"Welcome, everyone, to Hanshin Racecourse! Today's main event is the G2 Tulip Sho! Who will claim the crown of this race and advance toward the Triple Tiara, the road symbolizing honor and beauty?"
The announcer's voice echoed across the racecourse. After seeing Shirayuki and Mejiro Dober off at the competitors' passage, Fujiwara Chiya led his team to find seats.
"Guinea Pig-kun, there's space over there." Agnes Tachyon tugged at his sleeve and pointed ahead.
"Good. You lot, come with me," Fujiwara Chiya instructed.
For this race, he had deliberately chosen a grass spectator area close to the track. From here, they could see more clearly, but they could not observe the entire course. In past races, Fujiwara Chiya had always used his all-seeing perspective, almost like playing a real-time strategy game. For this race, he had decided to give up that advantage.
After all, he had already told Mejiro Dober everything he could tell her. Even if he opened the full-map view, it would not help much. How could he break his own strategy? For once, Fujiwara Chiya would step onto the racecourse in single-system Uma Musume mode.
"Guinea Pig-kun, are you sure you want to stay here with us? There are still seats upstairs."
"Tachyon, don't underestimate me. Even without full-map vision, my ability won't drop."
"You're that confident? Then why don't I just knock you out and let Shirayuki race on her own? That way, you won't be distracted by all the shouting around you either."
"Stop! I won't get distracted by something like that!"
Seeing Agnes Tachyon reach into her pocket, Fujiwara Chiya hurriedly pulled her hand out. However, what she was holding was a pair of binoculars.
"I merely wanted to see more clearly." Agnes Tachyon showed a teasing smile.
I should never have responded to her.
In the spectator area directly behind Fujiwara Chiya, a middle-aged man of around fifty gazed out at the racecourse. Beside him stood a pink-haired Uma Musume.
"Watch their movements carefully, March. These people will be your opponents in the future."
"Yes."
"You've also seen Trainer Fujiwara Chiya during this period. What do you think of him?"
"He's a pervert."
"…Hm?"
Nase Hideto looked at Kyoei March, who had suddenly grown angry.
"I was asking about his ability as a trainer. Although I also very much want to beat that brat up, as a trainer, Fujiwara Chiya's fundamentals are extremely solid. Never underestimate the tactics arranged by a steady, methodical trainer. They are willing to spend an entire month just to develop one excellent strategy."
It was foolish. Spending so much effort just to raise the chance of victory by a tiny amount. With that time, one could study tactics for other racecourses instead. A trainer should not hang everything on a single race.
However, such trainers were also very troublesome, because once they targeted a race, it became very difficult for others to win.
And Fujiwara Chiya belonged to the type who, once he locked onto a race, would begin studying it with everything he had.
What a foolish boy.
One person alone was too slow. With two people, it would be just about manageable. He did not even have a trainee under him. Doing things this way was only wasting his own time for no reason.
Nase Hideto silently criticized him.
Preparing for two consecutive races would definitely place considerable pressure on him. In other words, during the Oka Sho, his tactics would certainly contain obvious flaws.
Nase Hideto intended to use this race to let Kyoei March see the hidden cards his opponent had and what level of ability they possessed, so she would have a clear idea. The Oka Sho would be the moment for her to strike.
"Yes… I understand." Kyoei March clenched her fist.
Trainer was right. Even if that person was a troublemaking lolicon, she could not underestimate him!
…
"Now then, please welcome our competitors onto the field!"
After finishing the pre-race opening, the announcer loudly declared the start of the introductions. Inside the competitors' passage, Mejiro Dober and Fujiwara Shirayuki walked side by side.
"Dober-nee, last time, you said you saw me as an opponent you absolutely had to defeat, right?"
"That's right."
"I feel the same way. But my opponent isn't only Dober-nee."
Shirayuki looked at her seriously.
"I will defeat everyone who stands in my way."
Hearing those words, Mejiro Dober's pupils contracted. Then she lightly exhaled, and the aura around her changed.
The older sister who had once cared for Shirayuki in every possible way disappeared.
Standing in front of her now was the Uma Musume known as Mejiro Dober. Her gaze was incomparably firm, and her eyes no longer held their usual softness.
"Shirayuki, you will defeat everyone. But I will defeat you."
At this point, there was no need for either of them to say more. They walked onto the racecourse with heads held high.
"Oooooohhhh!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from the stands.
Mejiro Dober, with two races and two wins.
Snow Dancer, with three races and three wins.
Their popularity was neck and neck, and both had become the brightest rising stars of this race.
"Mom! Hurry, the race is starting!"
The little filly dragged her mother toward the spectator area, gripping the railing and bouncing up and down, trying to get a clearer view.
"I can't see…"
"Ara, what a cute little one. Are you having trouble?"
Beside her, an Uma Musume with a thick braid standing upright asked gently.
"I can't see the race."
"I see. Then would you like to sit on my shoulders? From up there, you'll be able to see."
"Can I, onee-san?"
"Of course."
As she spoke, the Uma Musume bent down and let the little filly sit on her shoulders.
"Rai! You can't just climb onto someone you don't know!"
"Madam, I'm the one who offered. This child wants to watch the race."
"But this is far too much trouble for you…"
"It's all right. I rather like children."
"What's your name, onee-san?" Rhein Kraft asked from her shoulders, holding onto the other girl's ears.
"Super Creek."
"Please have all competitors enter the gates!"
While the two were speaking, the announcer's voice came from the racecourse.
Entering the gate, Fujiwara Shirayuki felt the coldness of the frame and took a deep breath.
Spirit, willpower, concentration, confidence.
Gather them into a single point, and what radiated from that was presence. Beyond presence, entering a realm detached from the ordinary, was the zone of an Uma Musume.
Right now, I've only glimpsed one corner of the zone through Air Groove, but…
Fujiwara Shirayuki clenched her fist.
What truly decides whether I can enter that realm is the resolve to place myself in death and find life!
All at once, Shirayuki felt her mind grow light. It was as if an invisible layer had wrapped around her. Even though she was looking forward, Shirayuki could clearly sense the movements of the people around her. They bent down and took their starting positions.
When Shirayuki's senses landed on Mejiro Dober, she saw those purple eyes. Deep within them, a layer of scorching flame seemed to be burning.
Thump!
Shirayuki's heart suddenly pounded, and her body grew heavy.
At the same time, the gate indicator flashed.
With a loud clang, the world before her opened wide, and the announcer's voice rang out at the same moment.
"The race has begun!"