As the most prestigious event with the most attention, and with Tracen's Narita Brian as the headline competitor, it was only natural that many students from Tracen Academy were also present, observing and learning.
Seeing the dark silhouette of the competitor on the track, their mouths fell open, faces stunned.
The [Japan Derby]... could be run like this!?
Of course, not everyone shared the same feeling.
Vodka, in her school uniform, clenched her fists, eyes shining. 'Senior'... just as she had said, was appearing on the track of the [Japan Derby], and in an unprecedented way!
So rule-breaking, so dominant over the entire field—it was simply—
So cool!
Her excitement was overwhelming. All she wanted to know was whether that 'Senior' could maintain this pace all the way, without running out of steam midway.
If she could, this race would absolutely go down in history!
However, unlike the excited Vodka, the black-haired girl standing among the crowd, Manhattan Cafe, widened her eyes, her eyebrows shooting up, revealing a look of utter bewilderment.
She knew who the person on the track was. In fact, no one understood better than her. And precisely because of that, she was even more confused than anyone else.
Why could everyone see her 'Friend'?
Before, no matter who she told, no one would believe her. They thought she was talking nonsense, trying to scare people, so many avoided her, kept their distance.
But today, 'Friend' had appeared in such a form, completely beyond Manhattan Cafe's expectations.
Was it a problem with 'Friend'? Or had something happened to everyone?
Manhattan Cafe leaned towards the former, because 'Friend's' posture was strange.
It wasn't her usual running style.
That sense of raw power and wildness... she had never felt anything like it during their previous training sessions.
It totally didn't suit her, Manhattan Cafe thought.
She much preferred 'Friend's' usual self—fluid and natural like water, like the wind, like the night air.
Once we get back... I absolutely have to ask her and get a clear answer...
Manhattan Cafe made up her mind.
Elsewhere, in the high VIP observation deck of Tokyo Racecourse, overlooking the entire venue, Symboli Rudolf's fingers, wrapped around her own shoulders, twitched, veins bulging, her expression unprecedentedly grave.
"To actually... be this audacious..."
This individual's appearance had thrown the whole Central Association into chaos.
Right now, countless executives were running ragged dealing with this sudden incident. The Central Committee Chairman and other responsible parties were rushing to the scene by car.
You have to understand, this wasn't just a challenge to herself, or even just a challenge to Tracen.
This individual was challenging the entire Central Association, the entire URA, the entire Twinkle Series. She was challenging the very rules of the Triple Crown races, aiming to destroy the system for all Uma Musume that had existed until now.
This one... is simply insane.
Rudolf couldn't think of any other word for it.
A large number of staff members were gathered outside; they couldn't enter the track itself, and were waiting for the race to end to apprehend this rule-breaking Uma Musume.
"Strange..."
Standing next to Rudolf, a girl with practical short hair and a cold gaze let out a puzzled sound.
As the student council vice-president, and also the famed [Empress] who had left her mark on the Twinkle Series, Air Groove, sharing the observation deck with Rudolf, frowned as she watched the television screen mounted on the wall.
"What is it, Air Groove? Do you know that Uma Musume?"
"No." Air Groove shook her head. She pointed at the wall screen.
"Look there."
Following her finger, Rudolf looked. The screen was broadcasting the race live.
Watching the slowly panning camera shot, Rudolf gradually narrowed her eyes, then suddenly, her pupils contracted to pinpricks.
On the TV, where the black Uma Musume should have been, there was only a blurry shadow, impossible to make out clearly—
--+--
The race had reached the mid-stage. Faster than ever before, the leading black-clad Uma Musume, as if feeling no fatigue, maintained an incredibly high speed with her body low to the ground.
A front-runner...? No, the feeling she gave wasn't quite that. The sheer power in her stride made it seem more like she was using a mid-pack running style, but her speed was so high she had no choice but to lead.
That's right—everyone else was just too slow!
Amidst such a tense pace, all the spectators at Tokyo Racecourse experienced a bizarre mix of extreme speed and extreme slowness. The lone black-clad Uma Musume at the front, and all the others behind, even Narita Brian among them, seemed to exist in a different time stream.
"Narita Brian!! Pass her—!!"
"You're the strongest!!"
"Show her who this year's top Uma Musume really is!!"
"Narita Brian! Narita Brian!"
A tsunami of cheers and support roared from the stands.
It wasn't the final sprint yet. They should still be conserving stamina. But the crowd could hold back no longer. They desperately shouted for Narita Brian.
Go on, overtake your rival!
They couldn't wait any longer.
Should she maintain her position in the pack, or answer the crowd's calls and push forward?
Narita Brian hesitated.
As a closer, her goal was to wait until the final turn, then unleash her charge.
Biting through the throats of the front-runners, trampling them underfoot, towards the one and only finish line—that was Narita Brian's way of winning.
But this was too far forward, still the mid-stage before the final turn.
Could she maintain a sprint over such a long distance?
At the very front of the pack, the black Uma Musume ran with her head down. Beneath the waterfall of her flying bangs, Narita Brian caught a fleeting glimpse of an unquenchable golden flame.
That figure seemed to be mocking her.
What are you hesitating for? What are you holding back for?
Is the outcome of the race really all that matters to you?
Someone who only dares to be cautious and hesitant doesn't deserve to stand on this battlefield!
Her chapped lips seeped blood...
Thirsty... So thirsty—!
Her stomach growled with hunger, desperately voicing Narita Brian's desire.
Right before her was the 'prey' she had been dreaming of.
Yes, what am I waiting for?!
No need for strategy, no need for hesitation. Embracing the burning desire in her heart, forward, ever forward!
"Rooooaaaar——!"
A beast's roar shook the very earth.
The hunger buried deep within Narita Brian's heart erupted completely.
With a sound like 'BOOM—!', the entire Tokyo Racecourse seemed to tremble under her feet.
Narita Brian, at the mid-point of the race, a point beyond anyone's imagination, began her charge!
By the time everyone registered what was happening, the surroundings were already covered in torn-up grass and dust, as if struck by an artillery shell. Large chunks of turf were gouged out, sinking down muddily.
The churned-up soil was mixed with fragments of metal from her horseshoes.
Her overwhelmingly powerful stride made Narita Brian seem like she was breaking the sound barrier. In the blink of an eye, she overtook the other front-running Uma Musume and closed in right behind the black Uma Musume.
"Oooooooooohhhhh——!!!!"
A tidal wave of sound erupted from the entire racecourse. The intense roar was so powerful that pedestrians on distant streets couldn't help but stop and look towards the venue.
That utterly unrestrained form surpassed people's understanding. That acceleration, worthy of being called a miracle, defied comprehension.
The beast that had been held in check for so long had finally, today, bared its fangs without reservation, revealing a terrifying form far beyond imagination.
This was Narita Brian. This was Narita Brian at her peak, holding nothing back.
In this moment, she was the very embodiment of power, using her coiled strength to hunt her prey.
Yes, this is how a race should be!
'BOOM——!!'
Just as the crowd was still cheering and applauding, another earthquake-like impact drew everyone's attention. The leading black Uma Musume produced a terrifying sound, completely on par with Narita Brian's.
The black Uma Musume, unbelievably, unreasonably, had once again, begun to accelerate!
--+--
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.