"At the start of the race, Seiun Sky immediately rushed to the front of the pack, securing her leading position."
The commentator closely watched the Uma Musume running on the track and professionally reported their every move to the audience.
After bursting out of the gates, Seiun Sky accelerated, quickly surged into first place, and continued to widen the gap with the second-place runner.
"…Looks like that gate training wasn't in vain."
Clenching his fists tightly, Saito Asuka, who only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Seiun Sky successfully exit the gate, muttered.
That's great, not all my efforts were wasted.
"…She looks like she's running very easily."
Ameshima An, holding binoculars, looked at the expression on Seiun Sky's face as she led the pack, and said to her friends standing beside her.
"Isn't it normal for her to run easily?"
Saito Asuka said proudly, "I told you her results could win a G1 race. Do you believe me now?"
"If that's really the case, then your luck is a bit too good, isn't it?"
The pet shop owner couldn't help but quip when Saito Asuka said that, "...This can no longer be described as someone handing you a pillow when you're sleepy, can it?"
"Doesn't this just prove how good my luck is?"
Saito Asuka puffed out her chest, "At that time, I was worried about how I could find an Uma Musume to help me, and then..."
"And then you didn't expect that there would actually be an Uma Musume willing to join Himeji Tracen, right?"
Nakayama Megumi interrupted the man with a helpless tone, "...You can stop talking there."
"Or... do you want me to say the rest of it too?"
"No, no need."
Saito Asuka's expression stiffened abruptly when she heard Nakayama Megumi say that, and then, under the curious gazes of the others, he tried to change the subject.
"Let's watch the race now."
...
"Phew..."
Seiun Sky turned her head and looked at the Uma Musume following behind her.
After seeing that they were still closely following her, Seiun Sky's lips curved upwards.
Then, she increased the frequency of her leg movements again.
Running is indeed more fun when running with everyone, isn't it~?
Listening to the footsteps behind her become noisy again, Seiun Sky thought from the bottom of her heart.
Although crossing the finish line with a large lead meant she possessed great strength, and it looked cool to the audience, however...
The word 'cool' doesn't sound girlish at all.
She preferred 'girlish' over 'cool'~?
Seiun Sky, running at the very front, thought to herself effortlessly.
Hmm... looks like they're catching up?
Then I'll just speed up a bit more.
"Damn it... Is Aogami toying with me?!"
The Uma Musume, who had only managed to slightly shorten the distance after gritting her teeth and accelerating, looked at Seiun Sky, who was accelerating again in front, and bit her lip in frustration.
...Every time I accelerate and shorten the distance, Aogami accelerates. What exactly is Aogami thinking?
Seeing Seiun Sky, who had already pulled out a seven-Uma Musume lead, still widening the gap between them, the second-place Uma Musume gritted her teeth and accelerated again.
Here, she had to speed up and try to shorten the distance between herself and Seiun Sky.
Otherwise, by the time they reached the final sprint straight, she would only be able to hope that the other party would lose speed.
However... judging from the current situation, pinning her hopes on that was clearly unrealistic.
Before entering the last bend, she had to shorten the distance between her and her to an acceptable range, a distance where she could overtake her in the final straight sprint!
She had to... go faster!
"The leading Seiun Sky is the first to enter the second bend!"
"She has already pulled a seven-Uma Musume lead over the second place even though it's only the mid-race, and Seiun Sky is still accelerating!"
"Is she going to lead the entire race?! Is it going to be her solo show?"
"Come on, Uma Musume behind her."
Damn it... Is Aogami still accelerating?
Looking at Seiun Sky, who was gradually pulling away in front, the Uma Musume with long, light blue hair, as well as the many Uma Musume behind her looking for an opportunity to overtake, gave up the idea of continuing to accelerate and instead began to run at their own comfortable pace.
...Although they were very unwilling, in order to avoid not even being able to place in the end, they could only run at their most accustomed pace for now.
Watching the receding figure in the distance, the Uma Musume slowed down.
Huh? Not chasing anymore?
The Black-haired Horse Girl, who gradually couldn't hear the sounds of the Uma Musume running behind her, turned her head and looked at the Uma Musume behind her who had all slowed down.
Are they planning to conserve energy and win on the final straight?
Seiun Sky thought for a moment, then turned her head and continued to run forward.
In that case... I'll take a short break too.
"The Uma Musume's running formation has basically stabilized now. Seiun Sky is still leading at the very front of the pack, and in second place, eight Uma Musume lengths behind Seiun Sky, is..."
...Her speed has slowed down again?
The Uma Musume in second place rejoiced in her heart as she watched Seiun Sky in front, who had once again reduced her speed.
It seems her stamina has been depleted to the point where she has to slow down to recover.
Thinking this, the light blue-haired Uma Musume couldn't help but quicken her pace.
There's a chance... I still have a chance to win this race!
"The Uma Musume entering the mid-race are starting to conserve energy, preparing for the final straight sprint!"
"Can Seiun Sky, using the 'Escape Horse' running style, maintain her lead until the finish line?!"
"There are still two hundred meters to the bend... and the last hundred meters!"
"Seiun Sky! Seiun Sky has entered the final straight!"
"But she hasn't accelerated! Is it because her stamina was completely exhausted by the previous sprints?!"
"All Uma Musume have entered the final straight and started to sprint, but Seiun Sky still hasn't made any move!"
"Did the previous sprints really exhaust all her stamina?!"
"Fūga..."
Saito Asuka looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl who was still running forward at her original speed, and clenched his fists nervously.
...What are you thinking? This is the final straight sprint, isn't it?!
There's a chance... I still have a chance!
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl who showed no intention of accelerating, the Uma Musume in second place began to accelerate.
Eight Uma Musume lengths... As long as I make good use of this distance in the final sprint, I can win!