"Congratulations, Suzuka! You ran a spectacular race!"
"Mm... thank you, Little Special."
Despite her overwhelming victory, Suzuka didn't seem particularly happy. She glanced discreetly at Kousei, only to find the other girl staring back at her, creating an odd sensation.
Seiun Sky, another Front-Runner, couldn't help but glance at Kousei as well, grinning mischievously. "Being stared at like this is such a creepy feeling," she muttered, though her eyes held no trace of amusement. "What a troublesome person to encounter."
"What's wrong, Suzuka?" Little Special asked, puzzled.
"Mm, nothing," Suzuka replied, shaking her head. She didn't want to alarm Special Week. If the other girl hadn't noticed anything, then whoever was watching probably wasn't targeting them directly.
"Oh my~ Little Special really cares about Suzuka-san~" Grass Wonder chimed in with a strained smile.
"Of course! Because I love Suzuka-san the most!" Special Week declared unabashedly, openly confessing her feelings in front of everyone.
"Ehh~ Is that so? 'The most'?" Grass Wonder replied, her smile unnervingly terrifying despite its pleasant appearance.
Suzuka instinctively turned away, avoiding Grass Wonder's gaze.
Three women, a drama, Kousei thought, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
"Little Special is so dense! She can't even see this obvious love triangle," Kousei remarked sharply.
McQueen gave Kousei a meaningful glance. "Oh? Really?"
"Yeah, huh? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
Remembering Kousei's words before the race, McQueen changed the subject. "What do you think of Silence Suzuka?"
"She's incredibly strong. You can tell just from watching her run once. That power to drag people into dimensional rifts... it's irresistible."
Sounds almost like she's addicted, McQueen thought.
"So, have you figured out how to counter her?"
"Of course. In fact, I'm particularly good at dealing with her kind. But she's still nothing like Bakushin. I guess to witness that kind of spectacle, you really need to be a sprinter yourself?" Kousei frowned, clearly troubled.
"Don't dwell on it. Even if Teio challenged Bakushin in a 1200m race, she'd get crushed," McQueen said, assuming Kousei's worry stemmed from not knowing how to defeat Bakushin.
To her surprise, Kousei gave her a peculiar look. "Huh? McQueen, do you really think I'm planning to challenge Bakushin in a sprint?"
McQueen's cheeks flushed slightly. "If you're not, then what's with all the brooding?"
"I just want to improve faster, but I'm struggling to grasp Bakushin's training methods. That's why I thought I might find some inspiration from Suzuka. I didn't realize you were so arrogant, McQueen."
McQueen rolled her eyes. "Likewise."
Throughout the rest of the training camp, Kousei mingled with the Gold Generation, observing their practice runs from the sidelines. Her own training regimen was twice as intense as theirs, and initially, everyone worried about her stamina. However, Kousei assured them that her father, a professional trainer, had designed the program to ensure she wouldn't overexert herself.
Moreover, her evaluation report stated, "A remarkably healthy Umamusume with exceptional resilience to injuries." Her robust health was her greatest asset. So far, no unexpected incidents had disrupted her training—not even a common cold.
After enduring the grueling training camp, Kousei's stats showed a significant upward trend. During a performance evaluation, the trainer nearly dropped his report in shock.
Based solely on the numbers, Kousei now ranked in the mid-tier.
Of course, races aren't decided by stats alone. Evaluations are comprehensive, and while Kousei excelled in some areas, she still had weaknesses. Overall, however, her progress was undeniable.
Today was the final day of training camp, a time for everyone to relax and unwind.
Kousei and McQueen changed into their brand-new swimsuits, eager to make the most of the day. They had originally planned to invite Bakushin and Rice Shower along, but Bakushin was tied up with her part-time job at the yakisoba shop.
Rice Shower was free, but Kousei wasn't sure if she would come.
Uncertain of where else to go, the two decided to visit Bakushin's workplace.
"Oh, McQueen, look at all the people!"
It wasn't just the Umamusume; trainers and support staff were also enjoying their rare day off.
"Bakushin! Eat your fill! I can make as many Class Rep yakisoba as you want!" Bakushin's unmistakable voice boomed loud enough to be heard from afar.
"Kousei!"
Rice Shower and Bourbon had already arrived at the shop and waved from across the room. They hurried over and sat down next to Rice Shower.
"Hehe~ Riri's swimsuit is so cute~"
"Really? A shop assistant helped me pick it out. I'm so glad you think it's cute!" Rice Shower replied shyly, blushing slightly.
"Agreed. Rice Shower is cute."
"Thank you, Bourbon!"
Kousei and McQueen exchanged amused glances and raised their hands to order. "Excuse me! We'd like to order!"
"Coming right up!"
Bakushin rushed over, spotting Kousei. "Kousei! What can I get for you?"
"One medium-sized fried noodles, one extra-large fried noodles, and two coconuts."
"You got it!"
Business was booming, and Bakushin hurried off to the next customer.
"Who ordered the extra-large portion?"
"Don't you want it?"
McQueen paused before answering. "I do."
While they waited for their food, the group continued chatting.
"Riri mentioned you're planning to pursue the Triple Crown Route too, Bourbon?"
"That's right. After watching Tokai Teio's races, I became obsessed with the Triple Crown."
"When are you debuting?"
"In the next batch after Kousei-senpai."
Kousei's heart skipped a beat. The title of "senpai" carried unexpected weight. He hadn't even started his Triple Crown campaign yet, and he was already being called "senpai."
"Oh, right! Kousei and McQueen's Triple Crown Races are right after training camp, right? Good luck to both of you! I'll definitely be there to cheer you on!" Rice Shower chimed in.
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt," a worker in a uniform suddenly appeared.
The group exchanged puzzled glances. It was their relaxation time—why was this person still in uniform?
"You're Kousei, right?"
"Yes, I am."
Kousei nodded, even more confused now. Why would someone be looking for me?
"Oh, right. Someone just handed me this letter and said it was for Miss Kousei."
Kousei took the letter suspiciously as the staff member hurried away. Curious, the other three girls crowded around her.
"Who's it from?" McQueen asked first.
"Do I look like I know?" Kousei retorted.
"Could it be a fan letter?" Rice Shower suddenly suggested.
The thought of a fan letter made Kousei's heart flutter with excitement. Come to think of it, it wasn't impossible. Although she hadn't run many races, her performances had been quite impressive. Receiving fan mail wouldn't be surprising at all.
"That's great! Open it quickly!" McQueen urged, sounding even more excited than Kousei herself.
Under everyone's eager gaze, Kousei tore open the envelope and carefully unfolded the letter. But the paper's color seemed odd, and it was adorned with vaguely suggestive decorations.
A closer look at the contents revealed something even more peculiar.
The letter was filled with fervent declarations of love, the words practically overflowing with tiny hearts. Kousei froze, utterly stunned. She had never encountered such explicit language before. McQueen and Rice Shower blushed deeply and averted their eyes, clearly unable to continue reading.
"So it's a love letter..." Kousei murmured.
It seemed Kousei still had a long way to go before receiving a genuine fan letter.