Sugimoto Kentaro had expected his words to send shockwaves through the stands.
As a professional commentator, he hadn't offered a single shred of reliable analysis—instead, he'd brushed everything aside with nothing more than a declaration of personal belief.
Yet, to his surprise, the live audience didn't seem bothered by his somewhat naive response.
On the contrary, many nodded in agreement, and almost immediately, the crowd erupted into cheers for Dream Weaver.
It was only then that he truly grasped how much had changed. Dream Weaver was no longer the one who had shattered the Triple Crown dream, the coward of the Arima Kinen—the one who ran from glory.
Now, she had indisputably defeated Narita Brian not once, but twice, by her own power.
And her story was the stuff of legend: born into a fading noble family, she single-handedly took up the banner of the Northern household's revival.
As the last pride of her lineage, she stood before the colossal presence of the Mejiro family, issued her challenge, and walked away unscathed.
That tale had already spread throughout the horse-racing world in just a few months. In the face of such an inspiring, legendary rise, what did a last-minute change in running style matter? She had already accomplished far more astonishing feats.
"Go for it, Dreams! Show us that incredible closing speed!"
"Not just overwhelming power, but unpredictable footwork too… Northern Dreams, what a frightening Uma Musume!"
"Eek! Go on like this—I want to see you dominate this era, ahh!"
Dream Weaver's supporters cheered her on in their own ways. As her earliest fans, long suppressed by waves of public opinion, they had been waiting for the chance to openly raise her banner high.
Now, at last, they could release all that pent-up emotion through their roaring applause.
"What do you think, Miss Rice Shower?"
Seiun Sky turned expectantly toward Rice Shower, who sat beside her, her eyes sparkling as she asked.
Compared to the other older sisters she knew, Rice Shower was clearly the more authoritative voice.
After all, she was a powerful Uma Musume who had won two G1 long-distance titles and transformed the meaning of "Black Assassin" from an insult into a mark of respect.
Fujino Makken O, who had been ready to field the question, could only give a wry smile.
They'd gotten to know Seiun Sky since the Kikuka-shō, and she was well aware of how much the other supported Dream Weaver. That's why, during each race commentary, she deliberately played up the suspense just to tease her a little.
But today, her usual approach had fallen flat.
Not that she could help it—this time, they had Rice Shower right beside them.
In both skill and reputation, Rice Shower far outshone Fujino Makken O and her two companions.
"Eh… me?"
Rice Shower seemed taken aback that Seiun Sky saw her as some kind of guiding mentor, but she quickly gathered her thoughts and replied:
"I believe Dreams' strategy is actually a sound one. The final stretch of the Autumn Tennō Shō is terribly unforgiving for front-runners. Over 500 meters is more than enough distance for all sorts of surprises to happen."
"On the other hand, running styles like stalker or closer seem much more suitable for the Autumn Tennō Shō, and for the same reason—the length of that final straight."
"The commentator's hesitation probably stemmed from the fact that Dreams has never shown any style besides front-running, so it's only natural he'd be concerned."
Watching Seiun Sky nod along eagerly, like a little pecking bird, Rice Shower smiled gently before continuing.
"Dreams has simply run too few races. Aside from the Kobe Shimbun Hai to qualify for the Kikuka-shō and her debut race, she's only taken part in two G1 events—and in those, she achieved such dazzling victories by front-running that everyone assumed it was the only way she knew how to run."
"But I don't think that's necessarily true…"
"I've shared the turf with her. When our zones clashed, it was as if every part of us turned into power colliding. In that moment, I could sense something… a glimpse of what lies beneath."
Seeing Seiun Sky's expression grow brighter and more excited, Rice Shower smiled and nodded firmly, delivering her final judgment.
"I believe in her, too."
Emboldened by Rice Shower's approval, Seiun Sky immediately puffed out her chest and tilted her head triumphantly toward Fujino Makken O and her group.
During previous races, these three had always poured cold water on Miss Dreams' chances.
It had always bothered Seiun Sky, but since she hadn't yet reached her full potential, her words carried little weight. But now, with Miss Rice Shower clearly voicing her support for Miss Dreams, she couldn't resist rubbing it in.
Seeing this, Fujino Makken O could only shrug helplessly.
It wasn't that they had meant to discourage her—it was just that, given the circumstances, no one could have imagined Dream Weaver pulling off a victory under such conditions.
But then again, it was precisely that ability to achieve the impossible that allowed her to defeat the Shadow Roll Monster again and again, wasn't it?
The thought stirred a wave of emotion in Fujino Makken O's heart.
Just a year ago, they were still fighting tooth and nail for the chance to challenge Narita Brian—then known as the strongest of their generation.
Yet in what felt like a blink, Dream Weaver, who had run alongside them in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, had become someone they could no longer hope to catch.
Even Narita Brian, the monster they had once seen as dominating their entire generation, had now lost to Dream Weaver twice in a row.
And today marked their third showdown.
A faint sense of frustration lingered in Fujino Makken O's heart. She was proud and ambitious—defeating Narita Brian had long been her goal. To see those two already writing legendary chapters on the track, while she could only watch from the sidelines… it stung.
As Uma Musume of the same generation, their light was almost completely overshadowed by those two.
And yet, at the same time, she felt a strange sense of gratitude—thankful to be in the same generation as them, to have stepped onto the same turf as them.
Even if she was only a footnote in their story, it still gave Fujino Makken O a sense of honor, as if she had taken part in history herself.
Yes, she was certain now: Narita Brian and Dream Weaver were destined to be engraved in history, the two brightest stars in the sky.
And today's Autumn Tennō Shō would undoubtedly leave its own bold stroke in the annals of racing.
The thought made Fujino Makken O restless. Unlike the 3,200-meter Spring Tennō Shō, the Autumn edition was only 2,000 meters—for powerful Uma Musume like them, it would be over in what felt like an instant.
Amid the heated discussions, Dream Weaver and Narita Brian were already approaching the final stretch.
In these last 500 meters, they would reshape history—each striving to claim victory in her own image.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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.