If my opponent was Platinum, things might get a little tricky.
"You... haven't seemed quite yourself lately. Why not go see that Doctor Lin?"
The girl in black was Manhattan Cafe.
She was one of the few friends Agnes Tachyon got along with, and... a competitor in this year's Classic Triple Crown.
Compared to Agnes Tachyon, however, she had little dominance over middle-distance races. She could only show her true strength in long-distance races, like the Kikuka Sho, the final 3,000-meter race.
Manhattan Cafe set down her coffee and looked at Agnes Tachyon with concern.
They were close, so Manhattan Cafe knew just how strong Agnes Tachyon really was. Her aim to win the Undefeated Triple Crown was no joke, nor was it an overestimation of her abilities.
But... after the Satsuki Sho had ended some time ago, Manhattan Cafe had sensed that something was off.
Agnes Tachyon's training seemed to have changed a little. During the latter half of her workouts, she was often a bit slower than before.
That Little Heavenly Horse next door, who wanted to challenge Tachyon, had just won the Debut Race by a huge margin over the super-rookie Daiwa Scarlet. Then, a mere seven days later, she'd claimed a Dominant Victory in a graded race.
Even if Tachyon needed to recover after running the Satsuki Sho, surely a week or two was enough to get her training back to normal?
Could something... really have gone wrong?
A little worried and uneasy, Manhattan Cafe took a small sip of coffee, set down her cup, and offered a reminder.
"That little one shouldn't be underestimated. She's no fool, either. If she dares to challenge you, she must have some confidence in her chances."
"If you're not back in top shape, the Japanese Derby could really go either way."
Manhattan Cafe added calmly, turning her reminder into a warning.
Her words made Agnes Tachyon pause. Her smile faded, and she nodded in agreement.
"Fine... I really haven't been in the best condition these past few days."
"And I should stay in good shape if I'm going up against that Little Heavenly Horse. I'm sure she'll give me a few surprises."
"Besides—"
Agnes Tachyon shifted her attention from Heavenly Horse Platinum, who greatly interested her, to someone else.
After all, Platinum occupied a significant place among the subjects studied by the mad Uma Musume scientist.
The person who could make her change the subject of her own accord was...
"Doctor Lin—the doctor who completely cured Senior Teio's fracture in such a short time."
Though Agnes Tachyon didn't think there was much wrong with her, she was willing to make time to meet the Doctor Lin who'd traveled all the way from America.
Perhaps she only had some discomfort in her leg. A few days' rest should be enough, right?
"He's no ordinary man, either."
"After all... he's the doctor who's captured the attention of America's very own Monster of Big Red!"
"I'll make some time in the next couple of days to get to know Doctor Lin."
Meanwhile.
On the training track, Daiwa Scarlet was training alongside her close senior, Tokai Teio.
Compared to the young and healthy Daiwa Scarlet, Tokai Teio was still recovering and had yet to return to peak form. She couldn't maintain her previous training volume just yet.
So Tokai Teio finished this stage of her training early and went to rest on a bench beside the track.
Wiping away her sweat with a towel, she picked up her phone out of boredom.
Not long after she turned it on...
She came across some information, and the eyes of Tokai Teio, the senior Uma Musume with an Undefeated Two Crowns title, suddenly widened.
"Wait, why have the Japanese Derby and Oaks entry lists been updated after the regular registration deadline?"
"Let me see..."
A few seconds later, Tokai Teio seemed to have witnessed something astonishing. Her voice suddenly rose, and she cried out in surprise.
"Huh?!"
Daiwa Scarlet, who was still running nearby, was drawn to the commotion. After all, it wasn't every day that Tokai Teio, one of Japan's most highly regarded Uma Musume, lost her composure like this.
"Senior Teio, what's wrong?"
"Platinum! She—!"
The moment Tokai Teio uttered Platinum's name, Daiwa Scarlet stopped in her tracks and perked up her ears.
"Platinum's given up on racing in the Hopeful Stakes this year and challenging for the Undefeated Triple Crown next year! Instead, she's entering the Classic races this year!"
Tokai Teio read the news on her phone aloud, her voice full of amazement.
"She paid the hefty entry fee and registered for both the Oaks and the Japanese Derby. She'll challenge at least one of them!"
Giving up her chance at the Undefeated Triple Crown to compete against monsters like Agnes Tachyon for the remaining two Classic titles—or to go after a less prestigious Fillies' Two Crowns...
From any angle, it didn't seem to make sense.
Why would Platinum do that?
Tokai Teio suddenly remembered how she'd acted as Platinum's guide yesterday. When they'd finished looking around, she'd asked Platinum which races she planned to enter.
Had the three fingers Miss Heavenly Horse had held up been a hint?
"Three fingers... Does that mean she's going for the Classic Triple Crown? No, that can't be it. The Satsuki Sho's already over."
"Or could it be—the Triple Crown of Transformation?"
Faced with this unprecedented Triple Crown, one that could never be achieved again, Tokai Teio's first reaction was disbelief.
But if...
If it was true, and Platinum really won...
It would be an even more impressive achievement than the Undefeated Triple Crown!
"Could it really be... the Triple Crown of Transformation?"
Daiwa Scarlet was left completely stunned.
The honor student couldn't stop blinking.
She'd lost to Platinum in the Debut Race, and she'd even asked whether Platinum planned to challenge for next year's Classic Triple Crown or Fillies' Triple Crown. Back then, she'd been desperate to get revenge!
But Platinum's answer had been, "I'm entering the Classic races this year." Daiwa Scarlet hadn't taken her seriously.
She hadn't realized... Platinum wasn't joking. She'd meant exactly what she said.
Wait, didn't that mean their relationship had gone from being "sisters" to being "mother and daughter"?
Platinum was supposed to be her peer, but now she'd become her senior? And she was going to face Daiwa Scarlet's idol, Agnes Tachyon?
"Ugh..."
"Senior Tachyon, you absolutely can't lose!"
The next day.
Wearing a white coat, Agnes Tachyon walked toward the medical office of a certain foreign doctor, her head lowered as she read the text message glowing on her phone.
Daiwa Scarlet: Senior Tachyon, if you go up against Platinum, will you win?
It had only been a day, and already so many people were interested in the Japanese Derby showdown between her and Platinum?
Agnes Tachyon smiled faintly. Before stepping into Lin Anran's medical office, she sent one last reply.
Agnes Tachyon: If my opponent is Platinum, things might get a little tricky.
Agnes Tachyon: But... I'll win!
"'When can I rest?' 'You'll be able to rest forever after this.'"
Agnes Tachyon: If my opponent is Platinum, things might get a little tricky.
Would she lose?
Agnes Tachyon: I'll win!
A declaration of victory before the Japanese Derby!
Brimming with confidence, Agnes Tachyon knocked on the door of the medical office.
A moment later, she heard footsteps approaching from inside.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Agnes Tachyon saw the doctor in charge of the office: the somewhat well-known Lin Anran!
Lin Anran, who'd opened the door himself, hadn't expected to find a brown-haired Uma Musume wearing an oversized white coat standing outside.
The brown-haired girl's eyes were as vivid as rubies, and she looked straight at Lin Anran.
The two exchanged glances for a moment, each reacting in a different way.
Lin Anran immediately recognized the Uma Musume. She was the greatest threat to Platinum's Triple Crown of Transformation!
This was... Agnes Tachyon!
But why was she here?
What Lin Anran hadn't expected was that Agnes Tachyon would give him a meaningful smile and look him up and down with interest.
She was both calm and composed, and yet seemed delighted to have come across a priceless work of art. It was almost as if she were inspecting... a valuable treasure.
In short, it wasn't the reaction of an ordinary Uma Musume visiting a doctor for help.
In fact, she'd known about him long ago... even before Tracen Academy learned of Lin Anran's existence.
Agnes Tachyon was fascinated by the possibilities sleeping within Uma Musume's bodies, and by subjects like how to reach top speed as quickly as possible. She needed to study the world's best Uma Musume.
But a doctor couldn't treat herself, and she couldn't study herself while running. For that, she'd need a research partner—or, as she liked to call them, a little guinea pig.
And America had more than one peerless monster who was even stronger than she was! Agnes Tachyon figured that rather than finding someone to study her, she might as well study those terrifying monsters. That was how she'd learned of the young doctor who had drawn their attention.
Agnes Tachyon was sure this mysterious young doctor was no ordinary man.
"Lin... An...ran. I believe that's your name."
Agnes Tachyon stepped closer and continued.
"Good afternoon, Doctor Lin. I came all the way from America."
"Agnes Tachyon?"
Lin Anran looked at the genius Uma Musume and mad scientist before him with surprise. He'd only met her yesterday.
He should have been the one who knew Agnes Tachyon, while she didn't know him, right?
Usually, a doctor's office was like the homeroom teacher's room back in school. Most people stayed away, and no one went there unless they had a reason.
So why had this outstanding and exceptionally gifted Uma Musume come to his office? And how did she know his name, not to mention that he'd come from America?
The young doctor had only been in Japan for about two weeks, and he'd never told anyone he was from America. Most students should have known only that he was a foreign doctor.
As far as he knew, only the higher-ups at Tracen Academy should have known that.
Lin Anran didn't think much of it. Agnes Tachyon wasn't an ordinary Uma Musume, after all. It wouldn't be surprising if she'd found out about him through the student council or somewhere else.
That wasn't important. More than his identity, Lin Anran wanted to know why Agnes Tachyon had come!
Could Agnes Tachyon be...
Another big-spender, like Tokai Teio?!
Just thinking about the possibility made Lin Anran feel nervous and excited.
Before you continue