The [Arima Kinen] came to an end. And with it, the final bow to the Generation of Miracles.
Of course, it wasn't that dramatic. It wasn't as if any one of us had died or anything, and we could still meet up in the future. But it couldn't be denied that the [Arima Kinen] would be the last time we were ever together, and come the New Year, Japan would be much quieter.
It was confirmed that Dicta Striker and Mejiro Ardan would be continuing their journey to China. Nothing explicit had been mentioned to the public—I only knew because I was acquainted with Mejiro Ramonu during my preparation to bring the URA down. But I doubted their disappearance from Japan would remain hidden for long.
Then there was our decision to race in America next year, and even I didn't know what'd happen after that. There were still so many places to visit—so many different races we could potentially race in. Regardless, it was nebulous when we'd return to Japan, though I did have some funny ideas that could give us a chance to make a short return.
Finally, there was Tamamo Cross' retirement. She wouldn't be gone for good—the Dream Series gave her the chance to return. But considering she was still going through the after-slump that came from the ending of her True Blooming, even her trainer didn't know when Tamamo would next make her return.
And it was a little strange to think about.
Two years and a half—or essentially three years. Three years of racing. It was only about a sixth of my life, and yet it'd felt like it'd lasted for much longer. And though I knew better, a small part of me couldn't help but believe that this little bubble would remain for eternity.
But it couldn't. The [Arima Kinen] was over, and there was no URA Finale that followed next year. Had this been back in the game, this would certainly be the point where my in-game scenario ended.
I wonder how my in-game counterpart was like in that other world. Xīnxīng seemed familiar with my heroic mask, and she wasn't surprised at all when my composure broke. I assume that my personality was essentially the same, maybe just without the experience I gained from all the supernatural bullshit I went through over the past few years.
I wonder how that 'me' would think when she saw me.
Actually-, scratch that. I wondered how everyone's in-game counterpart would think when they encountered the versions I knew. After all, the games themselves were far more sanitized compared to the real stories, so I didn't doubt that things like my multiple critical conditions would've been fully adapted.
…
Hah. My thoughts were wandering again.
I groaned softly as I opened my eyes. It took a few seconds for my blurry vision to clear, and when it did I found myself staring at the ceiling of my dorm room. I blinked, genuinely surprised. After all, the last thing I remembered was being dragged into the–
That aside, even though I was back in my bed, I wasn't delusional enough to think that what happened last night was a dream. My body ached all over, my stomach rumbled with hunger, and I had a sleeping Oguri Cap curled up next to me like a koala. She was mumbling incoherently as she snored, and I couldn't help but smile slightly as I patted her head.
I lightly shook my head as I sat up, and I pulled my legs away from the blanket to inspect them.
I sighed softly. Most of the cracks up my legs were gone, but I could still see the faint golden glow at the edges of my feet. I wasn't experienced enough to guestimate how long it'd take for it to completely disappear, but it'd probably be gone by the time dawn came around.
At least it wasn't itching anymore.
Slowly, as to not wake Oguri, I peeled myself from the bed. I twitched slightly in pain as my feet touched the floor, but the feeling didn't last long. I slipped into the pair of fuzzy pink slippers I'd gotten as a gift from a young carrot-haired umamusume, and after bundling Oguri back into her blanket to make sure she was warm, I discreetly began cleaning myself up. I wasn't trying to get charged with public indecency, after all.
I smiled wryly as I stood in front of my standing mirror. As expected, my nightclothes were completely ruined. The shirt I wore was crumpled and even torn in some places, giving ample space to see the many hickeys on my shoulder. My usually smooth hair was frayed all over. And the less said about the state of my shorts the better.
I quickly made myself as presentable as I could. It wasn't easy, and I eventually just decided to zip a jacket over me to cover most of the damage. Some signs were still visible on my neck, but someone would have to be looking rather close to notice them.
Once I was ready, I left the room as quietly as I could.
The hallway I came out to was dim, lit only by the occasional ceiling lamp that was still on. The skies outside the windows were completely dark, and the snowfall had only gotten thicker. It'd be several more hours before any sunlight would pierce through the clouds.
I stared out the window for some time, not quite sure on what to do next. It wasn't as if I had anything planned when I first left my dorm room after all, and returning so quickly felt a little awkward even to me.
But, as if the Goddesses themselves had heard me, I then felt a ping in my head. My instincts were asking me to head somewhere, and I only smiled as I turned and let my legs take me away.
It was quiet.
The only thing I could hear were my own echoing footsteps, and the distant howling of the snowy winds outside. It was an experience familiar with all the winters I'd previously gone through.
The only difference was the lack of cold. Even with the thin jacket I was wearing, I could barely feel the cold. In fact, I hadn't felt cold ever since I first woke up from my healing coma. I wasn't completely sure, but I assumed the metaphysical sun that laid within my heart was keeping me warm.
Eventually, my legs took me to the cafeteria. And as I'd expected, it was empty. It was still too early; the cafeteria itself was closed, and not a single table was filled.
Or at least that was what I first thought.
"Hachimi, Hachimi~"
I blinked when I heard someone singing in the distance. Their voice was incredibly familiar, and the song they were singing even more so. I followed the source, and before long I found a young umamusume standing in front of a vending machine, humming happily as she drank from her can of honey-flavored tea.
My lips curled into a small smile as I approached. "And what might you be doing, young lady?."
The girl blinked, before her eyes went wide as she turned to me. "B-B-Blossom-senpai!?" I raised an eyebrow as I waited for her answer, and the girl stuttered. "I-I was just thirsty! That's all! I totally didn't stay awake all night and-, ah."
I stared at her for a little bit, just enough to make the girl squirm, before I chuckled softly. "There is no need to pretend. I can understand the urge to stay up late just like anyone else." I smiled kindly. "Just ensure that this does not become a habit, understood?"
"Y-Yes, senpai!"
I hummed. "Well, you clearly have an advantage." I smiled. "If I may ask, what might your name be?" I asked.
And to that, the girl grinned.
"I am the invincible Tokai Teio!" She said. "It's nice to meet you, Blossom-senpai!"
My eyes softened at the familiar words. "And it is my honor to meet a future champion."
Teio blinked, before she smiled shyly. "Future champion…" She whispered, almost as if it was a prayer to herself. "Y-You really think so, Blossom-senpai?"
I raised an eyebrow as I smiled. "My, where did that confidence suddenly go?"
"It's just-, you're so strong, senpai." She said. Her expression dimmed with uncertainty, and her ears drooped slightly. "I know Pres thinks I can be like her, but even she tells me that she probably can't compare to you and Oguri-senpai." She looked up to me. "Do you really think I can do it, senpai?"
My smile softened.
Ah, that's right. This Teio was still young. It wouldn't be until another two years before she would begin her racing career. Right now, she was simply a junior who Symboli Rudolf basically treated as her own daughter.
But even so,
"What do you think?" I asked instead. "Forget Symboli-san or Maru-nee or whoever else." I bent down slightly, just until I was at her height. "What do you think? What does Tokai Teio want?"
Teio looked down. "I…" She whispered softly, before she looked back at me. "I wanna become an awesome umamusume!" She said, her eyes alight with determination. "I wanna become someone like Pres or you or Oguri-senpai—someone that everyone can look up to!"
"Even if you'll have to work hard?" I asked.
"Then I'll double your training!" She said. My smile twitched. I was pretty sure she'd be in a hospital bed if she tried Secretariat's regime.
I shook my head. "And what happens when you fall?"
"Huh?"
"No one is invincible." I came down to one knee, and I gently held her hands in mind. "Not Symboli-san, not Oguri, and definitely not me." I smiled softly. "Maybe our journeys looked rather smooth to you. Perhaps our rise seems like the progression of a shounen manga." I shook my head. "That cannot be farther than the truth. Every one of us has stumbled and fallen."
"B-But you got back up, right?" She said, with a youthful ignorance I had never been blessed with.
I smiled fondly. "I did, but not alone." My eyes softened, thinking of the light that had pierced into my life when Oguri and I became friends. "It took the love of my family and friends to ferry me to where I am now. It was the culmination of everyone's effort that gave birth to this future."
I frowned slightly, and I made sure our eyes met as I spoke. "I cannot divine the future, but this I know;" I narrowed my eyes. "The world of racing is not simply the bright and glamorous thing shown by the news. It is a sport that requires grit and demands every moment of your life."
I held her soft hands in mine, still free from any signs of struggle. "You will fall. You will stumble. Perhaps you'll even injure yourself, so much so that it seems like your entire career is over. There shall be days where it feels like the entire world itself is against you."
"Even so,"
"Will you continue to stand up?"
Teio was quiet for a while, her brows scrunched as she remained deep in thought. And for a moment, I wondered if I'd come on too strong. After all, I'd done the same thing with Obey Your Master when we first met, and that resulted in her avoiding me for the next several months.
But, before I could worry,
"I will." Teio said, and her determination blazed ever brighter as her eyes met mine. "I promise, senpai."
I couldn't be sure if she truly understood my words, but seeing the way she fearlessly stared back at me, even after all the words I'd said–
I smiled softly as I patted her head. "Then I'll be sure to watch for what the future holds." I said. "Just remember that you are never alone, understood?"
"Mm! I won't forget, senpai!" She grinned brightly. "Just watch! One day, I'll even beat you in a race!"
…
I chuckled. "Perhaps a chance would come in the future." I said, smiling secretly.