The Abnormal Tempo of the Opening

Fujimasa March had not only won all sorts of championships in Local Races, but had also successfully entered Central Racing. Though she had not left behind any particularly outstanding results there, she was still far beyond comparison to most.

Even after retiring, she was often invited to coach at Kasamatsu Academy and even Nagoya Academy, and sometimes raced against exceptionally gifted juniors.

For a friend of that caliber, Noren Ace simply could not imagine why Fujimasa March cared so much about a junior.

Before she could finish, Fujimasa March shook her head again. "How is it, exactly? I don't know either. But—"

She pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the calm back of silver-gray long hair not far ahead. Her tone carried a trace of seriousness. "When have you ever heard Oguri Cap—joke about something like this?"

At those words, Noren Ace and the others froze, their faces taking on thoughtful, somewhat astonished expressions.

Before they could fully digest that statement, Tamamo Cross's shouting voice rang out over the broadcast. "Hey, hey! You lot over there still fooling around! Stop holding things up already, everyone's waiting for you to enter the gates!"

Fujimasa March froze as well.

She instinctively looked toward the Commentary Booth, where Tamamo Cross had already planted one foot on the table, one hand on her hip and the other holding a microphone pointed this way. Beside her, Berno Light covered her face with one hand while desperately tugging at Tamamo Cross's hem with the other, trying to pull her back down.

Over on the spectator stands, most people were looking their way with amused or slightly awkward expressions, clearly waiting for them to enter the Starting Gate.

Fujimasa March's face instantly flushed red. She hurriedly called to her friends, who were still standing there