Garden Gale didn't mean to scowl.
She really wasn't the type who enjoyed showing people a sour face.
…But still.
The anxiety gnawing at her heart, the crushing embarrassment of standing on stage, and that instinctive urge to hide from prying eyes—it all stabbed at her like needles beneath the skin. Unable to even fake a smile, she moved stiffly, dancing like a marionette with tangled strings. Her eyes darted nervously between the Umamusume beside her as she struggled to match their rhythm, arms and legs completely out of sync.
As for singing—
Garden Gale didn't dare open her mouth. Her pitch was so horrendous that she couldn't hold a tune to save her life.
Seriously.
Forget about putting on a performer smile; Garden Gale couldn't even squeeze out a normal one.
Damn it!
Who the hell invented the Winner's Live, anyway?! Wasn't it enough just to race? Why did they have to throw idol performances into the mix? In mere minutes, she'd cursed the inventor of this bizarre tradition countless times, yet still, her resentment wouldn't fade.
She was about to pass out.
But…
If she fainted here on stage, wouldn't her career as an Umamusume be pretty much over?
...
The audience was stunned.
A giant question mark floated above Symboli Rudolf's head—what on earth was happening?
She stared at Garden Gale on stage, utterly perplexed.
So, the ruthless demon lord who'd dominated the race had suddenly transformed into a timid bunny being bullied on stage? The contrast was absurd. Symboli Rudolf could plainly see Garden Gale's discomfort and embarrassment, never imagining that this Umamusume was entirely hopeless at idol performances.
It made no sense.
Didn't Tracen Academy provide mandatory training for things like this?
Symboli Rudolf had no way of knowing...
Garden Gale had skipped every single one of those classes.
She covered her eyes with one hand and let out a weary sigh.
Ah…
Garden Gale was undoubtedly strong, but wouldn't life be easier if she didn't cause so many headaches? Seeing her like this, Rudolf realized she'd made a mistake forcing Garden onto the Winner's Live. Malicious gossip would inevitably seize on this weakness.
Wait, weakness?
Just as Rudolf turned away, unable to watch anymore, the confused audience erupted into unexpected cheers.
?
Slowly, a fresh question mark appeared above her head.
Rudolf cautiously uncovered her eyes—and was greeted by the sight of Garden Gale, center stage, performing alone.
—Of course, it wasn't some complicated choreography.
Not the fierce tangos, the graceful waltzes, or the dazzling pirouettes she'd effortlessly displayed during races, mixing raw power and perfect form into a breathtaking spectacle. Those moves were so elegant, so mesmerizing, they'd been honored as dances. But right now, all Garden Gale knew… was an incredibly simple, utterly basic routine.
How should one describe it?
Perhaps it'd be easiest to start with the dance's name:
The Bear Celebration Dance.
Yes, precisely that silly dance currently trending all over the internet.
Don't doubt yourself—it's exactly what you're picturing.
This was the only dance Garden Gale knew. Standing alone beneath the blazing spotlights, her heart raced wildly. Fear grew boundless; panic threatened to drown her. Terrified this Winner's Live would turn into a public humiliation, she couldn't think clearly anymore.
She gritted her teeth.
Who cares if her movements didn't match the others? Coordination be damned—
She'd intended well, even if it meant embarrassing herself by looking like an oversized toddler. But Garden Gale didn't care anymore; let them laugh! Arms slackening, she completely gave up.
And began her clumsy Bear Celebration Dance.
And yet…
Unexpectedly, it captivated the audience.
Perhaps precisely because her earlier performance had been so awful?
Whatever the reason… once Garden Gale launched into her awkward, adorable dance, the crowd below responded not with boos but genuine cheers, utterly bewitched by her oddly charming moves.
It was true.
The spectators had long grown used to impeccable performances polished to perfection.
…Which wasn't to say perfection was bad.
But—an occasional taste of something delightfully simple could be uniquely captivating. And Garden Gale's Bear Celebration Dance had that certain infectious quality—your initial reaction might just be amusement at how cute it was.
Paired with the joyous beat of "Uma Pyoi Densetsu," the effect transformed into something irresistible.
Like the viral "Blue Sister" from Wenzhou Fire Department's dance meme, Garden Gale's previously gloomy aura shifted dramatically. The wilted blue rose, under the brilliance of the sun, suddenly bloomed again, sweetness radiating from every awkward step.
"Huh?"
Symboli Rudolf opened her mouth, speechless. Staring blankly at Garden Gale on stage, then glancing at the cheering crowd below—well, she had to admit: the dance was honestly…quite good?
And then—Symboli Rudolf noticed the crowd's cheers growing louder, chants and cheers rising joyously, as if everyone had fallen under the Bear Celebration Dance's peculiar spell.
???
Three enormous question marks popped above Symboli Rudolf's head again—
"Let the kids enjoy their freedom a bit." Mr. C.B. appeared beside her at some point, smiling faintly, fingertips dancing lightly with the wind.
Rudolf could only sigh helplessly. "Fine."
She supposed Garden could do as she pleased, couldn't she? Even setting aside preferential treatment for a star student, Garden's path was ultimately her own. They could always schedule some supplementary dance and vocal lessons later.
She turned to leave—
Only to hear a sudden wave of shock and confusion erupt from the crowd below.
"Staff—someone call staff!" Hearing the alarm, Rudolf whipped around, eyes locked on the stage—just in time to witness Garden Gale collapsing limply forward, consciousness utterly extinguished as she passed out cold!
...
After that incident, the Winner's Live came to a natural end.
The name of this year's Satsuki Sho spread far and wide, etched permanently into history. The unforgettable vision of a figure blazing through the storm became a legend told again and again. At its heart, the Black Flash stunning everyone. Nobody had expected the twelfth favorite to pull off such a major upset, yet from now on, Garden Gale would always be the top favorite in every race.
No more shocking surprises, only absolute dominance.
The name Black Flash shook the world.
Of course…
That was just one reason.
The other… was the Winner's Live.
Garden Gale herself could never have predicted how far this reluctant dance performance—forced upon her by circumstance—would travel across the internet.
All she could say was…
Garden Gale had finally become genuinely famous.
An unexpected coincidence had propelled her further down the path of professional racing, the snowball of fame growing rapidly larger.
Would it gently melt away, or roll relentlessly onward into an avalanche?
No one knew.
…
T/N: OMG DID SHE PASS OUT LMAOOOOOOOOOOO also... oh lord i think this is the dance
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZJXvWKh2neI