I'd never attended a party like this one, whether in this life or the last.
The reason was obvious; in my previous life, the worse symptoms of my immunodeficiency had started in my early teenage years, and I was practically strapped to my hospital bed until the last day of my life. I was never given a chance to attend a party, and even if I could, it'd be too dangerous for my weakened body.
In this life, I never wanted to join one. Sure, I'd gone to many gatherings before—the most recent being the little celebration the Director held after the [Takarazuka Kinen], but that was practically a meeting between friends. I'd never been involved in an event where I only knew a small handful of people, much less one where I was forced to remain together with hundreds of people I didn't know for hours on end.
So to say that I was a little overwhelmed when I finally entered the venue would be a severe understatement.
"Blossom-san, how long do you plan on staying in America?"
"Trainer Kitahara mentioned that your plans for the future are still unknown. Do you have any other countries you wish to race in?"
"Are the rumors about your relationship with Secretariat true?"
But if there was one thing I was good at, it was pretending that I wasn't freaking out.
"Now, now. There is no need for such haste." I said, winking playfully as I slowly swirled the glass of wine I held. "Now, in order,"
I cleared my throat. "First, as my trainer mentioned, we will stay for a minimum of one year. Second, I do not currently have any plans on any other countries to visit, but France and Australia are the two that currently interest me the most. Lastly, while I do not know what rumors you speak of, I will say that I do have some engagement with Secretariat. But I shall not speak any further. 'No spoilers', so to say."
The crowd of well-dressed reporters that surrounded me quickly began muttering amongst themselves, with some jotting down notes they'd likely use for tomorrow's newspaper. I maintained my polite smile as I watched them, trying not to think about how clogged up my throat felt.
Maybe it was because of how high-class everything felt, maybe it was the fact that I was dressed in a blue gown that restricted my movements, maybe it was just how tense I felt at knowing the truth about the [Japan Cup]—whatever it was, it made this seemingly familiar routine into something that made my stomach turn.
But I did so anyway, mostly because I was the only one who could do so. Oguri was a little too busy feasting on all the fancy food, and Kitahara had completely tired himself out after the hour-long interview he had to go through.
"Blossom-san, what do you think of all the foreign representatives that have come for this year's [Japan Cup]?"
I smiled slightly. "I admit that I know less than I likely should about my competitors, but I know they are not any weaker than all of us." My smile deepened. "The competition for the crown will be one that will forever be woven into history." Of course, only I knew the true significance of those words.
Several more questions came up after that. Most of them came from Japanese reporters who were either asking about my upcoming 'soft retirement' or my thoughts about the [Japan Cup]. Occasionally, a few American guests would also come up, having known that I could also speak fluent English. Their questions were a little more diverse, but most shared the sentiment that they were looking forward to seeing me race in their home country.
Then,
「There ya' are.」
Suddenly, I felt a chilling presence cut through the crowd that'd gathered around me., and I wasn't the only one. The people around me felt it even more keenly, and their faces turned pale as they instinctively moved back, giving way to the familiar black-haired umamusume, her eyes as red as blood.
My polite smile turned into something a little more genuine.「It's good to see you again, Ms. Silence.」
Sunday Silence clicked her tongue as she walked forward, dressed in a gothic dress that completely clashed with her usual punk-rock aesthetic.「Tch. Told ya' to call me Sunday, didn't I?」
「Ah, that you did.」I gave a theatrical bow.「Welcome to Japan, Sunday. I hope your stay has been pleasant.」
She grinned.「Eh, it ain't bad. The air's kinda nice, I guess.」She then frowned.「Your portions are tiny tho'. How 'da hell do you guys ev'n feed yourself wi'h so little?」
I chuckled.「Well, I suppose we do eat less on average.」I smiled.「Though that does not mean there aren't people who are deeply unsatisfied with the smaller portions of food commonly provided to the populace.」My eyes twinkled.「Why, I can easily name a handful of people who would happily devour an entire establishment if they could.」
Immediately, people began whispering as they saw us speak. After all, Sunday Silence was this year's Undefeated American Triple Crown holder, while I won last year's Undefeated Triple Tiara. The fact that we both knew each other had completely come out of nowhere.
Sunday scowled.「Ah' fuck. So noisy.」
「Please do not blame them too much. After all, neither of us are inconspicuous in any manner.」I took a sip from my glass of wine as I smiled.「That said, I believe some quiet would be appreciated for both of us.」I then turned to the crowd and made a small bow. "My apologies, but I wish to make up for lost time with my friend here. If you have any further questions, please direct them to my trainer."
Saying that, I quickly moved away from the crowd, with Sunday following just behind me. We made our way to a nearby vacant table, and with a small sigh, I set my wine glass down and sat down.
Sunday grinned as she sat down next to me.「Gettin' tired, Ms. Hero?」
I smiled faintly.「Well, this is my first time being in an event like this.」I shrugged.「I can't say I'm the biggest fan.」
Sunday huffed as she crossed her arms.「Yeah. I'm with'cha on that one.」She scowled.「Not the type to kiss people's asses. I don'know how ya' do it.」
I chuckled.「Through practice.」I simply said.
「Sounds like a rough time.」She said simply.
I nodded.「I will not deny that.」
After that, the two of us talked for quite some time—both of us had things to share, after all.
Sunday spoke of her fight for the American Triple Crown; how glad she was that her new trainer wasn't a useless piece of garbage like her previous one, how every race she ran was contaminated with the knowledge that she would've been absolutely decimated had I raced with her, and how this one umamusume named Easy Goer kept proclaiming herself as her rival.
In truth, compared to her, I didn't really experience much. I'd only run in this year's [Spring Tenno Sho] and the [Takarazuke Kinen], and the only other notable thing was me dropping out of the [Autumn Tenno Sho] together with Oguri Cap.
Once all of that was over, our conversation soon shifted to the upcoming [Japan Cup]. And that inevitable question soon appeared.
「Who's the one y'er keepin' an eye on?」
I glanced at her for a moment, before I decided to just be truthful.「Folkqueen.」I said, my eyes narrowing slightly.「I cannot give you a concrete reason as to why, but I suppose she reminds me of how Obey Your Master had been a year prior.」That was partially true; I'd only said that to give a plausible excuse for my caution.
But much to my surprise, Sunday nodded.「So ya' think so as well.」She said with a frown.「Knew it.」
I blinked.「You share the sentiment?」
She nodded.「Yeah. Sounds weird as hell when I say it out loud, but I know she's the one 'ah gotta keep an eye for.」Her frown deepened into a scowl.「Don'know what it is, but watching her tapes gives me the creeps. Something 'bout that girl just ain't right. The way she runs, it's–」
「It feels like she is purposely holding back.」I finished for her.
And Sunday snapped her fingers as she grinned.「'Xactly! That girl just doesn't feel right!」
I hummed. How interesting.
The thing is, despite how I said it, I wasn't actually the only one to share the sentiment. Oguri had immediately zeroed in on Folkqueen. Belno Light had taken a cursory look over all the participants and said that Folkqueen was 'dangerous'. Kitahara had also agreed, though he couldn't quite verbalize why he felt that way.
And it was interesting, because no one else felt the same. Folkqueen seemed to have gone under the radar, with no one expecting her to even make it to the podium.
It was almost a repeat of Obey Your Master's situation from the year before.
「Then it is likely that she is indeed a far greater threat than everyone else seems to believe.」I concluded, taking a small sip from my glass of wine.「Neither of us are lacking in strength or achievements, so it is unlikely that our instincts are wrong. There is a high chance she will be this year's 'Dark Uma', so to say.」
She huffed.「Don't need ta' make it sound so grand.」She said, though she then nodded as her gaze turned serious.「But I'll keep an eye out. Gotta make sure I don't got spies hangin' around me.」She smirked.「Actually, ain't it kinda lucky that you didn't race that much this year? You don't got info on her, but she's in the same boat, ain't she?」
I blinked.「I suppose that's one way to see it.」I smiled.「That means you're just as much in the dark, right?」
She smirked.「Can't deny that.」Her eyes glowed an eerie red as she stared at me, her hunger clear to see.「But that's what makes it fun!」
I hummed.「A sentiment to live by.」
And I meant it. I was just as unknowing of how strong Sunday Silence had become since I last saw her. And even back then, I could tell that she was already standing on the edge of touching the wall that symbolized her Limits. It was practically guaranteed that she'd already attained the ability to unleash her Domain. Or maybe she'd taken a different step entirely.
I didn't know.
And it was that ambiguity that injected excitement into our inevitable clash.
I smiled.「Do not disappoint me, Sunday Silence.」
She smirked back.「As if I'll ever do that!」
.
.
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AN: Apologies for yesterday. Things got a little too hectic for my liking, and I was only able to free myself far later than I initially expected. I'll try and finish the last IF: Cinderella Gray chapter to make up for it. That aside, today's second chapter will be coming out as normal.