Just a Way struck Kousei as enigmatic. She seemed shrouded in a thin veil—visible to all, yet truly understood by none.
"You've worked hard," Just a Way said with a smile. "Now you can finally compete in the race."
Kousei nodded. At first, she had struggled to adapt to the harsh cold of Northern Academy. When she ran, the air felt like razors slicing at her skin. Even at Central, Kousei had never raced in winter. Stepping onto an unfamiliar track for the first time, the thrill of the unknown and the novelty of exploration stimulated her nerves.
What surprised Kousei even more was that her parallel running partner was Caesar—the super genius who possessed the same Sovereignty as Teio and Rudolf. She felt a little overwhelmed by the honor.
Frankly, Caesar was strong, but Kousei couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—the kind of sensation she only experienced when running alongside Narita Brian.
"Good work."
A sudden voice broke Kousei's train of thought.
She turned to see Kawauchi Aoi.
"Oh, it's you, Aoi. What's up?" After spending so much time together, Kousei had grown quite familiar with him.
But from what Kousei knew, Kawauchi Aoi was usually very busy and rarely appeared at the training track. Even when he did, he would only watch Kousei from a distance.
"Of course, I've come with good news."
Aoi handed Kousei a form. She looked closely and saw it was her race entry form.
"I'm racing?!" Kousei's joy was plain to see.
"Yes," Aoi nodded with a light chuckle. "Reiko has already planned the route. Now it all depends on your physical condition."
"I'm fine! I've been resting for far too long," Kousei said, her eagerness palpable.
"Way, I'm craving some carrot juice. Want to come with me?" Caesar suddenly called out to Just a Way.
Just a Way and Aoi both turned to look at Caesar. After a moment's thought, Just a Way replied, "Sure."
"Then I'll come too—" Kousei started to follow, but Caesar gently stopped her.
"Way and I can go alone. After all, we can't leave Aoi here by himself, can we?"
Kousei considered this and realized Caesar was right, so she sat back down.
Kawauchi Aoi shot them a grateful glance. They smiled and walked away side by side.
Once Caesar and Just a Way were gone, Kousei began muttering to herself.
"Caesar is incredible. I can't beat her at all. How on earth did I manage to win against them in the Japan Cup?"
"Well, she is Caesar, after all. Her strength as the 'King' is undeniable."
The two of them moved to the rest area. While the Umamusume could handle the cold, it wasn't suitable for Aoi, a human, to be exposed to the wind and snow for too long.
"I just don't get it," Kousei said, completely bewildered. "If Tracen 44 didn't exist, how did Caesar and the others even get here?"
Though she'd gleaned bits and pieces from Reiko, Kousei knew that while Caesar and her group were officially from Northern Academy, that was just their current registered identity—much like Kousei's own registration as a Northern Academy Umamusume racer.
"I actually know a little about that."
"Really?"
"Yes. The four of them, led by Caesar, aren't originally from Northern Academy. They escaped from somewhere else."
"Escaped?" The word sounded ominous.
Kawauchi Aoi clasped his hands together and began recounting what he had seen and heard.
"As far as I know, Caesar and the others didn't come from the same academy. Their meeting was born of necessity. Speedstar, of course, needs no introduction. Known as the 'Executioner,' she possesses extraordinary speed and an extreme rhythm.
'Racing against her is hell.' 'I never want to run again.'
Such comments flooded Speedstar's world—the world's perception of her. Precisely because of this, Speedstar's races had to be banned, and no one was willing to compete against her.
The registration of Speedstar's identity as an athlete became a mere formality. The reason for this is unknown, but Speedstar eventually left her hometown and joined Northern Academy.
As for Tenmile Cloud, while external evaluations were largely positive, she was celebrated as the 'Hero of the Final Leg.' In the final straight, she would surge from the back of the pack to the front, seizing victory with unmatched flair.
Her breathtaking displays of explosive power captivated audiences, and she was quite popular in her home country."
"If that's the case, why did Cloud leave?" Kousei asked, puzzled.
Kawauchi Aoi's expression darkened. "It's just a rumor, with no solid evidence. They say Tenmile Cloud used performance-enhancing drugs during a race. The doping control officers found related substances in the respiratory aid she used.
"Tenmile Cloud was penalized—all her results were nullified, and she was suspended for six months. Even after she returned and won again, public opinion never changed.
"From then on, her victories were tainted by taboo, no longer truly her own."
Kousei recalled scenes from the Japan Cup. Tenmile Cloud's strength was undeniable; everything about her lived up to the title [Hero of the Final Leg]. She was too open and honest to be someone who would cheat.
"As for Twilight Cloud, I don't know much. But compared to the other two, she's far more dangerous."
"Why?"
"Back home, she was known as the [Fox of Calamity]—the one who brings ruin."
Kousei's brow furrowed.
"Information about Twilight Cloud is scarce. No matter how hard I search, her records are gone, as if her traces have been completely erased."
Kousei remembered her first meeting with Twilight Cloud. Erased traces... isn't that just like me?
"What about Caesar?"
Following this pattern, Caesar must have a painful past of her own.
"Caesar's case is rather strange."
"Strange?"
"Yes. Her career was flawless. Immensely popular, undefeated. Then, one day, she suddenly announced she was leaving her home country to join Northern Academy. The place she left had the best medical technology in the world.
"That academy was also filled with top-tier talent. Their emblem is an eagle."
Why would Caesar make such a move? Did those eyes of hers show her the future?
Kawauchi Aoi watched Kousei, seemingly studying her expression, as if anticipating her reaction.
"What about their Trainers?"
Kawauchi Aoi paused, surprised by the question.
"Setting Caesar aside, the other three's Trainers didn't help them when the incidents occurred. So..." He trailed off, but his meaning was perfectly clear.
"I see..."
Kousei slowly stood up, a strange new emotion stirring within her.
"I see now... I have so much. Compared to them, it feels almost extravagant.
"We're Umamusume—idiots who only know how to run. That's why we can't understand the human world. That's why we need Trainers.
"It might be selfish to think this, but knowing that everyone else is going through the same thing... I actually feel a little relieved."
The blizzard seemed to weaken slightly.
"You know so much, Aoi," Kousei said without looking at him.
"Well, I am a journalist, after all. Shaping public opinion, controlling it, redirecting it... My specialty is gathering information. I can blow small incidents out of proportion or make things disappear entirely—and vice versa."
A flash of pain crossed Kawauchi Aoi's eyes as memories of his radio station days flooded his mind.
"Don't do things like that, Aoi," Kousei said, turning to face him.
"What?" Kawauchi Aoi looked utterly bewildered.
Kousei didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "Did you send Caesar and Way away just to tell me all this?"
Kawauchi Aoi's confusion shifted to nervousness. He secretly took several deep breaths, as if trying to steel himself.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I'll help you," he continued. "I'll use my best writing to make the world recognize your brilliance. I'll spread your dazzling story to every corner of the Earth. Let the world know about the one who once inspired me.
"Let more people find hope in hardship or rediscover their original dreams.
"I want to stand by your side, supporting you, and watch you realize your dreams."
Unbeknownst to me, I had long projected my own dreams onto you.
"Hey! What are you two talking about?" Speedstar's voice interrupted the moment.
Kousei, as radiant as ever, didn't respond, facing the crowd alone.
Behind her, Kawauchi Aoi smiled, lowered his head, stretched languidly, and stood up.
He had said what he needed to say.
"Alright, what should I write about next?"
His gaze sharpened.
"How about 'The Gray Monster from Across the Ocean'?"
Kousei met the crowd.
"Why did Aoi leave?" Speedstar asked, puzzled.
"He's very busy with work," Kousei replied.
"Is that so?" Fortunately, Speedstar wasn't particularly interested in the answer.
"Aoi must have come to give you the entry form," Caesar said.
Kousei nodded. Given Caesar's connections, it wasn't surprising he knew before she did.
"Eh? Senpai is entering a race! That's great! I can't wait to see you run again!" Twilight Cloud clung to Kousei's arm.
"Oh? You're competing?" Speedstar's interest was instantly piqued. "This is a rare opportunity. How about a practice race before the main event? You must be tired of racing Caesar by now. How about I be your opponent?"
At Speedstar's words, the gazes of the other three sharpened.
An invisible, oppressive aura began to emanate from them.
"Hmph, you've got some nerve. Senpai's practice opponent is obviously me,"
Cloud responded by cracking her knuckles, the sound echoing in the tense air.
Just a Way looked back and forth, utterly confused, while Caesar watched the unfolding drama with an amused expression.
"A practice race... a good idea. After all, I don't want to mess up when it counts. However..." Kousei's tone shifted, and her blood-red, slit pupils narrowed.
The four who met her gaze all broke into wide, predatory grins.
"Come at me all at once!"