Meanwhile, on the same day Oguri and Blossom went out together,
"S-Sorry!" Belno Light profusely apologized. "March-san wanted my help and I didn't notice the time and thought I could still get here in time but the traffic was bad and-!"
Mejiro Ardan giggled. "It's fine, Belno-san."
Dicta Striker grinned. "Yeah, no need to worry about it. Besides, it ain't like we waited too long."
"S-Still…"
Ardan gently shook her head. "As we said, there's no need to worry, Belno-san." She then smiled. "That aside, why don't we have some tea before we begin?"
Dicta rolled her eyes. "Rich people and their tea…" She whispered, though she didn't disagree as she followed Ardan.
Belno giggled as she heard Dicta's little complaint, but she then followed the two, walking past the gates and into the Mejiro Manor.
This was far from the first time she'd been in the Mejiro Estate. After she'd become friends with Ardan, she'd gotten the chance to visit several times in the past. Ardan's health meant that she did most of her training back at home, where her family's doctors could keep a constant eye on her. So whenever she wanted to share her tactics with Ardan, she always did so inside the Mejiro Manor.
The many maids and butlers of the Mejiro Manor bowed as they entered, and Belno smiled slightly as she greeted them as best as she could.
She still remembered her first visit here. She'd been so overwhelmed that she barely spoke throughout the entire visit, and it took her several more visits before she got comfortable enough with the dozens of maids and butlers that the Mejiro Family employed.
Soon enough, they were all brought to the manor's dedicated tea room. The round table was already adorned by dozens of different snacks, with each seat accompanied by a steaming cup of tea.
Dicta whistled as she sat down, smirking at the massive array of snacks prepared on the table. "Geez, you guys always go all-out on this stuff, huh?" She said as she grabbed a macaron and ate it. "Mm, that's the stuff."
Ardan smiled as she too sat down. "We are the Mejiro, after all." She gracefully drank her cup of tea. "And please, have some decorum."
"Sure~" She drawled as she lazily plopped another macaron into her mouth.
Belno giggled as she sat down. She drank from her own cup of tea, though obviously her movements weren't as graceful as Ardan's. The tea was perfectly brewed to her tastes—the exact combination of sweetness and bitter that she found perfect. "Ah, by the way, where are Sakura-san and Yaeno-san?"
Dicta hummed as she grabbed a macaron. "Chiyo's out with Maruzensky-senpai, if I remember. Probably preparing for the [Rose Stakes]." She popped the macaron into her mouth. "And Muteki's back at the dorm. I think she's taking it easy after winning her last race."
Belno nodded lightly. That made sense. Sakura Chiyono O's next race was only a week away, while Muteki had just recently won the [Sapporo Kinen].
"This year is shaping up to be quite the storm." Ardan commented as she gently set down her cup of tea. "It has been years since Central last experienced such turbulence."
Dicta scoffed. "Bah, even if they're stressing the hell out, the URA's probably wiping their tears with literal gold." She smirked sharply. "All the wins we're rackin' up is giving them quite the pay-out."
Belno smiled awkwardly. If there was one thing she didn't really like thinking about, it was the whole business that stood behind umamusume racing. Sure, she knew that racing was the highest grossing sport in the world, but thinking too long about all the commercials and goods being sold with her name never failed to make her uncomfortable.
Though Dicta wasn't wrong. Some time back, they had been named the Generation of Miracles—a group composed of some of the most promising umamusume of this year. It started out as just something the media made up, but as they continued to achieve victory after victory, the claim became more and more real.
And before long, it was the URA who was playing catch-up, trying to make use of their rising popularity to better market Japanese racing both to the population and the rest of the world.
"By the way, where's Oguri and Star?" Dicta then asked as she took another macaron.
Belno blinked. "Oh, they're out in Shibuya to get Star a new ear accessory."
Ardan's smile grew slightly. "Ah, right! I remembered that Oguri had asked for them to go together a few days ago." She giggled. "It caused quite a stir when everyone heard that."
Dicta smirked. "Of course everyone lost their minds. No one ever expected it'd be Oguri who asked for a date."
Belno's cheeks flushed slightly. "W-Well, I'm not sure if it's actually a date…"
Dicta just gave her an unimpressed stare. "Are you really still unconvinced?"
"I-I mean…"
Well, it was getting harder and harder to try and deny it. Oguri and Star were practically inseparable these days. Wherever Star was, it wasn't a stretch to say that Oguri was always nearby.
And even if it wasn't actually a date, she knew she couldn't convince the rest of Tracen otherwise. Going out together was already bound to stir up some rumors, but for Oguri to ask Star to go out for an ear-accessory together?
It was extra problematic, because that was something usually reserved for partners, especially when they were preparing for marriage.
"I-, we can never know, right? Oguri is-, well, Oguri." Belno said with a wry smile. "And Star is…well…" She sighed.
"Star is…?" Ardan asked.
Belno shook her head. "It's nothing." She said, unwilling to share what Star's mother had shared with her.
Dicta glanced at her before she grabbed a handful of macarons. "Anyway, how're you two feeling for the [All Comers]?" She grinned as she ate one of her macarons. "Feeling ready for the rematch?"
Ardan raised an eyebrow at the clear shift in topic, but she didn't attempt to dig further. "I have prepared as best as I can, of course." She smiled slightly at Belno. "Your strength has grown tremendously since we last raced together, and though my chance at defeating you is slim, I shall not back down."
Belno chuckled weakly. "W-Well, I'm not that impressive." She then smiled. "But I'm also ready, Ardan-san! This time, I'll be the one to win!"
Dicta grinned. "Nice to see you two pumped up." She sighed. "Tch, shame I can't run with you two. Gotta prepare for my own race."
Ardan hummed. "It was the [St. Lite Kinen], was it not?"
Dicta smirked as she nodded. "Yep. Almost signed up too late, but my trainer got me in just in time." She chuckled as she ran a hand through her hair. "Man, almost had a heart attack when we realized we forgot to send our application in."
Ardan gently shook her head. "You two are certainly a mess." She smiled playfully. "You make quite the pair."
Dicta grinned back. "That's how we roll!"
Belno giggled, before she remembered something. "Oh, and how about the [Manichi Okan], Dicta-san?"
At that, Dicta grimaced. "Yeah, I'm dropping that one." And when she saw the surprised looks Belno and Ardan sent her way, Dicta just sighed. "Trainer said that it's a little too close to the [Kikuka Sho]. Gotta be at the top of my game if I want to race against Oguri, y'know?" She scowled. "I mean, I get it, but still. Missing out on racing against Sirius Symboli? That just completely blows."
Ardan frowned slightly. "A shame indeed."
Belno offered a small smile. "Well, maybe there'll be another chance in the future?"
Dicta sighed. "Yeah, hopefully." The mood remained gloomy for a little bit, before Dicta suddenly shook her head. "Agh, enough." She grinned as she grabbed another handful of macarons. "I need some more of these babies!"
Ardan sighed. "Please be careful not to drop any of them."
Belno giggled as she saw Dicta roll her eyes.