In the tunnel leading to the track, Tokai Teio walked forward step by step, her face full of determination. A blazing fire seemed to be burning in her eyes!
It didn't matter if no one believed in her, or if her opponents looked down on her.
Because her heart would never yield.
She could still clearly recall the words McQueen had said to her that day. At the time, she had been unable to refute them at all.
Because what McQueen said was the truth.
In the past, Tokai Teio could at least see McQueen's back from a distance, thinking that if she just had a little time, she could catch up.
But she was wrong.
She was improving, but McQueen was improving too. The gap between them didn't shrink; it only grew wider. Now, she couldn't even see McQueen's back on the track anymore.
Frustrating. It was so frustrating.
But more than frustration...
Tokai Teio regretted her own powerlessness.
Because McQueen is too strong, I must avoid any race she's in until I gain power?
Thinking of her past, childish ideas, Tokai Teio despised her naive former self.
She couldn't go on like this!
If she kept waiting, she would never be able to run with McQueen again.
If it was just about winning, she just had to avoid McQueen. Tokai Teio was confident she could win G-grade races now. And McQueen wouldn't go back to run races she'd already run. So, all she had to do was go back. Even if she couldn't achieve her dream of an Undefeated Triple Crown, she could still become a popular horse girl by racking up G-grade wins.
But that future was not the future Tokai Teio wanted!
In the past, she and McQueen were called the "Twin Stars of the New Era," fated rivals. And she had always wanted to catch up to McQueen in an official race. That feeling hadn't changed.
What she wanted now was no longer a brilliant life in the spotlight. What she wanted now was for McQueen to see her figure in a race!
'McQueen, I will fulfill our promise!'
Tokai Teio repeated in her heart.
Even if not this time, there would be a next time.
'If special training alone isn't enough to catch you, then let me catch you bit by bit, in the races themselves! For that, I will burn everything I have! This is a domain (Zone) that I will open only for you!'
With this resolve, Tokai Teio stepped onto the track.
The runners preparing in front of the gates suddenly felt a fierce aura and all looked toward the figure emerging from the tunnel.
Nice Nature, who was in the position next to Mejiro McQueen, felt Tokai Teio's burning gaze. She couldn't help but press her legs together, her tail going stiff with tension.
'So scary, so scary...'
What an intense aura!
Nice Nature felt her whole body go numb. Just being next to Mejiro McQueen was bad enough. She never thought that after just a short time, Tokai Teio's aura would be this strong. As expected of the genius once thought to be McQueen's equal.
'Tokai Teio... she's running too?'
Seiun Sky's usually lazy eyes were now incredibly serious. She was here for a revenge match. She had been completely suppressed by Mejiro McQueen all this time. If she couldn't win back just once, she would never be able to accept it.
'Nice Nature, Tokai Teio, and Mejiro Ryan... all familiar faces. And just like me, all losers to her...'
If all of us team up, is there a chance to beat Mejiro McQueen once? Even if we can't win, can we at least make her lose?
'As expected, everyone is watching McQueen.'
Mejiro Ryan observed the other runners and saw they were all looking at McQueen. She felt a bit helpless. It wasn't that she didn't understand, but sometimes you just have to accept reality. Her goal today wasn't to get first; it was just to not lose to McQueen by a "large margin." So, her mood was actually quite relaxed.
No matter how frustrating it was, when you lose enough, you get used to it. She and her sisters had been losing to McQueen since they were little.
To be honest, Ryan never expected to end up in so many of the same races as McQueen. But it couldn't be helped. There were only so many G-grade races, and their track preferences were similar, so clashes were inevitable.
'Good luck to all of you.'
Ryan silently cheered them on.
Although she should be supporting her sister, after thinking about McQueen's strength, she felt it was unnecessary. She couldn't even imagine McQueen losing. Since they were little, McQueen had never lost at anything. She was a "perfect superhuman" in the truest sense. Even that person, Hishi Akebono-neechan, had uncharacteristically said that McQueen might surpass her one day.
Well, Hishi Akebono-neechan was right.
The Arima Kinen, a 2500m long-distance race. The horse girls who run this race are almost all runners that the fans are excited about. Therefore, you can often see many powerful horse girls in this race.
After all, if they weren't strong, they wouldn't get the fan votes. Horse girls who can get in just on looks are a minority. Besides, even if you get in, if you're not strong enough and force yourself to run, you'll only end up humiliating yourself.
Mejiro McQueen's entry as the number one favorite was a given. She wasn't just an Undefeated Triple Crown winner; she was the powerhouse who had conquered the Japan Cup. Even though she'd only debuted a year ago, her strength was undeniable.
In fact, her vote count was overwhelming compared to second place.
Not long ago, Mejiro McQueen had defeated Oguri Cap in their showdown. She was, without a doubt, the top contender to win. Before the race even started, most people already believed the champion would be Mejiro McQueen.
"Welcome to the Arima Kinen! The runners have all entered the stadium. We can see them doing their warm-ups. Although the race hasn't started, their expressions tell us this is going to be a fierce competition! Our number one favorite is here, Gate 1, looking incredibly calm. As the horse girl who dominated the Undefeated Triple Crown and the Japan Cup, she has already proven her strength. Will she continue to show us that powerful running style today and maintain her undefeated streak to take the Arima Kinen? Let's wait and see..."
The commentator began.
Less than three minutes until the race starts.
The runners' nerves were also tightening.
Mejiro McQueen felt the stares from all around, but she walked into the gate, her expression unchanged. Being targeted by all the other runners was generally a bad situation. You might get boxed in, and even if you have the strength, you might not be able to break free.
This situation was rare, but not unheard of.
And to receive this kind of treatment, it meant your strength was truly great, so great that your opponents would subconsciously team up against you.
However, Mejiro McQueen wasn't worried about this at all.
After all, she was an "Escape" runner.
And not just a normal "Escape" runner, but a "Great Escape"!
Unless someone could beat her at the start, it was impossible for anyone to block her. So what if she was targeted by everyone? To be honest, aside from Tokai Teio, who had already entered ZONE, and Nice Nature, who might or might not have a gate skill, she didn't even have the other runners on her radar.
'If you want to challenge me, then come. Just don't disappoint me too much.' Mejiro McQueen thought, her heart calm. She didn't even think this group of opponents could force her to use her ZONE.
Even Tokai Teio wasn't enough.
Even in ZONE, her stats and running style posed no threat to Mejiro McQueen.
"All runners are in the gates and ready."
"Alright, the countdown begins."
As the lights flashed, the gates opened.
With a "SWISH."
Mejiro McQueen's figure instantly shot out. By the time the other runners had just completed their start, she was already one horse length ahead. Her magnificent start was, once again, unstoppable.
"A perfect start! Mejiro McQueen is already in the lead! It looks like the other runners won't have a chance to stop her Great Escape! Is it coming? Mejiro McQueen's classic tactic! I wonder if any runner can replicate that last race, and cling to McQueen's slipstream like that 'Cinderella'?"
The commentator's bias was showing.
But this was normal.
After all, the star of this race was Mejiro McQueen. Most of the audience was here to see her. Sixty percent of the stadium was McQueen's fans, leaving the other forty percent to be split among the other fifteen runners. The popularity gap was overwhelming. So, of course, the commentator could confidently gush about his favorite. Besides, the fact that the officials chose him to commentate meant they felt the same way.
A shockwave wrapped around Mejiro McQueen as she pulled away from the others at an astonishing speed. Seeing this, the other runners couldn't sit still. Past races had proven how dangerous it was to let McQueen run alone. One by one, they began to accelerate. Even if it meant gassing out at the end, if they couldn't stop McQueen, none of them could win!
'Don't even think about escaping!'
A blue light flashed in Seiun Sky's eyes. She activated her special skill and chased. This move was supposed to be her trump card for the finish line, but now she was using it at the start, holding nothing back, just to target Mejiro McQueen.
"Seiun Sky is catching up!"
The commentator said, surprised.
...
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