"A catastrophic omen! I knew it, we never should have entered the Takarazuka Kinen!" Fukukitaru clutched her head, looking utterly panicked.
"The media is filled with accusations against Kousei," Rice Shower murmured, trembling. "I understand why the Trainers are worried about their Dedicated Umamusume, but... it's so scary."
"Don't worry, Rice," Bourbon said, her presence a small comfort to Rice Shower. "There has to be a solution."
"Damn it! Who's spreading all these lies?!" Vodka slammed her fist into her palm. "Kousei-senpai caused an accident, sure, but it was never intentional!"
"Something's not right," Scarlet said, her tone far calmer than Vodka's. "After her duel with Narita Brian, the pre-race inspections became incredibly strict. And the Takarazuka race wasn't nearly as intense as that one. Why would her horseshoe come off now?"
Regardless of the reason, the fact remained: Kousei had veered sideways during the Takarazuka Kinen, causing an undeniable accident. With so many witnesses, no amount of argument could change what had happened.
All of them, in one way or another, had a connection to Kousei. Even in this hostile climate, they couldn't help but worry about her.
"Damn it! Kousei-senpai was sent to some 'Emotional Test Center'! There's been no news at all, and it's driving me crazy!" Vodka could barely contain her frustration, looking like she was about to kick the railing any second.
"Calm down! What good will panicking do?!"
"Scarlet, you idiot! You don't understand how I feel at all!"
"What? Idiot?!"
Scarlet's well-intentioned advice was met with Vodka's sharp retort, and predictably, the two started arguing again. At this critical juncture, McQueen and Teio, both close friends of Kousei, remained strangely silent.
Gold City, having just finished her makeup, finally put down her phone at her manager's urging. On the day of the Takarazuka Kinen, she had been busy with a modeling job and hadn't been following the race. It wasn't until news of the accident spread like wildfire that she learned of the horrifying incident.
The Umamusume involved in the accident suffered no serious injuries thanks to the Fujino father and daughter's treatment, requiring only two to three months of rest to fully recover. Only Tachyon, after this incident, once again announced a prolonged hiatus. Although she revealed nothing about her physical condition, and Dr. Fujino remained tight-lipped, the public naturally assumed Tachyon's legs had been severely injured in the accident.
As a result, Tachyon's immense popularity became a barrage of arrows aimed squarely at Kousei.
The infamous reputation, once mere rumor, had solidified into undeniable fact. To be branded "The Ominous Running Demon" was a rare and heavy burden, seldom seen in history.
The Takarazuka incident became the talk of the town, mentioned everywhere one went.
A little horse girl wearing goggles glanced left and right, her heart churning with unease as the passersby's words reached her ears.
Instinctively, she quickened her pace, her brisk walk breaking into a frantic sprint.
"Kousei isn't that kind of person!"
-
Somewhere in a grand estate...
"I regret to inform you, T, that everything seems to be unfolding exactly as we predicted," the voice on the phone said. T listened with a grim expression.
It was a familiar scene: the Sakura Family Head and Rudolf were both present, with only the Mejiro Family Grandmother absent.
"Hmph. After all these years, the Central Committee is still as useless as ever. They still refuse to let go of her bloodline."
Though T's tone was steady, the suppressed fury beneath it was palpable.
"Do you know everything about her situation?" the voice on the other end asked, sounding slightly surprised.
"My wife is also of her bloodline. I haven't forgotten what happened back then."
At T's mention of the past, the Sakura Family Head raised his eyes and stared intently at him. Rudolf, the youngest among them, shifted her gaze between the two men.
After a brief silence, the voice on the other end of the line continued, "I'm sorry. Even though I founded Tracen Academy, I've been powerless against the Central Committee's actions—both back then and now, with what happened to your wife and daughter.
"I failed to fulfill my responsibilities."
T remained silent, letting the voice on the phone speak.
"The original purpose of founding Tracen Academy was to let Umamusume run as they pleased. The Twinkle Series was created to let all kinds of dreams shine brightly.
"I've always believed that human desires should not be projected onto Umamusume.
"Though it's commonplace in our world, perhaps in other worlds, Umamusume don't even exist. The birth of every single Umamusume is a response to a miracle.
"They are too pure. So similar to us, yet so different. That's why we entrust our dreams to them, drawing love and courage from their spirit.
"Emperor, what do you desire now?"
T switched the phone to speaker, and the voice filled the room clearly.
Rudolf let out a faint, chilling laugh. "Me? ...I miss my 'sibling'."
A rare trace of vulnerability appeared on Rudolf's face as she spoke softly, "It's been a long time since I've spent time with her. After all, her hostility toward me is no less than her hostility toward the Central Committee."
"I remember when we were little," Rudolf began, her voice soft with nostalgia. "We'd run together through the fields, and when we got tired, we'd sleep by the creek. We'd watch fireflies drift past our eyes, one by one, counting the stars together before falling asleep in each other's arms.
"We escaped the constraints of the Symboli family, far from the so-called 'elite education,' and just played with all our hearts.
"Back then, we were such close siblings."
Rudolf simply recounted her memories, yet from the Emperor, one could sense loneliness and desolation.
"You've done an excellent job. The Academy owes you a great deal," the resolute Family Head affirmed. "Bakushin could never have achieved what you have. You... are the greatest Umamusume in history."
Rudolf offered a faint smile but said nothing more.
"It's been a long time since you left on your business trip and Kashimoto Riko took over," the Family Head continued. "I trust you've made some progress?"
"Of course," T replied without hesitation. "The foundation has been laid. Now, we need your answer. Have you made your choice, T?"
This time, T didn't waver. "Yes. And I possess resolve of that degree. Though it pains me to let go, I trust my daughter will choose her own path.
"I've prepared everything for her. This is the full extent of a father's strength."
Rudolf and the Sakura Family Head exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
T placed the documents CB had given him on the table. At the same time, two completely different sets of footsteps echoed through the silent room.
Listen closely, and you could hear the clink of horseshoes among them.