"What's wrong, Halo? Done with the call?" Hayato's voice came from behind her. "What did your mother say?"
King Halo turned, trying to look casual. "What else? Same old story. Saying I can't compare to her no matter what." She lightly fanned herself near her chin with her right hand, the gesture completely indifferent.
After hearing the same words over and over, you naturally became immune.
"Wait a minute." Hayato pulled out his phone, expression darkening. "I'm calling her back. I'll get revenge for you. This time I'll definitely teach her how to speak properly, how to be a good moth—"
"No, no need!" King Halo hastily grabbed his arm, her face flushing slightly. "Actually, it's not that serious. Although she didn't praise me, she wasn't using that strict tone anymore thanks to you, trainer."
"How is that acceptable?" Hayato was already pulling up the number. "Some people really need to be taught a lesson before they realize their mistakes."
"Really, it's fine!" King Halo's worry was genuine now. What would happen if Hayato argued with her mother? And when they eventually met face-to-face...
How would she even introduce him? What would she say?
The thought made her chest feel strange.
Unfortunately for Hayato's crusade, the call didn't connect. Calling again, it went straight to voicemail.
Mom probably already knew what he wanted to talk about.
"My mom seems really afraid of you." King Halo couldn't help but giggle, remembering how her mother had asked if the trainer was nearby.
"Halo, you can't be like this." Hayato's tone was serious. "When something bothers you, you should show it. Otherwise, how will she know?"
He'd already met Goodbye Halo before. That woman really seemed like an ignorant mom in some ways. A lot of things probably needed to be said directly, or she'd never understand.
"No matter what, she's still my mom." King Halo's voice softened. "Although her educational methods are different, she does care about me sometimes."
She called this kind of care "alternative concern." Sometimes she envied classmates whose mothers would visit them at school, bring them food, and fuss over them openly.
But families were different.
A first-class uma musume's educational methods naturally couldn't be the same as ordinary uma musume's.
King Halo attending Tracen had been almost like running away from home. Without Goodbye Halo's consent, she'd come here determined to become first-class.
Afterward, Goodbye Halo had been genuinely worried, which was why she'd said so many things, asking King Halo to come home. Words like "Mom's worried about you" and "it's for your own good" were frequently mentioned.
She wasn't a mother who hated her daughter. If she didn't care, she wouldn't make so many calls.
After discovering King Halo's aptitude in race competition was truly poor, she tried even more strongly to prevent her from competing in the Classics.
Her daughter's dream was to become a first-class. But what would happen when she discovered how cruel reality was?
Goodbye Halo had seen from the beginning that if King Halo continued down this path, she'd inevitably face a day of complete despair like other uma musume in her era.
That was the result she least wanted to see, which was why she'd desperately tried to stop it.
It was also a form of escapism. She agreed with the idea that as long as you didn't face challenges, you'd never lose.
Perhaps after Hayato had severely scolded her that one time, she'd changed her thinking. Now she hoped King Halo's dream could truly be realized.
"But is this really okay?" Hayato asked quietly. "You should be acknowledged properly."
"It's fine." King Halo's smile was genuine now, radiant. "As long as I produce even better results, she won't be able to help but acknowledge me." She couldn't wait for the Derby to arrive. "Besides, forcing it wouldn't be real acknowledgment, right?"
She believed that one day, when people saw her mother, they'd say: Look, it's that first-class uma musume's mother.
Yeah, exactly like that. This was her current great aspiration.
"Mm, then let's move toward that goal." Hayato matched her smile. "Next is the awards ceremony, then the winner's stage. We need to prepare for that, too."
They walked back toward the exit together, the noise of the crowd growing louder as they approached.
"YEAH!! Yeah, yeah, yeah! Really? I get to participate in the winner's stage, too!?"
Winning Ticket's loud voice carried clearly even before they emerged. Outside, a discussion was happening about whether to let her participate in the winning stage. After all, it was BNW assembled; missing one would be way too unfortunate.
A female reporter's voice cut through the chatter. "According to the latest information from the organizers, yes. They've agreed to a four uma musume winning stage. And..." She paused for effect. "They may add an additional award slot."
The buzz of conversation stopped.
"Narita Taishin and King Halo are tied for first place. Biwa Hayahide third, Winning Ticket fourth."
"Eh?"
The scene erupted. Voices overlapped, everyone trying to process this at once.
Could this kind of situation actually happen? No second place, but TWO first places?
"So Taishin and Halo actually crossed the line together, right?" Winning Ticket couldn't help but ask, her voice higher than usual.
"By a nose difference," the female reporter clarified, clearing her throat. "The photo finish was reviewed extensively. But after that, the organizers have decided to award Narita Taishin first place as well. However, ownership of the Satsuki Sho crown will still go to King Halo as the technical winner."
"So... a champion without a crown?" Narita Taishin's voice was quiet, processing. This meant that even if she won the next two races, she wouldn't achieve the Triple Crown. The first crown was gone.
"This is already amazing, isn't it, Taishin?" Winning Ticket moved to hug her again, tears in her eyes, but Taishin pushed her away with one hand.
"Don't get emotional on me, Tickezo."
"Looks like we tied this time."
King Halo's voice cut through the noise as she walked out from behind BNW, her stride confident, posture perfect. Every eye turned to her.
She extended a hand to Narita Taishin. "We'll call this one a draw. But I won't give you the crown."
Taishin looked at the offered hand for a long moment. Then she took it, grip firm.
"Mm, I'll consider this one my loss." Her eyes met King Halo's steadily. "Next time, first place will definitely be mine. Crown and all."
CLICK!
Cameras flashed frantically, capturing the moment. Tomorrow's newspapers would feature this prominently: "The King and BNW's First Clash."
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*As usual, the illustration is commented on.