Eventually, Van Gogh fell silent on the other end of the phone.
Or perhaps, after hearing Gotham Song's encouragement, she gradually understood exactly what she needed to do next—and then, as if suddenly finding her strength again, she gave her reply:
"I'm going to keep on running! It doesn't matter if I'm an idiot or not. In fact, isn't it better for idiots to not care about failing? Hehe."
All Gotham Song could think was that it was a very idiot-like response indeed…but well, wasn't that perfectly fine too?
For a kid like Van Gogh, thinking too much was genuinely a negative buff. She only needed to keep running freely, carefree and true to herself, without worrying about anything else.
Though, right before hanging up, Gotham Song did ask why Van Gogh had gotten such an exaggeratedly late start at the beginning of the race. And the answer Van Gogh gave made Gotham Song let out another helpless sigh:
Because she'd been too nervous about racing Haya of Stars, and by the time she snapped back to reality, she'd already missed the gate timing… Truly an idiot-like explanation. Ah, little idiot, you're really lacking in experience.
After hanging up with Van Gogh, Gotham Song waited for a while, but there was still no call from Haya of Stars. Another half hour passed with no response either. At this point, Gotham Song clearly understood just how huge the difference was between an idiot and a non-idiot.
See, an idiot would anxiously seek comfort when emotions ran high, while the little non-idiot didn't even think to share her happiness after a big win.
Well, whatever. Van Gogh was exactly that kind of idiot. Gotham Song had realized that long ago anyway.
When she finally accepted that Haya of Stars wouldn't call before she slept, Gotham Song got changed, finished washing up, and prepared for bed.
And just like always, Neo Universe hugged her tightly from behind.
"It feels like Song has gradually become quite a reliable senpai to the other Uma Musume, hasn't she?"
"Oh, is that so? Then, when are you going to debut, Little Universe? When you finally debut, I'll make sure to give you my very best guidance."
Neo Universe didn't respond. She just pressed herself even closer against Gotham Song's back, staying quiet for a long while before softly speaking again:
"As for that…to be decided?"
How cunning!
...
The next morning, Gotham Song took Neo Universe and returned to Mejiro Manor. Of course, nobody actually called her back; it was just that her break was basically over—
Putting aside the other team members she still needed to coach, just looking at her upcoming schedule showed she didn't really have that much spare time anymore.
After all, Gotham Song still needed to prepare for a series of major upcoming races.
"The Breeders' Cup, huh… I feel like a lot of unpredictable things might happen…"
Actually, this year's Breeders' Cup wasn't just a single race. According to the information that had been publicly released, immediately after the Breeders' Cup there was another special event—the Dream Cup, the very race Twilight Song had entered in her time—and it was scheduled for the very next day.
No matter how you looked at it, Gotham Song had to run in that race. Because of this, she felt it necessary to start preparing seriously now, for both the Breeders' Cup and the Dream Cup.
Then again, who was Gotham Song's biggest opponent for the Breeders' Cup?
Actually, it was probably just the same old group from the Dubai World Cup. So honestly, she wasn't really worried about that race at all. The real issue was the Dream Cup—the historical all-star event.
The Dream Cup… truly a dreamlike event. Gathering the greatest Uma Musume from all around the world, both from the current era and throughout history, it was a luxurious lineup—one even Gotham Song had to consider as a significant challenge.
Just mentioning Twilight Song alone was already enough reason for Gotham Song to get serious, let alone the other legendary Uma Musume revealed together in the announcement.
A single name was enough to convey just how daunting it was:
The mythical Uma Musume from history, the monster who'd once led her opponents by two thousand meters—a terrifying existence impossible for ordinary imaginations to grasp…
Eclipse.
The very horse referenced in the phrase, "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere," that was how terrifying she truly was.
It was genuinely difficult to imagine…how exactly could one defeat a monster at that level?
Gotham Song set her tablet down, unable to continue her thoughts any further.
The reason was simple: Eclipse was absolutely going to be her strongest opponent in the Dream Cup. Yet, gathering information about Eclipse to come up with specific tactics was basically impossible. The historical gap between their eras was just too vast, leaving almost no useful references or data.
Precisely because of this, there was no way to learn anything substantial.
"Really giving me a headache… Just what kind of Uma Musume was Eclipse…?"
She just couldn't figure it out, couldn't understand at all. After struggling with it for quite a while and still getting nowhere, Gotham Song decisively chose her next action—
Well, whatever, let's just go out and see how little Vernal and the others are training.
Eclipse was Eclipse. You might be history's strongest, but perhaps I'm the strongest of the current era. Since that's the case, no information is fine. At worst, we'll just face each other head-on, won't we?
Eclipse—I'll smash your pride head-on, end your unbeaten legend, and say these words clearly in front of the whole world:
Your undefeated legend ends here. It's time for the sun…to set.
After stepping out, the first Uma Musume Gotham Song saw wasn't Vernal Equinox or Gentildonna, but instead Flightline, sprawled out on the ground, totally exhausted, not even twitching—completely dog-tired.
Honestly speaking, Flightline didn't seem to be having such an easy time in Japan… Hmm, well, although Secretariat had been decent on turf, Flightline was basically only dominant on dirt tracks.
And now, particularly on Japan's notoriously quirky turf, Flightline was experiencing severe environmental discomfort. Gotham Song felt helpless about this too. Sure, Mejiro Manor had outstanding facilities, but…
From the very beginning, Mejiro Manor had never once considered the possibility of producing a dirt-specialist Uma Musume. It wasn't just unimaginable; given Japan's environment, it was simply impossible!
Thus, Flightline couldn't even enjoy proper training conditions here at Mejiro Manor. As for going out to find a dirt track to train on—that was an even more ridiculous idea.
After all, the nearest proper dirt training ground was several hours away by car from Mejiro Manor. Calling it "inconvenient" was putting it lightly—it was practically inconvenience incarnate!
But, well, there wasn't really any other way. Few countries in this world specialized in dirt racing, and Japan just happened to be among the absolute worst environments for it.
Flightline could only tough it out.
Ever since this girl had been thoroughly defeated by Gentildonna on her first day in Japan, she'd sworn she'd bully Gentildonna right back—but on dirt. Seeing her this motivated, Gotham Song naturally had no right to say anything.
She just did her best to support Flightline, while also trying very hard every day not to laugh out loud at her current miserable state.
…Honestly, a bit difficult, that last part.
Today, though, Gotham Song managed to hold back her laughter, heading towards the middle of the training field instead.
Running tirelessly around there were Gentildonna, the endurance monster, along with Vernal Equinox, who was steadily catching up.
After watching for a short while, Gotham Song couldn't resist kicking off her shoes, and as the two fillies rounded the next bend, she suddenly leapt forward to join them.
Gentildonna and Vernal Equinox didn't seem surprised in the slightest. Having experienced this situation plenty of times before, they'd long abandoned any shock. Instead, excitement shone clearly on their faces, and both began silently gritting their teeth.
It was just regular parallel-run training, but when their opponent was their very own Trainer…
Then victory was absolutely essential!!
The hoofbeats of Gentildonna and Vernal Equinox became hurried—even impatient—but neither of them intended to cooperate with each other. Instead, both stubbornly pushed forward against one another, running at the very limits, each aiming to surpass Gotham Song and the other at once.
Gotham Song felt utterly helpless about this development. She'd already been slightly behind after jumping into the run, yet now she had to deal with two fillies teaming up against her?
And what was even worse—
These little brats were actually using the very techniques she'd taught them against her?!
Fine, fine!
It seemed the students had gotten cocky—so now she had no choice but to remind them exactly why she was the Trainer, and they were still just little fillies… Gotham Song—
Launch!
A violent gust tore through the air. What had been a perfect blockade—an absolute defense that could stop almost any Uma Musume, nearly all of them—was shattered in an instant. Gotham Song didn't even hesitate before expanding her Zone, surging forward as if commanding and driving a miracle itself.
I'll blow you both away, you little brats!!
Gotham Song turned into a shooting star, and behind her, Vernal Equinox and Gentildonna became the ones chasing that star.
But unfortunately, such a thing was far from easy. At least for Vernal and Gentildonna, no matter how desperately they ran, they still couldn't catch her in the end.
"Truly… as expected of Trainer-sama. Just watching that speed makes you feel a whole new kind of despair."
Hmm. Being able to make Gentildonna say something like that was probably a sort of special achievement in itself.
As for Vernal Equinox, her face was, as always, expressionless—but Gotham Song, long familiar with her subtle shifts, could clearly see the frustration flickering in her eyes.
Ahh, it seems Vernal Equinox really has grown into a fine Uma Musume, hasn't she? To feel this kind of emotion toward an opponent she can't yet defeat…
"But Trainer-sama, didn't Haya of Stars-san call today?"
"She already did— I called her first thing after waking up this morning."
Honestly, Gotham Song still felt a little touched about it. The moment she dialed, the line connected instantly. It was already late in the U.K., clearly—but that only meant Haya of Stars must have been waiting for her call.
Though the two hadn't talked for long—since it was quite late over there—Haya of Stars had been very obedient about not keeping her up too late.
But just before hanging up, she'd sighed softly and said one thing:
If there wasn't such a thing as a time difference… maybe I could stay by Song's side all the time, right?
…Heh. Somehow, hearing words like that in this world was a little frightening.
Vernal Equinox, meanwhile, didn't say a word. She simply walked up quietly and wrapped her arms around Gotham Song's arm.
Puzzled, Gotham Song reached out and patted Vernal's head, then suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Right—tomorrow, I'm planning to go watch Satono Diamond's race. Little Vernal, do you want to come with me?"
To be honest, Gotham Song had to tilt her head upward just to meet Vernal's gaze while asking that.
And yes—it was kind of tragic to admit, but the height gap between her and Vernal had become… well, rather depressing.
A whole twenty centimeters, wasn't it?!
You could only imagine how strange it looked to have someone that tall clinging to her arm like that…
But there was a reason Gotham Song asked in the first place. For one thing, her relationship with Satono Diamond was somewhat ambiguous—unclear enough that she should probably go see her. For another, Gotham Song remembered clearly that Vernal Equinox wasn't very fond of Satono Diamond. So asking ahead of time might help avoid some awkwardness later.
What she didn't expect, however, was for Vernal to nod firmly, with a resolute, unwavering expression.
"I… can't be afraid of her. Vernal Equinox wants to go."
"…Alright. And what about you, Gentildonna? Want to come along?"
Gentildonna shook her head, offering a polite apology instead.
Though deep down, she was silently marveling at her Trainer-sama's obliviousness—and Vernal's growth.
Not that she isn't afraid… she's simply decided she can't afford to be.
Vernal Equinox-san…
"I see. Then I guess it'll just be me and Little Vernal tomorrow. Oh—how about inviting Kita-oneesan, too?"
"Big Sister? Okay, I'll let her know."
Still, thinking of Kita-oneesan… Vernal was already this tall. It was hard to imagine what Kitasan Black—already towering the last time they'd met—looked like now.
Gotham Song lifted her head to the sky, then looked back down again, sighing deeply in her heart.
Why can't my height increase the way my race records do—straight up?
Could it be that height was somehow linked to speed? The faster you ran, the less time you spent on the ground, so…
The shorter you became?!
Tch. How aggravating.
---
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