In the private box overlooking the racetrack, three members of the Student Council watched the scene below.
"What a spectacle, as always," Symboli Rudolf remarked with a sigh.
No matter how busy work got, she always made time to attend the major graded races. This was partly due to a request from the Central Committee Chairman, but Rudolf also had her own reasons.
Every time she saw the Uma Musume striving with all their might to seize victory, it reaffirmed that all her efforts were worthwhile.
The students of Tracen Academy used their brief, precious time to carve out incredibly beautiful stories.
Reading their stories, Rudolf never once regretted what she had sacrificed. She gave willingly.
This time was no different. Thanks to Air Groove's help, she managed to get through mountains of paperwork. And also…
Rudolf glanced at the black-haired girl standing beside her, arms crossed: Narita Brian. She had her usual habit of chewing on a small branch.
All the time-wasting miscellaneous tasks were handed off to Narita Brian, which sped up their work efficiency considerably. Brian herself never complained, saying, 'You can give me anything, whatever it is,' never refusing even the most tedious work.
'Truly, tricking her… ahem, persuading her to join the Student Council was the right choice,' Rudolf thought, nodding slightly in agreement with her own past wisdom.
Narita Brian was currently watching the track intently. Observing the warming-up competitors, she narrowed her eyes.
"Heavy track," she stated.
"I remember last year, when I ran in the Hakodate Stakes, the weather was just like this. It wasn't raining, but the humidity was thick, the entire turf course felt like it was filled with sticky, slippery glue."
Your footing was unstable, easy to slip and fall, and yet when you tried to lift your feet, it felt like the ground was sucking them down firmly.
Especially going uphill, she had nearly lost her footing and slid. That was a heavy track.
The muddy ground constantly sapped your strength, making you tire quickly. In that race, Narita Brian had only managed sixth place. Of course, the 1200-meter distance wasn't ideal for her either. Even so, it made Brian acutely aware of the terror of a heavy track. On such ground, accelerating was difficult.
"Indeed, a heavy track is a severe test for any Uma Musume," Rudolf agreed, having been troubled by it herself. "But, only by overcoming such adversity can one be called a true champion."
Rudolf knew this principle well. The racetrack had a saying: 'forever the first.' Only the winner is remembered; the rest, no matter how hard they tried, would eventually be forgotten. This was the cruelty of the Twinkle Series. Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere.
"President Rudolf, who do you think will win this race?" Narita Brian asked.
Without a doubt, Hishi Amazon was a strong competitor, and Biko Pegasus possessed astonishing potential. If Rudolf had to choose, she leaned towards the former, because Hishi Amazon's record-breaking performance was simply too dazzling.
'For Brian to ask such a question, does she have another contender in mind?'
Just as this thought crossed Rudolf's mind, a powerful thump—a deep, resonating heartbeat—echoed through the room.
"This is…" Air Groove beside her stared wide-eyed as Narita Brian bit through the branch in her mouth and spat it onto the floor.
Brian's eyes were now veiled with a fiery intensity, the corners of her mouth lifted high. "Can such a demanding race truly stop her?"
"Brian, you…" Air Groove began.
Brian snorted softly. "Just now, my blood screamed something incredible."
Narita Brian's body trembled with barely contained excitement.
'Who do you think will win this race?' The question didn't feel like Brian asking her; it felt like Rudolf asking herself.
Her gaze instantly sharpened. "Air Groove, contact the racetrack management, now!"
"Yes!"
Rudolf's eyes quickly scanned over the list of participants, muttering under her breath, "How can this be… How is this possible…"
--+--
"Tokyo Racecourse, 1600-meter mile course, weather: overcast. Nine Uma Musume have gathered to compete for the GII grade honor! Who will claim the crown in today's feature race!"
The announcer's voice reached every spectator in the stands. The slightly unfamiliar tone made many regulars realize this wasn't the same announcer from the Derby commentary.
'So she really was penalized by the Central Committee?' After a brief moment of pity for her sacrifice, the crowd turned their attention to the competitors.
The two most anticipated entrants went without saying.
"Winner of her debut race by an overwhelming nine lengths, then victorious in the [Sazanka Sho] by five lengths, and again overpowering strong rivals to claim the crown in the [Keisei Hai]—undefeated in three starts!"
"Our 'Hero', the second favorite: Biko Pegasus!"
A spirited, petite girl waved to the crowd. True to the nickname the people had given her, the girl clenched her fist, striking a pose reminiscent of a hero from a tokusatsu film, her blue eyes shining with vibrant light.
"Hero! Hero! Go for it!"
"Biko, you can do it!!!"
The spectators cheered excitedly, sending their support to the remarkably powerful girl whose ability far surpassed her small stature.
"And next, the winner of the [Hanshin Stakes], dominating the graded race, beating the second-place finisher by five lengths, and setting a new course record! With an astonishing final kick, she surged past multiple rivals in the last hundred meters, astounding countless viewers! The top favorite! The Heroine of Justice, Hishi Amazon!"
"Heroine! Heroine! Heroine! Heroine!!"
The gloomy weather did nothing to dampen the crowd's enthusiasm. They cheered fervently, their roars nearly matching those of a GI grade race.
Compared to the classic races, the field was smaller today, only half the size of a full gate. After the introductions, the competitors filed into the starting gates. An official outside checked each gate number, confirming all nine were filled—not one more, not one less.
He raised his walkie-talkie. "All runners are loaded. Total of nine."
"Good," came the reply. "Start the race."
Then, the announcer's voice boomed across the racetrack once more.
"Now all competitors are in the gates and ready! The moment we've all been waiting for! The GII grade stakes race, the [New Zealand Cup], begins now—!"
At the announcer's cue, all the runners dropped into their starting stances, their eyes filled with a fierce desire for victory. The gates flew open, and the competitors launched forward, charging across the clinging, treacherous ground.
The spectators roared with excitement watching the Uma Musume gallop across the track. Everyone eagerly anticipated this clash of titans.
But, mixed within the crowd's cheers, were a few different voices.
"That black Uma Musume isn't here this time…"
"Is it because it's only a GII race?"
"Or is there another reason?"
"What a shame…"
Yes, a real shame.
A reporter wearing black-framed glasses and holding a long-lens camera sighed with the same regret. He had come specifically hoping to see that black Uma Musume. And he wasn't alone; a significant number of reporters in the stands were there for the same reason. They wanted to witness another miraculous performance from her.
'Looks like it's not happening this time…'
Just as he prepared to focus on the actual competitors, an utterly astonished cry erupted near him.
"Look—!"
Someone shouted. Everyone turned to look in the indicated direction, and then they saw something unbelievable.
In a gate that had been empty moments before, a figure now stood. Cloaked in jet-black, a waterfall of hair streaming behind her, the ghostly black Uma Musume had appeared on the track once again, as if from nowhere.
Finally…
Finally, you've come!
His teeth chattered with excitement.
"That black Uma Musume who defeated Narita Brian—she's appeared again—!!!"
The crowd screamed.
"Oooohhhhhhh—!!!"
A wave of sound, like a tidal wave, exploded across the racecourse.
--+--
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.