Inside the Student Council Office, Rudolf stared blankly at the white glove.
"That's the glove Tokai Teio threw at the Kikuka Sho. I'm surprised you kept it," Air Groove remarked from the side.
Only after carefully putting the glove away did Rudolf reply, "It's an invitation from Teio, after all. I have to take it seriously."
"An invitation? Most would call that a challenge," Air Groove said, piercing through Rudolf's pretense.
"How is McQueen doing now?" Rudolf changed the subject.
"In terms of skill, she's flawless. But she seems to be getting stuck on minor details," Air Groove replied, her tone laced with clear concern.
"Growth always comes with risks. As long as they support each other, they'll surely overcome any hardship," Rudolf offered her perspective.
"You always seem so calm and detached, President. I wonder if you'd be this composed if it were Teio in McQueen's place?"
Rudolf gave an awkward laugh. "As expected of the 'Empress'—always so sharp."
Despite their words, they knew they could only watch as the young saplings grew on their own.
On a familiar bench from their past, McQueen sipped her green juice while scrolling through her phone, an irrepressible smile playing on her lips.
"A beautiful win."
She put her phone away and spoke to the side, "Since you're here, why not show yourself?"
As she finished speaking, a rustling sound came from behind a nearby tree trunk.
"You found me~" Tokai Teio emerged from behind the tree, sticking her tongue out playfully.
McQueen handed Teio a cup of Honey Tea, and the two sat together.
"When did you notice me?"
"From the very beginning. Your tracking skills are still as terrible as ever."
They sat in comfortable silence, gazing at the massive billboard on a nearby building. McQueen's image dominated the entire screen—she had fulfilled her promise and reached the pinnacle of her era. The former title of "The Twins" had long since vanished, replaced only by "The Strongest of Their Era."
"How long has it been since we last saw each other?"
"About two years, I think."
"Time really flies," Teio sighed. "Back then, there were three of us."
McQueen felt a pang of nostalgia. It had been so long since they'd parted ways. Time truly galloped like a racehorse, leaving her to lament how much had changed while the world remained the same.
"How are things at the Student Council?"
"Everything's fine. Everyone takes great care of me."
Who would have thought those jokes we made back then would actually come true, one after another?
"During my time at the Student Council," Teio continued, "I've seen things I never noticed before. Things that we, at the top of the pyramid, overlooked. I think it's about time I made my choice."
McQueen thought Teio had matured a lot. She used to be so much more childish. McQueen even saw a hint of Rudolf in Teio—the very person Teio had tried so hard not to become, yet now they were growing more and more alike.
McQueen wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. All she could say was, "That's good."
Teio swirled her cup, finding it empty. She stood up and smiled at McQueen.
"See you."
"See you."
Teio patted her rear and walked away. McQueen, lost in thought, also broke into a smile. She downed the rest of her green juice, stretched lazily, and prepared to resume her training.
They hadn't said anything particularly profound, just stolen a moment to meet amidst their long, separate journeys. Yet for both of them, this brief reunion held immense significance.
The aftershocks of the press conference hadn't yet faded when Kousei set out on a new journey. If her actions proved effective, someone was bound to get restless.
On the day of her departure, Jade didn't come to see her off, and Kousei didn't wait for her.
Instead, their two Trainers had a few words to exchange before she left.
"As promised, Kousei's physical data and training plan."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. It's just a collaboration."
Rohan Ye teased, "You're even harder to approach than Kousei."
"Well, as long as that girl gets to run, she's happy with anything," Reiko didn't deny it.
"I'm leaving the rest to you," Reiko said, looking at Rohan Ye earnestly. He nodded.
"Of course."
Reassured by his firm reply, Reiko felt a little more at ease.
The plane carrying Kousei and her team took off once more. After they were gone, Rohan Ye started walking back.
"Why do we still need Kousei's physical data? Don't we already have Jade?" a staff member at his side finally couldn't hold back his confusion.
"It's precisely because we only have Jade that we need Kousei's data."
"I don't understand."
Rohan Ye patiently explained, "Genius has never been the sole standard. Kousei may lack natural talent, but she still defeated Jade. She possesses exceptional strategic awareness and planning skills, and her cornering technique is superb. In the grand strategic game, Jade was the one who lost, so it was only natural that she lost the race.
"Their clash on the final straight was truly brilliant. The way she managed to defeat Jade's final leg was incredible. For the Eastern Lands to welcome Umamusume from all over the world, we must have a systematic, widely adaptable theory.
"We can't rely solely on Jade's talent. We must find a method that allows even those with mediocre talent to win. Kousei is a crucial piece of that puzzle. Perhaps we should shift our focus from talent to experience.
"After watching Kousei's race, I can't shake this feeling. I just keep thinking that I have to do something."
The staff member listened, completely bewildered. Only someone who could see through Kousei's thoughts and plans, or who had experienced the race firsthand, could truly understand.
The moment they entered the Final Straight, Jade had already lost.
"This is taking too long. When does training start?"
Jade was already dressed and ready, seemingly desperate to begin. A faint smile touched the corner of Rohan Ye's eyes. This battle had yielded a bountiful harvest for the Eastern Lands.
The long-dormant gears had finally begun to turn, driven by the will to "Let Genius Become Genius." The great ship of the Eastern Lands was now setting sail toward the distant shore.