An awkward silence hung in the air.
What could anyone say after witnessing that?
Exaggerated? Ridiculous? Or that this burst was nothing like the fragile final spurt they'd seen before?
This surge of power...
The lecturer truly had no words left.
True, it wasn't exactly a real final spurt, merely a copied explosive burst. But wasn't the principle the same? The only meaningful difference lay in stamina, which depended solely on the individual Umamusume. In terms of raw acceleration alone, the lecturer knew debating technicalities was pointless.
Garden Gale's burst was enough proof on its own.
Her speed was truly Bugatti-Chiron-level ridiculous.
...
She crossed the finish line.
Yet her blood refused to cool down, bubbling fiercely, still boiling like water on a stove—as unstoppable as the runner herself.
Right now—
Garden Gale was exhilarated. Running felt amazing!
The thrill she'd felt in her debut race had returned, surging inside her like a tidal wave, tempting her to run again just to experience the pure joy flooding her heart and body.
But…
Afterward, Garden Gale sensed it—the Color Change effect was gradually fading.
The power borrowed from [Road to Glory · Iron Will] dissipated as soon as the run concluded…
Well, nothing to be done about it.
Garden Gale licked her lips, still craving more—but as she turned around, fully returning to her usual self, her concern shifted abruptly from excitement to panic: Surely, I won't suffer social death this time, right?
At least she'd managed to salvage her reputation as a prodigy.
If I could keep this card up my sleeve…
Garden Gale was certain she could defeat even Admire Vega, with all her consecutive graded wins.
…What a waste, using it here. She felt a mild pang of regret, but nothing too serious.
She had only one wish right now:
Just spare me the embarrassment.
Noticing multiple stares aimed her way, she quickly pulled up her hoodie, shoulders hunching slightly, and glanced back toward her classmates, reverting to her usual quiet, withdrawn self. She was about to slip away quietly when a familiar figure caught the corner of her eye—
…Please let me be mistaken.
Garden Gale clenched her fists nervously.
The prickly sensation returned to her scalp.
…You don't see me, you don't see me! Don't you dare spot me, dammit! Can't you just pretend I'm invisible?! Or better yet, spontaneously go blind! Or someone—anyone—please rescue me!
In reality—
That explosive performance had drawn the attention of nearly the entire training track.
It was far too dazzling to ignore.
Besides…
How could the original skill's owner simply pretend not to notice? After all, Garden Gale had blatantly used her signature skill!
"Hey," Narita Top Road called out casually. "We meet again…Garden Gale-san."
Garden Gale stiffly turned around. "…Hi."
Oh crap—
Caught stealing by the original owner again—!
Although she'd had worries while activating [Road to Glory], she'd dismissed them quickly enough, assuming she wouldn't be so unlucky as to directly run into Narita herself. Yet now, her fears had come true.
…I'm done for.
Garden Gale stood quietly, waiting.
Narita Top Road, seated and at a slight disadvantage, bit her lip anxiously before finally speaking up. "Garden Gale-san, during our debut race…you didn't give it your all, did you? Today, though—that was your true strength, wasn't it? Using my skill but running far better than I ever did."
She smiled bitterly. "I think I finally understand why you act so arrogantly."
That strength...
That was someone she couldn't possibly beat, at least not now.
Narita's fist tightened subtly, her eyes full of hopeful frustration.
Garden Gale hesitated, about to reply, but suddenly spotted Admire Vega standing nearby.
Her potential rival for the upcoming Wakagoma Stakes. While she hadn't officially declared her entry yet, wasn't it already obvious? No further words necessary.
She withdrew her gaze from Admire Vega.
…No, that really was my full strength.
Don't build me up into some monster. I'm just a weakling!
Garden Gale desperately wanted to reply like that.
But things weren't over yet—
From nearby, a silver-haired Umamusume holding several ice creams wandered closer, her cute accessories and brightly colored clothes giving her an irresistibly cheerful vibe—
Then, upon getting closer, she noticed someone who clearly shouldn't have been here.
"Huh?" Curren Chan exclaimed, completely bewildered. "Garden-san?! What're you doing here?"
"Curren…Chan?"
Garden Gale hadn't expected their reunion would happen like this.
Frankly—
She was utterly unprepared.
This was their first time seeing each other since that incident on the training track; Curren Chan hadn't returned to the dorm at all these past few days.
Tokai Teio's words suddenly resurfaced in Garden Gale's mind, prompting her to glance sharply between Curren Chan and Admire Vega, plunging her into yet another painful silence.
All she felt now was a smoldering anger ignited by betrayal.
…So it was true, after all?
Everything Tokai Teio said…was true?
Garden Gale had never imagined the worst of others, yet…
What could she possibly say now?
She'd been fully prepared to apologize, but seeing this scene made it obvious there was nothing to apologize for. Clearly, Curren Chan had gotten closer with Admire Vega. Ever since that day, Curren Chan hadn't even dared return to their dorm, choosing instead to stay with this girl—sharing ice cream, training together…
Garden Gale's fingernails dug painfully into her palms.
She'd always believed Curren Chan and Tokai Teio were her best friends.
Or rather—
They were her only friends.
No…maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed! Sure, Curren Chan was hanging around Admire Vega, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. Just friends training together, right?
…Admire Vega withdrew her gaze, turning away. "Let's go."
She spoke as if nothing here involved her.
"Ah—I…" Curren Chan stammered uncertainly, ice cream still in hand, glancing anxiously between Admire Vega and Garden Gale. "Um, wait for me, Admire Vega-senpai."
—That word stabbed into Garden Gale's heart again.
Her eyes, hidden beneath her hoodie, grew slightly red.
…Senpai.
All—every single excuse she'd ever made for Curren Chan vanished instantly, leaving only the flames of betrayal roaring once again in her chest.
Admire Vega paused, glancing back quietly.
Curren Chan quickly trotted up to Garden Gale, offering the ice cream with a forced smile. "Here, Garden-san! Have some ice cream—"
"—No thanks," Garden Gale replied icily.
Rejecting Curren Chan's gesture completely—ignoring the torrent of words that might follow, she abandoned any lingering thought of apologies, spun on her heel, and walked away without a shred of hesitation.
Watching Garden Gale leave, Narita Top Road suddenly leapt to her feet, shouting, "So you were hiding your real strength all along, Garden Gale-san!"
Garden Gale whirled back angrily, pointing without an ounce of politeness. "That's right! I'm stronger than all of you! You, and you—or especially you! None of you can beat me! Admire Vega—just wait for me in the Wakagoma Stakes, got it?!"
"How arrogant."
Facing this blatant provocation, Admire Vega answered just as firmly. "Go ahead and try. I'll be the only one winning."
The air crackled with tension, hostility thickening until Garden Gale finally stormed off.
…Only then did it end.
Curren Chan stood there numbly, staring at the ice cream melting in her hands, expression complicated, unsure of what to say.
---
T/N: OOIOOH SOME DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!! HEUAHEUHEUHEUHUEHEU poor gg got ntr'd guys
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