A week before the [Autumn Tenno Sho], the list of participants that would be running in the race had been released to the public. Excitement had surged when many noticed that it would be a race involving most of the strongest umamusume of this generation. The Generation of Miracles, the White Lightning, the Wild Joker—and now with Inari One also included in that list.
Or at least that was how it looked at a glance. At a second look, it was obvious that something was very wrong about it.
Blossom Star and Oguri Cap were not included. Arguably this generation's two dominant stars—and yet their names weren't written in the list. It would only be a race for 9 runners.
A few brave umamusume quickly rushed to the Director's office to inquire if they'd made a mistake somehow.
They did not.
And by that point, Tracen Central erupted in chaos once they realized that this was no mere mistake—Oguri and Star really wouldn't be running in this year's [Autumn Tenno Sho]. Speculation and baseless rumors quickly began spreading around the campus, made especially worse since Oguri and Star seemed to have vanished from the academy overnight. Some tried asking Kitahara or Belno, but they simply said that the two were pouring their focus to prepare for the [Japan Cup].
The reaction of the general public as a whole was even worse, but that was a story for another time.
As for the runners themselves,
"So 'dey did go wi'h it." Tamamo whispered, smiling wryly as she dropped the newspaper onto the cafeteria table. "Was thinkin' they wer' lyin'."
Obey Your Master hummed as she continued eating through her katsudon. "Star isn't one to lie on things like this."
Tamamo shrugged. "Tha's true."
She wasn't sure how everyone else was reacting, but Tamamo herself wasn't too taken aback. Star had mentioned a few days back that she'd been contemplating not running in the [Autumn Tenno Sho], and even if Star hadn't confirmed or denied anything, the fact that Star had mentioned it at all was enough for her to be a lil' suspicious. And since Star wasn't running in the race, then that fatass girlfriend of her probably wouldn't either.
The simple truth was this: Star and Oguri had never raced for glory or whatever. Sure, one won the Undefeated Triple Crown and the other held the Undefeated Triple Tiara, but that was mostly circumstantial. Missin' a race or two didn't matter too much to them.
Because for those two lovebirds, the thing they prioritized more than anything was racing together. The people's expectations, the promise of glory, the cold prize money—none of that ever mattered to the two. Even back before they officially became a thing, the two only had one another in their minds.
…was kinda irritating, actually. Made her a lil' jealous too.
"You ain't surprised?" She asked.
Obey smiled faintly. "Director Akikawa is my trainer." She said as she ate another spoonful of rice. "I received such news earlier than most."
A faint smirk curled her lips. "Wow, talk 'bout grade-A nepotism." She jokingly said.
"We are athletes. Such things are commonplace." Obey returned with a soft huff.
Tamamo snorted, but she didn't disagree. After all, that was literally how Central worked—bloodline was a powerful thing here, even if it was all bullshit in her eyes. Hell, even Team Kitahara ain't exempt. Sure they got here after they literally tore through their town, rackin' up wins like kids on halloween, but the fact that Kitahara's uncle was the Fairy Godfather helped a lot in making their transition to Central smooth.
Well, that ain't important though.
Tamamo glanced at Obey. The other umamusume was incredibly calm as she ate through her bowl of katsudon, entirely unaffected by all the fervent whispers and rumor-sharing happening everywhere else in the cafeteria. The tranquility was almost eerie, especially knowing just how wild she could get whenever things started heatin' up.
She frowned thoughtfully.
With Star and Oguri out of the picture, the [Autumn Tenno Sho] had suddenly become the wild west.
Obey Your Master and Belno Light remained the most dangerous threats she had to keep an eye out for. She needed to time her spurt at the right time. Letting herself spark too early will definitely end in her defeat.
But it wasn't just them anymore. That rookie, Inari One—she was pretty damn strong, especially with that Domain of hers. Then there was Dicta Striker. That acceleration she showed at the end of the [Sapporo Kinen] was scary, and the fact that her Domain was one that specifically cut through other Domains made her even more dangerous.
And that wasn't even considerin' everyone else. Super Creek, Mejiro Ardan, Sakura Chiyono O, Yaeno Muteki—just cause they fell behind during the [Takarazuka Kinen] didn't mean they'd do the same now.
She had no clue who'd come out on top.
After a while, Obey noticed Tamamo's stare and raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
"Nah, jus' thinking." She smirked slightly. "The race's gonna be interestin' this time 'round."
Obey hummed as she ate another spoonful. "It certainly will." She returned a smile. "It will be a competition to see who can grasp the bronze medal."
Tamamo snorted. "Damn, maybe have a lil' faith in us?" Was what she said, though she knew Obey wasn't wrong. If Star and Oguri decided to join in, then the hope of victory was basically lost. It'd be another rerun of the [Takarazuka Kinen]—the damn race would just become another race for 2.
It wasn't her lacking confidence or somethin'. She knew those two were now in a different league entirely.
And that was even before realizin' that neither of them had Domains, meanin' neither of them had broken past their Limits yet.
She didn't even want to consider what a Limit-broken Star looked like.
Well, it wasn't that surprising. Secretariat had chosen Star for a reason, after all.
"Oi, Joker."
"Hmm? What is it, Tamamo-san?"
For a moment, a bolt of lightning seemed to flash across the windows behind her, and Tamamo grinned wide as the scent of ozone filled the air. "I ain't losin' this time 'round." She said, smiling with teeth. "That medal's mine, ya' hear? I might not have much left in me, but I ain't lettin' ya' pass me."
Obey's smile turned eerie. "And I shall repeat those same words back to you." She gently placed her spoon down. The clang of metal against her bowl sounded like an executioner's blade. "The Director has kindly taken me as her own. I will not fail her this time around." The faint outlines of stars shone in her eyes. "Victory shall be mine, White Lightning."
Tamamo's grin grew. "Right back at ya', Joker."
…
"Anyway, ya' gonna finish tha' bowl or what?"
Obey raised an eyebrow as she picked her spoon back up. "I believe I've been eating at a normal pace." She smiled wryly. "Please stop comparing me to Oguri-san. I will never be able to match the voracity of the Grey Monster."
Tamamo snorted. "Yeah, yea'." She sighed as she relaxed into her seat. "Take y'er time then. I'll just sit and wait for Komiyama-trainer to finish whatever she's doin'."
Obey hummed as she ate a spoonful of rice. "You should take some food then." Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Perhaps some extra calories would aid in your growth."
Her eyes twitched. "Oi, you-" But before she could finish, her stomach began growling, and her cheeks flushed red as Obey's smirk grew. "F-Fine! I'll get somethin'!" She abruptly stood up and made her way to the serving area.
Obey quietly laughed.