"Vega..."
Admire Vega's Trainer gently stroked her head from behind and softly said, "I'm sorry, Vega... I judged the race wrongly. I prevented you from performing at your best. Next time, I will lead you to victory."
"Now... let's go back. Running so hard just now must've been taxing on your body. Let's go back and rest."
Even though Admire Vega's Trainer had been with her for a full year now, this was the first time she had seen Admire Vega so utterly dejected. For a moment, even she didn't know what to do, so she cast a pleading look at Wada.
After exchanging glances with T.M. Opera O, Wada silently chose to pull T.M. Opera O forward. He knew that Admire Vega's emotional knot was caused by T.M. Opera O, and so it should also be resolved by T.M. Opera O.
"Admire Vega, I am T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto's Trainer. We've met before, remember?"
"..." Admire Vega seemed a bit dazed. After a long while, she finally looked at Wada and T.M. Opera O, her emotions seemingly stabilizing. She said faintly, "...If you've come to mock me, then I don't care. But at the Japanese Derby, I will reclaim the honor I lost in this race."
Admire Vega thought the other party had come to mock her. After all, based on her understanding of T.M. Opera O, her narcissistic words were even more mocking than outright mockery.
"You've misunderstood. I just wanted to say that T.M. Opera O and I are both very much looking forward to competing against you again at the Japanese Derby."
Wada immediately understood why Admire thought this way. Admire Vega was a very delicate and sensitive person—perhaps due to some past experiences. Wada could understand this train of thought; after all, he himself was once a very sensitive person.
Because of the gossip around him, as a rookie Jockey at the time, he was insecure and timid. But even so, he and T.M. Opera O galloped across the Racecourse, conquering all. Therefore, he could understand Admire Vega's feelings. At this moment, what Admire Vega needed was not pity, but recognition.
"Everyone has a reason to run, Admire Vega. Just like T.M. Opera O and I; I help her to run so that she can win the Classic Triple Crown."
"I want to train her to be an Uma Musume who surpasses even the 'Emperor.' Perhaps she doesn't look like an Uma Musume burdened with such a mission... but I want to tell you that her reasons and beliefs for running on the Racecourse are no less important than anyone else's."
"T.M. Opera O won this time because she was stronger, but that doesn't mean she will necessarily be the strongest next time."
Saying this, Wada unconsciously glanced at T.M. Opera O beside him and asked gently, "Isn't that right, T.M. Opera O?"
"—Hahahahaha! Although it's impossible for me to lose in the first place, Admire Vega is truly a formidable rival."
T.M. Opera O immediately understood Wada's meaning upon hearing this. She maintained her usual confidence and laughed loudly, "I acknowledge you as one of my formidable rivals. If my journey to win the Classic Triple Crown fails because of anyone, then you are among them!"
"You, Narita Top Road, and Meisho Doto are the three musketeers who will challenge the Overlord's throne! Hahaha! I'm already getting excited!"
However, T.M. Opera O's rather nonsensical words left both Admire Vega and her Trainer speechless. At this moment, Admire Vega's Trainer finally understood why her Uma Musume and T.M. Opera O didn't get along. This ability to be this self-absorbed... even though she was the victor, Admire Vega's Trainer was feeling secondhand embarrassment just by seeing how she acted.
"Alright, T.M. Opera O, now it's time to shake hands with your rival." Wada reminded T.M. Opera O not to be overly narcissistic. He was trying his best to gain more goodwill from T.M. Opera O's rivals.
Wada's words immediately made T.M. Opera O react. After a brief exchange of glances with Wada, this time, T.M. Opera O chose to silently close her mouth and extended her hand towards Admire Vega.
After a long while, Admire Vega also looked at her Trainer. Only after receiving her Trainer's nod and smile did she hesitantly shake hands with T.M. Opera O.
"...Next time at the Japanese Derby, I will reclaim victory."
"Hahaha! Then bring it on! I won't lose!" T.M. Opera O couldn't hold it in any longer and her confidence broke out again in less than three seconds as she laughed heartily, causing Wada, who was beside her, to facepalm, his face full of dark lines.
Fortunately, Admire Vega did not show any signs of displeasure. Instead, she nodded heavily and said faintly, "I will come back to challenge you, definitely."
"Okay, okay, since everyone has made up, Vega, let's go home~"
Admire Vega's Trainer gently placed her hands on Admire Vega's shoulders and slowly led her assigned Uma Musume away from the scene. Of course, she didn't forget to look back at Wada Ryuji, mouthing "Thank you" to express her gratitude.
"Hahaha, you are really impressive. But next time, my Uma Musume and I will work even harder to win this victory back."
Meanwhile, Narita Top Road and her Trainer also walked past Wada. This cheerful man didn't care about winning or losing. Just like Admire Vega's Trainer, after leaving a declaration of their next duel, he chose to exit.
"Tr-Trainer..."
At this moment, Meisho Doto silently walked up, looking very aggrieved. Tears still welled in her eyes, and she anxiously clutched Wada's sleeve, asking, "W-why did I lose... I-I won the Mainichi Hai, right?—Why did I lose?"
"...Because, Meisho Doto, you were always competing against the T.M. Opera O you 'perceived' in your mind."
Wada gently ruffled the hair of his first Uma Musume, and incidentally rubbed Meisho Doto's ears, whispering, "This is also my fault. The training plan I used for you was the one I planned for T.M. Opera O a long time ago. But now, T.M. Opera O's growth rate is faster than we imagined."
"Meisho Doto, next time I will modify your tactics and training methods. If you want to defeat T.M. Opera O simply by using the same method, it will probably be very difficult. But if you approach it from other angles, your chances of winning might be greater."
"—Until the Japanese Derby, just keep training under my plan. I will do my best to help you surpass T.M. Opera O."
"Trainer..."
Wada didn't blame her for her weakness at all, which warmed Meisho Doto's heart. She had been prepared to be scolded for her poor performance—even though Wada had never reprimanded her before.
"I-I understand! I will aim to surpass T.M. Opera O and train with you every day, Trainer."
"Mm, that's my good girl." Wada smiled and nodded, rubbing Meisho Doto's head vigorously, making Meisho Doto giggle softly, seemingly tickled.
T.M. Opera O, standing nearby, watched their interaction with a gentle gaze. She didn't appear jealous, nor did she go forward to deliberately seek Wada's affection—because she knew that her place in Wada's heart would never change.
She just wanted to be by Wada's side, to uncover the secrets Wada was hiding from her, and the many unusual sensations she was feeling... "Was I seeing things? I felt like during the final straight... there was another Uma Musume beside me." (T/N: She's turning schizo)
T.M. Opera O murmured to herself, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the Racecourse. At this moment, the rest of the Uma Musume had all begun to move to the rest area to recuperate, preparing for the winner's stage.
T.M. Opera O didn't find that figure, but she felt that the figure resembled herself greatly, not only in appearance but also in running rhythm. When she sprinted down the straight, she was actually following this figure. She remembered surpassing this figure, but who exactly it was... she simply didn't know.
Was it a hallucination? Or something else?
"—Indeed, I'll figure it out slowly when I get back! Now is the time for the Overlord to shine on the winner's stage!"
T.M. Opera O didn't pay too much attention to this matter. And now, having taken the first step towards the Classic Triple Crowns, she should prepare well for her winner's stage. And in the subsequent Japanese Derby and Kikuka Sho, she also needed to prepare well. She feared that this victory would make the self-dubbed "three musketeers" even more formidable than before...
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Manhattan Cafe 2, Electric Boogaloo.
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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.