"When will these days ever come to an end?"
Akasaka Rin looked down at the script in her hands, feeling a wave of listlessness wash over her.
As a newcomer to the world of sports commentary, the inexperienced Rin was stuck covering local races. Surrounded by old-timers just coasting through their jobs, even the audience and the Uma Musume themselves seemed to lack any real passion.
She'd originally gotten her commentator's license because she was drawn to the brilliance of the racetrack—so how did she end up assigned to a place like this? Even doing odd jobs at the central tracks would be better than commentating out here in the sticks.
Rin let out a quiet sigh. The countdown on the screen in front of her was about to hit zero—commercial breaks were nearly over, and it was time to cut back to the broadcast as the Uma Musume entered the starting gates.
She leaned slightly toward the microphone and spoke softly.
"All runners, please take your positions."
Just when will I get out of here?, Rin wondered, resting her chin in her hand. Her eyes drifted lazily across the track as she waited for the starting signal.
BANG!
The shot rang out. Nine Uma Musume burst from the gates all at once. Just as Rin was about to fall into her usual routine of killing time by listing their positions, a streak of red shot out from the pack—swift as lightning, sharp as a blade—slicing past every other competitor in an instant.
Every Uma Musume on the track felt as though they'd truly been cut by that blade. Something had been cleanly taken from them.
Victory.
Seeing Dream Weaver launch into a daring Great Escape, even the weary Rin felt a flicker of excitement. You didn't often see such a spectacular strategy in local races.
She hadn't needed to glance at the roster—her professionalism as a commentator meant she'd already memorized every Uma Musume running today.
"Number Seven, Dream Weaver, breaks away! Is she going for a Great Escape? Can she maintain this incredible pace all the way?!"
The audience, much like Rin herself, hadn't seen such thrilling tactics in a long time. They watched, wide-eyed and utterly captivated.
Even Gold Ship, who'd seemed bored just moments before, was drawn in, her gaze unconsciously following the flying figure on the track.
For the spectators, a runaway strategy was exciting whether it succeeded or failed—the uncertainty kept everyone hooked until the very end.
But for the Uma Musume on the track, the outcome was already clear.
An invisible, crushing pressure weighed down on them. Their strides grew heavy, leaving deep prints in the already tough gravel track.
They couldn't even reach their training speeds. It felt like a mountain of blades stood before them—their instincts screamed danger, holding them back from pushing forward.
As that red streak vanished into a cloud of dust, eventually disappearing from view entirely, the Uma Musume knew they had already lost.
As local runners, they weren't as obsessed with winning. Once they sensed defeat, there was no need to push themselves recklessly.
If their instincts told them not to charge ahead, they trusted those instincts.
Gradually, the Uma Musume began to slow, making the gap between them and Dream Weaver even more obvious.
But among them, one Uma Musume still refused to give in. Gritting her teeth, she squinted against the sandstorm stirred up by Dream Weaver, enduring the sting of sharp gravel against her cheeks, charging forward blindly.
Oguri Roman no longer knew her position, nor how far she had run. Was it right to use her stamina like this? Was it wise to sprint so early?
She couldn't think about questions like that anymore.
As the closest one to Dream Weaver, she bore the brunt of the pressure.
Even without Dream Weaver activating her full Zone, the intimidating aura she naturally emitted was enough to overwhelm local-level Uma Musume.
This was a presence honed on the greatest stages of the central circuit—a presence that had faced off against legends like Narita Top Road, Admire Vega, and T.M. Opera O. Every one of them was a top-tier Uma Musume capable of winning G1 titles.
And now, Oguri Roman was facing that same aura.
She was just a rookie who'd only run one local race before. Even if Kitahara believed she had a brilliant future, she still lacked experience.
Under the crushing weight of such terrifying pressure, her thoughts were in disarray. Forget race strategy—just maintaining a full-speed run was a testament to her natural talent.
In her state of extreme chaos, a faint illusion appeared before her eyes.
That dappled gray figure had appeared in Roman's dreams countless times—the form of Oguri Cap, the one she admired, the one she longed to reach.
She had rewatched their first meeting in the Young Champions Cup over and over, to the point she could recreate every split-second, every meter of Oguri Cap's run in her mind.
Even now, with her thoughts in turmoil, she could perfectly simulate that figure's distance.
But what made Roman's pupils contract wasn't that—it was the sight of another figure ahead of even Oguri Cap. In the hazy world of dust and sand, that flickering red streak burned like a blazing flame against Roman's vision.
"How… is this possible?!"
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. The record set by her idol, Oguri Cap, in the Junior Crown Cup—was it going to be broken today?
To be fair, Oguri Cap back then hadn't yet reached her peak form. It made sense that Dream Weaver, with her attribute advantage and bold Great Escape, could surpass that record.
But Roman couldn't think rationally anymore. The star she followed, the one she looked up to—was being overtaken.
The thought shattered her spirit. Whether it was exhaustion finally setting in or the mental strain becoming too much, her body gave out, and she slowed abruptly.
From that moment on, there was no one left on the track willing to fight for victory.
They could only watch, like the audience off-track, powerless to affect the outcome, as that red streak charged across the finish line with unstoppable force.
It took a few moments after Dream Weaver crossed the finish line for Akasaka Rin to snap out of her daze. Her heart was pounding, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke into the microphone.
"The winner of this year's Junior Crown Cup is—"
"Dream Weaver!"
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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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.