The next day, Tokyo Racecourse.
"Nearly 150,000 spectators had arrived for the Japan Derby!"
"This year's Triple Crown favorite was King Halo! Who had yet to taste defeat after her debut! At the press conference, she'd declared she would definitely become the second Symboli Rudolf!"
"If Rudolf is known as an undefeated emperor from the beginning to the peak of her career, then King Halo is a king who lost 9 times during simulation races but rose from the ashes! From her debut, she has never experienced defeat until now!"
Just like last time, Hayato escorted King Halo to the underground passage. The crowd outside was pumped, their cheers echoing clearly even down here.
Under the influence of all that noise, even Hayato felt tense. His palms were sweating. "King, are you ready? This is the second crown."
At the Satsuki Sho, King Halo's stats were painfully low, leaving her unable to dominate the other uma musume. The Japan Derby stretched 400 meters farther. For someone built for short distances, it was a brutal challenge.
"Don't worry, Trainer. I'm confident."
"Did you bring the lucky charm?"
"Yeah." King Halo pulled out the charm with the four-leaf clover.
The charm's effect hadn't worn off yet. More than a lucky charm, it was a peace-of-mind charm. Carrying it made her feel secure.
Hayato checked King Halo's data and condition one more time.
King Halo
Stamina Condition: 98/100 Excellent
Speed: 516 Stamina: 432 Power: 516 Guts: 322 Wits: 343
Track Aptitude: Turf A, Dirt G
Distance Aptitude: Short A, Mile B, Medium A, Long B
Running Style Aptitude: Front Runner G, Pace-Chaser B, Late A, End D
Unique Skill: Call Me King (Colored) Lv.1. If you can perform calmly on the track, your speed will increase in the final 200 meters.
Skill: ...
"King, the Japan Derby is many uma musume's dream. They'll definitely give it their all in this race. You should aim for the middle of the pack position. That spot might be tough to break out from, but it's actually really advantageous for you."
This was one of King Halo's trump cards, and now was the perfect time to use it.
"Got it. I understand!" King Halo answered without hesitation.
"Good luck!"
"Hey, Trainer, why are you more nervous than me? Winning the Japan Derby is a given for me, isn't it?" King Halo spoke with casual confidence. It wasn't arrogance. That was just how she always sounded.
"What's the Derby anyway? I'm going to become the strongest Uma Musume, surpassing even Rudolf!"
"Trainer, just wait for my triumphant return!"
After saying that, she added as a reminder, "Did you find Oguri-senpai? Didn't we agree we would get a feast after this race?"
"Uh... well..." Hayato wiped the sweat from his forehead. Oguri had gotten lost... Maybe from stall-foods
"She should be able to find her way. At least she won't go hungry."
"Huh? I see. Then we'll deal with it after the race." King Halo turned and headed deeper into the underground passage.
"King..."
"What is it?" King Halo stopped and turned back around.
"No, nothing." Hayato hesitated.
"Oh." King Halo turned back around and kept walking.
"King..."
King Halo's steps faltered again. She stopped, but didn't turn around this time.
"What I said the other day might've been out of line. I hope it won't affect your race. I'm really life-time contract at Tracen now as a trainer, so don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't." Hayato felt conflicted as he spoke from the heart.
"Mm! And here I thought trainer was going to say something else!" King Halo, with her back to Hayato, stamped her foot. Turns out it wasn't a confession.
"Mm! Okay, okay, I get it. I'll trust you. I'll definitely win the Japan Derby for you to see, so please have confidence in me, too. I'm leaving now!"
This time, she really left. From the distance came King Halo's classic queen laugh. "The second crown of the Triple Crown, I'm coming to take you home today! Ohohoho..."
Outside the passage, hearing King Halo's laugh, Winning Ticket frowned slightly. Not just Narita Taishin, King Halo was a formidable opponent, too.
And then there was Biwa Hayahide, whose true strength was overwhelming. She glanced at the equally confident Biwa Hayahide and lowered her head slightly, feeling bitter.
Ever since watching the Japan Derby for the first time, hadn't she always wanted to stand on that track? Because it was so moving.
Winning Ticket wanted the Japan Derby more than anything. It was the dream she had held onto since she was a child.
"Welcome to the Japan Derby! As you can see, Tokyo Racecourse is absolutely packed with spectators! Thank you all for coming. Let's enjoy this annual Derby spectacle together!"
"There's quite a crowd this year. Seems like just as many as last year, doesn't it?"
"Indeed. The crowd for Ines Fujin's race broke previous records. Will we see another breakthrough this year?"
"Speaking of Ines Fujin, I miss her. Last year she led by five lengths in the Derby, then retired due to injury."
"Yes, that was a race that moved countless people. Ines Fujin's trainer begged the audience to vote for her, hoping to win the Derby with top popularity. Unfortunately, she didn't get first in popularity."
"But Ines Fujin still won the Japan Derby Race!"
"Forcing your own wishes onto an uma musume... I don't support that kind of thing. I heard that trainer was expelled from Tracen afterward..."
In the stands, Ines Fujin listened to the two announcers chatting and let out a cold smile. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed her, and immediately spotted Hayato. Her smile grew even brighter.
Hayato didn't want to hear about her former trainer. Some things, the more you knew, the more dangerous they got.
"Eh? Are you still here? I thought you ran away because you're too popular with the uma musume," Ines Fujin asked Hayato with a smile.
"It's complicated...!" Hayato sighed, his gaze drifting into the distance, searching for Seiun Sky and the other uma musume.
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Illustration in comment