Okutama Town, where Mitou Mountain was located, lay within the Tokyo metropolitan area to begin with. After Kitasan Black finished training on Friday afternoon, the group drove down from the mountain and returned to central Tokyo a few hours later.
They got off at the station near evening and boarded the subway heading toward their reserved hotel.
Just like at the various G1 Races before, giant projection screens on buildings were everywhere from the subway station onward, playing race footage, Horse Girl promotional posters, and CG scenes from the races.
Two of the Horse Girls featured in the promotions looked very familiar: Special Week, who had always helped Kitasan Black before, and Grass Wonder, who had assisted with the practice race.
Inside the subway car, the ceiling speakers repeatedly played these Horse Girls' individual theme songs, while passengers could be seen everywhere with Horse Girl illustrations printed on their backpacks or phone cases.
Already excited before they had even come down from Mitou Mountain, Kitasan Black eagerly looked around the whole way. Every so often, she pressed herself against the subway window, eyes wide and tail swishing as she peered about.
"Whoa! So this is the Dream Cup? It's even livelier than the Triple Crown!"
"Little Kita, don't lean on it like that. It's dangerous..."
Rather than responding to Kitasan Black's excitement, Silent Suzuka beside her gently advised, "And it'll inconvenience the other passengers too..."
Still pressed against the glass and staring outside, Kitasan Black froze. Turning her head, she saw the surrounding passengers watching her with curiosity or barely suppressed laughter. She hurriedly turned around and sat properly, smiling sheepishly as she bowed apologetically to those around her.
Holding a brand-new promotional booklet in his hand, Anjing Zhen glanced up.
"Of course it's lively. The Dream Cup participants are