2400m, Turf Track, Left Handed, Sunny
"Twin Turbo, a front-runner type. A maverick escape artist. Based on her race records, she'll sprint at full speed from the start. The key is to apply pressure and limit her lead. However, according to the data, she lacks the stamina to maintain this pace for the entire race. If we let her run free, she'll eventually burn out."
Bitter Glasse had originally planned to conserve her energy and let Twin Turbo exhaust herself.
"But my power is excellent. Maybe I should challenge her out of the gate. If I can seize the lead, I should be able to control her front-running."
After their pre-race exchange, Bitter Glasse decided to test Twin Turbo's mettle head-on, as she had suggested.
"Turbo chose this track?"
Twin Turbo's decision surprised Kousei and the others, as the 2400-meter distance was slightly longer than her optimal range.
2000 meters was Twin Turbo's optimal distance. Yet she deliberately avoided it, extending the race length and undeniably raising the stakes.
"This track is pretty much the same as the Derby," Teio remarked, watching Twin Turbo inside the gate. She was completely focused, showing no trace of her usual playful demeanor.
The gate swung open.
Bitter Glasse surged forward immediately, getting off to a smooth and strong start.
But Twin Turbo on the other side was even faster.
In that split-second after the gate opened, Twin Turbo had already gained a full horse's length lead on Bitter Glasse.
"That's the explosive start of a Front-Runner!"
With lightning-fast reflexes and an explosive start, Front-Runners carve out their initial lead right from the gate.
"She's even faster than I thought," Kousei mused, watching Twin Turbo's dazzling start. The sight brought back memories of her race alongside Silence Suzuka, her first experience with the Front-Runner style, where she had been utterly defeated.
At the Japan Cup, Kousei had only managed to defeat Speedstar by using her Gate Technique to restrict Speedstar's start, then using the pack to block her path.
Kousei didn't know what would happen if she allowed Speedstar to take the lead, and she had no intention of finding out.
Although Twin Turbo wasn't Speedstar or Silence Suzuka, she was a true Front-Runner through and through.
If it were anyone else, how would they deal with a Front-Runner who had successfully taken the lead?
"Go, Twin Turbo! Full throttle!"
"Run! Run!"
Amidst the cheers, Twin Turbo, as expected, sprinted at full speed from the start. It's common knowledge that reaching top speed takes time, so everyone initially holds back slightly.
However, what sets Front-Runners apart is their exceptional acceleration. They reach top speed much faster, surging ahead while others are still gradually building momentum. This is an incredibly simple yet lethal strategy: pure escape.
"As expected, we can't stop her. Just maintain the gap and don't let her pull too far ahead."
Bitter Glasse had anticipated this scenario, so she wasn't overly concerned.
Maintaining her pace, Bitter Glasse followed Twin Turbo. In the early stages of the race, there's likely no way to restrain Twin Turbo. The gap can only be closed little by little. The true battle between them will begin in the mid-race.
"Damn it! I can't shake that muscle maniac!"
Even with Twin Turbo sprinting at full throttle, she couldn't shake Bitter Glasse. The gap between them was too small to decide the race.
Moreover, Twin Turbo's speed was beginning to drop slightly, a subtle change that didn't escape Bitter Glasse's keen eyes.
"Her speed's dropping, and we're in the perfect position. Now! Push forward and pressure her!"
Bitter Glasse surged forward with explosive power from her powerful legs, closing the distance to Twin Turbo with astonishing speed.
"Coming for me? Not so fast! I still have reserves—you won't catch me easily!"
Twin Turbo steadied her breathing, preparing to maintain her pace.
"What's up ahead?"
Glancing up, she realized they were approaching a long, sweeping turn.
"Damn it! So that's it!"
There were always exceptions, and compared to other Front-Runners, Twin Turbo's cornering skills were subpar. In past races, she had always slowed down through turns. For a Front-Runner who maintained top speed throughout the entire race, this was a fatal weakness, and her opponents would invariably exploit it to pressure her.
"She's slowing down again, and didn't even notice the turn."
"Twin Turbo hasn't changed a bit, huh?"
Laughter erupted.
For some reason, the laughter sent a pang of unease through Kousei's heart. A deeply unsettling feeling made her involuntarily furrow her brow.
"I can do this! I only need five seconds to catch up to her!" Bitter Glasse declared confidently. Though she couldn't overtake Twin Turbo before the turn, if she could secure a parallel position, her superior physical prowess would allow her to steadily overpower her opponent.
Everything seemed to be unfolding as Bitter Glasse had predicted. But just as she reached out to strike, a scorching gust of wind, like scalding steam, blasted into her face.
The searing heat forced Bitter Glasse to shut her eyes.
"Engine, Full Throttle!"
Instantly, a deafening roar filled the air. The scorching wind carved a path of its own, fiercely embodying the Front-runner's rebellious spirit.
"Turbo Time!"
The thrusters in her boots erupted, launching her forward like a projectile. In a single instant, she gained three horse lengths.
"This is...!"
Bitter Glasse stared in disbelief. Twin Turbo's technique was unmistakably a second-stage acceleration. This wasn't a skill typically associated with Front-Runners; it immediately brought to mind the second-stage acceleration demonstrated by that Genius.
"Seriously? Twin Turbo had this up her sleeve!"
"As expected of Twin Turbo! Always full of surprises!"
Twin Turbo's new technique set the racetrack ablaze once more, with spectators erupting into excited chatter.
"It's quite reminiscent of Turbo's style," Teio remarked approvingly.
Like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, Twin Turbo's high-revving Engine propelled her forward with supercar-like speed, lending her run a Legendary aura.
"Heh heh! Surprised you, didn't I?" Little Shark Tooth grinned mischievously.
A Front-Runner's spirit unleashed, an engine pushed to its limits, and a dazzling trail of flames.
This was one reason why people adored Front-Runners, especially those who dared to stage a Grand Escape: the sheer spectacle of leaving rivals far behind with flamboyant style.
"Turbo is amazing! She's so fast!" Urara exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly at the sight.
"Indeed! Since our cohort lacks strong Front-Runners, we rarely get to see this running style. Watching it now, it's truly captivating," Mejiro McQueen admitted, a hint of excitement in her voice. But she quickly shifted her tone: "Still, I wonder if Turbo has the stamina for this? It's a longer distance than she usually runs."
"She'll be fine," Kousei interjected confidently. "We've been focusing on endurance training with Turbo. If she chose 2400 meters herself, she can definitely handle it!"
Though Kousei wasn't entirely confident, she trusted Twin Turbo's judgment.
"Having enough stamina to finish 2400 meters isn't enough," Tokai Teio pointed out. "After all, there are no opponents to push her during training."
As Tokai Teio spoke, everyone's gaze shifted to Bitter Glasse.