"Ha-ha-ha!"
Kousei's face was twisted into a bitter grimace as her eerie laughter echoed in her ears.
"Seeing that dumbfounded look on your face means I've achieved my goal," Tachyon said with smug satisfaction, a stark contrast to Kousei's distress.
Not long ago, Agnes Tachyon had suddenly and publicly announced her comeback. This Umamusume, who had once dominated the Satsuki Prize with an invincible aura, had vanished like a fleeting dream, leaving the world in profound regret.
Her high-profile return naturally drew a flood of media attention. As with all Geniuses returning to the racetrack, Tachyon instantly overshadowed every other contender. This would have been the expected outcome, but then she mentioned a particular rival in front of the press:
"A rival? There's one I'm quite interested in. She's been making waves lately, and I've been wanting to race against her for quite some time."
When people heard "lately," their thoughts naturally turned to the generation led by the Twins.
"Is she one of the Generations? Mejiro McQueen or Tokai Teio?"
Agnes Tachyon, a figure shrouded in mystique and boundless potential, naturally led people to assume her rival was one of the Twins.
"She's certainly a member of the new generation, but my opponent isn't Mejiro McQueen or Tokai Teio. It's the infamous Invader, the commoner feasting among monsters—Kousei."
This was both unexpected and perfectly logical.
According to the information they had gathered, Agnes Tachyon and Narita Brian had already been in close contact with Kousei before her Japan Cup victory.
As for the specifics of their interactions, they remained unknown.
"But Kousei's reputation has been tarnished recently, and her racing style is excessively reckless, prone to accidents. What could possibly be worth anticipating from such a dangerous opponent?"
"Nothing," Tachyon replied. "I just... feel like it."
Tachyon's answer left everyone speechless. She then added, "Actually, I'll be competing in the Takarazuka Memorial next."
"The Takarazuka Memorial? Isn't that—?"
Kousei's path had been set toward the Spring Triple Crown. Despite losing the Osaka Cup, her next race remained the Takarazuka Memorial, meaning Tachyon would face Kousei in her next race.
Moreover, the Mejiro elite would also be participating in this showdown.
Mejiro McQueen, considered the strongest of their generation, and the prodigious Mejiro Ryan would both be competing. With such a star-studded lineup, the Takarazuka Memorial was undoubtedly poised to be a spectacular performance.
"Look forward to it~"
Agnes Tachyon's remarks put the already high-profile Kousei on edge. With no movement from the Mejiro camp, any articles or rumors would have to focus on her. Suddenly, all sorts of stories began circulating.
For a while, the discussions about Kousei and Takarazuka topped the charts and remained there for an extended period, though Kousei herself had no interest in such popularity.
After all, this was Tachyon we were talking about—someone who never played by the rules. Kousei had long known what kind of person Tachyon was. Though initially startled by the sudden attention, she was relieved that Kashimoto Riko's media blockade kept most of the gossip out of Tracen. Within the academy, Kashimoto's authority also ensured relative calm, at least preventing anyone from openly harassing Kousei.
"Don't be so cold~ I'm actually really looking forward to our showdown~ Cafe, where's my coffee~?" Tachyon pleaded playfully.
Manhattan Cafe, her face etched with displeasure, grudgingly handed her a cup. "Here."
The enticing aroma filled Kousei's nostrils, instantly lifting her spirits.
"Does coffee have calming properties too?"
"Mm-hmm. Moderate amounts of coffee can help alleviate fatigue after exercise."
Cafe rarely spoke, except when the conversation involved coffee.
"A scent I've never encountered before... Is this one of your creations, Cafe?"
Manhattan Cafe nodded. "It's still in the experimental phase, but I have great confidence in it. The goal is to make coffee enjoyable even for those who don't understand it."
Tachyon suddenly produced a glass jar from who-knows-where. The moment Cafe saw the jar, her expression instantly changed.
It was a jar of sugar cubes.
"No, don't!"
Tachyon stared as Cafe slowly reached into the jar.
"I said don't!"
Cafe's voice began to tremble, while Tachyon's expression turned slightly smug.
"No! Don't put that in! My perfect blend!"
Cafe rarely resorted to begging, but Tachyon, with lightning-fast reflexes, quickly snatched a sugar cube and dropped it into the coffee.
"No!!!"
Not only that, but Tachyon continued to add sugar cubes to the coffee one after another.
"My coffee..."
Cafe's complexion visibly paled, her figure becoming almost translucent like a fleeting spirit.
"Mmm~ An exquisite pairing! Kousei, remember this: sugar enhances cognitive function. Never forget it." Tachyon savored the coffee with a look of pure contentment.
From that day forward, Cafe explicitly banned Tachyon from her coffee.