"Her condition looks good."
Hearing Daiwa Scarlet's words, Ryo Nishizaki frowned.
"No. The race has only just started, she shouldn't be paying too much attention to Palmer..."
"That's right, don't focus too much on Palmer, McQueen!"
Tokai Teio hurriedly shouted at the top of her lungs upon hearing this.
Watching the situation on the racetrack, Ryo Nishizaki's pupils trembled.
'No, it's not Palmer. What she's concerned about is Rice Shower, who has been pressing hard from behind...'
'If the Rice Shower of the past was an assassin hiding in the shadows, the current her is a black beast with its eyes fixed on its prey.'
'She has positioned herself in a spot where Mejiro McQueen has no choice but to pay attention to her.'
McQueen glanced at Rice Shower from the corner of her eye. The pressure she felt was nothing short of explosive.
'What's going on...'
As they finished the second lap, Palmer reached the stands again. Ryo Nishizaki shouted to McQueen on the field.
"McQueen! Calm down, don't let your footwork get messy, watch your own pace!"
'That's right, it's because I was immersed in my own pace that I could beat Teio. This time, as long as I...'
Waves of pressure gradually surged over, each one precisely weighing down on McQueen.
A red light flickered in Rice Shower's eyes.
She applied all of her Red Skills to Mejiro McQueen.
Mejiro Palmer, who was in the lead, felt a strong push from behind and accelerated once more.
Seeing this, McQueen also accelerated, and Rice Shower naturally picked up her speed as well.
"Something's wrong... This isn't the pace for a 3200-meter race. Why is it so fast? It's suffocating..."
Ikuno Dictus, positioned in the middle, gritted her teeth as she followed closely.
Through her glasses, she looked at the three Uma Musume ahead, as well as Matikane Tannhauser, who was following the trio without a hint of panic.
For a moment, Ikuno Dictus was stunned.
'What's the situation? Why are you in that position? And how do you look so at ease?'
'Could you really be an expert racer, Tannhauser?!'
At the stands, Ryo Nishizaki looked down at his stopwatch, a slight cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"2 minutes 4 seconds!?"
Gold Ship put down the Rubik's cube in her hand and looked at Ryo Nishizaki curiously.
"What?"
Special Week and the others also looked toward Ryo Nishizaki.
"The time for 2000 meters is nearly two seconds faster than the last Tenno Sho..."
"Ah? Is this pace okay?"
On the racetrack, they were about to enter the third turn, and the distance between McQueen and Palmer was constantly shrinking.
As they entered the turn, it became clear Palmer could be overtaken. It was certain she was out of the running for the championship.
As a Front Runner like Mejiro Palmer, being overtaken at this position meant you wouldn't be able to activate your Innate Skill during this race.
Right at that moment, a pale blue energy surged around McQueen's body.
The surrounding environment began to change, as a domain resembling the horizon where water meets the sky slowly spread out.
The boundless water surface reflected McQueen's silhouette and the sky, with the distant sun about to rise.
Mejiro McQueen continued to accelerate, moving into the lead position.
Behind her, Rice Shower also picked up her pace.
The black energy radiating from her body became even more intense, and blue flames bloomed in her eyes.
In an instant, the domain was shattered. Marble pillars descended from the sky, and magnificent walls rose up.
Stained glass windows looked eerie under the moonlight.
In the hospital room.
Starlight sat on the sofa, watching the live broadcast on her phone.
She shook her head and sighed.
"McQueen-chan, you've gone soft. This won't do, you can't even maintain your Innate Skill."
"And is Rice Shower really that dominant? She's clearly so timid and cute... How were you intimidated by her?"
Starlight was far too familiar with these two friends, and that was exactly why she couldn't understand why the proud Mejiro McQueen was being pressured by Rice Shower to the point where she couldn't even maintain her domain.
But that was indeed the reality back on the racetrack.
With the two Uma Musume constantly chasing and releasing their momentum, the final straight-line battle no longer concerned the other racers.
"What's happening... I can't shake her off at all!"
"Is something wrong with McQueen?"
Ryo Nishizaki shook his head.
He shifted his gaze from Mejiro McQueen to Rice Shower behind her.
The black shadow gradually expanded, forming a giant hand that was slowly enveloped the purple-haired Uma Musume ahead.
"The fourth corner has been cleared! Now it's a three-way battle. Palmer has been overtaken by Matikane Tannhauser, and Tannhauser is still accelerating!"
"Rice Shower and Mejiro McQueen are fighting for the lead. It's the final straight!"
"Mejiro McQueen is in the lead now— no, the outside! Rice Shower is charging up from the outside!"
Whoosh.
Glancing at Rice Shower, McQueen grit her teeth, ready to go all out.
"I won't let you have it!"
Seeing this, Rice Shower didn't back down at all, she also accelerated and followed close behind.
"They're neck and neck! Rice Shower and Mejiro McQueen are running side by side!"
With less than two hundred meters to the finish line, Rice Shower accelerated again, overtaking Mejiro McQueen and steadily widening the gap between them.
Two lengths, three lengths...
"In the end, Rice Shower crosses the finish line with completely dominant strength!!"
The race ended.
After Rice Shower crossed the line, the data on the timer flashed red.
The entire audience was in shock.
"It's... it's a new record... 3 minutes 17 seconds."
Panting heavily, Rice Shower looked at the stands.
There was no emotion in her eyes.
She slowly exhaled and turned to leave.
...
...
The farm had entered a waiting period, waiting for the planted crops to mature.
At this time, Starlight didn't have much essential work. She only needed to come with Suzuka twice a week to check the condition of each team's farmland.
In the afternoon, at the Tracen Academy Training Ground.
Starlight, dressed in a training suit, sat on a bench watching the Uma Musume galloping below.
She slowly stood up and turned around, only to bump into Mejiro McQueen hiding in the shadows.
"McQueen? What are you doing hiding here..."
Hearing this, Mejiro McQueen was startled.
She hurriedly stood up, straightened her clothes, and stepped forward.
"I'm not. I just happened to be passing by... Starlight-chan, are you getting ready to train?"
"Um... yeah. Want to join me?"
"Okay!"
The two Uma Musume ran side by side toward the training ground below.
From the corner of her eye, Starlight saw the bracelet on the other's wrist.
"Is that weighted bracelet easy to use?"
"Yes, it's far more convenient than some of the weight equipment at home."
"That's good, but don't turn it up too high, or you'll end up like me~"
"Of course... wait, watch out!"
Splat.
Starlight lost her footing and fell to the side.
Fortunately, Mejiro McQueen reacted in time and caught the silver-haired Uma Musume steadily.
"Are you okay, Starlight-chan?"
Shaking her head, Starlight got up from McQueen's arms and tidied her hair.
"I'm fine... McQueen, you really are reliable... Thank you."
Smiling and waving her hand, McQueen was about to say something when Tokai Teio's voice suddenly came from afar.
"Starlight-chan! McQueen-chan! So this is where you guys are!"