In the empty corridor, Special Week stood dressed in her racing outfit, missing her number plate.
Tap, tap, tap—!
The sound of footsteps echoed as groups of Uma Musume walked past, chatting and laughing, they appeared to be her opponents for today's Debut Race.
From the distant exit, the rustling murmurs of the audience drifted in.
And yet... the loudest sound occupying her ears was her own heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump.
Special Week was incredibly nervous right now, but it wasn't her fault.
Coming from a countryside ranch, she had very little experience interacting with Uma Musume her own age.
Furthermore, the Debut Race is the first major hurdle for every Uma Musume on her path to becoming a true Racing Uma Musume.
Everyone gets nervous, it just wasn't usually as intensely visible as it was with her.
"Phew... my legs feel so weak. I guess I really am too nervous..."
Suddenly, two sets of hurried footsteps approached from behind.
"Spe-chan~!"
Hearing the call, Special Week turned around to see Suzuka and Starlight.
Suzuka stepped forward and handed her the number plates.
"Here. You forgot to take them."
"Ah, thank you, Suzuka-chan..."
"Mm~ I can tell Spe-chan is very nervous..." Starlight added in a gentle tone.
"Ahaha, y-yes, I'm a bit nervous."
Reaching out to take one of the numbers from Suzuka's hand, Starlight circled behind Special Week.
"Let me help you."
"Relax, Spe-chan... you've been training with Suzuka-chan and me for so long, after all."
Seeing this, Silence Suzuka also stepped up to help attach the number plate to Special Week's front.
"B-but, what if I don't run well? What if I lose?"
Dang~
Starlight reached out and gave Special Week a light flick on the head, saying with a smile:
"There are no 'what-ifs.' Just run like you do in practice."
"To be honest, I get nervous during races too, but because there are people looking forward to seeing me run on the track, I respond to their expectations."
"I respond by running with everything I've got."
"Suzuka-chan and I are both looking forward to your performance, so give it your best."
After smoothing out the back number, Starlight stood beside Suzuka and smiled at Special Week.
"...Right! I understand. Thank you, Starlight-senpai, Suzuka-chan!"
Taking a deep breath, Special Week clenched her fists and thanked them both before turning to walk toward the inspection platform.
"Starlight-chan, do you look forward to seeing me too?"
"Of course. I've watched every single one of your races, Suzuka-chan."
Hearing this, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Silence Suzuka's mouth, and she nodded.
"That's good."
"Let's hurry to the stands, the race is about to start."
"Mm."
During the short journey from the backstage to the spectator stands, our Special Week managed to make quite a striking impression.
As she stepped out from behind the red curtain and tossed her training jacket into the air, the momentum of the throw actually tripped her up, and she fell flat on her face.
"It seems our contestant Special Week is a little bit nervous," the announcer commented, trying to smooth over the awkward moment.
Below, a gray-haired Uma Musume dressed somewhat like a Caribbean pirate watched this scene with her arms crossed, her eyes instantly filling with disdain.
"If these are my opponents, then I feel... that victory in this debut race is already in the bag."
After entering the gate, Special Week felt the narrow space closing in around her.
She took deep breath after deep breath, trying to calm her restless heart.
However, the signal lights gave her no time to settle her soul.
Bang!
As the green light flashed, the eight gates swung open. Every Uma Musume surged forward.
Special Week was clearly dazed and failed to leave the gate immediately.
By the time she reacted, her opponents were already nearly two lengths ahead of her.
"Ah~!"
With a loud cry, Special Week pushed off hard and sprinted out.
Subconsciously, she began executing the tactics Starlight had taught her.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Passing one Uma Musume after another, Special Week charged directly to the front of the leading Uma Musume.
Her speed was still soaring!
"What! Special Week is... she's going for a Great Escape! To see a Great Escape in a debut race—!"
Watching the figure pulling further away, the chestnut Uma Musume in the lead felt her eyes freeze.
With proper research, it's possible to get a feel for your opponents' tactics before the race begins, and clearly, she was supposed to be the only Front Runner.
'Yet this girl...'
As a rookie stepping onto the turf for the first time, she had certainly never encountered such an unexpected situation. Her originally calm heart began to beat frantically.
"No, I'm the Front Runner! There can't be anyone in front of me!"
As soon as that thought surfaced, the leading Uma Musume immediately pushed her limits, determined to catch up to Special Week.
The Uma Musume following behind were stunned by the sight. Since the leading Uma was pushing so hard, she might very well be Escaping too!
If they didn't give chase, the widening gap would mean certain defeat.
So, they all charged forward as well.
In less than two hundred meters, the track descended into chaos. Every Uma Musume's pace was disrupted as they pushed themselves to chase Special Week.
"Hey, hey— this looks bad... Starlight-chan! Is it really okay? It's Spe-chan's first time out there. What if she takes the Escape seriously while she's at it!"
Ryo Nishizaki looked at Starlight beside him, asking with deep concern.
"She probably won't."
"What do you mean 'probably won't'?! She's a rookie! What if she gets nervous and forgets she's supposed to be doing a Fake Escape?"
"Oh, don't panic, Mr. Nishizaki~ With Spe-chan's talent combined with these past few days of special training, even a Great Escape would be enough to take the race."
These words acted like a sedative, gradually calming Ryo Nishizaki's heart.
"You're right. I almost forgot."
Shaking her head, Starlight didn't say much more.
After all, strictly speaking, Special Week was the first Uma Musume Ryo Nishizaki had personally brought to a race.
If her debut was a failure, it wouldn't just be a blow to him, but to Daiwa Scarlet and the others as well.
Fortunately, everything was under Spe-chan's control. The moment she was about to enter the curve, she recalled her training with Starlight and Silence Suzuka.
Moving from the innermost lane toward the outside, her speed began to drop.
The sudden deceleration caught the other Uma Musume, who were chasing relentlessly, completely off guard.
The Front Runner suffered the most. She was supposed to be setting the pace, then someone else took over, and now it had been dumped back on her.
The rapid fluctuation between acceleration and deceleration caused her to catch a stitch in her side.
Her face contorted as she gasped for air.
Her lungs felt as though they were being pricked by needles, giving her a sharp, stinging pain.
Out of necessity, she began to slow down.
"It worked! Yes! Go, Special Week!!!"
"Spe-chan, keep it up!"
Nearby, Daiwa Scarlet and the others cheered excitedly at the sight.
"What's happening!? Has Special Week lost her momentum?"
"No, it's not a stall. Look closely, her breathing is still steady, and her footwork isn't frantic. This is..."
The other commentator's pupils trembled as she spoke in disbelief.
"This is a 'Front-Runner to Late-Surger' tactic!!?"
"What—! Could this be Divine Starlight's strategy?"
Akasaka stood up from her chair in excitement, watching the short-haired figure on the track.
Their voices spread through the stands, and the crowd immediately erupted into discussion.
This tactic truly felt like something on the line between fair and foul.
Among the "righteous" players, it was considered the dirtiest of tricks, yet among the "villains," it was the most honorable of moves.
"I never expected to see such a tactic in a debut race. This Special Week... you really can't judge a book by its cover."
Behind Spe-chan was that gray Uma Musume wearing an eyepatch.
By now, her previous arrogance had completely vanished.
Being pulled back and forth by Spe-chan's fluctuating pace, her rhythm was shattered, and she was starting to feel the onset of a side stitch.
"Dammit! This girl... she was playing dumb and tripping during the inspection just to make us lower our guard."
"She's so scheming..."