When Garden Gale opened her eyes…
She saw an unfamiliar ceiling—and heard, somewhere off to the side, a quiet voice drift over: "Ah, you're finally awake?"
...You were trying to cross the border. Right? Walked right into that imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there.
...The year is 2035. We just thawed you out of cryosleep.
For some inexplicable reason, Garden Gale's brain spasmed twice, like a startled frog hopping desperately from one lily pad to another. No one could guess what absurd thoughts were racing through her head or where they might land.
As consciousness slowly returned, Garden Gale finally recognized the voice—it belonged to Symboli Rudolf.
Indeed, Symboli Rudolf sat at her bedside, looking slightly aggrieved. But upon seeing Garden awaken, her expression brightened instantly. "Garden, you're awake at last."
"Do you remember fainting right there on stage at the Winner's Live? Want an apple to regain some strength? The doctor says there's nothing seriously wrong—you were just way too stressed."
In the end—that stress had coalesced into a black vortex that swallowed her whole.
Garden Gale nodded weakly.
She shifted her stiff, aching body slightly, wincing as muscles protested sharply. It felt like she'd been beaten mercilessly rather than merely participating in a Winner's Live.
"I don't want an apple… but I'm really thirsty." Her dry, cracked lips moved slightly.
Even her throat felt parched, her body completely drained. She'd barely managed to lift her torso before collapsing back onto the bed.
Was it really possible to become this dehydrated from fainting?
How exhausting…
Symboli Rudolf quietly fetched a cup of water, handing it over. Watching Garden Gale struggle weakly, she smiled softly and murmured: "[ZONE]."
"The first time stepping into the [ZONE] is always like this. I remember hurting everywhere for almost three days straight." Her voice grew warmer. "You raced incredibly, Garden—I was genuinely astonished by your performance."
Garden Gale blinked, confusion clear in her eyes. "[ZONE]?"
Truthfully, she had no idea what the term meant.
Not surprising, given she'd only become an Umamusume four months ago—when she couldn't even run properly. Her rise in just those few short months had been meteoric. If Rudolf knew just how fast Garden Gale had improved, her shock would multiply by a million times.
Four months—from clueless beginner to the initial stages of [ZONE]?
What a freak.
"T.M. Opera O was the first among your peers to enter this state—the [ZONE]," Rudolf explained succinctly. "Do you remember? That moment on the track when Opera O suddenly surged ahead, forcing everyone else to slow down, like ghosts dragging you backward while she flew smoothly forward, smiling towards the future."
"You should remember clearly what that felt like, Garden."
"Because you chased Opera O's pace—and stepped into the [ZONE] yourself."
"Of course—"
Symboli Rudolf paused briefly before continuing. "The [ZONE] isn't anything supernatural. It's simply a state of total concentration. That terrifying feeling, as if evil spirits were holding you back—that was just the intense pressure emanating from absolute focus. Perfect concentration is the sole requirement for the [ZONE], yet it's incredibly rare these days."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
That final sound wasn't mere punctuation, but the sincere applause of an Emperor who didn't withhold her admiration.
"To achieve [ZONE] now—I can't wait to see the story you'll write over the next three years. Keep running like this, Garden, and stay ahead of everyone else."
…That much was certainly true.
Garden Gale nodded slowly.
She remembered clearly that moment when she entered the [ZONE]: suddenly nothing else mattered. Breathing, footsteps, wind, cheers—one by one, they vanished from her perception. In the end, all that remained was the track ahead, her body instinctively moving in perfect form.
Turns out I'm pretty damn strong.
A faint, satisfied smile appeared on her lips as the victory at the Satsuki Sho replayed vividly in her mind.
Well, that wasn't too hard—maybe I really am a prodigy?
But before Garden Gale could fully indulge in her pride, Symboli Rudolf spoke again.
"Now that I've praised you—"
Her words cut off abruptly, her smile visibly fading into seriousness. "Garden—I finally understand why you kept avoiding the Winner's Live."
—!!!
Garden Gale instantly went on high alert. If this were a game, three huge exclamation points would definitely hover above her head.
Oh god, here comes another lecture…
Her face fell miserably, and she quickly burrowed under the covers, prepared to become a temporary ostrich.
Head lowered, she braced herself.
"You're an Umamusume who can't even manage basic idol activities?" Rudolf scolded sternly. "I'm going to arrange special training for you with Teio immediately. So, this was the reason you've been dodging the Winner's Live all this time! Next time, at the Japan Derby, I'll be watching you closely. Your training over the next month won't just be about speed—it'll include idol performance!"
Symboli Rudolf's voice was harsh, expression fierce—but suddenly softened as she took out her phone. "Still… maybe we can let it slide this once."
"Have you seen how popular your weird little celebration dance has gotten online?"
"It's gone viral."
The exclamation points over Garden Gale's head turned into question marks.
?
"Huh?" she asked, blank-faced.
Rudolf turned her phone screen towards Garden.
Unless her eyes were playing tricks on her…
There was Garden Gale, clear as day. The person filming had been in the very first row, recording the entire fiasco in pristine detail.
In the beginning, Garden Gale stood frozen stiff, drawing a screen full of question marks.
Why isn't Garden Gale dancing? Is she just arrogant?
As time ticked on, her inability to match T.M. Opera O and Narita Top Road became painfully clear.
Garden Gale started sweating just watching herself.
Had she really looked that awful?
And then…
A miracle unfolded.
On the screen… Garden Gale suddenly moved! She began dancing—the Bear Celebration Dance! The comments instantly flipped from confusion to excitement:
[Cute!]
[Adorable!]
[Super cool!]
The barrage filled with endless praise.
Sure, it felt a little meme-like…but the positive feedback seemed overwhelming?
Garden Gale wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
"Someone actually filmed that?" she muttered weakly, feeling like jelly.
Symboli Rudolf said nothing.
Instead, she quietly exited full-screen and pointed directly at the view count, holding the phone closer.
Huh?
Garden Gale stared at the number in disbelief.
"Ten…hundred…thousand…ten thousand…a hundred thousand…a million…? Ten million—!?"
Thirteen million views!?
How the hell did so many people see me dancing the Bear Celebration Dance!?!?!?!?!
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T/N: oppa gangnam style