Thank goodness I've been here before, so the course wasn't totally unfamiliar to me.
Similar to the oval-shaped Tokyo Racecourse, Kyoto Racecourse had a relatively flat track layout. The only real difference was that massive, four-meter steep slope at the triangular turn.
For a Uma Musume, it was practically a heart-stopper. Most of your stamina early on would get chewed up just tackling that incline.
This race wasn't going to be simple.
After adjusting the girl's outfit, Agnes Tachyon said, "Well then, I'm heading back. Manhattan Cafe is still waiting for me in the stands. After the race, I'll take all this stuff back to the classroom, so you can just come pick it up then."
With that, Agnes Tachyon made to leave the changing stall.
"Oh, right." She paused abruptly.
"As compensation for not showing up at the lab for so long and providing me with research material... for this race... I hope you'll show me something truly worthy."
Ever since the girl had taken on her trainee status, she'd basically stopped visiting Agnes Tachyon's place entirely.
This had left Agnes Tachyon thoroughly gloomy, unable to muster any enthusiasm for anything.
At the very least, in this race, she needed to provide some experimental data worth recording to satisfy that restless, craving heart of hers!
"You've got a point," the girl nodded.
"Well then, for this race, it's about time."
"Oh?" Agnes Tachyon's eyebrow quirked slightly.
Was she planning something big?
"In that case, I'll be looking forward to it."
She picked up her suitcase.
"Anyway, you've got that other identity now. Being a little more... unrestrained than before... might not be such a bad thing."
Leaving those words behind, Agnes Tachyon exited the restroom.
The girl in black walked out silently.
More unrestrained than before.
That phrase was no longer enough to describe what she was about to do.
Standing before the mirror, the girl looked at her own face.
'Have you made your decision?'
Sunday Silence asked.
"Mhm," she nodded. "No matter how much I try to hide it, under everyone's watchful eyes, the day of exposure will come eventually."
She believed that by now, quite a few people had probably caught on.
"After this race, everyone will realize I don't only appear at Tokyo Racecourse. I could show up at any track nearby."
"Correct." Golden eyes met her own through the mirror's surface.
It was both the other looking at her, and the girl looking at herself.
'The 'Phantom' truly exists. When this unbelievable truth is laid bare before people, will they choose to turn a blind eye, to cling to their own explanations, or...'
Accept this inconceivable reality and turn the world upside down?
"Heh, haha, hahaha... HAHAHAHA—!!!"
Sunday Silence let out a clear, melodious laugh.
"Wonderful! Simply marvelous! What an amusing turn of events. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces. Yes, my other half. Even if we're discovered, it must be with a spectacular bang!"
Holding her stomach, Sunday Silence spoke with palpable delight.
'And on such an important occasion, I absolutely forbid you from using that boring running form again.'
Suddenly, a soft hand gripped the girl's.
Then, it pulled her into the mirror.
'From now on, discard those tactics. Cast aside those complicated thoughts. And follow my lead.'
Holding her close, Sunday Silence whispered softly, 'It's time to step into the world that belongs to 'me'.'
--+--
Finally, the time had come!
In the spectator stands, Fujii Senosuke gripped his camera excitedly.
He had been yearning for the Kikuka Sho until his eyes were practically spinning, wishing he could just sleep straight through to race day.
After reclaiming control of the website, apart from essential interviews, Fujii Senosuke had poured all his energy into it.
Under his management, the site had taken proper shape, and the incident of the fake notice letter had gradually faded from memory over time.
However, with no races for so long, discussions about the Black Phantom had cooled, and fewer and fewer people were leaving comments.
Worse, sometimes the information fields about the Black Phantom on the site would mysteriously fill with garbled code that couldn't be deleted, giving Fujii Senosuke quite the headache.
Fortunately, after today, all these issues would be perfectly resolved.
As long as she participated in the race, they could input new data, pushing that garbled code further down. The number of people discussing it would surge, reigniting the fervor.
Then, the website would flourish once more.
Just as Fujii Senosuke was feeling rather pleased with himself, a spectator jostled him hard, nearly sending his camera tumbling to the ground.
"Whoa!"
"OH! I'm so sorry!"
The blonde woman who had bumped into him said.
"It's fine..." Fujii Senosuke pushed up his glasses, replying instinctively as cold sweat formed, his gaze shifting to her face.
The next moment, he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Obey Your Master... Why are you here?"
It never crossed Fujii Senosuke's dreams that standing next to him would be the American Uma Musume, Obey Your Master.
That golden hair with blue highlights—there was no way he could mistake her!
Especially this year, with the upcoming [Japan Cup], he and other reporters had gathered to predict which Uma Musume various countries might send.
'Obey Your Master's' name was prominently on that list.
"Hmm?"
The blonde girl smiled.
"You're a Japanese reporter, right? And you still recognized me?"
She spoke fluent Japanese.
"That's right. I'm Fujii, a reporter covering Uma Musume news," Fujii Senosuke replied.
"Why is an American Uma Musume here?"
"Hmm."
Obey Your Master pondered for a moment, then said, "Sorry, but I can't tell you that."
Can't tell...
"Don't tell me you're participating in this year's [Japan Cup]!?"
He never expected to get such intelligence in advance here.
"Being pushy isn't a good habit, Mr. Fujii."
Obey Your Master shook her head.
The student council president had sworn her to secrecy; she couldn't reveal her purpose for coming to Japan. Offending the president would mean trouble for her.
But...
Looking at the excited face of Fujii Senosuke before her, Obey Your Master suddenly had an interesting thought.
"I can give you a little hint about something intriguing."
"W-what?"
Could it be intel on the American competitors?
Fujii Senosuke held his patience.
"Take a good look around these spectators. See how many... 'special' individuals there are..."
Obey Your Master emphasized the word.
'Special'?
Fujii Senosuke frowned slightly and, following her signal, slowly scanned the spectator stands.
Then, his expression gradually shifted from puzzlement to astonishment.
Why...
His jaw dropped.
Why... were there so many foreign Uma Musume here?
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.