The cheers of the spectators pierced the heavens as countless birds streaked across the emerald green turf.
Streamers fluttered in mid-air, and a gentle breeze brushed past, swaying the racing clothes of the Uma Musume currently warming up on the grass.
Seiun Sky held her head with both hands, her white lace hemline dancing in the wind.
She gazed firmly toward a specific spot in the stands.
"After the race, I can go fishing with Starlight-chan... and Starlight-chan is still up there watching me—"
Her gaze swept over Special Week, who was stretching her legs, King Halo, who was doing high-knee warm-ups, and the other girls preparing for the start.
"Come on..."
After those faint words fell, she walked slowly toward the gate, her tail swaying behind her at a leisurely pace.
Her heart, which should have been tense and excited, was now incredibly calm. A faint smile remained fixed on Seiun Sky's lips.
Without any help from the staff, she entered the gate smoothly.
This sight stunned the rivals who knew her, as well as the spectators and fans outside the track.
"Oh my! What is going on today? Seiun Sky, who is usually so difficult to load, has actually chosen to enter the gate voluntarily? And she's the first one in?"
Akasaka's surprised voice rang out.
In contrast, King Halo was incredibly nervous, though her face still maintained that confident facade.
Inside, however, she was in total turmoil.
Swallowing hard, she took several deep breaths and chose to enter the gate as well.
"Very good! My condition is great today. You can do this, Special Week, go for it!"
Special Week jogged in place, pumping herself up.
Soon, the warm-ups ended, and the race was about to begin. All runners were now inside their gates.
Ryo Nishizaki didn't go down with Team Spica to cheer for Spe-chan, instead, he came over to Tojo Hana's side to watch together.
'Special Week, do your best!'
The indicator light glowed red. The moment it flipped to green, the gates flew open.
Bang!
Special Week, opting for a tactical move, decided to do a "Fake Front Runner" tactic to seize the initiative early.
However, the very instant she burst from the gate, a cyan blur streaked out ahead of her.
Seiun Sky's eyes shimmered with a faint golden light.
The moment her hooves struck the ground, clumps of turf went flying, and her figure flashed forward.
"Seiun Sky with a perfect start! She's left the pack behind! Has Special Week lost out in their initial confrontation!?"
The sudden turn of events made Special Week's mind go blank. Her pupils trembled as she stared at the cyan figure ahead of her.
'What should I do? Sky-chan is faster than me... No— in that case, I'll switch back to the original tactic.'
Fortunately, Spe-chan reacted quickly, immediately dropping her speed to transition into a Late Surger strategy.
King Halo, running in the Pace Chase position, watched Special Week fall behind her and then glanced at the already distant Seiun Sky.
She frowned and immediately accelerated to give chase.
'Since Seiun Sky is the only Front Runner in this race, then as a Pace Chaser, I must secure the second position.'
Watching the figure grow closer, King Halo didn't even have time to breathe a sigh of relief before she saw Seiun Sky flicker.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind blew toward her.
The immense pressure caused King Halo's speed to drop.
'This is... her Red Skill... What do I do? She's getting further and further away—'
Watching the receding figure, King Halo began to panic, and Special Week further back felt the same.
"Even though I used to feel that just doing my best was enough... being overtaken again and again, watching victory be snatched away by other girls over and over..."
Seiun Sky's expression was unreadable as she lowered her head slightly.
"Three-quarters of a length— the gap between us is actually very small. It's just that while you are doing your best, I am putting my life on the line. That's all."
These were the words Starlight said to her when she won their second race after the debut.
"That's right, I've watched your races. The gap between you and me was the smallest, only three-quarters of a length."
Seiun Sky snapped her eyes upward, her pupils radiating a strange, brilliant blue light.
"That's why I don't want to let myself lose again. I don't want Starlight-chan to have to comfort a defeated me with that gentle smile ever again..."
"I'm going to give it everything... I am also a Front Runner!"
As the effects of her Red Skill faded, a golden radiance erupted around Seiun Sky once more.
Her speed began to surge violently, her expression turning fierce.
She intended to maintain her lead from start to finish!
"Seiun Sky is accelerating! She's accelerating again! We're just approaching the middle of the race— could it be that she plans to use a Great Escape strategy this time!?"
Veins pulsed on the back of her fair hands as Seiun Sky swung her arms desperately.
With a determined, almost contorted face, her blurred vision peered forward.
She looked toward the shimmering, silver-haired figure that seemed to manifest ahead of her.
Entering the middle leg of the race, Seiun Sky utilized her Great Escape to pull nearly eight lengths ahead of the second-place King Halo.
'So strong... how is she doing that? Why can't I...'
Gritting her teeth, King Halo watched the figure in front of her pull further and further away, a silent scream echoing in her heart.
'Even though... even though I've trained just as hard! Even though I have elite pedigree and talent...!'
Clatter, clatter, clatter—
That familiar sound of footsteps rose from behind her again. Heavy, powerful...
King Halo remembered it clearly from the final sprint of the Yayoi Sho, she had been crushed by the overwhelming Last Spurt of the owner of those footsteps.
'Am I going to end up like last time? Am I going to lose again?'
Her legs felt heavier by the second.
Out of the corner of her eye, King Halo could see Special Week's figure appearing.
Her breathing became ragged, cold sweat slid down her cheeks, and the chilly wind whistled into her lungs.
Suddenly, as they entered the turn and approached the late stage of the race...
Her gaze passed through Special Week, who had already overtaken her, and landed on that silver figure watching her from the spectator stands.
King Halo's pupils contracted.
As if time had stopped, the world around her fell into a monochrome state.
Thump-thump, thump-thump... thump-thump...
Her racing heartbeat gradually slowed, returning to a calm rhythm.
Her entire body began to feel weightless, and a deep green light radiated from her.
A celestial ladder woven from countless branches appeared before her, and she ran toward the sun, step by step. She ascended until she crossed the throne at the highest point, looking down upon the entire racecourse.
Unique Skill Awakening: [Call Me King]
Her consciousness snapped back to reality the instant her foot planted coming out of the turn.
A fierce wind whipped around her, and Special Week was the first to be caught in the wake.
Under the influence of this terrifying aura, Special Week's speed dropped instantly.
Then, the clear sound of rhythmic hoofbeats reached her ears.
Special Week's purple eyes watched the green figure that suddenly burst into her field of vision. Indeed, King Halo's speed had exploded, and she began to chase down Seiun Sky.
"Alright, I'm going to accelerate too!"
Knitting her brows, Special Week focused her gaze and poured power into her legs, attempting to catch the two figures ahead.
But unfortunately...
"What's happening? Why isn't the distance closing? Why... are those two still so far away...?"
Special Week's spirit wavered.
Seeing the situation unfold, Tojo Hana spoke as expected.
"Just as I thought—"
Ryo Nishizaki couldn't help but close his eyes, unable to bear watching further.
It was clear: From this moment on, Special Week was out of the running for the championship.
What remained was a duel between Seiun Sky and King Halo.
Back on the track, they had reached the final sprint.