"Our team has secured its first GI! Let's celebrate the marking of a truly significant first step for the team!"
"Wooooh!"
Back at Tracen Academy, in Team Miracle's exclusive meeting room, Imanami and Ikezoe, along with their Uma Musume, were celebrating the return of Wada's victorious team. That evening, they held a small celebration, with funds graciously provided by the Mejiro Family or more specifically, Mejiro McQueen.
"You truly are something, Wada! Though I thought that the Satsuki Sho was already a sure win for you and T.M. Opera O, we were still impressed by her performance in the live broadcast!"
"In that final straight, me and even Imanami-senpai were startled when Admire Vega accelerated. We thought that you were actually going to be capsized on your first big challenge, but you still managed to win the race!"
"All the credit goes to T.M. Opera O; I am just her lucky Trainer." Wada maintained a humble attitude even after bringing home a GI victory, though this humility was his true nature, not the deliberate flattery he displayed towards the Trainers of Admire Vega and Narita Top Road.
Wada knew his own skill level. The reason he could even guide T.M. Opera O in the first place was because T.M. Opera O had practically taught him everything back in their previous world. Now, facing T.M. Opera O, who was still far from her peak, he still had the ability to instruct her.
But in the next year, once T.M. Opera O finally reaches her peak form, it would be uncertain who would be teaching whom. By then, Wada would likely have to turn his attention to training Meisho Doto, as Meisho Doto would still have room to grow by then.
"Wada, congrats. This victory will not only benefit T.M. Opera O, but also significantly increase our team's morale."
Imanami stepped forward, patted Wada's shoulder, and said, "We will clash at the Japanese Derby, Wada. Prepare yourself."
"Competing with Imanami-senpai, huh… Suddenly, the pressure on me has increased a lot…"
However, Imanami's words only made him feel more anxious; Wada already felt his scalp tingling. How could he compete with Imanami? He had probably seen more Racehorses than Wada had seen people. He was an elder among elders, a retired veteran Jockey from the old days. When Wada was still in his mother's womb, Imanami was out there winning championships.
Just thinking about competing with Imanami, even with his full confidence in T.M. Opera O, Wada began to feel like surrendering.
"No need to be so nervous, Wada. Our goals are actually different, you know?"
Imanami, of course, saw Wada's concerns and smiled faintly, saying, "You want T.M. Opera O to win the Classic Triple Crown, while our goal is the Tenno Sho. Plus, McQueen's age is also a factor; if she doesn't participate this year, she won't be able to participate next year either."
"And so, your resolve to win the Japanese Derby will be much stronger than mine. Of course, McQueen and I won't hold back either. After all, it is a GI race, and no one wants to freely hand over victory."
"That's right." At this moment, Mejiro McQueen also walked forward with a smile and gently said to T.M. Opera O and Wada, "T.M. Opera O's figure running on the racecourse is very exciting, but I am also an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family. I will absolutely not concede victory in any race I choose to participate in."
"Although Trainer and I have promised Grandmother that I will return without illness or injury, I will still give every race my all. I just won't do anything beyond my own capabilities."
"And if T.M. Opera O cannot defeat me in the Japanese Derby—I suggest that she avoid the Kikuka Sho. After all, the 3000 meters of the Kikuka Sho is where I, an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, truly excel."
Mejiro McQueen wasn't lying, nor was she being arrogant; she was simply stating the facts. The stamina of the Mejiro Family's Uma Musume was well-known throughout the Japanese Uma Musume world. As the family that aimed for the Tenno Sho, in terms of stamina and endurance, the Mejiro Family were the pinnacle among Japanese Uma Musume.
Both Imanami and Wada were well aware of this. Therefore, even though Imanami told McQueen to act within her limits, he still had confidence in winning. The Japanese Derby might not be McQueen's specialty, but the Kikuka Sho had the distance most suited for McQueen.
"Hahahahaha! So there are more brave heroes challenging my position as the Overlord? Excellent!"
T.M. Opera O, however, was very confident. She patted Wada's shoulder, encouraging her Trainer to also be confident, and then stepped forward to look directly at McQueen, saying:
"As the Overlord, I will never lose! Ryuji and I will definitely win the Classic Triple Crowns!"
"Even if the Emperor herself stands in our way, Ryuji and I will break through every obstacle together!"
However, just as T.M. Opera O was speaking, a voice suddenly echoed in her mind, saying to T.M. Opera O:
"You truly are a confident fellow. Winning the Satsuki was merely a given for you, but things are not so certain when it comes to the Japanese Derby and the Kikuka Sho; you need to be more careful."
"Don't forget, Admire Vega and Narita Top Road aren't the only threats. Mejiro McQueen—they all have the ability to make your victory come to naught."
"?! Who—?"
However, T.M. Opera O suddenly snapped back to reality and subconsciously looked around. Yet, she found no one who could have approached her ear and spoken to her.
"What's wrong, T.M. Opera O?" Wada also noticed T.M. Opera O's change in mood and immediately asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Did you get injured during the Satsuki Sho?"
"…No, I'm fine." After looking around, T.M. Opera O still couldn't find the source of the voice. She simply rubbed her head and said, "Perhaps I exerted myself too much on the winner's stage today, and the fatigue is catching up to me."
"One shouldn't ignore the fatigue they are feeling! I'll go rest now—Ryuji, remember to go and comfort Meisho Doto properly. I'm still really looking forward to seeing her in the Japanese Derby and Kikuka Sho~"
T.M. Opera O eventually left the scene distractedly, heading towards her dormitory. However, along the way, she kept clutching her head, recalling the source of that voice… That voice… it seemed a bit like her own? T.M. Opera O unconsciously felt a bit strange. Why would there suddenly be another version of her own voice in her head?
But the tone of that voice… it didn't sound like T.M. Opera O's own tone at all. Instead, it was like a completely inverted T.M. Opera O; calm, not so narcissistic, and so normal that it didn't seem like T.M. Opera O's own consciousness.
"Because I am another 'you,' T.M. Opera O."
"!"
At this moment, T.M. Opera O suddenly reacted, and before her, she saw a faint, shadowy presence looking directly at her. And just by the outline, T.M. Opera O could tell that the figure was herself.
"You are…" T.M. Opera O had never encountered such a situation before. Even she, who usually had everything seemingly under control, was somewhat surprised, asking in astonishment:
"You… are me? Why? I don't think I have a dissociative identity disorder—"
"You don't need to understand much right now," that "T.M. Opera O" merely said faintly to T.M. Opera O. "You don't truly understand what you are truly fighting against. What you are rebelling against is your own destiny. Do you think something like that could be so easily avoided?"
"The obstacles you will face this time will be greater than before. To win, simply surpassing me will not be enough."
"Let me give you a piece of advice, my current self who understands nothing: be careful. Surpassing me is nothing; you need to surpass your own destiny."
"My own destiny?"
However, T.M. Opera O murmured to herself, while the "self" in front of her had already vanished, as if it had never existed, making T.M. Opera O even wonder if she was having a mental breakdown.
Perhaps… I should go find the President? See if she has a way to deal with this kind of thing? At this moment, T.M. Opera O felt that her condition was unusually off. She needed to consult someone, to see if Symboli Rudolf, as the Emperor, would know what to do in her situation…
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T.M. Opera O is actually going full schizo mode. Who knows? One day, she might just gain 530,000 IQ and start calling people her besto frendo!
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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.