The Selas System had temporarily been sealed.
That was the one undeniable fact Garden Gale now faced.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, the gentle moonlight illuminating her face, an expression of pure confusion etched clearly into her features.
Does this mean… If I hadn't tried to learn Silence Suzuka's running style on my own, none of this would have happened?
Learning independently was supposed to be a good thing—never in a million years did she imagine it could backfire so spectacularly.
Right now, things looked grim.
Not only was the random [Character Color Change Card] unavailable, but even [Chameleon] had been completely locked away.
This meant her guaranteed route to victory was gone, and even her chance to retry the Japan Derby in the instance was off-limits.
Both her fastest paths forward had been closed.
Garden Gale glanced toward her calendar. The circled date—just two days away—marked the Satsuki Sho.
Two days…
She stared at her trembling fingers, reality finally sinking in.
She felt like the Demon Lord about to face the legendary hero, but right before the decisive battle, her ultimate divine sword and impenetrable shield had been sealed away, forcing her to fight barehanded. Without those tools, her confidence faltered, and anxiety rushed in to fill the void.
Two days left…
Merely the blink of an eye, and they'd vanish entirely.
Pressure mounted, threatening to overwhelm her state of mind.
No—I can't lose it now.
She steadied herself forcefully, determination igniting inside her. She'd already undergone rebirth; how pathetic would she be if she panicked now? Was "Garden Gale," this Umamusume, nothing more than a parasite dependent on the Selas System?
If she could learn Suzuka's style without Selas, she could surpass her limits again without it.
Fueled by that resolve, she hopped off the bed and began training immediately—each step forward rebuilding a fragment of her shattered confidence.
...
Time passed relentlessly.
Two days vanished like a breath, and before Garden Gale knew it, she stood bewildered in the waiting room for the Satsuki Sho. Staring blankly into the mirror, she nearly wondered if she'd traveled through time—how had she arrived here so quickly?
Wait, am I really racing already?
Though she'd trained furiously these past two days, her confidence hadn't fully returned yet.
Yet rhe muffled roar of the crowd told her this wasn't some dream. The Racing Outfit at her side felt vividly real, and the ticking clock steadily counting down echoed in the quiet, amplifying her nerves.
Oh no…
Garden Gale suddenly doubted her ability to win the Satsuki Sho in her current state.
But doubt was useless now. The race was imminent. Rain pattered gently outside, yet neither the rain nor cold deterred the spectators crowding every seat, clutching their betting slips as anticipation filled the air.
Taking a deep breath, Garden Gale examined her reflection.
She could barely recognize herself—the girl who had once avoided the spotlight at all costs was now willingly stepping onto a track to compete for glory. Ever since her rebirth, things had spiraled into an endless series of inexplicable events. Somehow, she'd been swept along, growing until she stood here today.
Everything had been so bewildering—and now, that bewildering journey continued.
But she was already here. There was no turning back.
Garden Gale wanted to face T.M. Opera O head-on and fulfill her promise. She wanted to surpass Admire Vega and Narita Top Road once again. What mattered now was reaching the very top—to attain the titles of LEGENDARY, BEST, and EPIC.
She had to run like her life depended on it.
I won't hold back anymore—I won't let any of you pass me.
She unfastened the buttons of her clothing, casting them aside, then carefully lifted her Racing Outfit from its hanger. The silky fabric flowed like milk under her fingers—a thoughtful gift from Fine Motion, who had encouraged her with a smile, urging her to seize victory. Was it just friendly goodwill, or was everyone truly counting on her to win?
She didn't know anymore.
Complex thoughts churned, then quickly subsided.
Ten thousand tangled worries fell away, leaving behind only a pure, resolute heart.
She slipped on the pitch-black Racing Outfit, emblazoned with an elegant blue rose across the chest.
Most Umamusume wore flowing dresses, beautiful and extravagant, protected by the Three Goddesses' blessings so no design ever interfered with speed. Some wealthy competitors went all-out, crafting lavishly detailed outfits, glittering and exquisite.
But Garden Gale was different.
Her Racing Outfit was a hoodie—simple, sleek, all-black except for the vivid blue rose on the chest and the subtle detailing around the cuffs. Every line embodied understated elegance.
She pulled the hoodie over her head, gently tugging the hood up.
Her sharp jawline remained visible beneath the shadowed fabric, balancing a blade-like clarity and the gentle smoothness of polished jade—contrasting qualities perfectly coexisting. Above the bridge of her nose, everything was cloaked in darkness, leaving only one word suitable for description: mysterious.
A blend of danger and allure radiated from her. Garden Gale always possessed a striking presence, one tinged by an oddly alluring melancholy—
Like a flower on the brink of wilting, lingering between vibrant bloom and quiet decay.
She inhaled lightly, savoring the strange sensation enveloping her the moment she donned her Racing Outfit.
Inexplicable… Could this feeling truly be the blessing of the Three Goddesses?
Garden Gale smiled faintly.
Now that she'd reached this point, there really wasn't anything left to fear.
The timer on the desk slowly ticked down, inching ever closer to zero. Garden Gale gently paused the countdown, took a moment to check her appearance one final time, and verified her horseshoes were securely fitted. Everything was ready. Everything was perfect.
She stepped out through the waiting room door—and moved toward the dazzling brilliance awaiting her at the tunnel's exit.
---
T/N: HER RACING OUTFIT IS A FUCKING HOODIE?????????
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