"Alright, all contestants have successfully completed their entry. In the very front is..."
Rudolph Symbol, as before, adopted a Leading strategy. After leaving the gate, she steadily stayed just behind the leader. She wasn't in a hurry to catch up, just observing from behind.
The other opponents in this race seemed much more spirited than those in her debut race. Although Rudolph Symbol's performance in this race was even more excellent and disheartening than her debut, the other Uma Musume were also gritting their teeth and running desperately.
This was a 1600-meter race. For Uma Musume running at full speed, this was at most a two-minute journey. There wasn't much time for the competing Uma Musume to create distance.
Rudolph Symbol maintained her Leading position, looking for an opportunity to break through at the front of the Leading group. She also realized that, just as her Trainer and Kagura had analyzed, there was no one in this race who was her opponent.
The Tokyo Racecourse track indeed had many ups and downs, but this was all within the countermeasures Kagura had suggested. She ran on this path with basically little effort.
'What a pity...'
Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the special seating for Tracen students in the stands. She knew her companions were all watching her there. Kagura and Maruzensky would naturally be there too.
'If only you all were also running on this track.'
Winning the championship naturally brought joy, but the process was too easy and truly uninteresting. Rudolph Symbol hoped to encounter rivals like Maruzensky and Kagura who could pose a threat to her. However, it seemed that Maruzensky was unlikely to meet her in subsequent important races due to some special reasons, and Kagura was still far from the age where she could stand on the Racecourse.
"Damn it… Rudolph Symbol… Don't think you can… surpass me so easily!"
The gritting teeth of her rivals beside her made Rudolph Symbol withdraw her gaze. She saw that the other Uma Musume had unknowingly caught up to her on both sides. Although the Uma Musume on both sides seemed to be struggling with all their might, the determination in their eyes did not waver in the slightest.
"You have time to get distracted while running… You really are complacent!"
Another Uma Musume also tried hard to catch up from behind, gathering around Rudolph Symbol.
Rudolph Symbol realized that her brief distraction due to her thoughts just now was somewhat disrespectful to her other rivals. Looking at them burning with all their might, she felt a different kind of stir.
"My apologies, I was indeed disrespectful just now. Everyone is burning so brightly, I should return your efforts with equal respect."
Although the Uma Musume who caught up tried their best to create a surrounding formation, their condition was ultimately too strained. The moment they entered the final straight from the last bend, their formation, which could no longer maintain high speed and synchronize with Rudolph Symbol, finally showed a huge crack. Rudolph Symbol naturally would not miss this opportunity—
"—I will crush you with all my might!"
In an instant, Rudolph Symbol burst out from the gap in the leading group. The leading and pace-setting Uma Musume, who hadn't pulled much distance, were almost instantly overtaken. Rudolph Symbol, stepping onto the final straight, began an astonishing acceleration sprint with an unstoppable momentum.
"Rudolph Symbol has broken through!! So fast! So fast!! Rudolph Symbol shows no signs of fatigue!! The slope of the Tokyo Racecourse did not hinder her pace at all!!"
The commentator's excited voice and the cheers of the audience followed immediately the moment Rudolph Symbol broke through. The overtaken Uma Musume were powerless to pursue further, only able to do their utmost to reduce the gap.
—At the last bend, this group of Uma Musume would surely fail to contain her and expose a weakness. That child's breakthrough would also happen at this point. If the leader hadn't pulled away by then, it would be over.
Eclipse had evaluated the race situation very early, and indeed, as Eclipse predicted, Rudolph Symbol chose to break through at the last bend and then sprint with all her might towards the finish line.
Rudolph Symbol, accelerating and charging all the way, showed no fatigue. Kagura, far away in the stands, could only hear the deafening cheers around her. It seemed that most of the people present this time were indeed Rudolph Symbol's Fans.
"So strong, so strong! Too strong!! The finish line is already in sight!! No one can close the distance with Rudolph Symbol!! Her condition today is too perfect!!"
"Crossing the line!! Rudolph Symbol displayed overwhelming strength!! Winning this race with a huge lead!!"
The final straight sprint was arguably without suspense. Rudolph Symbol, in perfect condition, charged straight across the finish line. Kagura also saw the scoreboard above.
"Nine lengths… It's even more despair-inducing than her debut race."
Kagura saw the glaring red "9" between the first and second place on the scoreboard and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
"That's right, Rudolph's condition today is terrifyingly good. Little sister, you've taken such good care of her during this time. She no longer stays up late, eats nutritious food, and has regular meals. Damn it, I want a Support Musume like that too!"
Maruzensky rubbed Kagura's little face enviously. She had heard from Tojo Hana how comfortable Rudolph Symbol had been living during this period. Not only was her food taken care of by Kagura, the great chef, but Kagura also helped clean and tidy her room, and massaged her when she was tired. Kagura even made specific strategies for her to cope with Racecourse conditions.
It could be said that Kagura had solved all her worries except for training. She only needed to focus on executing her Trainer's training plan and completing races. It was almost as if Kagura was personally running the races for her.
"You… are too strong…"
After the finish line, as Rudolph Symbol waved to the audience, her rivals who had just been overtaken also came over. Although they lost the race, they didn't seem particularly dejected. There was some helplessness on their faces, but more so, a sense of relief.
"Alas… To think I lost to you, there's nothing I can do about it."
"You all as well, this was truly a wonderful race. The Racecourse shone because of your burning efforts."
With that, Rudolph Symbol reached out and shook hands with the Uma Musume who had been vigorously chasing her:
"Oh, what's wonderful or not, a loss is a loss. You won convincingly."
"You, you threw me off so far, you better not lose later! Otherwise, I'll look so embarrassing!"
...The usually somewhat arrogant Rudolph Symbol was trying to listen to her rivals' voices for the first time. This was also a small suggestion Kagura gave her not long ago. Getting along well with rivals wasn't a bad thing. Rudolph Symbol also found that even weak rivals could be so dazzling when they burned with effort.
'Listening to your rivals' voices might help Young Miss understand how to interact normally with peers better.'
These were Kagura's original words, and Rudolph Symbol now thought that Kagura's suggestion made a lot of sense.
After bidding farewell to the audience, Rudolph Symbol, who still had to prepare for the winner's stage, entered through the exit passage and saw Kagura already waiting inside with a towel and water.
"How do you feel, Young Miss?"
"Very good. The running strategy you gave was also very effective. During this time, I owe a lot to you and the Trainer for taking such good care of me."
She took the water from Kagura's hand and drank a few sips. The water was still warm, not too hot to scald her mouth and not cold enough to chill her stomach. It was clear that Kagura had intentionally controlled the water temperature.
"Speaking of which, where is the Trainer?"
"I'm here, I walked a little slower… Kagura is an Uma Musume after all, she runs much faster than I do."
Tojo Hana emerged from behind a little later. At this moment, Kagura was still wiping the sweat from the squatting Rudolph Symbol.
"Congratulations, Rudolph, you won beautifully. Your observation of the situation was excellent."
"The fact that I won so easily is also thanks to the Trainer's training and care during this time."
"I only set your training plan and physical standards. You really should thank Kagura. During this time, she almost lived in the Dining Hall to ensure you ate well every day without compromising nutritional intake. She also took care of all your daily life."
In fact, a lot of this was originally the Trainer's job, but with the presence of Kagura, the Support Musume, Tojo Hana's work pressure was greatly reduced, and she was very grateful to Kagura.
To be honest, Tojo Hana even found Kagura's professional ability unbelievably strong. No matter how professional the Symboli Family's training was, Kagura was still just an eleven-year-old child. To achieve this level was truly incredible.
"I agree, Kagura, is there really nothing you want?"
"I don't have anything particularly urgent…"
Kagura actually had some ideas, but none of them could be resolved in a short time, such as buying alcohol to make buddha jumps over the wall, and renovating the shrine she had just refreshed to enshrine Eclipse. None of these were short-term goals, so Kagura didn't intend to trouble Rudolph Symbol with them.
"…After the winner's stage, I'll go back and prepare for Young Miss…"
"Stop, Kagura, you rest tonight! We're eating out this time!"
Rudolph Symbol and Tojo Hana quickly stopped Kagura together. They had both watched Kagura work so hard for so long, and this time, no matter what, they couldn't let Kagura busy herself anymore. She was still a child and needed rest.
"But..."
"Be good, Kagura. Consider this my order, alright?"
"...Alright, Young Lady, as you wish."
Since Rudolph Symbol had said so much, Kagura couldn't refuse any longer. She nodded and accepted the proposal.
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