"Oh my, the beautiful girl behind is catching up~"
Listening to the gradually approaching footsteps behind her, the unconcerned Seiun Sky said with a cheerful smile.
[Aren't you going to accelerate yet?]
Almost instantly, a voice sounded directly in her mind.
"Oh my, don't rush me~?"
The Black-haired Horse Girl said with a smile, "...Aren't I just about to accelerate?"
"Bang!"
The next moment, amidst the commentator's exclamations, Seiun Sky, who had been slow to act after entering the final phase, finally began to accelerate.
"Seiun Sky! Seiun Sky has started to accelerate!"
"The distance, which had been shortened to five Uma Musume lengths, is being widened by her again!"
"Six Uma Musume lengths! Six and a half Uma Musume lengths! She's still accelerating!"
"Can the Uma Musume behind her still catch up? The Uma Musume behind her are still trying to catch up! But they can't anymore!"
"She's still accelerating! Two hundred meters! One hundred fifty meters!"
"No Uma Musume can catch up to her now!"
"Finish—line! Let's congratulate Seiun Sky on winning the Zhongjing Newcomer Championship!"
"..."
After crossing the finish line, Seiun Sky jogged forward a couple of steps, then slowly stopped.
Listening to the cheers of the audience, Seiun Sky exhaled a breath of stale air, then raised her arms above her head and waved at the people in the stands with a smile.
The champion of the Zhongjing Newcomer Championship... I've got it!
"Ha... you scared me to death."
Saito Asuka, finally relieved, looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl standing on the grass enjoying the audience's cheers, covered his still wildly beating heart, and let out a long sigh of relief.
...If she does that a few more times, my heart won't be able to take it.
"It certainly looks like an easy win."
Ameshima An looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl standing on the grass.
After her gaze lingered on Seiun Sky's face for a while, Ameshima An turned to look at the other Uma Musume.
Upon seeing the expressions on their faces, which were distinctly different from Seiun Sky's relaxed one, Ameshima An nodded, "...I'm starting to believe what Saito Asuka said."
"Hey, hey... When did my credibility become so low?"
Although he had started to get used to his friend often saying such things to tease him, Saito Asuka still couldn't help but retort.
It was a long-awaited reunion of good friends, so why were they more venomous than before when they met again?
Saito Asuka was utterly baffled.
Where did things go wrong?
"I don't know either."
Ameshima An shook her head, then pointed with one hand, "...She should be going back to the jockey's lounge, right?"
"Oh, oh! Then I'll go ahead. You guys wait for me a bit."
Looking in the direction Ameshima An pointed, Saito Asuka saw Seiun Sky's back being swallowed by the jockey's passage. He waved his hand at her in a hurry, then pushed through the crowd and rushed towards the jockey's lounge.
"...Where's Saito Asuka? Did he just leave?"
The other few, unaware of Saito Asuka's departure, were still standing by the railing, chatting and laughing, until Ameshima An walked up to them and they realized Saito Asuka was not in their sight, then they asked.
"Yeah, he went to the jockey's lounge first."
Ameshima An nodded, then continued, "Since the race is over, let's leave here too."
"No rush, let's send him a message first, telling him we'll wait for him outside, so he doesn't wander around like a headless fly looking for us later."
"Since it's already like this, why don't we go out, find a place to sit down, and then send him a message to meet us there?"
"...Oh, right, let's do that!"
Then, they left the venue, chatting and laughing.
"...Interesting."
The Uma Musume with a white streak of hair like a crescent moon on her forehead leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.
She looked at some of the Uma Musume who remained on the track, still adjusting their breathing, then looked in the direction Seiun Sky had left.
That Uma Musume named 'Seiun Sky' performed very easily in this race.
She used the "Escape Horse" running style, crossed the finish line leading the entire race, and didn't even gasp for breath a few times.
...Is this really the strength an Uma Musume who just completed her debut race can display?
Rudolph Symboli thought.
Moreover, according to Ms. Junkawa, she very likely received the attention of the Three Goddesses.
An Uma Musume watched by the Three Goddesses...
The Uma Musume known as 'The Emperor' showed an interested smile.
If I could bring this child to Central Tracen... *cough*!
Rudolph Symboli, suddenly remembering what Ms. Junkawa had once told her, coughed dryly and stopped herself from thinking further.
No, no, I can't keep thinking about it.
Rudolph Symboli shook her head, dismissing the thought.
"However... since I'm already here, I'll watch her Victors Stage first."
Rudolph Symboli, who had actually skipped work and left all her duties to the Vice President because she didn't want to deal with them today, muttered to herself.
But... should I bring Air Groove some local souvenirs to calm her down when I go back?
Rudolph Symboli, calculating the time and realizing there was still a long while until the evening's Victors Stage, thought to herself.
...
"Hey! We're over here!"
The pet shop owner, who was chatting in the cold drink shop, saw Saito Asuka walking in with Seiun Sky.
While they were still looking around for them, he proactively stood up and waved to the two standing at the shop entrance.
"I'm boiling... Is there a drink for me?"
Saito Asuka, approaching, fanned himself continuously with his hand.
"Here, I specially saved it for you."
Nakayama Megumi picked up an unopened drink next to her and handed it to the man: "...Your favorite orange juice."
"Great, that's a big help."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the man took the drink, inserted a straw, and eagerly took a sip.
"Ah, I'm alive again..."
Then, he let out a long sigh, a relieved smile on his face.
Ha, in summer, just one cold drink makes you feel so refreshed.
It's like... being reborn.
"Fūga, you have one too."
After Saito Asuka took the orange juice, Nakayama Megumi's hand reached out to the side, then handed a cup of lemonade to the Black-haired Horse Girl.
"Here, your drink, and a straw."
"Oh? There's even one for me~?"
Seiun Sky smiled and took the lemonade: "Thank you~ Ms. Megumi."
"Ah, I just did what I could."
Nakayama Megumi waved her hand dismissively: "More importantly, what song are you planning to sing for the Victors Stage later?"
"Is it still the same one as last time?"
"Hmm? Yes."
Seiun Sky nodded: "...After all, I don't have any other songs I can sing for the Victors Stage right now."
"Is that so?"
Nakayama Megumi, hearing the Black-haired Horse Girl say this, nodded thoughtfully.
"...If you need our help with the Victors Stage training, don't be shy, just tell us, okay?"
"If I need it... then I'll trouble Trainer and Ms. Megumi then~?"
Seiun Sky replied with a smile.