"Seriously…"
Narita Top Road clenched her fists.
Her long nails dug into her own skin until it hurt—though she didn't feel the pain at all. She only felt her heartbeat pounding, as if echoing her thoughts, echoing her unwillingness:
"She's so arrogant."
The time was 1:10 PM
One day and eleven hours remained until the debut race.
And yet...!
Yet...!
Her opponent… Garden Gale…
Was out happily goofing off with Tokai Teio!
Those two prodigies of the Junior Division had gone from hanging out inside the campus to going out off-campus. Many Umamusume had seen them, sparking plenty of small discussions. From the newly opened HeyTea shop, or even… well, never mind.
Let's skip the details of where Garden Gale had gone to play.
The only thing that mattered was that she wasn't training seriously!
Her attitude toward the race was sloppy and unserious!
That alone was enough!
Even Narita Top Road had heard the news.
Don't ask how—everyone knew.
Everyone knew Garden Gale and Tokai Teio were very close.
She also knew… this wasn't the first time. Yesterday, some Umamusume had seen these two prodigies hanging out together. Their relationship seemed to be getting better and better, and they were together every day. People couldn't help guessing what exactly was going on between them.
Narita Top Road didn't care at all.
However...
Was Garden Gale really that relaxed?
Was she really that certain?
So certain she would win… that she didn't even need to train?
That goofing off took priority, that preparation for tomorrow's debut race didn't matter?
Sure.
To a prodigy, what could possibly go wrong in a little debut race?
Flames burned hotter and hotter in Narita Top Road's chest. She truly, truly, truly desperately wanted to win. More than any other time in her life, she wanted victory.
She wanted to win 120%.
Let the prodigy see for herself… whether the hard work of an ordinary person like her had any value.
"I will beat her."
"Absolutely—!"
Behind her stood a curious Air Shakur, a blank-faced Admire Vega, and Fine Motion—who strongly believed Narita Top Road would win. The three approached together.
"If you're interested, please deliver my exact words to Garden Gale," Narita Top Road said, turning towards Air Shakur.
Air Shakur shrugged lightly.
How interesting… Just two days left, and the outcome would be revealed. It would definitely be a good show to watch.
This desire to win—Garden Gale absolutely didn't have that. Fine Motion thought.
...
Night fell.
Garden Gale had just finished being touchy with Tokai Teio.
But this time… the results weren't as outrageous as the last two times—just a small increase in her base stats.
She probably didn't cross any breakthrough thresholds.
Then, just as she was about to start training…
She suddenly saw Air Shakur.
This delinquent-looking shark-teeth girl seemed to have been camping out here for a while. The moment she spotted Garden Gale entering the training track, she emerged and walked toward her.
Maybe Garden Gale had grown more used to interacting with her.
She only stepped back twice, then stopped retreating.
Instead, she stood quietly and waited for Shakur to approach.
What a huge improvement!
Though... she didn't know why the girl was approaching her now.
Air Shakur lazily approached with both hands in her pockets:
"I knew you'd show up around this time."
"Mm." Garden Gale tilted her head, "Did you need something?"
Naileeeeeed it.
She didn't show weakness—responded calmly and coolly. If she showed weakness, she might get eaten by the big shark!
"Oh, nothing much."
Air Shakur smirked, then continued, "Narita Top Road asked me to give you a message—'I will beat her. Absolutely!' Those were her exact words. I get the feeling she really doesn't like you… And welllll, you don't seem to care about the race or her at all, considering how you're always hanging out with Tokai Teio every day."
"Like… you don't take her seriously."
"As if you'd win no matter what."
"Top Road is furious right now. Aside from eating and sleeping, she's training every second she can—pushing herself insanely hard. After hearing this… do you feel any pressure?"
I'm done for.
That was all Garden Gale's mind could process.
Narita Top Road misunderstood her!
She thought Garden Gale was arrogant, thought she was full of herself?!
But that wasn't true at all!!!
Because no matter how hard Garden Gale trained normally… she wouldn't beat Top Road even in nine lifetimes, right…? So she could only rely on the system, be touchy with Tokai Teio like crazy, and absorb Teio's running skills to grow stronger. And it was working. She'd thought she at least had a chance.
But... after hearing Air Shakur's words.
Garden Gale knew she was doomed.
She had acted too cool a few days ago.
Way too cool.
Just from secondhand descriptions alone, she could feel Narita Top Road's burning determination overflowing, solid and unshakable as iron.
Someone without a desire to win was scary enough...
But someone drowning in determination? TERRIFYING.
And being asked whether she felt pressure...
THE PRESSURE WAS MAXED OUT, OKAY?!
MAXIMUM NO CHILL!!
The distance between her and Top Road, which she thought she'd closed somewhat… instantly widened again.
And worst of all...
She had only one day and a little more time left.
The urgency slammed into her again.
Top Road wasn't some stagnant opponent—she was using every last moment to break through.
Seeing Garden Gale fall silent, Air Shakur tilted her head.
The other girl's face was calm as still water—expressionless, serene, deep like the ocean. Even if someone tossed a pebble in, not a single ripple would appear.
So… even this didn't make Garden Gale feel pressure?
Just how strong was she really?
She didn't notice the slight trembling of Garden Gale's right hand.
But that didn't matter.
She'd delivered the message.
"Message delivered." Air Shakur turned around straightforwardly, wasting no more time. "I'll head back. I won't stay and watch your training. You should polish your trump cards and prepare for Narita Top Road's fury."
"I think… she's really mad. She feels like you look down on her."
Please stop adding pressure to me, wuuuuuuu!!!
Garden Gale was already about to cry.
She only wanted to get stronger—she hadn't meant anything else! But in others' eyes, it turned into arrogance, turned into underestimating her opponent… That wasn't true at all!! Don't be mad, okay? Thinking this way will make a socially anxious mouse UNIVERSE-LEVEL upset!
She watched Air Shakur walk away.
Now…
Completely overwhelmed, Garden Gale was just about to train again.
Every second counted.
Then she remembered something, and opened the Selas System display.
[Reincarnation: Chameleon (Golden Skill・Infinite Adaptation・3% Unsealed)]:
If you possess no weapons of your own, copy and steal those of others!
[Target]: TOKAI TEIO
[Reincarnation]: 1
[Color Change]: 0
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