As Mihono Bourbon and Deep Impact were talking, currently, in Team Spica's team room, the four Uma Musume Okino was in charge of— Special Week, Silence Suzuka, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka— were all looking at their Trainer with worried expressions.
"Trainer... if we really can't do anything, couldn't we go ask Rice Shower-senpai for advice?"
Vodka, who could no longer stand the suffocating atmosphere surrounding her teammates, was the first to speak up.
"If Rice Shower-senpai can't help us, we could go to Team Miracle and ask the Trainers there! Asking for some advice shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"And if it doesn't work out, we can go to Trainer Nase for help! I heard that she even tutored Narita Top Road and Admire Vega-senpai before the Kikuka Sho."
"Idiot Vodka, it's precisely because Trainer Nase helped those seniors that they later made way for T.M. Opera O-senpai during the Kikuka Sho."
Daiwa Scarlet, whose head was starting to hurt from trying to think up a solution, also covered her face in distress.
"Not only that, the context is way different this time. Special Week and the others don't have a common enemy like Shadai to band together over. Everyone is each other's enemy like usual."
"In addition... wouldn't asking the other Trainers for help make it very embarrassing for Trainer?"
Silence Suzuka, as the only one on the team who treated their Trainer with conventional kindness, couldn't help but look worriedly at Okino.
"I'm sure Trainer has his own pride as well, right?"
"No... actually, if I can really help Special Week by throwing away something as cheap as my dignity, I would gladly do so a thousand times."
Okino, hearing Silence Suzuka's concern, gave a wry smile as he lethargically leaned back into his chair, slapping his own face in frustration.
"The problem is that Special Week's problem can't be solved with just a few wise words; she has to actually comprehend it herself."
"Even if I groveled and begged the others, it would probably be useless. That's the biggest problem here."
"Boohoo... I'm sorry for being so stupid, Trainer..."
Special Week, seeing her Trainer and friends so down because of her, let out a wronged sound.
After her failure in the Satsuki Sho, Special Week was, expectedly, very down.
Her first step towards becoming the 'Strongest Uma Musume in Japan' had been immediately met with a setback, and a major one too.
For Special Week, losing to Orfevre was still acceptable, but this time, she not only failed to surpass Mihono Bourbon, she even got brutally defeated by Rice Shower, who was only sixth place in the Yayoi Sho, not even managing to fight back one bit.
This was what truly hurt Special Week's pride.
It was to the point where Special Week began to feel like her third place finish in the Yayoi Sho was just a lucky fluke, that she wasn't all that strong after all.
If Silence Suzuka and the others hadn't been comforting her all this time, she probably would have fallen into a vicious cycle of self-doubt.
"It's okay, Spe-chan, you're still very strong. It's just that your opponents this time are too strong."
"And... none of us could have expected Rice Shower to suddenly become so strong. Even Mihono Bourbon lost to her. It's not your fault for getting taken by surprise."
While Silence Suzuka was coddling Special Week, Okino's eyes seemed to sharpen as he made up his mind.
"...Alright, alright, let's not talk about the Satsuki Sho anymore. The Japanese Derby will start in a month, and there's not much time for us to do anything."
"Still, I will definitely find a way for you to catch up, Special Week, even if I have to beg and cry like a little girl."
"—Also, detracting from Special Week, Suzuka, are you really planning on running the Autumn Tenno Sho?"
"Yes, I'm going."
Silence Suzuka, clearly having thought through this before, nodded solemnly.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I will have to face off against Doto and McQueen."
"...Although I know there's a big gap between them and me, I will still win as always, for Trainer, and our team."
"...Understood, I'll give you your updated training plan later then; even if you run against Meisho Doto and Mejiro McQueen... I'm sure you'll win, Suzuka."
Though he did have some doubts, Okino was confident in Suzuka's Runaway tactic, combined with the fact that mile and medium races were her best distances.
Even if she didn't have Meisho Doto's absurd strength or McQueen's stamina, Silence Suzuka's Runaway running style in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) ignored the advantages of their strength.
This was also the reason why Okino agreed to Suzuka's request to participate in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), which was destined to be dangerously competitive.
"Here's the form for the race, Suzuka. And also, from now on, you and Special Week will train for your races together, understood?"
"Mm!" X2
But, just as Special Week and Silence Suzuka nodded solemnly, a sudden knock sounded from the door, drawing everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, is Special Week inside? I have an extremely urgent matter to discuss with her."
There, outside the room, a gentle voice spoke, their politeness as if they were a Yamato Nadeshiko.
"That voice... is that Grass Wonder?"
"Huh? It's Little Grass? I'm coming!!"
Recognizing the voice as Grass Wonder, Special Week immediately went to open the door, revealing Grass Wonder, dressed in her school uniform.
Stepping inside with carefully measured steps, Grass Wonder entered the room with a gentle smile, bowing slightly to everyone as she did so.
"Sorry for disturbing you, Trainer Okino. I hope you don't mind."
"Um... actually, if I can be a bit blunt here, I do mind. You're here for Special Week, right? Could you please wait outside for a while if possible? There are some important matters I have to finish talking with her first."
Okino wasn't surprised at all by Grass Wonder's visit. Everyone in Tracen Academy knew that Grass Wonder and Special Week were good friends.
Even after Grass Wonder and Special Week joined their respective teams, she would still eat with Special Week every day and would sometimes even do friendly activities every now and then.
Regardless, facing Okino's words, Grass Wonder's gentle smile uncharacteristically wavered in distress, her voice sounding more awkward this time.
"I can wait, but I don't think my senior would be willing to wait that long."
"Senior?" X5
Grass Wonder's words made everyone slightly confused, but soon after, the recently closed door was suddenly opened again.
—However, this time, the method in which it was opened was quite forceful; as in it was violently kicked open, cracks visible on the wall the door impacted on.
"What's taking you so long, Grass—?! Ah, I kicked down a door again... bah~ this place looks run down anyway, it shouldn't matter if I damaged it, right?"
"That voice— no way?!"
Then, the moment that theatrical yet somewhat wild voice rang out, Vodka's eyes suddenly glittered with sparkles as the Uma Musume entered the room.
"Tanino Gimlet-senpai!!! It's you!!!"
"Huh? Oh, yo kiddo, long time no see."
As she familiarly responded to Vodka, the purple, short haired Uma Musume, referred to as 'Tanino Gimlet,' entered everyone's view.
Amidst the purple in her hair were white highlights and she had an eye patch over her right eye; combined with her similar face and hairstyle to Vodka, it was almost as if she were a wilder version of Vodka.
Daiwa Scarlet, who was the closest to Vodka, asked the question that was on everyone's mind right now after seeing Tanino Gimlet.
"Vodka, is this your mother?"
"No! She's my senpai! My idol!"
Excitedly circling around Tanino Gimlet, Vodka asked with a tone of excitement and confusion.
"But senpai, why are you back? Didn't you graduate a long time ago?"
"Yeah, I did. But a junior asked for my help, and since I figured I had nothing else to do, I came back to take a look."
In that instant, Tanino Gimlet's only eye locked onto Special Week as an aggressive smile appeared on her face.
"You're the one running in this year's Classic Triple Crown, Special Week, right? You seem pretty good, I like you~"
"—Special Week, this is Tanino Gimlet, also known as the 'God of Destruction.'"
Showing her gentle smile to the bewildered Special Week, Grass Wonder's gentle smile widened several more times than usual.
"I specifically asked Trainer to find this senpai in order to help you shine brightly in the Japanese Derby and defeat Orfevre. After all, she once won the Japanese Derby, you know?"
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TANINO GIMLET MENTION!!! RAAAHHHHHH!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.