"Senpai! See you on the world stage again!"
Twilight Cloud waved goodbye to Kousei as she boarded the plane. Kousei smiled and waved back.
"Don't keep me waiting too long, Kousei! I want to avenge my Japan Cup defeat!" Speedstar declared with her usual exuberance.
Cloud nodded in acknowledgment, while Caesar smiled silently.
The same plane that had once carried Kousei to this place was now carrying Caesar and the others to their own dreams.
Kousei watched until the Steel Wings vanished completely into the horizon.
"Let's begin our journey across the world."
The frigid north wind howled, scattering falling ice crystals that glittered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Behind Kousei, Just a Way and the others were preparing to depart. Kousei had regained her eligibility to compete by transferring schools, which meant she had to start from scratch.
Not entirely from scratch, though. Rules prohibited Classic Grade Umamusume from competing in Beginner Grade races, so Kousei wouldn't be racing against rookies.
She would accumulate victories, build her fanbase, and climb step by step toward the Super Grand Prix.
Kousei's first stop was the New Holland Memorial near the Northern Region, following the classic NAU route.
The express ticket to the land of dreams was also the most brutal hell.
Aoi wrote a sensational report about Kousei, relentlessly promoting her and dubbing her "The Silver Demon." Aoi seemed remarkably skilled at manipulating public opinion, and discussions about Kousei skyrocketed, especially after news broke that she would follow the NAU Route.
This sensationalism, coupled with her mysterious background, shrouded Kousei in intrigue. Whether people were eagerly anticipating her performance or simply watching for a spectacle, the massive exposure had already earned her a considerable fanbase before she even set foot on the track. People were eager to see just how far this arrogant and overconfident Umamusume could go.
"If you truly call yourself The Silver Demon, then rise through the regional ranks and show us what you're made of."
The comment, part expectation, part criticism, and part familiar echo, inadvertently resurfaced memories of her time in Central Academy.
After leaving the northern region, the temperature warmed up. Though the wind still carried a hint of winter's chill, the venue for the New Holland Memorial exuded a strong rural atmosphere.
It was hard to imagine a racetrack being built in such a rustic place.
Kousei had grown up on the outskirts of a city—still technically urban, even if on the fringes. This rural atmosphere piqued her curiosity.
"Let's register at the racetrack first. The organizers should have arranged accommodations for us. Then, we can do some maintenance training and get some proper rest."
Hearing Reiko's words, Kousei nodded.
"I'm actually feeling a bit excited," Kousei murmured.
As Kousei walked down the street, she noticed that there were fewer pedestrians compared to the bustling commercial district. While the commercial district was always noisy and chaotic, this area was much quieter.
Everyone moved at a leisurely pace, and simply being here seemed to slow down one's rhythm involuntarily.
"This slow-paced lifestyle..."
"Kousei! Look at that!"
Kousei was momentarily distracted when Just a Way suddenly tugged at her sleeve and pointed in a particular direction. Following her gaze, Kousei noticed a stall selling local specialties.
The display was rather peculiar, featuring creatures that looked neither like fish nor anything else familiar.
"This is a specialty of Rukomachi, only harvested during October and November. They say it's incredibly delicious—a seafood delicacy well worth trying," Reiko explained, noticing their captivated attention.
"Delicious..." The description immediately piqued Kousei's appetite, and she swallowed hard as she stared at the strange creatures.
"But if it's so delicious, why have I never heard of it before? Is it because it's so rare?" Just a Way wondered.
"Delicious and rare—that sounds like perfect marketing material," she added.
Just a Way pondered for a moment, realizing the point.
If that's the case, why has she never mentioned it before?
Reiko shook her head. Business matters were outside her domain.
Inside the racetrack, a registration clerk glanced at the form and then peered at Kousei.
"You're that Umamusume from the recent news reports?" the clerk asked, her tone slightly skeptical.
Every staff member in the racetrack turned to stare, making Kousei and her group the center of attention.
"Hey, Aoi," Just a Way whispered, leaning closer. "Is this situation... good?"
"Normal. You'll get used to it," Kawauchi Aoi replied calmly.
Feeling the slightly hostile gazes, Kousei muttered, "So, what exactly did the reports say about me?"
"She feels good. Her physical conditioning is remarkably advanced."
Unlike the others, the man who spoke had a gentle demeanor, wearing the same Trainer badge as Reiko.
"Mr. Genbao, shouldn't you be at the Training Track today?" the staff member asked, his tone deeply respectful.
"Allowing her some independent training is essential. After all, her opponents on the track won't follow any pre-set plan. Independent judgment is crucial."
"Judgment..." Kousei murmured, considering Genbao's words thoughtfully.
"So this is the one who inherited the legend?"
Is he referring to the Gray Legend? Kousei wondered.
"That's not quite how I remember it," Genbao mused, stroking his chin, a hint of malice flickering in his eyes. "I distinctly recall the heir to the Gray Legend being named Mejiro McQueen."
At the mention of McQueen's name, Kousei tensed involuntarily. Her gaze sharpened with wariness as she stared at Genbao, her knuckles cracking.
"Who... are you?" Genbao's inquiry carried a clear, aggressive edge, like the blinding glare of an interrogation room light forcing one to squint.
"You'll find out who she is when she's defeated everyone here," Reiko replied, her smile brimming with defiance.
Despite the 20-centimeter height difference and being on Genbao's turf, Reiko showed no hesitation. She boldly proclaimed her intent, as if this were her natural state.
"Hahaha!" Genbao suddenly chuckled. "My apologies. I was simply too curious. No offense intended."
Genbao extended his hand toward Reiko, seemingly offering a gesture of goodwill. Reiko reciprocated with her right hand, unwilling to slight him.
"Then let's wait and see."
"Hmph."
Well, that didn't exactly sound friendly.
Led by Genbao, Reiko and her group dragged their luggage toward the dormitories. Kousei, meanwhile, headed alone to the Training Track for her maintenance workout. After all, Kousei couldn't feel at peace without a daily run.
The Training Track, like the Racetrack, was sparsely populated—a stark contrast to the bustling crowds Kousei was used to at Central, where she was a regular at Grade 1 races. In her mind, Racetracks should be teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder.
At the Racetrack Gate, Kousei glanced at the notice board.
Rukomachi hosted remarkably few races, with both prize money and attention far below Central's standards.
"Someone's here?"
Kousei's keen ears picked up the sound of an Umamusume training inside the Training Track.
Emerging from the tunnel, the scene gradually came into focus.
A sprint like a tear through the wind, accelerating from the third turn and surging forward with a powerful final leg.
Swift as a peregrine falcon, powerful as a dragon.
"What a ferocious final leg!"
Though only estimated through visual observation and mental calculation, Kousei judged the Umamusume's three-furlong time to be around 36 seconds.
Lost in admiration, Kousei watched intently. Sensing her gaze, the Umamusume, panting for breath, looked up.
Their eyes met.