Chapter 86: Now's the Time!
From Mejiro Ardan to Mejiro McQueen, from Mejiro Ryan and Mejiro Dober to Mejiro Bright—every one of them was a G1 Umamusume.
Even Mejiro Ardan, who never managed to seize a G1 title in her career, was by no means a figure to be underestimated.
After all, in her generation she had to face monsters like Oguri Cap, Super Creek, and Inari One.
Though she never once defeated them, she almost always finished in the top three. Such results were far stronger than the vast majority of Umamusume of her generation, and even those before and after.
That was what made the Mejiro family a true "Umamusume dynasty."
By comparison, however much praise the Satono family earned, they still had not claimed a single G1 championship. The gap between them and such a family was plain for all to see.
For this reason, whether spoken aloud or not, everyone in the Satono household regarded winning a G1 race as their greatest and most important goal at the moment.
Now, seeing with her own eyes the strength of G1 veterans at such close range, and watching the difficulties faced by Kitasan Black, her peer, as she struggled on the cusp of the G1 stage, the pressure and nerves weighing on Satono Crown were all too easy to imagine.
Understanding this, Satono Diamond instinctively turned to her sister, wanting to offer a word of comfort.
But just as she shifted her gaze from the track, she saw her sister's eyes suddenly widen in shock.
For a heartbeat she froze, but then realization struck her. Forgetting any thought of consolation, she hurriedly turned her eyes back to the race.
On the track…
Kitasan Black had finally made her decision.
During training, Makoto had explained that this particular technique was most ideally used in the final stretch.
But he had also said this: racing situations changed in the blink of an eye, so your thinking must never be too rigid.
Sometimes, instead of waiting for the so-called perfect timing, it is better to unleash your full strength early, to create that timing yourself.
When he'd explained this, he'd backed it up with examples and drills.
Back then, she hadn't completely understood.
But she had carefully written every word in her notes and carried out every drill with full diligence.
After training, she would sometimes take out her notebook to review, even practice at home on her own.
She hadn't thought about what those efforts would lead to.
She only believed that, compared to her senpai, friends, and classmates, since she wasn't a genius, she needed to work twice as hard.
And now, she realized—effort really did pay off.
After the gates opened, clinging stubbornly to her past training and experience, she had fought to seize the "advantageous" inside lane at the wrong moment, and ended up trapped in a bad position.
She had suffered through the entire opening stage, racking her brain for a solution, until—just as they came out of the turn—an inspiration struck like lightning.
Now!
She had to break free now!
The final sprint? Forget about that—!
If she didn't push through here, her rhythm would collapse even further, and by the time they reached the home stretch it would be far too late!
With that determination burning in her chest, she lowered her body, forcing her breathing into short bursts and shortening her stride.
That was the exact form needed for a sprint.
And in that instant, as she shifted into sprinting posture, a miracle occurred—
Between the senpai who had been blocking her path like a solid wall, a gap suddenly opened.
She had no time to question how it had appeared. Her gaze locked instantly on that gap.
Her heartbeat thundered like war drums, but her legs surged with fresh power.
She drove herself straight into the opening.
And at that exact moment, Tokai Teio's voice rang out from the broadcast with unrestrained excitement:
"Coming out of the second turn—Kitasan Black has chosen to accelerate!"
"What incredible timing! What incredible acceleration!"
"She's finally shaken off the disadvantage from the start! In one burst she passed Vodka, passed Special Week, and now—"
"She's side by side with Daiwa Scarlet!"
The stands instantly erupted, cheers and shouts rolling like waves.
Everyone had seen it: from the very start, Kitasan Black had been locked inside on the rail. But in that instant as they exited the turn, she suddenly exploded with speed so sharp it was visible to the naked eye.
Using that burst—and the gap created when Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka both drifted slightly outward in the turn—the black-haired girl slipped through with flawless precision, pushing up right beside Daiwa Scarlet.
"What—what incredible acceleration—!"
"No way! To show that kind of performance in a race against the senpai—?!"
"That's Kitasan Black, right? Amazing perseverance…!"
Staring at the tightly packed group on the track, Satono Crown's eyes widened.
"Awesome… absolutely awesome…"
She whispered twice, then suddenly lit up with excitement.
"You're amazing, Kita-chan! Keep going!"
Satono Diamond was just as stunned, then quickly followed with her own cheers.
"So fast… Go, Kita-chan! You can do it!"
At the very front of the stands, Duramente—who had been silent the whole time—suddenly brightened, her eyes glinting.
"…Go for it, Kitasan Black…"
Her voice was quiet, almost drowned by the roar of the crowd. Air Groove beside her didn't even hear it.
"Mm… not a bad sense of timing. Looks like Yasui-san must have anticipated this situation."
Nodding in approval, Air Groove folded her arms, chin resting on one hand, sharp eyes fixed on the race.
"But to accelerate to this degree at mid-race… her stamina consumption won't be small. What's her plan for the later stages…?"
At the commentary booth, Mejiro McQueen voiced nearly the same thought.
"An outstanding piece of judgment. Kitasan Black seized on the common gap that opened after the turn, escaping her earlier disadvantage. However… the key now lies in how she manages her stamina distribution going forward."
Out on the track, it was only then that Kitasan Black herself realized—she had actually pulled it off.
With a single burst of acceleration, and the sudden opening that appeared, she had surged past Vodka and Special Week, and now ran neck-and-neck with Daiwa Scarlet.
Joy and disbelief surged within her, and she couldn't help but break into an excited grin.
At that moment, a low voice of praise reached her from the side.
"Not bad, Kita-chan. Pretty fierce steps you've got there."
Startled, she reflexively glanced over—and there was Daiwa Scarlet, her profile glowing with approval.
She wanted to thank her for the words of encouragement, but the rushing headwind roared into her open mouth, making it impossible to speak.
Quickly shutting her lips again, she wondered in astonishment—
'How can Daiwa-senpai still talk so normally at a time like this…?'
But after that brief praise, Scarlet's eyes sharpened, blazing like torches.
Her gaze fixed straight ahead, as if already locked on the finish line, and fighting spirit surged across her face.
"But exactly because you've shown such an impressive performance, as your senpai, I have to beat you."
"Don't think I'll be holding back, Kitasan Black. This race…"
"—has only just begun!"
With that declaration, spirited and unyielding, Daiwa Scarlet shifted her breathing rhythm. Her stride shortened, her posture dipped lower—and then, suddenly, she accelerated.
<+>
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