Central faced the greatest crisis in its history. Demoralized and disheartened, no one was willing to step forward to compete. Yet, the news that Almond Eye and the other New Generation members had risen to the challenge sent a jolt of hope through the racing world.
While all the veteran umamusume chose to avoid the race, the New Generation fearlessly embarked on the path to the Japan Cup. They were set to face the strongest umamusume of their era, with their chances of victory practically zero.
Their emergence did indeed begin to shift the tide of opinion within Central. Though hope remained faint, a faction refused to give up on the organization. They passionately urged the despondent masses to place their faith in the New Generation.
Tokai Teio personally stepped forward to rally support. At a grand assembly, she boosted morale and called upon everyone to believe in the power of the New Generation—to believe in the future.
At this critical juncture, Almond Eye took the stage as the representative of the New Generation, delivering her declaration under immense pressure.
"I know the foreign umamusume's strength has left you all terrified. I know you've lost heart, but please, don't give up! We will win! Please, cheer for us one more time. As long as we stand united, we can overcome this crisis!"
Almond Eye's voice and hands trembled, yet she refused to back down. The crowd watched, their gazes fixed upon her. They began to reflect on how they had remained mired in the past, how they had overlooked so many New Generation members since the era of Kousei.
Just as they had with Kousei back then, they had initially dismissed Almond Eye, the very umamusume now fighting on their behalf. Etsuko Otonashi mobilized her entire media network, collaborating with multiple broadcasting stations to spread the voices of Almond Eye and the New Generation throughout Central.
They were racing to save Central. Contrail, watching all this from the shadows, what are you thinking right now?
Contrail hesitated. Almond Eye's actions had stirred something within her, but the confusion in her heart was not so easily dispelled. On a sudden, inexplicable impulse, she found herself at T's office.
"Mr. T... are you in?" Contrail cautiously pushed the door open and peeked inside.
T seemed to have been expecting her. He gently set down his pen and looked up, as if he had been waiting for some time. "I am."
Contrail stepped inside, clearly ill at ease.
Ever since that day, she had cut off all contact with everyone. Even T, her Trainer, hadn't been able to reach her. Contrail knew it was her own fault, and a wave of guilt washed over her as she faced him.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all. I wasn't busy anyway."
Contrail glanced at the mountain of documents piled on his desk but said nothing. Instead, she followed his lead. "Mr. T, I need your help. I... I don't know what to do anymore."
"Ah, about that," T said, rising to pour himself a cup of coffee. He smiled at her. "Since you're here, Contrail, why don't you let me speak first?"
"Huh?" Contrail blinked, taken aback. This wasn't how she'd expected the conversation to go, but she nodded anyway.
"Central wants you to run in this year's Japan Cup."
The Japan Cup. The words alone were enough to make the fear she had desperately suppressed surge back to the surface.
"No! I can't!" she blurted out, her voice frantic.
T calmly took a sip of his coffee. "Central is facing threats both from within and without. If the Commander-in-Chief were present, it would do wonders for restoring morale."
"Commander-in-Chief..." Contrail's face fell. "Can someone like me... still be called the Commander-in-Chief?"
People always say you should make a name for yourself early, but no one ever tells you the heavy price of fame. Who hasn't been young and full of ambition, reaching for the sky, only to learn the harsh realities of the world after hitting a wall?
Contrail was utterly dejected. Her spirit, once so fierce, had been worn down by a string of defeats. She was a shadow of the girl who had furiously berated Amel at the Japan Cup.
"You're right," T said. "Most people no longer think you're fit for the position. There's a lot of opposition to you within the Council. Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen fought against the majority, vouching for your right to compete as Commander-in-Chief. That's the only reason you still hold the title."
Contrail stared in disbelief. "Teio-senpai and McQueen-senpai? Why? I thought it would be..."
"You thought it would be Almond Eye."
Contrail nodded in silent agreement.
A smile touched T's lips. "Did you know? When Kousei learned she would have to run the Japan Cup alone, she locked herself in her room for days. She was terrified."
"Kousei-senpai? Impossible! How could Kousei-senpai ever be afraid!" Contrail protested, defending her idol.
"It's true," T said. "I remember it well. It was right after the Spring Tenno Sho. Teio publicly named her to represent Central in front of everyone. Back then, Kousei was far less accomplished than you are now—she'd only won a single G3 race. The idea of a G3-level runner representing Central in the Japan Cup was considered absurd.
"Everyone blamed her. No one believed in her. The vicious words were inescapable, even if she covered her ears. The foreign team, led by Caesar Rose, was nearly invincible. Almost everyone thought Central was doomed. But in reality..." T glanced at Contrail.
"In reality, Kousei-senpai won," Contrail finished, her voice soft. She knew that moment well—it was when her admiration for Kousei truly began.
"Contrail," T asked, "do you really think you're inferior to Almond Eye?"
Contrail struggled to answer. "Isn't it obvious?"
"You're really not like Kousei," T said, turning to look out the window. "Not in any way."
Contrail's shoulders slumped. "Kousei-senpai is a legend. How could I ever compare myself to her?"
"Legendary... such an easy word to throw around," T said, turning his gaze back from the window. "Contrail, if you're really set on giving up, at least do one last thing for Central. Go run in the Japan Cup. That way, no matter the outcome, you'll have a clear conscience."
"A clear conscience... Can I really have that?" Contrail asked herself, her hand pressed to her chest.
"Even if I wanted to race, I don't have a Personal Racing Outfit anymore," she said. "Kousei-senpai won't let me wear hers."
"Oh, about that," T said, as if he'd been waiting for this. He produced a box.
"What's this?"
"Open it and see."
Contrail opened the box. Inside lay a complete Personal Racing Outfit. She looked at T, confused.
"Don't worry," he said. "It's already been officially registered."
The outfit was completely different, styled like a flight jacket. Contrail noticed something special and reached for it.
She held a brand-new pair of goggles in her hands, staring at them, lost for words.
"You've always said you love flight jackets," T explained. "And your old goggles have seen better days. Since Kousei's outfit is out of the question, why not take this chance for a complete overhaul?"
It truly was a complete overhaul. The brand-new Personal Racing Outfit bore no trace of Kousei. The outfit sent a powerful message, declaring to everyone that its owner was Contrail.
"Contrail, you can never reach the future if you're obsessed with the past," T said earnestly, hoping she would finally understand everything Kousei had shown her with her back turned.