Eve of the Osaka Cup
As usual, after Kousei Training, Kousei prepared to go to the massage center to relieve her fatigue. It must be said that while Kashimoto Riko's policies restricted their freedom, the comprehensive training facilities provided immense convenience.
The customized training programs were both effective and safe. Ideologies aside, one couldn't help but admire Kashimoto Riko's outstanding capabilities.
"Phew~"
After the massage, Kousei decided to take a hot spring bath, letting out a contented sigh as her body fully immersed in the steaming water.
"It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back the other way," Kousei mused, reflecting on the hardships she had endured before.
However, Kousei's doubts lingered. Earlier, she had been so focused on McQueen's strange behavior that she hadn't considered an even bigger question: why Teio had joined the Student Council.
It felt like everyone was starting to keep secrets. With no clues to go on, Kousei racked her brain but couldn't come up with any answers.
"Well, I'll just have to take things one step at a time."
After the hot spring bath, Kousei felt noticeably lighter and more relaxed.
"Oh, right, the milk. I'm still growing, so I can't slack off."
As Kousei drank her milk, she suddenly heard a commotion and, out of curiosity, followed the sound.
"Ah! Condor! You're cheating!"
"Haha! All's fair in war—I'm the strongest in the world!"
Kousei arrived to find Grass Wonder scolding El Condor Pasa.
"It's them."
Kousei had met them briefly during the summer special training camp, but they hadn't interacted much. The five of them seemed inseparable, and there was also a new Umamusume Kousei hadn't seen before.
"Ah~ hahaha!"
"Ah~ hahaha!"
The newcomer was laughing heartily alongside King Halo.
"Absolutely not! As first-rate athletes, we must maintain our elegance!" King Halo sternly criticized.
"Yes! As expected of a first-rate Umamusume!" Despite the harsh criticism, the Umamusume, whom they called Kawakami, showed no trace of displeasure.
"Of course! A first-rate Umamusume must always demand the highest standards of herself!" King Halo seemed quite pleased.
"Where's Special Week?" Kousei instinctively looked around for Special Week.
"Munch, munch, munch!"
If you could say she was easy to find, Special Week was buried in a pile of carrots.
"Heh~ Spe-chan's still such a glutton," Seiun Sky remarked lazily from the side.
"I can't help it! Acting Chairman Kashimoto's policies require me to strictly manage my diet, and I've been getting hungry so quickly lately," Special Week said, her ears drooping.
"Ah~ It's Senpai~ What are you hiding over there for?"
Seiun Sky spotted Kousei first, even though Kousei wasn't really trying to hide.
"Hi."
Since she'd been found out, Kousei decided to step forward openly.
"It's Kousei-senpai! I watched your Japan Cup! It was so amazing! So moving!" Special Week's eyes sparkled as she poked her head out from the carrot pile.
"Ha ha! Kousei-senpai might be strong! But the strongest is still me, El Condor Pasa!"
"Seriously~ Condor!"
Facing Grass Wonder's slightly murderous glare, El Condor Pasa nervously retracted her head.
"Senpai..."
Kousei felt a pang of sentimentality—to think that such a talented junior would refer to herself as his junior.
"Um, Kousei-senpai is really amazing! And so unique! Even though everyone else says bad things about him, I don't think that way at all!" Special Week suddenly declared with earnest sincerity.
She's trying to comfort me, isn't she? Kousei thought, returning the earnest Umamusume's gaze with a warm smile.
"Thank you~"
"Ah~," Special Week gazed dreamily at Kousei. "Senpai is so handsome!"
"Eh?"
Handsome? It had been so long since anyone had praised Kousei's looks. After all, the Twinkle Series valued strength and results above all else. Appearance might be a bonus, but it wasn't a necessity.
"So, Little Special, your dream is to become Japan's number one Umamusume?" Kousei asked, trying to project the composure of a senpai.
"Yes! I made a promise to my mother—to become Japan's number one Umamusume!"
Burdened by a promise, carrying the weight of expectations... If the story of Umamusume were a widely circulated tale, this child would undoubtedly be the protagonist of a pivotal chapter.
That's what Kousei thought.
"Hahaha! Then I must be even stronger than Special!" El Condor Pasa suddenly burst into laughter.
"Eh? Why?" Special Week asked, confused.
"Because El Condor Pasa—the strongest in the world!"
Is it because Special Week is the number one in Japan, and El Condor Pasa is the strongest in the world?
Ah, I see.
Kousei watched El Condor Pasa, who, like Teio, proclaimed herself the strongest. Even just this air of self-proclaimed supremacy was remarkable.
"Hmph! Don't get too cocky! I'm King Halo, and I have the 'King's Halo'! If you want to be number one, you'll have to beat me, a first-rate talent!"
"Ehh~? Even first-rate Umamusume sleep in?" Seiun Sky teased with a mischievous grin.
"E-eh!" King Halo's gaze flickered nervously. "First-rate Umamusume excel at relaxing properly too!"
Though the excuse was obvious, plenty were happy to play along.
"As expected of a first-rate talent! I must work even harder!" Princess Kawakami said, both relieving King Halo's embarrassment and encouraging herself.
"Ehh~ I'll just take it easy and run at my own pace~ After all, my classmates are all monsters~"
Grass Wonder watched her classmates with a serene smile, embodying the grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko Umamusume.
"They get along so well."
The lively scene before her couldn't help but remind Kousei of the carefree days she spent laughing and playing with McQueen, Teio, and the others.
Kousei knew deep down that her current relationship with McQueen had nothing to do with Kashimoto Riko. It was simply that everyone had to grow up, and it was her turn to face certain realities.
Duty and responsibility weighed equally heavy.
"Oh... oh, right! Kousei-senpai, you came at the perfect time! Condor and Grass are playing ping-pong! Wanna join us, Kousei-senpai?"
Noticing Kousei's unusual demeanor, Special Week quickly extended an invitation with a twinkle in her eye.
"No way! Condor cheats," Grass Wonder immediately protested without hesitation.
Come to think of it, Kousei had indeed heard El Condor Pasa making excuses earlier.
"I don't cheat! It's... Mexican ping-pong!" El Condor Pasa declared, nodding emphatically as if to convince herself.
"Mexican ping-pong? Is there even such a thing?" Special Week was the only one out of the loop.
"Hehe~ Spe-chan is so adorably clueless~" Seiun Sky remarked.
"I... I'm not clueless!"
Poor kid, can't even argue back.
"Very well! Then I, Princess Kawakami, shall organize this!" Kawakami Princess declared, stepping forward.
"I shall provide everyone with elegant and entertaining activities!"
Seeing Kawakami Princess's unwavering confidence, Kousei already had a good idea of what she had in mind.
"A princess dressed in such beautiful clothes must be preparing for afternoon tea or something similar. I remember McQueen being quite fond of afternoon tea. What a pity she's not here."
Kousei immediately thought of McQueen.
"Alright! Let's get started!"
Kousei's optimism proved naive. Kawakami Princess dragged out a stool and propped her arm on it.
"Arm wrestling! Come on! Let's have a noble duel worthy of princesses!"
I really don't understand these young ladies' hobbies...
Still, Kousei couldn't refuse the well-intentioned gesture from a junior. He reluctantly placed his own arm on the stool.
In terms of raw power, only McQueen has ever been able to rival me. Kawakami looks so delicate; this is probably just a passing whim of a young lady. I'll pretend to be evenly matched for a while, then let her win in the end.
Confident in her strength, Kousei's lips curled into a slight smirk.
Hmm? Kousei noticed something odd. Why is Kawakami's face sideways?
"Senpai!!!" Special Week's anguished scream echoed through the room.
That day, Kousei spun around once before being hurled across the room like a shooting star.
Though physically unharmed, her spirit had suffered a crushing blow.
It ranked among the top three most humiliating defeats in Kousei's entire life.