To maintain her form and validate her progress, Kousei participated in two consecutive G3 races. Although the frequent races caused her some fatigue, she achieved impressive results, winning both. Even victories in G3 races brought her genuine joy.
Other trainers expressed dissatisfaction with T's approach, arguing that Kousei shouldn't compete so soon after her Triple Crown. However, T had his own reasons.
Kousei's physical condition was excellent, and she had been running alongside Narita Brian in training. This race schedule would at most leave her slightly tired, without causing any harm. Most importantly, even G3 victories nourished Kousei's spirit, something T considered more vital than training.
McQueen, to maintain her form, opted for a G2 race and, as expected of an Elite, secured an effortless victory.
This marked the first time the two had not competed in the same race. It seemed only then that the media remembered the Silver figure that had always accompanied McQueen.
"There's no need to ask me," McQueen declared. "My sole focus is the Spring Tenno Sho. If you're so curious, why don't you go and see for yourselves?"
Facing the reporter's interview, McQueen responded forcefully, her arrogance seemingly etched into her bones. Even the reporter, who had hoped to uncover some juicy revelations, found herself at a loss.
This time, McQueen seemed unusually assertive, a stark contrast to her previous, more delicate demeanor. Her answers were airtight, leaving no room for interpretation.
Even so, she remained a good interview subject. It was the other half of the Twins who truly flaunted arrogance and conceit to the fullest extent.
But what could anyone do? After all, she was a genius. Ironically, it was precisely this very quality that drew so many people to admire her.
Kings had always been this way, whether they were called "Emperor" or "Teio."
Watching the interview on TV, Kousei smiled. "McQueen seems to be in good spirits."
Because it was McQueen's interview, Kousei had stayed glued to the screen until it concluded.
Meanwhile, T was tinkering with Kousei's running shoes, the clanging of metal echoing through the room.
"I think I'm almost done," T said.
After the race, Kousei had mentioned that the feel of the horseshoes on the sneakers her mother had given her wasn't quite right. Though not a defect, something definitely felt off.
Based on Kousei's descriptions, her hoof condition, and her running style, T made adjustments. After two races of fine-tuning, they finally confirmed the most perfect shape for her horseshoes.
"Kousei, come try these on."
Hearing T's call, Kousei immediately ran over. Slipping them on, she felt a noticeable difference. The previous discomfort had vanished entirely, as if the shoes had fused seamlessly with her hooves.
Tap, tap
"Excuse me."
Sirius stood at the gate. "Training time is almost up. I've come to take her."
"Go ahead, Kousei."
With permission granted, Kousei followed Sirius out of the Training Room.
After days of spending time together, Kousei had grown closer to Sirius. Questions she had previously been too afraid to ask now seemed easier to voice.
"Sirius, you seem to know my dad and Mother. What exactly is your relationship with them?"
This question had long puzzled Kousei. Sirius's relationship with her father clearly went beyond mere acquaintance—her father trusted Sirius deeply. Combined with Kousei's inherent curiosity about her parents' identities, she had been pondering this question in her heart for some time.
"What kind of relationship? Why don't you guess?"
"Hmm... rivals in love? Competitors?"
Sirius, her face streaked with black lines, felt somewhat speechless. "I have no idea what you're thinking."
"Your father and Mother got married, right?"
"Right."
"And then they had you, right?"
"Right."
"And now you're all grown up, right?"
"Right."
"Do I look old enough to be your aunt?"
"Uh..."
Kousei suddenly understood. "If Dad made a move on Miss Sirius, wouldn't that mean..."
I can't even think about it.
The Trainer in the Training Room shivered. "Someone seems to be whispering strange things behind my back."
"I wasn't a contemporary of your mother. She was active in an era long before mine."
"Then how did you come to know Dad and Mother?"
"The reason... it's not so different from yours, I suppose. It was admiration."
"For Mother?" Kousei seemed surprised. Sirius countered, "Is that so strange?"
"No, just a little unexpected. Mother's career achievements weren't particularly outstanding, so..."
Kousei didn't finish her sentence, but Sirius understood her implication.
Sirius gazed into the distance, reminiscing about the past.
"When I was young, being born into the Symboli clan gave me a mysterious obsession with competition. Luna and I often went to the racetrack to watch the races together."
"Wait, who's Luna?" Kousei asked, puzzled.
Sirius paused, as if gathering her thoughts. "Luna was her nickname, but her other name is far more well-known—Symboli Rudolf, the 'Emperor' people speak of."
"The President has such an adorable nickname?" Kousei felt her mental image of the President subtly shift.
"Back then, our relationship wasn't like it is now, so there was nothing strange about us being together. It was at the racetrack that I saw an Umamusume who would forever remain etched in my memory. Amidst the dazzling stars, what truly left its mark on my heart was a vibrant crimson.
I was captivated by your mother, and for a long time afterward, I followed her and T around. You could say I practically grew up under their watchful eyes. In short, that's how our connection came to be."
So that's how it was. But Kousei still had questions.
"What were Mother's races like?" Kousei asked, genuinely curious about what had captivated Sirius. Was it something different from what drew her own attention?
"T gave you the recordings, right? Just watch those and you'll be fine."
Sirius clearly wasn't going to elaborate.
"But what about you, Sirius?" Kousei asked, her tone earnest. Sirius had once confided that her injured legs prevented her from running again. While injuries were common for Umamusume, Kousei always sensed there was more to Sirius's situation—perhaps it held the key to the deterioration of her relationship with Rudolf.
"There's no special reason. I'm just like any other ordinary Umamusume."
It seemed cracking Sirius's heart wouldn't be easy.
But there was no need to focus solely on Sirius. Someone in the Student Council must know about Sirius and Rudolf's past.
"Stop thinking about irrelevant things," Sirius warned, as if sensing Kousei's thoughts. "Focus on your training. That's what you should be doing."
"Uh... okay," Kousei stammered, surprised she'd been caught.
As they walked side-by-side, Kousei felt a presence and turned to see four heavily disguised figures striding confidently forward. One of them was as tall and imposing as Sirius. Sensing Kousei's gaze, the tall figure turned her head, and Kousei caught a glimpse of her piercing, sapphire-blue eyes.