Twenty-three days remain until the second race of the Classic Triple Crown.
Time slips away.
These days, Garden Gale remains locked in focused, rigorous training.
She's learned a lot recently, particularly the conflicting Otherwordly Running Styles—one being a Front Runner, the other an End Closer, polar opposites impossible to fully combine. Yet Garden Gale still tried.
She attempted to integrate the new techniques with her previous skills.
She tried combining them, hoping for some sort of fusion move.
To maximize her strength.
The influx of new knowledge compelled her to slow down, to reflect and consolidate her progress.
Otherwise merely acquiring skills without applying them would only leave them rusting away. No matter how potent the weapon, if it couldn't be fully wielded, learning it was pointless. Thus, she had to integrate them thoroughly.
Then she could grow stronger.
Striding toward becoming a flawless Chameleon.
Admire Vega's ambition, T.M. Opera O's formidable power—both added urgency to Garden Gale's drive.
She knew she had to grow stronger; if not, accidents would happen in the races ahead. That's why, during this period, she trained relentlessly, squeezing every ounce of effort from herself.
Today was no different.
And when the fruits of this labor were unveiled to the world, it would leave them awestruck.
...
Afternoon, 2:00 PM.
Fresh from her afternoon nap, Garden Gale tossed her equipment bag onto a bench and was about to switch her phone to Do Not Disturb mode, readying herself for high-intensity, quad-core training. But as soon as she unlocked the screen, [LINE] flashed a message from [Emperor].
Symboli Rudolf had messaged her.
The message was brief, simply asking Garden Gale where she was.
After hesitating for a bit and unsure what it was about, Garden Gale cautiously replied:
[Garden Gale]:What's up?
[Emperor]:Just tell me where you are.
[Garden Gale]:The training grounds.
A strange sense of deja vu.
...
Ten minutes later, at the entrance of the training grounds, Garden Gale spotted a striking figure in the unmistakable deep-green military uniform of a Racing Outfit—Symboli Rudolf herself, radiating the commanding aura befitting an Emperor.
Beside her—Garden Gale narrowed her eyes slightly, freezing in surprise.
The one accompanying her was no stranger…but rather someone whose relationship with her was, uh… how should she put it?
Someone extremely close to her—Tokai Teio.
To…To-to-tokai Teio!??
A wave of inexplicable guilt swept through her.
Why on earth did the Emperor bring Teio here? Garden Gale pretended to whistle nonchalantly, but beads of sweat threatened to slip down her forehead. Lately, she'd intentionally avoided Tokai Teio, single-mindedly focused on growing stronger—a fact she was certain Teio had sensed.
Last time, it had happened with Air Shakur, too.
…Discussing [Flow Shift], she'd completely ignored Teio.
That left Garden Gale wracked with guilt.
And beneath that guilt simmered a confusing, indescribable emotion—one that also made her afraid to face Teio.
But now…
No matter how long she'd avoided it, the confrontation had arrived.
Lost in thought—Symboli Rudolf approached directly. "I'll keep it short—I have a meeting this afternoon, so I'm leaving Teio with you. Spend some time together; I've got to run."
She turned to her most beloved junior. "Teio, you'll teach Garden some dance and singing techniques today. At least give her a few cards to play on the Winner's Live stage."
Tokai Teio nodded lightly. "Okay."
Yet she seemed distracted.
Rudolf's brow furrowed briefly, but then she followed Teio's gaze—right toward Garden Gale. Tokai Teio's eyes were fixed on Garden Gale's figure, shimmering softly, reflecting as if they were mirrors.
Questions rose in Rudolf's mind, but none urgent enough to ask.
She glanced at her watch, turned to leave, and waved casually. "I'm off to the Japan Derby meeting. You two have fun."
Garden Gale almost grabbed Rudolf's sleeve—desperate for her to stay.
She'd even accept learning dance lessons, anything—because she genuinely had no clue how to interact with Teio.
What kind of expression should she wear? What words should she even say?
She had no idea.
But Rudolf couldn't stay—the meeting about the Japan Derby was crucial, an event that captured the attention of the entire country. The Emperor couldn't possibly skip it.
So....
Garden Gale watched the Emperor leave.
Only Tokai Teio and Garden Gale remained.
Garden Gale awkwardly scratched her head, forcing a laugh. "Long time no see."
"Mm," Tokai Teio nodded gently again, her eyes still fixed unwaveringly on Garden Gale, bright and lively—not mere hyperbole; her pupils truly seemed to glow. "Long time no see—actually, it hasn't been that long."
She beamed brilliantly, innocence and childlike charm suddenly flooding back.
It made Garden Gale's heart skip nervously.
"So, GG, which dance do you want to learn?" Tokai Teio asked cheerfully. "We obviously can't practice both dancing and singing here, right? Come with me—we'll go somewhere else~"
Her voice rose playfully at the end.
Before Garden Gale could respond—Tokai Teio grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
Tokai Teio's remarkable grace clearly wasn't limited to running—even the act of holding her hand revealed surprising gentleness. Garden Gale had previously thought the phrase "soft and boneless" an exaggeration.
Just like that.
Her planned training was shelved, replaced by an impromptu dance lesson as the two headed off-campus.
As they walked further away—Garden Gale began to worry Tokai Teio was planning to kidnap her and asked nervously, "Um…where are we going?"
"Karaoke," Teio replied succinctly. After crossing the street, she suddenly remembered something and asked casually, "GG, do you want bubble tea? HeyTea's nearby."
Garden Gale paused.
…She hadn't expected Teio to remember that.
It had been so long ago…
Back then, before even her debut race, she'd been anxious and fearful about this unfamiliar world.
She pressed her lips together softly, unsure how to respond.
"No, I'm good."
Garden Gale politely declined.
However—Tokai Teio ignored her refusal and dragged her forcefully into the bubble tea shop. Her sudden assertiveness was almost startling, as if she'd become someone entirely different.
Moments later Garden Gale found herself holding a warm cup of bubble tea.
It felt surprisingly comforting in her hands.
Wait—where had Teio said they were going again?
Karaoke?
Was it really okay for two underage Umamusume to just go there casually?
---
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