The shockwaves of the Middle Distance final continued to ripple through the stadium. The 2400-meter turf at Tokyo was more than just a stretch of grass; it was the "King's Road," the hallowed ground of the Japan Derby and the Japan Cup. For a Trainer or a horse girl, winning on this stage was a once-in-a-lifetime dream—the pinnacle of a career. The Central elite had entered this race believing that even if they stumbled elsewhere, their supremacy here was a mathematical certainty.
The result had left them catatonic.
"Yo. Brought some juice for Minami-chan and Kami-chan. Want some? ...Actually, yikes. This is a pathetic sight."
"..."
Rampage had sauntered into the Trainers' stands with a handful of drinks, only to find a scene of total desolation. Earlier, the regional trainers had been boisterous, but now even they had fallen into a stunned silence alongside their Central counterparts. The atmosphere was less like a sporting event and more like a wake. Seeing that even her usual brand of teasing wouldn't get a rise out of them, Rampage simply handed over the bottles.
"Thank you," Minamisaka muttered. "As you can see, we're a bit... occupied."
"I get it," Kamimizuru sighed, taking a drink. "It's one thing for a Regional girl to take the win, but a girl from a general school taking the Middle Distance? Even if our top-tier Twinkle Series girls aren't in this bracket, this sting is going to linger."
"No kidding," Rampage chirped. "It's like watching a legendary powerhouse baseball team get demolished by a tiny rural agricultural school at Koshien. It's the kind of upset that breaks people's brains."
The metaphor was painfully accurate. The regional trainers weren't celebrating because they were busy looking inward. If a girl from a regular, non-specialized school could become the champion, it meant the regional training programs were just as "stagnant" as Central's. It was a wake-up call that demanded a total systemic overhaul.
"Well, if this makes everyone actually use their heads for once, it's a win. If not, hey, not my problem," Rampage said, leaning back.
"Was this... part of the plan too?" Minamisaka asked.
"Look, I know the feud between Central and the Regions is nasty," Rampage replied, her tone sharpening. "But is it only Central's fault? The Regions spent years doing nothing but complaining about Central's attitude instead of actually making moves. They're just as guilty of coasting."
Her words cut through the stands like a blade. Many looked away. They knew she was right—they had let resentment replace ambition.
"Now then," Rampage gestured toward the track. "Let's see if the 'Normies' take the Long Distance too, or if the Regions or Central can finally find their pride."
『The URA Finals, Turf Long Distance: 2500 meters! And—they're off!』
『A clean start for the entire field. They're forming a tight pack early on. It seems no one is willing to commit to an "Escape" strategy today. Who will take the initiative? It's Glen Sink from Central! She's slid into the lead with a smooth, effortless stride. Following her are Gold Fake and Albet Doyle!』
『Glen Sink was forced into the lead by the pack's hesitation, but she's adjusted beautifully,』 the commentator noted. 『Central needs to show some backbone here.』
In a long-distance race, leading from the front is a gamble—few have the stamina to maintain it. Most of the field chose a "Leader" position, driven by a desperate need to stay visible. The Central girls, in particular, were feeling the psychological weight of their losing streak. They were pushing forward not out of strategy, but out of panic.
In contrast, those who had come to simply give their all were eerily calm.
『Two lengths back, we have the British student, Steel Haze, biding her time. Behind her is Massive Road from Hokkaido, who boasts power forged in the fields and Ban'ei sled racing. And there, holding steady, is Satono Lucifer from the prestigious Satono family!』
『The Satono family is a rising power in the racing world, putting immense resources into their girls. Expectations are sky-high for her!』
『Bringing up the rear are Bullet Train from Tokyo and Aurum Ala from Ibaraki!』
They rounded the second corner and hit the straight, but the lead pack remained a cluttered mess. The girls were playing mind games—shifting positions, trying to use each other as windbreaks, and constantly jockeying for a tactical advantage. It was a restless, nervous pace.
Watching this from the back, Steel Haze allowed a thin smile to play on her lips.
"If that's how you want to play it, I'll take the burden off your hands," she murmured. "Follow me if you dare—but do so at your own peril!"
With a sudden, violent burst of speed, Steel Haze ignited. They weren't even halfway through the race, yet she was surging forward as if the finish line were yards away.
『Steel Haze is moving! She's accelerating rapidly! With incredible closing speed, she's joined the leaders—no, she's blown right past them! She's taken the lead! But can she possibly sustain this pace until the end!? The pack is speeding up to catch her! This is becoming a dangerous game!』
『Indeed,』 the color commentator added. 『Steel Haze might look lean, but her explosive power and stamina are legendary. She's trying to bait the field into a trap. If they don't have the sheer grit to break through her pace, they'll burn out before the final turn.』
It was a tactic reminiscent of Rampage's "Phantom Lead"—disrupting the rhythm of the race so thoroughly that the other runners' stamina bars were drained by pure confusion and stress.
『We're approaching the third corner! Steel Haze still leads! Glen Sink, Gold Fake, and Albet Doyle are in hot pursuit—wait! Massive Road is beginning to climb from the back!』
『Look at that cornering! She's hugging the rail perfectly!』
"The turf is nice," Massive Road grunted, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "But based on the hoofprints... this is where the ground starts to give way."
『Gold Fake is fading! Dual Spill and Sound Cataw are dropping back!』
The lead group was crumbling. They had tried to match Steel Haze's erratic pace and had paid the price in oxygen. Seeing the opening, the stayers who had been conserving their strength began to move before they even hit the final straight.
『Steel Haze enters the straight! Can she pull off the miracle escape!? Glen Sink and Albet Doyle are spent! Massive Road is surging! Satono Lucifer is coming! Here she comes! She's flying! But look at the back—Aurum Ala and Bullet Train are charging through the middle! The Fuchu straight is long! Who has anything left!?』
『Steel Haze finds another gear! What incredible lungs! She's still extending her lead even now! But Aurum Ala is closing the gap! Satono Lucifer won't be denied! And Bullet Train—she's living up to her name, she's a silver streak on the turf! Massive Road is right there too!』
『200 meters to go! Steel Haze is still holding! Can she do it!? Bullet Train is neck-and-neck! Satono Lucifer is a hair behind! Steel Haze! Steel Haze! Can she hold!? NO! Bullet Train has leveled with her! WAIT—SATONO! SATONO IS SURGING! IT'S THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA! SATONO LUCIFER!!!』
『SATONO LUCIFER TAKES IT! She swallows Steel Haze at the wire to claim first place! Second goes to Steel Haze, third to Aurum Ala, fourth to Bullet Train, and fifth to Massive Road!』
『The Satono name has officially arrived! Keep your eyes on this family!』
"Huff... huff... did I... did I win?"
"You caught me," a voice panted.
Steel Haze stood beside her, surprisingly composed despite the grueling finish. She looked at Lucifer and began to clap with genuine respect.
"I lost, Lucifer. That truly was the dawn of the Satono dynasty. A magnificent opening act for your family."
"I... I actually won...?"
Lucifer looked up at the leaderboard. Her number was at the top, glowing against the afternoon sky. She had stepped away from the front lines of racing to secure the future for her younger sisters, never dreaming she would stand on a stage like this. When she turned toward the stands, she saw the Satono household staff, her father, and her mother, all dissolved in tears of joy.
"I did it... I did it!" Lucifer cried, her voice cracking with emotion. "This race... this scrap! It's my win!"
"Ha! Steel actually got beat," Rampage chuckled. "Maybe she went for the long spurt a bit too early. If she'd timed it like Neicha, she might've pulled it off."
"It was an effective gamble," Kamimizuru noted, "but she'll get better with experience."
"Still..." Minamisaka sighed, looking at the results. "That's two in a row for the general school girls."
"Is that a problem?" Rampage asked, grinning.
"For you? Clearly not," Minamisaka replied dryly.
The 1st URA Finals
Inaugural Long Distance Champion: Satono Lucifer
-------------------------------
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