A week passed in the blink of an eye for the people in Tracen. After the announcement of the mock race, Tracen's newly enrolled students began preparing for it. However, it was clear that not everyone was qualified to participate. Besides the few "catfish" personally selected by Symboli Rudolf, the other Uma Musume participating could not be small fries.
Even if they were, they had to be the largest among them. Although this mock race had no official race classification and was just an internal competition for the newly enrolled Uma Musume of Tracen Academy, it was an event that they made public for everyone to spectate, meaning that its prestige was quite high.
None of the new Uma Musume at Tracen Academy are weak—this was the message Symboli Rudolf, as the Student Council President, wanted to convey to the public. Therefore, the new students who competed would undoubtedly be the best of the best, selected through multiple rounds of screening.
Finally, at noon on the day of the mock race, a large number of external visitors and reporters entered Tracen Academy to watch the race, filling the vast grandstands of Tracen Academy's track all the way to its entrance. And finally, the start of the mock race was officially announced… "Welcome everyone to Tracen Academy! We hope you will enjoy this internal mock race hosted by Tracen Academy!"
On the stage, Symboli Rudolf, dressed in her winning uniform, stood as the Student Council President alongside Air Groove and Narita Brian, addressing the audience:
"Although this mock race is an unofficial one, to uphold Tracen Academy's motto of 'Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere,' we will conduct this race as if it were an official one." (T/N: Ecwilpes Phirst De Leste Nowheye!!!!!!!!!!)
"And again, while the Uma Musume who wins this mock race will not have it officially recorded as a win in their race records, we will be awarding the winner with a medal recognized by the Tracen Student Council, signifying that the winner is the best Uma Musume of Tracen Academy's new generation!"
Symboli Rudolf's words ignited a fervor among everyone present. When Air Groove and Narita Brian, who was chewing on a blade of grass, brought out a medal and declared it to be the proof of being the best Uma Musume of Tracen Academy's new generation, the entire venue—civilians, reporters, and participating Uma Musume alike—erupted in unprecedented cheers.
"Alright—! I've made up my mind to win now! For the medal personally awarded by the Prez!" Below the stage, Tokai Teio excitedly rubbed her hands together. She was determined to win this race.
"…I never knew. It seems like the President didn't tell us..." Ikezoe, who was giving Curren Chan some final instructions for the race, shrugged helplessly, but he didn't mind.
Curren Chan is an Uma Musume who can only run short distances. She might be able to lead for the first three corners in a medium-distance race like this, but she would definitely "die" by the time she reached the final corner. He wasn't aiming for first place anyway.
"T- Trainer, there's a medal, you know?" On the other side, Meisho Doto, who was preparing for the race, tugged on Wada's sleeve and said with a hint of excitement:
"If we win this race, we can get the medal and become the 'Best Uma Musume of Tracen Academy's new generation'!"
"Yes, the best Uma Musume of Tracen Academy's new generation. That truly is tempting." Wada, of course, understood the hidden meaning behind Doto's words. Although Doto didn't explicitly say it, she was asking Wada for permission to remove her weights for the race.
Although Wada felt that even with the weights, Meisho Doto's current strength and skill level would let her place top five easily, seeing Doto's hopeful expression, Wada pondered for a moment before saying with a smile:
"Alright, this time, take off your weights, Doto. Run with all your might and win this race!"
"Y- yes!"
After a slight surprise, Doto immediately nodded happily. She had already prepared herself to be rejected—because the Mainichi Hai race against T.M. Opera O was getting closer and closer, and Doto had discussed this matter multiple times with Wada now.
The plan Wada proposed was called "playing the pig to eat the tiger." It meant concealing her abilities, not revealing her true strength, and then unleashing her all during the Mainichi Hai to catch her opponents off guard, thus greatly increasing her chances of winning against T.M. Opera O.
Doto also felt that this was the best chance she had at beating T.M. Opera O. Therefore, in her daily training, except for three rest days, she wore her weights almost every day. Not even during sleeping did she take them off, except for when she had to shower.
The effect was significant. At first, when she was still unaccustomed to it, even sleeping was difficult. But now, Doto felt these weights becoming lighter and lighter, and she was gradually adapting to the weight.
However, she still lacked actual racing experience, not truly understanding her true strength after shedding the weights.
This was one of the reasons Wada agreed to let Doto remove her weights and go all out. The value this mock race could give was not low; even if all the Uma Musume here were new, it probably was on the same level as a GIII race.
Additionally, another point was that, although Wada encouraged Doto verbally, deep down, he was mentally prepared for Doto not to win this race… The reason… Wada unconsciously cast his gaze to the other side—there, Mejiro McQueen, who had long since removed her weights and was doing warm-up exercises, had been poised for action for a long time.
Around McQueen, the other Uma Musume were far away from her, not even daring to approach. Everyone could feel the powerful Aura and determination to win that was emanating from McQueen. (T/N: Girl has that Aura)
"She's really intimidating… The current Mejiro McQueen gives me the same feeling as Rice Shower during the Spring Tenno Sho back then…"
Although Wada had never personally seen the actual Racehorse Rice Shower, known as the "Black Assassin", nor had he seen the Uma Musume version of Rice Shower in this world, through recordings, he knew the terror of Rice Shower that had panicked other Racehorses at the time.
And now, a similar feeling was emanating from Mejiro McQueen, but it wasn't a "beast-like" Aura that Rice Shower had, but pure craving for victory.
"At this rate, even Tokai Teio would lose to McQueen, right?" Wada muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, outside Tracen Academy, which was surrounded by an impenetrable crowd, a luxurious limousine slowly pulled up to the school gate. Soon after, with the help of bodyguards and assistants, the car door slowly opened, and several Uma Musume emerged. Although their hairstyles varied, they had similar appearances, clearly indicating they were all from the same family.
"Grandmother, please hurry! The mock race is about to begin. This is McQueen's first race!"
"Ryan, you need to become more patient. You are an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, on whom great hopes are placed, as well as the most likely to win the Tenno Sho."
From the car, an elderly woman, clearly the elder of the family, slowly stepped out with the support of her entourage. The old woman was dressed in splendid attire, and though aged, she exuded an extremely dignified Aura. Surrounded by everyone, her appearance immediately struck one as extraordinary.
This was the Mejiro Family Head, the one whom all the Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family respectfully called "Grandmother." This time, for Mejiro McQueen's first race, even she decided to personally come and observe.
Of course, not only her, but all the other Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family came along too. The Mejiro Family Head slowly spoke, surrounded by the Uma Musume:
"Alright, Ryan, Dober, Palmer, Ardan, and Bright." (T/N: No Ramonu...)
"Let's go see how much McQueen has progressed, and while we're at it, let's see if that Trainer, Takatoshi Imanami, whom McQueen always mentions in her talks and letters, truly has talent."
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Everyone: "Dude, you need to get the fuck out of the racetrack, you smell like pure unfettered ass."
McQueen: "It's called Aura bruh."
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.