"The intensity of that race is unmatched." The bespectacled man said, calmly flipping onto the next page of his script. "Last year's [Japan Cup] had blown me away, but this has completely toppled it in terms of–"
Skip.
"Blossom Star ran so fast that she left a trail of fire." Otonashi Etsuko emphasized, her eyes shining with admiration that bordered on reverence. "And that's not even mentioning the fact that she and Oguri Cap's combined power was somehow able to manifest an–"
Skip.
"Everything clicked together in the absolute best way for them." Was Fujii Sensuke's answer, delivered with utter confidence. "Sunday Silence's power, the way Blossom Star and Oguri Cap perfectly complemented one another." He smirked. "God exists—that's what I–"
Skip.
"Thankfully, we've confirmed that Blossom Star and Oguri Cap will indeed be making a full recovery." The newscaster said, and the sharply-dressed doctor who sat next to him nodded in agreement. "We believe that they might even be able to recover fully before the–"
Skip.
Dicta Striker sighed, dropping the television remote down onto the hospital bed as she leaned back into her pillow. "When does this shit get good…?" She whispered, opening her mouth just as she was fed another orange slice.
"Language." Mejiro Ardan said just as she finished cutting another orange into several slices.
Dicta smiled wryly. "Would be nice if this wasn't the only thing everyone talked about." She complained mildly, before obediently opening her mouth and letting Ardan feed her another orange slice.
Ardan raised an eyebrow. "Can you truly be surprised? It would be rather strange if something as monumental as this goes undiscussed."
"Mm, m'gues'so." She mumbled.
Ardan sighed. "Chew first."
Dicta flashed a thumbs up, before she picked up the remote and began surfing across various channels in an attempt to find something that wouldn't immediately bore her in five seconds. And just as she'd been doing for the past several minutes, her efforts mostly led to nowhere—every single channel was dominated by news and discussions about the [Japan Cup] that just happened a few days back.
…
Well, for how she complained, she didn't blame them. It'd be pretty hypocritical of her, considering it was also the only thing she could think about these days.
"So, you really didn't feel it?" Dicta asked again.
Ardan paused for a moment, before she spoke. "No, I did not." She glanced at her. "I presume you speak about whatever occurred that caused everyone to slow down during the race?"
Dicta nodded, her brows furrowed as she thought back to whatever that was. It was all sorts of weird—one moment she was about to unleash her Domain to try and catch up to Blossom Star, and the next thing she knew, it felt like time itself had stopped, and all the power she'd been ready to unleash had been extinguished.
Except then that moment of stalled time then shattered, and all the power she lost surged back into her legs with barely any time to prepare. If she didn't manage to stop herself from using her Domain in time, she was pretty sure she would've gotten out of that thing with a broken leg. Really, she was lucky that the only thing she suffered was a mild sprain. She'd be back to normal in just a week or so.
She hadn't heard much about the others, but she assumed they were also fine, considering no one else was freaking out.
The same couldn't be said for Star and Oguri, who'd be out of commission for a while. Which wasn't surprising; one of them left behind an actual trail of fire behind her as she ran, while the other outright manifested the fucking moon. That was probably one of the craziest Domains she'd ever and would ever see, period.
Still, it was pretty funny; the last [Japan Cup] had placed them out of commission as well.
Everyone was calling the [Japan Cup] the race Where Miracles Began, but maybe it'll someday get another name.
"It was that 'event' that caused your injury, no?" Ardan eventually said, her eyes cold as she peeled open another orange.
Dicta nodded, still focused on the television as she continued changing through various channels. "Pretty sure, but it ain't like I know where exactly it came from." She scratched her cheek as she thought back to that moment. "That weird feeling just came in, slowed me down, and then it was gone. Felt like I got possessed by something for a little bit."
"Interesting."
Dicta paused for a moment. Something in Ardan's voice sounded strange, but when Dicta turned to look at her, Ardan seemed normal enough. She raised an eyebrow for a moment, before she shrugged and turned back to the television.
"Dicta."
"Yeah?"
"I have conversed with Grandmonther, and I have decided." Ardan said, her smile determined. "I shall race overseas in the following year."
Dicta blinked for a moment, before she smiled. "Oh? Finally made up your mind, huh?" Ardan nodded, and Dicta grinned as she clenched her fist. "Then I'll come along, just as I promised." She then paused, before her smile became a little awkward. "Uh, but how're we even doing this? Like, where are we even gonna stay?"
Ardan smiled. "You need not worry. My grandmother has purchased a suitable location for us to stay in during our time overseas."
Dicta opened her mouth for a moment, before she huffed. "Things got prepared that fast?"
Ardan giggled. "Rather than that, it's more apt to say that my grandmother prepared it even before I voiced my agreement."
She huffed. "As expected of the Mejiros, I guess." She said, though she really was impressed. Even after spending months together with the Mejiro Family, their show of wealth never failed to impress her. Ardan bought out an entire racecourse for a day, and now the Mejiro patriarch bought a whole house in another country just because Ardan mentioned how she might go overseas next year.
"Rich people are scary." She said, grinning playfully.
Ardan smiled. "You say that as if you are without money yourself."
Dicta shrugged. She couldn't deny it—she was pretty rich herself. Partly because of the prize money she'd received from the races she won, but mostly from the royalties she received from all the merchandise made about her. She could stop racing today, and she'd still have enough money to keep coasting along for the rest of her life.
Not that she ever would. She was in the business for the love of the game; she'd keep running even if she was dirt poor.
"Well, now then," Ardan smiled as she lifted another orange slice towards her. "Open wide~"
Dicta huffed. "Girl, you know I can feed myself, right?" That was what she said at least, but she opened her mouth and let Ardan feed her. Ardan's tail swayed slightly, and she quickly brought up another orange slice.
Dicta smiled wryly, though she remained obedient and let Ardan continue feeding her.