In their first clash, Ryan found herself at a disadvantage, slightly inferior in raw power.
As a result, Kousei seized the advantageous position, entering the turn ahead of her.
This feels... wrong.
Kousei glanced at Ryan. Despite the thunderous collision, Ryan had clearly held back at the last moment. Though it appeared Kousei had gained the upper hand, their clash hadn't truly been pushed to its limit.
This wasn't a strategic retreat; Kousei could sense a deep-seated "inferiority complex" emanating from Ryan.
As expected, I can't compare to McQueen. If it were McQueen, this position grab would have been flawless.
It was too obvious; Ryan's thoughts were written all over her face.
There were indeed people like this—possessing great strength but unable to fully utilize it due to a lack of self-confidence. Kousei and Ryan were polar opposites; Ryan's fighting spirit was weak, and she would inevitably crumble when drawn into a confrontation.
This is infuriating! Watching Ryan's pathetic state, Kousei felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
Even the other Mejiro members were overshadowed by McQueen's brilliance, cowering in her presence.
Ryan, McQueen, and Palmer—the trio destined to lead the new generation of the Mejiro Family—had unknowingly drifted apart. The moment McQueen fully awakened, their fates seemed predetermined.
Kousei understood better than anyone the scene behind McQueen: a thunderous barrier that forbade approach, an untouchable heaven, a divine being whom one could only worship from afar for an entire lifetime.
McQueen had evolved too quickly. Even the Mejiro Family couldn't keep pace with her. In an instant, her dearest friend had transformed into someone entirely different. No one could simply pretend nothing had changed.
"You can do it, Ryan! The race has only just begun! Ryan!" Ryan encouraged herself, lifting her head once more.
Suddenly, Ryan felt an intense gaze. Looking up, she saw Kousei right beside her.
How is she here? She should be ahead of me!
Ryan couldn't fathom Kousei's actions. Despite securing an advantageous position, she had deliberately abandoned it. Before Ryan could dwell on it further, Kousei lunged into a counterattack, pressing her entire body against Ryan.
"So heavy and burning hot! Why?"
Kousei's radiant body blazed like fire, her scorching breath and intense gaze fixed on Ryan.
In general, all racing techniques aim to secure a favorable position. Physical confrontation is no different, yet all of Kousei's techniques carry unavoidable risks. This holds true for her physical confrontation, a form of Gate Technique.
During their struggle, Kousei's speed also decreased. Normally, after gaining the upper hand, she would quickly disengage. Yet now, her eyes remained fixed solely on Ryan.
Umamusume surged past them relentlessly, but Kousei remained unmoved.
"Oh my? Kousei and Ryan seem overly focused on each other. Their earlier advantage has completely vanished," Agnes Tachyon observed.
If anyone on the track could grasp the true significance of this, it was Tachyon.
"This state... it's undoubtedly a mark," Tachyon murmured with a knowing smile.
Ryan belatedly realized, "A mark! Why me?"
In Ryan's eyes, Tachyon was the true threat to be feared. Yet, she herself was the one bearing the Kousei's mark. Failure to escape this mark would mean double doom.
"Not running, Ryan?"
Ryan's thoughts tangled into a knot, and she froze momentarily. But when she saw Kousei's radiant, arrogant grin, a chill ran down her spine.
Is this what it feels like to be targeted by Kousei? Why is McQueen so obsessed with this maniac? Ryan's thoughts shifted: But she's right—now isn't the time for hesitation. I have to follow her! I have to show the world the true spirit of the Mejiro Family!
Ryan's muscles bulged, unleashing a terrifying force that sent Kousei flying back instantly. She planted her feet firmly, the wind roaring past her ears.
"Ryan! It's Ryan charging forward!"
"I can do this! I can do this!" Ryan's unstoppable momentum carried her steadily upward in the rankings. I can represent the Mejiro Family just like McQueen!
Suddenly, the world around her warped into a surreal haze. Amidst the chilling laughter, something seemed to be silently approaching. As Ryan's surprise turned to dread, a pair of deathly pale, slender hands covered her eyes.
"This is—!"
Ryan had never seen anything like it, and her mind reeled in confusion. Her momentary panic was fully reflected in her footsteps, as a crimson mist erupted around her.
Invisible, silent.
The red mist and the Evil Ghost retreated simultaneously, and Ryan once again saw Kousei's radiant face.
Boom!
Again, Kousei entangled herself with Ryan.
"Damn it! I can't be stopped here!"
Again and again. No matter how many times she tried, it was futile.
Ryan couldn't shake off Kousei, and with each repeated failure, the psychological pressure on her reached its breaking point.
"No! I can't shake her off! Why?!"
Fear flashed across Ryan's face, and the audience began to sense that something was terribly wrong.
Kousei's dominance over Ryan had lasted far too long, far beyond what they considered normal. As Mejiro, who was often compared to McQueen, people believed that even if Ryan was initially caught off guard in their first confrontation, she would quickly adapt.
In terms of raw power, Ryan was a top-tier competitor. In their minds, the Mejiro Family should have been utterly overwhelming Kousei.
"What's going on with Ryan?"
Ryan completely panicked as an overwhelming pressure emanated from Kousei's radiant form. In her dazed state, Kousei's figure seemed to grow taller and more imposing. The sheer intensity of Kousei's fighting spirit was so palpable that anyone who met her gaze couldn't help but tremble.
"No! I can't win!" Instinctively, Ryan took a step back.
Not again... Always the same.
"Ryan! Aren't you going to run?"
Ryan froze, hearing the same words again. But this time, she saw an excited smile on Kousei's face.
What's she smiling about?
Kousei and Ryan were fundamentally different, not in talent, but in their fighting spirit. Born into the Mejiro Family, Kousei should have been the most celebrated prodigy.
Yet McQueen, who came from the Branch Family, displayed an even more dazzling talent.
From the moment Ryan first saw McQueen as a child, she subconsciously branded herself with a label: second-best.
"I can't beat McQueen."
It's said that a person's character is gradually shaped over time, and Ryan's environment had molded hers. The Mejiro trio should have shone together.
But gradually, people only focused on McQueen.
To escape McQueen's shadow, Ryan threw herself into training, as if only by becoming incomparably strong could she summon the courage to stand beside McQueen.
She armed herself with a suit of muscular armor, hoping to earn the prestigious reputation of a dashing, powerful champion.
But was Ryan truly dashing? Deep down, she knew her so-called "coolness" was merely a facade to mask her own inadequacy.
Long, long ago, her inner self had stopped growing.
"Ryan..." Palmer watched Ryan on the track from the sidelines, her face etched with worry.
Then, another shout rang out.
"Ryan! Aren't you going to run?!"