Myriad Dreams dragged her heavy body back to the dormitory and practically collapsed onto her bed, finding it a struggle even to roll over.
Every muscle was screaming in pain, and every bone seemed to be in protest.
Today's race had been won with extreme difficulty. She had squeezed out every last drop of strength just to barely cross the finish line.
The gap between having a Zone and not having one was truly immense.
"Good work today, Myriad. A victory in your first major race is impressive."
Yaeno Muteki stood by the bed, her voice carrying sincere congratulations.
Myriad Dreams didn't even have the strength to lift her head, letting out a muffled response from her pillow:
"Thanks... but I'm seriously exhausted. Who would've thought Marvelous Sunday would suddenly awaken her Zone at a time like that..."
Hearing this, Yaeno Muteki let out a helpless, light chuckle.
She reached out to pull up the blanket that Myriad had kicked to the foot of the bed.
"It was indeed a close call. But you did well." She paused, her voice turning softer: "Get some rest."
After saying goodnight, Yaeno Muteki flicked off the main light, leaving only the small nightstand lamp by her own bed.
In the dim, amber glow, Myriad Dreams quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
The next morning, as Myriad Dreams was passing the bulletin board in front of the teaching building, she was surprised to find Yaeno Muteki standing there.
Her eyes were fixed intensely on a notice, and she seemed to be holding her breath.
"Yaeno, what are you looking at so seriously?" Myriad leaned in.
Yaeno Muteki turned her head at the sound.
Seeing it was Myriad, she immediately straightened up and said, "This year's Winter Dream Trophy is about to begin!"
Her voice hummed with an excitement she couldn't quite suppress.
"The Winter Dream Trophy..." Myriad tilted her head, searching her memory. "Is that the G1 race where the fans vote to select the 18 most popular Uma Musume to compete?"
"Exactly." Yaeno Muteki nodded vigorously, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
"Most definitely Oguri Cap will participate, her popularity has always been sky-high. If I can be selected too..."
Her gaze sharpened.
"I will definitely redeem myself in the main race and wash away the regrets of my last competition!"
The morning sun spilled across Yaeno Muteki's determined profile, her eyes burning with a fierce fighting spirit.
Infected by her friend's passion, Myriad Dreams couldn't help but smile.
"I see." Myriad patted Yaeno Muteki's shoulder lightly. "Then you'd better give it your all."
Yaeno Muteki seemed to suddenly remember something.
"Right, whether I get selected depends entirely on the fan votes! I'm going to go start campaigning for votes now, see you later!!!"
With that, Yaeno Muteki left in a rush of excitement.
After all, she and the likes of Oguri Cap were essentially in a state of retirement, if they wanted to settle scores on the track, there was no other way besides the Winter Dream Trophy.
If everything went according to plan, Inari One and the others would likely be selected as well.
Yaeno Muteki was desperate to wash away the humiliation of being repeatedly crushed by the "Heisei Trio."
Meanwhile, Myriad Dreams continued her stroll.
As she was wandering around Tracen, Seiun Sky lazily called out a greeting to her.
"Hello there, Myriad-san, what a coincidence~"
"It certainly is. Do you need something, Sky-san?"
Seiun Sky rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Nothing much. Since you're the one in our class who debuted the fastest and became a G2 winner the quickest, I just came by to offer my congratulations."
"And of course, the main reason is to invite you. Would you like to go fishing together?"
Myriad Dreams stared back, looking completely bewildered.
"Huh? Why?"
Myriad Dreams knew full well that Seiun Sky was just like her— extremely free-spirited and lazy.
Generally speaking, Sky wasn't the type to go out of her way to invite others.
"Well~ It's because I can see our personalities are quite similar. I'm sure the two of us would have plenty to talk about."
A look of realization dawned on Myriad Dreams, and she promptly accepted the invitation.