Chapter 20: Tokai Teio? Nothing but Trash!
December 22nd, Chukyo Racecourse entrance.
The specifications for this Maiden Wins race held at Chukyo Racecourse weren't worse than the last one.
On one hand, this was the last Maiden-level race of the year-end. Many Uma Musume aiming to make their mark next year wanted to debut within this year.
On the other hand, some Uma Musume from the previous debut race had postponed their debut until today specifically to avoid Tokai Teio.
This resulted in a full 16 participants for this debut race, hitting the maximum limit.
Stardust Mirage, holding her stomach, arrived alone at the entrance. After showing her participant proof, she hurried inside.
This morning, she had again eaten a large meal with Oguri Cap. After all, spending time with a Uma Musume like Oguri Cap made it hard not to increase one's appetite.
However, the accompanying consequence was her currently upset stomach.
"Oh no, I need to go to the restroom before the race starts." A troubled Stardust Mirage jogged towards the restroom. But before she could push the door open, she heard a voice from inside gradually approaching the entrance:
"...Hmph, the strongest horse to debut this year will be me, Daitai Tendo."
"Tokai Teio? That little runt? Nothing but trash!"
The restroom door swung open with the voice. Stardust Mirage felt a shadow fall over her. Looking up, she saw a robust Uma Musume standing before her.
This Uma Musume looked formidable. She was at least 190cm tall, and her legs were noticeably longer than Stardust Mirage's.
Her messy, uneven, fluffy crimson short hair, combined with her fierce and menacing expression, gave off the vibe of a delinquent female bully.
"What are you blocking the door for? Move it." The giant's voice was the same one Stardust Mirage had just heard. She casually reached out to push aside the smaller figure blocking her way—
—Denied.
The hand pushed with force, but it was like pushing against a giant rock. Not only did the target not budge, but the pusher, the giant Uma Musume, was even pushed back a couple of steps by the recoil.
Stardust Mirage, who had been shoved, slowly raised her head and said to the Uma Musume named [Daitai Tendo] word by word:
"Tokai Teio shouldn't be looked down upon by a Uma Musume like you. She will step onto the stage of the Classic Triple Crown, and I will defeat her there."
"Hah?!" Veins bulged on Daitai Tendo's forehead.
It was already embarrassing enough that she couldn't push this stranger, who was a full 20cm shorter than her. Now, this girl actually dared to contradict her.
In a fit of anger, she actually reached out to grab Stardust Mirage.
Retreat!
Stardust Mirage swiftly retreated two steps back, trying to evade Daitai Tendo's hand.
However, the other party took one large stride forward, closing the distance instantly, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
This person's stride is so wide! Stardust Mirage was inwardly shocked. It was her first time facing a Uma Musume of this height. She hadn't expected her to cover such a long distance in one step, easily catching her as she tried to evade.
"You got guts, saying that again to my face." Daitai Tendo lowered her head, bringing her face close to Stardust Mirage's, and threatened in a menacing tone:
"Someone of your level dares to talk about the Classic Triple Crown, huh?"
Just as Stardust Mirage was about to respond, another Uma Musume rushed out of the restroom and forcibly separated the two.
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down." This newcomer, a brown-haired Uma Musume with a single ponytail and round glasses, looked like a literary young lady.
She was slightly shorter than Stardust Mirage by half a head, and standing before the petite giant Daitai Tendo, she only reached her shoulders. Yet, upon seeing her, Daitai Tendo obediently withdrew her hand and turned to leave.
"Tch, boring. You're a participant in the upcoming race too, right? Then I'll make you look bad on the track."
"I'm really sorry. Actually, Tendo doesn't really mean it that way." Watching the giantess leave after throwing out such a harsh remark, the bespectacled girl instead politely bowed repeatedly to Stardust Mirage in apology.
"My name is Victory Kure, and Daitai Tendo are both Uma Musume from Ise City."
"We were delayed by some matters before, so we couldn't participate in the same debut race as Tokai Teio back then. Now we can only debut directly in this Maiden Wins race. Daitai Tendo has always held a grudge about this. I'm truly very sorry."
As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. Stardust Mirage, who was initially somewhat angry at Daitai Tendo's words, found it hard to direct her anger at the bespectacled girl now. She could only wave her hand and then continue:
"Regardless, attacking others behind their backs is never good. You should try to advise her... But not participating in that race might not necessarily be a bad thing for you guys."
"Not necessarily a bad thing?" Victory Kure looked puzzled by her statement.
"If you had been there that day... you would have understood just how powerful Tokai Teio truly is. That Daitai Tendo probably wouldn't be so confident either."
After saying this, Stellar Mirage hurriedly ran to the restroom, leaving Victory Akane alone in the hallway, lost in thought.
—————————————————————
[Another sunny day today. The sixteen horse girls present are now entering the starting gates one after another.]
[This race has a total of sixteen participants. The most popular contender, even before her debut, carries the title of "Giant." It's horse girl number 8, Daitai Tendo.]
[The second most popular contender is the horse girl who previously demonstrated that miraculous running style, the one who narrowly lost to Tokai Teio by half a length. It's horse girl number 7, Stellar Mirage.]
[The third most popular contender is…]
On the racetrack, the commentator's excited voice echoed in everyone's ears. Stellar Mirage stood inside her starting gate, gently closing her eyes and focusing her spirit.
"So you lost to Tokai Teio before? No wonder you keep praising that little pipsqueak."
In the adjacent gate number 8, Daitai Tendo grinned menacingly, revealing a mouthful of sharp, shark-like teeth.
"Too bad. You're about to face a second consecutive loss. And it won't just be a loss... No matter what special moves you have, in the end, it's just the running of an ordinary person."
"I'm going to make you, this loser who lost to Tokai Teio, witness what it means to have an innate, inherent gap!"
As she said this, Daitai Tendo looked at Stellar Mirage, who was trembling slightly, eyes tightly shut, refusing to engage in conversation.
Convinced that her opponent was too scared to even respond, she couldn't help but feel even more triumphant:
"When you realize that no matter how hard you push your strides, I'll catch up to you effortlessly, will you finally understand that this race was hopeless from the very start?"
"Let me tell you, shorty—"
"In the sport of racing, leg length is the absolute advantage!"
All the surrounding noise failed to reach Stellar Mirage's ears.
At this moment, she had concentrated her entire being into a single point, completely shutting out external distractions. Feeling the familiar track and the atmosphere of the racecourse, her whole body trembled slightly with excitement.
The only thing she was waiting for was that sound...
—Bzzzt.
The race begins, the gates fly open!
Bang!
Sixteen horse girls sprint out simultaneously—
[Skill: Concentration], activated.
[Skill: Non-Standard Distance ○], activated.
[Skill: Counter-Clockwise ○], activated.
Taking her first step, Stellar Mirage's eyes snapped open. The turf beneath her feet exploded with a roar, sending clumps of soil and shredded grass flying!
[Skill: Ground Work], activated!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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