BanUma 151-165 (Patreon)

Totalling 75 chapters length. 5 more than I exclaimed. Work is rough in this hot month.

Chapter 151: This is what you call a Shura Field, right?

Listening to Sakura Baimu's words, Mejiro McQueen thought for a moment and suddenly realized there was some truth to them.

"Wait a minute, in my memory, Sakura-nee should be much older than me... But thinking about it now, she doesn't seem that much older. What's going on...?"

Mejiro McQueen frowned slightly, suddenly feeling that the Mejiro Sakura in her memory had deviated from reality.

"Maybe you were just a little kid back then, and everyone seemed mature to you," Sakura Baimu retorted.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she received another angry glare from Mejiro McQueen.

"Don't think you know Sakura-nee better than I do, okay? You benefited a lot from her; otherwise, why do you think I agreed to join your team that didn't even have a single member?"

"So, McQueen, you choose your team based on the trainer's looks? Did you join my team just because I look like your sister? You like your sister that much?" Sakura Baimu laughed.

"Uh!" Mejiro McQueen blushed, once again rendered speechless by Sakura Baimu's retort.

Seeing Mejiro McQueen's expression, Sakura Baimu, from any perspective, felt extremely pleased and in a very good mood.

While Sakura Baimu was chatting and laughing with several TCB team members, Obey Your Master on the track took the microphone again and directly challenged Tamamo Cross.

Unfortunately, Tamamo Cross was determined to give up, firmly refused Obey Your Master's challenge.

Obey Your Master invited her several times but still couldn't persuade Tamamo Cross to compete against her.

Obey Your Master stood there helplessly on the track for a while, then turned her gaze to the TCB team's side, suddenly grinned, and walked straight toward them.

“Trainer-san, Obey Your Master seems to be heading this way!” Satono Diamond said with some surprise as she saw Obey Your Master approaching.

“Huh?” Sakura Baimu was startled.

What was Obey Your Master up to?

Meanwhile, on Rigil's side, Maruzensky, who had been chatting and laughing with Mr. CB beside her, noticed Obey Your Master walking directly toward Sakura Baimu. A bad feeling immediately arose in her heart.

"Could Mejiro Sakura have really agreed to let her join Pluto Academy? They seemed to get along much better last night."

Maruzensky wondered, worried that Sakura Baimu might actually leave Japan.

Last night's match between Sakura Baimu and Obey Your Master had filled Maruzensky with so much surprise and curiosity.

Maruzensky was also excited to suddenly discover such an interesting Pony in Tracen Academy.

But before she could even do anything, it seems Sakura Baimu was about to be taken away.

How could she allow this to happen?

"Maruzensky, Maruzensky, did you hear me? Hey—!"

Mr. CB was halfway through her conversation with Maruzensky when she suddenly noticed Maruzensky seemed lost in thought. She waved her hand twice in front of Maruzensky's face.

"Ah, sorry, Chiaki, I have something to do. Let's talk later."

Maruzensky spoke and, under Mr. CB's somewhat puzzled gaze, walked toward Sakura Baimu.

--

Obey Your Master, under the watchful eyes of the TCB Umamusumes, walked straight up to Sakura Baimu.

"Yo, Sakura (pronounced the same as Sakura)." Obey Your Master greeted Sakura Baimu with a smile.

"Huh? Obey Your Master is greeting our Trainer-san?" Tokai Teio asked in surprise.

“When did she meet Obey Your Master?!” Mejiro McQueen was also puzzled.

“What’s going on here?” Smart Falcon was equally confused.

The TCB members immediately turned their attention to Sakura Baimu.

“Hello, Obey Your Master, is there anything I can help you with?”

Sakura Baimu felt the gazes of her teammates and pretended not to know Obey Your Master very well.

Unexpectedly, Obey Your Master didn't buy it at all.

"What kind of attitude is this? Acting like you don't know me."

Obey Your Master walked directly to Sakura Baimu's side and, like a close friend, put her arm around Sakura Baimu's shoulder.

"Something's not right!"

The TCB Umamusumes all came to this conclusion simultaneously. Looking at Sakura Baimu's slightly helpless expression, they knew that Sakura Baimu and Obey Your Master definitely knew each other.

Sakura Baimu forcibly suppressed the urge to twitch her lips.

"So, what do you want?"

"We're going back to America tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to come with me? I really like you, come on~"

Obey Your Master extended an invitation to Sakura Baimu once again.

However, to the unsuspecting TCB Umamusumes, her words sounded completely different.

“Eek—!” Tokai Teio grabbed her face, looking utterly incredulous.

“Eek~~~!” Kitasan Black's eyes widened, her expression a mixture of excitement and astonishment.

“What’s going on? What’s going on between those two? When did they meet? We’ve been together these past few days!” Smart Falcon was equally incredulous.

“Going to America? She invited Trainer-san to America? She said she really likes Trainer-san!!” Satono Diamond’s eyes gleamed, her excitement seemingly outweighing her astonishment.

“What on earth is going on? Can someone explain this to me?”

Hearing “Obey Your Master's" words, Mejiro McQueen also widened her purple eyes, displaying a shock that was completely out of character for her privileged upbringing.

Clearly, Sakura Baimu, a trainer who, in their eyes, should never have any interaction with Obey Your Master, suddenly seemed to have received a confession from this extremely powerful American Umamusume.

This left everyone completely confused about what had happened.

However, just as the TCB Umamusumes were staring wide-eyed at Sakura Baimu, who was being draped over the shoulder by Obey Your Master, a familiar voice rang out from the side.

“Obey Your Master, Sakura is a trainer from Tracen Academy~”

Maruzensky’s expression was gentle and her tone unhurried and extremely warm.

But the TCB Umamusumes all felt a shiver run down their spines at Maruzensky’s smiling face and gentle tone.

“W-what’s going on? Maruzen-senpai is here too?!”

“This is a Shura Field, isn’t it? This is what you call a Shura Field, right!”

---

Chapter 152: Why is Trainer-san suddenly so popular?

The TCB Umamusumes huddled together, watching Maruzensky approach and exchange a playful, sly look with Obey Your Master. They whispered among themselves about what seemed like a dream to them.

"Why do I feel like our Trainer-san has suddenly become popular?!"

Tokai Teio muttered softly, looking at Sakura Baimu and the other two with a shocked expression, finding it hard to believe.

"I feel the same way! Before, when she walked around the academy, many Umamusumes would run away when they saw her, afraid of being caught by her," Mejiro McQueen whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Yesterday, Maru-senpai said she was really interested in our Trainer-san and even blew her a kiss…” Smart Falcon’s face flushed again, and she stammered a little. “And today, Obey Your Master said she really likes our Trainer-san.”

“Actually, I think our Trainer-san is pretty great. Since Dia-chan and I joined TCB, it doesn’t seem like anything terrible, as they say, has happened,” Kitasan Black said to her teammate beside her, looking at Sakura Baimu.

“I agree!” Satono Diamond nodded. “Even when Father treated Trainer-san that way, she never held a grudge against me. I’ve always been very grateful to Trainer-san.”

“Falco thinks so too…” Smart Falcon whispered, nodding as well. “If it weren’t for Trainer-san, Falco wouldn’t have regained her confidence.”

Mejiro McQueen listened to her teammates’ comments about Sakura Baimu with astonishment.

She leaned close to Tokai Teio’s ear and whispered:

“Teio, something seems off. The new members all seem to really like Trainer-san.”

“Our Trainer-san, aside from her episodes, seems pretty good, right?” Tokai Teio replied, speechless.

“It’s the episodes that are scary!!” Mejiro McQueen exclaimed.

"What, McQueen, you hate her? McQueen, didn't you want Trainer-san to pat your head?"

Tokai Teio asked, looking at Mejiro McQueen.

“No, I didn’t say I hate her! I just feel a little strange. How come she suddenly became so popular? I’m a little unaccustomed to it.”

Upon hearing this, Tokai Teio turned and stared at Mejiro McQueen for a moment. Then suddenly, a smile crept onto her face, and her eyes turned into a comical expression.

Mejiro McQueen sensed something was wrong as soon as she saw Tokai Teio’s expression.

Sure enough, she then heard Tokai Teio say in a loud voice that everyone around could hear:

“McQueen, so you’re jealous because Trainer-san is popular, huh!”

Tokai Teio’s voice immediately attracted the attention of Kitasan Black, Satono Diamond, and Smart Falcon. The three of them stared in surprise at Mejiro McQueen, whose face had suddenly turned slightly red because of Tokai Teio’s words.

“Teio, what are you saying! That's not what I meant!”

“Eek~~ McQueen's being tsun again!”

Tokai Teio, seeing Mejiro McQueen's excitement, felt incredibly pleased with herself. Her goal achieved, she covered her mouth with a giggle.

Meanwhile, Sakura Baimu noticed that Maruzensky had also been drawn over. She felt that if these two were to discuss her past here, her teammates would definitely find out.

She quickly spoke.

“Obey Your Master, I really can't go to America. My trainees still need me.”

“What a pity~!”

Obey Your Master sighed deeply upon hearing Sakura Baimu's repeated refusal.

She released Sakura Baimu's shoulder, waved goodbye, and walked past Maruzensky.

"Alright, alright, you can have her. I'm leaving tomorrow. So stingy."

Obey Your Master muttered to Maruzensky, hands in her pockets, and walked back toward the Pluto Academy Umamusumes.

"As expected of Maruzen-senpai, she's still amazing," Tokai Teio commented.

"After all, Maruzen-senpai beat Obey Your Master yesterday—a complete victory!" Kitasan Black said.

"So, why are they fighting over Trainer-san?"

Mejiro McQueen couldn't help but mutter another sarcastic remark, and the TCB members all shook their heads, somewhat confused.

"Maruzensky-senpai!" Tokai Teio called out directly to Maruzensky and, upon seeing her look over, asked:

"When did Maruzensky-senpai become so close to Trainer-san? And why is Trainer-san suddenly so popular?"

"Oh, well, that's because your Trainer-san is amazing~" Maruzensky chuckled, covering her mouth.

"Amazing? What do you mean, Maruzensky-senpai? Her trainer skills?"

"Of course not, you don't know. Actually, she..."

Maruzensky glanced with amusement at Sakura Baimu beside her, whose eyes had widened noticeably since her comment, her amusement continuing to rise.

“She’s really nice; she promised to go racing with me tonight.”

“That’s it?” The TCB Umamusumes were immediately disappointed upon hearing Maruzensky’s words.

They thought Sakura Baimu had done something truly extraordinary to pique the interest of someone like Maruzensky, a top student in the academy.

And it really was just racing her?

Hearing Maruzensky’s words, Sakura Baimu’s heart, which had been pounding in her throat, finally relaxed.

She gave Maruzensky a grateful look, but then their eyes met, filled with laughter.

Seeing Maruzensky’s expression, Sakura Baimu’s heart jumped again.

“Am I right, Miss Sakura? I’ll take you for a ride around Tokyo Bay tonight~”

Maruzensky’s voice was full of amusement, her words trailing off so long that Sakura Baimu could almost see the long, wavy line at the end of her sentence.

Maruzensky had a confident expression on her face. She knew Sakura Baimu didn’t want to reveal her identity, so she certainly wouldn’t refuse her various “little requests.”

Obey Your Master had stolen her thunder last night; tonight it was definitely her turn.

Maruzensky excitedly imagined tonight’s events; even the brown ponytail peeking out from behind her skirt swayed slightly.

She looked incredibly expectant.

“Uh, I guess not today,” Sakura Baimu spoke awkwardly.

“Rice Shower is being discharged tomorrow night, and Mihono Bourbon is training extra hard and doesn’t have time. I have to go take care of Rice Shower.”

“Huh?”

Maruzensky’s playful expression froze upon hearing this.

---

Chapter 153: The Disappointed Maruzensky

"Rice is being discharged tomorrow!"

"Rice Shower-senpai is being discharged tomorrow?!"

"So fast?!"

The TCB Umamusumes were all excited upon hearing Sakura Baimu's words.

"It's only been a little over a week! She's already being discharged! That's amazing!"

"Won't Rice Shower have to wear a cast or use a wheelchair after she gets out?"

"No, she's fully recovered and can walk normally now," Sakura Baimu said with a smile.

"Really?!"

This time, not only the TCB members' Umamusumes, but even Maruzensky, standing nearby, exclaimed in unison.

“That’s right, the doctor said it too. Rice Shower’s recovery speed is truly astonishing, probably related to her own constitution.”

“But Rice Shower forced herself to open a Zone beyond her own level despite insufficient physical strength. She shouldn’t be recovering so quickly, right? Brian took a long time to recover when she opened her Zone…” Maruzensky wondered.

“I don’t know. Anyway, that’s it. I’ll bring Rice Shower back tomorrow, and you’ll all know.” Sakura Baimu gave her teammates a thumbs up.

Maruzensky stared at Sakura Baimu for a while, sighing inwardly.

Tonight's plans were ruined again...

After a moment of regret, she suddenly suggested.

"Ms. Sakura, if you're picking up Rice Shower tomorrow, you'll need a car, right? How about I drive to pick her up..."

Maruzensky was interrupted in unison by Mejiro McQueen, Tokai Teio, and Smart Falcon, all with horrified expressions.

"No way!!!" x3

"Eh! Why? I'm a great driver~"

Maruzensky felt a blow to her senses at being so distrusted by her juniors.

"Maruzensky-senpai, Falco thinks you shouldn't pick up Rice Shower and Trainer-san tomorrow..."

Smart Falcon's face paled. As the leader of Fugitive SISTERS, she had personally experienced Maruzensky's driving skills.

Her driving style always boiled down to four words—"Give it your all!"

“Back when Falco practiced dancing with the Fugitive SISTERS, Maruzen always looked unhappy. Whenever we asked, she'd usually say her ‘Tou-chan’ was in repair, and the other spare cars weren’t working properly…”

“Hiss—”

Hearing Smart Falcon's explanation, Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black suddenly understood the wild soul hidden within Maruzensky, who always was so gentle and reliable.

“Falco-chan, how could you say that! How could you mislead the juniors like that?” Maruzensky looked at Smart Falcon with a mournful expression.

“Falco was just telling the truth…”

A moment later, the TCB Umamusumes watched Maruzensky lost all her light and saw her finally gave up on picking up Rice Shower and breathed a sigh of relief.

They successfully saved Rice Shower, preventing the tragedy of her being readmitted on the day she was discharged.

Sakura Baimu checked the time on her phone and then spoke to her trainees.

"Alright, it's time for training. Let's hurry."

The Umamusumes had no objections and nodded before following Sakura Baimu to training.

Sakura Baimu led the Umamusumes to the training area, then turned around, and suddenly her lips twitched.

Because she discovered that Maruzensky was still with them.

"Ms. Maruzensky, we're about to start training..." Sakura Baimu said helplessly.

"I'm a little curious about how you guys usually train. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Maruzensky said with a smile.

“Alright, watch if you want.”

Sakura Baimu nodded. Given Maruzensky's skill level, there was no way she would be hear to do anything malicious. She wasn't even confident she could outrun Maruzensky, let alone her trainees.

A moment later, the TCB members began their respective training sessions.

Maruzensky stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the TCB Umamusumes train.

Aside from wearing weighted wristbands during training, they didn't seem to have anything particularly unusual about them.

What was strange was that Sakura Baimu was using a large yellow megaphone to shout at them.

"How did she do that? Not only herself, but she also trained her trainees to the point where they could defeat Umamusume with Zones?"

Maruzensky wondered.

Ever since she learned that Sakura Baimu was the first Umamusume to break the Zone's myth,

Maruzensky realized something.

To date, all the Umamusumes who hadn't mastered a Zone but had defeated it through sheer strength were Umamusumes under Sakura Baimu's command.

"I don't quite understand... how did she do that..." Maruzensky wondered, her gaze toward Sakura Baimu growing increasingly curious.

“How many more things do you have that can still surprise me…”

A moment later, Maruzensky saw Sakura Baimu return and asked her with a smile.

“Ms. Maruzensky, after watching their training, is there anything you can offer as guidance?”

Maruzensky, in terms of strength, experience, and status, was undoubtedly among the top in Japan; asking her wouldn't hurt.

However, Sakura Baimu saw Maruzensky shake her head with a smile.

“No, when it comes to training Umamusume, I certainly can't compare to you. After all, all the Umamusumes capable of defeating Zones were trained by you, so I won't mislead others.”

“That's too kind of you.” Sakura Baimu chuckled softly.

“I must admit, I’ve misjudged you and your subordinate Umamusumes many times. Because I, like Symboli Rudolf, once believed that the Zone was unbreakable.”

Maruzensky’s usually carefree tone suddenly turned serious.

“However, I still want to remind you. Without further improvement, it’s unlikely that McQueen can defeat the Golden Crown Eagle. Before witnessing your match against Obey Your Master, I didn’t believe McQueen could beat the Golden Crown Eagle without mastering the Zone, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

Maruzensky smiled at Sakura Baimu.

“But at the very least, McQueen needs to master the aura.”

“Yes, that’s what I think too.”

Sakura Baimu nodded, then picked up her megaphone and walked toward Tokai Teio’s direction.

Maruzensky chuckled softly, then turned her gaze back to Mejiro McQueen. She suddenly noticed that after Sakura Baimu left, Mejiro McQueen had secretly taken out a booklet and begun flipping through it.

Maruzensky's eyes narrowed at this, her curiosity instantly rekindled.

---

Chapter 154: McQueen, You'd Better Cherish Her

Maruzensky observed the training of several Umamusumes from TCB. They were mostly training on their own, not following any textbooks or anything like that.

But Mejiro McQueen was different. Judging from her current appearance, she was clearly training according to the instructions in that booklet.

"What is that thing, and why is she specifically avoiding her Trainer to look at it?"

Maruzensky wondered, so she walked over to where Mejiro McQueen was.

What Mejiro McQueen was looking at was, of course, the strategy guide for the Japan Cup that Sakura Baimu had prepared for her.

It detailed various scenarios and how Mejiro McQueen could defeat the Golden Crown Eagle.

Mejiro McQueen had previously mustered the courage to indicate to Sakura Baimu that she wouldn't mind if she wanted to pat her head later, but she had been met with Sakura Baimu's oblivious reply.

Then, enraged, she delivered a powerful over-the-shoulder throw to Sakura Baimu.

However, Sakura Baimu later approached Mejiro McQueen, explaining that she had gone to great lengths to obtain the guide and hoped Mejiro McQueen would diligently practice according to its contents.

Mejiro McQueen had long since calmed down, but she still felt it was somewhat embarrassing to look at the guide Sakura Baimu had created for her in front of her.

So, when Sakura Baimu wasn't around, Mejiro McQueen would secretly take it out and glance at it, checking what she needed to practice next.

While Mejiro McQueen was keeping an eye on Sakura Baimu's movements as she trained Tokai Teio with a megaphone in the distance, she suddenly felt a strain in her neck.

She looked up, her head bumping right into Maruzensky's chest, who was leaning over her from behind.

Mejiro McQueen, feeling the soft touch on her head, jumped back in fright.

"Maruzensky-senpai... is... is something wrong?" Mejiro McQueen gasped for breath, clutching her chest, which contrasted sharply with Maruzensky's, before finally calming down.

"Oh dear, you've caught me." Maruzensky chuckled and straightened up. "McQueen, what are you looking at?"

“Uh… this is a strategy guide for the Japan Cup,” Mejiro McQueen said.

“Would you mind if I took a look?” Maruzensky asked with a smile.

“Uh, this…” Mejiro McQueen stammered, a little embarrassed.

While Maruzensky's words were undoubtedly driven by curiosity, given her abilities,

it was still something Sakura Baimu had prepared for her. Showing it to an outsider made her somewhat hesitant.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to; I apologize for being so abrupt,” Maruzensky said with a smile. “But after taking a look, I’ve already guessed what’s inside. It lists the Golden Crown Eagle’s reactions and psychological responses based on different situations you might encounter while running, right?”

“Huh?! Maruzensky-senpai, how did you know? Could it be that this strategy guide is your…”

Mejiro McQueen was utterly astonished to see that Maruzensky had actually guessed the strategy guide’s contents.

Based on what she'd witnessed over the past two days—the seemingly close interaction between Maruzensky and Sakura Baimu—she instantly began to suspect that Maruzensky had helped Sakura Baimu create the strategy guide.

"It wasn't me; it has nothing to do with me. That strategy guide was indeed created by Ms. Sakura herself," Maruzensky said with a smile.

After reviewing the strategy guide, Maruzensky realized that Sakura Baimu, while racing against Golden Crown Eagle, had actually been thinking about creating a strategy guide for Mejiro McQueen.

"She actually thought about all this before even running against Golden Crown Eagle? What a good older sister, so considerate of her younger sister!"

Maruzensky thought to herself, increasingly finding Sakura Baimu's behavior to be in line with her own.

At first, she simply thought that Sakura Baimu had retaliated against Golden Crown Eagle because Golden Crown Eagle had repeatedly hurt Umamusumes in the academy.

It now seemed that a large part of Sakura Baimu's actions stemmed from the woman before her—a beautiful young woman with long, light purple hair!

Most importantly, Mejiro McQueen apparently didn't know Sakura Baimu's identity.

Maruzensky thought to herself, a slight smile gradually curving her lips.

She asked softly.

"McQueen, when you joined TCB, was it Sakura-san who invited you?"

"That's right."

"Did Teio join at that time?"

"Not yet. I was the first Umamusume she took over after joining the academy," Mejiro McQueen replied.

"No wonder~" Maruzensky said with a smile.

She now understood why Sakura Baimu, after being suspended, didn't choose to go abroad but instead joined Tracen Academy as a trainer under a different identity.

In Maruzensky's view, Sakura Baimu hadn't joined Central yet at that time.

Therefore, the only Umamusumes Sakura Baimu knew at Central, besides Oguri Cap and Belno Light, who were also from Kasamatsu, were the Umamusumes from Mejiro's team.

If Sakura Baimu didn't choose to go abroad now because she had developed feelings for her current team...

Then Sakura Baimu's decision to become a trainer after her competitive career in Japan was ruined must have been because of Mejiro McQueen.

The fact that Mejiro McQueen was the first Umamusume Sakura Baimu took on after joining Tracen Academy proves Maruzensky's guess was correct.

"This is so interesting. McQueen hasn't even recognized Sakura Baimu as her sister yet. It's really fascinating."

Maruzensky found that the more she dug into Sakura Baimu's identity, the more interesting things she encountered.

"Maruzensky-senpai—?"

Mejiro McQueen felt a chill run down her spine looking at Maruzensky with the same look she was giving her as a parent.

"McQueen, you'd better cherish this guide. You have no idea how much Ms. Sakura went through for it."

Maruzensky said with a smile.

“Of course, the biggest price I paid was finding out your identity, Mejiro Sakura,” Maruzensky thought smugly.

Mejiro McQueen's expression suddenly changed upon hearing Maruzensky's words.

“The price she paid for this strategy guide was high? Indeed, such a detailed guide could only have been created by someone like an Umamusume who outran the Golden Crown Eagle…”

Mejiro McQueen suddenly realized something.

"Could it be that this strategy guide was written with the help of the Umamusume who sent Golden Crown Eagle to the hospital?"

Maruzensky, hearing Mejiro McQueen's question, smiled and replied:

"That's right!"

---

Chapter 155: The Japan Cup, Miss McQueen Will Win!

“Who’s that Umamusume? Who sent Golden Crown Eagle to the hospital? Does she even know any other Umamusumes this skilled?”

Mejiro McQueen asked, puzzled.

“Come to think of it, I’ve had a feeling something was off. Before almost every new competition, she always manages to quickly pull out a strategy guide for us. Like with Takarazuka Kinen before, the climbing methods she taught us were definitely things other Umamusumes had tried and tested over and over again.”

“But I don’t see any Umamusumes in our academy using the same climbing methods as us, which is really strange.”

Seeing Mejiro McQueen’s sudden realization, Maruzensky found her adorable silliness amusing but was secretly overjoyed.

“Seriously, thank goodness I came today, otherwise I wouldn’t have encountered such an interesting situation.”

Maruzensky’s lips curled into a wide smile, once again feeling grateful for her decision to come with Sakura Baimu.

“Maruzen-senpai, could you tell me the name of the Umamusume who beat Golden Crown Eagle?” Mejiro McQueen asked.

“That’s a shame. Symboli Rudolf is also very curious, but unfortunately, we don’t know either.”

“I see…” Mejiro McQueen nodded. “Then let me ask one more question. Maruzen-senpai, you mentioned before that Trainer-san paid a high price. So what kind of price did she pay? Did she buy it, or something else…?”

“I don’t know; after all, I haven’t seen that Umamusume fight many times,” Maruzensky said with a smile, then reminded Mejiro McQueen before leaving:

“Anyway, this guide is a good thing. You know that Sakura-san went to a lot of trouble for you.”

“.......”

Mejiro McQueen responded to Maruzensky’s reminder with silence.

After watching Maruzensky leave, she gently wiped the cover of the booklet a few times. The corners of her mouth, which had been turned down, slightly curved into a smile.

--

The following day, Tracen Academy held a farewell ceremony for the Umamusumes of Pluto Academy.

And Golden Crown Eagle, who had been absent for a long time, finally appeared before everyone, with her arm in a cast.

While the injury wasn't as severe as Rice Shower's, many Umamusumes who disliked her and Pluto Academy felt a surge of satisfaction upon seeing her.

Just as the Pluto Academy group was about to leave the Tracen Academy lecture hall, a voice drew everyone's attention.

“Golden Crown Eagle!”

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw Mejiro McQueen, with long, light purple hair, walking solemnly towards the crutch-wielding Golden Crown Eagle.

“I will defeat you at the Japan Cup!”

Golden Crown Eagle scoffed upon hearing Mejiro McQueen's words. “You?”

“Me,” Mejiro McQueen declared loudly.

Although Golden Crown Eagle's confidence had been shattered by Sakura Baimu, she showed no fear facing Mejiro McQueen, a former active-duty opponent.

Furthermore, after learning from Obey Your Master that Sakura Baimu wasn't actually an active-duty Umamusume, her disappointment at being crushed lessened considerably.

Sakura Baimu was merely bullying the weak; with a few more years of training, she could definitely beat her.

As for Mejiro McQueen…

“Heh, just a defeated opponent. You only managed to jump around a bit while I had a broken bone.”

Golden Crown Eagle made no attempt to hide the disdain in her tone.

Although Mejiro McQueen was Sakura Baimu's Umamusume, she noticed that Sakura Baimu wasn't present today.

Therefore, her tone became even more arrogant.

“Just you wait. Watch me defeat your Japanese Umamusume in your Japanese tournament.”

Golden Crown Eagle sneered, then left the lecture hall and began walking with the group out of Tracen Academy.

But just as Golden Crown Eagle reached the lecture hall entrance, preparing to board the bus that would take them to the airport, she caught a glimpse of two figures out of the corner of her eye. Her movement to board the bus abruptly froze, and she nearly tripped.

The first figure she saw was, naturally, the source of her deepest fear these past few days—Sakura Baimu.

Golden Crown Eagle had thought that seeing Sakura Baimu again would no longer evoke the same fear as before.

However, at this moment, she discovered that the shadow Sakura Baimu had cast over her was far deeper than she had imagined.

But...

What shocked Golden Crown Eagle the most wasn't Sakura Baimu.

It was the Umamusume beside Sakura Baimu, a girl with long black hair, bangs covering half her face and eyes, a dark blue hat adorned with light blue roses, and a slightly petite figure.

This was Rice Shower, known as the Black Assassin.

"Rice Shower?! She...was discharged from the hospital?!"

Golden Crown Eagle was shocked, then she suddenly realizing something was wrong.

Her gaze shifted slightly downwards, and her pupils constricted sharply when she saw Rice Shower's long, straight, and unblemished legs beneath her uniform skirt.

"Rice Shower can walk already?! She can actually walk! How long has it been since Takarazuka Kinen? Less than two weeks!! And her injuries? Not even a scar?!"

According to Golden Crown Eagle's original estimate, Rice Shower's overexertion in using her Zone, coupled with the fall while maintaining its speed, should have resulted in at least a comminuted fracture.

Walking wouldn't be an option; even recovery would be problematic.

She might be confined to a wheelchair for life.

But how long has it been?

A little over a week.

She had witnessed Rice Shower fall at Takarazuka Kinen, leaving a long trail of blood on the ground, and being carried away by paramedics.

She's already recovered enough to walk?!

Judging by this recovery speed, it seems Rice Shower will have no problem continuing to run in the future.

Doesn't that mean she essentially raised Rice Shower's Zone level by one tier for nothing?

Rice Shower's appearance also shocked everyone at Pluto Academy, including Obey Your Master, as well as all the Umamusumes at Tracen Academy.

"Rice Shower has recovered? I heard her injury was very serious!"

"Yeah, I heard that too. Rice Shower suffered a severe injury that might have prevented her from running for the rest of her life, and now she can walk?"

"Isn't that the Japanese Umamusume who fell at the Takarazuka Kinen before? She can walk again?!"

The Umamusumes from Tracen Academy and Pluto Academy were all incredulous at Rice Shower's miraculous recovery.

Ignoring the surrounding whispers, Rice Shower walked straight to the wide-eyed Golden Crown Eagle.

"Miss Golden Crown Eagle!"

Looking at Golden Crown Eagle, who held such a deep impression on her, Rice Shower called out in a rarely heard high-pitched voice:

"Miss McQueen will win the Japan Cup."

--

Chapter 156: Welcome Back, Rice Shower

As the Pluto Academy vehicle slowly drove away from central Tracen Academy, all the Umamusumes who knew Rice Shower swarmed around her, showering her with concern and care.

"Rice Shower, Rice Shower, I saw you were badly injured at Takarazuka Kinen! It's amazing you recovered so quickly!"

"Rice! I told you you'd be alright!"

"Rice Shower, I watched your match at Takarazuka Kinen! You beat Ms. Teiō and Ms. McQueen! Now that you're back, you should be the strongest Umamusume on active duty!"

"Rice Shower, you're amazing!"

The students surrounded Rice Shower, chattering away, making the usually shy Rice Shower awkwardly cross her arms, blushing and stammering for a long time without uttering a word.

Although Rice Shower wasn't good at handling such overly enthusiastic situations, she was actually quite happy to receive such warm treatment.

"Rice."

Suddenly, Rice Shower heard someone call her name.

She looked in the direction of the voice and saw it was Mejiro McQueen.

Mejiro McQueen walked up to Rice Shower with a smile, extended a hand, and spoke.

"Welcome back, Rice Shower. Thank you for speaking up for me!"

"No problem! Rice, I believe Miss McQueen can definitely beat her!" Rice Shower replied.

--

Meanwhile, on the Pluto Academy bus.

Golden Crown Eagle leaned against the window, her chin resting on her hand, gazing at the scenery outside, lost in thought.

Suddenly, Golden Crown Eagle felt someone sit down next to her.

She turned her head and saw it was Obey Your Master.

"Looks like you've adjusted your mindset quickly. Are you confident you can win the Japan Cup now?" Obey Your Master said.

“Of course, my year’s Umamusume is much worse than your before. Japan didn’t even have a single Umamusume with a Zone this year,” Golden Crown Eagle said.

“In terms of Zone, it’s definitely not as good as mine, but it might not be easier.”

“Heh.” Golden Crown Eagle chuckled, not expecting to lose to Mejiro McQueen in the Japan Cup.

“By the way, let me tell you something. I ran a race with Sakura Baimu.”

“Oh, were you doing it to get revenge for me, or just for your own amusement?”

“It was for myself, of course.” Obey Your Master laughed.

“So, what was the result? Did you scare her? Did you overtake her by a few seconds at the finish line?” Golden Crown Eagle asked, looking out the window.

“I lost. I completely lost to her,” Obey Your Master chuckled leisurely.

Golden Crown Eagle, upon hearing this, remained motionless, gazing out the window.

However, through the window’s reflection, it was clear that Golden Crown Eagle's eyes widened visibly upon hearing this.

"I watched her match against you before, wanting to see just how strong her aura was. So this time, she held onto it until the very end, dismantling my Zone when I was 300 meters from the finish line."

"She's that strong? Her aura could even break through your Zone?"

"No, her aura wasn't directly aimed at me; she used shouts to force my Zone to disintegrate. In short, this time I've learned what it means to be outmatched."

"Never mind, I won't be facing her again anyway. Thank goodness she's not on active duty," Golden Crown Eagle said calmly.

“Let me remind you again, the Mejiro McQueen you're facing this time is her sister. Think about it carefully,” Obey Your Master patted Golden Crown Eagle on the shoulder. “If you haven't improved in four months, your chances of losing are very high.”

Golden Crown Eagle trembled upon hearing this, turning sharply to see Obey Your Master already back in her original position.

“Mejiro McQueen hasn't even mastered her aura yet. Four months is still a long time… My Zone is about to advance to a higher level…”

Golden Crown Eagle murmured to herself.

But this time, even she didn't realize that the confidence she had before was gone when she uttered those words in her mind.

--

Rice Shower was summoned to the student council president's office by Symboli Rudolf, while the TCB Umamusumes huddled together again.

"Rice's back. She looks the same as before and seems capable of running again," Mejiro McQueen said first.

"Although Trainer-san's treatment of Rice was definitely well-intentioned, I still think Trainer-san wants to recruit Rice to our TCB," Tokai Teio analyzed.

"That's right, Teiō, I think so too," Mejiro McQueen nodded in complete agreement.

"So, do you think Miss Rice Shower will agree?" Smart Falcon asked.

“I reckon it’ll be pretty difficult. Rice’s always been alone, training and eating all by herself. It seems like only Miss Bourbon is close to her,” Tokai Teio said.

“What do we do then? Trainer-san has been taking care of Rice Shower for so long. What if she doesn’t agree to join our TCB?” Satono Diamond asked anxiously.

“So, I have a suggestion.”

Tokai Teio grinned mischievously and leaned forward.

The remaining four Umamusumes in the room also leaned closer, listening intently to Tokai Teio’s plan.

--

In the Student Council President’s Office.

Symboli Rudolf solemnly explained to Rice Shower again the knowledge about her level of expertise and the things she needed to pay attention to.

She emphasized two things:

First.

Before Rice Shower's physical condition improves, she must never again use the level of Zone she used in Takarazuka Kinen.

Secondly.

Knowledge of this level of Zone must absolutely not be taught to the Umamusumes weaker than her.

After giving these instructions, Symboli Rudolf briefly recounted the events that had transpired at the academy to Rice Shower, then signaled that Rice Shower may leave.

Rice Shower left Symboli Rudolf's student council president's office, recalling Symboli Rudolf's instructions and similar words Sakura Baimu had said to her before.

"Rice, your physical abilities aren't currently sufficient for this level of Zone, so improving your core skills is your most important task going forward."

"I know you're not very good at interacting with others, so I won't force you to join my team. However, I still hope you train with my team every day; it will be far more effective than training alone."

--

Chapter 157: Traditional Arts and Crafts:

After Rice Shower stopped Mihono Bourbon from winning her third title, she faced a barrage of insults from disappointed spectators.

Later, before participating in her third Spring Tenno Sho last year, Rice Shower was completely underestimated and even lost the will to compete.

Fortunately, encouraged by Mihono Bourbon, Rice Shower regained her fighting spirit.

This time at the Takarazuka Kinen, the highly anticipated match was between the two Umamusumes considered to be the strongest on active duty, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.

In the end, Rice Shower emerged victorious.

Actually, Rice Shower was somewhat worried that after being discharged from the hospital, she would hear people criticizing her for stealing the spotlight from Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.

However, the result was quite the opposite.

Rice Shower not only didn't receive any criticism, but she also received a lot of concern from her classmates.

This made Rice Shower extremely happy.

Rice Shower definitely longed to continue running.

After waking up injured at the Takarazuka Kinen, her greatest fear was that she wouldn't be able to run anymore.

Now, with Sakura Baimu's help, her injury was healing at a miraculous speed.

Rice Shower naturally felt an immense longing to continue competing in the future.

Because Rice Shower had mastered her Zone, she had gained a deeper understanding of the world of Umamusume (race).

A Zone was indeed something that could quickly enhance her strength, but her current physical condition wasn't sufficient to use a Zone at this level.

Therefore, improving her strength was urgent.

Rice Shower recalled Sakura Baimu's words inviting her to train together, and she was deeply moved.

Especially the line, "I know you're not very good at getting along with others, so I won't force you to join my team," completely conveyed Sakura Baimu's considerate nature to Rice Shower.

Rice Shower knew.

Sakura Baimu's help wasn't for any other purpose.

It was purely because Sakura Baimu was kind-hearted.

While receiving care from Sakura Baimu in the hospital, Rice Shower repeatedly expressed her envy of the Umamusumes, members of Sakura Baimu's team.

She felt it was something she greatly admired that they had such a kind and gentle trainer.

Rice Shower had also considered joining TCB for a long time.

Both because of the immense help Sakura Baimu gave her after her injury, and her own desire to improve her skills.

It seems like they were all telling her the same thing.

That is—

Joining TCB was the right choice.

Rice Shower had once considered training with Mihono Bourbon.

However, after witnessing Kuronuma's extremely aggressive and serious training methods, Rice Shower immediately abandoned the idea.

Sakura Baimu was noticeably gentler.

She was even gentler than Rigil's trainer, Tojo Hana.

Just as Rice Shower was looking down, pondering whether to muster the courage to train with Sakura Baimu the next day, she suddenly felt her head bump into someone.

She looked up and saw five Umamusumes wearing sunglasses and masks, their faces completely obscured.

Rice Shower was intimately familiar with this scene. Before she could even speak, she heard the Umamusume with white highlights on her forehead and a brown ponytail standing at the front call out in a childlike voice.

"Daiwa, Vodka, Spe-chan, Suzuka, move in!"

Then, the Umamusume with long, light purple hair, the Umamusume with short black hair and white highlights, the Umamusume with chestnut-brown pigtails, and the Umamusume with brown princess braids all answered in unison:

"Understood, Gold Ship!"

Rice Shower took a few steps back in horror, muttering. "Isn't Ms. Suzuka still in America... ugh...!"

Before Rice Shower could finish her sentence, everything went black, and a bag was suddenly shoved over her head, followed by her being lifted up.

--

A moment later, the cloth bag was finally removed from Rice Shower's head, and she saw the faces of Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, Smart Falcon, and the two new students, with a look of horror on her face.

"Impersonating Spica is completely pointless!!"

Rice Shower couldn't help but yell in disbelief, wondering what the point was of these people impersonating Spica and revealing their identities to her.

"Excuse me, Rice," Tokai Teio said softly. "We mean no harm; we just wanted to ask if you'd like to join TCB."

Tokai Teio leaned down gently in front of Rice Shower, asking in an incredibly gentle tone.

Then Rice Shower saw Kitasan Black draw the curtains in the activity room, and Satono Diamond lock the door.

Rice Shower looked down at her own body, bound tightly and unable to move, and mentally screamed in horror:

"What do you mean no harm?!!"

"Uh, if Rice says no, would you let me go?" Rice Shower asked, her voice trembling.

The five Umamusumes of TCB all nodded in unison.

But then they suddenly realize something. Rice Shower refused to join the team, and all five of them stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"What the hell?! Who would accept this?!"

Rice Shower looked at their expressions, utterly bewildered.

Did they think that by using such a forceful attitude, she would readily accept?!

"As expected, TCB's Umamusumes are even stranger than Spica...!"

"Huh? Why? Didn't Trainer-san invite Rice to join the team?" Tokai Teio asked. "I really want to run with Rice!"

"No, onee-sama didn't invite Rice to join the team..." Rice Shower quickly shook her head.

"Onee-sama?"

The five TCB Umamusumes reacted simultaneously, finding Rice Shower's address unbelievable.

"Well… Ms. Sakura said she wouldn’t force Rice to join the team, but she hopes Rice will come and train with us…" Rice Shower spoke softly.

"Ah? Oh, I see!!"

Tokai Teio stared in disbelief, quickly untying Rice Shower’s ropes. "Trainer-san didn’t actually invite Rice Shower to join the team, huh? Ahahaha, how embarrassing."

"Could it really be out of kindness…?"

Mejiro McQueen’s tone was full of doubt.

"Falco also feels its a little strange."

"This is so strange! Why don't you all trust your trainer?!"

Rice Shower finally couldn't help but shout out her complaint again.

--

Chapter 158: Rice Is Joining the TCB!

Just then, Sakura Baimu arrived at the activity room door. After trying the doorknob twice, she found the door locked from the inside.

She knocked and spoke:

"Why is the door locked? What are you doing?"

The Umamusumes inside the activity room, hearing Sakura Baimu's voice, instantly panicked.

They quickly hid the rope and bag, drew back the curtains, and opened the door for Sakura Baimu.

Sakura Baimu entered and saw Rice Shower, who was clearly frightened.

"Rice Shower, what's wrong? Did they bully you?" Sakura Baimu asked, only to see Rice Shower shaking her head repeatedly.

Sakura Baimu then looked suspiciously at the Umamusumes who avoided her gaze, and immediately understood what had happened.

She quickly bowed deeply to Rice Shower in apology.

"I'm so sorry, Rice. This happened right after I invited you to train with us. I apologize on their behalf."

"No! It wasn’t onee-sama’s fault. Rice didn’t blame onee-sama!" Rice Shower’s face was filled with obvious panic.

"Onee-sama took care of Rice for so long, and Rice recovered so quickly thanks to onee-sama. How could Rice let onee-sama apologize!"

Rice Shower quickly ran to Sakura Baimu and helped her up.

This whole incident had nothing to do with Sakura Baimu.

But Sakura Baimu took the blame for her trainees and apologized to her.

This didn't make Rice Shower feel any resentment; on the contrary, it made her even more aware of how lucky the TCB Umamusumes were to have a trainer like Sakura Baimu.

"Teio and the others are really fortunate to have a trainer like onee-sama. Even if they make mistakes, onee-sama will take the blame for them..."

Rice Shower thought to herself, having long since forgiven being brought here.

"Perfect timing, Rice. Why don't you come with us to the track? I can check on your recovery," Sakura Baimu said with a smile.

"Okay."

Rice Shower nodded obediently, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart at Sakura Baimu's concern.

Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and the rest of the Umamusumes stared in disbelief as Rice Shower followed Sakura Baimu out of the activity room, motionless for a long while.

"Did... did she get her?" Mejiro McQueen asked, her purple eyes wide.

"Did she get her?" Tokai Teio nodded, equally shocked.

"McQueen, I'm a little confused now. Do you think our Trainer-san was acting, or was she really that kind?"

"Even so, it shouldn't be intentional, right? She didn't know Rice Shower would be kidnapped by us! If it was really an act, her reaction speed is too fast, isn't it? And she must know Rice Shower extremely well..."

Mejiro McQueen felt she couldn't understand Sakura Baimu either.

"Falco, it seems like Trainer-san also brought Falco in like this before, right? Trainer-san probably meant well, didn't she…?"

"She’s alright, but her performance today was a bit too good, wasn’t it?" Mejiro McQueen was still a little confused.

"Oh well, isn’t the situation pretty good now!" Satono Diamond said happily, crossing her arms. "TCB has gained another member."

"Dia-chan is right, anyway, our Trainer-san is the best!" Kitasan Black shouted, then dashed out of the activity room and ran toward the track.

--

Sakura Baimu first arranged training for her team members, then took Rice Shower to the side of the track.

"Today is your first run since being discharged from the hospital. Take it slow. Although the doctor said your recovery, Rice, is nothing short of miraculous, it's still better to be safe."

"Rice understands."

Rice Shower nodded slightly and then began jogging slowly on the turf.

She started off extremely cautiously, at a very slow pace.

The nearly two weeks of rest had significantly impacted Rice Shower's condition.

It would take some time for her to regain her previous running rhythm.

However, Rice Shower was already very satisfied with her current situation.

"Do you feel any discomfort in your legs? Any other discomfort or pain?" Sakura Baimu asked.

"No. Rice feels a little rusty while running, but otherwise, I don't feel anything. In fact, I feel great this time!"

"Good! Rice, try running a little faster, but be careful not to get injured. Stop immediately if you feel any discomfort!"

Sakura Baimu pulled out a megaphone to enhance training effectiveness and shouted to Rice Shower.

"Okay!"

Rice Shower smiled and nodded, then started running again.

Round and round she went.

Rice Shower felt her condition recovering at an astonishing speed.

At first, Rice Shower thought it was an illusion.

However, when she realized she was running faster with each lap, gradually approaching her previous peak performance, Rice Shower was certain it wasn't an illusion.

It wasn't just a miracle, but like the rapid recovery of her legs, that Sakura Baimu brought her.

After running for what felt like the umpteenth time, Sakura Baimu handed Rice Shower a nutritional drink and asked with a smile,

"How are you feeling?"

"Rice feels fantastic! Rice even feels like she's almost back to her pre-Takarazuka Kinen state!"

"That's amazing." Sakura Baimu felt genuinely happy.

Not only because Rice Shower was fully recovered,

but also because Sakura Baimu confirmed that the system could truly heal even such severe injuries completely.

"Rice Shower's comminuted fracture and open dislocation can be healed, so what's there to worry about in the future? Even if McQueen gets shin splints again, or Teio breaks another bone, there's no need to worry."

Sakura Baimu thought excitedly.

What she feared most was that these Umamusumes, who had inherited the souls of elite racehorses from another world, would also inherit those tragedies.

Now she was certain that no matter what happened, she didn't need to worry.

What could make Sakura Baimu happier than this?

This scene of Sakura Baimu's excitement, observed by Rice Shower, naturally became an interpretation of Sakura Baimu's joy at her excellent recovery.

"Rice is rarely expected to succeed, and even when she gets good grades, few people are genuinely happy for her… But onee-sama is different. She looks forward to Rice's recovery every day and is happy for her healing."

Rice Shower crossed her arms, deeply moved.

Today, Rice Shower learned that besides Mihono Bourbon, there was someone else.

After finishing the nutritional drink Sakura Baimu gave her, Rice Shower felt her fatigue begin to recede at an astonishing speed.

She looked up at the sunset's afterglow, at Sakura Baimu's incredibly warm smile, and the clear, sky-blue eyes.

Rice Shower felt that Sakura Baimu's smile was an angelic smile that dispelled all her gloom.

Besides feeling at peace, she couldn't feel anything else.

"Onee-sama…"

Rice Shower made up her mind at that moment.

"Rice is joining TCB!"

--

Chapter 159: The Rice Shower's Welcome Ceremony

"So, that's it! From today onwards, Rice Shower is a member of our TCB!"

Sakura Baimu raised her juice glass and addressed the team members in the activity room.

"Great!"

"Yay!!!"

"Rice, you're finally here!"

"The three strongest Umamusumes in active duty are all in our TCB now!"

"Rice Shower-senpai, let me sing you a song to welcome you!"

Rice Shower blushed, listening to the various welcomes from the five Umamusumes of TCB, feeling incredibly happy.

"Anyway, to celebrate Rice Shower joining TCB and to congratulate her on her successful recovery, let's toast!"

"Cheers!!" Everyone raised their glasses in unison.

The training session ended early that day, mainly to hold a welcome ceremony for Rice Shower in the TCB activity room and to congratulate her on her recovery.

Everyone had a big feast in the TCB activity room.

Sakura Baimu went out and bought a lot of ingredients and drinks, and then got a large cake. Everyone celebrated together in the TCB activity room.

Watching the various vegetables and meats bubbling in the hot pot on the table, Sakura Baimu cut the cake and distributed it to everyone.

Rice Shower was the star of the day, so Sakura Baimu cut her the biggest piece of cake.

As for Mejiro McQueen, her eyes lit up the moment she saw Sakura Baimu bring out the cake.

Her gaze almost constantly followed the cake in Sakura Baimu's hands.

However, after Sakura Baimu cut the cake for Mejiro McQueen, the excited expression on Mejiro McQueen's face instantly froze, and she glared angrily at Sakura Baimu.

"Why is my slice of cake so small?"

"There wasn't enough cake, McQueen, so you'll have to eat less," Sakura Baimu said disdainfully.

"You're definitely doing this on purpose!" Mejiro McQueen retorted angrily.

"Miss McQueen, here, let me share my cake with you."

Satono Diamond, a big fan of Mejiro McQueen, shared half of her cake with McQueen.

“Dia-chan is so much better, unlike someone else.” Mejiro McQueen nodded gratefully to Satono Diamond.

“Rice… Rice has too much cake, she can’t finish it all, so please share it with Miss McQueen,” Rice Shower said, placing a large piece of cake from her plate onto Mejiro McQueen’s plate.

“Thank you, Rice.” Mejiro McQueen smiled slightly at Rice Shower.

“McQueen, here you go too~” Teiō also cut a large piece for Mejiro McQueen.

“Thank you…”

“Miss McQueen, here you go with Falco too~?”

“Miss McQueen, you’re welcome!” Kitasan Black placed all of her cake in front of Mejiro McQueen.

In the blink of an eye, Mejiro McQueen’s plate was piled high with cake.

“Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, there’s no way around it; we can’t waste food.”

Mejiro McQueen was already itching to dig in.

But then, she heard Sakura Baimu speak up again:

“McQueen, eat it all. Look at you—if you eat any more cake, will you even be able to fit into your race outfit? You love to eat and still wear crop tops, McQueen; I admire your courage.”

“I still have a black outfit, the one that doesn’t show my belly button…”

Mejiro McQueen started to say, then suddenly realized something was off and quickly corrected herself, “No, I’m not fat at all! As an Umamusume of the Mejiro family, I’m very conscious of my figure!”

Mejiro McQueen said this, but after staring longingly at the cake in front of her for a while, she still returned it all to her teammates.

The TCB Umamusumes burst into laughter upon seeing Mejiro McQueen's actions, making her blush and steam rise from her head.

Even Rice Shower couldn't help but laugh.

The dinner party that evening was very enjoyable for everyone.

Although Rice Shower wasn't quite used to such a large group, fortunately, the TCB Umamusumes were all talented and virtuous, and she herself was cheerful.

Therefore, she didn't dislike the atmosphere.

In fact, Rice Shower found the atmosphere quite enjoyable.

Don't let the fact that the TCB Umamusumes are all very slim and don't have the typical gluttonous Umamusume fool you.

But the six Umamusumes, plus Sakura Baimu, still managed to devour all the groceries Sakura Baimu bought that day.

Kitasan Black probably ate the most today; this energetic girl with boundless energy is rapidly gaining weight, and by the end, her belly was quite round.

Looking at the Umamusumes slumped in their chairs, not wanting to move an inch, Sakura Baimu suddenly laughed:

"Our team atmosphere is so great, why go to America, right?"

"You're right, Trainer-san," Tokai Teio was the first to agree.

“Perfect timing! Rice Shower has joined our team. She was the first in our team to master a Umamusume (Zone), and the first to comprehend Aura and unlock it through her own efforts. Her talent is exceptionally high.”

Rice Shower blushed slightly upon hearing Sakura Baimu's praise. “But last year at the Spring Tenno Sho, I still lost to Miss McQueen.”

“Rice Shower, you still have a lot of room for improvement. As long as your raw strength increases, your strength will increase rapidly after unlocking your Zone.”

Rice Shower nodded.

“McQueen and Teiō, before participating in the Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup Turf, you two at least need to master Aura to have a chance of winning. It's best not to rely on others for your Zone, but you can learn from Rice Shower about techniques and experience regarding Aura.”

Rice Shower mastered Aura without relying on trainers; she achieved it solely through honing her willpower.

Furthermore, Rice Shower's aura was far stronger than many Umamusumes, reaching a level that even surprised Mejiro McQueen upon their first encounter.

Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio naturally had no objections to these observations. After their setbacks at the Takarazuka Kinen and the previous match against Pluto Academy, both had been reignited with a strong desire to improve their skills.

Mejiro McQueen, in particular, had lost to Golden Crown Eagle in a one-on-one duel and had been humiliated by her several times.

Her desire to defeat Golden Crown Eagle was unparalleled.

“As for Rice Shower, her injury has only just healed, so she should focus on training first. I plan to have her train for a month before she participates in a match; that would be safer.”

“Rice understands.” Rice Shower nodded.

“As for Kita-chan…” Sakura Baimu patted Kitasan Black, who was sprawled in a chair, hugging her round belly.

“Starting this month, you’ll have at least one match every month. Good luck!”

--

--

Chapter 160: Chukyo Junior Championship

Time flew by, and it was already late July, time for Kitasan Black to participate in the Chukyo Junior Championship.

From now on, unless it was a G1 race or a race held in Tokyo, the entire TCB team wouldn't be participating.

Firstly, Sakura Baimu didn't want to interfere with their studies and training.

Secondly, the team's budget simply couldn't afford such extravagance.

With encouragement and support from their TCB teammates, Sakura Baimu and Kitasan Black left Tokyo.

They arrived at Chukyo Racecourse in Toyoaki City, Aichi Prefecture.

Chukyo Racecourse primarily hosts sprint races.

The Turf Sprint Champions Race, the Takamatsu Kinen Race, the Dirt Champions Race, and the Championship Cup are all held at Chukyo Racecourse.

Today, Kitasan Black was participating in the OP-level Turf 1600 meter Mile Race.

Because it was a local-level race, and an OP-level race, the audience wasn't large.

It's quite rare for a Central Umamusume to participate in an OP-level tournament in a regional competition, so Kitasan Black, as a newly debuted Umamusume, has already secured second place in the popularity rankings.

Currently, Kitasan Black is doing her final warm-up exercises with the other seven Umamusumes in front of the gate.

As the only Umamusume from the Central region in this competition, Kitasan Black naturally attracts a lot of attention from the other Umamusumes.

The remaining seven regional Umamusumes from Chukyo clearly know each other; they've gathered together, quietly discussing Kitasan Black, who exudes a confident and cheerful smile as she slowly warms up.

"She's from Central? Is she just here to bully weaker opponents? Why come all the way to our little town to compete?"

"I don't think so. If she were really that good, why wouldn't she stay Central? I suspect she's not skilled enough, which is why she came here."

"Agreed."

"Didn't the commentator say during the demonstration that this was only her second match since her debut? She definitely doesn't have much experience yet."

"But I'm still a little worried. Even if a Central Umamusume is bad, her skill level shouldn't be too low."

"In that case, how about we get ahead of her and block her position? We can't let her underestimate our Chukyo Umamusumes."

"Great idea!"

A group of Chukyo's Umamusumes reached a consensus.

Clearly, they felt a strong sense of resistance and rejection towards Kitasan Black, who had suddenly come from the Central region to compete here.

There were eight Umamusumes competing, with Kitasan Black positioned in position 4 at gate 4.

"The sky over Chukyo Racecourse is slightly overcast. The riders have now entered the gates."

After entering the gates, Kitasan Black greeted the Umamusumes on either side of her with a smile:

"Hello~"

"Hello."

The Umamusumes on either side of Kitasan Black had already planned to distract the seemingly naive and inexperienced Kitasan Black during the race.

After greeting Kitasan Black, they both turned their heads with mischievous grins.

"Kitasan Black from the Central region, I wonder if she can perform to the standards of the Central Umamusumes in this race?"

"Chukyo Junior Championship, now—"

"Start!"

As the gates opened, all eight Umamusumes surged forward.

Number 3, the lucky one; number 5, the descendant of the angel; and numbers 2 and 6, all Umamusumes, surged ahead of Kitasan Black the moment the gate opened, attempting to form a human wall to block her path.

Kitasan Black had a good start this time but was still a step behind the Umamusumes who were desperately trying to gain an advantage in the early stage.

"This time, half the players were sprinting at full speed at the start, and the leading Umamusume now is number 8, the little kitten."

"Kitasan Black's position is blocked; it looks like she can't accelerate."

The four Umamusumes running side by side at roughly the same pace burst into laughter upon hearing the commentator's voice.

They glanced at Kitasan Black trailing behind them out of the corner of their eyes, feeling even more smug.

"She's probably not laughing anymore," the Angel Descendant thought.

The 1600 meter Junior Championship starts on a track that runs between the first and second turns. The Umamusumes immediately passed the second turn and entered a straight.

"Little Kitten is still in first place, about three lengths ahead of number 1."

"Numbers 2, 3, 5, and 6 are all in similar positions; the situation is a bit tense."

"Kitasan Black has dropped to eighth place because she can't accelerate due to the large number of runners ahead of her."

"Done! The Umamusume from the Central region ended up in eighth place on the regional track. If that gets back, people will laugh their heads off!"

The regional Umamusumes were secretly pleased with themselves, feeling their well-practiced tactics were perfect.

"The Little Kitten has reached the third corner first."

"Quite fast! The little kitten on the far outside has a natural advantage when navigating the corner."

"In last place is still Kitasan Black from the Central region..."

"Kitasan Black has moved to the far outside! She's moved from track 4 to the far outside and started accelerating!"

"She used the corner to get to the far outside!"

The commentator's voice slightly surprised the Umamusumes.

Kitasan Black had actually thought of using the far outside track to overtake during the corner.

This was indeed a clever strategy, and for a rookie Umamusume, making such a judgment was quite impressive.

But...

“Moving from the inner track to the outermost track means the distance you need to cover is longer, and the stamina required is also increased. You'll regret it when you slow down.”

“Kitasan Black is accelerating! She's definitely going to overtake from the outermost track!”

“Wow! So fast! She's already overtaken riders 2, 3, 5, and 6, and is now catching up to rider 1.”

In the stands of Chukyo Racecourse, the sparse spectators finally reacted after witnessing this scene.

As a newly debuted Umamusume, Kitasan Black was displaying astonishing speed.

The contrast with the other Umamusumes was simply too stark.

So many people couldn't help but gasp when they saw Kitasan Black overtake five riders in a row on the outer track.

“Truly worthy of being a Central Umamusume! This level of skill is definitely not on par with the regional Umamusumes!”

---

Chapter 161: The Gap Is Too Big

Kitasan Black was incredibly fast; she quickly climbed from eighth to third place.

Furthermore, the gap between the second-place Umamusume and the leader was rapidly closing thanks to Kitasan Black's superior speed.

"Kitasan Black has overtaken another! By the end of the third turn, she had successfully moved from eighth to second!"

"Is this the strength of a Central Umamusume? So strong! Kitasan Black is only two lengths behind Little Kitten in first place."

"She's overtaken!"

Gasps of surprise rang out at the Chukyo Racecourse.

The gasps weren't just from the surrounding spectators; the Umamusumes on the track also gasped.

They hadn't expected this tactic they had devised to suppress Kitasan Black.

Kitasan Black had broken through their defenses so easily.

Kitasan Black didn't use any fancy techniques at all; she simply relied on her exceptional leg strength to forcefully overcome her disadvantage on the curves.

"She... she's running so fast all of a sudden; her stamina should run out quickly. Then we'll still have a chance!"

Today, Lucky watched Kitasan Black, who had already surged into the final corner and taken the lead, and kept reassuring herself.

She wasn't alone in this sentiment among many Umamusumes.

Many Umamusumes couldn't accept that Kitasan Black, a newcomer, could be so far ahead of them.

They had heard that the Central Circuit races were not at the same level as the Regional Circuits.

But they hadn't imagined the gap would be this large.

"It's okay, it's okay, there's another steep hill after the corner. She definitely won't be able to handle that hill... She hasn't slowed down yet; she'll definitely have a hard time on the hill later."

Angel Descendant thought to herself, glancing at Kitasan Black who had already completed the final corner.

At Chukyo Racecourse, about 300 meters from the finish line after the final corner, there was a steep hill with an elevation change of 2 meters and a straightaway of 100 meters.

It's twice as steep as the Kyoto Racecourse at Tenno Sho in the spring.

However, what they didn't know was that this steep slope is the same as the Hanshin Racecourse at the Takarazuka Kinen.

While preparing for Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio's Takarazuka Kinen, Sakura Baimu had taught all the Umamusumes on her team how to climb hills.

"Kitasan Black, 400 meter cleared, she's reached the steep hill."

"She doesn't seem to be slowing down."

"Kitasan Black's pace isn't slowing at all; is that really okay?"

The commentator's words were barely out of her mouth when the audience gasped in unison again.

They noticed that Kitasan Black's stride had suddenly changed as she reached the steep hill.

Although there was a slight decrease in speed, the magnitude of her slowdown was even smaller than that of many Umamusumes competing in the G1 Takamatsu Kinen at Nakai Racecourse.

"Kitasan Black changed her hill running method, and although her speed decreased slightly, judging from her expression, her heart wasn't under much pressure!"

"It seems her hill running posture is the key; as expected of a Central Umamusume, she didn't panic at all even when facing such a steep slope."

"Kitasan Black has reached the top! That was an incredible climb!"

"Last 200 meters!"

"Little Kitten and the rest of the runners are all making their way up the steep climb."

"Their speed drop is significant; are they still adjusting to the steep climb?"

"Kitasan Black has already pulled far ahead of Little Kitten in second place."

"Kitasan Black, her pace is undiminished."

"Kitasan Black, now, the gap is huge—"

"Crossed the finish line!"

"Kitasan Black has demonstrated her impressive mid-range strength, remaining completely composed even when facing a blocked path at the start."

"She calmly sought her opportunity to break through, seizing the moment as she entered the corner, overtaking from the outside and securing victory with a unique climbing style!"

"Incredible! Who would have thought this was only her second race since her debut!"

Clearly, this commentator is the type who knows how to get the audience excited.

After Kitasan Black crossed the finish line, she gave a high-pitched, incredibly excited recap.

And successfully stirred the emotions of the audience, prompting many local residents of Toyoake City to cheer for Kitasan Black, this outstanding Umamusume.

Those Umamusumes who had originally planned to suppress Kitasan Black stood behind the finish line, falling silent.

The gap was too vast; they were simply not on the same level.

"Forget it, I'll just stick to local competitions from now on. So these are the terrifying Central Umamusumes? I was even thinking of going there next year..."

Little Kitten, in second place, smirked, finally realizing the difference between herself and the Central Umamusumes.

After the competition, it was Kitasan Black's turn to shine as the winner.

With her outstanding singing voice, Kitasan Black once again won cheers from the audience.

Sakura Baimu, standing below the stage, listened to Kitasan Black's singing and couldn't help but think to herself.

"Isn't she singing quite well? Then why does she always hit those weird high notes when she speaks?"

Kitasan Black always liked to draw out her notes and hit high notes when she spoke.

Every time Sakura Baimu heard Kitasan Black hit those high notes, only one thought remained in her mind—

What the heck was that noise?

"It's a little disappointing that she didn't break the record. Typical of local Umamusumes, just like Kasamatsu's, they love to pull stunts during matches."

Sakura Baimu recalled the scene from the match earlier, when several Umamusumes ganged up on Kitasan Black, a feeling of nostalgia welled up inside her.

The Winning Live ended successfully, and Sakura Baimu and Kitasan Black returned to Tokyo that evening.

After delivering the energetic Umamusume, who was ecstatic after winning her second career match, to Fuji Kiseki, the head of the dormitory, Sakura Baimu prepared to head home.

However, Sakura Baimu didn't expect that her phone would ring the moment she left the Ritto dormitory.

Sakura Baimu took out her phone, and her eyes suddenly narrowed.

The caller ID showed Maruzensky.

--

--

Chapter 162: Entrapment

"Hello—?"

Sakura Baimu answered the phone, replying cautiously.

"Back in Tokyo, right?" Maruzensky asked from the other end.

"No, Kita-chan and I are staying in Aichi Prefecture tonight."

"Don't try to lie to me. Kiseki-chan told me you're at the Ritto dormitory entrance right now."

"......"

Sakura Baimu was speechless for a moment, thinking, "You already know, so why are you asking me?"

"Ms. Maruzensky, is there something you need?"

"Come to the bar, I'll wait for you there."

"Tonight I..."

"Oh dear, don't be such a spoilsport. I'll go with you tomorrow night. Hurry up, hurry up, I'm so bored~"

Maruzensky spoke, then hung up.

Sakura Baimu was speechless for a while, then went to the bar Maruzensky had told her about.

As soon as she arrived, she saw Maruzensky, propping her head up with her hand, waving excitedly at her.

“Sakura, Sakura, come quick! Over here!”

“.......”

Sakura Baimu had no choice but to walk to the bar and sit down in a chair one seat away from Maruzensky.

The bartender immediately placed a blue cocktail in front of Sakura Baimu.

“Can you drink?” Maruzensky asked with a smile.

“Yes…” Sakura Baimu said, taking a sip.

“How many years have you been drinking?”

“Many years, I guess.”

“I heard you started drinking when you first enrolled?”

“Pretty much.”

Suddenly, Sakura Baimu’s invisible ears twitched. She heard a “ding-dong” sound.

Maruzensky stopped recording on her phone.

Just as Sakura Baimu was about to ask Maruzensky why she was recording her, Maruzensky suddenly covered her mouth in surprise and spoke:

“Well, you're underage and already drinking? I caught you today!”

“A sting operation???”

Sakura Baimu jumped in surprise, turning sharply to look at the sly-faced Maruzensky beside her. She pulled out her trainer badge and pointed to her age on it.

“I’m an adult, okay?”

“Yes, Sakura Baimu is an adult…”

Maruzensky grinned mischievously, sitting down next to Sakura Baimu. She brought her cherry lips close to Sakura Baimu's ear and whispered sweetly,

“But, Mejiro Sakura seems to have only recently come of age. Didn’t you just say you started drinking four years ago, Miss Sakura?”

Sakura Baimu was startled by Maruzensky's words. So Maruzensky had been trying to trick her into revealing information just for this?

Having lived two lives as a "human," she was completely oblivious to the adulthood rules in Japan.

She hadn't expected to fall for Maruzensky's trap here.

"I suddenly remembered that Ms. Junkawa once told me that when you first joined Tracen Academy, you drank at the academy's year-end party. I didn't pay much attention before, but then I suddenly remembered that 'Mejiro Sakura' wasn't an adult yet, so I thought I'd come and ask..."

Maruzensky whispered in her ear, in a voice only Sakura Baimu could hear.

Her voice wasn't loud, but Sakura Baimu clearly heard the playful tone in her words.

“I never expected that Miss Sakura would actually act like a completely different person after changing her trainer role,” Maruzensky chuckled. “Another unexpected find tonight, how interesting~”

“Uh.” Sakura Baimu was momentarily speechless. “So, you came to find me tonight just to get information out of me?”

“Just chatting, I’m usually pretty bored anyway.”

Maruzensky picked up her drink and took a sip.

“Ever since I took Rudolf for a race, she hasn’t ridden in my car anymore. So sad~”

“I heard Miss Maruzen lives alone, not in the school dorms. Why not move to the dorms? It’d be more lively.”

“No way, there’s no place to park my car in the dorms, and there’s a curfew~”

“…” Sakura Baimu was speechless for a moment, then picked up her cocktail again and took a sip.

“How was Kita-chan’s match?”

“Very poor,” Sakura Baimu said.

“That’s amazing! By the way, I heard Rice Shower joined your team.”

“Yes, a very talented child. She mastered the Zone on her own without any guidance. She can help Teiō and McQueen practice Aura.”

“But no matter how good Rice Shower is, she doesn’t seem to be as good as Sakura-san.”

Maruzensky smiled, her blue eyes mischievously glancing at Sakura Baimu again.

"Why don’t you just teach them how to master Aura yourself? Forget Golden Crown Eagle; you even beat Obey Your Master. Your Aura strength is enough to rank you in the top five of the academy.”

“Are you kidding me? How could a human trainer like me possibly know how to master Aura?”

“You’ve probably noticed, Teiō and McQueen are incredibly strong, practically unmatched among their peers. This makes it difficult for them to face adversity, significantly impacting their ability to break through barriers and gain momentum.”

“Hmm.” Sakura Baimu nodded.

“Let me ask you a question. What if McQueen hadn’t reached a level sufficient to defeat Golden Crown Eagle before the competition? What would you have done?”

Maruzensky looked at Sakura Baimu with a smile. It seemed she wasn’t unsure of the answer, but rather waiting for Sakura Baimu to say it herself.

“What else can I do? I’ll just have to personally give her ‘tutoring’,” Sakura Baimu said softly.

“Aren’t you afraid McQueen will find out?” Maruzensky asked with a smile.

"Her? I can walk around in front of her every day and she won't even notice. What if I dye my hair, put on a disguise, and cover my face? How will she know? After all, in her memory, I haven't seen her for over four years."

"Okay. What about Teiō? You can't favor McQueen and ignore Teiō, can you?"

“I’ll definitely treat them equally. They’re competitors, and it wouldn’t be good if either of them were too far ahead,” Sakura Baimu said, then added, “Of course, except for Zones. Whoever breaks through their Zone first will be ahead, that’s for sure.”

“I saw the strategy guide you made for McQueen. I didn’t expect you to personally create a strategy guide for your trainee Umamusume’s competition.”

“That’s my advantage over other trainers,” Sakura Baimu spoke, finishing her cocktail and standing up.

“Alright, I've finished drinking, let’s go.”

“It’s only this late. Let me show you my ‘Ta-chan,’ it’s very exciting~”

Maruzensky had finally caught someone to race with, so she wasn’t about to let Sakura Baimu leave.

“Didn’t you drink?”

“I drank a non-alcoholic beverage; I just ordered you the alcoholic one~” Maruzensky laughed.

“????”

---

Chapter 163: Miss Sakura, you don't want to...

When Sakura Baimu woke up the next day, she couldn't remember anything about what had happened the night before.

She only remembered:

Leaving the bar with Maruzensky the previous night, after getting into the passenger seat of her sports car and buckling her seatbelt, she reminded Maruzensky, "There are many roads, but safety is the first priority."

Maruzensky replied with an "Okay," and the last thing Sakura Baimu heard was, "I'm stepping on the gas."

After that, all her memories mysteriously vanished.

Sakura Baimu looked around and found herself in an unfamiliar room.

After opening the door, she saw Maruzensky slumped over the living room table, radiating an aura of deep sorrow.

"What...what happened last night?"

Sakura Baimu asked.

"My Ta-chan!!!! It's been sent for repairs again!!!"

Then came Maruzensky's heartbroken voice.

This was the first time Sakura Baimu had ever seen the ever-smiling Maruzensky wail like this.

“You can be sad all you want. I’m going to the academy.”

Sakura Baimu sighed, suddenly feeling that all the Umamusumes in the academy were acting strangely.

“Okay, bye-bye, see you tonight.” Maruzensky didn’t look up, but simply waved a hand at Sakura Baimu.

“???”

Sakura Baimu had just reached Maruzensky’s door when she heard this and stopped abruptly, turning back to look at Maruzensky with utter horror.

“I’ll never ride in your car again!”

“No, we agreed to run together tonight, right? I’ll wait for you at the academy. Don’t worry, Rudolf isn’t here this time.”

Maruzensky looked up, but her expression didn’t show much sadness; instead, her eyes shone brightly with anticipation.

“No, no, I won’t trouble you, Miss ‘Hotrod.’ I’ll train on my own.”

Sakura Baimu quickly declined. Maruzensky is just too crazy, making her a little uncomfortable.

“No way, I haven’t run with you yet!”

“If you want to run with me, just say so. Why say ‘running side-by-side…’” Sakura Baimu sighed, “But never mind, running with you in the academy feels like it’ll be easy to get caught.”

With that, Sakura Baimu turned around to open the door and leave.

Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, she suddenly sensed movement behind her. She quickly turned around and saw Maruzensky, who had been sitting at the table, now standing before her.

“Miss Sakura, I’m not asking you to do anything too outrageous. I just want to go for a run with you. I’ve been looking forward to tonight for so long~”

Maruzensky’s eyes were fixed on Sakura Baimu’s with a playful gaze, her red lips slightly parted:

“Besides, I've been keeping your identity a secret all along. If I were really like Golden Crown Eagle or Obey Your Master, your identity would probably be known to everyone by now.”

Hearing Maruzensky’s words, Sakura Baimu recalled what Akikawa Yayoi had told her about Maruzensky.

Sakura Baimu smiled.

"I still have a lot of faith in Maruzen-san's character. I think even if I refuse, Maruzen-san definitely won't tell anyone about my situation."

"After all, you wouldn't gain anything by telling anyone, and I might even have to leave the academy. I'm sure Maruzen-san wouldn't want that either, right?"

Maruzensky's expression showed a hint of surprise upon hearing Sakura Baimu's words.

She hadn't expected Sakura Baimu to be so certain that she wouldn't do such a thing.

They hadn't interacted much before.

However, Maruzensky was very clever; after a moment's thought, she guessed the reason.

"Oh, it seems Chairman Akikawa told you something."

Sakura Baimu smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

"Oh dear, what a pity. It seems your identity no longer poses a threat to you, Sakura-san~"

Maruzensky's tone held a hint of regret, but her expression remained mischievous and playful, not much different from her usual self.

"Since Sakura-san isn't worried about her identity being exposed, I suppose you don't want your trainees and sister to see this video, right?"

Maruzensky said, pulling out her phone and playing a video for Sakura Baimu.

Sakura Baimu was still wondering what it was when she heard that incredibly familiar music coming from the phone and saw the person appear in the center of the video.

It was a recording of a Winning Live performance.

The song performed at this Winning Live was "Umapyoi Legend."

But that wasn't the point. The point was the person standing in the center of the stage.

It was her from years ago, back when she was still active, a short-haired Mejiro Sakura.

As if struck by lightning, Sakura Baimu stared wide-eyed in horror at her reflection on stage.

She saw herself from years ago, on that stage with a giant screen behind her, dressed in a stage costume, her face displaying a variety of incredibly vivid expressions, performing dance moves that now seemed utterly cringeworthy.

【Mejiro Sakura: Ooooh— (Umapyoi Umapyoi)】

【Mejiro Sakura: Baby steps, low-key nervous (So what! So what!)】

【Mejiro Sakura: ╮(￣▽￣)╭】

【Mejiro Sakura: Wanna eat rice (What about my Race Weight)】

【Mejiro Sakura: Only I'm getting a kiss from the Goddess of Victory today】

【Mejiro Sakura: Here comes your Beloved】

...

Sakura Baimu stared wide-eyed in surprise at her reflection from four or five years ago, her fair face visibly flushing red.

Sakura Baimu considered herself socially adept, rarely feeling shy except when facing Akikawa Yayoi.

But!

She really hadn't sung or danced in a very, very long time.

On stage, with so many people around, it wasn't so bad; after all, she couldn't see herself, so she could bear the embarrassment.

Sakura Baimu would never watch the recording of her Winning Live performance afterward.

But now, four or five years later, Sakura Baimu saw the recording of her Winning Live performance again. She felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground.

Across from Sakura Baimu, Maruzensky watched as Sakura Baimu's expression slowly changed from confusion to astonishment, and then to utter embarrassment. The corners of her mouth curved upward.

"Ah~~ So cute," Maruzensky thought to herself, touching her cheek and looking at Sakura Baimu's now flushed face.

"Sakura-san was so cute back then! Her singing and dancing were both top-notch, and her skills were outstanding. Look at those lively and adorable expressions, they're truly captivating!"

Maruzensky took her phone back, dragged the progress bar to the beginning, and looked up at Sakura Baimu with a squinting smile:

"Sakura-san, shall we enjoy it one more time?"

After seeing Sakura Baimu shaking her head frantically, she chuckled twice and brought her lips close to Sakura Baimu's ear again.

"Miss Sakura, you wouldn't want your subordinate Umamusume to see this video, would you?"

--

Chapter 164: How many more surprises can you bring me?

Sakura Baimu spent the entire day in a daze.

That morning, the video Maruzensky showed her of her old Winning Live performance kept replaying in her mind, impossible to shake off.

When Sakura Baimu was dancing on stage, she was fine, surrounded by a group of Umamusumes dancing along, and didn't feel awkward.

But not having sung and danced for so long, coupled with watching the video of herself dancing from that time from a third-person perspective, it felt incredibly shameful.

Every time Sakura Baimu thought about that video, she felt so ashamed she wanted to tear her hair out.

Her unusual behavior naturally caught the attention of her Umamusumes.

"What's wrong with Trainer-san today? She seems a bit distracted."

"She's probably having another episode."

"Falco doesn't know either..."

"Onee-sama..."

The Umamusumes discussed for a while, speculating many things, but given Sakura Baimu's unpredictable behavior, they were still unsure about her situation.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Team Rigil...

Maruzensky was in an exceptionally good mood all day.

Although she mostly wore a smiling, kind, and gentle older-sister demeanor, everyone could see that Maruzensky was noticeably happier than usual today.

"Maruzensky, what's wrong today? Did something good happen?"

Mr. CB walked over to Maruzensky, who was rubbing her cheek, surrounded by what seemed like floating red flowers, and asked curiously.

“Yeah, I found something finally a bit of fun in this boring school life!” Maruzensky said with a smile.

Seeing Maruzensky in such a good mood, Grass Wonder and Condor's eyes lit up. They rushed to her side.

“Maruzensky-senpai, please do some sprint training with me!"

They spoke in unison.

“I was here first!”

“I was here first!”

“One at a time, it’s fine.” Maruzensky smiled as she watched her two juniors eager to run alongside her, interrupting their argument.

Condor and Grass Wonder exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

It seems Maruzensky was truly in a very good mood today.

--

That evening, Sakura Baimu, still dressed in the same athletic shorts and short-sleeved hoodie, arrived at the Tracen Academy track and met Maruzensky, who was already waiting.

"Finally here, Sakura-san~"

Maruzensky greeted her casually with a smile, looking at the hooded Sakura Baimu.

"Hmm..."

"Don't be so quiet. You were quite lively when you were a trainer; why are you so quiet now that you're back to your usual self~?"

"Who knows if anyone's eavesdropping."

"Running with a hood must be uncomfortable, right? Why don't you take it off? Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever seen your real face, Sakura-san~"

"I'll tell you after you win."

Sakura Baimu sighed, tossed her backpack onto the grass, and began doing some simple pre-race stretches.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Maruzensky's face appeared before her.

"Oh, you really do look better with long hair! You give off a completely different vibe with long hair compared to when you had short hair. You seem so much more gentle and sweet So cute"

"After all, I don't have to compete anymore, so there's no need to keep my hair short."

"So, you kept your hair short before for the competition?" Maruzensky asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, I wanted to minimize the impact of external factors on the competition."

"Sakura-san is really hardworking~" Maruzensky spoke, then started admiring herself again.

Sakura Baimu was speechless again.

"Maruzen-san, can you stop talking like a mother hen? Your character is repeating a certain someone!"

"Did I sound like a mother hen just now?" Maruzensky seemed quite taken aback.

"......"

After a moment of speechlessness, Sakura Baimu looked up at Maruzensky.

“How many distances should we race?”

“It’s fine for you to choose the distance, Sakura-san~”

“How about Maruzen-san?”

“Then let’s stick with the Japan Cup distance.” Maruzensky said, walking towards the starting line for the 2400 meter turf.

“Actually, I’d really like to race you in the 3200 meter long distance, Sakura-san. Your stamina is a huge advantage, Sakura-san~”

“Then 3200 meter is fine too, I’m okay with it.”

“Never mind, the academy’s track is a replica of the Tokyo Racecourse. If we’re talking about the distance of the Spring Tenno Sho, it’s better to race at the Kyoto Racecourse.”

“Then I guess there’s no chance.” Sakura Baimu chuckled.

Both of them stood at the starting line, ready to start.

Maruzensky turned to look at Sakura Baimu beside her and noticed that Sakura Baimu's expression wasn't the same reluctance she had shown when she refused her invitation.

On the contrary, Sakura Baimu's face also held an expression of excitement and anticipation.

Maruzensky was all too familiar with this expression.

It was etched into the soul of every Umamusume.

Anticipation for the match, and a thirst for victory.

Except for Gold Ship, of course.

That Umamusume was from outer space, not from Earth.

"Sakura-san seems to be looking forward to it too That puts my mind at ease. I was worried that Sakura-san would be reluctant" Maruzensky chuckled softly.

“Who wouldn’t be excited to race Hotrod? Who wouldn’t be thrilled?”

Sakura Baimu smiled at Maruzensky. “It’s been such a long time since I’ve raced anyone. I didn’t expect so many races to come with Pluto Academy. Of course I’m happy.”

“If Miss Sakura wants to race, I’m always ready!” Maruzensky exclaimed excitedly.

“Never mind then. It’s been fine in the last two years; I’d better keep a low profile.”

“Why are you like this—?”

Sakura Baimu took out a coin and flicked it into the air.

She licked her lips slightly, her heart already brimming with excitement.

Since her identity was revealed, challenges from strong opponents came one after another.

Sakura Baimu truly hadn’t expected that after Obey Your Master, she would immediately face a challenge from Hotrod.

A challenge from an Umamusume whose skill was at the pinnacle of Tracen Academy and even the entire Japanese racing world.

"Miss Sakura, let's see how many more surprises you have in store for me!"

Maruzensky thought excitedly, also assuming a starting stance.

--

Chapter 165: Cherry Blossoms vs. Hotrod

The coin landed, and Sakura Baimu and Maruzensky charged forward simultaneously.

As expected, Sakura Baimu failed to secure the leading position against this strongest leading Umamusume in Japan.

However, Sakura Baimu knew that Maruzensky was on a completely different level from Obey Your Master.

If we were to rank these retired legends again,

Tamamo Cross, who had defeated Oguri Cap in her Zone form, and Obey Your Master, who hadn't yet mastered Oguri Cap, would likely be in the third tier among these retired legends.

And Maruzensky is the true ceiling.

The only Umamusume in all of Japan born with Zone, yet who has never used it.

And the only Umamusume to be crowned "Undefeated."

Of course, Maruzensky isn't the only undefeated Umamusume in Japan.

Like the dorm leader of Kurito Dorm, Fuji Kiseki has never lost a match.

However, Fuji Kiseki hasn't participated in many tournaments; since retiring, she has only been seen at the Dream Cup.

Therefore, Fuji Kiseki was not crowned undefeated.

If she had only participated in one or two races after her debut and then retired, it would have been impossible to achieve an undefeated record.

Many people preferred to call Fuji Kiseki the "Phantom Triple Crown."

Back to the race itself.

Sakura Baimu is not a Front Running Umamusume.

She knew it was pointless to compete for the Front position with someone like Maruzensky, the pinnacle of leading Umamusumes, so she chose the follower, a Pace Chaser position.

This time, Maruzensky used a similar running style to her previous race against Obey Your Master.

She again chose to lead a few lengths ahead of Sakura Baimu, adjusting her own speed according to Sakura Baimu's pace to maintain an advantage.

Only Maruzensky could execute this style of running.

Other Umamusumes who tried to imitate it didn't fail because they lacked the skill to maintain a good distance, resulting in a loss of rhythm.

The problem was that they couldn't keep up with the speed of the Umamusumes behind them during the leading phase, allowing the latter to accelerate and overtake them.

Sakura Baimu realized that since Maruzensky's speed was based on her own, the pace of the race was also determined by her own speed.

Therefore, Sakura Baimu unleashed the same speed she had used in her previous race against Obey Your Master.

A speed even more terrifying than that of Silent Suzuka, known as the "Fleer from Another Dimension."

Even Golden Crown Eagle and Obey Your Master struggled against Sakura Baimu's speed.

But Maruzensky, running ahead of Sakura Baimu, appeared completely unfazed.

She showed no signs of strain despite Sakura Baimu's speed.

“As expected, Maruzensky is on a completely different level from Obey Your Master; the difference in their levels is far too great.”

Sakura Baimu thought to herself.

The pace of this race was extremely fast; the two runners had quickly completed the straight after the second turn.

Maruzensky took the lead on the steep climb.

Her climbing technique was clearly different from Sakura Baimu's, but surprisingly, her speed did not decrease.

"Did she accelerate before the climb to compensate for the speed drop during the ascent?"

This running style isn't technically superior to Sakura Baimu's, but it's a style that relies on raw power to compensate for a difference in technique.

Both entered the third turn, and their positions remained unchanged.

Maruzensky's track is biased toward the inside, so maintaining this speed exposes her to greater centripetal force.

Yet, she still managed to maintain the distance between her and Sakura Baimu thanks to her terrifying strength.

Maruzensky always approaches races with a recreational attitude.

She tries her best to find enjoyment in every race.

This time, her running style was less entertaining, but because her opponent was Sakura Baimu, Maruzensky didn't feel bored at all.

On the contrary, as the race approached its end, her anticipation and inner joy grew stronger.

"To maintain that speed for so long is truly impressive... This is definitely more interesting than my previous opponents!"

Maruzensky thought to herself, eagerly anticipating Sakura Baimu's next burst of speed.

Sakura Baimu's speed in the early stages was already far superior to other Umamusumes, thus providing Maruzensky with ample enjoyment.

In her previous matches, Sakura Baimu had always waited for Umamusumes to make the first move before counterattacking.

But this time, the situation was reversed.

Maruzensky, on the other hand, was waiting for her to make the first move.

Sakura Baimu's expression showed no anxiety, but rather unusual excitement.

Competing against such a strong opponent always ignited her excitement.

Finally, as Sakura Baimu approached the final bend, she took a step forward, her speed suddenly increasing.

A visible white aura—flowing around her—appeared as she accelerated.

In an instant, the distance between Maruzensky and Sakura Baimu was halved.

Noticing this, Maruzensky was startled and also accelerated sharply, once again reaching the same speed as Sakura Baimu.

Unfortunately, it was late at night, and there were no spectators around.

Otherwise, the speed Sakura Baimu and Maruzensky displayed at this moment would have been enough to leave the entire audience speechless and gasping in astonishment.

The two were incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, they had completed the final bend.

Next came the two-meter-high ramp leading up to the finish line at the Tokyo Racecourse.

The gap between Maruzensky and Sakura Baimu was only about 1.5 lengths.

Because Maruzensky had chosen to follow Sakura Baimu's pace, the rhythm of the race was completely unknown to her.

Especially experiencing Sakura Baimu's sudden acceleration and the heart-stopping feeling of the gap being abruptly closed when she wasn't paying attention caused Maruzensky's brain to release even more dopamine.

This kind of tension was something she hadn't felt in a very long time.

This was a kind of emotional shift she hadn't experienced during a race in a long time.

The tension of that moment was far more exhilarating than when she crushed over a dozen Umamusumes on the track.

Just as Maruzensky's smile deepened, her pace quickened, and she took a step onto the slope—

Thump

A crystal-clear heartbeat suddenly echoed in Maruzensky's mind, freezing her smile instantly.

The race pace was much faster than before;

The pressure on her heart during the second climb;

And… the explosive momentum from the person behind her;

All of these combined into a single heartbeat, pounding heavily in Maruzensky's mind.

In an instant.

Maruzensky felt the track, bathed in the soft moonlight and with crystal-clear visibility, begin to darken.

---