As this race was a qualification assessment and had a large audience, there were no dedicated commentators invited.
The Student Council specifically found personnel from the news department to temporarily act as commentators.
The race was set to officially begin in five minutes.
The sounds inside the venue were full of discussions, and the occasional glances made Daijin feel a bit annoyed.
But at this moment, she was no longer as impulsive as before.
She simply lowered her head, quietly admonishing herself repeatedly in her heart to maintain a calm mind... And an inadvertent glance into the crowd revealed—
Asama Kazutomi, dressed in a suit, walked in front, and following behind him... were her own mother and... her former homeroom teacher... "Why... them...?"
Daijin froze in place; in that instant, the entire venue's noise seemed to disappear. In Daijin's eyes, there were only these few figures.
The moment Yuriko arrived at the venue, she looked up and found her child on the track.
Daijin, wearing bib number eight.
She gently covered her mouth, then made the gesture every mother makes when watching over her child—
Waving, then cheering and encouraging.
The moment their eyes met, mother and daughter were already of one mind... Kazuo and Teacher Yamaji had also turned their gaze, and like Yuriko, they had all come to support her.
Her mother had specifically worked overtime on the weekend to be able to come to the venue today to watch her child's race.
Teacher Yamaji traveled from Osaka to Tokyo, also working hard between the two schools for Daijin's sake. At this moment, with slightly graying temples, he was simply fulfilling his duty as a teacher—and striving as one of those watching Daijin from afar.
Everything today was due to the efforts of these three.
And Kazuo, who connected them all, also watched Daijin and firmly made a cheering gesture.
—
Somehow, Daijin's heart completely relaxed at this moment, simply because she knew that even her most beloved mother had come to the venue, and there was something in her teacher's eyes that she had never seen before; was it because she had overlooked it in the past, or deliberately chosen not to see it—
Daijin did not know.
However,
She slowly exhaled, closed her eyes, and meditated, allowing her breathing to become relatively stable.
Then, she adjusted herself to the best state before the final race.
That's right... At this moment, she only wanted to win everything, then cross the finish line and embrace them.
.
"Alright, all contestants have entered the gates. Without a doubt, this 2000m turf race will be a clash of titans, and among them, can number 8, Narita Taishin, complete a comeback? The result will be revealed in just a few minutes, starting the moment the race begins. This is a contest worth holding your breath for, so, all contestants are ready—"
Daijin had stood in the starting gate countless times, but just like before, the world outside the gate now consisted only of the track in front of her. The destination it led to was a new challenge and a goal to pursue every time.
The outside sounds seemed to be cut off; she needed to concentrate and put all her energy into this race.
Daijin slowly breathed in and out, and her mind couldn't help but recall the past.
In the confined space, many fragments could flash back in an instant.
Remember the feeling of running... the feeling of running for the first time; running was so joyful, it could prove her existence and help her find her value.
"...Daijin, I hope you listen carefully. You don't need to compete with them at all; you just need to run your own race, just need to look at the track in front of you, and for the rest, I believe you can do your best."
The man's bright eyes were fixed on her. They had only met a few times, but when he appeared before her again, why did he look at her with such hopeful eyes...? This is what Kazuo had told her.
That's right—
I want to... "Ready—"
The lights came on, and the gates instantly opened.
The world outside instantly became wide open.
Achieve Victory—
.
"Dong!!—"
"The race has begun! All Uma Musume have successfully started from the gates at full speed! Among the ten, number 2, Victory Ticket, is firmly in the lead, with a very fast start! And number 4, Biwa Hayahide, is now in second place! Indeed, is this race going to become a one-sided battle between these two again!?"
The commentator's voice seemed to infect everyone in the venue; almost everyone's attention was focused on the first and second place runners.
From the very beginning, the competition became incredibly fierce. In the struggle for the leading track, even in a 2000m middle-distance race, competitors confident in their strength would try to establish an advantage right away.
"Oh... Biwa Hayahide, a fantastic burst of speed... She managed to secure such a good position in the leading group."
"Victory Ticket looks to be in great form too! If this continues, the final battle will definitely be a showdown between the two of them, right?"
Todo and another person from Group B were discussing, but Tojo, standing nearby, slowly furrowed her brows.
"Narita Taishin... why... is she so far back? Did she... have a bad start?"
But what was this indescribable sense of unease in her heart? "Oh dear! What's happening! Number eight, Narita Taishin! She's currently in last place, with a gap of over eighty meters from the leading pack! Was it a gate start error!?"
Listening to the live race commentary broadcast to the entire stadium.
Kazuo and Yamaji clenched their fists nervously, while Yuriko, as a mother, clasped her hands as if praying to the heavens for her daughter's blessing.
Unnoticed by the crowd, at the very end of the pack, Daijin ran alone. Her speed seemed a whole level below those in front.
She was completely unexpected from the start.
But even so, her gaze was so firm and focused, locked on the two in the very front.
What she looked at was no longer just a simple ranking, but something much further.
(Damn it... I've been overtaken so much... But-- I can't accelerate yet, maintain my state... Yes, maintain my state... keep my stride, keep my composure. Don't be impatient... I must find an opportunity, and slowly, before the middle stage, start to close the distance with the leading pack.)
This was something she had to do.
At this moment, her mind was incredibly calm, her eyes only on the continuously stretching track. Trailing at the very back, she looked almost like she had given up, always falling behind, relying entirely on the inner lane to catch up with the others.
And the leading pack became increasingly crowded. The demand for advantageous track positions and body placement grew more intense.
From the second stage, several Uma Musume had already started to seek physical confrontation.
"Number five and number six are vying for the track, and the two in first place at the bend have started to increase their speed! They're trying to completely pull the race into their own rhythm!!!"
Tsk... Watching all this, Kazuo couldn't help but frown.
Because he knew too well.
If they were allowed to continue like this, once Daijin's judgment was affected, if she chose to make her move at the wrong time, everything would be for naught... Daijin's weapon, it wasn't time to use it yet, she still needed to endure and observe for the best moment... Because he knew all this, his heart couldn't help but pound.
"Now entering the second bend! The second bend! The distance between the competitors has started to gradually widen! And Biwa Hayahide seems to still be obstructing the vision of the Uma Musume behind, firmly holding her position! And look! Victory Ticket is actually choosing to accelerate at this moment!!!"
Not good!
Kazuo instinctively gripped the railing, and Yuriko was so scared she closed her eyes.
"Guh!"
Daijin watched all this, her expression also becoming conflicted.
The dilemma of choice was once again laid before her.
To accelerate, or to continue conserving strength.
Even if she conserved strength, if the distance widened further, everything would become very troublesome.
"There's no need to fight for position... but don't let the distance between yourself and the leading pack become too great. If necessary, you can make small bursts of speed to maintain a stable stride and continue to catch up, using the length of the track to slowly close the gap."
She remembered what Kazuo had said, but at the same time, she also remembered what her teacher had said in class.
It was as if a bright lamp had appeared in the darkest night, guiding her direction.
Yes, follow her own judgment.
Just follow her own judgment.
Thinking this, she began to adjust her body posture and condition on her own.
Hmm!
While running, she slightly lowered her body, and her legs, pressing against the grass, began to push down with force. Using a downward spring-like motion, Daijin's speed instantly began to rise in a stable trend, and her stride also became much larger, but the time taken for this was incorporated into the time spent in the bend section.
"Daijin...!"
Kazuo watched all this and finally understood the judgment Daijin had made at this moment.
He couldn't help but feel relieved.
She listened, understood, and even made her own judgment!
The Trainer and the Uma Musume are like a ship and a lighthouse—the lighthouse merely guides them to the correct course. As for how to adjust when encountering storms and giant waves, that is entirely up to them on the racecourse.
"The third straight track has passed, and we are about to reach the fourth bend! And at this very moment! Biwa Hayahide actually chose to accelerate from the side here, using the difference in body posture, instantly staying level with Victory Ticket!!!!"
Biwa Hayahide's action undoubtedly changed the benchmark of this race.
"Whoa ah ah ah ah----"
Victory Ticket also began to sprint at this time. The two at the bend almost felt like they were running sideways, close to the ground.
Biwa Hayahide's eyes burst with brilliance, her posture began to become exaggerated. The sprinting speed unleashed by this physique was a display of sheer power, shown with a fearless attitude!
"Cornering overtake! Biwa Hayahide actually overtook from the outer lane at the fourth bend! With a very beautiful posture, she took the lead over Victory Ticket!!! The race is about to sound the final charge at the next bend!"
"Biwa Hayahide and Victory Ticket!! Indeed, will it ultimately become a strong showdown between these two...?"
Todo exclaimed in surprise, while Kitamura, Sasaki, and Tojo stood up, their faces filled with disbelief.
"What!?"
"No!"
"Look outside!!!"
Yes, this is it.
Daijin, yes, this is it—
One on the track, one off the track, their thoughts connected in an instant.
It's now!
"Haaaaaahhhhhh!"
The moment her foot landed, time seemed to stop. The accumulated power began to unleash gradually. Her joints felt like they were twisting tight, then exploding with her true strength.
The boiling sensation in Kazuo's heart was finally awakened. The long-lost restlessness, the familiar feeling, was finally found!
What exactly was he searching for? Perhaps he already had the answer.
The moment of stagnation, and then, time began to flow.
Bang—
A massive sonic boom erupted. The one who had been sprinting across the green turf now had an unexpected challenger.
"Haaaaaahhhhhh!"
The wind was restless, blowing against her, seemingly pulling her back, yet also pushing her forward. What kind of existence was this? She felt the wind as she always did, but this sensation, which seemed to freeze her blood, instantly warmed and then exploded.
Her accumulated power, up to this point, felt like a seal being broken.
The power unleashed, power accumulated for a long time. Yes, this time, it was finally, completely revealed!
The loud noise attracted everyone's attention, but what they saw was Narita Taishin, who had been reborn and had rediscovered her direction.
"Wait, wait! What happened! What exactly happened! Narita Taishin is accelerating! And what just happened! She's already in sixth place—no, she's still sprinting, still accelerating! She can still accelerate!!!"
For the first time, everyone belatedly focused their attention on Narita Taishin, who was running on the far outside. But by this point, it was clearly too late; no one even knew how she had reached this position.
The small figure, only 1.45 meters tall, was now running with an unimaginable momentum.
An existence that even the wind couldn't catch, leaving a trail of vibrant colors behind her, still sprinting, still accelerating!
(Yes, that's it! That's it, I'm going to win! I'm going to prove it to everyone!!!!)
Bang—
The muscles in her legs felt like they were burning, her body began to blur, and then,
—Boom
"Second acceleration!? Did I just see that right!? Narita Taishin actually used a second acceleration!!!"
The entire stadium erupted in an uproar. The Trainers who had not been optimistic about her earlier were now all shocked, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.
"Narita Taishin has sprinted into third place with a second acceleration, unbelievable, truly unbelievable!!! One person, completing a feat of seven in a single stretch! And now she still has no intention of giving up; her goal has always been the two in front of her!!!"
More incisive than in the videos, this was the real Narita Taishin!
Watching her daughter's efforts, Yuriko was so moved she was on the verge of tears. Beside her, Teacher Yamaji began to cheer for Daijin, pumping his fist and his neck red, a voice that perhaps couldn't reach her on the track.
But—
"The final two hundred meters of the straight sprint! Victory Ticket, Victory Ticket has actually dropped to third place! Now it's a battle between Chén Guāng and Narita Taishin! Can Narita Taishin truly achieve a comeback!?"
Sure enough... you are indeed strong, Narita Taishin... I never thought you were that kind of person from the beginning.
Your strength is far beyond this; you are my rival.
Therefore—
Chén Guāng thought to herself, adopting the same starting posture as Daijin. As she bent down, under everyone's watchful eyes,
Similarly—
Boom—
"What!? Chén Guāng also used a second acceleration!!!? There are already two freshmen who can master such a technique!!!? Is Daijin truly an existence that should be advised to withdraw!!!?"
Using this power, Chén Guāng finally pulled out a lead again before Daijin could catch up.
And now, only the last hundred meters of the race remained.
Toujou Hana watched all of this, her heart also somewhat complex.
The second acceleration was something she taught Chén Guāng. She had seen her talent back then and had her master this secret technique as quickly as possible within a week.
But—
She couldn't help but look at Asama Kazuo in the stands.
What did this person, who wasn't even considered a rookie, do to make someone who was previously running last use such an advanced technique in just a few days!?
However—
To push Chén Guāng to this point, Daijin could be considered successful, but the victory still belonged to Chén Guāng.
A two-horse length gap was an absolute impossible distance to close.
This was a gap that even a second acceleration couldn't bridge—
Damn it... too strong! Truly too strong... such strength is just the tip of the iceberg at Tracen Academy!
The wind gradually obscured their voices; nothing could be heard.
The only light in her eyes was the finish line of the track.
The feeling of strong wind blowing, but... is this where it ends...?
The last hundred meters, her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest, breathing was also difficult... but—
But—
But—
"I believe in you! You will definitely win!!!"
What that idiot said, why, why, why,
I want to take this seriously!!!
Time slowed down. I can still move, right? If I can still move—
"Haaahhhhhh!!!"
As if a deep blue light bloomed in her eyes, she, who had buried her will in her heart and strived relentlessly, finally, in an instant, ignited herself, unsheathing the sharp blade that belonged to her for victory!
Boom—
Her speed, in that instant, actually increased by another level, and this time, a powerful wind barrier even formed in front of Daijin.
This was a strong wind blowing; this was a roar like a furious storm.
"!!! What, what exactly is going on!!! Narita Taishin!!! I didn't see wrong, did I? I really didn't see wrong!!! Triple acceleration!!! It's triple acceleration!!!"
Everyone was petrified at that moment. Toujou Hana was stunned, and everyone else was dumbfounded.
The small figure in their sights was now running neck and neck with Biwa Hayahide at the fifty-meter mark.
The final sprint—
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Haaahhhhhh!!!"
I want to win, I want to keep running, I want to respond to all of that… Even if her posture was distorted, even if her body was overloaded… But, I… just wanted to try… to respond to others' expectations.
She crossed the finish line almost simultaneously, and Daijin, whose posture was out of whack, couldn't adjust her balance after crossing the line. She practically fell forward, sliding four or five meters across the grass!
Kazuo, having come to his senses, had already flipped over the railing and jumped down from the four-meter-high grandstand.
"In this kind of high-speed sprint, doing something like that could result in contusions at best, or fractures at worst."
He rushed over like a madman, and by the time he reached her side, the medical team waiting by the track had already rushed up and surrounded Daijin.
The commentator was no longer focused on the race either; the entire stadium seemed to fall silent for a few minutes.
Kazuo stood by, unable to do anything, just standing there alone, watching the medical staff perform emergency checks like a machine.
Until the medical staff looked up and gestured towards the commentary booth, indicating that there was no problem.
Only then did everyone's hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relax.
Thump—
Kazuo, for some unknown reason, found his legs giving out, and he knelt down.
"She's okay… That's good…"
"Um… My apologies for making everyone worry. The information coming back here is that Narita Taishin is fine, with only minor soft tissue contusions. The medical staff is currently providing her with basic treatment."
The commentator explained this while continuing to announce:
"The moment of crossing the finish line was incredibly fast. We are currently waiting for the TV's frame-by-frame replay. Based on the situation we just received, it should be a tie, but—the judging panel is still deliberating. Please remain calm and wait patiently…"
Kazuo now saw Daijin slowly standing up with the help of a few people.
She seemed fine; after the initial shock wore off, Daijin started trying to jump in place a few times.
And now, no one dared to underestimate this small figure anymore.
Every move she made captivated the hearts of everyone in the stadium.
"Alright, the TV signal has been transmitted, and the deliberation results are out! The frame-by-frame replay shown on the big screen… What!!!??"
The final speed of the two was so fast that even in slow motion, they left afterimages in the camera. And at the very last moment of crossing the finish line, the two figures were almost overlapping, but Daijin's body was just a little bit ahead of Biwa Hayahide.
This was the result of the deliberation after drawing the line, then freezing the frame, and drawing the line again.
"The 2000m turf race, this time's champion, who, by her own strength, completed a 1-to-9 comeback, came from behind, and even achieved a triple sprint!! Finally winning by a narrow margin against the two big favorites, Biwa Hayahide and Victory Ticket—Na—ri—ta—Tai—shin!!!!!!!!!!!!"
In the silent stadium, the cheers that erupted at that moment resounded through the sky.
After witnessing such a thrilling and soul-stirring race, who wouldn't be captivated by the power unleashed by this small figure?
A 1-to-9 comeback race was truly exhilarating.
Kazuo knelt on the ground, shouting loudly.
Yuriko's legs gave out, and she collapsed on the ground, constantly wiping away tears. When she saw the child fall to the ground, she had almost fainted. The rollercoaster-like change in emotions made her cry uncontrollably.
Teacher Yamaji, standing nearby, roared and howled at the top of his lungs. At this moment, he was nothing like a composed teacher. He vigorously waved his jacket, his neck red, crying out with abandon, his face already a tear-streaked mess.
"This victory belongs to Narita Taishin!!! The power of a triple sprint, this is an unimaginable existence! Will another new star shine brightly within Tracen Academy!?"
Listening to the commentator's excited voice on the broadcast, the entire stadium's cheers were for her alone.
She stared blankly at everything, but the emotion in her heart made her want to find someone the moment she came to her senses.
And just as she turned around, that person had already embraced her tightly.
"You did it… You really did it!"
Kazuo was also on the verge of tears at this moment. He knew better than anyone the pressure the girl faced, and he knew better than anyone the potential within her. And precisely because of this, he understood what had been sacrificed and what had finally been gained on this journey.
"Wait!"
The girl's body was completely stiff at this moment. Kazuo, in his excitement, had completely forgotten that this was being done in plain sight.
All he was thinking about now was holding this girl tightly; she had finally succeeded—
However, Daijin's face instantly turned bright red, like a kettle boiling. She almost instinctively stomped down hard with her foot.
Kazuo stumbled. Already weak in the legs from before, he directly pulled Daijin down with him, and they rolled onto the ground.
Thud—
Daijin's forehead hit Kazuo's chin.
This was not a light blow.
The two instantly clutched the places where they had been hit, curling up on the grass.
And all of this was caught on camera by the news department, who were preparing to gather some first-hand material.
This scene was permanently captured.
2000m Turf Race.
Qualification Assessment —
Narita Taishin, with the name of the victor, perfectly countered everything.
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