Hanging out with Nakayama Festa hadn't taught her much, but her card-playing skills had certainly sharpened.
As more and more people flocked to Longchamp, the media hype surrounding the Arc de Triomphe reached a fever pitch. Kousei and Nakayama Festa were rivals, after all, so once the Central Team arrived, they ceased all contact.
Though Kousei enjoyed spending time with Festa, she wasn't about to risk trouble by approaching her when she didn't know which faction Festa's team belonged to.
The atmosphere at the training track was equally solemn, with everyone on high alert. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a dream stage that might only come once in a lifetime.
Kousei had originally planned to prepare at a relaxed pace, but the intense environment inevitably affected her. When she ran a few extra laps, Reiko immediately scolded her.
Fortunately, Kousei's temperament had mellowed considerably since her early days, so she no longer needed grueling training sessions to calm her restless energy. Still, she wasn't idle.
After her training, Kousei would sit by the track and observe her rivals' workouts—their running styles, habits, starting speeds, acceleration...
Gathering intelligence on her opponents, analyzing it, and formulating strategies had always been Kousei's method of operation. After a full day of observation, her conclusion was...
"Incredible!"
As expected, every horse representing their league at the Arc de Triomphe was a super-elite competitor. The thought of facing these rivals on the same stage, vying for the title of the strongest, sent a thrill of excitement through her.
"Can't race day come sooner?"
Though injuries had limited her body, her spirit burned as fiercely as ever.
One day, Aoi, who had been out of touch for a long time, contacted Kousei.
"Kousei!!!" Aoi's voice on the phone was unusually excited.
"What's wrong?" Kousei was momentarily taken aback, wondering why Aoi was so worked up.
"I did it! I'm going to be a commentator for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe!"
"Really?! Congratulations, Aoi!" Kousei couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. She knew how long Aoi had worked for this day.
On the other end of the line, Aoi smiled softly, a warm feeling spreading through her heart.
"This calls for a celebration! Let's get everyone together for a party!" Kousei suggested, a rare initiative on her part.
"No, I have other things to take care of. I'll see you at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe," Aoi replied, just as rarely rejecting Kousei's request.
"Oh..." Kousei felt a small pang of disappointment. "Alright, then. I'll see you at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
They hung up without much further conversation.
Aoi could sense Kousei's disappointment. He looked at his palm and clenched it into a fist, as if steeling his resolve.
I've waited too long for this day. It's not just Kousei—I have to give it my all, too. I'll be cheering for you from the closest possible spot. You will win, and then I'll personally tell the whole world what an incredible Umamusume Kousei is.
The dreams gathered here weren't limited to the Umamusume alone.
Some stood ready, others waited with bated breath. Though the Arc de Triomphe was less than two months away, time had never felt so agonizingly slow.
During this tense period, an old friend Kousei hadn't seen in a long time suddenly appeared at Longchamp.
"Long time no see, Kousei."
"Caesar!"
That day, Kousei was in the middle of her usual training when Caesar suddenly appeared before her. It was the first time they had seen each other since parting ways at the Northern Academy.
Caesar seemed different now—more mature, more reserved. Like Symboli Rudolf, she now carried the aura of a true leader.
"Looks like we've both changed quite a bit," Kousei said with a smile.
"That's how time works. Girls grow into women," Caesar replied with a similar lighthearted jest.
Kousei noticed that Caesar's legs didn't seem as agile as before. She looked up, about to ask, but Caesar preempted her by patting her own thigh and saying casually, "My story has already ended."
Kousei's initial shock slowly gave way to acceptance.
"If you get the chance, tell me all about it."
"Of course. When we've both retired, we can chat about it at the Academy."
Caesar glanced aside. "You're quite popular these days, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
It seemed that by lingering on the track for too long, Kousei had been spotted—a rare occurrence.
"Kousei? I believe this is the first time we've met on the track here at Longchamp." The approaching Umamusume radiated an aggressive aura. "This is a rare opportunity. How about a training race?"
This one's looking for trouble, Kousei muttered to herself.
"Mind if I join?" Another Umamusume stepped in.
"A chance to witness Kousei's skills firsthand? How could I possibly miss this?"
More and more racers began to gather, each from different backgrounds but all sharing a single goal: to race against Kousei.
"The crowd's getting bigger. I'm out of here," Caesar said, shamelessly slipping away. Her movements showed no sign of her supposed leg injury.
All the Umamusume gathered here were the same. Faced with a living legend—with all she had accomplished, all the great feats she had achieved—no one could resist the urge to challenge her.
A faint smile touched Kousei's lips as a crimson mist quietly crept onto the shoulders of everyone present. Though Reiko had warned her against unnecessary displays, Kousei always did things her own way on the racetrack.
Taking small, quick steps, Caesar glanced back over her shoulder and let out a cheerful whistle.
-
One day.
The normally bustling shopping district was eerily quiet, every door tightly shut. A weary traveler, unable to find a place to rest, wandered aimlessly through the deserted streets.
Just as he was about to faint from hunger, he spotted a sign lying haphazardly on the ground: Kasuga House.
Ding-a-ling~
"Welcome~" a gentle female voice greeted him.
"Excuse me! Anything will do, please! I'm starving!" The famished traveler couldn't think straight any longer.
"One moment."
The proprietress prepared a hearty meal for the traveler. She smiled as she watched him devour it ravenously.
After finishing his meal, the traveler noticed the proprietress gazing intently at the television screen, as if waiting for something. Connecting this to the deserted shopping district, he couldn't help but ask, "I heard this shopping district is usually bustling. I was planning to explore it, but it's completely deserted except for your shop. Why is that?"
The proprietress's eyes crinkled into a smile. "They've probably all gone to the venue."
"The venue? What venue?" the traveler asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"Oh? You don't know?" The proprietress seemed slightly surprised. "Today is the day of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
The traveler slapped his forehead. "Damn it! I was so hungry I completely forgot! Proprietress, do you watch Umamusume races too?"
The proprietress smiled. The traveler, feeling a bit sheepish, asked, "Would it be alright if I watched with you? I really have nowhere else to go right now."
"Be my guest," the proprietress replied with a nod.
It was only then that the traveler noticed the proprietress was an Umamusume herself.
A restaurant run by an Umamusume... that's rare, he thought.
During the opening ceremony, the traveler casually asked, "So, Proprietress, who are you cheering for?"
"Kousei."
"Hmm... She's incredible, and really famous. I heard she's an Umamusume from this shopping district. It's amazing that she's made it to the Arc de Triomphe stage."
A hint of pride flickered across the proprietress's face.
"Why do you like Kousei so much? Is it because you're both from this shopping district?" the traveler guessed idly.
"Because she's my daughter."
"Oh, your daughter... I see. That makes sense. Wait... Daughter?!"
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was about to begin.