Truth be told—Garden Gale had never imagined these two would actually argue.
Curren Chan and Admire Vega… They were supposed to be close friends. And that wasn't just idle speculation—she'd seen the proof with her own eyes, countless times. Whenever Curren Chan had free moments after training or work, she'd go straight to Admire Vega. The two of them were practically inseparable.
Yet now…
They were fighting?
Garden Gale frowned slightly, puzzled. Was it because of the Satsuki Sho loss? Admire Vega had boldly declared her inevitable victory, yet not only did she fail to win—despite being the top favorite—she hadn't even placed in the top three. For someone like her, the crushing defeat must have felt catastrophic.
Well, whatever the reason—
The argument was happening right here, in front of everyone.
Putting confusion aside, Garden Gale walked toward them. She wasn't trying to meddle—after all, she knew both of these Umamusume personally. Perhaps she could at least ease the tension a little.
But the moment she stepped forward—Admire Vega abruptly slammed down her tray, her anger visibly boiling over. Without looking back, she stormed off. Curren Chan reached out to stop her, but Admire Vega brushed past without a glance, clearly furious.
Garden Gale froze in surprise.
This wasn't the Admire Vega she knew.
As rivals, Garden Gale had made it her business to closely study her three strongest opponents—Admire Vega, T.M. Opera O, and Narita Top Road. Compared to their first meeting, when Admire Vega had seemed imposing and mysteriously powerful, this tantrum-like display was utterly out of character.
Right now, she looked more like a child throwing a fit.
Not an insult—just an honest observation.
Ugh… What a headache.
Sighing softly, Garden Gale pushed aside her reluctance and walked into the heart of the storm. Taking a seat beside Curren Chan, she asked gently, "Hey… What happened?"
"Huh…?" Curren Chan looked up slowly, clearly caught off guard.
When she recognized Garden Gale, her expression shifted into an exhausted smile. "Oh, nothing really…"
"But I saw you arguing with Admire Vega."
Garden Gale didn't back down, choosing blunt honesty. "Can you tell me why? I don't know if I can help—but I'd like to try."
"I want to help you two."
As she spoke, Garden Gale took Curren Chan's hand gently in her own, offering warmth. Her gaze met the other girl's, clear and sincere.
Sincerity was always a winning strategy.
Faced with such earnestness, Curren Chan couldn't refuse. Besides, she genuinely wanted to help Admire Vega.
She gathered her thoughts, then began carefully:
"It's… a bit complicated. The core of it is that Ayabe-chan's lost several races in a row—the Wakagoma Stakes, the Yayoi Sho, and most importantly, the Satsuki Sho. Three straight losses… and two of them directly to you."
Garden Gale scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Curren Chan continued quietly: "Ayabe-chan's always demanded perfection from herself. These back-to-back failures made her doubt herself deeply. The pressure, the frustration…it's become this dark whirlpool threatening to swallow her whole."
"She…" Curren Chan hesitated, voice trailing off.
...
While Curren Chan explained the situation, Admire Vega stood alone at the empty training grounds.
The solitude amplified the open air, winds whispering freedom around her as she strode forward with determination. Even after multiple defeats, she convinced herself—next time would be different. She'd win decisively, triumphantly. Neither T.M. Opera O, nor Narita Top Road, nor even Garden Gale could stop her.
The flame of resolve burned brightly.
Yet deep down, she knew she was lying to herself—using fiery determination to numb the persistent ache of defeat.
Her steps slowed.
Her silhouette wavered slightly, becoming unsteady.
The fierce fire within flickered, replaced by cold waves of self-doubt.
Am I truly worthy of being called an Umamusume?
If it had been her, would she have done better? Even if my whole purpose was to honor her, what honor do I bring now? Loss after loss, defeat after defeat—my speed, my strength…so insignificant.
Those three… I can't beat any of them!
Admire Vega clenched her fists, frozen in place, eyes turned skyward—as if desperate to glimpse the stars that no longer shone in the morning sky. Her grip tightened painfully, nails digging sharply into flesh. Yet even physical pain was meaningless compared to the torment in her heart.
She reached upward, desperately grasping at a star—reaching for brilliance, for hope.
But a sudden ache in her leg stopped her mid-motion. She hesitated, suddenly afraid of tarnishing that unreachable star. Pain flickered briefly across her face, then faded to expressionless blankness, replaced by confusion and uncertainty.
Slowly, she lay down.
She stretched out on the grass, quietly enduring the dual pain—body and soul alike.
Admire Vega didn't know if victory was still possible, but she would fight with every shred of her strength. Even if she had to bite and claw her way to the finish line, like some desperate monster, she'd do it.
How much time did she have left?
Not much, perhaps.
Questions poured through her mind, one after another.
Then, gradually, a calm replaced every emotion.
Admire Vega slowly rose to her feet, determined. She would return to the dorm, pack her things, and immediately begin her utterly ruthless, hellish training regimen.
The interval between the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Derby was barely a month.
Realistically, that wasn't enough time to achieve a miracle—to reach heights like the Emperor herself. She knew her odds of winning the Japan Derby were slim against monsters like Garden Gale and T.M. Opera O.
But Admire Vega refused to lose again.
That stubborn conviction had sparked the argument with Curren Chan—her determination had grown into something almost obsessive. A quick glance at her training schedule made it clear: this wasn't ordinary training. It bordered on self-destruction.
Yet she saw no other path.
If she truly wished to reach that star—
Admire Vega knew she had no choice but to push herself to the brink.
For the sake of that unreachable star…
Her eyes blazed fiercely once more, reflecting her newfound resolve.
---
T/N: changing close friends of admire vega's way of calling her, shes referred to as ayabe in canon, uhh also by how much time she has left she means till the japan derby she is NOT dying, though with her self-destruction...
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