Dessert Counter.
Barbatos placed their order with the attendant.
She waited quietly with Seiun Sky for the desserts to be prepared, feeling the gentle brush of Seiun Sky's fingertips against her palm.
It sent a faint itch through her heart. Her gaze met Seiun Sky's.
"You don't seem scared of heights at all right now~"
Seiun Sky's eyes were slightly narrowed, a faint, unconscious blush on her cheeks. Ever since they'd reached the top of the tower, Barbatos hadn't shown a single sign of acrophobia. It was almost as if she'd been faking it.
"Isn't that because I'm with you, Sei-chan?"
Barbatos swung their joined hands lightly. "Otherwise, I'd probably be glued to the wall, hugging the inside the whole way, too scared to even glance at the view outside."
"Terrified I might just fall right off the edge."
She finished with a pitiful tone and tightened her grip on Seiun Sky's hand.
"So it's Sei-chan who gave me the courage to be up here without being afraid."
"How dramatic!" Seiun Sky rolled her eyes. "Is that what all people with acrophobia think?"
"I can't speak for them, but that's how I feel. It's to prevent myself from taking a wrong step at a great height and getting isekai'd."
Barbatos said with a completely straight face. "I heard there's even an anime in China about someone falling through a broken railing and getting isekai'd."
"…"
Seiun Sky couldn't understand it, but she felt mildly shocked.
Maybe I should let go of her hand when she's walking on the outside later, just to see how she reacts. The thought seemed rather amusing.
But she was just thinking it.
She could try that some other time when they were alone. With everyone else here, it probably wasn't a good idea.
"Speaking of which, I'm surprised Maruzensky came to watch my race."
"Feels a bit like she was scouting me, you know? A senior legend like her, studying the races of a rookie like me. How unsporting."
Barbatos said this jokingly. After all, Maruzensky was her opponent in the upcoming Winter Dream Cup.
Sure, Grass Wonder was also a rival to keep an eye on in the future, but with her leg injury, her return to the track probably wouldn't be until after the Winter Dream Cup anyway.
So, for now, Maruzensky was a more immediate and significant rival than Grass Wonder.
"Seems more like she just happened to be free and came to Tokyo to watch a race," Seiun Sky chuckled softly. "You could always watch Maruzensky's race videos too, you know. Study her running style."
"Watching her races is pretty much pointless."
Barbatos shrugged.
She hadn't actually seen the race videos, but she knew a little about Maruzensky.
Probably something even Seiun Sky wasn't aware of.
Noting the flicker of confusion on Seiun Sky's face, she explained, "It's like when we ran our debut races. What could you really learn from watching those?"
Both she and Seiun Sky had dominated their debut races with absolute superiority.
"Was Maruzensky like that back in her racing days too?"
Seiun Sky felt something was off. If Maruzensky ran G1 races like that, she would have been an undefeated G1 Uma Musume, and everyone would know about it.
It was impossible for something like that to go unnoticed.
"Apparently, the racing system in Japan wasn't fully developed back then."
"Foreign-born horses like Maruzensky, similar to Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa's situation initially, couldn't participate in G1-level races."
"So, back then, the highest level Maruzensky could run in was G2."
"It was only after reforms to the racing system that foreign-born horses were allowed to enter G1 races, and even compete for the Triple Crown title."
Hearing this, Seiun Sky looked thoughtful.
"Senior Maruzensky became a legendary Uma Musume just by running G2 level races?"
"Many people believe that if the racing committee had given Maruzensky a chance back then, even if she had to start from the outermost gate in a G1 race, she still would have won."
As for how Barbatos knew all this...
It was all covered during the strategy meeting. Minamizaka had mentioned these things while discussing the Winter Dream Cup.
Seiun Sky had just been asleep and missed it.
Barbatos herself had been playing games, but when she heard this topic come up, of course she started listening intently.
"Suddenly I feel like we should thank the committee for those changes," she mused. "If El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder couldn't run in G1 races, we'd be missing two incredibly strong opponents."
If El Condor Pasa couldn't run G1s, Barbatos figured she'd probably have a clear shot at dominating the Oka Sho. That wasn't an exaggeration.
After all, the Uma Musume who contest the Triple Crown races are usually in their second year, the same generation as them.
By that logic, she and El Condor Pasa were, without a doubt, the top tier of their generation so far.
"Eh?"
"In that case, wouldn't it be great if Special Week and King Halo both entered the Oka Sho too?"
Seiun Sky said with a smile. Since Special Week and King Halo were both likely aiming for the Triple Crown, and most choose to focus on the classic races anyway, if they both ran the Oka Sho, it would mean two fewer opponents for her.
"Then I could just take it easy and cruise through the whole race."
"And I'd be stuck in the Oka Sho playing a high-rank match?"
Barbatos retorted. Just imagine: El Condor Pasa, Special Week, King Halo, all showing up for the Oka Sho, plus a fully recovered Grass Wonder joining in. What a scene.
Tsk, it actually sounded pretty fun.
As for Seiun Sky talking about taking it easy and cruising, Barbatos knew that when race day came, she would give it her all. Even during practice before the long-distance race, she had never slacked off.
"Number A115, your desserts are ready."
The attendant's voice sounded beside them. Barbatos let go of Seiun Sky's hand.
With the number of desserts they'd ordered, it was awkward to carry them one-handed. She probably could, but there was no need.
The desserts were arranged on two separate plates.
After paying by phone, each of them took a plate and headed back to their table.
Back where their friends were sitting.
With Urara there, the atmosphere was lively and warm, allowing the Canopus team members to quickly hit it off with Grass Wonder and Maruzensky.
As the desserts were placed on the table, Barbatos and Seiun Sky took their seats.
Maruzensky lightly brushed her hair back and took the dessert she had ordered. "Thank you~"
"You're welcome."
Soon, everyone was chatting about the details of the recent race and sharing their thoughts.
The desserts on the table gradually dwindled.
It was then that Minamizaka, looking at Maruzensky and Grass Wonder, thought for a moment and made a suggestion.
"How did you two get to Tokyo? If you need, you're welcome to ride back with us in our van."
If they had come by train or some other means, sharing the van ride back would save them some trouble. His van had plenty of space for two more without feeling crowded at all.
Grass Wonder's usually slightly closed eyes snapped open.
She was tempted to accept, but then she paused, quickly reining in her reaction.
The offer from Canopus's trainer Minamizaka was tempting. She really wanted to ride back with the Canopus team.
But the problem was...
Maruzensky-senpai had driven them here. Surely, she needed to drive her car back? She couldn't just leave it here.
So, if Grass Wonder rode back in the Canopus van, Maruzensky-senpai would be left all alone.
That was something Grass Wonder didn't want to happen.
Even though Maruzensky's driving was incredibly fast and frankly terrifying, Grass Wonder decided she would stick with her senior for the return trip.
"No, thank you. Maruzensky-senpai drove us here."
"Maruzensky drove?" Minamizaka was momentarily surprised. It was exceedingly rare for an Uma Musume to choose to drive. Barbatos mentioning she wanted to get a driver's license had already struck him as odd. He never imagined the legendary Maruzensky would also drive.
"Driving, huh? Speaking of which, B-chan said before she wanted to get her license," Urara piped up. "Couldn't she learn from Maruzensky-senpai then?"
"No can do," Barbatos said, a little helplessly. "Driving legally requires a license. It's not enough to just know how."
"What I need is to learn from a proper driving instructor and then take the official licensing test through the driving school."
If simply knowing how to drive was enough, she could probably start right now.
After all, the difference between Japanese and Chinese cars basically came down to which side the steering wheel was on. She could get used to that pretty quickly.
"But, Maruzensky-senpai is a driving instructor," Urara said.
Barbatos: "?"
Grass Wonder: "??"
"???"
What did Urara just say? Maruzensky is a driving teacher? Wasn't that a bit too unbelievable?
Minamizaka already thought it was pretty out there that an Uma Musume like Barbatos would go to China to stream League of Legends and get popular.
But this time, he was truly shocked. A legendary Uma Musume was also a driving instructor?
Even knowing Urara wouldn't lie, he couldn't help but look at Maruzensky, seeking confirmation directly from her.
"Mmm, Urara is correct," Maruzensky said with a smile. "After all, there's no reason why Tracen Academy shouldn't offer driving lessons. So I had Symboli Rudolf help me get the position approved."
As she said this, her expression dimmed slightly.
"It's just that, at our academy, we're lucky to get one Uma Musume every few years who actually wants to learn to drive."
What serious Uma Musume would bother learning to drive?
For short distances, an Uma Musume was probably faster on foot. For longer trips, there were subways, bullet trains, and planes.
What serious Uma Musume would drive!
With this thought, everyone's gaze shifted to Barbatos, the not-so-serious Uma Musume.
Maruzensky was a senior, so it was fine to tease Barbatos a little with their looks.
Ahem.
Under everyone's collective stare, Barbatos cleared her throat lightly.
"Actually, I think you might all have a slight misunderstanding about cars as a mode of transport."
"It's not just a way to get around. It's a form of romance, just like how we Uma Musume find running romantic."
"Being able to buy a car you love, and hurtle down the road at speeds beyond your own running limits, feeling that thrill of surpassing yourself… isn't that romantic too?"
"Plus, having a car makes it easier to go out with friends and carry stuff."
"You could take friends for drives and things."
Barbatos explained her perspective on driving. Even if any car she bought would probably spend most of its time gathering dust, that didn't negate the occasional joy of taking it out.
Imagine driving Seiun Sky around, or going on dates to other places. It would be a great option.
Besides, learning to drive wouldn't even take much time for her; it was mostly just going through the motions.
"Speeds beyond our own running limits…"
Hearing this, Grass Wonder's vision momentarily darkened as she recalled the speed of their trip to Tokyo.
Her ever-present smile became slightly strained.
Speeds beyond one's own limits… could sitting in a car like that really be called romantic?
But this mindset probably aligned well with Maruzensky-senpai's, she thought. Having reached this conclusion, Grass Wonder instantly made a decision.
"B-chan, why don't you ride back with Maruzensky-senpai?"
"That way, you can get a head start on learning about driving."
Grass Wonder kindly offered the suggestion.
Even though Maruzensky's car had four seats, she could easily find an excuse to ride in the Canopus van. No need to worry about Maruzensky-senpai being alone.
After all, it seemed like Maruzensky-senpai and B-chan would probably have a lot to talk about.
"Maruzensky-senpai's car? Sure," Barbatos agreed, feeling a bit curious about what kind of car a legendary Uma Musume like Maruzensky would drive.
Judging by Maruzensky's mature demeanor, maybe it was something like a Mini Cooper or an electric vehicle—a sensible driver. That would probably be the only way Symboli Rudolf would trust her to teach others.
Riding back with Maruzensky-senpai now was a perfect chance to show off her knowledge about cars, build a rapport with the senior, and maybe make getting the license easier later.
--+--
One hour later.
Grass Wonder, now seated in the van, wore an expression of deep contentment.
Seiun Sky, who had been leaning against the window with her eyes closed as if asleep, cracked one eye open.
Noticing Grass Wonder's expression, a thought crossed her mind: Barbatos is probably in for it. Grass-chan must have been scared of riding with Maruzensky, that's why she's here.
If she'd known earlier, she would have gone with Maruzensky-senpai too.
Just then, Minamizaka's phone rang while he was driving. "Hello, this is Minamizaka."
"Hello, Trainer Minamizaka. This is the Uma Musume Race Management Committee…"
--+--
On the other side, a red sports car left a blurry afterimage under the streetlights. With sparse traffic, the speedometer needle was climbing past 190 km/h.
Maruzensky was brimming with excitement, thrilled to find that Barbatos's ideas about driving aligned so perfectly with her own.
In the passenger seat, Barbatos gripped her seatbelt tightly with both hands.
She had forgotten one crucial thing: the feeling for the driver and the feeling for the passenger are completely different.
I really want to ask Maruzensky-senpai to slow down!
Grass Wonder, you've doomed me!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.