"Have you decided what you're going to dance on the Victor's Stage next?"
After eating until she was about 60% full, Seiun Sky returned to the racecourse and chatted with Saito Asuka and Nakayama Megumi outside the Uma Musume lounge for a while, then opened the door and walked into the room alone.
Shortly after she closed the door, the voices of the Three Goddesses sounded in her mind.
"Hmm…?"
Seiun Sky, who thought the Three Goddesses had left after her race, was stunned.
"So, you're still here."
"I've been watching you, my cute little Uma Musume~"
The voice that appeared directly in her mind replied with a chuckle, "I've been watching your races too. How does it feel to compete for the first time?"
"It feels… pretty happy."
Seiun Sky thought for a moment, then gave her answer.
The exhilarating feeling of the wind on her face as she ran on the track with other Uma Musume, and the crackling, electric sound of the desire to win the race permeating the air.
Being on such a track, even if she was a latecomer to racing, her emotions couldn't help but be stirred by them, becoming excited.
Running… it was truly joyful!
Just thinking about herself competing for victory with many Uma Musume on the track at that time, Seiun Sky's heart once again leaped with joy.
Having tasted the excitement of running on the track, she could never forget the feeling of lightness in her body, as if a shackles had been removed, as she ran forward without a care. At that moment, Seiun Sky understood the Uma Musume's love and desire for running.
"…Have you decided what song you'll sing on the Victor's Stage later?"
Just as Seiun Sky clenched her fists, looking forward to a future where she would meet more Uma Musume and compete with them on the track in upcoming races, the voice of the Three Goddesses in her mind rang out again, pulling her back to reality.
"Sing what… aren't the song choices already set? Doesn't the winning Uma Musume just sing that song on the Victor's Stage?"
Seiun Sky asked, puzzled.
"No, that's not it~"
The second of the Three Goddesses replied in a cheerful tone, "The Uma Musume who wins the race can sing any song she wants~"
"Is that so…?"
"If you, little Fūga, don't have a song you want to sing right now, how about listening to my suggestion?"
As if expecting something to happen, the Three Goddesses continued after Seiun Sky's words, "Dance steps and such are no problem at all. I can transmit that knowledge into your mind for you to use."
"I really don't have any particular song I want to sing right now… So, I'll listen to the Three Goddesses' suggestion, then~?"
Seiun Sky thought for a moment, then nodded.
"If you don't have a goal, then try this song, 'Uma Pyoi Densetsu'!"
As if waiting for Seiun Sky to say that, the voice in her head eagerly said, "If you sing this song on the Victor's Stage for your debut race… it can make many spectators remember your name and your performance on the Victor's Stage right from your debut race!"
"Most importantly… this song is 'mandatory' for the Uma Musume in this world!"
"Mandatory… does that mean all Uma Musume will have a time when they sing this song?"
Seiun Sky asked without suspicion, not noticing that the other party had emphasized the word 'mandatory' slightly.
"Exactly, exactly, 'Uma Pyoi Densetsu' is an event that every Uma Musume in this world will experience~"
…Since it's a mandatory course that every Uma Musume will complete, then as an Uma Musume, she had no reason to refuse, right?
Seiun Sky thought this, then nodded.
"…In that case, I'll leave it to you, Three Goddesses!"
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all, hehe."
Hearing Seiun Sky agree, the Three Goddesses let out a strange laugh, "…Rather, I'm really looking forward to your performance on the Victor's Stage later."
"Mm-hm, please leave the rest of the time to me as well~?"
Seiun Sky said with full confidence.
…
Under the gradually darkening sky, people poured like a tide into the prepared Victor's Stage venue.
Guided by staff, people orderly took their chosen seats.
As time passed, people began to focus their attention on the still dark stage.
—They were looking forward to the performance of the Uma Musume who won the race on the Victor's Stage.
But when the time reached exactly seven o'clock, the start time of the Victor's Stage, the stage lights still hadn't come on.
…What happened?
The audience began to grow uneasy.
Could it be… that something went wrong with the Victor's Stage preparations?
"Alright! Everyone quiet down a bit~?"
As people grew restless, a cheerful laugh suddenly rang out in front of them.
Immediately after, they saw the screen on the stage shatter like a mirror.
Following that, a Black-haired Horse Girl emerged from it.
As she moved, the scenery gradually changed wherever she walked.
When she stood still in the center of the stage, everything that was originally pitch black became colorful, and everything on the stage began to become clearly visible.
People looked at the stage, whose main color had turned pink, and the Black-haired Horse Girl surrounded by a large group of cute, doll-like creatures.
—As if she had stepped out of a fairytale book.
"It's finally my turn. I've been thinking about my opening remarks to meet everyone for quite some time."
Holding a microphone, Seiun Sky smiled and waved to the audience, "Next up… it's time for the Victor's Stage~"
"Everyone, are you looking forward to the upcoming Victor's Stage~?"
"We are—!"
The audience, who had been waiting for this moment for a long time, cheered and waved their glow sticks.
"Mm-hm, that's more like it."
Hearing the cheers from the audience below, the Black-haired Horse Girl nodded in satisfaction, "…No matter when or where, I will respond to your expectations."
"So… please enjoy the upcoming Victor's Stage~?"
Seiun Sky looked at the audience cheering for her below, chuckled, and snapped her fingers.
"Please listen to—'Ring My Bell'!"
The moment her voice fell, the music also began.
"I can hear my heart bell"
"What should I do?"
"The bell in my heart rings~"
"Everything started from that moment"
"You suddenly"
"Appeared before me"
"It was destined, yes, it must be so"
Singing to this point, the Black-haired Horse Girl playfully winked at the audience below, then spun around in place amidst their cheers.
"Wishes, ambitions, and fantasies"
"Knocked on that door to an unknown dimension"
"The sky gave me the key and the future~"
Under everyone's gaze, she leaned forward, raised her left hand, placed it beside her eye, and made a V-sign.
"I can hear my heart bell"
"Can no longer stop"
"I am the signal called [love] sung by angels~"
"Can you hear my heart bell"
"What should I do?"
"A never-before-heard bell rang in my heart"
"Yet even so, you still know nothing~"
As she sang the last line, she extended another hand and drew a circle in front of her.
"In the upcoming races, you must also keep a close eye on me~?"
Looking at the audience below, Seiun Sky said with a smile, then turned around and walked off the stage amidst their cheers.