Chapter 310: Only One Year Left—I’ll Become a Legendary Uma Musume! 2 [254] [100 STONES]

A glorious victory?

No. It would be more accurate to call it a victory no one could resist at all—a casual, effortless win, like toying with prey before grabbing it whenever she pleased.

Flightline’s performance had even exceeded Gotham Song’s expectations—

Though as always, flaws like her impatience hadn’t changed. Still, that wasn’t exactly an unforgivable problem.

Or rather, maybe the fact that she couldn’t coldly crush her opponents the way Gentildonna did was simply Flightline’s personal style.

This kid really is something else... helplessly endearing, in a way.

That was about the only conclusion Gotham Song could come to, caught between laughter and exasperation. After that, she had no further thoughts worth dwelling on. Flightline’s debut race had already proven beyond question that she was flawless enough to become a future star—an Umamusume who could one day stand on her own.

To execute a shadowing Late Surger race that tightly was no small thing. Sure, she’d launched a little too early near the end, which counted as a small deduction, but overall it hardly mattered.

At this rate, tomorrow’s magazine headline for debuting American Umamusume would definitely belong to Flightline.

As for the fact that one of her girls was about to become the cover star, Gotham Song was honestly pretty pleased. After one more glance at Flightline in the distance—already past the finish line and now circling the track as if proclaiming her strength to the entire world—Gotham Song finally drew her gaze back.

She looked instead at the other Umamusume beside her.

Silent, but still meeting her eyes, as if waiting for her to speak first.

Clearly, Miss Fighter had dressed more formally than usual for accompanying Flightline to the race today. That black leather coat of hers really did make one wonder whether she might just roast to death in it.

A boring concern. How was a ghost Umamusume supposed to die from heat?

Not just a ghost Umamusume—if that coat functioned like a Racing Outfit, then even a living Umamusume probably wouldn’t feel uncomfortable in it at all.

The Three Goddesses’ blessing, kid.

Still, the atmosphere between them had sunk into a profound awkwardness.

Because—Gotham Song was waiting for Fighter to speak too.

The two of them, both well past the age of innocence, had somehow fallen into the sort of contest where whoever spoke first lost. Silence itself had become the air between them. Even Equinox, who’d still been agonizing over what kind of gift to ask Gotham Song for, paused her thoughts for a moment and looked over at the strange mood on this side.

Of course, she only looked once. It didn’t seem like anything particularly dramatic was going to happen, after all.

Who knew how long they stared at each other. It felt like Flightline had already started preparing to leave the track by the time Gotham Song finally caved.

She genuinely hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. It really was more than a little helpless.

But if this staring match continued any longer, then the only thing left to do would be to turn around and leave, so...

"All right, all right, I lose. What is it you want to say, Miss Fighter?"

It probably wasn’t her imagination—Gotham Song clearly saw Fighter blink once, slyly, before the cool beauty all in black rose from her seat, moved over to sit beside Gotham Song, and looked toward Flightline, who still hadn’t left the track.

"To have trained an Umamusume like that... you really are a pretty good Trainer."

"Really? Thanks?"

It felt a little out of nowhere. Gotham Song didn’t believe for a second that the sole reason Fighter had stayed behind to lock eyes with her was to comment on whether Flightline had been trained properly. After all, Flightline was one of the members of her team. Training her well was simply something Gotham Song ought to do.

"Still, it doesn’t look like Flightline intends to do the Winning Live?"

"Cough... You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

You Old Bastard No. 4... why are you bringing up the one thing you absolutely shouldn’t?

Gotham Song was incandescent with rage.

But Fighter clearly had no intention of changing course. She simply kept that faint smile on her face as she looked at Gotham Song, then continued.

"No, I’m actually quite curious about the Winning Live."

"After all, back when I was alive, things like that didn’t exist yet."

Gotham Song’s mouth twitched. She strongly suspected Fighter was just teasing her on purpose with this, but unfortunately she had no solid proof.

You Old Bastard No. 4, I’m holding this grudge for the rest of my life.

"It really does sound kind of appealing, though. A huge stage, lots of people, being able to feel the fans responding to you... that sounds like a pretty good experience, doesn’t it?"

And you know what—on that subject, Gotham Song actually did have the standing to speak.

Because she really had gone on the Winning Live before.

At that description, Fighter did seem to show a flicker of longing for the Winning Live. But it vanished as quickly as it came. For an Umamusume like her, there probably wasn’t much chance left of ever standing on that stage now...

She would have to finish in the top three at the Dream Cup—and if she wasn’t taking first, then she’d at least have to avoid getting blown out by a wide margin.

"Actually, I’m here to declare war too. Against you—an opponent I’m fated to meet at the Dream Cup."

"Really? I can’t say I’m all that surprised, Miss Fighter."

"That’s for the best, then, Miss Song. How should I put it? I know you’re strong. But precisely because you’re strong—because you’re that strong—I want all the more to challenge you."

There it was. The classic deranged Umamusume line...!

So that’s how you people are, huh? You just latch onto the strongest person in your field of vision and refuse to let go?

Gotham Song was honestly a little helpless in the face of that.

But...

But after that brief helplessness came something else, howling up from her chest like a stormwind.

So just anyone can jump out and decide they want to challenge me now, huh...?

Fighter wasn’t some nameless nobody, of course. She was one of the brightest stars of a bygone era.

But!

Just like how Miss Fighter had never experienced the atmosphere of the Winning Live, she was still nothing more than a legend of the old era. And an old-era legend thinking she could challenge a living legend of this age—what kind of delusion was that?

Don’t get it twisted, you old fossil. If your era’s truly over, then the right place for you is back where you belong—sent there properly by me on the track.

"A challenge, huh? Interesting. Fine, I accept. Whatever kind of challenge it is, I’ll take it all, Miss Fighter. Just make sure you’re ready..."

"You might end up suffering the kind of crushing defeat you’ve never imagined, never once believed you could experience."

I’m going to slam you straight into the ground.

Fighter froze for a moment. It really was the first time she’d ever heard anyone say something like that to her, and for an instant she didn’t quite know how to react.

If someone had said that to Fighter back in her own era, they’d have been mocked mercilessly and treated like a joke.

That was Fighter, after all. The overwhelmingly powerful Fighter...!

But that confusion only lasted for a moment. After a brief pause, Fighter clearly realized one thing:

Gotham Song really was someone with the right to say words like that to her.

She really was someone so strong that even a former legend would treat her as an enemy...!

Was it contempt? Arrogance? Dismissal?

Yes.

Yes, of course it was...!

But was that a stance Gotham Song had no right to take?

Absolutely not...!

On the contrary, Fighter felt that Gotham Song ought to be exactly like this—wild, unrestrained, never once doubting that anyone could catch up to her.

Because she was the undefeated legend of this age.

And if that was the case, then there was no way to ignore that pride, that boldness, that invincible self-confidence.

It seemed that after going back, she’d need to train harder, bring out her very best form, and then give this kouhai—who clearly didn’t know her place—a vivid and memorable lesson.

Tell me, Gotham Song.

Have you ever imagined yourself losing one day?

If you haven’t, then that really is your good fortune.

"Good. That’s exactly the version of you I came back to this world to defeat, Miss Song. So don’t disappoint me. I’m very much looking forward to seeing that adorably soft little expression on your face the first time you lose."

"Then keep waiting. You won’t see it."

Gotham Song answered with total indifference, putting a clean end to the exchange.

"Oh, right, Miss Song. Before the Dream Cup officially begins, there may be a little surprise waiting for you. Do look forward to it."

Fighter suddenly tossed out that baffling comment, then left of her own accord without waiting for any meaningful response from Gotham Song.

Gotham Song frowned deeply at that, clicked her tongue, then waved a tiny fist at Fighter’s retreating back.

One day, sooner or later, she was going to punch every last damn cryptic bastard into orbit...!

Whatever. Since it was something for later, she’d deal with it later. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

What mattered more right now was—

Crossing through the spectator stands and entering the contestant tunnel, Gotham Song skillfully led Equinox down the corridor and stopped outside a spacious hall.

Then she carefully pushed open the closed door and stepped inside as quietly as possible—

That, of course, would have been the ideal outcome.

Unfortunately, things hadn’t exactly gone according to plan. Or rather, there was still a fair bit of distance between "quietly entering" and "not being noticed."

Well, to be fair, all the reporters were looking at Flightline and had no intention whatsoever of turning around.

Instead, it was Flightline up front—her eyes lighting up mid-interview, bouncing up and down and waving at the back—that sold Gotham Song out on the spot.

There’s a traitor in our midst!!!

And so Gotham Song’s arrival was exposed to the entire room, and she had no choice but to walk up front and accept the interview together with Flightline.

Gotham Song was thoroughly helpless about it, but really, what was she supposed to do to Flightline?

Wasn’t her idiot just like that by nature? What else could she do except accept it?

After a resigned sigh, Gotham Song looked at the sea of flashing cameras before her.

The interview itself wasn’t especially substantial, though. Flightline was today’s main character, after all. All Gotham Song really did was occasionally step in and help guide her dumb little speed freak toward a proper answer whenever the girl started stammering and couldn’t respond.

Except for one question.

"Miss Song, you were still in Japan yesterday, weren’t you? You were there in person for Miss Equinox’s debut race. And yet today you’ve already crossed an ocean. Did you come all this way specifically to witness Miss Flightline’s debut?"

"Of course I did. I don’t exactly have that many Umamusume on my team to begin with... If I missed the moment one of my girls debuted, I know I’d regret it later."

"And Flightline would regret it too."

The reporters collectively sank into sincere admiration.

Never mind whether that sort of thing ought to be taken for granted or not—at the very least, it did an excellent job of showing Gotham Song’s professionalism.

As expected, Miss Song really was such a serious and dependable figure...?

Gotham Song had a faintly unpleasant premonition about something, but it was subtle enough that she didn’t dwell on it. After answering the one and only question directed at her, she waited for Flightline to finish the rest, then disappeared from the studio together with her two Umamusume.

As expected, Flightline also directly announced that she would not be doing the Winning Live—

Though the way she declared it was even more simple and violent.

It wasn’t that she truly didn’t care, nor that she truly didn’t want to dance.

It was that she genuinely couldn’t learn it. Whenever she danced, it felt like her entire body was fighting itself.

If she had that time to spare, Flightline would much rather challenge Miss Song again or go run some more.

That was the entirety of what she said in the studio. Honestly, Gotham Song had stood there beside her listening with her mouth twitching the whole time.

Flightline really is just one gigantic husky... You absolutely got reincarnated into the wrong thing. You absolutely did, right?

Naturally, that question was never going to get an answer.

The first thing they saw after leaving the racecourse was Secretariat, wearing sunglasses and waiting at the curb in her car.

Clearly, even if she’d tossed Flightline to Gotham Song without a word back then, she still cared at least somewhat about her adopted daughter.

Once they got into the car and left Aqueduct behind, Gotham Song learned that their destination was Secretariat’s home.

Come to think of it, after living in America this long and knowing Secretariat for so long, this was actually her first time going to Secretariat’s house...!

The thought left Gotham Song genuinely a little excited.

After all, that old fossil looked so thoroughly, deeply like a suit-wearing brute that it was impossible not to be curious—was her home like that of an old aristocratic household, or something modern instead?

Of course, this dinner party to celebrate Flightline’s debut wasn’t just for the four of them.

Who else would be attending?

Seabiscuit, Festival Glory, and—

someone who had known Secretariat before, someone from an earlier era important enough to count, more or less, as one of her seniors.

Brigadier Gerard.

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