The day of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Paris Longchamp Racecourse.
The tsunami-like waves of sound nearly tore through the sky as tens of thousands of racing fans from around the world packed the stands to the point where not a single gap remained.
The air was thick with the scent of green grass, perfume, and the electric tension of excitement.
Countless lenses were aimed at the start of the track. The world's grandest race was about to begin.
Myriad Dreams stood in the paddock, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
She stretched her arms, loosening her shoulder joints, feeling the texture of the legendary turf beneath her feet.
The immense pressure felt almost tangible as it shrouded the grounds.
Through the live broadcast cameras, she could sense the solemn gaze of Symboli Rudolf in the student council room back at Tracen, and she could even imagine her mothers back in Japan holding each other's hands tightly in front of the television.
'This really is... an unprecedentedly massive stage.'
She marveled inwardly, forcing herself to stay composed.
'At least those eccentric Gold Family types didn't come this time. I can finally race in peace...'
The moment that thought flashed through her mind, as if to mock her naivety, a familiar, piercing, and eerily synchronized shout cut through the chaotic noise like a precision-guided missile, pouring into her ears with absolute clarity:
"GO—FOR—IT—LITTLE—SIS—TER—!!!!"
"Little Sis! Crush them!"
"Let France see the might of the Gold Family!"
Myriad Dreams: "!!!"
She whipped her head around, the composure she had painstakingly gathered shattering instantly.
Her facial expression management completely spiraled out of control.
On a prominent section of the stands not far from the track, a group of Uma Musume whose art style clashed violently with their surroundings were huddled together, jumping up and down.
They were waving small flags— obtained from who-knows-where— printed with chibi versions of her and the Gold Family!
At the lead was Gold Ship, holding a massive megaphone and shouting with the most gusto. Beside her was Orfevre, who, despite keeping a "cool" expression, didn't hesitate in the slightest while waving her flag.
Stay Gold was hopping excitedly, looking like she might leap off the stands at any second for another "tail-biting raid."
Even Nakayama Festa and Dream Journey were in the mix.
Myriad Dreams felt her blood pressure skyrocket.
She used every ounce of her strength to scream toward them in grief and indignation:
"WHYYYY—ARE—YOU—GUYS—HEREEEE—!!!!"
"Aren't you supposed to be training right now?!!"
Her voice was somewhat faint amidst the deafening roar of the crowd, but the members of the Gold Family seemed to receive the message perfectly through lip-reading.
Stay Gold spread her hands and, in her unique, leisurely drawl, projected her voice with eerie clarity:
"My, my, did you forget, Little Sis? Dream Journey is the official 'President of the Overseas Expedition Association~"
"Isn't it perfectly reasonable to use a tiny bit of her privilege to bring the family here to cheer for our most important Little Sister?"
Myriad Dreams: "..."
She was utterly speechless.
She slapped her forehead with a resounding thwack and held it there, feeling a wave of dizziness.
"President of the Overseas Expedition Association?! Since when?! Is that even a thing?! You guys just made up that title as an excuse to join the fun, didn't you?! That's definitely it, right?!"
Looking at that group of "family members" on the stands— who looked less like they were attending a world-class championship and more like they were on a family picnic— the tension she had felt was mostly washed away by the absurdity of reality.
All that remained was a sense of helplessness and the desire for some god-forsaken peace and quiet.
'Whatever... it's not the first time anyway...'
Myriad Dreams took a deep breath, forcibly ignoring the rhythmic chants of "Little Sis! Little Sis!" emanating from the stands, and pulled her attention back to the track before her.
'No matter what... the race has to be won with my own two feet!'
Her gaze sharpened with determination once more as she stepped onto the battlefield of the strong.