The atmosphere at the training grounds this afternoon was exceptionally rowdy.
The reason was simple: A mock battle between two Uma Musume was taking place.
Specifically, one of them was from Team Rigil, the strongest team in the academy. This was an event most Uma Musume weren't about to miss.
On the turf, a powerful gust of wind swept through as Taiki Shuttle's vigorous figure flashed past, closely followed by Special Week.
"Oh?" Surprised, Taiki Shuttle's brow twitched slightly as she poured power into her legs.
Boom!
With a sound like a sonic boom, she catapulted forward, instantly opening a gap of three or four lengths.
Following this, a strong current of air whipped back from the front, forcing its way into Special Week's mouth.
"Not good, the airflow is too strong. I have to stay close to her, that way she can help block the wind..."
Tojo Hana adjusted her glasses and evaluated the situation.
"Quite clever. However, you can't win with just these kinds of opportunistic tricks..."
Sure enough, Taiki Shuttle also realized Special Week's intention.
Relying on her formidable physical foundation, she moved to shake off Special Week from behind her.
Watching the figure pull away once more, Special Week panted heavily, but she felt a surprising lightness in her limbs.
'Eh...? How can this be? I'm not that tired. I feel like I can still accelerate...'
Having grown accustomed to Starlight's grueling training, Special Week now felt she could actually go toe-to-toe with the Uma Musume in front of her.
Tojo Hana shook her head. Seeing that the gap had widened to over five lengths, she felt the outcome had been decided.
But just as she was about to write something on her tablet, cries of surprise erupted from the surrounding Uma Musume.
"Hmm? Wait, how can she...?" Tojo looked up to see that the short-haired figure, who had nearly been left in the dust, was catching up once again.
It wasn't just her, the other Uma Musume of Team Rigil were equally shocked.
This Uma Musume, who had only placed third in the Satsuki Sho, was actually able to catch up to Taiki Shuttle at this stage!
"As expected of Starlight. After that special training, Spe-chan's strength has reached this level!?"
Ryo Nishizaki was also taken aback. Looking at the figure on the track, a flicker of hope that they could actually win began to rise in his heart.
Not only him, but Special Week herself had the same thought. A smile returned to her face, and her inner tension transformed into excitement.
A faint golden energy lit up around her body. Skill activated: Relentless Pursuit!
As if pulled by a magnetic force toward Taiki Shuttle, Special Week followed closely behind her.
Her stride, breathing frequency, and swinging posture gradually synchronized until she seemed like the other's shadow.
"Go for it, Spe-chan."
Watching the intense duel on the field, Silence Suzuka clenched her fists and spoke softly.
They quickly reached the final corner.
"It's possible. Now's the time!"
Special Week let out a shout as a golden light flickered beneath her feet.
She swerved around Taiki Shuttle, preparing to overtake from the outside.
As her speed increased, her silhouette gradually began to appear just ahead of Taiki Shuttle.
"Incredible speed! But, it's not enough yet!" Taiki Shuttle remarked.
No longer holding back, her body also emitted a golden radiance, and a powerful vortex formed beneath her feet, directly affecting Special Week's movements.
Gold Skill: Ruler of the Mile!
Whoosh!
A gale brushed past her ears. When Special Week regained her focus, she saw that the sandy-blonde figure was already pulling away from her again.
Her purple eyes narrowed, but she could only grit her teeth and continue to give chase.
'So strong... she suppressed me using just one move...'
Before Special Week had time to marvel further, the battle of the corner was over, and they entered the final straight.
However, just like in the Satsuki Sho, there was a long uphill stretch.
As her weakness was exposed, Special Week was left far behind in an instant by Taiki Shuttle, who was utilizing the Climber technique.
'How can this be... wait, why hasn't her speed dropped?'
After a moment of shock, Special Week quickly calmed down.
While gritting her teeth and following desperately, she paid close attention to her opponent's footwork.
"Enjoy this race, and observe carefully how your opponent runs..."
Ryo Nishizaki's words echoed in her mind, and a spark of earnest determination flickered in Special Week's eyes.
Gradually, she began to alter her own running posture.
The change in her footwork allowed her speed to increase. The Highlander skill began to glow in Special Week's own skill bar.
Having caught up once again, she looked at the approaching finish line and the figure ahead that she couldn't seem to overtake no matter how hard she tried.
She felt a wave of frustration...
'What if the Derby ends up looking just like this?'
Suddenly, Starlight's figure appeared on the stands near the finish line ahead.
She was waving her arms, cheering for Special Week, her voice carrying clearly into her ears.
Swish, swish, swish.
Special Week lowered her head, and two figures appeared in front of her.
One was Silence Suzuka, running at full power, the other was Starlight, waiting for her so they could chase after Suzuka together.
Indeed, this was the memory of their time training together before her debut race.
"...Mom, I'm going to become the best Uma Musume in the country!"
An innocent voice rang out from the depths of her heart.
Suddenly, Special Week looked up.
Her vision dimmed, leaving only three figures: The mother who had raised and encouraged her since childhood, Silence Suzuka, the Uma Musume she yearned to chase, and Starlight, the Uma Musume walking this path alongside her.
The originally clear sky gradually darkened.
The three figures transformed into countless trails of colored energy, converging into a single meteor that streaked across the horizon.
Beneath Special Week's feet, a brilliant, multi-colored tail fin of light emerged.
Unique Skill: Shooting Star
As the sound of footsteps approached from behind, Taiki Shuttle naturally noticed the aura radiating from Special Week.
"This is... Cool!!"
Looking forward with excitement, she also activated her own Unique Skill: Shooting for Victory!
In an instant, the image of the shimmering meteor was met by a scene from the Western desert.
Wearing a cowboy hat, Taiki Shuttle twirled her revolvers while dodging incoming bullets.
"Ahhh—!!!"
"Aaaah—!"
The two Uma Musume sprinted wildly down the final straight.
Special Week's form gradually drew level with Taiki Shuttle, even showing signs of pulling ahead.
"Amazon! AMAZON!!!!!" Air Groove bellowed at Hishi Amazon, who was lying on the ground playing with pebbles.
"Ai~ there's no suspense anyway. Taiki Shuttle is a sure win—"
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
Two sets of footsteps swept past her. Hishi Amazon froze.
She scrambled to her feet and looked at the two figures that had already bolted past.
Breaking into a cold sweat, she hurriedly raised the flags in her hands.
"Goal!!!"
Special Week collapsed to her knees, gasping for air while clenching her fists.
'I did it. I really did it, even though I couldn't overtake her.'
'But, Starlight-chan, Suzuka-chan, everyone!'
"I did it!"
She stood up, her face flushed red, and shouted with excitement.
In the next second, however, her response was Taiki Shuttle's warm embrace and a passionate rubbing of cheeks.
"Yeah~! So amazing! You are really, really amazing!"