The streets.
Even though nearly a month had passed since the Kawasaki Kinen, posters still lingered, proclaiming El Condor Pasa's overwhelming victory on February 13th.
Her massive lead—close to 10 lengths, nearly 9 lengths ahead of second place—was immortalized on those sheets.
The only change was that the streets weren't solely plastered with El Condor Pasa anymore; now there were posters for that race too.
In an era teeming with G1 events, posters featuring Uma Musume usually got swapped out pretty fast.
But El Condor Pasa's had been up for a whole month and still remained. That alone showed just how stunning her runaway Kawasaki Kinen win had been.
The Kawasaki Kinen might be a newer G1, its prestige and field depth not quite matching the Triple Crown races, the Tenno Sho, or the Arima Kinen, but it was still a G1!
Not some junior special event kind of G1!
It was a top-tier race open to all ages.
And yet, El Condor Pasa had performed on a whole other level, winning with absolute, crushing dominance!
It laid bare the gap between her and ordinary Uma Musume. This was the 'Phantom Bird', this was a member of Rigil, this was the genius of the era!
'God, I miss that feeling of standing on the track.'
Barbatos, a cap pulled low, dragged her gaze away from the poster and approached Nakayama Racecourse.
She could see the crowd of spectators flooding into the venue.
It wasn't as packed as during the Winter Dream Cup, but for Barbatos, who hadn't raced in three months, the sight was enough to make her blood stir.
For an Uma Musume, running was everything.
And the only place to truly run, to push past limits, to race against worthy rivals or formidable foes, was on the competitive track.
To compete, then climb step by step to higher levels of competition—that was the dream of nearly every Uma Musume.
Barbatos was no exception.
"B-chan!"
A familiar, energetic voice called out. A pink-haired girl came bouncing over, waving her hand enthusiastically.
"Urara!"
"Long time no see!"
Barbatos replied with a smile. They kept in touch on Line, and after 'getting the cast off,' she'd done video calls with her Canopus teammates. But this was their first proper meeting since the New Year.
"Hehe, everyone knew you'd definitely come to today's race."
Barbatos hadn't even been there in person to watch her rival El Condor Pasa's Kawasaki Kinen.
But for this one, her Canopus pals and Urara herself were absolutely certain B-chan would be there in the stands, cheering them on!
Even if it was just a G2 race. Even if it was merely the prelude to the first classic race, the Satsuki Sho. They were sure Barbatos would come to Nakayama to support them.
After all, this was Seiun Sky's race.
Though Seiun Sky had taken leave alongside Barbatos, unlike Barbatos whose comeback race was the Oka Sho, she still had this race, the Yayoi Sho, to run.
"Heh~"
Barbatos chuckled softly. Her relationship with Seiun Sky was pretty much public knowledge by now.
'Feels like I should treat everyone to a meal sometime.'
Usually, when someone in a friend group got together with someone, they'd treat everyone to a meal and officially introduce their other half. It was a good way to get into your girlfriend's social circle.
Otherwise, if you kept the relationship all secretive and hidden, it kinda seemed like you were keeping your options open or lining up backups.
That wasn't their style, of course.
But since her and Seiun Sky's friend circles overlapped almost completely, she might just save on that meal.
"Yay!"
Urara was all for the idea of free food. Her eyes then darted around behind Barbatos, as if searching for something.
Barbatos tilted her head. "What's up?"
"Did Sei-chan's grandpa not come?"
Barbatos had been recuperating at Seiun Sky's place, living with her and her grandfather. Now Seiun Sky was about to run a G2, the prelude to the Satsuki Sho.
Or rather, you could say the Yayoi Sho was a full dress rehearsal for the Satsuki Sho.
The course and distance were identical. Even the opponents Seiun Sky would face were the same.
Both Special Week and King Halo were running this race too.
So wouldn't Seiun Sky's grandpa come watch as well? Since Barbatos, who'd been living with them, was coming, maybe they'd come together?
'It's just a G2. How could my little star possibly lose?'
"That's what the old man said before I left."
Barbatos shrugged.
She had invited the grandfather, a serious case of doting-grandpa syndrome, to come watch the Yayoi Sho. But he'd shot her down with that very line.
Saying something like that was just so him.
After three months living under the same roof, while their relationship on the surface wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy, Barbatos had pretty much figured out the old man's character.
Right now, he was probably sitting nervously in front of the TV, waiting for the race to start.
"Is that so?"
Urara's eyes rolled thoughtfully.
As King Halo's roommate, she knew exactly how hard Halo-chan had been training. She'd heard Special Week was pushing herself hard too. The outcome of this race was really anyone's guess.
But she didn't voice that thought. Instead, she and Barbatos made their way into Nakayama Racecourse.
Time to meet up with the Canopus gang.
The race would start soon anyway.
Most seats were already filled with spectators. On the central turf, a slightly stocky Special Week made her entrance, shrugging off her tracksuit to a wave of cheers from the crowd.
Barbatos weaved through the cheering masses and made her way to the very front row of the stands, right near the finish line.
There, she saw her long-absent teammates and Minamizaka.
"Barbatos, how's the leg injury recovery going?"
Minamizaka didn't waste time on small talk. His first question was about the injury. If the leg wasn't healing properly, they'd need to withdraw from the Oka Sho entry.
"No problems. Getting ready to start rehab training."
Barbatos answered 'truthfully'—this was the normal recovery timeline.
Minamizaka had more or less expected this answer, having heard about it from Seiun Sky too. But hearing Barbatos say it herself finally let him calm down a little.
"Seiun Sky is on the track!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.