[As expected of Taiki Shuttle, her figure is like a bullet fired by a cowboy, flying forward!]
[No. 12, Moon Move, is currently in second, but she is already 3.5 horse lengths behind Taiki Shuttle.]
[Entering the final straight!]
[The final 200 meters! Is the winner decided?]
The race entered its fever pitch. Many Uma Musume began to accelerate, but their stamina couldn't support them to the end, they soon hit their limits.
You could say "One racer leads, ten thousand fall" isn't just a saying. Taiki Shuttle, riding alone in the dust, crossed the finish line.
[A winner is born!]
[Taiki Shuttle has won with a huge lead!]
[Incredible! She decided the outcome of the race by herself! Nobody had a chance to catch up to her!]
...
Mizuki watched this and shouted "Spectacular!" then immediately began writing in her log.
[Taiki Shuttle, she really is too strong. This Shinzan Kinen became her performance stage, she took the crown in one go.]
[McQueen really has such a contrasting personality. Before the race, she was elegant and gentle, but once the race started, she turned into a tomboy, grabbing my arm and shouting. After the win, she even threw herself into my arms— so passionate?]
[And McQueen isn't as flat as she looks, she actually has some assets...]
(T/N: This is a lie.)
[This Chonky Horse is pretty good.]
[Sigh, what can I say? I hope for the next race, I have McQueen on my left and Daiwa Scarlet on my right— that would be even better, hahaha.]
[Of course, if they get tired of hugging, they can swap out, Spica has so many beauties!]
[If we were watching at Tracen Academy, there would be even more— Symboli Rudolf or Mejiro Ramonu would work too.]
[Take Rudolf, for instance. She hasn't been running much after retirement and hasn't suffered through sun and rain in years. Her hands and feet are more delicate than most Umas, like soft reeds— I bet she feels even better to hold.]
[Actually, Taiki Shuttle and Meisho Doto would work too, though the two of them are like an old couple. Taiki Shuttle had her bullets taken out long ago, becoming a 'Lone Bullet Ranger'.]
McQueen saw this log and was at a loss for words.
'Trainer Mizuki, you were thinking about other Horse Girls while I was hugging you? You really like to talk big. '
'And fine, hug me, but then you call me flat?!'
'You... you pervert, shameless! '
Hmph. McQueen couldn't understand, Trainer-san had never even been in a relationship, yet her appetite was so huge. If she actually dated, it would be disastrous.
'If she keeps talking like this, one day when someone takes her seriously, she's going to be taken somewhere strange...'
Daiwa Scarlet saw it and blushed too. Left and right arms? Why don't you ask for two more people to massage your legs while you're at it?!
It's infuriating!
Enraged, she raised a fist behind her Trainer's back... but before she could do anything, she felt a pair of arms seized her from behind.
Amazingly, Gold Ship was the one restraining Daiwa Scarlet— the one saving a Trainer from a well-deserved beating!
Nobody at Tracen would believe this story if you told them!
But Gold Ship, no matter how strange she might be, only has two arms. She may have been able to restrain Daiwa Scarlet, but there was another Uma Musume nearby who was just as angry...
Before Mizuki could turn and see what all the ruckus is about, Vodka stumbled as she stood up, throwing an arm out to steady herself.
And by pure accident, her outstretched fist slammed into the Trainer's head...
That is the story that Mizuki heard when she woke up half a minute later.
Oddly enough, all of her Trainees had expressions that mixed satisfaction and guilt together.
'Was my sleeping body that satisfying of a sight...?'
As for Symboli Rudolf, she was dumbfounded beyond belief.
Soft hands? Soft feet? Her?
She spends most of her day holding a pen and doing paperwork!
She spends the rest of it guiding the students of Tracen Academy, and a big part of that is partner running!
How could her hands and feet be that soft?!?!
What an insult!
"This girl's fantasies... unbelievable! Trainer Mizuki is absolutely the thickest-skinned person I have ever met in my life!"
"How can she love daydreaming so much? What 'soft reeds'... hmph, I'll definitely give you a kick when the time comes!"
If she knew that someone had already beaten her to it today, her anger might have been eased somewhat.
Unfortunately for Trainer Mizuki, there was nothing to quell the Emperor's wrath. It would stew until the next time she encountered Symboli Rudolf...
As for Taiki Shuttle, she was stunned.
"Lone Bullet Ranger? What is that?"
Taiki suddenly felt that this wasn't a good term, it was her sixth sense.
"Uuu, having my bullets taken away... I don't want that kind of thing!" Taiki let out a wail. Being a cowboy, if her bullets were taken, she really would be a lone ranger!
However, Taiki Shuttle remained optimistic. She felt that after finishing the Shinzan Kinen today, she might receive a "Real-life Horse Reward" to put her bullets back in.
Take this, Taiki, this is the last of my ripple!
After recovering from the sudden blow to the head, Mizuki continued to update her diary.
[Today McQueen contacted Rice Shower, and I'm honestly impressed. After learning about Taiki's performance, Rice Shower was full of admiration, repeatedly saying how amazing Taiki is— unlike herself, who is useless and would surely have messed it up.]
[I want to say, Rice Shower, why are you always putting yourself down? You need to have some self-confidence! As a punishment, you have to call me "Onee-chan" five times. You can't be like this anymore, got it?]
[Forget it, make it fifty times. Consider this a warning.]
[I really am too kind.]
Seeing this, several Umas who were currently drinking water almost spat it out. You call that a punishment?!
In a fast-food restaurant in Tokyo:
Ines Fujin was working a part-time shift stir-frying when she saw this. She almost lost her grip on the spatula.
She was fed up.
'Trainer Mizuki, your methods of taking advantage of people are getting more sophisticated by the second!'
When she read the beginning, she thought Trainer Mizuki was right— people should have confidence and not belittle themselves. But by the time she reached the part about making Rice Shower call her "Onee-chan," she completely lost it.
Too shameless. She let out a sigh that contained the exhaustion of a born wage slave.
'I have never seen a person so bold and thick-skinned!'
'This Trainer Mizuki is truly beyond saving.'
As for Rice Shower, she blushed when she saw it. However, her mood shifted after reading the words, she decided she would try to be more positive. She made a "Do your best" gesture. As for calling her "Onee-chan"... she'd do that when she had the chance.
"Ganbare~~ Oh~~~"
Soon, the diary continued.
[But fortunately, I'm not a sis-con. Some of those sis-con fans have probably already joined the Cult of Rice.]
[But Rice Shower fans aren't the most perverted. When it comes to being a pervert, the 'Treve fans' take the cake.]
[Even I have to say that in front of the 'Treve Cult,' I admit total defeat.]
At this time, back at Tracen Academy:
Eishin Flash asked curiously, "The Treve Cult? What does that mean?"
Smart Falcon held up a finger and said with high energy:
"Flash-san, Falco will explain it to you! The so-called 'Cult' is like a declaration made after someone becomes a fan or believer of Treve. That's what it means! ☆"
"If someone is a fan of Falco, they can be called part of the 'FalCult'! ☆"
(T/N: I felt the spirit of Symboli Rudolf possess me when I typed that out.)
"Though I don't have any fans yet..."
Smart Falcon was still full of energy— such a hard-working girl. However, when she said that, she somehow hurt her own feelings. She went into full "emo mode."
A Falco with no fans is so sad...
Mood: Awful.
In France:
Treve saw this and wore an expression of disbelief. She put her hands on her hips cutely and thought: 'Trainer-san, you can't say that! Treve's fans are all very important to her— they are beings with infinite potential! They aren't perverts!'
Still, Treve wanted to know what these "Treve fans" were like in Mizuki's eyes...
Actually, she's better off not knowing. Because it really is too crazy.
Soon, the diary appeared again.
[By the way, we're heading to the Winning Live stage soon.]
[And I just received some great news.]
[Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi just found me and gave me a bonus of 68,000 Yen. She said it was for 'promotion fees.' I'm curious— what did I promote?]
[Could it be that bringing the Spica Horse Girls out had a good promotional effect? And the Chairwoman even noticed?]
[My god, Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi, you are truly magnificent! Under your leadership, Tracen has reached new heights. The 'URA Finale' you established was a stroke of genius. With you guarding Tracen Academy, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the English Derby will be ours for the taking in the future, let alone the Japan Cup! I will definitely train the 'General of Japan' for you!!!]
[As the saying goes: 'If the enemy dares to invade, I shall surely see them return in crushing defeat!']
Mizuki's eyes lit up at the sight of money. After receiving it, she showered the Director with praise. Even Akikawa Yayoi was stunned. Was she actually that amazing?
She felt incredibly awesome.
"Elation! She needs a reward! Give her a massive reward!"
Akikawa Yayoi slammed her bank card onto the desk. She didn't even know she was that impressive— reaching "new heights," "guarding Tracen," making enemies "return in crushing defeat." She had never heard such pleasant words in her life.
This was top-tier brown-nosing.
If you want to give a reward, you'll never lack a reason. Akikawa Yayoi intended to max out Mizuki's rewards. She had completely lost herself in these compliments.
Hayakawa Tazuna was at a loss for words. This torrent of praise... she even suspected Mizuki knew the Chairwoman could see the logs.
But she also felt she deserved the money— the flattery was just too well-executed.
It wasn't just Tazuna. Many Uma Musume were dumbfounded. They finally realized the importance of experience. You can't come up with this kind of flattery that fast without reading some practice.
Without sufficient experience in hyping up a superior, all you could say was things like "That decision was awesome" and "You're so cool!"
With a bit of social maneuvering like this, wouldn't Mizuki be on the fast track to a promotion in no time?