"Aogami…"
Saito Asuka showed a helpless smile on her face, hearing the commentator's evaluation of Seiun Sky.
The man, completely relieved, leaned back as he watched the Black-haired Horse Girl, who had looked around after crossing the finish line and was now waving towards them.
… … Should I say, as expected of her?
Saito Asuka, who had been watching Seiun Sky throughout the entire race, suddenly had this thought pop into her mind.
After a late start, she chose to run a segment of the race as a 'chaser,' then, finding an opportunity in the middle stage, she unhesitatingly burst out of the 'closer' group with the speed of a final sprint.
After surging into the lead, she didn't choose to slow down at that point to conserve stamina for the final sprint; instead, she accelerated.
Finally, she crossed the finish line with a lead of seven horse lengths over the second-place finisher.
Is her stamina limitless?
Saito Asuka thought to himself, looking at Seiun Sky, who still maintained her usual smiling face after crossing the finish line.
No… it's because this race was simply too easy for her.
Saito Asuka shook his head, refuting his earlier conjecture.
Although she had a late start, in this race, no Uma Musume could pose any threat to her.
This feeling… is like a max-level expert in a game bringing their end-game gear to the novice village to massacre noobs.
—No suspense, a one-sided crush.
… … He even suspected now whether the initial late start was an intentional move by Seiun Sky, wanting to add a bit of difficulty for herself.
"Saito, I think you need to prepare yourself mentally."
Just as Saito Asuka was still lost in thought, the voice of Nakayama Megumi beside him pulled him back to reality.
"Huh? What did you say?"
The man looked at Nakayama Megumi beside him, asking in confusion.
"… … Aren't you trying to revitalize Himeji Tracen?"
Hearing the confused words from the man beside her, Nakayama Megumi glanced at him, then gestured towards the Black-haired Horse Girl below the stage.
"Starting with a late start and using a 'chaser' running style, then seizing an opportunity in the middle stage to break through the Uma Musume pack, surging into first place and continuing to accelerate until crossing the finish line."
"Why don't you guess how much buzz and attention she can generate, as Himeji Tracen's only student currently enrolled?"
"… …"
Saito Asuka thought for a moment, then gasped.
Good! Excellent!
Seiun Sky, you did a great job!
Well done!
The man, who had received an unexpected gift, rubbed his hands excitedly.
He was just worrying about how to increase Himeji Tracen Academy's attention, and he didn't expect Seiun Sky to solve this problem with just one race.
Seiun Sky, you are my god!
"What are you still standing there for? Let's go, let's go."
Seeing the man with a joyful expression on his face, Nakayama Megumi patted his shoulder: "Her race is over."
"Aren't you going to see her in the jockey's lounge?"
"Ah… ? Oh, oh!"
Two happy things combined, Saito Asuka, who received double the happiness, nodded repeatedly and got up to follow Nakayama Megumi out of the stands.
"… … Congratulations."
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, who crossed the finish line second, looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl waving at the audience. After adjusting her breathing, she actively walked to her side, extended her right hand, and congratulated her with a smile.
"Mm-hmm, thank you~?"
Hearing Blue-Eyes White Dragon's congratulations, Seiun Sky also smiled and took her outstretched hand: "This race was very exciting, I really enjoyed it~?"
Very… exciting?
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, hearing this, almost couldn't maintain the smile on her face.
… … From the moment you started accelerating in the middle stage, this race completely turned into a solo show for you.
You ran in front, and the rest of us Uma Musume couldn't catch up no matter how hard we chased from behind.
… … Does a race with no suspense deserve to be called 'exciting'?
"Oh dear? Why the expression?"
Although Blue-Eyes White Dragon thought she had hidden her expression well, it was too stiff and was keenly noticed by the Black-haired Horse Girl standing in front of her.
She took the other's hand, her expression somewhat concerned as she said to the silver-haired Uma Musume: "If a beautiful girl has such a sad expression, I'll feel very pained~?"
"Eh?!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, hearing Seiun Sky say this, first froze, then blushed and withdrew her grabbed hand as if she had been electrocuted.
You, you, you, you, you… what are you saying?!
Blue-Eyes White Dragon's cheeks immediately turned crimson upon hearing Seiun Sky say this to her.
"Suddenly saying something like that… ?!"
The impact was so great that her speech system became disoriented.
"Mm-hmm, indeed, the current expression is cuter."
Seiun Sky, seeing Blue-Eyes White Dragon's entire face turn red, smiled and gently clapped her hands.
"Do you feel unwilling? Do you feel you could have done better in the race just now?"
Seiun Sky restrained the smile on her face a little.
"If so, then turn that unwillingness into motivation, and win the next race!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, who had lost the race, heard Seiun Sky in front of her say these words.
Turning the unwillingness from losing a race into motivation to move forward…
She looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of her, and after a brief silence, nodded forcefully.
"… … The next time we meet on the track, I will be even stronger than I am now!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, who had intended to say harsh words like 'I'll defeat you in the next race,' thought about it and finally said this.
The overwhelming strength she displayed in this race left her without the confidence of 'certain victory' right now.
If she were to encounter her on the track again in the future, there would be no shortcuts other than to go all out, betting everything she had to challenge her.
But she would not back down.
She wanted to gradually close the gap between them.
Catch up to her!
Stand side by side with her!
And finally, surpass her!
I will be the king of the racecourse! I will never allow myself to be beneath anyone!
"Mm-hmm, that's more like it!"
Seeing Blue-Eyes White Dragon look at him with a serious expression, Seiun Sky nodded with a grin, then waved at her and turned to walk towards the exit of the passage.
"Well then… see you on the Victor's Stage~?"
After she dropped that line, Seiun Sky's figure gradually shrunk in her eyes until it disappeared.
"Mm, see you later."
Looking in the direction Seiun Sky left, she, her fighting spirit restored, responded softly.
…
As soon as Seiun Sky pushed open the door to her own Uma Musume lounge, she saw Saito Asuka and Nakayama Megumi already standing in the room.
Seeing her walk in, the two pulled a string in their hands, and with a pop, colorful streamers were sprayed out and fell from the air.
"Congratulations—! For winning your debut race!"
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl who appeared in the eyes of both her and Megumi, Saito Asuka said with a beaming smile.
…Seiun Sky, look at the good you've done!
Saito Asuka looked at Seiun Sky as if she were a priceless treasure.
She completed her debut race with excellent results, pulling ahead of the second-place Uma Musume by seven horse lengths, and even helped him solve his most troublesome 'promotion' problem.
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl who was chatting with Nakayama Megumi not far away, Saito Asuka's lips couldn't help but curl upwards.
Seiun Sky…
Himeji Tracen is incredibly lucky to have met you, it's like a dream.