The next day at 2 PM, Tracen Academy Auditorium.
There were blinding lights, cameras blasting like cannons, and clusters of microphones pointed at the stage.
Myriad Dreams, wearing a proper formal suit (her winning uniform was too grand, and her school uniform wasn't formal enough), sat behind a long table covered with dark velvet, trying to maintain a standard, slightly stiff smile on her face.
"Myriad Dreams, first of all, congratulations again on your historic victory at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe! What is your biggest feeling at this moment?" A reporter asked first.
Dreams opened her mouth, about to casually say something like, "Ah, I'm pretty tired, but it's good to win," as she usually would, when she suddenly felt a cold and serious gaze.
She didn't need to turn her head to know it was Air Groove, sitting in the accompanying position behind her.
Air Groove was leaning slightly forward, her gaze like the most precise radar, firmly locked on Dreams, as if silently warning her to watch her words.
Myriad Dreams instantly swallowed the words she was about to say, a slight sweat breaking out on her back.
She cleared her throat, trying hard to recall the "standard answers" that Trainer Kiryuin and Trainer Okino had prepared for her in advance, and spoke in as steady and official a tone as possible:
"Thank you very much. I feel incredibly honored and excited to have won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The competitors at Longchamp Racecourse were all extremely strong, and the competition was exceptionally fierce."
"I gave it my all and, in the end, was very fortunate to narrowly win by a slight margin."
"This victory would not have been possible without the help of the Academy, my Trainer, my teammates, and all my supporters. Thank you all very much."
Her words were flawless, expressing joy, humbly acknowledging her opponents, and thanking all parties.
It was so standard it could be printed in a textbook.
Air Groove nodded almost imperceptibly from behind, her gaze softening slightly.
However, this was just the beginning.
Over the next hour or so, reporters' questions came like a barrage: They asked about race strategy, about the use of abilities, about future plans, about the impact on the Japanese Uma Musume world...
For every question, Dream had to rack her brains under Air Groove's gaze to give answers that were both factual and wouldn't cause ambiguity or controversy.
She felt like she was walking a tightrope. Her nerves were highly strung, and her smile was almost frozen.
By the time the host finally announced the end of the press conference, Myriad Dreams felt more exhausted than if she had run another 2400-meter race.
She almost fled that suffocating venue.
Back in her familiar dorm room, she immediately kicked off her shoes, changed back into her loose, comfortable school uniform, and then, like a deflated balloon, collapsed straight onto her soft bed, letting out a satisfied sigh.
'Finally... it's over... official occasions are the worst...'
She closed her eyes, wanting only to clear her mind and think of nothing.
Just then, her phone on the pillow vibrated. The screen showed an overseas number.
It was Silver Charm.
Dreams was stunned, a little surprised.
Since the Belmont Stakes, their relationship had improved a lot, but they hadn't talked directly on the phone many times, especially not with the other party initiating the call.
She hesitated for a moment, then pressed the answer button and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?"
Silver Charm's familiar voice immediately came from the other end of the line, less sharp than on the track, with more lightness and sincerity.
"Yo, Dreams-chan! I saw the news! Congratulations! You won beautifully! That final comeback was like lightning!"
Hearing the congratulations from her old rival and friend, Myriad Dreams's tense nerves finally completely relaxed, and a genuine, relieved (but still tired) smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
She rolled over, finding a more comfortable position to lie in, and spoke into the phone:
"Mm... thanks for the praise, Charm~" Her voice carried a slight hoarseness from the press conference and a lazy contentment.
"Actually, it was a pretty close win, I almost couldn't keep up."