Early April. This year's Satsuki Sho for the classic generation opened.
The television broadcast replayed footage from this year's Satsuki Sho.
From the very start of the race, Biwa Hayahide ran at the front with impressive momentum.
But Winning Ticket's performance behind her was equally eye-catching, maintaining pressure on Biwa Hayahide throughout.
By the middle stage, the race's rhythm had seemingly become a one-on-one duel between these two.
Skill activations, clashing auras, speed versus speed—
The two unleashed all their passion on the turf.
Yet the situation changed dramatically as they entered the final turn. From behind, Narita Taishin burst forward with explosive power, and right behind her came Venus Paques, keeping pace.
Having overused their skills earlier, Biwa Hayahide and Winning Ticket were powerless to stop these two. They could only watch helplessly as both runners overtook them.
A powerful aura surged from Narita Taishin. The sound of crashing waves seemed to emanate from her footfalls—clearly, she had broken through to a higher level during this race.
She had successfully broken from the pack, seized first place, and grown even stronger—
Under normal circumstances, she should have claimed victory.
But the race's final result was nothing like that.
Just as they emerged from the final turn, on that short straightaway, Narita Taishin was overtaken from behind by Venus Paques!
Only at the moment the race ended did Narita Taishin, looking at Venus Paques's composed demeanor, realize just how badly she'd been outmatched.
That girl hadn't even been running at full strength during the entire race.
This year's Satsuki Sho had been claimed by an overseas exchange student. The result left many in stunned silence.
Watching that victorious figure, every spectator in the stands fell quiet.
For Venus Paques—this so-called most challenging classic-level race was merely "that level."
The other three had performed decently, but they were only "decent"—nowhere near being worthy opponents.
But Venus Paques didn't feel particularly disappointed.
After all, she'd predicted this outcome before the race even started. Besides, winning was worth celebrating in itself.
And so, this year's Satsuki Sho concluded.
...
Soon after, time moved to late April.
The Spring Tenno Sho—was about to begin!
This was the longest G1 race. At 3,200 meters, only the truly strong could challenge such a distance.
This race was also one of the three crown jewels of the Spring Triple Crown, ranking among the highest-tier G1 events.
Nearly all competitors who registered were notable Uma Musume from recent years.
Even Mihono Bourbon, who had performed exceptionally at the Osaka Hai, chose not to enter this race.
Though she had the qualifications to participate, even without entering, she knew what the outcome would be.
She simply couldn't achieve much in this race.
During the Osaka Hai, the returned Rice Shower had made it clear—Bourbon wasn't yet her match.
And even without Rice Shower, against the one called the strongest long-distance runner—Mejiro McQueen—Mihono Bourbon had no confidence in winning.
Furthermore, if she ran this race at full effort, she might get injured.
For all these reasons, Mihono Bourbon wasn't willing to risk injury for a race she would surely lose. Besides, this wasn't a must-run race for her. It had been a while since she'd claimed a victory. Right now, her priority should be figuring out how to win her next race—not running one she couldn't win.
She wasn't the only competitor who thought this way.
Those who qualified but didn't register shared two main reasons:
First, unwillingness to challenge this high-difficulty long-distance course.
Second, unwillingness to face opponents so overwhelmingly strong that victory seemed impossible.
For the vast majority of Uma Musume, this race was extraordinarily difficult. Many chose to avoid it, though plenty still wanted to compete.
Such was the nature of heavyweight G1 events.
Many non-participating competitors came to watch from the stands.
Mihono Bourbon and Trainer Kuronuma were there in person.
While listening to the host introduce the race participants, they watched the Uma Musume on the turf.
"Now presenting the top three in popularity!"
"First up, in third place—having withdrawn from racing due to injury at last year's Arima Kinen, now returned and revived—Tokai Teio!"
As the announcer spoke, Tokai Teio emerged from the tunnel wearing her new racing outfit and stepped onto the track.
Immediately, Teio's fans in the stands erupted with thunderous cheers.
Even though Teio had suffered two consecutive losses last year, her past achievements and the impression she'd left wouldn't simply disappear.
In the hearts of some fans, she was still that powerful and proud competitor!
"Go for it!" A small figure shouted from the front of the stands. "Teio-san—do your best!"
Teio noticed this small figure and remembered her—a child who had visited Tracen Academy during the campus open house.
Her name was... Kitasan Black, wasn't it?
That child was just like her younger self.
Teio recalled the declaration Kitasan Black had made to her:
"I want to become an Uma Musume as cool as you!"
Those words—Teio herself had once said them to the Student Council President when she was young.
With this in mind, she waved to the fans in the stands, then strode confidently into the competitor preparation area.
Carrying these expectations, I can't afford to lose.
Teio thought, her spirits lifted.
Even if few believed in her performance today, even if just for that child who admired her, she absolutely had to run a spectacular race!
I have to win. Now I finally understand the weight of this feeling!
"Looks like even without a certain someone's support, Teio is in great shape today."
On Team Spica's side, Trainer Okino faced hostile glares from his team members.
"...I was never worried about Teio. Having returned to racing, she'll definitely be stronger than before."
"Saying that to us doesn't mean anything."
Gold Ship was completely unmoved. Influenced by her, no one else was swayed by Okino's words either.
"Fine, what I did was wrong. But—"
Okino spoke earnestly. "I don't regret this decision."
Indeed, when team members faced each other in competition, a trainer shouldn't take sides.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even have considered it.
Because choosing to support either one would torment him, and he couldn't judge which of them had a better chance of winning.
But that was before. Now that Teio had lost twice, he believed he had seen her current limits.
Even if the returned Teio was stronger than before, McQueen's rate of improvement had never lagged behind.
Under these circumstances, he could easily determine who was currently stronger.
Moreover, there was another very practical issue.
Teio had lost her chance to challenge a higher legendary achievement. McQueen, however, was still in the running.
If she could win this race, McQueen would achieve a three-peat at the Spring Tenno Sho—a magnificent accomplishment.
Even if Teio won today, her achievement wouldn't attract nearly as much attention.
So whether from personal sentiment or professional perspective, Okino believed his choice was correct.
Because he wanted McQueen to win!
If his sacrifice could increase McQueen's chances even slightly, why wouldn't he do it?
As for Teio's feelings?
He believed Teio wouldn't be defeated by something so trivial. After all, even in far worse circumstances, that Teio had persevered!
Okino made no attempt to hide his current thinking.
Gold Ship and the others were left speechless—this guy's approach was just too clumsy.
"The returned Tokai Teio looks to be in excellent condition. Surely today's race will show us a brilliant performance."
"Next to take the stage—this race's second most popular competitor, the long-distance queen who dominated the previous two Spring Tenno Sho—Mejiro McQueen!"
Like Teio, McQueen emerged from the tunnel in her new racing outfit.
Her commanding, majestic presence was breathtakingly beautiful. She radiated an overwhelming aura of dominance, as if she were the ruler of this race!
Considering this was her third time competing here, that feeling only intensified.
The Spring Tenno Sho—this race seemed tailor-made for Mejiro McQueen, making one wonder if anyone could ever break her legend on this track!
This time, the cheers from the stands were far louder than before.
If Teio hadn't lost so badly last year, today might have been different.
If she'd maintained her undefeated record and arrived riding the momentum of consecutive victories to challenge McQueen's throne, fans would surely be more excited about her performance.
But Teio's golden streak had been shattered—and that wasn't all. She had even avoided the previous Osaka Hai.
Naturally, many began to wonder whether Teio's strength had hit a plateau.
Thus, McQueen's popularity now overwhelmingly exceeded Teio's!
People seemed to be rallying behind their queen!
But—
Did they truly believe McQueen would defend her title?
No!
When the final competitor entered, the entire venue erupted with thunderous sound, far surpassing the cheers McQueen had received.
"That's right—the star of today's show is undeniably this competitor! The undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume! Still maintaining a perfect record, breaking numerous records, continuing to write her epic—Rice Shower! No one else can compete with her for the top spot in today's popularity rankings!"
Hearing the announcer's assessment of herself, Rice Shower felt a flash of embarrassment.
I'm not that amazing. Besides, most of that praise is really about the Overlord.
"Haven't you already accepted it? I am you."
The Overlord's voice echoed in Rice Shower's mind.
Rice Shower nodded, then took a deep breath. Her gaze sharpened as jet-black dominance instantly radiated from her.
Feeling the pressure emanating from Rice Shower, every competitor present felt their hearts skip a beat.
So this is Rice Shower's aura!
She really is strong.
Worthy of someone who's been winning all this time!
McQueen and Teio's expressions grew tense.
Though they had agreed to settle matters between themselves, before that could happen, they first had to consider something else.
How to survive under Rice Shower's overwhelming pressure!
No—that's not all I want!
Teio shook her head, casting aside that timid thought.
What she wanted wasn't merely to survive this race. What she should pursue was victory!
McQueen's thoughts were similar.
She really is incredible. Anywhere else, I'd probably be trembling in fear right now. But here, today—
I absolutely cannot lose!
A pale white flame flickered in McQueen's eyes.
The ZONE aura exploding from her body responded powerfully to Rice Shower's dominance. Her resolve and unwavering will transformed into real strength under ZONE's enhancement!
Sensing McQueen's fighting spirit, Rice Shower merely returned a cold, expressionless stare.
In that instant, her jet-black aura surged explosively, crushing McQueen's momentum back down!
...!
McQueen's face showed shock.
What unfathomable, overwhelming darkness.
Could she truly defeat such a Monster?!
For a moment, her carefully steeled resolve began to waver.
No—don't think about the opponent! All I need to focus on is reaching the finish line!
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"