Compared with Hokubu Genkoma's Debut Race, this race day was somewhat cloudy, but the track conditions were excellent.
This was Hokubu Genkoma's second time competing at Tokyo Racecourse, and she was clearly calmer than last time. When Yasui Makoto led her onto the grounds, she no longer looked around curiously as she had before.
Since the race was the seventh of the day, scheduled for 1:25 p.m., they methodically completed the track familiarization, warm-up, and introductions before heading to a restaurant reserved for the racers.
Then they encountered three unexpected Uma Musume.
"You didn't even know the restaurant's serving windows had changed, yet you still claim to be very familiar with Tokyo Racecourse?"
"I really did race here quite often back then. Besides, I've been studying in Europe all these years. It's not as if Tokyo Racecourse would specifically notify me about its renovations."
"Europe? Ha-ha-ha! What a coincidence! I've been touring Europe frequently these past few years. Did you ever go see me, Vodka?"
"I've heard about your performances, senpai. I originally wanted to go, but one of my projects reached a critical stage... Still, if you perform again, I'll definitely go support you."
"Ha-ha-ha! Then it's a promise. I'll reserve the best seat in the audience for you."
"I'll go support you too, senpai!"
"No problem. Leave it to me!"
"Hey, could you stop copying me all the time?"
"When did I copy you? Besides, I have plenty of free time ahead of me, okay?"
"You make it sound as if I'm going to be busy..."
"Well, you two are still as close as ever. Shall I arrange a private room for you?"
"Absolutely not! And! It's not like we're close!" x2
Their conversation and bickering could be heard from quite a distance. Yasui Makoto glanced over without thinking and froze.
Beside him, Hokubu Genkoma cried out in delighted surprise.
"Ah! It's Good Opera-senpai! And Yamato-senpai and Vodka-senpai!"
...So how had these three Uma Musume ended up together?
While Yasui Makoto was still wondering, the three Uma Musume on the other side heard Hokubu Genkoma's voice and turned toward them in unison.
"What a coincidence, Xiao Bei. I was planning to look for you later... Come sit with us."
Yamato Akagi waved with a smile before looking at the two Uma Musume sharing her table.
"Good Opera-senpai, this is the junior I mentioned—the one I came to cheer for, Hokubu Genkoma."
As she spoke, Hokubu Genkoma had already excitedly carried her tray over, with Yasui Makoto following behind her thoughtfully.
"Hello, senpais! My name is Hokubu Genkoma, and I'm a first-year student at Tracen Academy! This is my Trainer, Yasui Makoto!"
"Hello, I'm Yasui Makoto. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me." Yasui Makoto introduced himself as well.
"You should know this Good Opera-senpai already."
Yamato Akagi continued with the introductions.
"I don't need to say much about myself. As for this one..."
With faint disdain, she glanced at the brown-haired Uma Musume beside her.
As if she hadn't seen Yamato Akagi's disdainful look, the brown-haired Uma Musume pressed two fingers to her temple in a cool salute, gave a stylish flick of her hand, and nodded at Hokubu Genkoma with a grin.
"Yo, Xiao Bei. Long time no see."
Then she looked at Yasui Makoto.
"Hello, Trainer Yasui. I'm Vodka. It's a pleasure to meet you... Hey, could you make some room for her?"
The last sentence was directed at Yamato Akagi with open annoyance.
Unwilling to back down, Yamato Akagi glared at her.
"I did make room, okay? And have you put on weight from eating in Europe all these years? It's so cramped."
"I train every day, okay? You're the one who should have gotten fat!"
"You train every day and you're still this fat? What kind of training is that?"
"Don't believe me? Tokyo Racecourse is right outside. Want to run a lap?"
"Heh. You think I'm afraid of you? Let's run!"
Seeing that the two Uma Musume were actually rolling up their sleeves and heading for the track, Good Opera sat across from them with the look of someone who had seen it all before, making no attempt to stop them.
Hokubu Genkoma awkwardly twitched the corner of her mouth, while Yasui Makoto remained calm on the surface, though he felt strangely unsettled inside.
Vodka was the Uma Musume known alongside Yamato Akagi as the "Peerless Duo."
During their racing careers, the two had jointly shattered the prejudice surrounding the distinction between male and female racers. Beyond that, they were genuine archrivals.
The first time they met on the track, they had fought each other for several hundred meters down the final stretch, taking first and second place while leaving the third-place finisher a full six Horse Lengths—or fifteen meters—behind.
The winner of the Tulip Sho had been Vodka. Yet in the following Oka Sho, Yamato Akagi immediately took the victory back.
Then, in the Shuka Sho, the winner was once again Yamato Akagi.
By the time of the following year's Autumn Emperor's Prize, Vodka had won again, and she had even improved Special Week's finishing record by a full 0.8 seconds.
Naturally, such legendary careers had become widely known throughout the industry, and fans still relished discussing them.
Yasui Makoto had paid attention to all this before, but at the time, he had assumed that two Uma Musume who clashed so fiercely on the track probably didn't get along very well off it either.
But after seeing their relationship with his own eyes, how should he put it? They appeared to be arguing fiercely, yet somehow...
It looked almost like they were flirting.
"...Trainer, don't be scared..."
While Yasui Makoto was secretly feeling perplexed, Hokubu Genkoma quietly tugged at his sleeve and whispered:
"The two senpais have always been like this. They're actually very close; they just look as if they're arguing..."
"We're not very close!" x2
"...Um, exactly."
All right. They really were flirting. Yasui Makoto nodded silently.
At that moment, the Uma Musume across from them spoke.
"Hokubu Genkoma... I remember now. You're in the 1:30 p.m. race, aren't you?"
"Yes! That's right, Good Opera-senpai!"
Like a student answering a question in class, Hokubu Genkoma immediately sat up straight, then looked puzzled.
"How did you remember my race, senpai...?"
The Uma Musume called Good Opera had an exceptionally magnificent air about her. Her attire was equally elaborate: each ear bore two jeweled earrings, and a dazzling Crown rested atop her head.
"Because one of my juniors is in that race. I'm here to cheer for her. Satono Diamond—do you know her?"
"Of course I do. We often hang out together, but..."
Hokubu Genkoma hesitated. "I don't think Satono ever mentioned knowing Good Opera-senpai...?"
"She has probably heard my name, but I truly haven't met her yet." Good Opera nodded naturally, a trace of helplessness and melancholy flashing through her eyes. "So, to be more precise, I'm here to cheer for her Trainer."
"Her Trainer...? Good Opera-senpai, you know Satono's Trainer?" Hokubu Genkoma's ears twitched.
"Of course I do. After all..."
Good Opera let out an almost inaudible sigh and rose with a smile.
"She could be considered my Trainer once."
"Well, it's almost time for when I promised to meet her, so I'll take my leave first."
"As for my upcoming tour performances, you... Oh, I mean all four of you—if you're interested, feel free to come watch. I'll reserve seats for you."
"Don't worry. It will absolutely be world-class entertainment. Ha-ha-ha!"
(One shot of Overlord
Vodka is cool, and that's all that matters
Peerless Duo
Before you continue