Amid the boiling roar of cheers, Rudolf stepped down from the track and made her way back backstage through the exit tunnel.
The prestige of an undefeated Triple Crown was simply too great. This time, Rudolf had not even been waiting backstage for long before the reporters came flooding in. Kagura had only just arrived backstage and greeted Rudolf when they pushed their way inside.
Kagura immediately retreated to hide off to the side. With time so tight, she could not get very far, so she only managed to duck behind a fairly tall partition nearby. Rudolf, meanwhile, turned on a dime and slipped straight into interview mode, ready to handle the reporters' questions.
"We're honored to have a chance to interview Rudolf, who has just achieved the undefeated Triple Crown! May I ask—now that you've reached the summit of domestic Umamusume racing, how do you feel?"
The first reporter to force her way to the front row thrust out her microphone without hesitation. Watching from afar, Kagura felt like the woman was practically trying to shove the thing straight into Rudolf's mouth, as if she were afraid someone else would steal the first scoop if she moved even a second too slowly.
"How should I put it...? It feels like a huge weight in my heart has finally been lifted, I suppose."
Rudolf answered with a smile. Hearing the reporters throw around titles like the pinnacle of Umamusume racing still felt a little unreal to her, but when she thought back on the road she had walked and every victory she had claimed along the way, Rudolf knew those things were real. She had lived through all of it herself.
Still, for her, the most important meaning of this victory was that she could finally drag that little Support Umamusume who was always rushing around back home and make her rest.
Naturally, that was not something she could possibly say in front of reporters. Who knew what these people would turn it into once it got passed around?
"Today's race was unprecedentedly intense and chaotic—everyone in the stands was stunned. In a situation like that, how were you able to stay so calm and make exactly the right tactical choices? When you heard the announcer and your fans cheering you on, did you really never think about accelerating and forcing your way forward?"
"I won't deny that I did think about it—but my Support Umamusume told me before, and I knew it myself as well, that if I did that, this victory would most likely slip out of my hands. So I followed the advice she had once given me and suppressed the urge."
Hiding behind the partition, Kagura heard Rudolf touch on a subject that immediately caught her attention. She held her breath, leaned against the board, and pricked up her ears.
"Do you mean to say, Rudolf, that you trust your Support Umamusume that much?"
"Of course. She is Tracen's... no, she is the best Support Umamusume in the world. There is no question about it."
"!!"
What is Rudolf saying!!!
Kagura's face went bright red in an instant. She knew that even if Rudolf said something like that, no one could possibly identify who this Support Umamusume was—but actually hearing Rudolf praise her so bluntly in front of other people made her so embarrassed that, even through a wall, Inari Kagura could not help covering both cheeks with her hands. She felt like she nearly forgot how to breathe.
"A lot of people have been curious about Rudolf's Support Umamusume for quite some time now. Would it be possible to reveal who she is?"
"That... I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question."
Since Kagura still had not given Rudolf permission to reveal her identity, Rudolf refused to answer.
Of course, she did wish that Kagura, as a Support Umamusume, would not have to remain so unknown forever. A Support Umamusume as exceptional as her deserved to be seen and admired by more people. But before that, what mattered more was Kagura's own wishes.
Besides, Kagura's name recognition was already slowly rising. Sooner or later, this part of her identity would become impossible to hide. It was something she would have to face eventually.
"From here on out, does that mean your only remaining opponent domestically is Mr. C.B.?"
Just as people online had been saying, now that Rudolf had secured the most crucial piece—the Triple Crown—the person everyone cared about most as her final rival was naturally last year's Triple Crown winner, Mr. C.B.
At the mention of "opponent," the first person who rose in Rudolf's mind was not Mr. C.B., but the black-haired little Umamusume who stayed by her side day and night.
Naturally, that was something she would never say aloud.
She only shook her head and answered,
"No... far from it. My opponents are not limited to Mr. C.B. There are still many. From here on, I'll continue doing my best and carry my glory onward."
...
After the Winning Live was over, they rode back and got off at the station near Tracen. To stop Kagura from running off to keep working again, Rudolf no longer cared whether it was late or whether walking at night was a concern. She decisively chose to make Kagura honor her promise at once. Parting ways midway with Maruzensky and Tojo, she turned and headed straight back toward the Symboli Household with Kagura.
"Um... about what you said in the interview this afternoon..."
Thinking back on Rudolf's blunt praise earlier, Kagura still felt a little shy even now.
"You mean that you're the best Support Umamusume in the world? What about it?"
"Ah...! How can you say something that embarrassing in front of so many people and act like it's nothing, Rudolf-ojousama...?"
Seeing Rudolf remain perfectly calm, Kagura could feel her face heating up all over again.
"I was only stating a fact. What is there to be embarrassed about?"
As she said that, Rudolf lifted a hand and gently ruffled Kagura's hair.
Since she had only slept a little on the ride back and had not properly recovered her energy, Kagura still looked sleepy and half-awake. Looking at that flushed little face of hers, Rudolf felt a sudden urge to lean in and lightly bite one of those rosy cheeks.
But that would probably still be too rude for Kagura.
In the end, she forced the impulse back down.
"All right, all right. You're so sleepy already—stop forcing yourself. Come on, I'll carry you home."
"I can still walk—ahh?!"
Before Kagura had even finished speaking, she suddenly felt one of Rudolf's hands slip down and around her waist, tugging her gently backward, while the other arm swept beneath her legs with lightning speed and lifted her clean off the ground into a bridal carry.
"R-Rudolf?!"
Kagura let out a small yelp.
"A good girl doesn't push herself when she should be resting. Now be quiet and lean against me. We'll be home soon. I'll take you back to your room."
After saying that, Rudolf adjusted the Kagura in her arms, pressing her a little closer against her chest until she found a position where Kagura could rest comfortably.
Kagura was not very used to being held like this, and she wanted to get down and walk on her own. But seeing how firm Rudolf was being, she knew saying anything probably would not change the outcome.
So Rudolf has a forceful side too...
Still, Kagura did not dislike being cared for like this.
Since there was no escaping Rudolf's arms anyway, she might as well obediently enjoy the concern being shown to her.
"Thank you... Rudolf."
"You're welcome. Get some proper sleep. When you wake up, we'll be home."
---
T/N: teehee