The intensive summer training for the next unlisted race had a definite effect on Urara. As I measured her lap time, I couldn't help but stare at the stopwatch screen in disbelief.
(She's in better shape than I expected...)
I had Urara run the same distance as her debut race as a test, and her time had improved by nearly seven seconds.
Excluding the time she lost due to the accident, it was probably a reduction of about three seconds, but Chief Purser's winning time in the debut race was 1 minute, 16.62 seconds. Urara had clocked in at 1 minute, 13.56 seconds.
To say "three-second reduction" might not sound like much, but at an Uma Musume's speed, a three-second difference can close a gap of nearly 18 horse lengths. That's a reduction of almost 45 meters, which is quite significant.
This was with no one to interfere and on a good track with good weather, but a time like this in the middle of a hot summer, which severely drains stamina, was proof of Urara's hard work.
Shedding wasted form, practicing how to take turns, and building up her stamina and speed. If I were to put it into words, that's all we did, but the accumulation of those things showed in her time.
Of course, even this time didn't reach the record she had during her debut. Urara wasn't the only one who was in better shape than during her debut. Other Uma Musume would probably have improved their times as well.
To further reduce her time from here, she would need to continue the kind of effort she had put in for over a month for a long time. As her body became more refined, the time wouldn't improve as dramatically.
It was like a role-playing game where it's easy to level up from 1 to 10, but after that, the experience points required increase, and leveling up becomes slower. There was no one who would give us a ton of experience points by defeating them, so all we could do was continue to train steadily without injuring her.
"Hafu... It was fun and felt good to run so fast! Trainer! What was the time?"
Urara had finished the short-distance run, but she had more stamina than before. She was able to run at full speed and still have energy left over.
(At this rate, she might be able to run a mile, not just a short distance...)
I looked at Urara's tanned skin under the summer sun and thought that. Her skin must be tougher than a human's, as her skin still had some paleness compared to my completely tanned skin. Still, the clear tan line on Urara's arms made me feel a sense of joy I couldn't put into words.
"Ah... you worked hard... That's a good time..."
She hadn't gotten any results in a race yet, but having seen Urara's efforts, my eyes were about to well up with tears.
They say that love makes you good at things, and Urara never complained about her daily training; instead, she seemed to enjoy it and overcome it.
We had done everything I could think of: I had her run up a shrine with a ridiculously long staircase to build her leg strength and determination, I took her to a public pool and let her swim as much as she wanted to build her stamina, I made her run on the dirt course under the scorching midsummer sun, and I even had her run in the rain to make her used to a bad track.
Of course, I was very careful to prevent injuries, made sure she drank plenty of water, and made her rest as soon as I saw any signs of fatigue. Because of that, she never got a fever and continued to run energetically.
August was almost over, and it would soon be September. I had intentionally passed on the unlisted race in late August and planned to have Urara run in early September.
The short-distance dirt unlisted race had only been held once in early July, so there had been a month-long gap. Because of that, other Uma Musume were also training with all their might, and I had judged that their enthusiasm for the race would be tremendous, so I hadn't applied.
Another reason was that the unlisted race in late August was held at Niigata Racecourse, which was a red flag for me. Urara probably wouldn't get sick from the long trip, but I couldn't say for sure that it would have no effect on her.
So, I decided to have Urara run in the unlisted race at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba in early September. It was closer than Niigata, and it wouldn't even take an hour to get there by train. It was a distance we could easily do a day trip to.
Also, the temperature would be a little milder in September, making it easier for Urara to run. The same would be true for other Uma Musume, but I believed that there were no other Uma Musume running in an unlisted race who had trained as much as Urara had.
For these reasons, I had decided on the unlisted race in early September as our next race.
(Next... next time, I'll make Urara get first place...)
With Urara in her current condition, she wouldn't lose unless something terrible happened.
I muttered to myself with more confidence than ever before.
-----------
And so, the unlisted race in early September began.
The location was Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba, and the race Urara would run was a 1200-meter dirt race. The weather was sunny, but it had rained until the morning, so the track was a little rough.
Urara's stamina would probably not be a problem. She was in good condition and I had no worries about her running.
However—.
(...Is my luck just bad?)
I muttered to myself as I looked at the race card for today's race.
As it was an unlisted race, there were the usual nine Uma Musume participating. The race card showed the gate number, name, popularity, and predicted strategy, but something unexpected had happened here.
Of the nine Uma Musume, five, including Urara, were predicted to be catchers, and four were predicted to be chasers.
(Not even a single leader or front-runner... this is bad...)
The race card had arrived the day before, but I had been working on Urara's final adjustments and had only gotten around to looking at it at night. It was just a light run and a thorough cool-down, but I was quite shocked when I saw the race card afterward.
I had judged that leading or front-running wasn't suitable for Urara, and I had drilled into her that she would fight as a catcher. Urara could also be a chaser, but she wasn't as good at it as she was at catching.
And there were no leaders or front-runners—which meant that Urara might end up running in the lead.
A leader's strategy is to run at their own pace from the beginning of the race and escape from the rest of the pack. Because of this, the other Uma Musume would be pulled along by the leader and run at a fast pace, but when there are no leaders, the race tends to be slow-paced.
I didn't know about the other Uma Musume, but I had never had Urara run in such a state.
(This is my mistake again... no, let's look at it differently. If there are no Uma Musume running in the front, she can just run at her usual pace.)
The predicted strategy might be wrong or a bluff, and there might be a Uma Musume who runs in the lead as soon as the race starts. If that happened, I'd just have Urara follow her as usual and close in on her in the final straight. But if Urara took the lead, she could just run in the front by herself, just like we did in training.
I wanted to tell her to be flexible, but it would be better to just tell Urara to run as she had in previous races if there were Uma Musume running ahead of her, and to run as she did in training if there weren't.
As I was thinking that, I saw Urara taking off her tracksuit, which she had been wearing over her uniform, in the paddock.
"Ooh..."
"That girl is in great shape..."
Under her tracksuit, she was wearing her usual gym uniform with her bib, but I could hear voices from the crowd when they saw Urara.
(Being impressed by a girl's leg muscles and overall body shape looks a little creepy to an outsider... well, I guess it's normal in this world...)
I was satisfied with the crowd's reaction, but I couldn't help but smile wryly to myself. Urara hurriedly picked up the tracksuit she had taken off and started to warm up in the paddock with her usual smile.
Perhaps because the other Uma Musume had also experienced their debut and unlisted races, many of them weren't as tense as Urara, but they still weren't completely relaxed. Some Uma Musume were muttering to themselves with their heads down, some had dark circles under their eyes, and some, despite their cute faces, had bloodshot, glaring eyes.
I didn't know whether to call it a demonic determination or just being at their wit's end. This was Urara's third race since she had skipped one, but some of them might be in their fourth race.
I casually looked around the paddock, but the number of people who seemed to be the trainers of the Uma Musume who were about to run was small. Including me, there were only five people who looked like trainers, and if they weren't in the same team, it would mean that four of them didn't have trainers.
A trainer should be somewhere if their Uma Musume is running in a race. But maybe they were focused on other Uma Musume's races and were neglecting the ones in the unlisted race.
(That one who looks a little dangerous is a familiar face from her debut... There's another one who looks suspicious, but I've never seen her before. Is the one with dark circles under her eyes okay?)
I waved at Urara, who was continuing her warm-up in the paddock. She ran over to me with a big smile.
"What is it, Trainer, what's wrong?"
I leaned out from the stands and moved my mouth closer to Urara's head. And I whispered a warning to her, being careful not to let anyone around us hear.
"Be careful when you run with Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm, Uma Musume 5, Feudal Tenure, and Uma Musume 4, Duo Talica. Their vibe is a little strange, so they might try to play rough. Be careful if they run alongside you or get right behind you. Also, be careful of the sand flying up as usual."
When I whispered that, Urara's ears twitched as if she was ticklish. But she must have heard me, as she touched her ears with her hand and nodded firmly.
In Uma Musume racing, it wasn't a foul for bodies to touch on a curve or when overtaking. It was rare for an Uma Musume to punch another, but it wasn't a foul unless the contact was obviously malicious and intentional.
Of course, if it was deemed a foul, they would be demoted or, in the worst-case scenario, disqualified, just like with a course obstruction. So I had only spoken to Urara to be extra careful. There was a chance, however small, that they would try to make contact in a way that wouldn't be a foul.
And so, the paddock show was over, and it was time for the race.
The fanfare blared, and the Uma Musume, including Urara, started to gather near the gates.
'The fourth race begins under a sky that has cleared up as if the rain that fell until morning was a lie. The track is slightly heavy due to the rain. The fourth race is a 1200-meter dirt unlisted race with nine runners. The start is just moments away.'
'If it's not bad, a dirt course with water tends to lead to faster times. I'm looking forward to seeing how the race unfolds.'
Along with the voices of the announcer and the commentator, the introduction of the Uma Musume and their entry into the gates began.
'Next, gate 7, Uma Musume 7, Haru Urara. She's the third most popular. She's just entered the gate with a dazzling smile.'
'She showed her amazing condition in the paddock. She was 9th in her debut and 5th in her last race, but she's a Uma Musume who we can expect to run a good race.'
Perhaps because it was rare for a Uma Musume to enter the gate with such excitement and joy, they mentioned it every time. I was a little nervous, but it seemed to leave a good impression on the spectators around me, as I occasionally heard them call out Urara's name.
As I felt both happy and embarrassed about that, the Uma Musume in the even-numbered gates started to enter the gates after Urara. And finally, the name of the Uma Musume in the outermost gate was called out—and there was a slight problem.
'Finally, gate 8, Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm. She's the fourth most popular. She's just entered the gate... oh, is she alright?'
'She stumbled. It doesn't look like she hit the gate, but...'
The Uma Musume who was about to enter the last gate stumbled and was about to hit her head on the gate.
(Hey, hey... are you okay?)
She didn't look like she was in good condition. But had she decided to run because she wanted to, or because her trainer wanted her to? If it were me, I would have told Urara to rest without hesitation, but it would be wrong for me to complain about another trainer's Uma Musume.
'After a slight delay, Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm, has just entered the gate. The preparations for the race are complete.'
Inside the gates, each Uma Musume took their starting position. And for a moment, silence filled the racecourse—and with a thud, the gates opened.
'The gates are open. All the Uma Musume have gotten a... oh, it's a scattered start. Has Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm, fallen way behind?'
It was unusual, I should say. Only four of them, including Urara, got a clean start, which was less than half of the total. Some Uma Musume seemed to have intentionally delayed their start to be chasers, but it seemed some had genuinely fallen behind.
Just like at Fukushima Racecourse, the short-distance dirt race starts on a turf course before entering the dirt course. But one difference from Fukushima Racecourse was that Nakayama's course had a lot of elevation changes.
Right after the start, you run up a straight slope, and then you enter a corner while going down a slope with a vertical drop of nearly 4 meters for almost 500 meters. And after you get out of the corner, the last 200 meters of the straight is a slope with a vertical drop of 2 meters.
This was a course that Urara had never seen in her two previous races, and Tracen Academy didn't even have a course with such dramatic elevation changes.
However, I wasn't worried about the course's elevation changes. I had made Urara run on an incline course, so she was used to it. The only problem was.
(This has... become a strange situation.)
I muttered to myself as I watched Urara running down the hill on the first straight.
'Uma Musume 7, Haru Urara, has taken the lead. She got a clean start and is in the front. One horse length behind her is Uma Musume 4, Duo Talica. Two horse lengths behind that, Uma Musume 5, Feudal Tenure, and Uma Musume 8, Compromise are fighting for third place.'
In a way, it was as I expected, but Urara had ended up taking the lead and setting the pace for the race. And since many Uma Musume had fallen behind at the start, two, Urara and another, were leading, two were front-running, four were catching, and one was chasing.
'About five horse lengths behind, Uma Musume 2, Bravo Second, Uma Musume 1, Boom Abang, Uma Musume 6, Beta Cubism, and Uma Musume 3, Slein have formed a group. Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm, who was late, is two horse lengths behind them, chasing.'
I looked at Urara's face as she was about to enter the corner. As expected, she seemed a little confused by the race's progression, which was different from her debut and second race.
(The pace is slow... it's not going as planned in training. Since there are no Uma Musume running ahead of her, Urara's pace is all over the place...)
I regretted not having taught her how to run in the lead, even though we had never had a chance to do it in a race. I had tried to make Urara conscious of her lap time while she was running during training, but she wasn't skilled enough to accurately count seconds while running.
I bit my lip, feeling like I hadn't taught her everything I should have. Urara wasn't a skilled Uma Musume who could do everything, but it was my job as a trainer to make up for that.
But even so, Urara now had the stamina and speed we had trained for in the summer. Even if she was running at a slow pace, if she entered the final straight in the lead, no Uma Musume would be able to catch her.
I thought that nothing would happen if we just ran, but was I being too arrogant?
'The race has been slow-paced so far. How will they move from here... oh? Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm, has surged forward! She's broken out from the rear and has moved up to 7th, no, 5th place! What amazing speed! Can she catch up to the leaders like this!?'
'Well, it seems like she's going too fast. I hope she can take a breath...'
Castanet Rhythm, who had fallen behind at the start and should have been in last place, was moving forward at a speed like she was in a final spurt. She avoided the pack and went to the outermost part of the corner, rushing forward without slowing down much at all.
'She's fast! Castanet Rhythm is fast! She just passed Uma Musume 8, Compromise! Can she pass Uma Musume 5, Feudal Tenure, too!?'
'In the corners, a Uma Musume tends to go wide due to centrifugal force, so trying to accelerate while holding that down should put a considerable strain on their legs...'
The announcer's voice was excited, and the commentator's voice was filled with suspicion. I listened to their voices and bit my teeth so hard that I could hear them.
"You idiot... what are you thinking!?"
The sight of the Uma Musume who had fallen behind at the start going past everyone in one go from the rear. It made the spectators in the racecourse cheer, drowning out my own voice.
Castanet Rhythm's running was not normal. It was literally a crazy way to run. No matter how much of an Uma Musume she was, there was a limit, and that Uma Musume's running was beyond her limit.
'Castanet Rhythm, trying to pass Feudal Tenure—no, she can't! Feudal Tenure has also accelerated! She's in a spurt, as if saying she won't lose! But the exit of the corner is still far! Will her stamina last until the end!?'
'This is...'
The commentator's voice was mixed with bewilderment. I felt the same way. The final straight at Nakayama was a slope, so she wouldn't have enough stamina to keep up a long spurt from here. And accelerating while holding down the centrifugal force in the corner would put a tremendous strain on both her legs.
'Castanet Rhythm and Feudal Tenure are running side-by-side! She's moved up to a position where she can reach Uma Musume 4, Duo Talica, who was in second place! Haru Urara is still in the lead! Haru Urara, three Uma Musume are closing in on you from two horse lengths behind! No, one horse length! One horse length! The assassin is right behind you, Haru Urara!'
'Duo Talica has also responded with a spurt. Has Haru Urara also started her spurt... no, maybe she's just accelerated a little. She still seems to have plenty of energy. She's taking the corner beautifully.'
Unlike the announcer, the commentator was making a calm comment.
'Away from the leading group, in the back! How many horse lengths is this!? 10, no, a 12-horse length gap has formed! Can she catch the leader from here!?'
'They're about to get out of the corner and enter the final straight. But will the three who started their spurt... no, will Castanet Rhythm last?'
The commentator was worried about Uma Musume 9, Castanet Rhythm. They were about to get out of the corner and enter the final straight, but at that moment, I wasn't looking at Urara.
(Stop... slow down... please, slow down...)
I was watching Castanet Rhythm, praying. The Uma Musume with brown twin tails was pale, and she wasn't sweating even though she had been running at full speed.
It wasn't because Urara would lose if she kept going. It was because as an Uma Musume trainer, an alarm was blaring in my head that things would go badly if she kept going.
'Now, led by Haru Urara, the three Uma Musume are entering the final straight—?'
But I had no way to stop her. It was inevitable that it would happen, and I had no way to stop it.
'Oh no!? Castanet Rhythm has fallen!? It was a spectacular fall, but is she alright!?'
'......I hope she is.'
The announcer's voice was like a scream, and the commentator let out a small but clear sigh of disappointment.
"Urara! Spurt! Go! Runnnnnn!"
I desperately raised my voice. I yelled with all my might so that she wouldn't look back.
But my single voice was swallowed by the moans of despair from the more than ten thousand spectators.
"—"
No matter how fast you're running, if someone falls spectacularly right behind you, you'll notice the sound. I saw Urara glance behind her shoulder and covered my face with my hands.
'Haru Urara is still in the lead! But Feudal Tenure and Duo Talica are running alongside her, they're side-by-side! The straight at Nakayama is short! And there's a slope on the straight at Nakayama! Who will break away in the last 200 meters!?'
The last 200 meters of the final straight at Nakayama Racecourse is an incline course with a 2-meter vertical drop.
Running up a slope at the very end would be physically and mentally tough. But unlike the other Uma Musume, Urara had conserved her energy while running in the lead.
Feudal Tenure and Duo Talica had started their long spurt in the middle of the corner, but Urara was starting her final spurt now. The two who were competing with her had no stamina left to chase after Urara, who was accelerating by kicking up the sand.
They shouldn't have had any stamina left.
'Feudal Tenure is taking the lead! Is it tough for Duo Talica and Haru Urara!? No, Duo Talica is closing in! Haru Urara is also desperately pushing forward! How will this turn out!? Who will take the lead!? Who will seize the honor of first place!?'
But the Uma Musume ran, surpassing my predictions. The three Uma Musume, including Haru Urara, competed with each other and ran up the slope toward the goal.
Urara was giving her all, and the other two were giving everything they had. Urara should have won if they had competed fairly, but Feudal Tenure and Duo Talica were running as if they were burning their lives in place of their lacking stamina.
Perhaps pressured by Feudal Tenure and Duo Talica's determination, Urara's feet, which should have had the most advantage, slightly slowed down.
She had bad luck in her debut.
I was at fault for her first unlisted race.
And the second unlisted race was.
'Feudal Tenure and Duo Talica are entangled as they cross the finish line! Feudal Tenure seems to have a slight advantage! And by a nose, Haru Urara is in third place! Who will be in fourth place behind them... oh no, is Feudal Tenure alright!? Feudal Tenure, who passed the goal, has crashed into the ground in the same position she was in when she crossed the finish line!? Duo Talica has also been caught up in it!?'
"Ah... no good..."
—She had lost because of the difference in their desperation to win.
-----------
Haru Urara.
3 races, 0 wins.
She finished in 3rd place in her third race, but the 1st and 2nd place finishers were injured after the goal, and the winning concert was canceled.
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