(T/N: The Japanese Oaks Race was skipped. The Author has sped up the pacing of the next few chapters a bit, and I apologize in advance.)
"Ms. Divine Starlight, after winning this race, you only need the Shuka Sho to achieve the title of the Undefeated Triple Tiara. What are your plans after that?"
The race had ended, and Starlight stood before a crowd of reporters in her racing outfit, answering questions of this nature.
"I'm not sure yet. I plan to win the Shuka Sho first before considering what comes next."
"Understood. Regarding your opponent, Daiichi Ruby— how do you think her performance this time compared to the previous Oka Sho?"
"Mm, Ruby-chan ran so beautifully this time/ When she was in front of me, my eyes were unconsciously drawn to her. She is very formidable."
The second day after the race, Starlight didn't spend her time resting in the dormitory or going out for fun as she usually did.
Since the Derby was approaching, she had to go check on the Three Little Uma Musume who'd compete in it.
She said "check on them," but in reality, she was going to fan the flames of their competitive spirits.
At the temple on the mountaintop.
Ryo Nishizaki looked at the stopwatch in his hand and spoke to Special Week below.
"Ready! Go!"
As soon as he spoke, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the stairwell.
Special Week very swiftly utilized the Highlander technique she had just learned from Taiki Shuttle.
As her final footstep landed, Ryo Nishizaki pressed stop and looked at the time.
"44.17 seconds. Take a break, then another set!"
"Yes! Trainer!"
Leaning against a pillar, Tokai Teio was half-kneeling on the ground.
Watching Special Week's passionate expression, she said enviously, "So impressive. That's already the eighth set, and Spe-chan can still keep going..."
"No way! I want to do another set too!" Vodka, who seemed to have recovered, stood up and made a request to Ryo Nishizaki.
"Wait a moment, we have to wait in line."
Suddenly, a gentle voice drifted up from the bottom of the stairs.
"Eh! Starlight-senpai! You... aren't you supposed to be on a rest break?" Daiwa Scarlet asked in disbelief.
"Well, I was bored anyway, so I thought I'd come for a run~ Nishizaki-san, help me time it."
"Ai~ Alright. Get ready then... Go!"
Shouting unexpectedly, Ryo Nishizaki pressed the stopwatch immediately.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sound of Starlight's feet striking the ground rang out continuously. The Uma Musume of Team Spica all poked their heads out to watch.
"Such speed! Wait, it looks like Starlight-senpai isn't using the Highlander Skill?"
"That's because her raw power is already sufficient. Can't you hear it? Her footsteps are much more solid than yours," Ryo Nishizaki explained with a smile.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept past. Ryo Nishizaki pressed the stopwatch and looked at the numbers, unable to help but marvel.
"37.11 seconds—"
The moment that number was spoken, the entire area fell into a dead silence.
After scanning the crowd's dumbfounded expressions, Ryo Nishizaki looked at Starlight normally and smiled.
"To run a time like that right after a race... you really are something."
"I gave it my all. That's probably my limit..."
"3... 37 seconds!?" Special Week's face was flushed as she looked at Divine Starlight, her breathing a bit ragged.
"What's wrong, Spe-chan?"
"N-nothing. It's just that Starlight-senpai is so amazing. I... I only managed around 44 seconds..."
"Now, don't be like that. When I ran this for the first time, I was even worse than you. As long as Spe-chan is willing to work hard, you'll definitely be faster than me eventually."
Walking forward, Starlight smiled and patted her on the shoulder, offering encouragement.
"Yes, I will, Senpai."
Special Week nodded.
After glancing at the other Uma Musume, Starlight turned and headed back down the mountain.
"Alright, seeing that you're all so full of energy, I should head off to check out some other places—"
As Starlight's figure gradually descended the stairs until she vanished from sight, Tokai Teio finally huddled around Ryo Nishizaki's stopwatch.
"It... it really is 37 seconds! So strong! Why is Starlight-senpai able to run so fast!?"
"Alright, alright. Instead of marveling at someone else's strength, you'd better hone your own. Next up, Suzuka!"
"Understood." Silence Suzuka spoke plainly and walked down to get ready.
As the signal rang out, she stretched her legs and sprinted upward with all her might.
This time, the sound of the footsteps was different. It was a light, airy sound like the ringing of a copper bell.
Silence Suzuka seemed to merge with the wind.
As she charged onto the mountaintop, Nishizaki clicked the watch and announced: "38.78 seconds."
"38 seconds!? Suzuka-senpai is amazing too..."
"Trainer! Let me go again!"
"Me too, me too!"
The records set by Starlight and Suzuka didn't dampen the spirits of the other Uma Musume, instead, their passion burned even hotter.
'37.11 seconds...'
'Starlight-chan. I won't yield the scenery before my eyes to anyone, and that includes you...'
As she thought this, an image of Starlight running ahead of her couldn't help but surface in Suzuka's mind.
Silver-gold hair fluttering, a graceful body in motion, and a faint, refreshing fragrance drifting back...
'Starlight herself has become a truly beautiful scenery.'
Thinking of this, Suzuka's face turned slightly red.
'No, that's not right! How can I think like that...'
Meanwhile, our Starlight had arrived at another path where Uma Musume were training.
Sitting on a terrace nearby, she watched a few Uma Musume jogging beside a small stream below.
"So this is Sei-chan's secret training spot? It looks quite nice~"
Just as she spoke, a cyan figure sped past from a distance.
Seiun Sky wove through the group of Uma Musume without stopping for a second, bolting toward the distance.
"There's no time to waste. I have to be faster... even faster..."
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar silver-haired figure. Caught off guard, Seiun Sky dithered for a second and tumbled to the ground.
"Aaaaah!"
The scene shifted. Starlight was crouching in front of the "cyan cat," her finger dipped in a bright green liquid, gently applying it to Seiun Sky's knee.
"Honestly, be careful while you're training! Luckily, it's just a scrape."
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I just didn't expect Starlight-chan to be here. Weren't you supposed to be on vacation?"
"Can't I come here to see you?"
Looking up at the silver-haired Uma Musume, Seiun Sky's cheeks flushed slightly.
'Specifically... did she come specifically to see me?'
"You can, but I was just about to leave. Oh boy, I'm so tired..." As she spoke, Seiun Sky let out a lazy yawn and stretched.
"Is that so? Then what was with that high-spirited look just now? 'Faster! I have to be faster!'" Starlight teased, imitating the other's voice.
"Starlight-chan, that's embarrassing! Don't mimic me~" Seiun Sky playfully pushed Starlight's face away, looking bashful.
"Hehe, alright, alright. The ointment is on, it'll be fine in a bit. Get back to training, I won't disturb you any longer."
Standing up, Starlight tucked the bottle into her pocket and patted Seiun Sky on the head.
"Do your best in the Derby, Sky-chan!" With that, Starlight smiled and nuzzled the other's cheek before turning to leave.
It wasn't until she was far away that Seiun Sky finally snapped out of her daze.
She reached up and gently touched her cheek. A lingering warmth remained.
"Ah... Starlight-chan... No, I have to focus! I must keep training."
"I have to win the Derby!"