But even as she speculated, a broader smile spread across Tachyon's face.
"Excellent, truly excellent. When faced with something beyond common sense, she didn't simply reject it but tried to understand. Isn't that the mark of a perfect candidate?"
She wanted this one to be her assistant more and more.
'If only her abilities are passable, that would be great. And if she's willing to be my little lab subject, that would be even better.'
'Hehehe, no need to worry. For such a superior specimen, I'll make sure the formulas have no severe side effects.'
Her mind drifted into a fantasy where Nearl agreed to her demands—scenes of daily care, providing her meals, even the mare willingly drinking her concoctions.
A gleeful smile, utterly unstoppable, played on her lips.
"Tachyon. Tachyon, stop laughing."
Agnes Tachyon, who had been covering her face with a hand while chuckling, now noticed the jet-black Uma Musume who had been standing beside her for a while, staring with sheer disbelief.
Even given her own broad-minded and peculiar nature, she couldn't tolerate this bizarre laughter any longer.
"My, if it isn't my dear test subject? You've finally arrived. Aren't you the least bit curious about my marvelous new form?"
"Not interested," the dark Uma Musume replied flatly. "[Friend] says you're up to no good right now, so I won't ask anything."
Though a glint of curiosity shone in her eyes—after all, she was just an ordinary Uma Musume with ordinary curiosity—she decided to remain silent in this situation.
Better to avoid falling into one of Tachyon's traps.
"Besides, I've never agreed to be your guinea pig."
"Eh? But you used to so proactively drink my reagents before. I thought you had some enthusiasm for the role?"
"That was all under duress."
Her dull golden eyes fixed on Tachyon, Manhattan Cafe slowly stepped closer and sat down beside her.
"You can't go back like this, not in this state where people can see you. What are you planning to do?"
The question gave Tachyon pause. She leaned back in her chair, tilting her head up and slightly closing her eyes.
"Not sure... but I think I want to run a few laps."
"!"
Cafe was visibly shocked by her words. She looked at Tachyon with a completely new perspective, as if seeing her for the first time.
"Tachyon, it's been a whole year since you retired. You haven't even uttered the word 'run' in all that time."
"Has it? Has it really been that long since I last ran? How disgraceful."
Agnes Tachyon murmured the words.
The weather today was uncharacteristically clear, one of those perfectly warm and comfortable spring days.
A gauzy, almost tangible light fell over Tachyon's face, and she felt a clarity in her mind she hadn't experienced in ages.
"Hypothetical particles... it's not about whether they truly exist, but an obsession with the mere possibility. It's the same for us Uma Musume. I pursued possibilities beyond the existing records. That's why I came to the world of the Twinkle Series."
Slowly opening her eyes, Tachyon stared directly at the sun. Brilliant rays, warm and overflowing, filled her vision.
Staring at the sun is harmful to human eyes—someone as scientifically minded as Agnes Tachyon wouldn't normally forget that. But in this single moment, she followed her heart.
'Have I been deceiving myself?' she wondered.
'Without the tangible feeling of running, what difference is there between experimental progress and a castle in the sky?'
The stinging sensation in her eyes brought forth feelings she hadn't experienced in over a year. In this moment, it was as if she was rediscovering the world.
"Though the sun is still blinding, isn't it? It's even brought tears to my eyes."
Tachyon wiped her tears away, her tone remarkably light.
"Tachyon, you seem... different from before."
Beside her, Manhattan Cafe stared wide-eyed, witnessing something incredible.
Among all Uma Musume, Manhattan Cafe was unique.
She possessed two completely different perspectives, able to see the world [within]. This sometimes made her seem odd to outsiders, but it was simply because she was perceiving things from another realm.
Right now was no exception. She saw a strange transformation occurring within Tachyon.
Ever since her retirement, Agnes Tachyon had seemed to Cafe as if separated from others by a pane of glass.
Over time, that glass had become increasingly smudged and marked, until Tachyon's face appeared blurred behind it.
But now, right after that dawn-like moment, the glass had melted away like ice and snow. Agnes Tachyon had set foot firmly back on solid ground.
"Sudden enlightenment?"
It was the only explanation Cafe could think of.
"Stop spacing out, Cafe. Come run a few laps with me."
Tachyon chuckled and patted Cafe's shoulder a few times, her expression oddly matching her apparent physical age.
"Right now, my legs aren't troubled by injuries. They're legs made for enjoying the run. Isn't it a waste not to use them? And let me see if the Uma Musume that lost to me in the Satsuki Sho has improved at all since then."
"You're so annoying."
Cafe sounded displeased, but inwardly, she felt a little happy. No matter what, she deeply cared about Agnes Tachyon as an individual.
"Come on, no dawdling. It's rare for me to be in the mood to enjoy myself like this."
Agnes Tachyon directly grabbed Cafe's sleeve. Instinctively, Cafe reached out and grasped Tachyon's clothes in return.
"!"
She seemed to sense something. Her gaze locked onto the track jacket Tachyon was wearing. It looked ordinary, but her [Friend] was telling her something was off.
"Tachyon, this jacket...?"
"Ah, this?"
Tachyon pinched the fabric near her chest, looking somewhat blank.
"It's from the person I told you about. Looks like it's one she wore herself. It's been washed clean, but the cuffs and collar are a bit worn."
"And that person's name is?"
Cafe felt both excitement and trepidation. Her unique talent was hinting at something extraordinary.
"Nearl, I believe she said."
"...That makes sense. As for the reason she's broken so many race records, there's no more convincing explanation than this."
"What are you talking about?"
Agnes Tachyon was no fool. From these fragments, she sensed that Nearl might be different from her initial impression.
"Well, you've been shutting yourself away this past year, so you probably haven't noticed. Nearl is now practically considered the 'strongest' Uma Musume."
Manhattan Cafe explained.
--+--
"President Rudolf, I understand. There's no need for that. It was my mistake to begin with. There's no need to negotiate with the association on my behalf."
"Yes, it's a pity, but only a pity. In the end, the classic races are just races. Missing one doesn't mean losing everything. At least, that's how I see it."
"Thank you for your help. It's fine, it won't affect me."
"Hm? You're asking which central race I want to run first? I believe my trainer said the first one was up to me, so I've chosen myself."
"Yes, in February. The Sumire Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse. It's an Op race."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.