"All the Uma Musume had beautiful starts!"
"In the lead is our top favourite for the Satsuki Sho, Mihono Bourbon! Adopting the Runaway style, intending to win with overwhelming dominance from start to finish!"
"She's pulling away from the rest of the pack at a visible rate! Mihono Bourbon is way faster compared to herself during the Yayoi Sho!"
"Behind her, leading the Late Surger group, is our second favourite, Special Week!"
"The third favourite, and the winner of the Yayoi Sho, Orfevre, is currently hanging back at the tail end of the Late Surger group, while our fourth favourite, Rice Shower, is a part of the End Closer group! Are these three conserving their stamina for the right moment?!"
"Late Surger? Well, that's an interesting tactic, Ikezoe-kun. Mihono Bourbon is trying to pull away from everyone, you know?"
In the stands, Okino, who was standing with Silence Suzuka at his side, was naturally there to watch Special Week run.
Noticing Orfevre's running style for this race, Okino couldn't help but sigh to Ikezoe, who was also beside him.
"Sigh... I was really hoping Orfevre would run as a Runaway like last time in the Yayoi Sho; never expected you two to change strategies."
"Now that there's no one to keep Mihono Bourbon in check... Spe-chan's in trouble."
At this moment, Silence Suzuka spoke up with worry in her voice.
As an Uma Musume who also used a Runaway running style, Silence Suzuka naturally understood just how advantageous a clear, unobstructed view of the path ahead was.
Although Front Running and Runaway Uma Musume have to deal with the greatest wind pressure and maintain the fastest speed, if they manage to pull it off and gain enough distance from everyone else, even the most powerful of Final Spurts won't be enough to catch up.
As Special Week's friend, Silence Suzuka had long been worried about Special Week encountering a formerly Front Running, now turned Runaway Uma Musume like Mihono Bourbon. And the current situation seemed to confirm her fears.
"Hmph! If you're all worried about small things like this, then you haven't seen the true strength of Big Sis Orfevre!"
Just then, before anyone else could speak, Sweep Tosho, still wearing her oversized witch's hat, arrogantly crossed her arms and exclaimed to Okino and Silence Suzuka.
"Just you wait! Big Sis Orfevre will definitely show you!"
"—Big Sis Curren Chan! Kenichi! You both agree, right?!"
"Little Tosho, didn't we agree not to call me that outside? If my fans heard it, it might cause a misunderstanding~"
Ruffling Sweep Tosho's little head with unusual gentleness, Curren Chan showed a very caring attitude towards their newest member, completely unlike her previously mischievous and even slightly hostile demeanour towards the chuunibyou Uma Musume.
Of course, there was a reason for Curren Chan's shift in attitude.
Although Sweep Tosho was very stubborn in matters of training and racing, she treated Ikezoe pretty well, always listening to his words, even if she might not follow through properly later, though she was a tad bit too clingy for Curren Chan's liking.
Strictly speaking, though she would be considered a major pain in the ass for an average Trainer, with Orfevre as the only other Uma Musume, Curren Chan actually felt that Sweep Tosho was incredibly well behaved!
'—I mean, at least Sweep Tosho didn't have the constant urge to kick her Onii-chan, right?' Was Curren Chan's thought process.
Still, Curren Chan didn't know why Sweep Tosho designated her to the position of Big Sister, despite showing clear resistance to becoming Tokai Teio's Little Sister.
Moreover, was it really necessary to have a hierarchy in a team like back in middle school?
Though Curren Chan thought these little games of 'who's better than who' were childish and even a bit pointless... at the very least, this worked to her favour.
In case any new troublesome brats joined Ikezoe's team, she could use this system to keep them in line, relieving her Onii-chan's burden, even if it was just a little bit.
"—Onii-chan, do you think Orfevre can catch up?"
"Don't worry. Though Orfevre might not have had the best of starts which caused her to fall behind, the real problem isn't whether she can catch up, but rather her willingness to win."
'She might even slack off just because she felt like it, cutting short her path to the Classic Triple Crown at the first stop.'
The more Ikezoe considered Orfevre's temperament, the more prepared he was for such a possibility actually occurring.
After all, he was not riding Orfevre now; he couldn't guide her or give her instructions, everything depended entirely on her mood.
As the five were chatting, also beside them was Kuro Numa, who only wore an open white coat regardless of the weather, exposing his tanned, eight-pack abs, as well as his sunglasses, staring intently at Mihono Bourbon who had now pulled ahead of the rest by about three lengths.
For all intents and purposes, Mihono Bourbon's start could only be described as perfect; no Uma Musume, neither Special Week, Orfevre, nor any other he considered strong competitors moved forward to challenge her current absolute advantage.
Yet... despite this seemingly amazing start, it made Kuro Numa feel subtly uneasy instead.
'I thought Mihono would be able to bait out at least one of them... but they're all choosing to maintain their own rhythm?'
'Once you choose to run as a Runaway, you can't change it last minute... Mihono, you better be able to create a big enough distance, otherwise...'
Orfevre will catch up.
Kuro Numa didn't want to admit it, but after doing some deep research into Orfevre's past races, the way she was able to completely overturn seemingly impossible situations made him feel a sense of surprise he hadn't even felt when watching the likes of T.M. Opera O and Mr. C.B..
This was also the reason why he had recommended Mihono Bourbon to run as a Runaway this time rather than her usual, more modest Front Runner style.
It was impossible to win in a battle of Final Spurts against a monster like Orfevre; only by creating enough distance would they have a chance at winning, but... how much is 'enough'? Kuro Numa wasn't sure either.
Orfevre's growth rate was too rapid, from completely fumbling races early in her career to an effortless victory in the Yayoi Sho. Her adaptability to running styles seemed ubiquitous too, leaving no way to plan ahead.
Just then, the situation of the race seemed to shift as the commentator's voice rang out,
"OH!!! BREAKING OUT OF THE LATE SURGER GROUP IS— SPECIAL WEEEEKKKK!!"
"The first one to make their move! It seems she intends to overtake Mihono Bourbon early on! Will she have stamina?! The gap between Special Week and Mihono Bourbon is closing!"
'"Gain momentum early on and win!"'
Her legs rapidly pushing against the turf, Special Week surged forward, getting closer and closer to Mihono Bourbon while reciting what her Trainer told her.
Before the race, Okino had come to the same conclusion as Kuro Numa: creating a distance so great, even Orfevre couldn't catch up.
However, the problem was that Special Week was not at all adept at a Front Runner running style, let alone a Runaway; imitating Kuro Numa's strategy was not wise.
So, Okino came up with a plan that could even turn her lack of Runaway skills into an advantage if luck was on their side (unfortunately, it wasn't, as Orfevre did not choose to run as a Runaway).
First, don't bite onto Mihono Bourbon's bait and just keep running as a Late Surger to get through the first two corners, then, immediately accelerate until right behind Mihono Bourbon, shadowing her until the final straight before finally overtaking her.
This tactic seemed great, with even a simpleton like Special Week being able to execute it during their trial tests with Silence Suzuka, gaining pleasing results.
'Watch me, Moms! I will definitely become the number one Uma Musume in Japan!'
'I will definitely win the Satsuki Sho! I will definitely win the Classic Triple Crown! I will—'
However, just as Special Week neared Mihono Bourbon, a sudden, chilling sensation from behind caused her muscles to tense up instantly, subconsciously turning her head to the cause.
Yet, turning her head not only did not resolve her confusion, but made Special Week feel even more perplexed.
There, rapidly expanding, was an eerie black fog that struck fear into anyone just by seeing it... just like evil spirits in a horror movie.
'H- huh?! W- w- WHAT'S THAT?!'
Special Week, naturally, was horrified at the sight, with her not being the only one feeling scared.
Even Mihono Bourbon, who was several lengths ahead, felt startled by this fear inducing presence.
'What on earth is going on?!'
"RICE SHOWEERRRR!!! IT'S RICE SHOWER!!!!! RICE SHOWER HAS MADE HER MOVE AND IS RAPIDLY ENCROACHING ONTO SPECIAL WEEK!!!!"
"Not only that! Everyone else is slowing down! What is happening?!!"
But, despite the commentator's voice, Mihono Bourbon and Special Week, who still had no knowledge of the existence of Zones or Aura, were left utterly bewildered.
However, when Special Week finally snapped out of her confusion, she discovered that the inky air had already reached her, clinging to her.
And, at the very same moment she registered this, she felt her stamina draining at an alarming rate, to the point her speed was actually decreasing!
'G- grhh?!'
Special Week couldn't understand what was happening to her, but just then, she vaguely saw a bright blue rose overtaking her.
—Indeed, as the commentator had said, it was Rice Shower, who had now managed to catch up.
'H- her?! How did she become so strong?'
These thoughts were shared by Special Week and Mihono Bourbon, who did not bother to be cautious of the previously sixth place Uma Musume, having no idea how much stronger Rice Shower had become within this measly month.
In fact, neither Special Week nor Mihono Bourbon could even be considered at the same level as Rice Shower now.
In the end, Rice Shower only had a single worthy opponent: Orfevre.
And before her inevitable showdown with Orfevre, Rice Shower planned to take care of all the unstable variables ahead, one by one.
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Rice Shower lowkey a xanxia protag. Face slapping the young masters after gaining a golden finger.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.