Her foot stomped down, and she could feel the Turf curve beneath her cleats.
Sunday Silence clicked her tongue.「It sure is soft.」She whispered, inevitably making another comparison to the Dirt tracks she was more used to.
Wayne Lukas chuckled as he walked over.「That isn't surprising.」He said.「If anything, we are lucky that the Turf here is as tough as it is. I've heard that the Turf in, say, Europe is far softer in comparison.」
Sunday's expression twisted with disgust.「Somethin' even softer than this?」She whispered.「Yo, trainer. Remind me ta' never go ther'.」
He smiled.「I shall ensure to do so in the future.」
Sunday rolled her eyes, and then her expression soured when she heard the awed whispers from the dozens of reporters waiting just outside the track. They'd all seen the power she demonstrated from that probing stomp, and that alone elevated her far above most umamusume Japan had ever produced.
「More vultures.」She hissed, unconsciously clenching her fists. Oh, what she would do to get a hold of a wooden bat or something. She missed that old thing. A shame that the airport security wouldn't allow her to bring her ol' Beloved Betsy. A bat covered with barbed wire and nails was apparently 'too dangerous' or whatnot.
Wayne shook his head with a wry smile.「At least the reporters here have a modicum of restraint.」His eyes twinkled with amusement.「Compared to those you have faced back in the States, this is essentially a vacation.」
「Vultures 're still vultures.」She said. She really did want to kick all these annoying pests away, but she kept herself restrained.
Not because she cared enough to be polite, but because this was Blossom Star's home turf. She was the guest here, and it'd be pretty shitty of her to come to Star's home and wreck shit up.
Wayne hummed.「Do you wish for me to send them away?」
She sighed.「Nah. It's fine.」She groaned as she stretched her arms over her head.「Just a lil' tired of seein' all these weirdos'. Got 'nuff of that yesterday.」She grimaced as she thought of all the people that interviewed her the day before.「I can see wher' Star got that politeness from.」
He stared at her for a moment, before he glanced down at the notes he'd tacked onto his clipboard.「You met Blossom Star the day before, no?」She nodded, and he narrowed his eyes.「What do you think?」
What did she think?
A grin lit up her face.「Strong.」She said.「Feels like she's gott'n even stronger since I las' saw 'er.」She narrowed her eyes.「And knowin' that her girlie's even stronger is jus' crazy.」
Wayne nodded slowly, his frown thoughtful.「Indeed. Oguri Cap is even more monstrous than Blossom Star. The power behind her kicks, the speed she could attain, and knowing that every Turf she has run on has never been able to fully sustain her full strength.」He shook his head.「It's as if I'm witnessing Lady Secretariat once more.」
And that was the kicker, wasn't it? Both Oguri and Star had only run twice this year, and yet it was clear that neither of them had been fully serious. None of the recordings they could use for analysis held up under scrutiny after realizing that fact. They were essentially going in blind.
That was what made it fun.
「Oh!? So this is where ya' were!」
Suddenly, thundering steps came from behind her, and Sunday only rolled her eyes as she stepped to the left, moving just in time to let another umamusume suddenly run past her, each of her steps sending back small plumes of dirt. Sunday grimaced as she brushed away some of the specks that'd landed on her training shirt.「Can't ya' keep it down? My ears feel like they're gonna' pop.」
Thiefcrow grinned as she spun around to meet her, her shark-like teeth wide for the world to see.「Gah, stop bein' Emo, ya' fuckin' loner.」She roughly threw her arms around Sunday's shoulder, her grin only growing larger as she saw the crowd of reporters watching from outside the track.「Oh? Looks like we're havin' another exhibit!」
「We are not.」She ground out as she slipped away from Thiefcrow's grasp, grimacing as she gingerly held her neck.「Cant'cha bother someone else? Go talk wi'h Satias or somethin'.」
Thiefcrow scowled.「That shawty'? As if. Girl's got a stick up her ass just 'cause Secretariat chose her of all.」She spat out, making her dislike clear.「I mean, she's good. But she ain't good good, ya' hear.」
Sunday sighed.「...can't argue with ya' on that.」She said. She didn't particularly like that midget either, but she wouldn't complain. Secretariat had likely chosen her for some specific reason, and she wasn't one to ask.
「Now, now. Let us not get too mired, shall we?」Wayne said as he stepped in. 「And Sunday, I was the one who called her here. It would be prudent for you to have someone you could run with, no?」He said, giving a small nod to Thiefcrow. The punky umamusume just returned a sharky grin.
Sunday opened her mouth to argue, and then sighed.
He wasn't wrong. Running on her own was boring as shit, and having someone else she could shadow made training at least somewhat exciting. More than that, Thiefcrow was a dedicated Frontrunner, and sometimes even an Escape Artist. Not for any good reason or anything; the girl was as smart as a bag of bricks, so the only thing she knew was to run.
But that was fine. That essentially made her into a Star-lite. A good training partner, if nothing else.
Wayne smiled wryly as he saw the weary stare Sunday returned.「Now, now. Enough procrastinating.」He pointed towards the small yellow cone he'd placed 200 meters down the track.「Let's begin with a light run. A 200-meter sprint to get both of you accustomed to the Japanese Turf.」
Thiefcrow smirked.「Loud 'n clear, officer.」She then roughly patted Sunday's shoulder.「Com'on. Let's get this show started!」
She groaned.「I know.」She then grinned.「Just don't get pissy on me if I pass ya'.」
Thiefcrow barked out a jovial laugh.「Ya' can try, Ms. Triple crown!」
Sunday huffed, her blood red eyes glowing with an eerie light as they headed for the yellow cone. Once they stood behind it, she frowned slightly as she began her usual stretches. Thiefcrow joined her, but just like always, the girl kept talking her ear off as they stretched.
「This shit's gonna be fun.」She said, grinning widely.「I mean, the Generation of Miracles sounds cringey as shit, but they damn deserve it.」She clenched her fists as she shook with visible excitement.「Oguri Cap, Blossom Star, Tamamo Cross, and even Obey Your Master–」She laughed loudly.「Imma' beat 'em all! I'll set a Galaxy Record!」
Sunday smirked.「That's assuming you even make it to the finish line.」She said, and Thiefcrow's cheeks went bright red as she glowered.
「Come on, that was one time!」She said with grit teeth.「Just one time I accidentally trip over a fence, and suddenly everyone thinks I can't run a fuckin' corner.」
「One time is more than enough.」She said as she finished her stretches.「Pretty sure the rates of heart attacks went up that day.」
Thiefcrow's smile twitched.「Ya emo bastar–!」
「Are you two ready!?」They then heard Wayne shout from the distance.
Thiefcrow sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, though she then grinned as she stomped her foot to the ground.「Alright, 'nuff talkin'.」Her shark-like grin stretched wider as she leaned forward, ready to spring forward at any moment.「Let's get today's trainin' done and over with already!」
Sunday rolled her eyes as she leaned forward as well.「Yeah. Whatever ya' say.」
In the distance, Wayne smiled faintly as he held up his stopwatch.「On the count of three!」He shouted, finger hoving just over the button.「One! Two!」
He took a deep breath.
「Three!」
The moment his shout was heard, both Thiefcrow and Sunday lunged forward, tearing apart the curated Turf beneath their feet. Thiefcrow laughed loudly as she ran ahead, eyes wide as she enjoyed the winds washing across her face.
Sunday could only smile wryly as she continued shadowing her. But the moment they came within the last 50 meters, her eyes burnt bright red as a shadowy mist surrounded her. And in a sudden lateral movement, she moved around Thiefcrow's large figure and surged past her, literally running beneath her swinging arms as she passed the finish line just a Neck faster than Thiefcrow.
The wide smile on her face quickly turned into a frustrated scowl.「Again!?」
Sunday smiled sharply.「Y'er the one not payin' attention, dumbass.」
Thiefcrow grit her teeth, before she turned to Wayne and shouted,「Another try!」
Wayne hummed, and then chuckled when he saw the helpless look on Sunday's face. It was clear that she knew refusing Thiefcrow wasn't an option. Unless she wanted this persistent bastard to hound her for the rest of the day.「Very well.」He said as he reset the stopwatch.「Another lap it is.」
「Come on!」Thiefcrow shouted as she slugged her arm around Sunday's shoulders and pulled her way.
Sunday just scowled as she let herself be pulled along.
…
6 Days before the [Japan Cup].