Night had fallen.
The Tracen Academy track was empty, with only a sliver of moonlight shining on the grass.
Sakura Baimu arrived at the spot between 1200 and 1400 meters and set everything aside.
"Tracen Academy's track is a replica of the Tokyo Racecourse, while the Takarazuka Kinen was held at the Hanshin Racecourse."
She took out a timer and went to the starting point of about 1600 meters, getting into a starting position.
*drop*
The moment Sakura Baimu pressed the timer in her hand, she pushed off the ground and sprinted away.
In less than fifteen seconds, Sakura Baimu had already reached the top of the slope at the 1300 Meter mark, and at the same time, she pressed the timer button again.
She glanced down at the time and frowned slightly.
[0:14.4]
"I ran too fast..."
Sakura Baimu quipped that you wouldn't sprint at that speed during a normal race.
"The Takarazuka Kinen course runs clockwise, while the Tracen Academy uphill section is counter-clockwise. Although it doesn't really affect straight uphill sections..."
"But the steep slope at Tracen Academy is only about 1.4 meters high, which is about 30% less than Hanshin Racecourse."
Sakura Baimu felt a bit of a headache and instead of recording her score in her notebook, she returned to the starting point of the 1800-meter race.
"As long as the slope is about right, we can do the experiment. If the height isn't high enough, then McQueen and Teio will just have to get used to it at the racetrack themselves..."
As Sakura Baimu spoke, she pressed the timer button and dashed off again. Once she reached the steep 1300-meter slope, she pressed the pause button once more.
[0:30.52]
"This speed is about right, let's use this speed and distance for the experiment."
Sakura Baimu did a quick mental calculation and estimated that the speed was around 59,000 Meters per hour, which might be a bit faster than the speed during an official race, but not by much. It was just right for the experiment.
So she wrote the time down in her notebook.
"The section between Hanshin Stadium and Tracen Academy is downhill, so I just need to maintain the same speed and see how I can minimize the uphill time."
Sakura Baimu muttered to herself, pressed the timer again, and rushed out.
--
In the student council president's office on the top floor of Tracen College, Rudolf Symboli and Maruzensky were watching today's Tenno Sho Spring recording on their computer.
Rudolf Symboli was already quite late after finishing her student council work when Maruzensky suddenly came to visit, wanting her to play a video of the Tenno Sho.
Rudolf Symboli initially just watched quietly, without showing much expression.
However, after seeing Mihono Bourbon drop from first to fifth place and then suddenly surge back to tie with Mejiro McQueen, a hint of brilliance finally appeared in her usually calm eyes.
"Welcome, Mihono Bourbon," Rudolf Symboli said softly, and then Mihono Bourbon and Mejiro McQueen crossed the finish line at the same time, with the video showing that the winner would be determined by a photo.
"Mihono Bourbon activated her Zone, yet she only crossed the finish line at the same time as McQueen?" Rudolf Symboli's purple eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"How about it? Surprised, Rudolf?" Maruzensky laughed, quite pleased with Rudolf Symboli's expression at that moment.
"This Mihono Bourbon is an Umamusume who broke through the Zone, the winner of the Japanese Derby, so why...?"
Before Rudolf Symboli could finish speaking, the commentator announced the answer: Mejiro McQueen had won.
Many outstanding Umamusumes competed for the title of the highest level of competition, the Japanese Derby, where one victory is built on the bones of countless others. Mihono Bourbon was the winner.
Even after activating her Zone, she still lost to Mejiro McQueen, who had not yet mastered her Zone.
"Mihono Bourbon won the Japanese Derby and the Satsuki Sho. She was the luckiest and fastest, and Umamusume Rice Shower who won the Kikuka Sho was the strongest. Both of these masters of their Zones lost to Mejiro McQueen."
Maruzensky's tone was full of amusement as she succinctly revealed the reason for Rudolf Symboli's surprise at that moment.
"The 'Zone' that the era-creating Umamusume will inevitably enter—this rumor that has circulated among countless Umamusumes and trainers seems to have been broken for the fourth time, Rudolf."
"This kind of thing has happened too many times, so the word 'Zone' is no longer so sacred," Maruzensky teased.
Rudolf Symboli didn't say anything. She reopened the video of the match and then zoomed in on the final straight shot, watching the moment when Mihono Bourbon began to erupt.
"Mihono Bourbon is fine. The problem is with Mejiro McQueen."
Rudolf Symboli crossed her fingers in front of her and spoke slowly.
"The Zone not only enhances the five senses and speed of its master, but also exerts a powerful pressure on other Umamusumes, making it impossible for them to maintain their original rhythm."
"Judging from Mejiro McQueen's expression, she clearly felt the pressure from Mihono Bourbon behind her, but it didn't affect her speed at all. And Mihono Bourbon's burst of speed was not enough to make up for the distance between them, so she lost."
Maruzensky clenched her fist and put it to her mouth, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"To put it bluntly, the Zone simply cannot make up for the gap in raw strength between Mihono Bourbon and Mejiro McQueen. Mejiro McQueen's mental strength is so powerful that her speed is almost unaffected by Mihono Bourbon and Rice Shower's pressure."
"Most importantly, she herself didn't realize it."
Rudolf Symboli repeatedly watched Mejiro McQueen's expression from the moment she sprinted up until she crossed the finish line.
"How exactly was this trained? I'm so curious, Rudolf."
"Look at that 'monster' from Kasamatsu. She only broke through her limits and underwent a qualitative change in strength after being repeatedly pressured by powerful figures like Tamamo Cross. But Mejiro McQueen has encountered almost no obstacles along the way and she hasn't even suffered many defeats."
Rudolf Symboli shook her head upon hearing this, as she herself was quite puzzled.
She shut down her computer, stood up, and started walking outside.
"Her and Teio's strength has far surpassed that of Umamusumes in the same year and the reason for this should be their trainer, Sakura Baimu."
"But that trainer isn't from any famous trainer family, and we've never even heard of her before." Maruzensky started following Rudolf Symboli out. "No wonder she's called the youngest genius trainer. I'm getting a little curious too."
"What's wrong, itching to bully your juniors?" Rudolf Symboli chuckled.
"How could that be?" Maruzensky shook her head with a smile, then suddenly froze.
"Rudolf, listen."
Rudolf Symboli stopped in her tracks upon hearing Maruzensky's words.
In an instant, the whole world fell silent.
In the quiet, moonlit campus, Maruzensky and Rudolf Symboli heard clear footsteps coming from the other side of the racetrack.