Three days left until the race.
The tension kept rising.
Everywhere you looked, screens flashed participant profiles, banners cascaded from buildings, and advertisements screamed race details at anyone who glanced their way. Even Shibuya's giant screen—the cutting edge of artistry and largest of its kind in the world—was consumed by the upcoming Japan Derby.
A dozen competitors flickered across the screen, promising a showdown for the ages.
It's been said before:
Fans adore the Japan Derby more than any other race. Even the Arima Kinen barely manages to match its hype. And that's no exaggeration, no joke—just pure truth!
...
On the street.
A girl paused, staring at the largest image on one banner, her heart twisting strangely.
The pre-event publicity was always overwhelming. No matter the sport or even esports, promotional posters were obligatory—iron law, really. And right there, blown up for all to see, was a profoundly awkward photo of Garden Gale, tinged ever so slightly with cringe.
She'd intended to look cool and confident—
A thumbs-up toward the camera, a calm face meant to praise her rivals while subtly asserting she'd breeze right past them.
But the actual photo…
Oh nooooo! The final product showed an embarrassingly earnest Umamusume giving a cheerful thumbs-up, looking for all the world like she was saying, "I'm the best!" And that group shot—gah! Her toes curled just thinking about it! Meanwhile, T.M. Opera O projected elegance like some noble from the Middle Ages.
Elegant.
Too elegant, really. As runner-up of the Satsuki Sho, she'd won over a fresh batch of fans.
Her companion seemed to notice something was off.
Turning around with a trademark shark-toothed grin, she asked, "What's up, Garden?"
"Oh, nothing." Garden Gale struggled to calm herself, barely suppressing the urge to faint on the spot. She managed a stiff smile. "It just feels... a little weird."
"Relax!"
Air Shakur, sensing the problem immediately, clapped a reassuring hand on Garden's shoulder. "This kind of publicity is normal once an Umamusume starts achieving something. When I won my first two crowns, even my favorite drinks turned into products I endorsed. It's not a big deal, really—fame's inevitable. You'll get used to it."
But that's easier said than done for someone socially anxious…
Garden Gale hesitated.
She recalled every moment she'd been dragged into the public eye against her will.
Like that time Curren Chan had forced her into a street stroll. Or when she had no choice but to participate in Winner's Live. And let's not forget… the autograph signing she'd shared with the Overlord herself.
Each event radiated peak social anxiety.
Shaking her head fiercely, Garden brushed the thoughts aside. Whatever! She still had to race, anyway.
Though, going out these days felt more like celebrity-level stealth ops: mask over her face, signature heterochromatic eyes hidden beneath her hoodie, covering up as much as possible to avoid recognition. Honestly, she looked less like a star and more like some escaped convict on the loose.
Today, the pair had come downtown for a rare break.
Garden Gale would've gladly continued training nonstop.
But Air Shakur had forcibly dragged her out, delivering a lecture on how constant training could cause fatigue and ultimately lower her performance. And thus—
This was the situation now.
"Mmm."
Air Shakur breathed deeply, visibly relaxing. "Where should we start?"
Garden Gale stayed silent.
Truth be told, she was a shut-in.
In her lifetime, she could count her outings on one hand—all of them forced by friends.
Air Shakur pondered. Honestly, she had no clue where to go either. Everything sounded potentially fun, yet simultaneously dull.
What if…
What if she treated today as a one-day date? Wouldn't that make everything instantly exciting? They could visit Tokyo Skytree, gaze down upon the city they'd called home for years, and whisper to the skyline, "You must win."
Or they could stop by Sensoji Temple, draw fortunes promising Garden Gale inevitable victory, ensuring no one would ever stand in her way again. Alternatively, they could do nothing at all, just wander through Tokyo's winding streets and lose themselves in quiet shadow.
Ohhhh~ Pure relaxation~
"Come on," Air Shakur said suddenly, a smile spreading across her face.
She extended her hand.
Garden Gale hesitated for just a moment, then took it. She followed closely, shyly—small, hesitant, and noticeably tinier than the confidently striding Air Shakur.
Honestly…
Watching Shakur's back, Garden Gale recalled her first impressions of the girl—
She'd definitely pegged her as a notorious delinquent! The type to smoke, bully classmates, and commit unspeakable acts. But how wrong she'd been. Air Shakur was actually kind, perceptive of small emotional shifts, always helping Garden out of tough spots, and gradually easing her out of her shell.
Being with her felt natural, comfortable.
But now, as their hands clasped—a strange, unfamiliar warmth stirred deep inside.
They continued in silence.
Garden Gale didn't even know their destination, yet trusted her friend implicitly.
...
Tokyo Skytree.
The second-tallest structure in the world at 634 meters, reminiscent of the ancient tower of Babel piercing toward the heavens. Twilight crept in, and Tokyo began illuminating itself with thousands of glittering LEDs—multicolored billboards, neon signs, and countless streetlights painting the city in brilliance.
Garden Gale stared upwards at the imposing tower, hesitating slightly. "Is that… the Skytree?"
"Yep," Air Shakur replied lightly.
She tugged gently, ready to continue forward—but Garden Gale stood rooted in place, her face pleading desperately.
"I haven't mentioned it before… but I might have… just a tiny bit of a fear of heights."
Yeah.
Just a tiny bit. Microscopic, really.
Air Shakur blinked, momentarily surprised.
Then she nodded knowingly. "It's alright."
"Come on, let's go up anyway. It's about time we looked down on the city we've lived in for years—just like you're about to look down on all your opponents. And besides, if your legs get too wobbly, I can always carry you."
---
T/N: OMG YES AIR SHAKUR x GARDEN GALE!!!! TAKE THAT YOU CUCKAI TEIO!
HER CARD MIGHT SUCK BUT AIR SHAKUR IS TOP TIER!!!
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