"Holy Jacket has overtaken Glimmer Express and is now in second place!"
"Glimmer Express has dropped to third, but Rice Shower doesn't seem to be accelerating."
"Go, Rice, go!!!"
"Rice-senpai, go~~~go!"
Smart Falcon and Kitasan Black stood at the front, cheering loudly for Rice Shower.
Kitasan Black was fine, simply cheering, her expression still cheerful and sunny.
But Smart Falcon was clearly very anxious.
She watched helplessly as Rice Shower climbed from third to second, then dropped to fourth, stomping her feet frantically in frustration.
Satono Diamond, Tokai Teio, and Mejiro McQueen couldn't help but chuckle at Smart Falcon's expression. The three of them huddled together, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.
Sakura Baimu shook her head with a smile, feeling somewhat helpless.
Although Smart Falcon didn't join TCB during last spring's Tenno Sho, she did witness Rice Shower's participation in the Takarazuka Kinen.
Yet she was already this anxious even before Rice Shower had a chance to shine.
However, this couldn't be entirely blamed on Smart Falcon, since during the Takarazuka Kinen, her attention had mainly been focused on her teammates, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
Just as Sakura Baimu was amused by Smart Falcon's adorably anxious expression, she suddenly heard her mutter to herself in a flustered tone.
"This is only a G3-level race, and the opponents are already this strong... Falco also has a G3 race this month. Can Falco win?"
"Ogura Storm and Holy Jacket are both so amazing... Can Falco really win a G1 this year? It feels like I can't even win any G3 races this month."
The entire TCB team: "???????"
Even Kitasan Black, who was cheering loudly for Rice Shower, stopped after hearing Smart Falcon's mutterings and looked at her in surprise.
Sakura Baimu was utterly astonished. How could Smart Falcon suddenly become so insecure?
She was watching Rice Shower's race, yet suddenly started feeling afraid.
Just how insecure was she?!
Sakura Baimu couldn't take it anymore and went over to Smart Falcon, giving her a good whack on the head.
After seeing the trembling Umamusume clutch her head and whimper again, she spoke helplessly.
"You fool, what's wrong with you? You haven't lost a single race since your last one against Satono Crown, have you? Why are you so insecure?"
However, Sakura Baimu's words clearly had no effect on Smart Falcon.
She was still obviously worried about her upcoming race.
"Whatever, I can't be bothered with it. You can't lose on dirt anyway," Sakura Baimu thought helplessly.
She suddenly became curious.
In Smart Falcon's upcoming race, would there be a situation where she was insecure and scared all by herself, only to suddenly take the lead and dominate the entire event?
That was an interesting thought.
--
"Approaching the final corner, Ogura Storm is currently in first place, about three lengths ahead of Holy Jacket in second."
"Holy Jacket is in second place, about two lengths ahead of Glimmer Express in third."
"Rice Shower is in fourth, about one length behind Glimmer Express, and looks ready to overtake at any moment."
"Glimmer Express looks a bit off; she seems to have reached her limit."
"The Umamusumes behind are closing in. Can Rice Shower hold onto fourth place?"
"The final corner is coming up. She's on the inside of the track, so accelerating isn't easy. If she could, she'd probably do it on the final straight."
"But judging from her lack of activity after dropping from second to fourth, she probably can't even maintain her current position."
Ogura Storm, leading from the front, was also keeping an eye on the Umamusumes behind her.
She determined that none of the Umamusumes posed a threat to her anymore.
Holy Jacket, in second place, couldn't match her speed.
"What a name, 'Rice Shower.' Such a fancy name, yet all she does is act like an assassin. First, she ruined Mihono Bourbon's Triple Crown dream, then she thwarted Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen's battle for supremacy..."
"The era of the 'Black Assassin' ended with the Takarazuka Kinen. I'll take all your popularity."
Ogura Storm grinned, and as she stepped into the final corner, her speed increased once more.
Looking closely, a faint white aura was visible around Ogura Storm as she accelerated.
When acceleration creates a visible white aura, it means an Umamusume's acceleration has reached a certain level.
Although the aura created by Ogura Storm's acceleration wasn't very noticeable, the fact that it could generate such an aura clearly showed she was qualified to contend for a G1 championship.
"Ogura Storm has accelerated again! Ogura Storm, currently in first place, can still accelerate!"
"Four lengths, five lengths!"
"The gap between her and second-place Holy Jacket is widening. Is she trying to create a huge lead?"
"From her initial position, she caught up to first place in the early and middle stages, and she can still accelerate so quickly in the final stages. She's really strong, Ogura Storm!"
"The pace of the race is picking up again! Holy Jacket is accelerating too!"
"Oops, Glimmer Express has lost speed! She started losing speed as she entered the final corner!"
"Rice Shower is in fourth, but the Umamusumes behind her have already caught up, only half a head away!"
"Rice Shower has also entered the final corner! Glimmer Express has dropped to fourth! She's fallen behind Rice Shower!"
"Heh, the Umamusumes behind me are too slow. It's too late to accelerate now."
Ogura Storm thought smugly as she looked at Holy Jacket, who was about five lengths behind.
At that moment, Holy Jacket, who was in second place, had just begun to accelerate, but after only two steps, her expression suddenly froze.
It wasn't just Holy Jacket.
Glimmer Express, and all the Umamusumes trying to overtake Rice Shower from behind, felt their hearts skip a beat the instant Rice Shower passed Glimmer Express on the final straight.
Regardless of whether their expressions had been resolute, joyful, or weary, they all changed in that instant.
Their eyes trembled as they turned toward Rice Shower.
At that moment, everyone around them felt a terrifying, beastly aura emanating from Rice Shower, as if it wanted to tear them to pieces.