The bugle sounded, and the Umamusume burst from the starting gates.
Kousei and Morgan had drawn outside gate positions, and in the initial scramble, neither managed to secure a favorable spot. Morgan seemed to have a late start, possibly influenced by Kousei. Kousei eventually settled into the rear of the mid-pack, just barely managing to hold her ground, while Morgan held back at the very back, waiting for her moment.
Although Morgan's slow start was unexpected, the commentators weren't overly concerned, given her proven skill. Morgan herself appeared distracted, her mind seemingly elsewhere.
"Mommy! Is Sister Kousei falling behind?" Jamie tugged at his mother's sleeve, his voice filled with anxiety.
"Her position isn't ideal, but don't worry. The race has only just begun," his mother replied gently, trying to soothe him.
She hadn't originally planned to attend the race. It had been a long time since she'd followed Umamusume racing. But Jamie had heard about the event somewhere and insisted on coming, so she had tagged along.
It was only on the eve of the race that she learned Kousei's story had become a viral sensation online. Now, she found herself genuinely curious to see what the future of the Umamusume world would look like.
The race was 2500 meters, counter-clockwise. The turf was in slightly poor condition, still damp from a sudden downpour the previous night. A headwind added another layer of difficulty. However, the lack of Front-Runners resulted in a slower pace, giving the racers time to adjust to the track.
Morgan suppressed her doubts and focused entirely on the race. She didn't know what Caesar was ultimately planning, but she had accepted the bounty, and the mission had to be completed.
From her position at the back, Morgan locked onto Kousei and began to accelerate, closing the distance at incredible speed.
Whatever you're planning, it won't matter once I defeat you here.
Morgan's charge was exceptionally fierce. While everyone else was still adapting to the turf, she moved as if completely unaffected.
"An attack in the opening stage? Is Morgan trying to seize a better position?"
The commentator seemed unable to comprehend Morgan's move. Typically, if a racer failed to secure a good position during the initial scramble out of the gates, they would conserve energy in the mid-pack until the middle stage. The only exception would be if multiple Front-Runners were vying for the same spot.
The opening stage was short, and with the pack still forming, there were too many unpredictable variables. It was pointless to waste energy on a thankless effort.
But when the others saw Morgan charge straight for Kousei, they understood. She wasn't trying to seize a position—she was trying to box Kousei in. It was common knowledge that Kousei preferred to attack from the mid-pack. During the opening stage, she would be mentally constructing a framework of the race: capturing positions, analyzing information, and predicting movements.
Kousei's Chaser style allowed her to react to any situation from her central position. Morgan clearly knew this and intended to disrupt Kousei's rhythm from the very beginning, leaving her no time to strategize.
Got her!
Due to her earlier mistake in the scramble for position, Kousei was running on the outside, making it easy for Morgan to approach her from the flank.
They clashed.
"Huh?!"
"?"
Morgan seized the opportunity to slam into Kousei from the side, only to be sent reeling back herself. In that instant, both their eyes filled with confusion.
She didn't budge! How is that possible?
Morgan was extremely confident in her Power, considering it at least First-Rate, if not top-tier. Yet when she collided with Kousei, her opponent hadn't moved an inch.
"Even Caesar couldn't remain completely still. Could her Power truly surpass Caesar's by that much?"
Morgan was confused, but Kousei was even more so.
In all my NAU races, this is the first time anyone has willingly gotten this close to me.
In terms of pure Power, only McQueen could definitively overpower Kousei. Against Brian and Cloud, it was a 60/40 split, with Kousei holding a slight edge—they were essentially evenly matched.
The others weren't even in the same league. For Kousei, the hardest part was always closing the distance, which was why she typically launched her attacks on the turns.
Fine. If you're bringing the fight to my doorstep, I'll see it through to the end!
Kousei naturally wouldn't let such a prime opportunity slip away. She seized the moment and launched her own counterattack against Morgan. The pressure on Morgan instantly multiplied, as if a mountain were crashing down on her, leaving her struggling to breathe.
As they battled in the outer lane, their rankings plummeted to the back of the pack. Morgan had been too arrogant. She knew Kousei liked to use her body to pressure opponents' positions, but she had been overconfident in her own Power. Just how strong could Kousei possibly be? she had thought.
I see now, Morgan realized. Her racing style is primarily about control. She uses her Power and Gate Technique to compensate for her lack of raw speed.
As a star-level competitor who had conquered countless racetracks, Morgan's judgment was razor-sharp. Having deciphered Kousei's strategy, she already had a countermeasure in mind.
She immediately eased her pace, sidestepping the brunt of Kousei's attack.
Once free from the bind, Morgan cut toward the inner lane. At almost the same instant, Kousei also moved inward to block her. But Kousei was a step too slow. Morgan quickly hugged the inner rail, rapidly built momentum, and began running as if she had wings.
Most of the Umamusume had already fully adapted to the slightly damp turf, and their quickened pace had opened a significant gap between them and the two racers at the back.
For Morgan, this distance was no problem. By taking the shortest path along the inner lane, she swiftly rejoined the main pack.
So that's it. I just need to find ways to evade her. To make up for her disadvantage, she'll probably use that 'Gate Technique' next.
Shedding her earlier disdain, Morgan began to watch Kousei's movements closely. But after waiting for some time, nothing happened—yet Kousei was steadily catching up.
Kousei hadn't used her Gate Technique. Instead, she simply accelerated and closed the gap through sheer stamina. At this stage of the race, most competitors were conserving energy for the final stretch.
"Kousei's in a tough spot," one commentator remarked. "She's fallen way too far behind. Charging up from the very back will waste so much stamina."
"Exactly," the other agreed. "That was an irrational decision. She failed to notice the pack's shift and fell to the rear before they surged forward. With her running ability, she'll have to burn an enormous amount of stamina to regain her position."
Neither commentator approved of Kousei's strategy. They even believed that her failure to secure a good position at the start had dealt her a devastating blow. After all, Kousei had never started a race from the back of the pack. Once a racer becomes accustomed to a specific opening, switching to an unfamiliar one can leave them flustered and prone to mistakes.
Simply put, she couldn't handle playing from behind.
"Oh no! Was that man right? Is Sister Kousei going to lose?!" Jamie cried out. Though he didn't understand the intricacies of the race, the commentators' analysis made him realize Kousei was in trouble.
His mother didn't know how to comfort him; everything the commentators said was true.
Who are they? she wondered, suddenly noticing Reiko and her group. They seem to be Kousei's team. Is that her Trainer?
The more the mother watched, the more something felt off. Kousei was clearly in a terrible position, yet her Trainer looked completely composed, as if they weren't worried at all.
"Is she... whistling?"
When things are this strange, something's bound to be wrong. On the racetrack, Morgan keenly sensed that something was amiss.
Would she really make such a tactical blunder? The one who's pulled off countless clever schemes—would she make such a rookie mistake? Why hasn't she used her Gate Technique yet?
The sharp whistling grated on Morgan's nerves, and the growing anxiety made her impatient. A subtle smile played on Kousei's face as she simply trailed behind the pack, whistling, unhurried.
Can't handle playing from behind?
Kousei had been playing from behind her entire life.