"All runners to their marks."
The listless voice of a staff member reached her ears. Had Kasamatsu Racecourse even bothered to hire a proper announcer for this event?
Chizuru Haibara thought with a hint of sarcasm, but then quickly shook her head.
Major prize races still got announcers. Just not this one.
The staff probably knew exactly how things stood at Kasamatsu Tracen. Aside from Oguri Roman, was there any Uma Musume here worth watching? The debut races for the rest of them didn't even draw a single spectator. What was the point of having an announcer?
A self-deprecating smile touched Chizuru's lips.
Yeah. Even the racecourse staff knew what we're like.
So why bother staying? It's just asking for humiliation.
Chizuru stood up and turned, making as if to leave.
"Not going to watch?"
Oguri Roman beside her noticed the movement but didn't look up, her voice soft as she asked.
"What's there to see? The local circuit even changed the rules for debut races lately. It's not about winning first place anymore; you have to hit a qualifying time to debut. Don't you get why?"
Oguri Roman fell silent for a moment, the question seeming difficult for her to answer.
"Because nowadays, even the winners on the local circuit... their times are pitiful. They win not because they're strong—"
"But because they're just slightly less awful, right?"
Satou Ken, who had been staring at the sky, seemed to overhear their conversation and chimed in, his tone languid.
"Is there any point watching such a pathetic race?"
"Let's just go train. It's just one loss. You can win it back next time."
After Satou Ken finished, Chizuru looked at Oguri Roman as she spoke, but the latter just kept her head down, offering no response.
"As educators, we should at least witness every one of our students' races."
Koutarou Haibara gripped the railing tightly, his back to the group, his voice low and gravelly, as if weighed down and strained by pressure.
Keeping Kasamatsu Tracen afloat this long had relied on community support, much of it from locals sponsoring out of support for Oguri Roman. Koutarou didn't know if the loss in the Autumn Wind Youth Tournament would disappoint everyone enough to withdraw their backing.
If that happened, days at Kasamatsu Tracen would undoubtedly get even tougher.
After learning of the loss yesterday, Koutarou had spent his time comforting Oguri Roman while also fretting over how to maintain everyone's trust. He bore so much pressure, all to keep Kasamatsu Tracen going.
Watching her father like this, Chizuru pressed her lips together, her knuckles white from clenching her fists. She couldn't stand seeing Koutarou shouldering such burdens, yet she couldn't truly help him either.
Hell, her own pathetic state was probably just another one of her father's burdens.
Letting out another self-mocking laugh, Chizuru turned and waved to the others.
"I'm heading out first."
Just as Chizuru's words fell, the sharp whistle signaling the start of the race sounded simultaneously. Behind her, a tremendous roar erupted—like thunder, like a bellow, a monstrous howl that shook the very soul of everyone present.
"Wha... what?!"
Satou Ken, usually lazy and flippant, as if he didn't care about anything, gaped, his jaw slack, as if witnessing something utterly unbelievable.
"This can't be!"
Koutarou Haibara's face flushed with excitement. He gripped the railing tightly, this time not from pressure, but from sheer, uncontainable awe.
"So bright—"
Even Oguri Roman, who had kept her head down as if detached from the world, looked up, her eyes fixed on the track. Those eyes, dimmed by failure, now seemed to glitter, reflecting the radiance unfolding on the field.
Thump.
Thump-thump-thump.
Her heart—Chizuru's heart was pounding wildly, leaping uncontrollably as if it had already received some wonderful news and was celebrating.
Her mind replayed an image over and over. A terrifying yet utterly real thought began to spread uncontrollably in Chizuru's thoughts.
That sound, that impact—enough to draw such exclamations from all three people watching the race.
The only Uma Musume Chizuru could think of who could cause this was her—
Dream Weaver.
Her heart raced madly, her palms sweating uncontrollably. Chizuru's pupils contracted with excitement. The truth was within reach; she only needed to turn around to see it all.
It felt so real, so close. All she had to do was turn around.
But Chizuru was also afraid. What if it wasn't what she imagined? What if her hopes were dashed once again?
Chizuru swallowed. Her body felt like it was burning, scorching her throat. Even a mouthful of water did nothing to help. Her long-dormant passion had now solidified into a tangible heat, searing her rationality.
'An Uma Musume like this couldn't possibly have come from Kasamatsu Tracen. Dream Weaver hasn't even debuted. She hasn't even undergone proper training.'
An adult's reason sprouted in her heart, only to be burned away to nothing by the next surge of passion.
I want to see! I have to see! I must witness this race!
Chizuru whirled around. Her blurred gaze swept over the faces of everyone in front of her—their shock, their astonishment, their own brilliance ignited by witnessing something shining.
Those familiar figures were running on the track. Chizuru strained her vision, pushing it forward, further forward, but still couldn't see Dream Weaver. She swallowed again, her saliva hot like molten metal.
With every fraction her gaze advanced, Chizuru's heart hammered harder. Even though her chest began to ache painfully, she found the sensation thrilling, exhilarating.
Five lengths. Ten lengths. Twenty lengths. Thirty lengths?!
The units used in racing could no longer convey the shock in Chizuru's heart. But when she tried using lengths as a measure and found the gap had already reached triple digits, she gave up counting.
She fixed her eyes directly on the track. The debut race at Kasamatsu was about 1200 meters. Sumire Nanno and the others were currently around the 400-meter mark.
And Dream Weaver—that streaming silhouette wrapped in wind and dust—was already nearing the final stretch.
The gap between them was 300 meters.
Converted into lengths?
One hundred and twenty lengths.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.