On the dawn of the next day, we bid farewell to our families and friends as we boarded a Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
But this time, March wasn't joining us as we headed back to Central. Not because she'd retired or something, but because separating her from Shibasaki wasn't something I wanted to do, especially after it seemed like the two had recently tied the knot.
March would still race in Central—that hadn't changed. She'd just 'softly retired' from being a student of Tracen Central Academy, and would only return once Shibasaki successfully acquired his Central license. Something like that would've caused issues in the past, but Director Akikawa was more than happy to accommodate this new arrangement, more than understanding about March's circumstances.
Regardless, our return was done discreetly, and so there was little fanfare as we finally returned to Tracen Central.
Which was why–
"So you've been going here everyday?" I asked, smiling wryly.
Inari One chuckled weakly. "W-Well, ya' never tol' me when y'er returning, Star-aneue."
I sighed. "That's because I didn't want you to focus on me." I smirked as I gave her forehead a playful flick. "Your [Sapporo Kinen]'s literally in a few days, isn't it? Focus on that instead."
"Ahaha…"
The thing is, our little vacation back to Kasamatsu ended up being a little longer than we first expected. It meant that by the time we came back to Tracen Central, everyone who'd gone to the summer camp had already been back for about a week. One of them was Inari One, and she'd been itching to show how much she'd progressed in the past two weeks.
Except none of us were here, and not knowing when we'd return, Inari instead visited our team's clubroom every morning to see if we'd finally returned.
"So, you wanna do another test race?" I asked, slightly raising an eyebrow. "That little-, what was it, the [Naha Trial Stakes]?" Inari nodded, and I grinned. "That not enough for you?"
"Of course not!" She shamelessly said, a foxlike grin on her lips as she clenched her fist. "I can't stop if I wanna be tha' strongest umamusume!"
I hummed. "Good attitude." I patted her head. "Honestly, I'm down. I'm rather curious as well." But I then gave her an apologetic smile. "But you've seen what Oguri and I did to the track back in Okinawa Tracen—the whole thing was wrecked by the end of it." I shrugged. "That's why Oguri and I train at our own place, but it's all the way in Gunma. And I don't think Yusuhara-san will be particularly happy if I suddenly abduct you to a different prefecture."
"Bah, he'll understand!"
"I'm sure he will." I agreed. "But better safe than sorry, right?" I gave her head another pat. "Look, the [Sapporo Kinen]'s going to happen in just a few days; show me how much you've grown, and once we have more time, we can plan another practice race."
"Then its'a promise!"
I nodded. "It's a promise." I repeated.
Once that promise was made, Inari One bid me an energetic farewell as she immediately rushed back to the tracks, eager to train as much as she could before the [Sapporo Kinen]. And with the clubroom once again bathed in silence, I made my way to my couch and fell right onto it.
I sighed softly as I smooshed my cheeks into the comforting grip of my pillow.
There was another reason I hadn't agreed to Inari's request: I was feeling a little lazy. Training didn't do much anymore, and though I could still improve my Guts and Wits, any gains I made with them were miniscule. And since it was already too late in the day to make a trip to Gunma, the only thing I could do was laze around in the clubroom.
…
It made me feel somewhat bad, actually. Oguri and Belno were at least doing some training to maintain their physique, which left me feeling like a bum.
"Do you want to experience such regression?" Someone then asked.
I scoffed as I rolled around, and I grinned when I saw Darley Arabian standing over me, a small smirk on her lips. "Of course not." I said without shame, stretching like a cat as I slowly sat up. "I'm just being privileged, that's all."
Darley smiled softly as she sat down. "Such privilege is earnt, I assure you."
"Maybe~"
I glanced at her for a moment. Darley Arabian—the Goddess of Bravery. This was the first time I've seen her manifest herself into the real world, but I couldn't help but feel a strange familiarity from this scenario. It was almost as if I'd seen her even before I raced against her, even if I couldn't quite remember.
"So, what's the occasion?" I asked as I leaned back into the couch. "Got any new Missions you need me to do?"
Darley shook her head. "None at the moment, and as we've said, we hold no control over the Hero System." She smiled fondly. "It is the creation of another; we only serve as those who ferry that System from one Hero to the next."
I hummed. "Well, in that case, what's up?"
Darley smiled faintly. "Can I not make a visit to the one who stands against Destiny itself?"
"Hey, can't blame a girl for being curious." I shrugged. "I mean, not every day that one of the Three Goddesses just happens to appear next to me."
She giggled. "Oh trust me, we appear in the material world rather often." She winked. "It's just that few possess the eyes capable of seeing illusory figures such as I."
I hummed, and then blinked when I realized what she was implying. "Wait, so can people like Manhattan Cafe see you?"
"Ah, the sister of Sunday Silence, is it?" She hummed thoughtfully. "I presume so, though I doubt she would be able to view me with complete clarity. Mortal eyes are not fit to gaze upon these forms—nor were they meant to ever do so." She closed her eyes. "She'll likely just see me as another one of those 'phantoms' that are so commonplace in her Career."
"Interesting." I said, before I shook my head. "But seriously, why are you here?"
She smiled for a moment, before her expression turned serious. "I come with a warning, Blossom Star."
I nodded, my eyes narrowing. "Hit me with it."
"The [Japan Cup] approaches, and with it, the time for us to make our move against the threads of Destiny." She waved her hand into the air, her fingers leaving behind faint trails of light. "At that day, my sisters and I will be fully occupied in our attack, which leaves you and your allies unprotected."
I frowned slightly. "Unprotected?"
She hummed. "Have you perhaps ever wondered why, despite all the injuries you attained during last year's [Japan Cup], that you were able to recover with such efficacy?"
I tilted my head. "Isn't that because of the System?" I asked. "I mean, Secretariat's doctors said that my physiology basically mirrored hers, which is why I was able to heal so fast."
"That plays a part in it, yes." She said. "But that is also because Godolphin had protected you with her blessing. It is the reason why she appeared before you during the summer of last year." She smiled faintly. "Secretariat is an anomaly amongst anomalies, but even she would have struggled to recover from injuries so egregious."
I pursed my lips. "So basically there's no safety net this time around." I concluded. Darley nodded, and I hummed as I crossed my arms. "Well, good thing I've been trying to not injure myself ever since then." I grinned slightly. "Not being able to walk sucks—not something I wanna ever experience again."
Darley smiled. "Good. Continue exercising caution, Blossom Star. It will save you when you need it most."
My lips twitched. "Wow. Talk about ominous." But no response returned, and when I turned back, Darley Arabian was already gone. I huffed softly as I rested my head back onto the pillow.
Still, I kept her words to heart. Either Oguri or I had to win this year's [Japan Cup], but we had to do so without injuring ourselves like we did last year.
I wouldn't allow such a pyrrhic victory.
…
Well, aside,
I clicked my tongue as I ran a hand through my hair. I'd been intending to take a quick nap to pass the time, but after that little talk with the Goddess, I doubted I'd be able to sleep any time soon.
So, after laying down for a few more minutes, I stood up and left the clubroom to grab a quick snack from the cafeteria.