After separating from Symboli Rudolf and Tokai Teio—Garden Gale returned to the lounge, still in a complete daze. She blankly pulled out her phone and searched "Winner's Live," curious about what exactly it entailed—and immediately looked up in horror, face full of disbelief, quickly touching her cheeks as if to confirm whether she was still truly alive.
She resembled that famous painting:
The Scream.
It's actually real—!!
There really was such a thing as the Winner's Live… and it wasn't about saying some boring victory speech.
Instead... it was exactly as Tokai Teio had said.
It was—exactly like a LIVE.
So how to explain a LIVE? Literally—a LIVE performance, a concert performed on stage with an audience watching from below. Garden Gale would have to walk up to the stage, stand proudly in the winner's center spot, singing and dancing, fully embodying the word "idol," radiating charm and charisma—because an Umamusume wasn't merely a professional athlete; she was an idol-like existence as well.
Tokai Teio was extremely curious.
What would Garden Gale's Winner's Live look like?
Her heart brimmed with anticipation.
…Garden Gale fell silent.
She thought hard… nobody had ever mentioned this! Not even the original owner's diary said anything about it. If she'd known beforehand… that she'd have to do a Winner's Live after winning the race, then it would have been better not to win at all! Absolutely unbearable!
Impossible!
I can't sing, I can't dance, I certainly can't RAP—
Well, I can play a bit of basketball, at least.
Her only exposure to idol performances was from those anime about school idols she'd watched in her previous life—like those girls from Nijigasaki High, idols blossoming in a rainbow-colored place. That was precisely what the Winner's Live was, she realized. But imagining herself performing like them—
She felt physically ill.
She'd rather someone just stabbed her right here.
Stop torturing me already!
After the top-level torment she'd endured earlier, this was an even higher-level torture… No, compared to an idol performance, being photographed and congratulated earlier was nothing at all! She bit her lip lightly.
She stood up decisively.
Before fully realizing it, Garden Gale had already placed her hand on the door handle. This time, upon regaining her senses, she didn't retreat—instead, her resolve strengthened. She gently pressed down, opening the door just a tiny crack.
She poked her head out slightly, carefully observing the hallway.
Hmm, the hallway was empty. There was no guardian goddess watching over the corridor—this was a perfect chance. Garden Gale stepped out, trying to appear casual, but her entire body was tightly wound.
Good, very good.
On her path towards the exit… she didn't run into anyone.
At least, not until...
Just before the final intersection, where she ran straight into a blonde-haired Umamusume. Narita Top Road looked at Garden Gale with surprise, clearly also preparing to leave, and asked, "Garden Gale-san?"
"Ah…" Garden Gale's brain short-circuited.
She was doomed.
Her escape had failed—captured by Narita Top Road.
On the racetrack, she'd been the big villain capturing her opponent, but off the track, she was just a helpless little rabbit instantly caught by Narita. Garden Gale couldn't speak, her mind racing with despair: it's over, it's all over, now I'll have to go back for that Winner's Live…
Guh… might as well kill me now.
But in reality... would Narita Top Road ever guess Garden Gale was trying to run away from the Winner's Live?
Not at all.
She'd only greeted her out of courtesy. Nothing more.
Garden Gale hesitated for a long moment, then finally gathered all her courage—this determination stronger than at any point in her life. Her resolve to avoid the Winner's Live surged like an ocean tide, and she suddenly blurted out rapidly, as if she'd gained the ability to rap on the spot:
"Oh, nothing, actually—I suddenly remembered I have something urgent to do, gotta run!"
She dashed straight toward the exit.
Faster and faster… faster and faster—!
From walking, to running, to racing away like the wind itself—fast as lightning!
Even faster than she'd run in the actual race—Narita Top Road sensed it clearly! She stared blankly after the fleeing figure, wondering silently: Could it be… she didn't even use her full strength during the race earlier?
She tilted her head, puzzled.
Narita Top Road was utterly baffled.
…
One hour later.
On the Winner's Live stage.
Another Umamusume stood alongside Narita Top Road at the left and right positions—but the central spot remained conspicuously empty.
Even after the final countdown that black-haired figure never appeared.
Narita Top Road fell deep into thought… Where on earth did Garden Gale-san go? Didn't I just see her earlier? Wait—could she have just bolted after our brief encounter and never come back?
How could she!?
The crowd in the stands began murmuring restlessly.
They couldn't understand why the Winner's Live hadn't started yet.
"Did anyone find her!?" the backstage host shouted anxiously. "Still nothing?"
Staff members replied desperately, sweat pouring down their faces. "We've checked everywhere! Garden Gale-san is nowhere to be found!"
Ahh…
Standing nearby, Symboli Rudolf helplessly pinched the bridge of her nose. Even the stupidest person in the world could see exactly what was happening here. This little troublemaker… she really knows how to make a mess for me.
She had no other choice.
As the Student Council President—she could only clean up the mess Garden Gale had left behind. Rudolf waved calmly, signaling that she'd handle things, and walked directly from backstage onto the stage itself. When she first appeared before the audience, nobody even cheered. They were too stunned, wondering why the Emperor herself had appeared here.
Only shocked silence reigned.
Until Symboli Rudolf took the microphone at center stage.
"Everyone—"
Her overwhelming aura extended instantly, filling the entire arena with the Emperor's majestic presence. A hush fell upon the crowd.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's first-place winner, Garden Gale-san, is feeling unwell and is unable to perform at the Winner's Live. For any inconvenience caused—I sincerely apologize. Therefore, I shall take her place and perform instead…"
…A performance by the Emperor herself.
Symboli Rudolf knew she shouldn't steal the spotlight too much. She didn't want to overshadow the other girls too much. Rudolf gently guided Narita Top Road to take the center spot, placing herself modestly at the right-side third position before beginning the performance. After all, the Emperor personally stepping in for Garden Gale was already incredibly generous.
She quietly ground her teeth in frustration.
Just wait until we're back at school.
Symboli Rudolf was going to have a long, serious, and very harsh talk with Garden Gale—especially regarding future races. She'd definitely force that girl to participate—and make her pay dearly for causing so much trouble today!
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T/N: hehehe correct her