her face. "What kinda question's t'at?" She grinned, her eyes sparkling like lightning. "The [Arima Kinen]'s still waitin', right?"
Masami grinned back. "Let's win it, Tama-chan!"
Of course, despite her trainer's excitement, the following [Arima Kinen] would likely not be as they wished it was. Oguri Cap and Blossom Star—the two strongest competitors Tamamo had—were unfortunately still unconscious, and even if they were awake, Musaka Ginjirou would likely not allow them to compete.
But, if that was the case, that just meant Tamamo would have to make the [Arima Kinen] a demonstration to those two. It sounded arrogant as all hell when she put it that way, but she doubted those two would care. For the Goddess' sake, those two passed her in the [Japan Cup], and did so without a Domain.
If anything, she was the one who needed to catch up. And to many, that would be impossible. She'd already been racing for too long—her body should've reached its peak long ago.
But it was different this time.
Tamamo grinned wildly. "Thats'a given!"
'Cause her story ain't over just yet!
.
.
.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ah, it was that familiar incessant electronic beeping. A doomsday clock parading as a tool meant to save lives—nothing more but a tool to inspire despair by morphing one's love for another. And this time, I was the one sleeping in the bed.
My eyes opened, dull and glassy. Slowly, a mocking smile curved my lips, all while I clenched my fists hard enough to draw blood.
Ha. Haha.
What a cruel dream I'd been shown. Was this one final lesson you wanted to show me, ████? To make me forget and forget and forget? To try and say that I should just go on and forget about that old world of ours? That those old summer days we shared meant nothing in the end?
…sure. Whatever. I'm too tired to feel anything about it. I'll probably forget anyway.
That was what you wanted, right?
Hah.
I then felt exhaustion suddenly weighing me down, and my eyes dropped close before I could do anything else.
…
When I finally regained my consciousness a few days later, I would completely forget that momentary lucidity I had.
.
.
.
AN: Forgot to mention this in the previous chapter, but this week will be pretty swamped for me. I'll likely only be able to manage a chapter a day. It'll go back to normal eventually though, so don't worry.