If you saved up your energy for the first half, then unleashed it all at the very last moment, what would the result be?
She was gradually beginning to understand during that race against Narita Brian.
Her body was like a giant battery.
If she recklessly pushed her pace early on, the later stages would drain more and more of her energy. Her body would grow heavy, until she might not even be able to lift her thighs.
But by changing her approach, taking it step by step, staying at the back of the pack in the early stages and waiting for the final stretch, she could significantly reduce that consumption.
As for just how powerful her final burst could be, it was untested, and Sunday Serenity wasn't too sure herself. She planned to find out in her next official race.
If, after the race, this running style left her with more stamina to spare, she would designate it as the method 'for now' best suited to her.
Sunday Silence had agreed with this assessment.
But her own proud, arrogant nature wouldn't allow anyone to run ahead of her.
Come race day, she'd undoubtedly charge to the front of the pack like she always did, not amble along leisurely beside Sunday Serenity.
And then, the gap between them would widen even further.
That prospect was seriously disheartening.
So, before the next race, Sunday Serenity decided to try it out first, to mentally prepare herself.
With the clatter of hooves on pavement, the run began.
In the display windows of the shops lining the street, the reflection of 'Sunday Serenity' gradually pulled away from her, running faster and faster. She herself maintained a steady, unhurried pace, following behind without pushing.
Save strength... save strength...
She repeated it to herself, desperately suppressing the urge to sprint.
Thump!
Her foot kicked against something, and a puff of black smoke erupted.
A blurry, indistinct figure writhed on the ground, the scattered ghost emitting muffled, incoherent sounds.
It stretched out a hazy hand, pointing above its own head. Following the direction, Sunday Serenity's eyes widened in disbelief.
Something like this...?
--+--
"Light! So this is the Central Circuit? That desperate running form, as if being chased by a vengeful spirit, where falling a single step behind means utter ruin... I can feel it. The difference from local races. Even in training, they're filled with an overwhelming competitive spirit. It's truly awe-inspiring."
Watching the brown-haired, ponytailed girl running for dear life, on the verge of tears, Oguri Cap felt genuine admiration.
What kind of obsession drives someone to push their body to such a life-consuming extreme?
That speed she just showed was easily on par with many competitors in local races.
This girl's future was immeasurable!
"Just as everyone says, Central is a place where unknown geniuses lie hidden..."
"No, no, no! This is obviously wrong, no matter how you look at it!"
"Is it wrong?"
Oguri Cap looked at the black-haired girl giving chase. Her eyes were full of hesitation.
Was she unable to catch up to the girl in front? Or was there another reason?
From any angle, this looked like a standard training pursuit.
"Which of these two will achieve victory in the end?" Oguri Cap was full of anticipation.
Wee-woo-wee-woo—!
"Uma Musume ahead, stop immediately! You are exceeding the speed limit!"
A black-and-white striped police car, siren blaring, chased after them, an officer shouting through a megaphone.
"..."
"..."
"So this is Central? They even have police personally supervising training—"
"Alright, Oguri, let's go check it out. We finally found two Tracen students." Belno Light couldn't help but facepalm, interrupting the slightly clueless Oguri Cap.
By the time the two reached the scene, the ponytailed girl was receiving a stern lecture from the police officer.
"Speeding on the road is very dangerous! What if you hit someone? You're so young, with a bright future ahead of you. How can you be so careless? You need to take responsibility for your own life and the lives of others!"
"Waaah, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..."
"What's your name?"
"Tokai Teio..."
Behind the girl being reprimanded by the police, the black-haired Uma Musume standing in front of the station entrance clenched her fists.
"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable..."
This world actually had speed limits for Uma Musume!
The ghost, who had died for some unknown reason, had been pointing at a sign that very clearly stated: Uma Musume, Max Speed: 40 km/h.
This forced her to keep her speed within that range.
It seemed incidents of Uma Musume accidentally killing pedestrians were a known occurrence in this world.
No wonder, with such powerful bodies, if they collided with a pedestrian at speeds exceeding a car's, it would very likely be fatal.
It looked like a proper track was indeed necessary.
As the black-haired girl was lost in thought, Belno Light approached her.
"Excuse me, are you a student at Tracen Academy?"
Hearing this, the girl turned around.
"I am."
"That's great! Actually, we're new students transferring to Tracen today. If it's not too much trouble, could you show us the way?"
"Transferring?"
"Yes, we were previously at a local school."
"So there are other Uma Musume schools?" the black-haired girl asked, a natural question.
"I-I think there are quite a few Uma Musume schools... but it's natural for someone from Central not to know about our little local one, ahaha..." She laughed slightly awkwardly.
"I see. Then follow me, I'll take you there."
"Really? Thank you so much! Oh, my name is Belno Light, and she's Oguri Cap."
"Hello."
The grey-haired girl extended her hand, but the other girl merely gave a symbolic nod and did not take it.
"My name is Manhattan Cafe. I'm a student at Tracen Academy," she introduced herself.
Just as the two were about to follow her, an extremely displeased voice rang out from behind.
"Wait just a minute—!!"
The ponytailed girl, her cheeks puffed out and radiating resentment, stormed over. The unshed tears glistening in the corners of her eyes made her look like she'd been badly bullied, her whole body trembling slightly.
The police officer had finished his lecture and left.
"I just realized it! You're a Tracen student too, aren't you!"
"Huh?"
What was this kid going on about now?
"I thought you were a ghost... No! Why were you chasing me non-stop from the very beginning? You made me drop the honey drink I just bought back on the roadside!"
"Chasing you?" 'Manhattan Cafe' lowered her head in thought for a moment before it clicked.
After seeing her, this young girl had suddenly started sprinting recklessly over the speed limit for no apparent reason. The speed limit sign was right next to her; Manhattan Cafe had thought the girl was having some sort of fit and trying to challenge the law.
She felt a bit disappointed.
"So you thought I was chasing you."
"What do you mean, 'so you thought I was chasing you'? You make it sound like I misunderstood!" she shouted, fuming.
"I was just doing a running training exercise..."
"Then why were you following right behind me!?"
"The route happened to be the same."
"There's no way it was that much of a coincidence!"
"My original destination was the station."
"Wha—!!"
Don't tell me... you're saying that from the start, it was me... Teio-sama, who was being presumptuous?
Could it be that from beginning to end, I was just scaring myself again?
No, wait, why was I even scared in the first place? There's nothing special about her at all.
Tokai Teio stared at the other girl's pale face.
That's right! Me! Tokai Teio! I've already moved past those shadows!
So the reason I ran wasn't out of fear!
"It must be... that you're filled with endless admiration for my, Teio's, magnificent form, which is why you followed so closely! And I, wanting to showcase myself to you, pushed myself so hard! That's definitely it, right? Admit it!"
As these words left her mouth, the three other girls froze on the spot.
This kid... had she been chased silly?
--+--
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.