"Rice Shower, you've already done so well. This race is going to be difficult to win. Do you still want to participate?" the Trainer, wearing round-framed glasses, spoke with a troubled expression.
"Trainer... I— I want to participate. I want to win..."
Beneath her long black hair, her visible eye bloomed with the color of a peeled grape— crystal clear and radiating with hopeful light.
Being petite, she wasn't favored from the start, let alone in medium-to-long distance races. But Rice Shower faintly remembered that during her debut race, there were spectators cheering for her, applauding her.
Though she had lost one of the three races that followed, the loathing and rejection from the crowds during the two races she did win were deeply etched into her heart.
She didn't understand why other Uma Musume received applause and cheers when they won, while she...
Yet, she still wanted to persevere for the sake of the fans and spectators who supported her.
Seeing the resolute gaze in the eyes of the timid Uma Musume before him, the Trainer exhaled. He silently pushed the training plan toward her.
"This is your training plan. I won't demand anything of you. If you want to do extra training, do it according to your own will."
Taking it, Rice Shower nodded. "I understand, Trainer..."
Standing up, the Trainer chose to leave, leaving Rice Shower alone in the clubroom. She walked slowly to the corner where boxes were stacked.
Upon opening one, it was revealed to be filled with running shoes— but they were all cracked and damaged, covered in dried mud and scratches. Every single shoe looked weather-beaten and worn.
After searching for a good while, she finally found a pair that was barely wearable.
"The new shoes I ordered... they don't seem to have arrived yet..." Checking the order status on her phone, Rice Shower felt a bit troubled.
But time wouldn't wait for her, because at this hour, Divine Starlight had already begun practicing. Putting her phone away, Rice Shower changed her shoes and headed to the training grounds.
Afternoon training proceeded as usual, the extra sessions in the morning and evening followed Divine Starlight's lead.
On Saturdays and Sundays, she underwent "demonic" special training, with an intensity that was no lower— and perhaps even higher— than Starlight's.
One could tell just by looking at those ruined shoes.
The Day of the Race.
In the paddock area behind the scenes, Rice Shower huddled in the furthest corner. Because the entry order for this race was determined by popularity, she watched Divine Starlight at the front.
Starlight was so dazzling, her silver hair seemed divine, as if plated in golden light.
Stepping onto the inspection platform and seeing the mediocre reaction from the crowd below, Rice Shower had long since grown used to it. She silently followed at the end of the line toward the starting gate.
"Today is great! I grabbed a front-row ticket for Divine Starlight! I get to see her run on the track again."
"Hehe, I switched to new camera equipment. I've gotta take more photos later."
"Starlight-chan! Keep on winning~!"
With her unique aura and appearance, Divine Starlight's fanbase was growing. Voices discussing her began to rise from the spectator stands.
Eighteen Uma Musume entered the gates. The race began.
Relying on her special running style, Divine Starlight once again achieved the effect of a lightning-fast start.
Unfortunately, Rice Shower didn't fall into her pace. Having trained alongside her repeatedly, she knew very well that Starlight did this to confuse her opponents.
Suppressing her nerves, Rice Shower silently followed within the pack, waiting for her moment.
There were two slopes in this race: One after the second corner and another after the fourth.
A strong wind blew as the leading Divine Starlight chose to decelerate immediately after rounding the corner.
The Uma Musume who were originally leading thought something was wrong with her and began desperately fighting for the top position.
After dropping to fourth in the pack, a familiar sensation suddenly hit Starlight. That sense of déjà vu— the feeling of being stared down intensely— made her expression change.
Thinking she was being haunted by something "unclean," she hurriedly looked back.
Through the silhouettes of two or three Uma Musume, Starlight finally found the culprit who often caused her panic.
Black hair tips coalesced like the talons of a demon, her entire body radiated a dark aura, and her eyes flashed with a fierce light.
'So it's her...!'
Although the opponent's momentum seemed strong, Starlight didn't panic at all. She still had skills she hadn't used yet.
The race reached the middle leg.
Sweat trickled down her forehead, and Divine Starlight felt like cursing inwardly.
By the time they reached the Graded stakes level, every Uma Musume had at least one or two skills at their disposal.
However, the contestants on the field seemed to have reached a tacit agreement to save all their debuffs for our popular favorite.
After clearing the third corner, Starlight stopped observing. A faint golden light began to radiate from her body.
Digging in her heels, she burst straight through the pack of Uma Musume surrounding her.
In an instant, as the shackles of the Red Skills dissipated, Divine Starlight felt a weight lift from her legs. Without losing momentum, she charged toward the two Uma Musume currently leading the race.
The spectator stands erupted into cheers at the sight.
"Divine Starlight is making her move! She's successfully broken through the encirclement once again! Divine Starlight is still accelerating!!"
"Only three lengths away from the leader, Fragrant Wood!!"
"Divine Starlight has successfully taken the lead! The gap is widening! It looks like Divine Starlight is going to dominate the entire race!"
Thump!
Just as the race entered the final leg, Rice Shower put power into her stride from behind.
The originally flat turf crumbled and tore under the sheer force of her kick-off. Her petite frame lunged forward, accelerating as she swung out to the outer lane.
"Number eight, Rice Shower, has charged out from the back of the pack! It looks like she's preparing to sprint as well!"
Watching that black silhouette gradually close in on Starlight, everyone couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. The noisy crowd fell silent, their discussions halting.
Starlight could naturally feel the aggressive pressure coming from behind. Her expression turned grim, and her originally light footsteps began to shift.
They reached the uphill slope after the fourth corner.
The moment her front foot stepped onto the incline, a faint blue light enveloped Starlight's body. Her speed increased, and the stamina she had lost earlier from being bombarded by the opponents' Red Skills began to slowly recover.
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
Heavy footsteps followed closely. Rice Shower's single visible eye narrowed. A golden light radiated from her.
It was the golden skill for climbing: [Highlander].
Not only that, but Rice Shower also activated her initial Red Skill: [Subdued Pace Chasers]!
This skill is a targeted lock-on, meaning any Uma Musume using a Pace Chaser strategy would inevitably be affected.
Starlight's hybrid Late Surger and Pace Chaser style fell right into its grasp.
'Wait... where did that Red Skill come from?!'
For a split second, the previously relaxed Starlight felt her legs turn to lead. She furrowed her brows, forcing a breakthrough via sheer willpower.
Unfortunately, it had little effect.
The blue light beneath the pursuing Rice Shower's feet flickered intensely.
Her speed increased even further, and the moment they were about to hit the flat ground, she overtook Divine Starlight.
"No way!!! Go, Divine Starlight!"
"Don't lose to her, Starlight!!!"
The spectators could no longer stay seated, they began to shout encouragement one after another.
Amidst heavy panting, Starlight's golden eyes locked onto the black figure ahead of her.
"It's... it's not over yet. I still have a Red Skill—!!!!"
Her expression hardened as her golden pupils emitted a red light, locking onto Rice Shower in front of her.
Cling, cling, cling!!!
The sound of metallic daggers fluttering in the air rang out. Starlight's pupils dilated.
Ahead, from beneath the bangs covering Rice Shower's right eye, the blue rose pinned to her small black top hat began to glow. Faint blue flames flickered in Rice Shower's eyes.
A black aura spread from her feet until it enveloped her entire body.
The three red arrows fired by Starlight were instantly swallowed by this black flame.
Unique Skill: [Blue Rose Closer]!
Triggered when in the lead during the final leg of the race, Willpower and Speed augment each other.
This was exactly why Starlight's Red Skill failed to take effect.
"How is this possible? How can an Uma Musume in a G3 race have a Unique Skill?!"
Starlight's vision began to blur, her beautiful face contorted with effort. The heavy sensation in her legs was screaming at her to stop, but...
"I can't stop yet—"
Within those exhausted eyes, the hexagrams in her pupils began to slowly rotate. The golden gradient at the tips of Starlight's hair began to glow.
She forgot her fatigue, her eyes held nothing but that black silhouette.
With sweat flying from her face, her speed began to climb. As they neared the finish line, the gap between the two Uma Musume grew smaller and smaller.
"The race is over! Let us congratulate..."