A day before the [Arima Kinen];
A flurry of cameras flashed, the echo of each click mingling together into an almost-droning humbuzz.
Dicta Striker growled as she covered her eyes with her arm, but she did her best to resist snapping back at the reporters. As much as it annoyed her, this wasn't the time nor place to act like a spoiled brat. After all,
"There she is!"
"Tamamo Cross…!"
"Doesn't she look even better than in the [Japan Cup]!?"
Tamamo Cross looked at the sea of reporters and scowled. "Stop chatterin', would'cha!?" She shouted, causing the whisperings to grow silent. She huffed in relief, and after she rubbed her ears, she went over and sat next to Dicta, her posture utterly relaxed despite the dozens of cameras being pointed her way.
"Sure took your time, huh?" Dicta said, smirking slightly.
Tamamo shrugged. "Meh, got 'n import'nt call from ma' pa. 'Das way more important than what'ver this is."
Super Creek, who was also sitting next to Dicta, giggled softly at Tamamo's reason. "You really love him, don't you?" Her smile softened. "What a good girl you are~"
"Cause he's da' best!" She said with a shark-like smile, before she quickly evaded Creek's headpat. "And don't pat me 'gain. I ain't a kid."
Creeks' ears drooped in defeat, before she turned a pleading look towards Dicta. She returned an unimpressed stare as she crossed her arms. "You ain't doing it to me either, Creek." She said, raised an eyebrow. "And don't you have your trainer for this-, uh, thing anyway?"
"But she's not here…"
Dicta rolled her eyes. Ah, geez, this girl next to her was hopeless. She wasn't sure how it'd started, but Creek's relationship with her trainer began turning somewhat…strange as of late. She'd only heard some rumors here and there, but even her usually nonchalant trainer got a little flustered when she first heard about it.
Before Dicta could ponder it further, Tamamo suddenly stomped her foot into the ground. "Oi, is this dam' interview startin' 'er not!?" She shouted, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to buzz with sparks of lightning, followed by the scent of lingering ozone.
Dicta gulped "This pressure…" She whispered, her scalp tingling.
She hissed softly. As expected of the one heralded as one of the strongest of the current era. Just that single stomp had shaken the entire podium they were sitting on, and that wasn't even her being serious. Just how much more powerful would her kicks be once she was truly racing?
She was both terrified and excited to find out.
"R-Right. Apologies, Tamamo-san." The event organizer said, his voice echoing from the speakers placed at the corners of the room. "Now then, without waiting any further, let us get to know our top runners for the upcoming [Arima Kinen]!"
The casting crew quickly began working, and in mere seconds, the news camera was up and running, showing the interview live to the entire island of Japan. Hundred of thousands of people eagerly sat by their television, eager to see the upcoming interview with the runners.
Seeing that everything was working, the announcer turned to see how things were doing, and his eyes widened when he saw just how many viewers had tuned in. The number was staggering, easily eclipsing the amount of attention they'd received from the past couple years combined.
It wasn't much of a surprise, really. Not only was this [Arima Kinen] happening right in the trails of the recently world-shaking [Japan Cup], but it also involved three umamusume that currently dominated this era; Super Creek and Dicta Striker as members of the Generation of Miracles, and Tamamo Cross—the White Lightning.
But he didn't let his thoughts linger, and shaking his head, he quickly signalled for the first few reporters to begin.
The first to step forward was a sharply dressed man, his suit ironed to perfection. "This is Okabe Yukio, from Nagoya News." He made a small bow before he continued. "How do you three feel regarding the upcoming race? Do you believe you have what it takes to claim victory?"
Dicta glanced at the other two, and seeing that neither were speaking up, she decided to go first. "Eh. Going alright, I guess." She said, shaking her hand lightly. "I mean, I have the God of Lightning sitting to my left here. It won't be easy, to say the least."
Tamamo scoffed at Dicta's words, but seeing the genuine determination in her eyes, Tamamo smirked instead. "Good words, rookie." She slammed her fists together. "But you sur' ya' got the guts ta' back 'dat up?"
Dicta grinned back. "Won't know until I try, right?"
Super Creek giggled, before her gaze sharpened as well. "I won't lose either, Dicta-san, Tamamo-senpai." Her bangs cast a shadow over her eyes, and for a moment, an unsettling presence seemed to emanate from her. "I'll defeat you with everything I have."
Tamamo raised an eyebrow. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't impressed. The pressure Creek was exuding didn't quite feel like the weight of a Domain, but it was getting there.
She couldn't help but grin.
This race would be fun.
The reporter smiled slightly after he heard their answers, before he gave them a bow. "Thank you for your time." He said, before he stepped back into the crowd.
The next to step forward was a young woman, her light brown hair neatly tied into a ponytail. "This is Otonashi Etsuko, from Central News." She smiled. "I am glad to see you three here today, and I am undeniably excited for the [Arima Kinen]." Her smile deepened with worry. "But if I may ask, how are your conditions today? Especially Tamamo-san, considering the [Japan Cup] was only a month ago."
Tamamo glanced at the other two for a moment. Dicta shrugged, while Creek silently nodded, similarly curious. She sighed as she sat up slightly. "Thanks for da' concern, Otonashi-san. But I'm fine." She grinned. "Got pretty lucky, 'cha see? All I needa' do was rest a lit'le." She flexed her arm, showing the impeccable muscles hidden beneath her loose jacket. "Imma rarin' to go now!"
Seeing the Senior's youthful answer, Dicta grinned. "Well, you heard it loud and clear." She stretched slightly, grimacing slightly. She'd been sitting on this damned metal chair for too long. "And yeah, we're also good. Training's good and all, but it doesn't really matter if we break our legs from it, y'know?"
Super Creek nodded, smiling softly. "The same applies with me, Otonashi-san." Her smile turned a little fond. "It began as Team Kitahara's motto, but I suppose we've all adapted it ourselves as well."
Etsuko nodded enthusiastically. Creek's words were certainly true; from the many interviews with Team Kitahara—which was mostly done by Blossom Star—she recalled that Star continually expressed the importance of keeping oneself healthy and safe during training. "It'd be a damn shame if you can't participate just because you trained too hard." Was Star's succinct answer at the time.
She smiled in relief at their answers, and she gave them an enthusiastic bow. "That's all from me. Thank you." And saying that, she stepped back into the crowd, quickly pulling out her notepad to begin noting down their answers.
Of course, the notes she wrote ended up far more…embellished than the actual truth, but no one would notice it for a long time.
Next, a woman stepped forward, her kind smile similar to that of a mother's. "This is Hoseo Junko, from Hanshin." Her eyes softened. "Do you three have any final thoughts before the [Arima Kinen]?"
"Fin'l thoughts, huh…?"
For a moment, Tamamo's mind wandered. Back to that electrifying final spurt in the [Japan Cup], when it felt as if some block that'd long chained her back had finally been broken. That feeling of terror when she saw Oguri and Star collapsed, followed by the regret at the realization that she wouldn't be able to race with them at the [Arima Kinen].
But more than anything,
A small smile came onto Tamamo's lips. But suddenly, she surged forward and grabbed her microphone, before stomping one foot onto the table. "Oi, ya' watchin' this right, Star, Oguri?" She frowned slightly. "It sucks that 'cha won't be able to race, but it's fine. We all ga' time here."
"So 'cha don'need to worry."
Her eyes shone with lightning. "I'll win the [Arima Kinen]." She smirked, arrogant and cheerful. "It'll be ma' late Christmas present."
Dicta gaped at Tamamo's blatant provocation, but she huffed and sat back. As much as Tamamo's seeming arrogance grated her, she knew it was her way of showing her drive. She'd be going into the [Arima Kinen] carrying both Star and Oguri's expectations, and yet she proclaimed her intent with pride.
Heh. As expected of her, she supposed.
Meanwhile, Creek remained smiling, though the previous strange pressure she exuded returned. Her hands were clenched beneath the table, and there was a darkness that gleamed in her eyes.
To many, her victory against Tamamo Cross was impossible. The [Arima Kinen] was 2500 meters in length—far too short to make full use of her stamina. But that was fine. She knew Dicta was far from intimidated by Tamamo's strength, and nor was she. She would raise her banner of war against the current Hero of this upcoming race.
A short silence followed Tamamo's daring words, before the world went white as hundreds of camera flashes followed.
And with that, Tamamo's promise was immortalized, and tomorrow shall be the day when the world would see whether it would bear any fruit.