However—it seemed Mr. C.B. wasn't here to settle scores about the nickname.
Stepping forward, she asked calmly, "Do you know what type of Umamusume I am?"
"..."
A brief silence settled between them.
Garden Gale remained quiet, expression blank as she rubbed her nose and looked away sheepishly.
Clearly, she had no clue.
Mr. C.B.'s words faltered, her intended speech abruptly derailed.
Seriously?
They called you Mr. C.B. II—as in my successor—and you don't even know what my specialty is? Isn't that a bit much? So why exactly did people connect us?
Because they both ran fast?
Obviously, it wasn't that simple.
In history, Umamusume labeled as "the second coming" always have some unmistakable resemblance to their predecessors—something deeper than just being fast. Like how Tokai Teio is forever spoken of in the same breath as Symboli Rudolf, there had to be a compelling link.
Even Symboli Rudolf seemed stunned by this unexpected development.
Soon enough, a bemused smile curved Rudolf's lips.
"Interesting."
Symboli Rudolf clapped her hands lightly, dispelling the awkward silence, and clarified succinctly, "Let me explain. This is Mr. C.B.—my friend, and your senior. When I mentioned your imitation running style to her, she initially disapproved, seeing it as limited and full of weaknesses."
"But—"
"Your performance at the Satsuki Sho completely shocked her."
"We all witnessed the incredible magic you performed, Garden Gale, and realized your imitation ability wasn't just full of weaknesses—it had limitless potential that none of us could predict."
"It changed her mind completely. Now she's curious if Mr. C.B. II can imitate the original Mr. C.B.'s running style."
"So here we are."
"Frankly, I wasn't expecting you'd really show up to train this early. Do you never take breaks, Garden?"
Symboli Rudolf spread her hands helplessly.
Shrug.jpg
But Rudolf truly understood Garden Gale's character—after winning, she wouldn't slack off. Predictably, she'd return straight to training, a discipline that boosted Rudolf's already high opinion of her yet again.
Garden Gale considered Rudolf's words thoughtfully.
I see.
In short, Mr. C.B. wanted to test whether her supposed successor could mimic her own running style.
…Honestly speaking,
it was going to be tricky.
Garden Gale knew her imitation ability depended heavily on the Selas System. Air Shakur's, Curren Chan's, and Tokai Teio's running styles had come through building close bonds (clingy flirting). Only Silence Suzuka's style had come purely from personal effort.
But even then, she'd only managed it by desperately wanting not to lose, fueled by extraordinary focus and desire. Suzuka's running style had also been relatively simple to grasp. Replicating Mr. C.B.'s technique under normal conditions might be impossible.
Not to mention...
Mr. C.B. was stronger than anyone she'd imitated before.
Unless she could first cuddle up with her for an hour or something.
She paused briefly.
Just as Garden Gale was about to decline—she suddenly remembered the newly upgraded Selas System!
Perhaps it contained precisely the tool she needed to imitate Mr. C.B.'s style.
Or maybe… [that Random Character Color Change Card] could conveniently draw Mr. C.B.—though it'd be a waste, since that was an ace she'd rather save for emergencies.
After all, she'd regretted using it so casually last time.
But still, Garden Gale lifted her head confidently. "Give me a moment. I can't promise I can mimic you yet—I need to check my condition first."
As she spoke, she jogged out toward the training track.
A translucent, pale-blue screen quietly unfolded before her, visible only to Garden Gale herself.
Others couldn't see this—she'd already tested that extensively.
Symboli Rudolf turned to Mr. C.B. with a mild smile. "Well, I guess we wait. Maybe we jumped the gun. She just ran the Satsuki Sho, after all."
"Has my fame really faded that much…?" Mr. C.B. murmured, suddenly looking deflated.
...
Meanwhile, back with Garden Gale.
She carefully examined the newly upgraded [Selas] System version 1.1.
[Welcome to the Selas System v1.1.]
[Due to host's breakthrough in independent learning, new sections "Template Learning" and "Handoff Point" have been unlocked.]
Garden Gale's body jolted in excitement!
Talk about perfect timing!
She'd only intended a casual check, who knew it would line up so perfectly!
Just from their names alone… this was clearly an ideal chance to imitate Mr. C.B.'s running style. It wasn't just rare—it was unprecedented.
Closing the pale-blue interface decisively, Garden Gale allowed herself a faint, wild grin.
Perhaps her recent victories had fostered a newfound boldness.
Wait for me, Japan Derby instance! You're next to fall under my feet! She stood taller, radiating the commanding aura of Alexander the Great on his conquest through Europe.
"I'm in perfect condition."
Her confident tone made her message crystal clear:
…Bring it on.
I'll master your running style—I'm one hundred percent sure of it.
Mr. C.B. met Garden Gale's eyes, her earlier disappointment entirely replaced by an equally confident grin—don't underestimate me, kid!
Then let's put it to the test.
This wasn't going to be like any imitation she'd attempted before.
Mr. C.B. wasn't like the others—
The difference lay in raw strength.
A champion of the Classic Triple Crown and the Japan Cup, Mr. C.B. was undeniably stronger than Air Shakur, stronger even than Silence Suzuka—the Otherworldly Front-Runner.
Imitating her wouldn't just be hard—it would be daunting.
Mr. C.B. was a powerhouse who stood shoulder to shoulder with Symboli Rudolf herself!
...
Ten minutes later.
The stage was set.
Fresh from her Satsuki Sho victory, Garden Gale was already preparing to mimic Mr. C.B.'s famed running style. Standing at the edge of the track, she watched intently as the teal-green beast before her prepared to unleash her full strength.
Could she truly replicate this style?
Garden Gale held absolute confidence that she could.
Without the slightest hesitation, under Symboli Rudolf's watchful gaze, another miracle was about to unfold.
---
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