The upheaval in Central was merely an interlude for Kousei. All she could do was watch from the sidelines. After all, from the moment her Central registration had been revoked, she was officially an outsider.
Lately, Reiko and Aoi had been incredibly busy, often nowhere to be found. Kousei suspected they were plotting something behind the scenes. Everyone seemed to be operating that way—pursuing their own agendas, moving in secret, like undercover agents.
Kousei wasn't particularly concerned. For one, she genuinely didn't care. For another, caring wouldn't change anything.
Still, she occasionally glimpsed letters bearing the seals of both Central and the Eastern Lands. She guessed they were related to the turmoil in Central.
Returning to the main topic, Kousei's entry into the AF rankings officially marked her ascent to the world-class tier. Aoi wasn't about to let such a rare opportunity slip by. She struck while the iron was hot, launching a massive promotional campaign.
Kousei's momentum was already formidable; a little push was all it took to unleash a tidal wave. A frenzy dubbed the "Cinderella" phenomenon was sweeping the globe. As NAU's star player and Representative of the Year, any match featuring Kousei dominated the viewership ratings. Her merchandise sold out the instant it was released, leaving Reiko counting cash until her hands went numb.
"These! And these! Everything here! Wrap it all up for this young lady!"
Even though they were just shopping at the mall, a clear change in Reiko's behavior was already evident. Her way of referring to herself had become so ostentatious.
And what about Just a Way?
"Hehe! Now Way can finally complete her sticker collection!"
Just a Way was obsessed with collecting Gray Umamusume merchandise. Kousei sighed, feeling utterly helpless.
Looks like everyone's picked up a bad habit.
Of course, Kousei had no right to criticize them. She herself was hardly immune to the same law.
"The latest training shoes! So cool!"
Just a few days ago, Kousei had been glued to the window of a sports equipment store, buying a huge haul of the newest training gear. She couldn't resist the allure of new shoes, horseshoes, and training manuals.
They all used the same excuse to deceive themselves: We've fought our whole lives. What's wrong with enjoying ourselves a little?
The team wasn't short on money now, so naturally, their equipment and resources had improved across the board. Kousei's stage was growing larger, and the small-time gear from their early days could no longer support her.
The NAU tour was nearing its end. Kousei only needed a few more wins to make the final leap to the Arc de Triomphe. She knew well that the closer one gets to success, the greater the danger, so she never slacked off in her training.
This city was called Yunlin. As one of the later stops on the NAU tour, it boasted a highly developed Umamusume culture. The quality of its local competitors was quite impressive, and it had produced many legendary figures over the years.
However, like all NAU stops, Yunlin lacked internationally recognized races. As a result, its local competitors almost always left to compete in international events.
The only local competition available to them was the NAU tour itself. But the NAU starts in Rukomachi, and so far, Kousei was the only one who had made it this far.
It was only natural for competitors to avoid the difficult route and choose a more advantageous path. While logical, this choice, which had spurred Yunlin's development, also created problems.
With all its top talent leaving, the city, which relied on Umamusume culture for its growth, had effectively stagnated. After an initial burst of explosive development, it had settled into a lukewarm state.
Without a competitor to represent it, this bustling city's inner core had long become like stagnant water.
As for Kousei, her mind had no room for such concerns. Beyond running, she had no other interests.
"This is the last run for today."
Kousei was enjoying her downtime after training, sitting on a bench and gazing at the twilight sky. Day after day, from dawn till dusk.
The evening glow was pleasant, and Kousei smiled faintly.
To others, Kousei's life seemed incredibly dull. If you ever needed to find her, the Training Track was always the right place to look. Yet Kousei found joy in the monotonous training—the wind against her face, the sunset on the horizon, the solid turf beneath her feet.
Everything on the Training Track calmed her spirit. Besides, training was essential for Kousei. Back in Central, the implementation of the Thorough Management Education Program had once caused her to develop an aversion to training. If T hadn't defied the pressure and put her on the Grueling Route, the consequences of that psychological strain would have been unimaginable.
After leaving Central, Kousei's training schedule was personally tailored by Reiko and further refined by Tuoye. The substantial training volume helped alleviate her stress. Kousei was like a fire—without fuel, she would begin to consume herself, quickly burning out and collapsing under her own intensity.
Though Kousei was relatively easy to train, certain aspects still required careful attention.
Her quiet leisure was suddenly disturbed by an out-of-place commotion. Kousei looked up to see a crowd had gathered on the Training Track.
They whispered among themselves, their curious gazes fixed on her. Confused, Kousei watched as the group approached her in an orderly fashion. The man at the front bowed politely. "Welcome to Yunlin, Miss Kousei."
"You know me?" Kousei asked, puzzled.
"I doubt there's anyone in the NAU who doesn't know you."
Kousei thought for a moment before it clicked. So this is what it's like to be famous, she mused.
"My name is Ivan Omar," the man continued. "I'm the administrator of the Yunlin Umamusume Association."
So he's from the Umamusume Association, Kousei thought, sizing up Ivan. He was a refined-looking middle-aged man who exuded an air of reliability.
Mr. Genbao, perhaps because he was both a Trainer and a family man, came across as quite easygoing, despite his rather intimidating appearance.
Rohan Ye, still in his youth, naturally radiated youthful energy. He was just a bit more cunning and arrogant than most—hardly surprising for a boy his age.
Ivan, on the other hand, was the very picture of a reliable adult: suit, tie, glasses. His tone was gentle yet decisive, never wasting a word.
He reminded Kousei of her own father—though T, in truth, didn't seem very reliable at all and was utterly henpecked.
Of course, T himself disputed the "henpecked" label.
"You'll understand when your wife is an Umamusume," he'd say.
Just think about that.
"Hello, Mr. Ivan," Kousei said. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"I've heard so much about you, Miss Kousei, and seeing you today confirms you are truly extraordinary. As it happens, Yunlin is hosting a banquet tonight. I would be honored if you would attend, allowing me to fulfill my duties as your host."
Kousei didn't answer immediately, her mind racing. The banquet was likely just a pretext. He probably wanted to discuss something important and was simply looking for a quiet, private place away from the prying eyes of the crowd.
"Of course, Mr. Ivan. Thank you for the trouble."
No harm in that, Kousei thought. She was curious to see what this administrator was really up to.