Back with the anime episode titles. Definitely going to be a trend for all of the races going forward, so yeah.
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The next day, at the Hanshin Racecourse…
Kurofune could be seen walking down a long hallway. He wore a basic white tee with a race bib attached to it and blue shorts underneath. His expression was calm, eerily calm at that. His mind still wasn't completely clear of yesterday's events, but he had managed to control them somewhat thanks to a simple idea.
'I'll just prove to myself that I can win just as easily as she can.'
Was it a practical thought? No. But it helped him cope with his thoughts so he decided to just go with it.
As he exited the hallway, he heard the roars of the crowd sparked from his appearance.
"Is it just me, or are there more people in the stands than you would expect for some smaller tier race like this?"
If he had to guess from just eyeballing it, around 10,000 people were present in the crowd give or take.
"The last racer has finally made an appearance!" A female announcer exclaimed. "Kurofune, the number one favorite, and the Umamusuko that I can guess a majority of those in attendance have come to see!"
Kurofune's eyes widened a bit from surprise.
'That explains it. They're here for me.'
As for whether they were here to cheer him on or watch him fail, he had no way of knowing.
Kurofune smirked.
"If they're all here to watch me, I might as well give them a bit of a show."
The race personnel soon guided him and the rest of the Umamusume into the starting gates. The trumpets began playing the fanfare as the suspense for the race's beginning washed over all the runners and those spectating from the sidelines.
…
—Thunk!
"Start!" The announcer shouted as the starting gates burst open.
The runners began quickly flying down the track, eager to claim their preferred positions. Kurofune decided to settle a bit behind the frontrunner, deciding to take it easy for the early portion of the race.
"The runners have just crossed the 200 Meter Mark in 12.7 seconds. Currently holding the first position is Meiner Jugend. Following close behind in the second and third positions respectively are Cheers Brightly and the 2nd Favorite, Admire Condor! The leading favorite, Kurofune, has settled into the fourth position!"
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"So far, so good. He's settled into a good position…" Okino murmured. "As long as he holds onto it, he should be able to win."
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Back on the track…
The runners positions remained the same for the next 600 meters, nobody daring to make a move.
"This is getting stale," Kurofune frowned. "If nobody is willing to make a move, then I'll just make one myself."
Just after he says that he begins accelerating a bit, closing the distance between himself and Admire Condor relatively easily, shocking her. She tries to accelerate as well to hold onto her position, but it's all futile as Kurofune just passes her with ease and moves into third place.
'That's one down.' Kurofune thought. 'Should I move up again?'
He decided to hold off doing that for now, remaining in third place as the runners entered the third corner at the 1050 Meter mark.
"The runners have reached the final two corners! Meiner Jugend is still holding onto her lead, however she seems to be running out of steam! Cheers Brightly in second has slowly begun chipping away at her lead! Kurofune in third looks to be watching closely, perhaps biding his time before he makes his move!?"
The runners soon reach the fourth and final corner. As he notices Meiner Jugend beginning to fade in the front, getting overtaken by the now leading runner, Cheers Brightly, Kurofune decided it was time to make his move.
—WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"Oh!? What's this!? Kurofune has begun making his move!" The announcer exclaimed. "He quickly surged past the fading Meiner Jugend and began closing in on Cheers Brightly! Daiichi Dunhill from the midpack seems to be picking up steam as well! It's anybody's game at this point!"
"That's wrong…" Kurofune muttered. "This race…is mine!"
As the runners reach the final straight, Kurofune begins his final spurt, quickly overtaking Cheers Brightly and claiming the leading spot for himself. Cheers Brightly tries to catch up, but the gap between herself and Kurofune only begins growing more and more.
"How is it possible for someone to be running that fast?" Cheers Brightly helplessly asked as she felt herself losing steam from trying to keep up with Kurofune.
"200 Meters left! Kurofune has claimed the lead and is only widening it!" The announcer shouted. "One length, two lengths, three! Nobody is able to catch him! What a blistering pace!"
—WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Kurofune darts across the finish line, finishing 3 ½ lengths ahead from the second place racer, Daiichi Dunhill, who had managed to pass Cheers Brightly during the final spurt.
"Oh my, look at the time!" The announcer exclaimed. "Kurofune has managed to break Hanshin Racecourse's 2000 Meter Record, running a time of 2:01.2!"
Kurofune, feeling slightly fatigued, stepped towards the crowd. All of the other Umamusume, who looked far more fatigued, all looked towards him with mixed emotions. He then points his right pointer finger into the sky confidently, declaring his triumph to the crowd of spectators. Upon seeing that, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers.
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"Kurofune…is kind of insane, isn't he?" Scarlet commented. "He managed to break two track records in a row. And this time he did so with ease."
"You've seen how hard he trains, right?" Vodka asked. "It would be surprising if he didn't run these insane times."
"You've got a point."
Teio confidently puffed up her chest.
"My protege really is great!"
"When did that ever happen?" Okino raised an eyebrow at her.
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"Jeez, that guy is just way too fast," Tap Dance City commented. "He didn't even give any of them a chance to combat him."
"From that performance alone, I think he could do pretty well in a race like the Derby," Air Shakur commented.
"Woah, Shakky. You can actually give compliments?" Agnes Digital sounded surprised.
"Of course I can!" Air Shakur frowned. "Also, stop calling me that!"
"Don't plan on it!" Agnes Digital cheekily responded.
"Damn you…" Air Shakur could only clench her fists.
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A few hours later…
After finishing up his winning concert, Kurofune could be seen walking alone down the street. He had met up with both his teammates and his classmates separately, who all congratulated him on his win. However, even with all of their pleasant words, he still didn't feel satisfied. He just awkwardly dismissed himself and went outside alone.
Why?
'I still don't feel like I'm better than her. Agnes Tachyon.'
He found it illogical for himself to be feeling this way. Thinking rationally, while she did win her debut race in such a dominating fashion, it wasn't like she was faster than him. In fact, he had run way faster than she did on the same track and distance, running slightly over 3 seconds faster than her.
But somehow, he still didn't feel superior to her.
The reason for his feelings alluded him. Was it her demeanor? Her confidence to casually mention to him that she would be participating in the Hopeful Stakes as well? Or maybe her casually winning her first debut race without breaking a sweat, something that even he had failed to do?
"..." Kurofune grimaced.
Due to his state, he knew there was only one way for him to get over this insecurity…
'I have to prove to myself that I'm better than her at the Hopeful Stakes later this month.'
But then came another question.
What if he didn't beat her? What would he do then?
Sure, he could say that all he had to do was catch up to her and then beat her in a race. But then that gives rise to another question.
What if he never had another chance to beat her?
"..."
Kurofune came to a stop. He looked upwards, noticing the dozens of shining stars in the sky.
"I wonder if all the legends of the past experienced emotions like this?" Kurofune wondered aloud. "Surely they have, right? Though I find it hard to imagine the intimidating Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, feeling fear before running a mere G1 Race."
…
Maybe this is his challenge. What he needs to overcome if he wants to reach the level of legends like her.
Kurofune smiled.
'If that's the case, I'll take this challenge head on! Just like I've done many times before!' Kurofune declared in his mind. 'I'll become a racer that forces the world itself to acknowledge me!'
He would've said a declaration like this aloud, but he didn't plan on embarrassing himself while he was out in public like this.
"I still have the rest of the month to prepare," Kurofune stated. "I'll just train as hard as I can, until I feel confident that I can face her head on."