"Deep Impact! Can you please answer our questions?!"
"Deep Impact! Is your sudden return to the racetrack after so many years related to a compromise with Shadai?!"
"Deep Impact! About the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe scandal back then...?"
After the Osaka Hai, everyone realized that this inconspicuous Uma Musume named 'Depth Collision' was actually the Undefeated Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, Deep Impact, who had finally returned to the Uma Musume racing scene.
A top tier figure like her, who was even once hailed as the 'crystallization of the essence of the Japanese Uma Musume scene,' of course, immediately attracted a large number of reporters.
These reporters had initially only been stationed here to interview Meisho Doto for her winning remarks after her near certain victory.
—And, if they were more daring, they secretly hoped to see Meisho Doto lose terribly where they would then interview her on her feelings of defeat. A popular Uma Musume like her losing would be more sensational, after all.
But the appearance of Deep Impact completely threw them into disarray in a way that perfectly matched her name.
In an instant, everyone in the Racecourse, booth reporters and spectators, surrounded Deep Impact, who had just taken off her hood and wiped off the rest of her makeup.
Unexpectedly, this time, Deep Impact did not avoid them, but she also did not go out of her way to answer anything.
She just silently walked forward, letting the security personnel clear a path for her before she quickly entered the lounge.
Click.
As Deep Impact closed the door, her eyes suddenly widened at the sight of Fumino Nase, who was already in the lounge, pausing slightly.
"...Long time no see, Deep Impact."
"...Heyo, Trainer Nase."
Deep Impact's surprise lasted only a moment, however, and she quickly recovered her gentle smile.
"I didn't expect to meet you here. When was the last time we met? Nearly four years, right?"
"Time really changes people... just look at me and you! Especially you, Trainer Nase, you look way happier— oh? Wait, Trainer Nase, do you have someone you like now~?"
"...I'm not here to talk about things like that."
Though Fumino Nase's response might feel normal to others, to Deep Impact, who had a close relationship with her, her expression immediately turned from teasing to disbelief.
The Fumino Nase Deep Impact knew would immediately become flustered and act all tsundere when teased like this; but the fact that she was being so silent could only mean...
"Huh...? No way... Trainer Nase, did you really find someone you like?!"
"Tell me! Tell me! Who is it?! Is it a guy or a girl?! Are they handsome or not?! Is it Super Creek? Or is it that Trainer Wada..."
"—Deep Impact, entering a GI race like this will negatively impact you even further. A half-dead Shadai is still Shadai; are you trying to poke the hornet's nest?"
Fumino Nase very forcefully and stiffly changed the subject, looking up to Deep Impact and saying very seriously,
"Shadai's biggest fear is your participation, which might bring back the incident in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back then. They might..."
"Ey, it would be even better if they kicked me out of Shadai; then I can do whatever I want."
Deep Impact was very natural in front of Fumino Nase, smiling widely as she sighed.
"Unfortunately, that's impossible... Still, it's not like I'm being reckless enough for them to take action."
"—Having your results nullified, alongside a six-month suspension. If that isn't being reckless, then what is?"
Fumino Nase rubbed her temples upon hearing this.
"Honestly... Did the other Trainers only teach you how to run?"
"Heh, maybe~ if Trainer Nase had continued to be my Trainer back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different."
Deep Impact tried to dress their history with a joke, but Fumino Nase only gave silence as a response.
Clearly, this was history that neither of them were rather fond of.
Few people knew this, but Deep Impact's first Trainer was actually Fumino Nase, who was later changed out with other Trainers in accordance with Shadai's philosophy.
However, as Deep Impact's first Trainer, Fumino Nase held a large part in her heart, with Deep Impact never truly forming a bond as close as hers with the other Trainers, though she still appreciated them for training her.
In fact, it was Fumino Nase who taught Deep Impact the meaning of running, but it was also because of their eventual separation that she decided to not involve herself in any Uma Musume training matters until she successively went overseas.
"...Eh, sorry. Didn't mean to blame you there, Trainer. It's just... that I want to tell you that I have always remembered the meaning of running that you taught me."
"'To challenge others, and one's own self to become the true Pinnacle of Japanese Uma Musume,' I'm still working hard towards it, even now."
It was just then that Deep Impact also bowed slightly to Fumino Nase.
In the end, Fumino Nase could only just let out a long sigh, as she walked out of the lounge, saying with an indifferent tone,
"Then continue onward, Deep Impact... This time, however, I can't stand with you."
"It's all good. I'm happy to compete with the Uma Musume trained by you, Trainer."
Deep Impact still said with a gentle smile.
Clearly, she was happy from the bottom of her heart about Fumino Nase's decision to leave Shadai.
"They weren't trained by me... never mind."
Fumino Nase shook her head, and before leaving, she turned her head towards Deep Impact one last time.
"I understand that you just want to enjoy the thrill of the challenge, but Deep Impact, don't be too arrogant. Don't think that no one in Japan can overthrow you."
"Meisho Doto might be considered a strong Uma Musume, but she is definitely not the strongest. Looking at the new generation with old eyes will lead to heavy regrets."
...
When Fumino Nase left Deep Impact's lounge, her mood was not very high; after all, her former Uma Musume was suspended for six months.
Although it was child's play compared to the many years she was shelved by Shadai, a six month suspension was still a six month suspension.
Still, Fumino Nase knew very well that this was just Deep Impact's warm-up for her true return.
Knowing Deep Impact's personality, Fumino Nase guessed that the reason she did this was to show the world that she was still as strong as before in order to build hype.
It just so happened that the Uma Musume who served as Deep Impact's stepping stone was Meisho Doto.
Of course, hiding her strength and then popping up like that did make Deep Impact feel a little dirty, so she 'compensated' Meisho Doto with the GI win, while she herself was suspended for six months to build up tension within the audience, it was a win-win situation!
She was only there to announce her return, not to actually win the race.
Glory, GI crowns... such things held no meaning for Deep Impact, who only pursued the 'process' of the race.
"Trainer Nase."
At this moment, Wada's voice ahead made Fumino Nase immediately look up, and she subconsciously smiled, asking,
"Trainer Wada... How is Meisho Doto doing?"
"Sigh... although she nominally got first place, she still lost to Deep Impact, so she's feeling very down. T.M. Opera O is comforting her now."
After finding Fumino Nase, Wada started walking alongside her and couldn't help but ask,
"You seem to know Deep Impact? You seemed to realize her identity far faster than anyone else."
"...I'm sorry, Trainer Wada, I never mentioned this because I thought Deep Impact would never race again."
At the mention of this, Fumino Nase also said with some guilt,
"Deep Impact was once my assigned Uma Musume... Although it was only for a brief year, many of her foundational skills were taught to her by me at that time."
"That was many years ago. I had also just joined Shadai then, and Deep Impact was assigned to me as my first Uma Musume. After that one year together, we ultimately separated due to Shadai's policy."
"I see..."
Wada nodded understandingly upon hearing this, and Fumino Nase slightly tilted her head, feeling a bit strange.
"You don't seem surprised?"
"Hmm, you could say I somewhat guessed it."
Wada spoke ambiguously; after all, Fumino Nase was the 'Yutaka Take' of this world, so it wasn't surprising for her to have some connection with Deep Impact.
Yutaka Take was Deep Impact's designated Jockey after all, just like his relationship with T.M. Opera O.
The only difference was that Fumino Nase in this world seemed less fortunate than Yutaka Take, only spending a year with Deep Impact instead of accompanying her in battle until the end.
Truly, the Shadai of this world seemed even more ruthless than the Shadai in his previous world.
Just then, seeing Wada's brows slightly furrowed, she couldn't help but ask curiously,
"Trainer Wada, are you worried that Deep Impact's comeback will affect our team?"
"—No, I'm trying to figure out a way to get Deep Impact to leave Shadai and then become your assigned Uma Musume, Trainer Nase."
Wada smiled at Fumino Nase, whose face had a stunned expression, as he naturally said,
"Separating from your assigned Uma Musume... It must be hard, right? I could not even bear the thought of T.M. Opera O being taken by another Trainer; that would be worse than killing me."
"If Deep Impact were to join our team, you would feel much more at ease, wouldn't you, Trainer Nase?"
"...Then we'd have to buy Deep Impact out, and that amount of money probably wouldn't be enough even if we sold ourselves."
Fumino Nase, hearing this, let out a rare, slight chuckle.
She didn't mock Wada's naive idea; instead, she felt unexpectedly warm inside.
However... Wada's words did give Fumino new motivation. Perhaps she could do something to help Deep Impact escape Shadai's control.
"Wada..."
"Hmm?"
"...From now on, I'll just call you Wada. I hope you'll also start just calling me Nase too."
Fumino Nase turned her head away a little awkwardly, and said in a nonchalant tone,
"We've known each other for a while now, and we're partners. Being so formal... it makes it seem like our relationship is bad."
"...I understand, Nase."
After a brief moment of silence, Wada also agreed in a relatively natural way, without any hesitation, instantly making the somewhat awkward situation much more relaxed.
However, the slight action of closing a bit of distance from Fumino Nase still indicated Wada's stance after realizing something.
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My math exam's coming up soon... calculus is genuinely whoopping my ass.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.