The days of recuperation always seemed to slip by in a blur.
Because of her leg injury, Barbatos had to miss both the Winner's Stage and the dinner she'd promised King Halo.
These days, she was stuck resting, her world shrunk to the narrow path between the classroom and her dorm room.
If there was one small comfort, it was that this wasn't too far from her usual routine.
Attend class —> eat —> team strategy meetings —> play League of Legends.
The only thing missing now were those strategy meetings. Her friends in Team Canopus wouldn't dream of dragging an injured member to one anyway; they were all but insisting she take it easy.
After all, everyone could tell—Barbatos was itching to recover in time for the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
If there was one thing that felt different from usual, it was the constant, meticulous care from Seiun Sky.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Barbatos felt the faint, tingling mist of the spray on her leg. She watched Seiun Sky, who was holding the spray canister with intense focus.
Only one thought crossed Barbatos's mind:
How in the world could she make Seiun Sky hers?
If King Halo hadn't interrupted them after the last race, she probably would've just kissed her then and there, wouldn't she? Just to make things official.
But then, Barbatos shook her head inwardly.
That… wouldn't do. She'd probably scare her off. Something like this needed a proper, romantic confession first.
What kind of Tracen student would resort to such crude methods? She'd just gotten carried away in the moment, that was all.
During her recovery, quite a few people came to visit.
Aside from her close classmates and teammates, even legendary Uma Musume like Hishi Amazon, Maruzensky, and Fuji Kiseki dropped by. Even the members of Team Spica, like Special Week, came to wish her well.
As for the gifts from fans, they were all sent to Trainer Minamizaka first for screening. No way was she going to let just anything reach his injured charge.
It was a far cry from the last time she'd broken a bone, when Urara was the only one who visited.
Since coming to Tracen Academy, her circle of connections had truly grown.
Besides, being laid up meant more time to focus on gaming, which meant more Blue Essence income. By the time the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies rolled around, she'd be even stronger.
--+--
Somewhere, in an indoor training room.
Sakura Rambler was pushing through a strength training session, her clothes already soaked with sweat.
She'd debuted early this year and had already run in several G-series races, boasting an impressive record of five wins in six starts.
Yet, even with that, her classmates and teammates weren't particularly optimistic about her next race.
Because next, she was set to run in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
Where she would face her—Barbatos, the "Wind God"!
Even though she'd debuted earlier, even with her stellar record, people still thought she'd probably lose.
Only her trainer and her father and elders back home gave her their full encouragement and belief.
It wasn't until the news broke recently from the Tokyo Sports Hai—about Barbatos's injury and her possible withdrawal from the Juvenile Fillies—that many started considering her the favorite to win.
Thinking of this, Sakura Rambler's movements in her strength training became faster, more forceful.
This wasn't the kind of recognition she wanted.
What she wanted was to defeat Barbatos fair and square.
What meaning was there in winning the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies if Barbatos wasn't there? Being called one of the strongest of her generation? They'd just say she got lucky because Barbatos didn't run.
She wanted the victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, of course.
But even more, she wanted a proper race against Barbatos.
She wanted to prove her own strength, to show everyone that Sakura Rambler was an Uma Musume who didn't lose to the likes of Barbatos or El Condor Pasa.
"So, Barbatos, you'd better recover in time for the race!"
There was still no news of Barbatos withdrawing. That meant she was surely working hard to heal, too.
If Barbatos was fighting to make it to the race, then she couldn't afford to slack off now.
She remembered a story about an elder from her Sakura family—a contemporary of the legendary Oguri Cap.
That elder had given her all to win the Japanese Derby, even suffering a leg injury in the process, but…
Even so, many believed that if Oguri Cap had run, the winner of that Japanese Derby would undoubtedly have been Oguri Cap, not her elder—Sakura Chiyono O!
Back then, Oguri Cap had missed the entry deadline for the classic races, making her ineligible for the Japanese Derby. It was only after that year the racing committee changed the rules.
And so, no matter what, she hoped Barbatos would run in this race.
And she would defeat her in it.
--+--
Elsewhere, at the same time.
An Uma Musume with silver hair and silver eyes drew a longbow, aiming at a distant target. She pulled the string back into a full moon's curve and let the arrow fly.
The arrow crossed the distance, striking the center of the target dead-on.
"Barbatos!"
Her outfit, that of a "Freedom Soldier," stood out somewhat from the typical Japanese Uma Musume's attire, bearing distinct American influences.
She was an Uma Musume who'd returned from the United States. Since her debut in Japan, she'd racked up five wins in seven starts. She had also witnessed, during a long-distance relay, the defeat of her American senior—Obey Your Master.
Even trailing by twenty lengths, Obey Your Master had unequivocally lost to Barbatos.
"This time, I will be the one to defeat you at the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies!"
Muttering this, Freedom Soldier nocked another arrow and drew her bow, taking aim once more.
The thought of Barbatos missing the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies due to injury never even crossed her mind. An Uma Musume capable of defeating Obey Your Master would never, ever fall at a hurdle like this.
--+--
One by one, the Uma Musume set to compete in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies were experiencing similar sentiments.
None of them felt joy or let their training slacken upon hearing of Barbatos's injury, thinking victory would be easier without her.
All they did was continue their serious training as always, hoping Barbatos would be able to run in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
And then, to defeat her in that very race!
Only that would be a true victory. Even if Barbatos truly couldn't run, they were determined to show a side of themselves that was in no way inferior to her.
They would make every spectator watching the race understand—this generation wasn't just about Barbatos alone!
A peerless prodigy of the era?
They each believed themselves to be Uma Musume who would not lose to any so-called prodigy.
They were all elite Uma Musume who had risen from the ranks to earn their place in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.