August 31st, Leopardstown Racecourse. 1400 meters, turf, left-handed track. Clear weather, good track conditions.
Honestly, for Haya Of Star, every moment up until now felt so unbelievably blissful that she could've soared straight into heaven.
Why? Well, that's easy to explain!
Firstly, as a fan, what could possibly be more thrilling than interacting closely with your idol?
And yet, what had she experienced this past week?
Not only had she stayed under the same roof as Gotham Song, which alone was already pure bliss—but there was more!
Both of their upcoming races—Haya Of Star's second debut race, and Gotham Song's Irish Champion Stakes—were held at the very same venue:
Leopardstown Racecourse!
And during this past week, what exactly had transpired?
She and Gotham Song trained together, ran side by side, and familiarized themselves with every inch of Leopardstown's grassy track. In short, Haya Of Star had fulfilled virtually every fantasy a fan could imagine.
How could she not be absolutely ecstatic?!
If Haya Of Star didn't have exceptional self-control, she honestly didn't know what she might've done. Her excitement might've even disrupted her sleep and sabotaged today's race.
But still, Haya Of Star disciplined herself strictly. Because she never forgot what was waiting for her today.
Today, on this very Leopardstown Racecourse, she would run her second debut race—under the watchful eyes of her beloved idol, Gotham Song!
Her previous defeat remained vivid in her mind. Gotham Song had kindly never mentioned it again, offering only guidance and gentle encouragement as they trained together. And through that practice, Haya Of Star's spirits reached new heights.
This time, she absolutely would not lose.
After all, I've found a reason why defeat is simply impossible. My apologies to the other racers, but this victory—I'm declaring it mine right now.
Seeing the fierce, determined expression on Haya Of Star's face, even Gotham Song was momentarily lost in thought.
Though she hadn't spent long at the Haya household, the sheer talent and tenacity of Haya Of Star had left an extremely profound impression.
This girl had practically become a machine, relentlessly chasing victory at all costs—so much so that even Dancing Brave marveled at her determination.
Privately, Mejiro Ardan even remarked that, looking at Haya Of Star now, she almost mistook her for another certain "you" from years past.
Had Haya Of Star's obsession and passion for a mere debut race already reached a level comparable to Twilight Song in Ardan's eyes?!
The original holder of that name found this rather surprising herself. However, such earnest, passionate dedication was undoubtedly a good thing. Naturally, Gotham Song felt nothing but pleased by it.
Far from displeasure, she even felt a little envious.
Even Gotham Song herself could no longer imagine pursuing victory with such unbridled fervor. Honestly, she couldn't envision any scenario compelling her into that frenzied mindset again.
Perhaps there's simply no longer a need for that anymore?
"I will absolutely win, Song-sama. Please wait for good news from Haya-chan!"
"Mhm. I'll be watching—right until you claim victory and step onto the Winner's Concert stage. So, go seize your victory!"
And as for this new title, "Song-sama"… Although it gave Gotham Song goosebumps whenever she heard it, naturally, she wouldn't dampen Haya Of Star's enthusiasm right now. Instead, she graciously accepted it, patting her devoted fan's shoulder one last time.
"Go claim your glory and start the era of Haya Of Star!"
"Haya Of Star, roger that!"
Haya Of Star marched out confidently from the waiting room, her happiness radiating vividly from every sway of her tail. Her determined heart projected dazzling confidence to anyone watching.
Dancing Brave, the only other companion here, watched the scene with a playful interest.
"Caesar of Gotham—oh wait, I mean Song-sama—do you like your new title?"
"What 'Caesar of Gotham'? Why would you even say something like that?"
Unable to bear the chills running down her spine any longer, Gotham Song shot Dancing Brave a warning glare, but the older mare only waved dismissively.
"Just consider this a vaccination. After the Irish Champion Stakes, people will definitely start calling you that. After all, your name and face resemble a certain someone far too much. You get what I'm saying, right?"
"Ugh…if possible, I'd rather pretend I don't understand. Sigh…"
Gotham Song offered no further reply, hastily jogging out of the waiting room toward the VIP lounge to witness Haya Of Star's race.
Of course, she understood precisely what Dancing Brave implied.
Caesar of Gotham? Gotham Song? And that 'certain someone'…
Back when the Ruka Stakes was still known by its former name, back when Twilight Song had just arrived in New York and stepped onto her first official racetrack, the title "Caesar of Gotham" had gained a special meaning in this world—a world without any comics of that kind.
"Caesar of Gotham, Twilight Song"—a name that had once left an indelible mark upon the world. And that very same Twilight Song was Gotham Song's previous identity.
Given her rebirth, her name's similarity, and its inclusion of "Gotham," naturally people would draw connections, wouldn't they?
Previously, without having proven herself internationally, Gotham Song hadn't yet inherited Twilight Song's legendary title. But once proven, surely someone would suggest it—and countless voices would immediately rise to support it.
Ah, just thinking about it gives me a headache.
But faced with an issue she couldn't change, Gotham Song made her decision:
Who cares? It's just a title—and it originally belonged to me anyway. Might as well embrace it openly.
Caesar of Gotham—that's me, Song. Who else could it be? Twilight Song again?
Watching Gotham Song's gradually confident stride ahead, Dancing Brave laughed inwardly, catching up behind her.
Yes, that's precisely the spirit you should have. Twilight… Ah, no matter what, now it's proper to call you Gotham Song.
She trailed half a step behind Gotham Song as they entered the VIP lounge.
Soon, everyone's attention quickly turned toward the track below, where Haya Of Star had made her appearance.
Despite this being her second debut attempt, Haya Of Star was still the most popular entrant, boosted by her prestigious family background and her extremely narrow loss in the previous race.
But the moment Haya Of Star stepped onto the track, everyone immediately sensed one thing:
Compared to the quiet, reserved, and expressionless mare from her previous defeat, today's Haya Of Star was incredibly strong—frighteningly strong!
"Miss Haya Of Star…this is quite unexpected! Such drastic improvement! I already thought she was powerful during her last race, but this…!"
"Yes, indeed. Though I'm not sure what the viewers at home feel, speaking as a former Uma Musume myself, even from here I can sense her fierce aura. It seems she's completely ready today."
A truly formidable Uma Musume.
Every other racer quickly shared this silent consensus, exchanging nervous glances and devising a desperate, silent plan.
As the gates opened to thunderous cheers and the green light flashed, the battle ignited.
Haya Of Star's running style was typically a front-runner, and today she'd completely discarded her previous attempts at imitating Gotham Song's late-charging tactics.
This immediately disrupted all the other Uma Musume's carefully studied strategies.
However, Haya Of Star had fully anticipated their reactions.
With Dancing Brave's guidance, she'd thoroughly analyzed her opponents' likely actions and made detailed mental simulations before stepping into the gate.
To beat her, their only option was clear: trap her early behind their ranks, preventing her from using her natural speed advantage.
Knowing this, Haya Of Star calmly maintained her pace, waiting patiently.
She wasn't worried at all. She knew exactly what she had to do: break through decisively and charge forward. Victory was inevitable.
The decisive moment came swiftly.
"The first straightaway is over, and no racer holds a significant lead. It seems the race's climax will come down to the final curve and the short finishing straight!"
Leopardstown's track was indeed unusual: after a brief straightaway, there was a large left-hand curve, followed by an extremely short final straight of only two hundred meters.
Entering that crucial curve, Haya Of Star saw exactly what she'd predicted.
The other Uma Musume formed a tight blockade, completely sealing her off.
But she felt no anxiety.
Previously, she'd panic here—without a way through, how could she possibly mimic Gotham Song's delicate margin-of-victory style?
But today, having promised Gotham Song she'd race in her own way and win beautifully, she remained perfectly composed.
Now, let me show Song-sama a performance unique to Haya Of Star!
Just as the pack entered the curve, a tiny gap inevitably appeared due to their differing speeds and racing lines.
"There's an opening—a tiny one, but… Haya Of Star?! She's… She's breaking through that gap?! Unbelievable!!"
Amid stunned gasps, Haya Of Star seized that minuscule opportunity, slipping flawlessly through.
It was as though she'd predicted this precise scenario beforehand, adjusting her position subtly yet perfectly.
And after breaking through?
She took off.
Surging ahead at astonishing speed, Haya Of Star left all competition far behind—leaving her defeat and past doubts far behind.
At the finish line, she met Gotham Song's gaze across the distance, as if by miracle.
How's my miracle performance, Song-sama?
What was Song's evaluation?
Perfect beyond words.
In awe, Gotham Song replayed that breathtaking scene mentally.
Honestly, if she herself faced such a tight blockade, she certainly couldn't pull off such a stunning breakthrough.
Instead, Gotham Song's method would have been…
Move laterally, shift gears, and then unleash the engine's roar… right?