This trip was supposed to be a quick one. I was supposed to tour the Kentucky Tracen Academy for a few hours, Secretariat would return, and after that I'd be on my way back to Virginia.
Except Secretariat was a big fat liar, and I realized far too late that I'd been dragged into another of her schemes.
I sighed, a wry smile on my face.「So she isn't coming back until tomorrow.」I summarized after hearing what the limousine driver had to say.
The man could only bow his head.「Apologies for the inconvenience, Lady Blossom. But Lady Secretariat has made herself clear that she would not return to this Tracen until at least tomorrow morning.」He smiled wanly, having already become used to his mistress' antics.「There is little these old bones could do against her, I'm afraid.」
Right now, I was back at the Tracen's gates after I'd been informed by one of the Tracen's staff about the limousine's return. I'd gone here to see if we were ready to depart, and I was prepared to ask for a little time to bid farewell to Wayne and Sunday Silence, but it seemed things wouldn't be so simple.
I just shrugged.「It's fine. If Secretariat thinks this is the best idea」I glanced back to the Tracen for a moment, before I turned back to him.「I assume we already have a hotel booked for the night?」
At that, the driver smiled with guilt.「Of course, Lady Blossom.」
I sighed again.「So I was the only one in the dark, huh~?」
The driver's frail stature trembled terribly as he heard my playful tone, his face pale and drenched with sweat. I raised an eyebrow for a moment, wondering just what the old man could've seen or experienced from Secretariat for him to be so scared, but I didn't think much about it.
「Oh well.」I eventually said.「Then I'll stay here for a bit more.」
The driver bowed.「I'll be here to wait for your return.」
I nodded, and I soon turned around and walked back into the academy.
This time, I attracted far more attention as I walked. My recent practice run had quickly spread around the academy. Even if only a few dozen students had actually observed me run, that was more than enough to cement that I was the real deal. And since Wayne wasn't with me this time, many of them actually came up and asked if they too could run with me.
I couldn't help but smile slightly every time someone asked me that. I politely refused every time, mostly because I had something else I needed to do. But a part of me wanted to agree. After all, it'd been a while since I had so many people eagerly asking me to run with them.
Before long, I made it to my destination—a recently furnished clubroom, located at the Southern corner of the academy.
And inside were Wayne Lukas and Sunday Silence, both of them sitting by a table they'd recently acquired from the storage room, deep in conversation as they discussed the upcoming races Sunday would tackle during her Classic year.
Wayne turned to me, and he blinked.「Ms. Blossom? You're still here?」
「It seems like our benefactor's got a different plan.」I said, intentionally omitting Secretariat's name since Sunday was also here.「I'll be staying here for a few more hours, it seems.」
Wayne nodded, smiling wryly.「Ah, I suppose that isn't so surprising, is it?」He said, more than familiar with Secretariat's nature.
Sunday tilted her head, slightly intrigued as to who we were talking about, before she shook the thought away and grinned.「So y'er stayin' for a little longer?」I nodded, and her grin grew.「Hell yeah! Wanna go on another run then?」
I chuckled softly.「That would be lovely, though I believe you have something more important at the moment.」I then curiously grabbed one of the many papers spread across the table, my eyebrows raising as I saw the nearly ineligible scribblings written across it.「What…is this?」
「Our first iteration on a possible schedule.」Wayne answered, entirely straight-faced despite me pointing at the borderline psychotic-looking scribbles.「Is there something wrong with it, Ms. Blossom?」
I stared for a moment, before I turned to Sunday.「Can you read this?」
Sunday just blinked.「Can ya' not?」
…
By the Goddesses, these two were made for one another.
I sighed.「Well, so what is the current plan?」I then asked.「I'm afraid I'm not as knowledgeable in this regard, but perhaps I could still be of input? 」
Wayne nodded, and with complete confidence, he began listing out a list of races that would put most trainers into a panic attack. It was a struggle to keep my jaw from falling, and even then, I couldn't help but stare at the two after he finished listing all the races he and Sunday had currently planned for their career.
Overall, Sunday would run in 11 races this year, with 5 of them being G1s. That alone would already be incredible, but then they planned to have Sunday run in another 8 races the next year, with the rest of her Senior years being left uncertain for the time being.
「...It certainly is quite the daring plan.」I eventually said, before my eyes narrowed.「But are you certain of this path, Sunday? Running in so many races would strain not just your body, but also your mind.」
I would know. During my Classic year, I'd only raced in 6 races, and yet I'd been completely drained by the end of it. So much so that when I got injured after the [Japan Cup], I was more relieved over the fact that I was practically forced to relax after all the high-stakes races I'd been doing.
And to that, Sunday just grinned with teeth.
「I'm up for anythin'!」She proclaimed, standing up abruptly as she jabbed her thumb to her chest.「This year's Crown will be mine!」Wayne didn't say anything, but from the proud look he had, it was clear that he agreed with her words.
I smiled wryly. I should've been expecting this from the start, really. Back in my previous world, Sunday Silence's vitality had been notoriously high, so much so that he'd spat in the face of death multiple times. It seemed that daring attitude had now been transferred over to this world's Sunday Silence as well.
「Well, if you believe so, then go for it.」I smiled.「Just make sure to keep yourself safe. Have at least a small period of rest before and after a race. Being unable to participate due to a training injury would be an absolute loss.」
Wayne nodded seriously.「Do not worry, Ms. Blossom. We will keep your words in mind.」
「Yeah, yeah. I get it.」Sunday Silence just shrugged.「And 'sides, I can't let myself get injured because of me bein' dumb. Don't wanna be a bad role model for my lil' sis, y'know?」
I hummed, and then paused.「...You have a little sister?」I asked tentatively, my mind inevitably turning to a certain umamusume.
She nodded, and for once, her manic look softened.「Yeah. Got a little sprout back home. She's a bit quieter, but she's got spirit. Always wanted to catch up to me ever since she was big enough to start running.」
A little sister of Sunday Silence—quieter, yet wanting nothing more than to catch up to her.
Yeah, that definitely sounded like Manhattan Cafe.
「Good. Always remember that you are never alone.」I said, and after some hesitation, I eventually reached out and patted her head.「From this moment onwards, this life has ceased to be yours alone. Embarking on this journey means becoming something more than who you are now.」
Sunday stiffened, before she huffed.「Tch. So damn grandiose.」Was what she said, though she didn't say anything against it.「Also, ain't you feelin' awkward? I'm not some kid.」
I tilted my head slightly.「Is there something wrong? Most people I've done this seemed to enjoy it.」I wasn't kidding either. Oguri, Belno, Muteki, Ardan, even Dicta—none of them ever complained whenever I patted them.
Seeing my genuine confusion, Sunday only huffed.「Guess you're quite the weirdo too, huh?」She said, her tail swaying slightly.
I hummed.「Oh, certainly. That I will not disagree with.」
She laughed brightly, and I smiled back.
.
.
.
「Speaking of, what happened to your previous trainer?」I asked some time later.「I assume your transfer has been successful, but what about them now?」
Sunday shrugged with confusion, but Wayne was more than happy to fill me in.「His license has been revoked due to using Sunday Silence's prize money for illegal dealings, and he will remain black-listed from all official events for the rest of his life.」Was his explanation, given with a professional smile.
I smiled wryly.
I had a feeling that the whole 'illegal dealings' thing was just an excuse they made up to allow Wayne to partner up with Sunday, but I couldn't be too sure.
Well, not like it changed much in the end.