The signal lights changed color, and fourteen figures burst out of the gates, thundering toward the front of the course.
The one Shirayuki had to watch most closely in this race was undoubtedly Mejiro Dober. Because Fujiwara Chiya's position was not ideal, Shirayuki did not have the ability to view the entire course. Even so, she could roughly guess where Mejiro Dober would choose to position herself.
Between eighth and tenth place. Most likely on the inside.
Over the past month, Chiya's main training method for Dober had been weaving through a crowd. For that purpose, he had specially called Rice Shower, Doto, Fukukitaru, and the others over as sparring partners. He had even borrowed a few Uma Musume from Kiryuin, all to gather a group close to the scale of an actual race.
At present, the mainstream acceleration method among Uma Musume was accelerating on the outside. There were no obstructions there, allowing them to move forward at full power. But it also had a fatal drawback. Running around the outer lane consumed more stamina, and finding the opportunity to move out there was also difficult.
What Fujiwara Chiya had trained Mejiro Dober to do was accelerate from within the pack. This technique required her to accurately find the gaps between Uma Musume, grasp the timing, and slip through the instant both sides left just enough room for a person to pass. One slight mistake, and she might crash straight into someone.
Of course, the reason for training this was that mid-pack acceleration was more unexpected than outside acceleration, and it also conserved more energy. The distance needed to overtake was shorter too. It was a running method where risk and reward coexisted.
When Fujiwara Chiya first mentioned the idea to Mejiro Dober, she agreed without hesitation and trained hard at it. After nearly two months of training, Mejiro Dober had more or less mastered the technique.
This race would be the moment she displayed those results. She could use mid-pack acceleration to reduce stamina consumption, and in a race, stamina was everything.
Shirayuki's heart thumped rapidly. She perked up her ears, listening to the chaotic footsteps mixed into the wind. Without the advantage of sight, she had to compensate with her other senses. Hearing was also an important signal for judging the movements of other Uma Musume.
"Currently leading is Radiant Moment, with Glory Remnant Night in second!"
Shirayuki was currently in fourth position. This race, unusually, had no escape runners. The pressure on forward runners was quite heavy, especially for those at the front, who had basically started fighting for position the moment the race began. Shirayuki did not want to waste too much stamina there. With no escape runner, there was no need to fear someone deliberately dragging the pace off course.
Following closely behind them was also a good choice.
At the same time, Shirayuki also noticed the difference between Classic races and Triple Tiara races. She could clearly feel that the overall level of Uma Musume in Classic races was stronger than those in the Triple Tiara. The aggressive running style common in Classic races was rarely seen among Triple Tiara runners.
Take escape runners, for example. In Classic races, every race had at least two or three. It was the running style with the highest chance of winning, and also the one that tested an Uma Musume's raw ability the most. But in the Triple Tiara, it was rare to meet an Uma Musume who ran as an escape runner.
Shirayuki understood why this happened. Although Central stated that the Classic Triple Crown and the Triple Tiara held equal value, in people's general understanding, the Classic Triple Crown was considered more important. When people spoke of a Triple Crown winner, they usually meant the Classic Triple Crown. Any Uma Musume with strength would basically choose to participate in the Classic races.
That was why the difference between the two continued to exist. When people spoke of a once-in-a-lifetime race, most would think of the Japanese Derby rather than the Oka Sho.
Does that mean this isn't a battlefield for the strong?
No.
That's not it at all!
What determines whether an Uma Musume is strong or weak is not the race she participates in, but the power of the Uma Musume herself. In the past, I only wanted to know what it felt like to become an Uma Musume. But now that I have truly become one, I can feel it… that uncontrollable desire for victory and speed.
Family, friendship, love. In front of a race, all of them must step aside. What is tested here is the strength of an Uma Musume. It is speed!
So, Mejiro Dober, this is the most merciless battlefield in the world!
Shirayuki gritted her teeth, and a cold light rose in her eyes.
"The race has entered the second turn! Currently leading is Glory Remnant Night!"
First and second place changed positions. During the turn, because the first runner had been too far outside, the second-place runner seized the opening and overtook from a position tight against the rail.
That competitor's fundamentals were very solid. Her steps were stable, and she did not drift from her path during the turn.
Shirayuki looked at the markers along the rail. The race had now reached the middle stage.
Soon.
At this distance, Mejiro Dober's moment to accelerate would arrive any second.
Tap, tap, tap, tap…
From within the pack came a rapid rhythm of footsteps. Shirayuki felt something drawing closer and closer.
Pa!
A powerful step struck the ground, and a brown figure threaded her way out from the crowd. Clear purple eyes stared forward like sharp blades. A faint violet flame burned within them.
It was Mejiro Dober!
She had broken through the pack and charged toward the front.
"Mejiro Dober is accelerating! She's accelerating from within the dense crowd! What incredible agility! Mejiro Dober has successfully moved into fifth place!"
She's even stronger than she was during training!
Shirayuki's heart beat faster. She had watched Mejiro Dober's special training every day, but when the real race began, Dober's ability still exceeded Shirayuki's expectations.
She's already moving!? Earlier than I imagined!
Chiya had told her that if Dober's condition was good, she might accelerate earlier than planned. But Shirayuki had not expected her to move this much earlier.
Those cool eyes glanced at Shirayuki. Then Mejiro Dober decisively passed by her side.
"Mejiro Dober has moved into third place!"
As the announcer's voice rang out, Fujiwara Chiya clenched his fist in the spectator area.
Those eyes.
Those cool eyes.
Only one word came to Fujiwara Chiya's mind.
Obsession.
That was Mejiro Dober's obsession with the race, her obsession with victory. She had always said that she wanted to win so she would not disgrace the Mejiro name, that she wanted to become an Uma Musume worthy of her surname. But Fujiwara Chiya realized that even if she had not been born into the Mejiro family, Mejiro Dober would still be an Uma Musume who longed for victory.
That spirit of never compromising lightly and seeing things through to the end was extremely rare, even after Fujiwara Chiya had watched so many races.
From the first time he met her, Fujiwara Chiya had wanted to say it. Although Mejiro Dober seemed timid and hesitant, deep in her bones, she had an unyielding spirit. That spirit was worthy of respect.
Even so, Shirayuki had no intention of simply handing victory over.
Her gaze sharpened, and Shirayuki suddenly felt the sounds around her stretch out. The movements of the Uma Musume around her also slowed. They moved like frames in a slideshow, one image at a time.
"Mejiro Dober."
Settle this with me!
"The race has entered the final turn! Glory Remnant Night leads! Mejiro Dober is second! Wait! It's Snow Dancer! As the race enters the final turn, Snow Dancer has begun accelerating!"
The air around them seemed to sink. The snow-white figure lowered her body like a white wolf running across the grassland, her sharp steps cutting into the track.
Long-distance acceleration was unfavorable for her. Shirayuki understood that. Every bit of special training Mejiro Dober had done was aimed at her. Stamina, power, speed. The three had been skillfully combined, creating the situation Shirayuki found hardest to deal with.
But just like Mejiro Dober, Shirayuki had also devoted everything she had to become stronger. She had trained her willpower, trained her stamina, trained until everything was worn down, then continued again the next day, repeating the cycle over and over.
All of it was for the final victory.
Even knowing that Dober was using her own strength to strike at Shirayuki's weakness, Shirayuki still charged forward without hesitation.
Her pupils narrowed to the size of pinholes. Shirayuki gritted her teeth and sprinted.
As if she had known what Shirayuki would do from the beginning, Mejiro Dober was also advancing toward Glory Remnant Night in first place.
In the stands, everyone stared at the racecourse. Gold Ship gripped the railing with both hands. Meisho Doto's legs were trembling. Even Matikane Fukukitaru was meaninglessly muttering "great fortune, great misfortune" under her breath.
"Two hundred metres remaining! First place is Mejiro Dober! Second place is Snow Dancer!"
The gap in ability showed itself here. After her intense training, Mejiro Dober overtook the first-place runner and took the lead. Shirayuki refused to back down and followed closely behind.
Mejiro Dober gasped for breath. Her condition in this race was better than ever before. Her acceleration through the pack had been practically perfect. She had not collided with anyone, and she felt that her stamina was still full enough. Mejiro Dober had started her sprint fifty metres earlier than originally planned. She knew Shirayuki's weakness. The earlier she accelerated, the greater the pressure on Shirayuki.
Here, Mejiro Dober thanked her trainer. If she had not gone to the hot spring to relax, she would not be in such excellent condition now.
But it was still too early to say anything. Mejiro Dober could feel Shirayuki's burning heart, and the determination to win that was in no way inferior to her own.
The real race starts now!
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Mejiro Dober clenched her teeth.
In the Student Council room, Rudolf and the others watched the screen seriously.
"Did you see that, Air Groove?"
"Mm. Only for an instant."
But in that instant, Shirayuki had half a foot on the threshold of the zone.
"It's a shame the training time was too short. If she had a few more months…" Air Groove pinched her chin.
"It's fine. The closer an Uma Musume gets to her limit, the more she can comprehend the true essence of the zone."
Remembering races from the past, the corners of Rudolf's mouth rose faintly.
"Failure can also be a form of growth."
At that moment, the announcer's voice came from the television.
"The final one hundred metres! First place is Mejiro Dober! Second place is Snow Dancer! Less than two lengths separate them! Will Mejiro Dober create her own three-race winning streak, or will Snow Dancer continue her dominant march to victory!?"
Shirayuki's legs felt as if they were about to burn. Sweat blurred her eyes. She had never felt the track to be so long. Behind her, the gap to third place had already widened to a full five lengths.
Shirayuki felt that her footsteps were beginning to stop obeying her. Forced acceleration placed too heavy a burden on her. Mejiro Dober's sprint speed was even faster than she had expected. Shirayuki had underestimated her strength.
But accelerating early had also placed an enormous burden on Dober. Right now, Mejiro Dober's steps were no longer as powerful as they had been at the beginning.
Both of their stamina had already hit bottom.
Now, it was a contest of will.
Shirayuki swallowed and lowered her body.
Gather all of my focus into a single point… then charge forward without hesitation!
Pain like stepping onto red-hot iron came from the soles of her feet. Shirayuki gathered the last of her strength into her ankles. The greatest advantage of this body was its extraordinary flexibility. She would completely draw out the last remaining energy she had.
"Two lengths, one length… they're side by side! Snow Dancer and Mejiro Dober are side by side!"
Shirayuki thought of her race against Seiun Sky. Back then, Sky's strategy had also forced her to this point.
But now, she was much stronger than she had been then.
One step faster.
One more step faster!
Shirayuki wrung out the last of her strength. Her lungs felt as if they had inhaled steel nails. The pain was unbearable. Each breath sent a chill through her spine.
"She's overtaken her! First place is Snow Dancer!"
Finally…
Shirayuki.
Suddenly, Shirayuki heard something. More accurately, she sensed something.
She felt those purple eyes staring straight at her.
I once said I wanted to win so I wouldn't disgrace the Mejiro name.
I lied.
In truth, I'm the one who desires victory.
Only you.
Only you!
I don't want to lose to you!
"Only you, Shirayuki! You are my goal!"
Foam mixed with blood spilled from the corner of Mejiro Dober's mouth. Her eyes suddenly widened. Her trembling legs stretched straight, and the gap that had slowly begun to open was once again closed.
"Mejiro Dober has counterattacked! Mejiro Dober has counterattacked!"
Just before the finish line, Mejiro Dober clenched her teeth so hard they made a crisp sound. Frightening blood vessels appeared in the whites of her eyes. Even so, she still moved forward without hesitation. Two metres before the finish line, she finally stepped ahead of Shirayuki.
"They cross the line!"
The announcer's voice rang through the racecourse.
After a few brief seconds of silence, the racecourse erupted with explosive cheers.
"The winner is Mejiro Dober!"
"Oooooohhhh!"
At this moment, the queen of the racecourse had been born.
Mejiro Dober slowly came to a stop. Her body swayed, nearly falling several times, but she still held on and raised her fist high.
She was the victor of this race.
Turning her head, Mejiro Dober looked at Shirayuki. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but only heavy breathing and a hoarse, mosquito-like sound came out.
Tears streamed from her eyes, and saliva ran from the corner of her mouth. These were instinctive reactions of a body pushed to its limit. To win, Mejiro Dober had given everything.
Looking at her mouth opening and closing, Shirayuki understood what she was saying.
I did it.
Just as she had said before the race, she had surpassed Shirayuki.
Mejiro Dober had won, and Shirayuki had suffered her first defeat in the Twinkle Series. Looking at Mejiro Dober, who seemed to have become the center of the world, a strange feeling surged in Shirayuki's heart.
It was the frustration known as defeat.
"Guinea Pig-kun."
"Mm?"
"Why are you crying with one face and smiling with the other?"
At the finish line, Fujiwara Shirayuki lowered her head as tears fell. In the spectator area, Fujiwara Chiya was applauding Mejiro Dober's victory.
The two formed a striking contrast.
That's right.
Why?
Fujiwara Chiya looked at Mejiro Dober, whom he had personally trained. She was bathed in the crowd's cheers, enjoying that dazzling glory.
"Because I am half trainer, and half Uma Musume."