Chapter 280: An Unprecedented Race Schedule
Takatoshi Imanami stood by the track, his gaze fixed on the figures sprinting across it.
After all the Umamusume had taken off, he slightly turned his head to look at Makoto, a hint of approval in his eyes.
"Yasui-san, your Kitasan's start is really impressive."
"That explosiveness and reaction speed—she must've put in a lot of effort during training. She's got a bright future ahead."
Your… Kitasan?
Makoto felt a slight stir in his heart, but quickly composed himself and replied with a modest smile:
"You flatter her, Imanami-senpai."
"Kitasan has indeed been working very hard, but there's still a lot she needs to improve."
"For example, adapting to different starting methods—today is a great learning opportunity."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Lucky Lilac.
"And Lucky Lilac must also train very diligently."
"Although her start was a bit slower, her composure is truly remarkable."
"Imanami-senpai, what do you think of her start?"
Following Makoto's gaze, Imanami nodded slightly and said with a thoughtful tone:
"Lilac is a steady child, she doesn't panic under pressure, and that's her greatest strength."
"Even though she didn't seize the initiative at the start, you can see that her adjustments in breathing and stride weren't slow at all."
Makoto agreed, nodding.
"Yes, her in-the-moment reaction is quite good, and her mentality is very stable."
"She doesn't lose her composure just because she falls behind early… that kind of mindset is extremely important in races."
"Personality… mentality…"
Imanami nodded as he stroked his chin.
"These things have a deep impact on a runner."
"Lilac's temperament gives her an advantage in starting and controlling early pace."
"But in the middle and later stages of the race, when facing intense competition, whether she can unleash strong fighting spirit and endurance—that still needs to be observed."
Makoto's thoughts stirred—what Imanami said aligned perfectly with his own pre-race judgment.
Lucky Lilac's slower start was, in a sense, expected.
She was indeed much more composed than Almond Eye, but correspondingly, her reaction speed might be slightly slower than someone with a more lively personality.
And in a situation like this—running alongside so many seniors—even if her outward demeanor seemed calm, it was natural if a bit of tension had affected her start.
Just like Almond Eye's competitiveness, Lilac's composure had both pros and cons.
The downside was that it could affect reaction speed.
The upside was that her calmness might allow her to perform even better in actual races, perhaps exceeding both his expectations and Imanami's concerns.
With that thought, Makoto nodded slightly and said:
"What you said makes perfect sense, Imanami-senpai. But I have a slightly different view."
"Although Lucky Lilac's composure didn't give her an advantage at the start, it may create many possibilities later in the race."
"It's possible that in the middle and late stages, she could use that calmness to navigate complex situations and even overtake."
"From what we just saw—although she started behind, she quickly adjusted. Even surrounded by several seniors, her stride remained steady and her breathing stayed controlled."
"Given time, once she masters the knack of fast starts, her strength will definitely not be something to underestimate."
Imanami kept his eyes on Lucky Lilac on the track. Hearing Makoto's words, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, this child has always had great potential."
"Her training attitude is beyond reproach, she gives it her all every single day."
"I also hope she can keep breaking through in real races and become an Umamusume who shines in the Twinkle Series."
While Makoto and Imanami were exchanging thoughts, the situation on the track gradually became clear.
Kitasan Black was still leading the pack.
Orfevre and Nakayama Festa were right behind her, sticking close.
Dream Journey and Stay Gold held their positions slightly behind, waiting patiently for the right moment.
Meanwhile, Gold Ship and Lucky Lilac were steadily accelerating, working hard to close the gap with the group ahead.
At the very front, Kitasan Black maintained her familiar slow front running pace, with most of her attention focused on the seniors chasing behind her.
Her sharp instincts made her keenly aware that, although this was just a simulation race with no formal stakes, the pressure coming from behind was no less intense than in a G1 race.
And it made sense—aside from Lucky Lilac, whom she had only just met, every runner behind her was a G1-level Umamusume.
Orfevre had a solid running style, her strides powerful and relentless as she pressed forward step by step.
Nakayama Festa possessed agility and explosive strength on the track, she could break through at any moment and overtake.
Dream Journey and Stay Gold lay in wait behind, like cheetahs hidden in the shadows, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And although Gold Ship had started a bit slowly, her explosive acceleration from the middle phase onward was equally a force to be reckoned with.
On top of that, the track layout itself was completely unfamiliar to Kitasan Black.
A 2000-meter course over two and a half laps meant she had to run through ten turns—something she had never experienced before.
It wasn't just a matter of longer curves and shorter straights.
It meant she would have to expend more energy on the curves to counteract centrifugal force, while also needing to adjust more quickly on the straights to prepare for the next turn.
Each curve felt like a unique obstacle standing in her way, requiring precise control of balance and rhythm, and skillful use of the arc to maintain speed.
The shortened straights, on the other hand, were like a race against time—forcing her to build enough momentum in a brief sprint before entering the next turn.
This unfamiliar sensation surged through her like an electric current, filling her with both unease and excitement.
She felt uneasy because she wasn't sure whether she could perfectly handle all the complexities brought by this unfamiliar course. Every curve and every straight carried unknown variables.
But she was also excited—eager to explore the limits of her body and potential in this new challenge, and to experience the thrill of pushing beyond herself.
These intertwined emotions made her heart beat faster, her blood rushing more intensely through her veins.
At the same time, she didn't forget to keep an eye on Lucky Lilac at the rear.
Out of the corner of her eye, she occasionally checked behind. Even though she couldn't turn her head while running at full speed, she could still sense Lucky Lilac's position and movements.
What she noticed was that, despite falling behind at the start, this newly acquainted junior maintained a perfectly steady rhythm.
Kitasan Black couldn't help but feel admiration.
As a fellow runner, she knew how difficult it was to stay calm in such an atmosphere.
The overwhelming presence of the seniors behind her would be enough to throw many inexperienced runners into disarray.
Yet under the pressure and airflow generated by all these powerful seniors, Lucky Lilac still maintained her uniquely composed stride—each step landing as if she were carefully measuring the track, precise and unwavering.
If you really meet an opponent like this in an actual race… Almond Eye, you'll have to work even harder.
With that thought, Kitasan Black couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.