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Oguri Cap's matter was only a brief interlude.
As the day of the Japan Cup drew near, all Tokyo began to roil.
Ever since Oguri Cap lost to Fujimasa March in the Mile Championship, the tone of public opinion across the Far Eastern island nation had turned subtle.
No one was willing to slap the title of "strongest active" onto Oguri Cap's head so willfully anymore.
It wasn't that the Gray-haired Monster had fallen.
It was that another star—or even a whole cluster of new stars—had risen into the sky in a more dazzling blaze.
Eyes shifted from one powerful individual to a far more radiant collective.
Lightchaser!
The strongest team in Central.
That name is now deserved beyond question.
And as the architect of it all, Kuroha was once again dug up by gossiping netizens and media, thrust onto the peak of the public discourse.
Before, people habitually mentioned Naise Fumino and Kuroha together, calling them the "twin prodigies" among the new generation of trainers.
But now the wind has completely changed. Kuroha's popularity and prestige have surged into an overwhelming, three-way-dominance kind of lead.
After all, his record is too brilliant.
He beat the previous generation's strongest—Ginjirou Musaka and Naise Hideto—head-on.
Then, in a direct clash, he led his team to defeat the younger generation's strongest, Naise Fumino.
Kuroha is, beyond doubt, the strongest trainer of the new generation—no, of all Central Tracen Academy.
Some enthusiast even compiled every race Lightchaser has entered so far and posted it online.
People were shocked to find that, going by the entry sheets he has filed for each Uma Musume, if the upcoming Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen are both dominated by Lightchaser's girls…
Then "Lightchaser"
would become, in the history of Central Tracen Academy, a never-before-seen team of Uma Musume that is undefeated across the entire army!
One team, from year's start to year's end, through G3, G2, and G1—every member, without a single loss!
What a terrifying level of dominion!
This discovery exploded like a bomb, setting the entire racing world to a boil.
Thus the anticipation for the imminent Japan Cup soared to the extreme.
Everyone waited—either to witness history, or…to witness the fall of a miracle.
…
Inside a certain trainer's office at Central Tracen Academy.
Aotake Memory trembled as she held a newspaper. On it was the finalized list of entrants for the Japan Cup.
"Super Creek-san, and that transfer student—last year's Japan Cup champion, Obey Your Master-san—and…so many strong overseas runners…"
Her voice quivered with excitement, eyes shining with a light she'd never shown before.
After a moment of reading, she couldn't hold down the surging emotion, sprang up from the sofa, and flung her arms wide:
"Finally…finally I can run the middle distance on the same track as everyone!"
"I still don't think middle distance suits you…"
Beside her, Naise Hideto took a sip of coffee and coolly dumped a basin of cold water.
"Trainer, how can you say that!" Aotake Memory puffed her cheeks at once, protesting in dissatisfaction.
Hideto glanced at her, didn't keep pouring it on, then instead hooked a long-absent smile.
"But…mm, it's kind of fun too."
"Getting to clash with Fumino's team again, and also…"
His gaze fell to a dossier in his hand. On its cover, four bold characters: "Obey Your Master."
"What…frightening data…"
…
Elsewhere on campus, in Naise Fumino's office.
Tap.
The oil pen in Fumino's hand touched lightly to a giant whiteboard.
On it were clearly marked the Japan Cup's course traits, weather projections, and detailed analyses of each major opponent.
"…That's this year's Japan Cup. Any questions?"
Across from her, Super Creek wore a grave look, attention fixed on the documents in hand.
"The key is whether we can answer Obey Your Master, right?" She looked up, calm black eyes stating the core.
Fumino nodded, voice weighty: "That's right. Obey Your Master."
"Judging from last year's Japan Cup footage and all her graded stakes this season, she and you are the same type of Uma Musume."
Super Creek softly added, voice steady yet landing on the heart of it:
"And because she's one of Kuroha-sensei's girls, after a full year of systematic strengthening, her overall qualities will far exceed mine. You could say she's the opponent least favorable to my matchup."
"…Yes."
Fumino answered quietly, a faint press of weight in her heart.
But she saw that Super Creek before her betrayed no discouragement at all. Instead, with a hand gently touching the spread of photos and materials on the desk, a rational brilliance flickered in her eyes.
"But this year's Japan Cup isn't last year's."
Super Creek's voice was calm and forceful.
"Last year she could hide in the glare of Tony Bianca and Tamamo Cross."
"But this year, as the reigning Japan Cup queen and the representative of Central's strongest team, 'Lightchaser,' Obey Your Master will no longer be the hunter."
"She'll be everyone's target!"
"And as an international G1, the Japan Cup field will be abnormally strong."
"If everyone locks her as the final mark, then the on-track game won't be a pure contest of physical attributes anymore!"
Looking at her girl regaining confidence,
Fumino capped her pen and smiled lightly. "Then, let's do our best. Together."
"Mm!"
…
At a hotel near Tokyo Racecourse.
"I told you I'm fine! Don't treat me like a child!"
By day, the silver long-curled, heterochromatic Uma Musume whom Gold City hadn't been able to find was now, a touch helpless, on a video call with a friend.
"But this is your first time abroad, right? Are you eating properly? Does the food there suit you? Can you sleep?"
On the other end, a gentle-mannered foreign girl looked at her with a face full of worry, prattling on.
"…So naggy!"
The Commoner Queen muttered with impatience, propping her cheek in one hand, all boredom.
"I'm worried about you. I hope you understand, Queen."
The Commoner Queen sighed helplessly. "The one not understanding is you. I'm already a woman who can stand on her own. I'm totally fine by myself!"
She looked, a bit annoyed, at the fellow countrywoman on the screen.
Not a real sister, but they got along like siblings.
It was last year's Japan Cup's former New Zealand representative—Ellerslie Glory.
"…"
Ellerslie Glory fell silent a moment, then pointed behind the Commoner Queen.
"You obviously can't sleep without that big mirror. Are you really okay?"
"…S-stop…stop nagging!!"
A faint flush rose to the Queen's face; she instantly flew into a flustered huff.
"Even if I can't sleep alone, the problem is seriously—"
Ellerslie Glory held her head, still pained by the matter: "There's still time. I should come keep you company after all!"
"Ah! Seriously, so annoying, so annoying! I'm going to sleep, good night!"
With that, the Commoner Queen, as if covering something up, jabbed the end-call button.
Once she hung up, the room returned to silence.
She stared blankly at the ceiling for a bit, then let out a long sigh, her soft body slumping boneless over the desk.
"Was that okay? Hanging up so suddenly?"
Abruptly, a cool voice spoke behind the Commoner Queen.
Strangely, the room held only her at a glance.
But the silver-haired girl answered as if used to it: "It's fine. Onee-san just worries too much."
"That only proves she loves you very much," the voice chuckled.
"Love…huh?"
The Commoner Queen's voice lowered. I'm so sad the day this ques… can I…
Hearing that, the Queen slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she stood and turned to look behind her.
"Yeah—both loving and hating you.
"Me."
In the tall floor mirror behind her, her reflection spoke in perfect unison.
Whss—!
Right then, in the silver-haired girl's heterochromatic eyes, two dark spiritual gleams flashed!
But in the next instant, the red lightning vanished. In her left pupil, only pure gold light rose!
In the mirror, however, in the reflection's right eye, a strange, blazing, flame-like crimson glow began to surge!
"Tell me, Commoner…"
The silver-haired girl reached out a white hand, slowly touching the mirror.
The reflection raised its hand to meet her palm, a gentle smile at its lips.
"Tell me, Queen…"
Whss—!
Suddenly, a vast red radiance flooded the space!
Two perfectly overlapped voices, carrying indisputable majesty and dominance, rang out on all sides!
"Who is the strongest Uma Musume in the world? Me!"
(End of Chapter)
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