In the evening, Sakura Baimu returned to the hospital to treat Rice Shower.
It was already dinnertime, and Sakura Baimu, unable to leave due to her treatment, asked Mihono Bourbon to go downstairs and buy some dinner for Rice Shower.
About twenty minutes later, Mihono Bourbon returned carrying a bag.
She took out some bread and nutritional drinks from the bag and placed them on the bedside table.
"Rice, which would you like?" Mihono Bourbon asked softly.
"Uh, thank you, Miss Bourbon, but Rice… usually only eats bread in the morning," Rice Shower said softly.
After speaking, Rice Shower noticed Mihono Bourbon fall silent and immediately appeared very panicked, shaking her head and waving her hands repeatedly.
"Rice wasn't being picky, Rice didn't mean to blame Miss Bourbon!"
Rice Shower said, reaching for the bread on the shelf, but Sakura Baimu snatched it away first.
Then Rice Shower and Mihono Bourbon saw Sakura Baimu tear open the bread bag and take a big bite.
"Huh??" Rice Shower was stunned.
"Alright, I'll eat this. I'll go out and buy you some more," Sakura Baimu said, standing up. "Rice, what would you like to eat?"
"No need to trouble onee-sama…" Rice Shower understood Sakura Baimu's meaning, feeling touched but also a little apprehensive.
"It's alright, I don't have anything to do anyway." Sakura Baimu smiled and waved her hand, indicating it wasn't a problem.
"Then… Rice wants curry rice with lots of carrots."
"Okay." Sakura Baimu took another bite of her bread and went out.
About forty minutes later, Sakura Baimu returned.
She was carrying a bag containing curry rice from a curry restaurant with many branches throughout Japan.
Rice Shower paused again after seeing the logo on the bag.
"Rice remembers there isn't a restaurant near the hospital, right?"
"Hmm, no problem, it's just a little further away."
Sakura Baimu smiled, then pulled over the small table from Rice Shower's bedside, and Mihono Bourbon helped Rice Shower sit up.
Sakura Baimu handed over the task of feeding Rice Shower to Mihono Bourbon, while she watched quietly from the side.
After Rice Shower had been eating for a while, she suddenly spoke up:
"Um, when Onee-sama went out to buy dinner for Rice, the student council president and Maruzensky-senpai came by too."
"Hmm?" Sakura Baimu was surprised. "Symboli Rudolf and Maruzensky? Did they come to see Rice Shower?"
Rice Shower nodded slightly. "The president and the others asked about Rice's recovery, stayed for a while, and then left."
"Oh." Sakura Baimu nodded. "Did they go back?"
"I don't think so. After leaving Rice's room, they headed further into the hospital," Mihono Bourbon suddenly said.
"Hmm?" Sakura Baimu sensed something was amiss.
"The wards inside? Queen Beret and that new student Umamusume aren't they in those wards? There aren't any stairs over there…"
Sakura Baimu thought to herself, then suddenly remembered that Golden Crown Eagle from Pluto Academy was also in those wards. She quickly stood up.
"Bourbon, you take care of Rice Shower's meals, I'll go out for a bit."
"Okay." Mihono Bourbon nodded gently.
--
In another ward in the same hospital, Golden Crown Eagle was leaning against the headboard, lost in thought.
Her injuries weren't serious; she could be discharged in a few days.
Of course, she'd probably be using crutches for a while.
Throughout the day, Golden Crown Eagle's mind kept replaying last night's race with Sakura Baimu.
She kept recalling Sakura Baimu's sudden stop before the finish line, the burst of momentum she unleashed as she overtook her.
She felt her whole body trembling.
Golden Crown Eagle was already the strongest active-duty Umamusume at Pluto Academy.
She had, of course, competed against some retired legends.
For example, Obey Your Master, who was leading the team this time, and Urban Sea.
But even these Umamusumes, who were at the same level as her and used their Zones more skillfully, didn't possess the same aura as Sakura Baimu last night, even with their Zones activated.
This was very abnormal.
Of course, it was also possible that the retired Umamusume hadn't used their full strength when they competed against her.
In any case, this was the first time Golden Crown Eagle had experienced an Umamusume with such an overwhelming aura.
This aura left her with no other thoughts but fear.
"It was simply... a nightmare."
Golden Crown Eagle's dark green eyes trembled, then she shook her head violently, as if trying to shake all memories of Sakura Baimu from her mind.
Just then, Golden Crown Eagle suddenly heard a doctor's voice outside the ward, seemingly speaking to someone.
"She's awake, but when you talk to her, remember not to mention sensitive topics; her mental state might still be unstable..."
"Okay, I understand."
Just as she finished speaking, there was a gentle knock on Golden Crown Eagle's ward door.
"Hello, Miss Golden Crown Eagle. I'm Symboli Rudolf, the student council president of Tracen Academy. May I come in?"
Golden Crown Eagle was startled upon hearing this.
Symboli Rudolf?!
Is that Umamusume, the one at the pinnacle of Tracen Academy?
Why is she looking for her?
Could it be that she knows about her attack on Tracen Academy's Umamusume?!
Golden Crown Eagle panicked in that instant.
Although she was practically a force to be reckoned with among active-duty Umamusumes, she was still no match for a retired legend like her.
Not to mention Symboli Rudolf, who reigned supreme in Japan.
The difference was too great.
Golden Crown Eagle hesitated for a long time, feeling that continuing to avoid the issue might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so she slowly spoke.
"Please come in."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to her hospital room was pushed open.
Golden Crown Eagle looked towards the doorway, her heart skipping a beat again.
Following Symboli Rudolf was another Umamusume with brown hair, blue eyes, a stunning figure, and a blue ribbon near her right ear.
"The Undefeated Hotrod—Maruzensky?!"
Golden Crown Eagle recognized her immediately, her heart pounding in her chest.
Another Umamusume standing at the pinnacle of Japanese power.
While Maruzensky's record wasn't as terrifying as Symboli Rudolf's, her strength lay in her undefeated record.
Moreover, she was the only Umamusume in the world born with a special ability, yet who had never used it.
--